May 2008 - PUBLIC EDITION

• Plans
• Vote For A New NMSHMM Logo (members only)
• Committee News
  • Programs/Special Events: May 21 NMSHMM Spring Field Trip
  • Government Affairs and Local News Stories
• Upcoming Meetings and Events
• Monthly Meeting Location
• Job Openings
• NMSHMM Officers and Committee Chairs

Plans
Brian Pence, CHMM
Assaigai Analytical Laboratories, Inc.

Greetings. I want to thank our April luncheon speaker, Richie Spangler, CHMM, for sharing his thoughts and reflections from his recent trip to India to participate in their Essentials of Hazardous Materials Management presentation. It is fascinating to learn how other countries and cultures approach hazmat issues. Many of the challenges we face on a day-to-day basis are the same across the globe, such as enforcement and implementation of laws and regulations.

Please join NMSHMM for our spring field trip on May 21, from 12:00-1:00pm (lunch to follow the tour). We will be visiting the new, state-of-the-art Arsenic Removal Demonstration Facility on the west side. This will be a behind-the-scenes look at how Albuquerque is working to meet Federal drinking water standards for Arsenic in water. Please make your reservations now.

Please remember to renew your NMSHMM and Academy of Certified Hazardous Materials Managers (ACHMM) dues for the current year. Renewal is easy via the ACHMM or NMSHMM websites. If you are not a member yet, I encourage you to join. Your membership enables our local group and the national organization to continue to provide valuable services to our members and the community around us. Thank you.

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Vote For A New NMSHMM Logo - Deadline Monday, May 19 at 5 PM

The Roadrunner is Dead! Long Live the Roadrunner! Admit it, you thought it was a chicken, didn't you? (Don't worry, you're not alone.)

It's time to give the NMSHMM logo a makeover and we need your help. Below are three choices for a replacement. If you are a member and are viewing the PRIVATE version of this newsletter, there is an email link under each version that will allow you to vote for your favorite. ONE VOTE PER MEMBER, please. The deadline to receive your vote is just a few days away - 5 PM on Monday, May 19. Brian Pence will receive all the votes and tally them to determine our winner. The new logo will make its debut later this year on our redesigned NMSHMM website.

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Committee News

May 21 NMSHMM Spring Field Trip - RSVP by Monday, May 19 at 5 PM

What: Join your fellow NMSHMMers, friends and co-workers and take a FREE tour of the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority’s Arsenic Removal Demonstration Facility at 8901 Desert Rain NW, Albuquerque.

When: Wednesday, May 21, 2008; 12:00-1:00 p.m., lunch to follow the tour

Description: The Arsenic Removal Facility is a state-of-the-art 5 MGD treatment facility built to remove naturally occurring arsenic from College Wells No. 1 and No. 2. This is the largest arsenic facility in New Mexico and utilizes a coagulation/ microfiltration process configuration.

Speaker: Kerrie Greenfelder, P.E.: Mrs. Greenfelder is a Project Engineer for CDM in their Albuquerque office. She has worked on numerous wastewater and water projects (including this Arsenic Facility) throughout New Mexico.

Lunch: Immediately following the tour in the park adjacent to the Arsenic Removal Facility.
Bring your own or order a box lunch* (Ham & Swiss, Turkey & Provolone, Chicken Salad or Three Cheese) for $12.00 with drink.

RSVP, including choice of lunch, by COB, May 19, 2008: Brian Pence ()

Driving Directions to the Arsenic Removal Facility (from I-40):

• Take I-40 West to Unser Boulevard. Exit on Unser and turn right (north).
• Follow Unser north to Tierra Pintada (second stoplight).
• Turn left onto Tierra Pintada.
• Take Tierra Pintada west to the end to West Creek.
• Turn right (north) onto West Creek.
• Turn right (east) onto Desert Rain.
• Site entrance is a dirt path on the left (north) side, right next to the community park.

Special Instructions: Close-toed shoes only please. No-shows will be billed for lunch, if ordered.

To view a printable PDF flyer with all of this information, please click here.

