|
All of us at NEWMOA hope that this newsletter finds you healthy and safe during this COVID-19 crisis.
We think of you often as we respond and adjust to this new reality.
|
| Best Wishes to Rich Bizzozero in His Retirement |
Rich Bizzozero has worked for the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance and Technology (Mass OTA)
and the state's Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) program for more than 24 years. For more than seven years, he has been the OTA Director. In addition to his OTA responsibilities, Rich serves as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Administrative Council, a policy-making body that reviews proposed regulations and chemical policies to protect the health and safety of workers and the public at large and promotes increased coordination in the enforcement of toxics laws and regulations statewide. Rich has played key roles in several TURA initiatives and has worked collaboratively on projects with other state and federal agencies. He has developed and led numerous trainings on regulatory compliance and pollution prevention for industry, as well as state and federal personnel. He is a 2015 recipient of EPA's Environmental Merit Lifetime Achievement Award. He retired from OTA in mid-April.
Rich became active in NEWMOA's programs starting in the 1990s. He joined the NEWMOA Board of Directors in 2007 and was the Board Chair in FY 2017. He has chaired NEWMOA's Pollution Prevention and Sustainability Program since 2017.
|
|
|
|
We only have space in this newsletter to highlight a handful of Rich's numerous contributions to NEWMOA. He has been active on many NEWMOA Workgroups and has made critical contributions to NEWMOA's strategic planning efforts. He has provided leadership on the regional efforts to reduce well known toxic chemicals, and in recent years his focus turned to eliminating sources of PFAS contamination.
He has been a particularly strong supporter of NEWMOA's efforts to develop and manage the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2). Over his entire career, he has been a critical contributor to initiatives to integrate prevention strategies into the ongoing work of environmental agencies.
Rich has been an invaluable colleague and friend to the NEWMOA staff and his colleagues on the Board. All of us will miss his leadership, good humor, passion for toxics use reduction, insights, hard work, and dedication. We wish him all the best in his next adventure.
|
| Northeast Conference on the Science of PFAS: Public Health & the Environment |
|
In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, NEWMOA postponed its
Science of PFAS
Conference from the end of March to December 1-2, 2020. It will take place at the Sheraton Framingham Hotel and Conference Center. All registrations, exhibits, and sponsorships have been transferred to the new dates. If you registered for the Conference and are unable to attend on the December dates, complete the
online form
to cancel your registration and initiate a refund.
We have reserved a block of rooms for November 30 and December 1 and 2 at the same $139 per night room rate. Reservations can be made online with the hotel or by referencing "Northeast Waste Management" when calling. For more information about the hotel, visit their website.
NEWMOA partnered with the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), the Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management (NESCAUM), the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), and others to organize the regional Conference
. 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
The Conference was sold out when NEWMOA had to postpone. We are working with the Hotel to see if we can increase the capacity. If you are interested in attending the Conference and did not register already, please check the Conference webpage in June for more information on whether space is available.
NEWMOA expects Conference attendance to include:
- 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 will cover:
- Environmental Behavior
- Toxicology and Health Effects
- Environmental Sampling and Analysis
- Treatment and Remediation
- PFAS Uses and Alternatives
|
 |
NEWMOA's
Brownfields Summit
will bring together key stakeholders in Devens, MA to help advance and accelerate redevelopment of contaminated properties in the region. 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 New England
- Provide an opportunity to increase networking in the region and information-sharing among key stakeholders
The October 7-8 Summit will include plenary and break-out sessions and an exhibit area. There will be ample time during the breaks for networking and viewing the exhibits. There will also be a reception during the evening of the first day.
The organizers expect approximately 300 people to attend, including representatives from:
- State, tribal, and federal government brownfields and waste site cleanup programs
- Local, regional, and state economic development agencies
- Real estate developers, financial institutions, and legal firms
- Planning and economic development consulting firms
- Local governments
- Interested citizen and non-governmental organizations
- Job training grantees
- Environmental professionals
NEWMOA is seeking additional Summit sponsors.
For more information, contact Jennifer Griffith
.
|
Waste Site Cleanup & Hazardous Waste
|
|
RCRA Compliance at Cleanup Sites Webinar Series
NEWMOA offered a series of four free webinars on RCRA compliance at cleanup sites that wrapped up in February.
|
| Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse (IC2) |
Chemical Ingredient Transparency Project
In 2019, Clean Production Action (CPA) and the IC2 undertook a partnership, funded by The New York Community Trust, to find common ground among key stakeholders on chemical ingredient transparency policies and programs.
The diversity of transparency mandates at the state level has steadily increased over the past ten years. The States of California, Maine, New York, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington have enacted requirements for public disclosure of chemicals of concern in cleaning products and/or children's products. Other states have established requirements for labeling products and packaging for the presence of mercury. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) frequently advocate greater disclosure across supply chains; and retailers, including giants like Walmart, have established requirements for ingredient disclosure by their suppliers. Ecolabels, such as the U.S. EPA's Safer Choice, require chemical ingredient transparency to meet their criteria.
These transparency initiatives confront similar types of challenges. Businesses that operate in multiple jurisdictions find it difficult to participate in or comply with the growing array of requests and requirements. Advocates and the public often have trouble locating the chemical ingredient information when they need it. Businesses and government agencies developing environmentally preferable purchasing specifications are demanding chemical ingredient information and having to navigate and interpret the complex landscape of disclosure information that is available. These stakeholders-governments, businesses, NGOs, and researchers-could benefit greatly from a set of common principles and data practices.
