June 2010
| PLEASE NOTE: Some newsletter content is only available to members in good standing of NMSHMM. |
- President's Message: Gulf Oil Spill Disaster
- Join NMSHMM for Our Annual Santa Fe Meeting
- NMSHMM Annual Isotopes Night
- Plan NOW to Attend the 2010 Essentials of Hazardous Materials Management Course
- Volunteers Needed for Scholarship Committee
- Monthly Luncheon Meetings: Do You Have Any Recommended Restaurants?
- Local News Stories
- Upcoming Meetings and Events
- Monthly Meeting Location
- Job Openings (Last Update: February 24, 2010)
- 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: Gulf Oil Spill Disaster
Debbie Finfrock, PE, CHMM
Finfrock Engineering
I am not an expert in drilling rigs of any kind and do not have access to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) documents that should have been available for the BP oil rig that blew up last month, so please accept these comments in the spirit of inquiry and true ignorance.
Valves fail. Backup valves fail. Booms fail to contain massive quantities of oil. Standard responses may not work. Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure Plans (SPCCs) (40 CFR 112) are intended to evaluate these possibilities and plan countermeasures to clean up oil spills before they reach navigable waters or adjoining shorelines and the outer continental shelf. Facilities with the potential to cause “substantial harm” should have Facility Response Plans (40 CFR 112, Appendix F), which includes an emergency action plan. Any facility storing 42,000 gallons or more that transfers oil over water or is located such that a discharge could cause injury to fish, wildlife, and sensitive environments should have an emergency action plan. Oil drilling platforms certainly qualify, and should identify discharge response procedures, containment equipment and other resources available, response training, and management commitment to apply the resources necessary to be prepared and take action. The EPA is busy coordinating with the other agencies on the response, and I have not yet heard whether these plans considered all the failures that have occurred on this spill. Let’s hope there are some lessons learned from this disaster. It is a shame that people have to die, marine life has to perish, and marine and coastal environments ruined before we fully implement these regulations designed to prevent such occurrences.
EPA Accepting Technology Solution Submissions Related to the BP Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. EPA has created a single site for technology solution submissions related to the response and clean up of the BP Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico. All submissions will be forwarded to the appropriate reviewing official, who will contact submitters if needed. Please refer to the instructions listed on the submission form regarding the types of information that will be accepted. For questions about the response, call the Joint Information Center at 985-902-5231 or 985-902-5240. Submission forms and instructions are available at http://www.epa.gov/bpspill/techsolution.html.
Join NMSHMM for Our Annual Santa Fe Meeting
July 21 at Tiny's Restaurant
The July 2010 NMSHMM general meeting will be held at Tiny’s Restaurant, 1015 Pen Road in Santa Fe on Wednesday July 21, starting at 6 pm. The speaker for this event will be Mr. Mike Bowen, Executive Director of the New Mexico Mining Association.
Dinner orders must be placed 24 hours in advance (no later than July 19) to obtain separate tickets (please contact for menu options and to make reservations). We had about 25 folks attend this meeting last year, and by all accounts, the event was enjoyed by all who attended.
A number of us are planning to take the train to the dinner, as was done last year. It’s a fun way to go to and from Santa Fe, and also avoids the drinking and driving issue for those who decide to enjoy a margarita (or maybe 2?) at Tiny’s. Most or all of us will be catching the #516 train at the Los Ranchos/Journal station (located on El Pueblo Rd. between 2nd St. and Edith Blvd.) at 4:29 pm, and will arrive at the Santa Fe Depot (near downtown Santa Fe) at 6:00 pm. It’s a short 10 minute walk from the station to Tiny’s. The #519 train departs the Santa Fe Depot at 8:20, and arrives at the Los Ranchos station at 9:35 pm. See the New Mexico Rail Runner website (http://www.nmrailrunner.com) for additional schedule, station location, and fare information.
Please plan to attend this lively event and interact with our colleagues from both Albuquerque, and northern New Mexico. We hope to see you there!
NMSHMM Annual Isotopes Night
Be Sure to Reserve Your Seats
The NMSHMM Annual Isotopes Nights is scheduled for August 8 at 6:05 pm. Stadium seats and all-you-can-eat food will be provided at a cost of $25 per person. NMSHMM is paying for an upgrade in the food from last year – chicken and pulled pork will be served, in addition to hot dogs, hamburgers, and other picnic food. Reservations are first-come, first-serve for the 20ish slots we have. The Isotopes will play the Fresno Grizzlies. August 8 special events include:
- Promo Night for Breast Cancer Awareness
- Drawstring Backpack Night for First 3,000 Fans, presented by High Resolution
- Pink Jersey Auction, proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Foundation
- Pre- Game Autograph Session, presented by Cottonwood Printing
Please make your reservations early by emailing .
