The 2009 ITRC Fall Meeting offered the opportunity for more than 300 environmental professionals from across the country to network and collaborate on innovative approaches to solving environmental challenges. This year’s theme, “Leading Environmental Change,” emphasized that, as a collective community, we are opening doors for new technologies and approaches across many environmental areas, ranging from vapor intrusion to green and sustainable remediation. The week-long, conference-style meeting featured outstanding plenary and panel sessions and workshops, as well as ITRC team meetings. Highlights included the connection between ITRC and emerging environmental issues and topics ITRC will address in 2010.

Click here for the 2009 Fall Meeting Agenda

Plenary Sessions – Attendees heard from eminent environmental leaders and other technical experts on advances in the environmental field, specifically, impacts of the federal stimulus funding on major cleanup efforts, current research in the cleanup area, and exploration of a potential ITRC role in greenhouse gas emissions assessment and tracking. ITRC leadership briefed expected 2010 ITRC projects and major initiatives.

Presentations

• Impact of Stimulus Funding on Major Cleanup Efforts at DOE—Gerald Boyd, Manager, Oak Ridge Operations Office, U.S. DOE, Keynote presentation on the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, DOE Environmental Cleanup Operations
• ECOS and ITRC—R. Steven Brown, Executive Director, Environmental Council of the States, on ITRC’s Role in ECOS’ Priorities
• Co-Chair/Director Update—Outlook for 2010, presented by Co-Chairs Christine Costopoulos (NY) and George Nicholas (NJ) and ITRC Director Anna Willett

Panel Session: Current Research and Advancements in ITRC Project Areas

• Groundwater Remediation at Complex Sites—Rula Deeb, Ph.D., BCEEM, and Elisabeth Hawley, P.E., Malcolm Pirnie, Inc. presented case studies of alternative endpoints and perspective.
• Working with Nature in Remediating Groundwater Contaminated with Metals and Radionuclides—Miles Denham, Ph.D., Savannah River National Laboratory
• Emerging Concepts in Subsurface Contaminant Transport and Remediation—Tom Sale, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University

Emerging Issues Workshop: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Tracking

• Regulatory Perspectives on Greenhouse Gas Emissions—Dick Pedersen, Director, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, on control of greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Land Management—Michele Mahoney, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, on opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through materials and land management practices

Project Team Meetings – ITRC project teams advanced the development of documents and training.

State Engagement (POC) Meeting – ITRC POCs advanced the opportunities for states to achieve value through their ITRC participation and held a joint session with ITRC’s federal partners.

LNAPL Implementation Workshop – This workshop was an opportunity to network with other environmental professionals regarding LNAPL environmental issues, while exploring targets for the use of the LNAPL guidance in 2010 and beyond.

Board of Advisors Meeting – The ITRC Board of Advisors focused on ITRC work planning for 2010 as well as finalizing the call for new project proposals for 2011.