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Government Affairs and Local News Stories
Compiled by Barry Birch, CHMM, and Eric Johnson, AICP, CHMM

The following are news stories reported during the past month:

• NMED and the Department of Energy’s Carlsbad Field Office agreed to a $110,700 settlement for an errant waste drum sent to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP). The drum, sent from the Idaho National Laboratory in August 2007, contained liquids. Drums are prohibited from containing liquids under WIPP’s permit because of the potential for leaks or potentially explosive materials. (Albuquerque Journal, 4-2-08)
   
• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated 1,305 acres in Chavez, Cibola, and Guadalupe Counties as critical habitat for the Pecos sunflower. The sunflower is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. (Albuquerque Journal, 4-2-08)
   
• Rockology filed an application with Santa Fe County in January to create a mining zone. The company proposes to mine hard basalt rock on a 50-acre tract south of the I-25 Waldo Canyon exit. Local residents are opposing the proposal. (Santa Fe New Mexican, 4-7-08)
   
• Citizen Action wants the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) to impose standards at the mixed-waste landfill at Sandia National Laboratories that would be equivalent to the standards used at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). In response, James Bearzi of the NMED Hazardous Waste Bureau said that extensive monitoring over a decade found no groundwater contamination at the landfill. (Santa Fe New Mexican, 4-11-08)
   
• Santa Fe Gold intends to mine for gold and other minerals on 57,267 acres at the Ortiz Mine Grant in Santa Fe County. The company does not intend to use cyanide in their gold extraction process. Santa Fe Gold has yet to start the process of obtaining government approval and permits, which is expected to take two or three years. (Albuquerque Journal, 4-16-08)
   
• Acequia Madre Elementary School will be the first Santa Fe school to switch to using green cleaning supplies. The cleaning products will not contain the strong chemicals found in typical cleaning supplies but won’t leave the “clean” smell of traditional products. (Santa Fe New Mexican, 4-19-08)
   
• San Juan County was ranked as the nation’s sixth highest county for carbon dioxide emissions according to a Science Daily article by Kevin Gurney of Purdue University. According to Mary Uhl of the NMED Air Quality Bureau, the main contributors to the county’s carbon dioxide emissions are two coal-fired power plants: Public Service Company of New Mexico’s San Juan Generating Station and Arizona Public Service’ Four Corners Power Plant. (Albuquerque Journal, 4-29-08)

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Upcoming Meetings & Events

May 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. Speaker to be announced.

May 20, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at CDM offices, 6000 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 200. All members are welcome.

May 21, 12:00 pm, NMSHMM Spring Field Trip to the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority’s Arsenic Removal Demonstration Facility (see article in this newsletter). RSVP to  by May 19.

June 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. Speaker to be announced.

SPECIAL DAY: June 18, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at CDM offices, 6000 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 200. All members are welcome.

SPECIAL DAY: June 19, 11:30 am, NMSHMM Luncheon/General Meeting at Uptown Sports Bar and Grill, 6601 Uptown Boulevard NE, Albuquerque. Speaker to be announced.

July 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. Speaker to be announced.

July 15, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at CDM offices, 6000 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 200. All members are welcome.

July 16, 11:30 am, NMSHMM Luncheon/General Meeting at Uptown Sports Bar and Grill, 6601 Uptown Boulevard NE, Albuquerque.  Stephen Connolly, NMED ER Coordinator, will give a presentation on the Clandestine Laboratory Program, which is the statewide regulatory approach for clandestine laboratory cleanups.

August 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. Speaker to be announced.

August 19, 5:30 pm, NMSHMM Board Meeting at CDM offices, 6000 Uptown Blvd. NE, Suite 200. All members are welcome.

August 20, 11:30 am, NMSHMM Luncheon/General Meeting at Uptown Sports Bar and Grill, 6601 Uptown Boulevard NE, Albuquerque. Speaker to be announced.

Did we miss something? To get your event added to the calendar please contact Eric Johnson at .

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Monthly Meeting Location

Our regular monthly meetings are held at Uptown Sports Bar and Grill (6601 Uptown Boulevard Northeast; 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.

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Job Openings

For the latest job openings, please click here.  (MEMBERS ONLY)

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NMSHMM OFFICERS AND COMMITTEE CHAIRS

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Please send contributions for future newsletters to Eric Johnson at . Thanks!

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