November 2009
| PLEASE NOTE: Some newsletter content is only available to members in good standing of NMSHMM. |
- President's Message - High Attendance at EHMM Course This Year
- Join NMSHMM for the Annual Holiday Social at Chama Brewing Company
- Successful Fall Field Trip to AMEC’s Materials Testing Laboratory
- Local News Stories
- Upcoming Meetings and Events
- Monthly Meeting Location
- Job Openings
- NMSHMM Officers and Committee Chairs
| Our Mission |
| To
provide environmental professionals in the Southwest a
forum for professional development, education, and networking opportunities; and to offer our community environmental, health, and safety expertise |
President's Message - High Attendance at EHMM Course This Year
Mike Sanders, CPG, CHMM
GRAM, Inc.
Plans and preparations for the Essentials of Hazardous Materials Management (EHMM) training and CHMM exam preparation course are in full swing. The course will be held at the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) District 1 offices in Albuquerque, on November 16-18. A total of 25 students have signed up to take the course-a very good turnout considering the general state of the economy. Paul Karas has once again taken the lead on organizing and putting this course together, including lining up numerous environmental professionals as instructors, and as usual is doing an excellent job in this role.
NMSHMM board members have also been very involved in planning and preparations, and will also be assisting during the EHMM. Thanks also to board members and NMED employees Sandra Martin and Brian Salem for arranging for use of the NMED conference room again this year. We are very pleased with the response to the EHMM this year, and look forward to another successful course.
The date for the November lunch meeting (which would normally be held on Wednesday November 18) has been changed to Thursday November 12, 11:30 am-1:00 pm, and will be held at the Furr's Fresh Buffet, 2004 Wyoming Blvd NE, between Indian School and Menaul. The meeting has been moved to avoid conflicting with the EHMM course, and will also be a joint meeting with the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE). Bob Edgar will be talking to us about new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) training requirements for individuals and organizations that perform operations that potentially disturb or impact lead-based paint. Please plan to join other NMSHMM and ASSE members at this lunch meeting, and I hope to see you there.
Join NMSHMM for the Annual Holiday Social at Chama Brewing Company
Please join the NMSHMM Board and Chapter Members at the Annual Holiday Social Gathering . This event will be held at the Chama River Brewing Company, Porter Room on December 4, 2009 from 5:30 - 7:30 PM. This exciting evening of fellowship and networking is free for all NMSHMM members, but your generous donation of a nonperishable food item is requested. Board members from the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) will also be joining us for this event.
NMSHMM will be collecting items to support our service men and women serving overseas. NMSHMM will donate all items collected to SAME for distribution to members of the 920th Engineering Company, a New Mexico National Guard Unit recently deployed to Afghanistan. If you have questions on what type of items to donate, please visit the SAME website at http://posts.same.org/abq/program.htm for a list of items needed by our Troops. We are exciting to have the SAME Board joining NMSHMM at the social.
A variety of complimentary finger foods, micro-brewed beer, and soft drinks will be provided. Specialty drinks are available for purchase. There will be a holiday raffle at this event. All NMSHMM Members attending this event will receive a raffle ticket. If you are not a member and wish to join NMSHMM, you can join at the event and receive a complementary NMSHMM item. If you are a member and bring a guest that joins NMSHMM at this event, you will also receive a gift. There will be several exciting prizes up for grabs to all participating NMSHMM members!! Remember to bring your generous donation support our Troops. RSVP is required, so please be sure to respond by December 1, 2009 to . Mark your calendars and don't miss this fun filled evening!
Successful Fall Field Trip to AMEC’s Materials Testing Laboratory
Vickie Maranville, CHMM
AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc.
