A&WMA
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Call
For Abstracts
Abstracts for the 2002 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Baltimore, Maryland
are due October 1, 2001. Online submittal of abstracts will be accepted
through October 5, 2001 through the Association's website - http://www.awma.org.
CENTRAL
TX CHAPTER NEWS
Scholarship Deadline Extended
The Chapter has received several requests to extend the deadline for the
scholarship applications because of the recent terrorist attacks, and
has extended the deadline by one month to Thursday, November 1, 2001.
The $1,000 award is open to all full-time students in good standing pursuing
an environmental degree or engineering degree with an environmental option
at a local university or college. Application forms are available at http://www.main.org/awmactc/public.html.
Please contact the Education Committee Chair, Julie Jumonville, at 266-9044
for further information.
Recap of September
Meeting
On September 20, the Chapter kicked off its new season by hosting an environmental
legislation update with Laura LaValle and Brian Sledge of Lloyd, Gosselink,
Blevins, Rochelle, Baldwin & Townsend, P.C. The Chapter would like to
extend its thanks to the law firm for sponsoring the event.
In addition to the
presentation, door prizes from the Chapter's summer social riverboat cruise
were given away. Also, Julie Jumonville and Brett Davis challenged members
to participate in Texas Recycles Day to be held on November 15. The Chapter
will be involved with events for the day, and free materials are available
for any other organization or company that wants to participate. Contact
Julie Jumonville at 266-9044 for further information.
October Meeting
On October 18, the Chapter will host a panel discussing ongoing State
Implementation Plan (SIP) litigation. The panel will consist of Brian
Berwick, an Assistant Attorney General with the Texas Attroney General's
Office; Janis Hudson from the TNRCC Air Permits, Environmental Law Division;
and Pam Giblin who is in the environmental practice and the trial section
of the Austin office of Baker Botts L.L.P. Due to the interest in this
topic and the number of presenters, the meeting will be extended beyond
our normal ending time to 7:30 p.m.
TEXAS AND TNRCC
NEWS
TNRCC Bolsters
Houston-area Clean Air Plan
The TNRCC has taken a number of steps to further refine clean air plans
for the eight-county Houston-Galveston ozone nonattainment area. The actions
were taken in response to legislative changes made during the last session
and include committing to innovative programs, technologies, and cleaner
fuels to reduce emissions for cars and trucks; giving refiners until 2005
to provide clean diesel fuel; giving the largest businesses and industries
an option to reduce ozone-producing emissions by alternative means; and
adding a financial incentive program to increase the use of cleaner equipment,
cleaner fuels, and energy efficiency programs, allowing for the cancellation
of a proposed partial ban on construction activity in the area. (Source:
TNRCC Press Release)
TNRCC NSR Announcements
The TNRCC Air Permits New Source Review (NSR) section has issued a memo
outlining the new procedures for handling public notices for the relocation
and change of portable facilities. This memo is available online as http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/permitting/airperm/
nsr_permits/files/portmemo01.pdf.
Also the NSR has announced that application and registration forms and
instructions are undergoing major updates due to policy and legislative
changes. Applicants should use the most recent instructions and submit
the most recent forms available for any new action whenever possible,
even if the form is noted as "DRAFT." Applications and registrations received
using the previous forms will continue to be processed and reviewed by
the TNRCC but may require supplemental information with an updated form,
if requested. (Source: TNRCC Website)
Title V Oil
& Gas GOP Revisions
On August 22, the TNRCC mailed letters to Responsible Officials representing
sites that have an Authorization to Operate (ATO) for the oil and gas
and bulk fuel terminal General Operating Permits (GOPs). This letter advised
them of the "revised/renewed" GOPs that are currently undergoing public
comment and are scheduled to be issued October 19. Holders of ATOs for
these GOPs will need to review the new GOPs and update their applications
reflecting the changes resulting from the new or changed requirements
in the new GOP. (Source: TNRCC Website)
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MEETING
ANNOUNCEMENT
THUR., OCTOBER 18,
2001
TOPIC:
Texas State Implementation Plan (SIP) Litigation
SPEAKERS:
Brian
Berwick - Assistant Attorney General,
Texas Attorney General's Office
Janis Hudson - TNRCC Air Permits, Environmental Law Division
Pam Giblin - Baker Botts L.L.P.
SPONSOR:
Baker
Botts L.L.P. is a global energy and technology law firm with more
than 600 lawyers serving a worldwide client base from offices in
Austin, Baku, Dallas, Houston, London, New York, Riyadh, and Washington,
D.C. The Petroleum Economist ranks Baker Botts amoung the top three
international law firms providing the best overall service to the
energy sector; IP WorldWide ranks the firm as one of the top five
intellectual property firms representing corporate America. The
firm's energy, technology, corporate, and trial practices are amoung
the largest of general service firms in the United States. http://www.bakerbotts.com.
