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ENGINEERING FORUM TELECONFERENCE MINUTES
September 3, 2008
- Winter 2009 TSP Meeting
- Ecotools Technical Assistance Service
- Evergreen List Review
- Recent Document Review Requests
- Participation Agreements and EF By-laws
- Miscellaneous
- Attendees
WINTER 2009 TSP MEETING
Hilary Thornton (region 3) reported that the Winter 2009 TSP Meeting may be held in February due to hotel availability issues. The Co-chairs will notify EF members as soon as a date and location are confirmed.
ECOTOOLS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SERVICE
Michele Mahoney (OSRTI) informed EF members about a recently developed, web-based resource for RPMs called the EcoTools Technical Assistance Service. This resource, which can be found at http://www.clu-in.org/ecotools/sf.cfm 
, was designed to help connect RPMs with experts in the ecological land reuse field who can answer questions about ecological reuse of contaminated sites, soil amendments, and the use of native plants, invasive species, and revegetation. Currently, this service is only available to RPMs at federally designated Superfund sites, although Michele said that individuals with non-Superfund related ecological restoration questions may submit them online. There are additional resources available at the website, including state- and Region-specific information on ecological restoration tools. Michele said the service has enough funding to handle multiple requests for site-specific technical assistance through the next fiscal year. Bernie Schorle (Region 5) offered to include information about EcoTools in the next NARPM newsletter.
EVERGREEN LIST REVIEW
Mike Gill (Region 9 STL) reviewed the status of items on the evergreen list. Among the updates:
- Ray Cody (Region 1) is awaiting a publication number for the Indoor Air Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Approaches paper.
- Terry Burton (Region 6 STL) will have a first draft of the in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO)lessons learned paper ready for EF review by early October.
- Eva Davis (Ada Lab) has scheduled a teleconference on September 9 to discuss the containment failure project with those individuals who volunteered to participate.
- Mike Gill will remove the Land RCT participation topic from the evergreen list.
- Jim Harrington (NYSDEC) reported that ITRC’s board has reviewed proposals for emergent teams and will announce the new teams at their fall meeting in late October or early November.
- Kira Lynch (Region 10) received a copy of NARPM’s training needs survey and, together with the subgroup, determined that the survey already addresses most of the topics that the EF is interested in. The survey is being conducted online, and the subgroup will ask that the results be sent to the EF for analysis. Following discussion about the possibility of including RCRA staff in the survey, EF members decided to investigate whether a hard copy of the survey could be distributed to RCRA staff after the NARPM survey results had been tabulated. Kira will distribute a final copy of the NARPM survey to EF members when she receives it.
- Raji Josiam (Region 6) reported that the green remediation subgroup has arranged for three Internet seminars on green remediation topics to be held on November 24 (Introduction to Green Remediation), December 16 or 17 (Tools and Case Studies I), and January 13 or 14 (Tools and Case Studies II). A comprehensive green remediation Intranet website is being created and will be shared with EF members once it is completed. If EF members know of any groups (within or outside of EPA) that deal with green remediation issues, they should notify Raji. Lindsey Lien (USACE) noted that the Department of Defense currently is involved in green remediation work.
- The co-chairs will keep abreast of activities relating to the 2009 NARPM conference planning process.
RECENT DOCUMENT REVIEW REQUESTS
- Julie Santiago (Region 4) received several comments on the technology performance review document (Selecting and Using Solidification/Stabilization Treatment for Site Remediation) and passed them along to Felicia Barnett (Region 4 STL) before the August 22nd deadline. Julie would have preferred that the paper be more comprehensive. The co-chairs recommended that she pass along her concerns to Dave Reisman (NRMRL-Cinc.).
PARTICIPATION AGREEMENTS AND EF BY-LAWS
Hilary Thornton and Gary Miller (Region 6) will continue to work on the development of EF by-laws that link to the EF strategic plan and a streamlined, one-page participation agreement. EF members should contact Hilary or Gary if they are interested in participating.
MISCELLANEOUS
Hilary reminded EF members that all issue papers prepared by ORD must go through the proper approval channels.
The Highlights newsletter will be ready for circulation early this month. Regional EF members should coordinate the distribution of the newsletter to assure that RPMs do not receive multiple copies.
Mike Gill asked if any EF members could help with a chemical engineering issue dealing with carbon dioxide formation in a treatment system. Bernie Schorle, Julie Santiago, Nate Nemani (Region 5), and Terry Burton asked Mike to forward the case-specific information to them.
Ray Saracino (Region 9) announced this was his last EF teleconference. He has accepted a position with the Air Program in Region 9. EF members thanked Ray for his service to the EF and wished him luck in his new position.
ATTENDEES
Steve Mangion, Region 1 STL
Stephanie Vaughn, Region 2
Kevin Bilash, Region 3
Donna McCartney, Region 3
Fred MacMillan, Region 3
Andy Palestini, Region 3
Hilary Thornton, Region 3
Jon Bornholm, Region 4
Julie Santiago, Region 4
Nate Nemani, Region 5
Bernie Schorle, Region 5
Terry Burton, Region 6 STL
Raji Josiam, Region 6
Gary Miller, Region 6
Michael Davis, Region 7
Mike Gill, Region 9 STL
Ray Saracino, Region 9
Ellie Hale, Region 10
Kira Lynch, Region 10
Steven Chang, OSRTI
Michele Mahoney, OSRTI
Lindsey Lien, USACE
Suzanne Davis, CA DTSC
Jim Harrington, NYSDEC
Keith Arnold, EMS, Inc.
In an effort to foster scientific and technical advances in characterization, monitoring and remediation of contaminated sites, the EPA Technical Support Project encourages full and frank discussion of all technical matters and related issues that come before it.Information presented in these minutes represents the views of the participants and has not received formal EPA peer review. Therefore, this information does not necessarily reflect the views of EPA or other participating organizations, and no official endorsement should be inferred. The information is not intended, nor can it be relied upon, to create any rights enforceable by any party in litigation with the United States or any other party. Use or mention of trade names does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use. Errors and omissions in the information will be corrected as they are found and time permits.