Cleaning up and redeveloping Brownfields facilitates job growth, increases local tax bases, utilizes existing infrastructure, and improves the environment – a win, win, win, win! To advance understanding of states and federal Brownfield programs and opportunities, the Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA), the Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities (TAB) program at the University of Connecticut (UConn), and state and federal partners are organizing a regional Summit.
The goals of the Summit are to:
- Share information about the financial incentives, liability protections, and technical and other assistance available for brownfields development from federal and state governments
- Promote best practice and lessons learned across states
- Provide an opportunity to increase networking and information-sharing among key stakeholders
Co-organizers & Partners
Co-organizer: University of Connecticut Technical Assistance to Brownfield (TAB) Communities Program. The UConn TAB supports New England communities with advancing investigation, cleanup, and redevelopment of abandoned, potentially contaminated sites; protecting public health; and promoting environmental justice.
Environmental Agency Brownfield Programs Partners:
- EPA Region 1
- CT Department of Energy & Environmental Protection
- ME Department of Environmental Protection
- Penobscot Indian Nation (Maine)
- MA Department of Environmental Protection
- NH Department of Environmental Services
- RI Department of Environmental Management
- VT Department of Environmental Conservation
Economic Development Agencies Partners:
- CT Department of Economic & Community Development
- ME Department of Economic & Community Development
- MassDevelopment
- NH Department of Business & Economic Affairs
- RI Commerce Corporation
- VT Agency of Commerce & Community Development
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Thank you to our Summit Sponsors |
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NEWMOA has partnered with the Northeast Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), and others to organize this regional Conference. The Conference will take place in-person April 5-6, 2022 at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel and Trade Center in Marlborough, MA. The goals of the Conference are to:
- Ensure that local, state, and federal action to address PFAS contamination is informed by the most current and reliable science
- Facilitate networking and information-sharing among key stakeholders on PFAS topics
- Identify important gaps in the science and policy to help inform future research
NEWMOA expects Conference attendance to be approximately 600 people, including:
- Local, state, and federal government officials
- Academic researchers and students
- Consultants and vendors
- Companies that use, make, or sell products that contain PFAS
- Non-governmental and environmental organizations
The Conference will include plenary and concurrent sessions and an exhibit and poster area. The concurrent sessions are anticipated to cover:
- Health Impacts & Environmental Behavior
- Treatment, Remediation, & Disposal
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PFAS Uses & Alternatives
- Environmental Sampling & Analysis
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Solid Waste & Sustainable Materials Management |
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Upcoming Joint Free NEWMOA-NERC Webinars
Food Waste Reduction Strategies & Tools for Businesses & Institutions
Wednesday, April 20, 2022, 1:00 – 2:30 Eastern
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There are many opportunities for commercial and institutional generators to reduce their food waste. This free webinar will feature information on available tools and strategies for these generators. The presenters will share case studies highlighting effective approaches as well as lessons they have learned. They will also highlight available tools for measuring food waste generation and tracking progress. Presenters include:
- Coryanne Mansell, Center for EcoTechnology: "Preventing & Reducing Wasted Food: Success Stories"
- John Short, IV., PHOOD: “Using AI to Reduce Food Waste: Victories & Challenges”
The webinar will include a half hour for Q&A.
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Tuesday, May 3, 2022, 1:00 – 2:30 Eastern
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Extended producer responsibility (EPR) proposals for managing used gas cylinders are emerging in the U.S. This free webinar will cover the growing problem of discarded gas cylinders, why EPR policies are a solution, the results of a recent report covering this topic by a major producer, and how the EPR programs in Canada are working. Presenters include:
- Jennifer Heaton-Jones, Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority
- Peter Hargreaves, Policy Integrity Inc.
- Annie Lane, Worthington Industries
- Mary Cummins, Resource Productivity & Recovery Authority (based in Ontario)
The webinar will include a half hour for Q&A.
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Purchasing Standards for Low Carbon Concrete
Wednesday, June 1, 2022, 1:00 – 2:30 Eastern
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This webinar is co-sponsored by NEWMOA, NERC, and the West Coast Climate and Materials Management Forum (WCCMMF). Concrete is a critical building material. However, the cement binder used in concrete is responsible for around eight per cent of humanmade CO2 emissions. This free webinar will explore low carbon concrete options and the growing number of purchasing standards that state and local governments have developed to give preference for these alternatives. Presenters include:
- Jordan Palmeri, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (OR DEQ): “Low Carbon Concrete: Lessons from Oregon”
- Kate Simonen, University of Washington: “Buy Clean Policy & Low Carbon Concrete”
- Dorian Bailey, The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey: “Clean Construction: Low Carbon Concrete”
The webinar will include about a half hour for Q&A.