Plan NOW to Attend the 2010 Essentials of Hazardous Materials Management Course
Paul Karas, CPG, CHMM
The 2010 Essentials of Hazardous Materials Management (EHMM) Course will be held Monday through Wednesday, November 15 - 17, 2010, at the NMED District 1 office, 5500 San Antonio Drive NE, Albuquerque, NM. The 3-day course offers a comprehensive review of the physical and chemical properties of hazardous materials, environmental laws and regulations, and safety and health principles important to every environmental and safety professional. This is an excellent opportunity to prepare for the Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) or Certified Hazardous Materials Professional (CHMP) Exam or to satisfy training or re-certification requirements, enhance competence in the profession, and to stay current with new rules and regulations.
Watch for information about course registration and logistics in future newsletters and on the NMSHMM website. Please contact Paul Karas, NMSHMM Education/Professional Development Committee Chair, at 505-243-3200 or if you are interested in learning more about the EHMM, to volunteer for the EHMM organizing committee, or to be considered as an instructor.
Volunteers Needed for Scholarship Committee
Sandra Martin, CHMM
NMSHMM is seeking volunteers for the newly formed scholarship committee. At the May 2010 board meeting, Debbie Finfrock, NMSHMM President, presented an idea to create a college scholarship for New Mexico students. The scholarship(s) award amounts would be determined by the board during the annual budget review and presented that calendar year. The board unanimously approved the scholastic project and is now ready to move into the development phase. The scholarship committee will be responsible for developing a program to solicit applications, review the submittals, and determine the annual winners. The time commitment is approximately 1-2 hours every other month. If you are interested please send an email to .
The scholarship program is one of many ideas in development to build new membership and future leaders in the community. If you have any other ideas for membership building, renewals or luncheon topics please provide your feedback to .
Monthly Luncheon Meetings: Do You Have Any Recommended Restaurants?
NMSHMM is considering switching our luncheon meetings to a centralized, easily accessible location to increase attendance, and we want your ideas. The NMSHMM Board would like to get input from members on a new, centralized location for the lunch meetings. We are trying to select a central location, one that is cost effective, and easily accessible to all members. Suggestions along the I-40 or I-25 corridors in Albuquerque are preferred, but all suggestions welcome. Please provide your feedback to .
Local News Stories
Compiled by David Strasser, CHMM, and Eric Johnson, CHMM, AICP
The following are news stories reported during the past month:
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According to San Diego prosecutors, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has agreed to pay $27.6 million to settle claims of improperly handling and dumping hazardous waste at locations across California. San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis says Wal-Mart employees were caught illegally storing and dumping hazardous waste at 236 stores and distributions centers across California.
(Fox News, 5/3/10)
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Approximately 8 million gallons (by NMED estimates) of jet fuel is responsible for groundwater contamination at Kirtland Air Force Base. The Air Forces believes 1-2 million gallons of fuel has leaked. More than 10 years after the spill was discovered, the Air Force has not determined the full extent of the contamination, according to the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). Two Albuquerque water supply wells are in the fuel's path. If it reaches them, the wells will have to be shut down. New Mexico Environment Secretary Ron Curry says a high-ranking Air Force official has assigned top priority to the cleanup of a decades-old spill of millions of gallons of jet fuel at Kirtland Air Force Base. Curry discussed the underground fuel plume in Santa Fe with Terry Yonkers, the assistant secretary in charge of Air Force environmental issues. The cleanup cost could reach $100 million. The Air Force intends to have cleanup plans ready within the next two months.
(KOB, 5/27/10; Albuquerque Journal, 5/4/10, 5/21/10, 5/27/10)
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NMED and the Office of the Natural Resource Trustee are initiating a project in the Middle Rio Grande Basin to protect water supplies from failing septic systems and illegal cesspools. The project will allow low-income households to replace illegal cesspools or improper septic systems with a modern liquid waste system or connect the household to public sewer. The trustee's office will provide $230,000 from natural resource damage settlements to pay for the project.
(KOB, 5/6/10)
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The New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resource Department’s (EMNRD) Oil Conservation Division together with Navajo Lake State Park Rangers, New Mexico State Police, the Department of Game and Fish and San Juan County Emergency Management are investigating a reported release of produced water and natural gas (from a pipeline) at Navajo Lake reported by Williams Production Company. “I am happy to say that this release appears to have been relatively benign,” stated Cabinet Secretary Jon Goldstein. “However, we respond to every report aggressively to ensure the health of local citizens and our water resources remains protected. We will continue to work with Williams Production in the coming days to identify the source of the leak, plug it and make sure any damage is remediated.”
(NMED Press Release, 5/7/10)
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NMED received two EPA grants to improve areas around three New Mexico rivers. The EPA will provide $386,847 to map and classify wetlands in northeastern New Mexico on Canadian River drainage and $101,000 for water quality management plans in the middle Rio Grande and Cimarron River watersheds.
(KOB, 5/10/10)
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During the past 11 years, trucks transporting radioactive material to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) have logged 10 million miles. More than 8,400 shipments have arrived by truck, according to Department of Energy (DOE) Carlsbad field office manager Dave Moody.