Beginning in the second quarter of 2019, the IC2 and CPA convened business, government, and NGO stakeholders to develop common principles and criteria for chemical transparency policy. By convening key stakeholders, the IC2 and CPA hope to accelerate state and local policy development, industry action, and government programs that focus on disclosure of toxic chemicals in products. Chemical ingredient transparency frequently nudges companies to develop safer alternatives and avoid toxic chemicals; it also provides NGOs and governments with the knowledge of where toxic chemicals are used, thereby identifying priority chemicals for undertaking various policy actions.
CPA and IC2 convened a national meeting of Transparency Project participants on December 12, 2019, in Cambridge, MA. The 32 participants represented 29 organizations: 9 businesses, 8 governments, and 12 NGOs. The goal of the meeting was to make substantial progress on drafting a more complete list of transparency principles, with an agreement on next steps for their approval and adoption. The group held far-ranging and robust discussions. A group of volunteers formed a small group to continue the discussion and help CPA and IC2 finalize the draft principles.
|
| Solid Waste & Sustainable Materials Management |
What's New with Reducing & Recovering Wasted Food?
Free Joint NEWMOA/NERC webinar
Thursday, May 21, 1:00 PM EST
The presenters will share the latest ideas and information on reducing wasted food and recovering and diverting what can't be reduced. Topics that will be covered include new tools and information from ReFED and on date labeling of food.
Presenters:
- Ariel Maria Ardura, Clinical Fellow, Harvard University, Food Law & Policy Clinic
- Katy Franklin, Operations Manager, ReFED
T
he Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic (FLPC) serves partner organizations and communities by providing guidance on cutting-edge food system issues, while engaging law students in the practice of food law and policy. Specifically, FLPC focuses on increasing access to healthy foods, supporting sustainable production and regional food systems, and reducing waste of healthy, wholesome food.
ReFED is a multi-stakeholder nonprofit, powered by an influential network of the nation's leading business, nonprofit foundation, and government leaders committed to reducing U.S. food waste. ReFED takes a data-driven approach to move the food system from acting on instinct to insights to solve our national food waste problem.
Workshop on Use of Recycled Content in Roadway Projects
This workshop was originally scheduled for April and has been postponed to November 17, 2020. It will take place at the NH DES offices,
29 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.
The Workshop is co-sponsored by NERC and NEWMOA in partnership with the
Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA), Maine Resource Recovery Association (M
RRA), the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Transportation, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services and Department of Transportation, and the New Hampshire Technology Transfer Center.
This special one-day workshop will provide new insights and examples of practical applications. Presentations will address:
- Plastic corrugated drainage pipes with recycled content
- Ground asphalt for roads
- Use of crumb rubber in roads
- Processed glass aggregate
EPR for Packaging & Paper Products White Paper
NEWMOA and NERC have published a
White Paper
(
www.newmoa.org/solidwaste/EPR_for_PPP_White_Paper.pdf)
on extended producer responsibility (EPR) for packaging and paper products (PPP).
The goal of the White Paper is to provide state officials, policymakers, and affected industries with a baseline of shared knowledge on this topic.
The
Northeast Committee on the Environment
(NECOE), a program of the Coalition of Northeastern Governors (CONEG), requested that NEWMOA and NERC provide information about EPR for packaging and paper products to help them, other state officials, and others consider options for EPR for PPP. This White Paper provides an overarching understanding of the EPR system structure and design, requirements, and benefits. Last year, NEWMOA and NERC published a short introductory
Fact Sheet on EPR for Packaging and Paper Products
, and the White Paper is designed as a companion resource to provide more in-depth information about existing programs and proposals.
|
| 2019 NEWMOA Annual Report |
|
In Fiscal Year 2019, NEWMOA focused on making progress on several important long-term projects that will come to fruition in the next few years. Taking action on emerging contaminants is one of our key strategic priorities, and throughout the year NEWMOA continued its important work to support state actions on PFAS.
Some of our other 2019 highlights include:
- High Priority Chemicals Data System
- Planned a two-day "Science of PFAS Conference"
- Offered multiple training opportunities for waste site cleanup consultants and agency staff
- Revitalizing New England, Brownfields Summit 2020 to be held on October 7-8, 2020
- Climate and Materials Fact Sheet
- Recycled Content Materials in Road Projects
|
|
| NEWMOA Board of Directors |
|
NEWMOA's Board of Directors met virtually in mid-March to discuss state and EPA waste, toxics, PFAS, and pollution prevention challenges and NEWMOA's FY 2020 projects, funding, and strategic priorities.
|
|
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
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 a related organization or EPA; connected to the Association in some other way; or have expressed interest in our work. n
ews@NEWMOA contributors include: Andy Bray, Topher Buck, Terri Goldberg, Jennifer Griffith, and Lois Makina.
If you have questions about delivery of this e-Newsletter, contact Lois Makina.
Please share this newsletter with others in your agency or organization that might be interested.
|
| NEWMOA is on Facebook & LinkedIn |
Follow us on
NEWMOA's Facebook page! We are now using 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).
|
|
NEWMOA is an equal opportunity employer and provider
|
|
|
|
|