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Recent NEWMOA/NERC Joint Webinar |
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End Markets for Finished Compost
Just as with traditional recyclables, closing the loop is essential for successful organics management. The loop is closed with the productive use of finished compost. This webinar, jointly hosted by NERC and NEWMOA, discussed end market applications and examples from organizations that compost food and other organics. Presenters included:
- Debra Darby, Tetra Tech, Moderator
- Charles Duprey, Naturcycle LLC
- Maria Bianchetti, OCRRA
- Emma Yates, & Ryan Cerrato, WeCare Denali
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2021 NEWMOA Annual Report |
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NEWMOA celebrated its 35th Anniversary in 2021 along with the 20th Anniversary of IMERC and the 10th Anniversary of the IC2. Both of these national programs evolved out of NEWMOA’s long term priorities to address chemicals of concern in products, materials, and waste. NEWMOA was able to reach these milestones because of the critical work of our Boards of Directors, Steering and other Committees, Workgroups, and project partners. We greatly appreciate their many contributions over the past 35 years.
Despite the pandemic, NEWMOA accomplished many important milestones in 2021, which are described in its Annual Report: https://www.newmoa.org/publications/Annual2021.pdf. For a quick overview of our accomplishments, check out “NEWMOA-by the-Numbers” and “Highlights.”
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Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse |
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As of February 14, 2022, the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse is now hosted by NEWMOA. The nine member states of the Clearinghouse (CA, CT, IA, MN, NH, NJ, NY, RI, and WA) thank the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), Executive Director Lynn Rubinstein, and the NERC Board of Directors and staff for hosting and working with the Clearinghouse for many years. TPCH members look forward to ongoing collaboration with both NEWMOA and NERC on toxics in packaging and other areas of mutual interest.
The Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) maintains the Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation and coordinates implementation of state legislation, based on the Model, on behalf of its member states, with the goal of promoting consistency across states. TPCH is a resource and single point of contact for companies seeking information on toxics in packaging requirements or an exemption. In February 2021, the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) announced the organization’s 2021 update to their Model Toxics in Packaging Legislation. The previous version of the Model (as revised in 2012) can be found here. The update includes the addition of the class of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and ortho-phthalates as regulated chemicals, as well as new processes and criteria for identifying and regulating additional chemicals of high concern in packaging. The previous (prior to 2021) TPCH Model Legislation and laws enacted in 19 states prohibit the intentional use of cadmium, lead, mercury, and hexavalent chromium in any finished package or packaging component. The laws also limit the total incidental concentration of the four metals to 100 ppm. For more information, visit: https://toxicsinpackaging.org/.
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NEWMOA Board of Directors |
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NEWMOA's Board of Directors met virtually in early March to discuss state and EPA waste, toxics, PFAS, and pollution prevention challenges and NEWMOA's FY 2022 finances, projects, and strategic priorities.
NEWMOA’s FY 2022 Officers:
- Mike Wimsatt, NH DES, Chair
- Greg Cooper, Mass DEP, Vice Chair
- Leo Hellested, RI DEM, Treasurer
Additional FY 2022 Board members:
- Robert Isner, CT DEEP
- Graham Stevens, CT DEEP
- Susanne Miller, ME DEP
- Diane Baxter, Mass DEP
- Tiffany Skogstrom, Mass OTA
- Kathryn Black, NH DES
- Mike Hastry, NJ DEP
- John Vana, NYSDEC
- William Ottaway, NYSDEC
- Ron Gagnon, RI DEM
- Matt Chapman, VT DEC
FY 2022 Program Chairs:
- Tom Killeen, NYSDEC - Hazardous Waste
- Saskia van Bergen, WA Ecology - Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2)
- Tom Metzner, CT DEEP - Interstate Mercury Education & Reduction Clearinghouse (IMERC)
- Kathryn Black, NH DES - Pollution Prevention & Sustainability
- Chris Nelson, CT DEEP - Solid Waste & Sustainable Materials Management
- John Gilkeson, MN PCA – Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse
- Trish Coppolino, VT DEC - Waste Site Cleanup
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news@NEWMOA is designed to help our members and colleagues keep informed about the Association's projects and activities. You are receiving this e-newsletter because you are a member of a NEWMOA working group, committee, or program; invitee to NEWMOA events; a colleague at EPA or a related organization; connected to the Association in some other way; or have expressed interest in our work. news@NEWMOA contributors include Krishana Abrahim-Petrie, Andy Bray, Terri Goldberg, Jennifer Griffith, Lois Makina, and Melissa Lavoie.
If you have questions about the delivery of this e-newsletter, contact Lois Makina, lmakina@newmoa.org.
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Follow us on NEWMOA’s Facebook page! We use Facebook to post notices about our events, new publications and information resources, projects, and members. We’d love to hear your ideas for how to make our Facebook page engaging and helpful. Check it out by searching for Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA). |
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Leading the Northeast to a sustainable, waste-free future
NEWMOA is a non-profit, non-partisan, interstate association whose membership is composed of the state environment agency programs that address pollution prevention, toxics use reduction, sustainability, materials management, hazardous waste, solid waste, emergency response, waste site cleanup, underground storage tanks, and related environmental challenges in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
NEWMOA provides a strategic forum for effectively solving environmental problems through collaborative regional initiatives that advance pollution prevention and sustainability, promote safer alternatives to toxic materials in products, identify and assess emerging contaminants, facilitate adaption to climate change, mitigate greenhouse gas sources, promote reuse and recycling of wastes and diversion of organics; support proper management of hazardous and solid wastes, and facilitate clean-up of contaminant releases to the environment.
NEWMOA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
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