TIMES:
5:30-6:00 PM - Reception and meal
6:00-7:30 p.m. - Presentation
LOCATION:
Reception at Temple-Inland Building 301 Congress Avenue, Room 360
Cap Metro bus stop nearby.
***Parking in the Temple-Inland garage cannot be validated.***
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NATIONAL
NEWS
EPA and DOT
Security Alerts
In light of the recent terrorist attacks, the EPA in coordination with
the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI) are suggesting that those who manufacture, distribute,
transport or store hazardous chemicals be especially vigilant regarding
the physical security of those chemicals. Toward that end, EPA is recommending
that responsible personnel at these types of facilities review the EPA
Chemical Safety Alert entitled, "Chemical Accident Prevention: Site Security,"
published in February 2000 and available online at http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/pubs/secale.pdf.
In addition to this
advisory, the DOT has produced a separate advisory for transporters, available
by contacting the DOT at 202-366-6525 or online at http://hazmat.dot.gov/pubs.htm.
DOT is asking that additional safety precautions be taken regarding the
transportation system. Security measures should be reviewed and strengthened
as appropriate. The DOT requests that shippers and transporters of high-hazard
materials consider altering routes to avoid populated areas whenever practicable.
Local Emergency Planning
Committees (LEPC) may experience increased interest from members of their
communities regarding the physical security of local chemical facilities.
In order to better respond to inquiries, LEPC members may also wish to
review the EPA Chemical Safety Alert and also the EPA fact sheet, "LEPCs
and Deliberate Releases: Addressing Terrorist Activities in the Local
Emergency Plan," available at http://www.epa.gov/ ceppo/factsheets/lepcct.pdf.
LEPCs may wish to discuss inquiries regarding a specific facility with
the facility's emergency coordinator. (Source: EPA
and DOT Websites)
EPA May Scale
Back Multi-Pollutant Bill as Bush Administration Focuses on Terrorism
The EPA may scale back its proposal to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides,
sulfur dioxide, and mercury from electric power plants in the wake of
the terrorist attacks in New York and the Pentagon on September 11. The
agency had been planning to release multi-pollutant legislation by the
end of September, but sources have said recently that the agency may release
a set of broad principles for controlling power plant emissions, rather
than a detailed legislative proposal. Opposition within the administration
to a multi-pollutant bill, especially at the Department of Energy, have
been strengthened because the recent terrorist attacks have heightened
concerns about the reliability of the electricity supply. "The president
wants to focus on terrorism," an EPA official said. Furthermore, with
Congress' priorities shifted to foreign affairs, the administration may
want to take more time "to dot the I's and cross the T's" on the proposal,
the source said. (Source:
Steve Cook, BNA)
Editor's
Note - The Chapter would like to extend its condolences and sympathies
to those people, throughout the world and particularly in the New York
and Washington D.C. areas, whose lives have been struck by the recent
acts of terrorism. Our thoughts and prayers go to them while we look towards
the future during these uncertain times.
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2001-2002
Chapter Officers
Chair: Brett Davis, P.E., Motorola, 895-3953, 895-3222 (fax), brett.davis@motorola.com
Vice-Chair
: Nancy Meilahn, P.E., URS Radian, 419-5818, 454-8807 (fax), nancy_meilahn@urscorp.com
Secretary: Polly Mayfield Johnson, Caldwell Engineering, 502-8240,
502-8256 (fax), polly@caldwelleng.com
Treasurer: James Braddock, Haynes & Boone, 867-8438, 867-8692
(fax), braddocj@haynesboone.com
At Large Director: Chesley Blevins; Lloyd, Gosselink, Blevins,
et al, P.C.; 322-5809; cblevins@lglawfirm.com
At Large Director: Sherry Smith, TNRCC, 239-0572, SheSmith@tnrcc.state.tx.us
Membership Chair: Joe Hossley, RMT, Inc., 327-9840, 327-6163 (fax),
joe.hossley@rmtinc.com
Program Chair: Mary K. Sahs, Sahs & Associates, P.C., 326-2556,
326-2586 (fax), marysahs@bga.com
Education Chair: Julie Jumonville, Avery Environmental Services,
266-9044, 431-8526 (mobile), jjume@flash.net
Comm' Chair: Jerry Kung, P.E., Zephyr Environmental Corp., 329-5544,
329-8253 (fax), jkung@zephyrenv.com
Ex-Chair:
Mark Hemingway, Geomatrix Consultants, Inc., 494-0333, 494-0334 (fax),
mhemingway@geomatrix.com
(all
phone numbers in Area Code 512)
http://www.main.org/awmactc/
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