The annual fall field trip was hosted by AMEC Earth and Environmental, Inc. (AMEC) on October 20. Twelve members attended the classroom presentation and materials testing demonstration at the AMEC Materials Testing Facility located on Jefferson, NE. Mr. John Tension, P.E. and Senior Geotechnical Engineer at AMEC provided a classroom presentation, detailing the materials testing capabilities and engineering services. Lunch was provided to attendees during the class presentation. Immediately following the classroom portion of the event, attendees received a tour of the materials testing facility. A foamed asphalt demonstration was conducted in the laboratory. Attendees were able to see the entire asphalt mixing process in the laboratory. Foamed asphalt incorporates recycled asphalt and elements of mix design to create an engineered asphalt product using recycled materials. A concrete cylinder demonstration was also provided in the laboratory. The tour finished with questions and answers.
Local News Stories
Compiled by Eric Johnson, AICP, CHMM
The following are news stories reported during the past month:
-
The Las Cruces City Council approved a 30-year lease of land for a solar energy plant. California-based enXco proposes to build a photovoltaic solar energy plant at the West Mesa Industrial Park.
(Albuquerque Journal, 10-06-09)
- Governor Bill Richardson announced that the Tres Amigas Project will be constructed in the Clovis region. The project would serve as a high-speed control point for electricity generated by solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal resources while providing an interchange between the Western, Eastern, and Texas Interconnection electrical grids.
(Albuquerque Journal, 10-14-09)
- Solar Array Ventures is having difficulty obtaining funding for a proposed solar manufacturing plant in Albuquerque’s west side. The company’s project will be delayed, but company leaders expect the project to eventually move forward once funding is obtained.
(Albuquerque Journal, 10-15-09)
- The Bureau of Land Management is looking at an alternative route for the proposed Sun-Zia Southwest energy transmission line that would not obstruct the flight path for waterfowl at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. The proposed transmission line would extend from across southern New Mexico from the Arizona border to Lincoln County. To avoid waterfowl impacts, alternative routes in Doña Ana and Otero County are being studied.
(Albuquerque Journal, 10-16-09).
- As part of repair activities on deteriorating pipes under the kitchen at Albuquerque’s Montezuma Elementary School, remediation specialists will called-in to remove asbestos-containing floor tiles. The kitchen and cafeteria were closed-off, and students were eating lunch in the gym. Cold lunches were provided by the Albuquerque Public Schools’ central kitchen.
(Albuquerque Journal, 10-17-09)
- Santa Fe County Commissioners approved New Mexico’s first renewable energy district. Santa Fe County residents will have the opportunity to take out long-term, low interest loans for solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind and geothermal systems. Repayment of the loan would be processed through a special assessment on a property owner’s tax bill.
(Santa Fe New Mexican, 10-27-09)
- People will have an opportunity to drop off their e-waste in Albuquerque on America Recycle Day, Sunday, November 15. From 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Albuquerque Recycling Inc. at 3300-D Hawkins will accept e-waste including computers, laptops, flat screen monitors, LCD screens, printers, scanners, fax machines, phones, and cell phones.
(Albuquerque Journal, 10-29-09)
- The Department of Energy will provide the Navajo Nation with $4.9 million in stimulus funding to establish a smart electrical grid. The smart grid would be designed to identify outages, monitor electrical use for efficiency, and facilitate the use of alternative energy.
(Albuquerque Journal, 10-29-09)
- With the July 2009 start of operations at the High Lonesome Mesa Wind Farm, a total of seven wind farms in operation in New Mexico. The wind farms include Llano Estacado Wind Ranch in Curry County Phase I (0.66 megawatts [MW}) and Phase II (1.32 MW), New Mexico Wind Energy Center in Quay and DeBaca counties (204 MW), Caprock Wind Ranch Phase I (60 MW) and Phase II in Quay County (20 MW), San Juan Mesa Wind Farm in Roosevelt County (120 MW), Aragonne Mesa Wind Farm in Guadalupe County (90 MW), North American Wind Research and Training Center in Tucumcari (1.5 MW), and High Lonesome Mesa Wind Farm in Torrance County (100 MW). (Albuquerque Journal, 10-25-09)
|
Society luncheon meetings are held at
Golden Corral Buffet on Central and Eubank (10415 Central Avenue NE) at 11:30 on the third Wednesday of the month (except Mar. and Dec.) |
| November 2009 |
November 3, 11:30 am, New Mexico Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) monthly meeting at the Golden Corral (10415 Central Avenue NE, northeast of Eubank) in Albuquerque. For more information, e-mail .
