Track A
Technologies & Techniques
Using Artificial Intelligence for Remediation
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm, setting records for the fastest growing user base in history (100 million active users in two months). Panelists will discuss current AI technologies, and the diverse opinions on their potential applications and implications for the remediation practice and industry.
Moderator:
Melissa Asher, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Speakers:
Dylan Adams, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
Dan Pankani, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Lingzi Wu, University of Washington
Advanced Water Treatment During Remediation
Water treatment has always been a critical component during remediation projects throughout the Northwest. Join the panelists as they discuss three diverse approaches to advanced water treatment during remediation. This session will cover in situ groundwater treatment for high concentrations of metals such as arsenic, the combination of large- and small-scale water treatment systems to target high levels of hydrocarbons at fuel stations, and the ability to couple the emerging technologies of foam fractionation and hydrothermal alkaline treatment to address PFAS.
Moderator:
Zoe Wickline, Clear Creek Systems
Speakers:
Piper Roelen, Landau Associates, Inc.
Alex de Marne, Aquagga Inc.
Zoe Wickline, Clear Creek Systems
New Techniques in Vapor Intrusion Assessment
Exposure limits from vapor-forming chemicals such as trichloroethylene and benzene have raised concerns about Vapor Intrusion (VI) and its impact on project requirements. Examine the latest investigation and mitigation techniques in this evolving discipline and how to address different attenuation factors and their influence on investigative techniques and methodologies.
Moderator:
Lisa Goode Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Speakers:
Henning Larsen, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
Clare Tochilin, SoundEarth Strategies, Inc.
Track B
Science & Regulation
Understanding Source Control: Site Investigation & Cleanup
Source control includes site investigation and cleanup, inspections, controlling stormwater and combined sewer overflows, and coordination among multiple stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes. Panelists will share their perspectives and updates on broad source control efforts that affect major waterways in the Pacific Northwest.
Moderator:
Audrey Hackett, Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc.
Speakers:
Jessica Glenn, Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc.
Rob Healy, Port of Tacoma
Anthony Wenke, Washington State Department of Ecology
Sustainable Remediation: Resiliency & Green Remediation
Incorporating sustainable remediation into the cleanup process will allow us to improve resilience of cleanup remedies to climate change impacts as well as increase the environmental benefits and minimize environmental impacts from the cleanup process. Panelists will provide an update on Ecology’s sustainable remediation guidance, how sustainable and green remediation practices may be applied at sites across Washington State, and examples where sustainable remediation concepts have been applied at the Port of Everett.
Moderator:
Mike Ehlebracht, Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Chance Asher, Washington State Department of Ecology
Erik Gerking, Port of Everett
Daniele Spirandelli, Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Sediment Remediation: Next Generation Challenges
The Northwest is home to several high-profile, complex sediment Superfund sites. Join our panel of expert practitioners as they explore and examine a broad range of evolving challenges for contaminated sediment sites. The first presentation rethinks the state of practice in allocating remedial liability for multi-party megasites, where even de minimis parties may face extraordinary economic risk. In light of the potential magnitude of cumulative risk, it considers alternative strategies for billion-plus-dollar sediment “gigasites.” The second presentation describes the successful application of modeling in several source control sufficiency assessments. Inadequate source control is a common cause of remedy failure, and sufficiency assessments have been required by EPA Region 10 for the Lower Duwamish Waterway and Portland Harbor Superfund Sites. The third presentation focuses on balancing restoration and remediation. Restoration is expected to provide expanding benefit value in watershed-scale contaminated sediment management where remediation may be constrained.
Rethinking Allocation Strategies and Economic Risk at Superfund Sediment Megasites by Trajan Perez, Miller Nash LLP
Using A Small-Scale Sediment Contamination Model, TIGSED, When Conducting Source Control Sufficiency Assessments by Jill DeMars, TIG Environmental
Headache to Habitat: A Case Study Where Remediation Meets Restoration by Jessica Blanchette, Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Moderator:
Helder Costa, Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Speakers:
Jessica Blanchette, Haley & Aldrich, Inc.
Jill DeMars, TIG Environmental
Trajan Perez, Miller Nash LLP
Track C
Brownfields
Managing PFAS at Brownfield Sites
In the field of land reuse and brownfields redevelopment looking for per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances is not required unless the property in question is located in one of the states where PFAS are regulated, such as Washington. However, once PFAS are federally designated to be hazardous substances, identifying potential PFAS sources within or near a property planned for redevelopment will no longer depend on what state you are in, especially when applying for federal brownfields funding. Panelists will address key questions including: What are PFAS and why are they so persistent? When should you look for PFAS? What is the current regulatory status of PFAS? What are the steps to take when redeveloping a property that may have PFAS? And more!
Moderator:
Priscilla Tomlinson, Washington State Department of Ecology
Ivy Anderson, Washington State Office of the Attorney General
Bob Anderson, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Arianne Fernandez, Washington State Department of Ecology
The Recipe for Success: Building Strong Project Partnerships
For over two decades, the Port of Bellingham and the City of Bellingham have worked individually and together along with partner agencies to clean up legacy contamination in Bellingham Bay. Many of the sites they have cleaned up are now parks and trails or are home to new affordable housing, marine trade businesses, restaurants, yoga studios, and even a bicycle pump track and outdoor music venue. The cleanups and redevelopment owe much of the success to the establishment of very cohesive partnerships. GP West, Central Waterfront, and Whatcom Waterway are a few of the cleaned up and redeveloped sites benefiting from the enduring partnerships. What makes this partnership work? What are some of the lessons learned when building partnerships? How do you build partnerships with the community as well as the regulating authority? How do you work together to obtain funding? These are just some of the many questions that the Port and the City will explore. Be sure to join this informative and insightful session to learn about this decades-long partnership.
Moderator:
Benjamin Johnson, GSI Water Solutions, Inc.
Brian Gouran, Port of Bellingham
Amy Kraham, City of Bellingham
Brownfields Success Stories from Small and Rural Communities
Redeveloping brownfields improves public health by cleaning up contamination and transforms derelict properties into new opportunities. Reclaiming lost properties and reutilizing them for the benefit of the community and the economy results in some truly amazing success stories. Panelists will share examples of transformative redevelopment projects that have enhanced and enriched their communities.
Moderator:
Ali Furmall, Washington State Department of Ecology
Phil Wiescher, Maul Foster & Alongi, Inc.
Michael Echanove, City of Palouse
Jay Hester, Port of Sunnyside
Patricia Love, City of Stanwood
Sandy Treccani, Washington State Department of Ecology