Track A
Fundamentals
Industrial Fundamentals
Learn basic elements of the Washington State Industrial Stormwater General Permit and what should be included in your site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). Discover ideas on how to conduct contaminant source control, and implementation of appropriate BMPs to meet benchmarks, and learn invaluable tips and tricks to navigate the Department of Ecology Water Quality Portal like a pro.
Moderator:
Jason Magnussen, Pro-Vac, LLC
Speakers:
Anita Fichthorn, Port of Tacoma
Stacy Patterson, Farallon Consulting
Tonya Wolfe, Washington State Department of Ecology
Municipal Fundamentals
Gain a thorough understanding of the basic elements of municipal stormwater management including general permit requirements and enforcement; watershed planning; source control; creating Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs); proper sampling techniques; and the most common Best Management Practices (BMPs) in municipal settings.
Moderator:
Jennifer Schmitz, Clear Water Services
Speakers:
Jana Braaten, Port of Seattle
Eli Mackiewicz, City of Bellingham Public Works Department
Alison Schweitzer, King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks
Construction Fundamentals
Gain a thorough understanding of the basic elements of construction stormwater management including general permit requirements and enforcement; creating a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP); implementing sediment and erosion control measures; and the most common Best Management Practices (BMPs) in construction settings.
Moderator:
Duncan Medlin, Clear Water Services
Speakers:
Ashley Baldwin, Encore Environmental, LLC
Tyrone Clager, Clear Water Services
Alex Zimmerman, Creative Courses LLC
Track B
Industrial
Training the Trainers: Ensuring Success at Permitted Facilities
This session will outline common mistakes, basic steps to complete, and some of the best ways to focus limited time and money to ensure permit compliance at industrial facilities. Topics will include detailed discussions on development of your site-specific Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) and coordination with a third-party laboratory to ensure proper planning for collection of your compliance samples. Additionally, a Compliance Specialist from the Washington State Department of Ecology will discuss common mistakes frequently found during facility inspections (an Inspector’s View from the Field).
Moderator:
Derek Heitz, Clear Creek Systems, Inc.
Speakers:
Evan Dobrowski, Washington State Department of Ecology
Marie Holt, Spectra Laboratories
Meghan Veilleux, Landau Associates, Inc.
Advanced Issues Related to Facility Stormwater Monitoring
This session will address a range of topics related to facility stormwater monitoring and permit compliance. Panelists will cover the recent Pollution Control Hearings Board (PCHB) decision and the impact of that decision on the types of industrial activities and areas that require stormwater monitoring. The topic of “Substantially Identical Discharge Points” under the Industrial Permit will be discussed along with case study examples of the potential pitfalls with use of that sampling reduction option. Other subjects to be covered will be proper source trace sampling, use of Ecology’s water quality atlas to determine if the final discharge location is within a 303(d) impaired waterway, and the applicability of “consistent attainment” for TSS under certain circumstances.
Moderator:
Joe Kalmar, Landau Associates, Inc.
Speakers:
John Allen, Nisqually Environmental
Bradford Doll, Tupper Mack & Wells PLLC
Industrial Treatment Case Studies
Expert practitioners will present an informative set of case studies that illustrate successful treatment of varied, challenging, and problematic pollutants in industrial settings. Panelists will address site conditions; contaminant characterization; treatment selection process and alternatives; installation and operational results, and O&M costs.
Moderator:
Connie Sue Martin, Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt PC
Speakers:
Derek Heitz, Clear Creek Systems, Inc.
Kristine Sommer, Clear Water Services
Nathan Soccorsy, Anchor QEA
Track C
Municipal & Development
Developing A Stormwater Management Action Plan
This session will break down Ecology’s long-term municipal Stormwater Action Management Plan (SMAP) requirements and underlying goals; discuss strategies to characterize, protect, and improve receiving water health; and look at ways to integrate all of this into future development needs and opportunities. Please join Ecology staff along with others to discuss Phase I and II strategies to help you analyze the unique characteristics of your watershed and your jurisdiction.
Moderator:
Arianna Frender, Parametrix
Speakers:
Julie Brandt, Parametrix
Janet Geer, City of Bothell
Todd Hunsdorfer, King County
Christian Nilsen, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Abbey Stockwell, Washington State Department of Ecology
Alternative Financing: Public-Private Partnerships and Incentive Programs
Do you have a great watershed plan for your stormwater system and lack the funds to implement it, or are you a private developer looking for an opportunity to improve water quality beyond your project? Join us to discuss alternative financing mechanisms for stormwater utilities. Two national experts will discuss community base private public partnerships (CBP3) and stormwater crediting programs. We will also provide an overview of work by Washington State Department of Commerce on ways to finance stormwater work beyond utility rates and grants.
Moderator:
John Phillips, Parametrix
Speakers:
Seth Brown, Storm & Stream Solutions
Janet Clements, Corona Environmental Consulting, LLC
Troy Hunt, Geosyntec Consultants, Inc.
Infiltration System Case Studies
Infiltration is a great way to manage stormwater and now that it is a more common strategy, much is being learned about the broad range of systems and installations. Panelists will present a set of case studies that delve into site assessment; system design; BMPs (best management practices); monitoring of water quality and quantity; and maintenance for optimal performance.
Moderator:
Will Guyton, Aspect Consulting, LLC
Speakers:
Scott Kindred, Kindred Hydro, Inc.
John Knutson, Aspect Consulting, LLC
Erik Pruneda, Aspect Consulting, LLC
Erika Vossbeck, SoundEarth Strategies, Inc.
Track D
Science & Research
Looking Ahead: Adapting in the Time of COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically disrupted our world in ways that we never expected. Yet work with clients, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders has continued. With an eye on the future, panelists will discuss the impact COVID-19 has had on the environmental sector and what we might expect going forward as it relates to business continuity, agency engagement, and strategies for adapting operations and best practices as we gradually emerge from the pandemic.
Moderator:
Michael Nesteroff, Lane Powell PC
Speakers:
Nim Desai, SoundEarth Strategies, Inc.
David Giglio, Washington State Department of Ecology
PFAS Treatment: State of the Practice
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substances, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals”, are a category of thousands of man-made chemicals (including PFOS, PFOA and GenX). These chemicals don’t break down and can accumulate over time, so their presence can be extremely persistent in the environment. Amid mounting health concerns, regulations moved swiftly in 2020 and are expected to continue in 2021 with both state-level and EPA rulemaking in progress. Speakers will discuss methods for treating PFAS in stormwater applications, including pre-treatment, activated carbon, ion exchange, and ozofractionation.
Moderator:
TJ Mothersbaugh, WaterTectonics, Inc
Speakers:
Baxter Miatke, Arcadis
Cathy Swanson, Purolite
Christie Theys, Calgon Carbon Corporation
Microplastics in Stormwater
Microplastics might be small in size (generally less than 5 mm in diameter), but they are a big concern for our environment. There are significant levels of microplastics polluting the ocean, freshwater, and land. Microplastics are a growing concern across the globe. Research shows that it’s not just wildlife that is threatened by plastics in our water, humans are also ingesting these microplastics. Laundry from the Unites States and Canada alone produces nearly 1,000 tons of plastic microfibers that end up in our wastewater treatment plants. As a result, state regulators are beginning to look at controlling microplastics in water. Panelists will examine the occurrence of micorplastics in stormwater; efficacy of best management practices (BMPs); methodologies for microplastics analyses; and the latest research in microplastics toxicity.
Moderator:
Andrew Kaparos, Hart Crowser
Speakers:
Sarah Mass, Haley & Aldrich
Ruth Sofield, Western Washington University
Rick Zimmer, Eurofins