November 10, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at CDM offices, 6000 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 200, Albuquerque. All members are welcome.
November 12, NMSHMM and New Mexico Chapter of American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Joint Lunch Meeting, Furr’s Fresh Buffet, 2004 Wyoming Blvd. NE at Indian School. Bob Edgar will give a presentation on new EPA lead paint abatement regulations and requirements.
November 16-18, Essentials of Hazardous Materials Management (EHMM) Course presented by NMSHMM at the NMED Albuquerque office, 5500 San Antonio Drive NE. For more information, please click here.
| December 2009 |
December 1, 11:30 am, New Mexico Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) monthly meeting at the Golden Corral (10415 Central Avenue NE, northeast of Eubank) in Albuquerque. For more information, e-mail .
December 4, 5:30-7:30 pm, NMSHMM Annual Holiday Social, at Chama Brewing Company, 4939 Pan American Freeway (west of I-25 between Jefferson and Montgomery). Please RSVP () by December 1.
December 10, New Mexico Chapter of American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) technical meeting, Furr’s Fresh Buffet, 2004 Wyoming Blvd. NE. For more information, e-mail .
December 15, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at AMEC Earth and Environmental, 8519 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque. All members are welcome.
| January 2010 |
January 5, 11:30 am, New Mexico Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) monthly meeting at the Golden Corral (10415 Central Avenue NE, northeast of Eubank) in Albuquerque. For more information, e-mail .
January 14, New Mexico Chapter of American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) technical meeting, Furr’s Fresh Buffet, 2004 Wyoming Blvd. NE. For more information, e-mail .
January 19, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at AMEC Earth and Environmental, 8519 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque. All members are welcome.
January 20, 11:30 am, NMSHMM Luncheon/General Meeting at Golden Corral (10415 Central NE, northeast of Eubank) in Albuquerque. Jill Holbert will discuss recycling activities at the City of Albuquerque.
| February 2010 |
February 2, 11:30 am, New Mexico Chapter of the Air and Waste Management Association (AWMA) monthly meeting at the Golden Corral (10415 Central Avenue NE, northeast of Eubank) in Albuquerque. For more information, e-mail .
February 11, New Mexico Chapter of American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) technical meeting, Furr’s Fresh Buffet, 2004 Wyoming Blvd. NE. For more information, e-mail .
February 16, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at AMEC Earth and Environmental, 8519 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque. All members are welcome.
February 17, 11:30 am, NMSHMM Luncheon/General Meeting at Golden Corral (10415 Central NE, northeast of Eubank) in Albuquerque.
Did we miss something? To get your event added to the calendar please contact Eric Johnson at .
|
Society business meetings are
held at
AMEC Earth and Environmental, 8519 Jefferson NE, at 5:00 on the third Tuesday of the month (except Mar. and Dec.) |
Our regular monthly meetings are held at Golden Corral Buffet on Central and Eubank (10415 Central Avenue NE - click here for a map). Meetings are held the third Wednesday of the month (unless replaced by a special event as announced via this newsletter) from 11:30 am until 1:00 pm. If you have any ideas for speakers or field trips, please contact a NMSHMM board member.
For the latest job openings, please click here. (MEMBERS ONLY)
NMSHMM OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS
|
Officers:
President
Past-President
President-Elect
Treasurer
Secretary
At-Large Director At-Large Director |
Committee Chairs: Communication Education/Professional
Development
Membership |
Please send contributions for future newsletters to Eric Johnson at . Thanks!