(KOB, 5/11/10)
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EPA will provide $400,000 to NMED to assess and conduct cleanup planning for potentially contaminated sites known as brownfields. Once a property has been assessed, NMED can access money from a $1.84 million American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Brownfields Revolving Loan Fund stimulus grant received earlier this year to assist in cleanup activities, redevelopment projects, and the creation of jobs for people living near brownfields. The grant will allocate $200,000 for petroleum-only sites and $200,000 for hazardous waste brownfields sites.
(NMED Press Release, 5/14/10)
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NMED released a preliminary draft rule for a cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NMED has not yet filed the draft rule with the New Mexico Environmental Improvement Board. The program would initially apply only to sources that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide per year. The draft rule defines the conditions that would allow New Mexico to implement the greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program as part of the Western Climate Initiative regional program, which includes California, Washington, Oregon, Utah, Montana, Arizona and New Mexico as well as the following Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec.
(NMED Press Release, 5/17/10)
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A federal appeals court refused to review a ruling upholding a Nuclear Regulatory Commissionn decision that will allow a company to leach uranium at an aquifer that supplies drinking water for 15,000 Navajos in northwestern New Mexico. The Santa Fe-based Environmental Law Center, which represents mining opponents, is looking at other legal options. The 10th U.S. Court of Appeals on Tuesday denied the opponents' request for a rehearing.
(KOB, 5/19/10)
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The Office of Natural Resources Trustee issued a draft restoration plan for New Mexico’s $1.12 million ASARCO natural resource damage settlement. The draft plan for New Mexico ASARCO Facilities addresses proposed restoration actions for natural resource damages caused by hazardous substance releases from five ASARCO facilities: the Blackhawk Mine in Grant County, the Deming Mill in Luna County, the Magdalena Mine in Socorro County, the Doña Ana Metals Survey site and the Stephenson-Bennett Mine in Doña Ana County.
(NMED Press Release, 5/20/10)
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Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is removing its first hazardous waste landfill that was used from 1944 to 1948 to dispose of materials used in the Manhattan Project; plutonium, assorted chemicals, building debris, soil, and trash were buried there. Los Alamos City Councilor Vincent Chiravalle said, "Eventually this land can be reclaimed and can used for housing projects, for business development projects, and to benefit Los Alamos County and northern New Mexico." The landfill cleanup must be completed before the end of the year, while the rest of the general area must be cleaned up by September 2011.
(KOB, 5/23/10)
- NMED reached a settlement agreement with Williams Four Corners LLC for $1.75 million in civil penalties and environmental projects to resolve alleged air quality violations at the company’s facilities in northwestern New Mexico. The projects under the agreement are expected to reduce VOC emissions by more than 400 tons per year. (NMED Press Release, 5/26/10)
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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.) |
| June 2010 |
*** Note: There will be no NMSHMM General/Luncheon Meeting in June ***
June 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 .
June 7, 5:00 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at AMEC Earth and Environmental, 8519 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque. All members are welcome.
June 10, 11:30 am, 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 .
| July 2010 |
July 6, 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 .
July 8, 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 .
July 20, 5:00 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at Kelly Bowles’ house. All members are welcome. Please call 505-345-3481 x115 for the address and directions.
July 21, 6:00 pm, NMSHMM Evening Meeting in Santa Fe, at the Tiny’s, 1015 Pen Road, Santa Fe. The speaker for this event will be Mr. Mike Bowen, Executive Director of the New Mexico Mining Association. Please contact for menu options and to make reservations.
| August 2010 |
August 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 .
August 8, NMSHMM Annual Isotopes Night. All-you-can-eat food and your seat cost $25 per person. Reservations are first-come, first-serve for the 20ish slots we have. Please make your reservations early by emailing .
August 12, 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 .
August 17, 5:00 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at AMEC Earth and Environmental, 8519 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque. All members are welcome.
August 18, 11:30 am, NMSHMM Luncheon/General Meeting at Golden Corral (10415 Central NE, northeast of Eubank) in Albuquerque. David Strasser, NMED, and Eric Johnson, Marron and Associates, will speak about Katrina disaster recovery and response - 4.5 years later. This will also be an opportunity for meeting attendees to discuss the BP oil spill, which has affected some of the same areas.
| September 2010 |
September 7, 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 .
September 9, 11:30 am. 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 .
September 12-15, Alliance of Hazardous Materials Managers (AHMP) National Conference in Atlanta, GA. For more information, visit AHMP web site at www.netforumachmm.org.
September 21, 5:00 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at AMEC Earth and Environmental, 8519 Jefferson NE, Albuquerque. All members are welcome.
September 22, 11:30 am. NMSHMM General/Luncheon Meeting, at the Golden Corral (10415 Central Avenue 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)
Last Update: February 24, 2010
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!