December2006

INTERSTATE TECHNOLOGY & REGULATORY COUNCIL

Board announces 2007 teamsOn December 5, the ITRC Board of Advisors madedecisions regarding the 2007 status of ITRC technicalteams. The Board decided that nine existing teamshave the necessary funding to continue operations into2007. Six new teams will start up in 2007 withoutfunding. As funding becomes available, these emer-gent teams will become active. Four teams will closeout in 2007.

Ongoing TeamsBioremediation of DNAPLsBrownfieldsEnhanced Attenuation: Chlorinated OrganicsPerchlorateRadionuclidesRemediation Process OptimizationRisk Assessment ResourcesSampling, Characterization, and MonitoringUnexploded Ordnance

Time investmentsDuring enrollment, applicants applying as memberspledge to commit at least 10% of their professional timeto advance ITRC projects. This time commitment canbe met in a variety of ways:� participating on team conference calls� attending ITRC meetings/conferences (based on an in-

kind contribution of time, states and stakeholders areprovided with travel funding for ITRC meetings)

� writing and reviewing documents� arranging site visits to facilities� providing educational information on technologies� providing market information on site technology needs

If you are unable to invest10% of your professionaltime but wish to con-tribute to ITRC projects,you may wish to partici-pate as an interested party.You can apply for this sta-tus on the membershipform. Federal employeesand industry participantscan apply for full mem-bership without pledgingtime.

In This Issue• Co-Chair Update• Changes to the Board• Michael Crain Remembered• Project Planning• Goodbye and Hello• 2006 Fall Meeting• ITRC Awardees• RPO Success Story• Highlight of a POC• Highlight of a Team Leader• Training Program

At this time each year, ITRC begins its effort to enrollnew members and get recommitments from existingmembers. This year the enrollment process has beenimproved—you can apply online for membership inITRC’s 2007 teams. To access the enrollment form,click on the “Membership” button (www.itrcweb.org/membership.asp) on the Web site. (The processrequires a browser that supports Java script.)

ITRC reaches out to diverse members of the environ-mental community and welcomes participants fromstate and federal agencies, industries, public interestgroups, universities, and tribes. One field on the formasks you to select the group that most accuratelydefines your affiliation. For you to qualify as an indus-try participant, your company must be a member ingood standing with the Industry Affiliates Program(IAP). For information on how your company can joinIAP, go to www.itrcweb.org/iap.asp.

Joining and recommitting to ITRC teamsAll ITRC teams urge current members to recommit byrenewing their membership. While ongoing and emer-gent teams (see 2007 teams article above) are seekingnew members, closing teams are not accepting newmembers. However, current members of closing teams(Alternative Landfill Technologies, Diffusion/PassiveSamplers, Ecological Land Reuse, and Vapor Intrusion)are urged to sign up for these teams to help in the order-ly closeout of their teams.

ITRC opens annual membership drive

Emergent TeamsArsenic in GroundwaterConfined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs)FuturesLight, Nonaqueous-Phase Liquids (LNAPLs)Mining WasteSediments

Closing TeamsAlternative Landfill TechnologiesDiffusion/Passive SamplersEcological Land ReuseVapor Intrusion

(See ITRC opens annual membership drive, page 7)

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2006 TeamsAlternative Landfill Technologies (ALT)Team Leader: Charles Johnson, CO

Arsenic in GroundwaterTeam Leader: Vacant

Bioremediation of DNAPLsTeam Leader: Naji Akladiss, ME

BrownfieldsTeam Leader: Christine Costopoulos, NY

Diffusion/Passive SamplersTeam Leader: Kim Ward, NJ

Ecological Land ReuseTeam Leader: Charles Johnson, CO

Enhanced Attenuation: Chlorinated OrganicsTeam Leaders: Judie Kean, FLand Kimberly Wilson, SC

MTBE and Other Fuel OxygenatesTeam Leader: Fred McGarry, NH

PerchlorateTeam Leaders: Sara Arav-Piper, NV and Laurie Racca, CA

RadionuclidesTeam Leaders: Robert Storms, TN and Carl Spreng, CO

Remediation Process OptimizationTeam Leaders: Sriram Madabhushi, SC and Tom O’Neill, NJ

Risk Assessment ResourcesTeam Leaders: Steve DiZio, CAand Brian Espy, AL

Sampling, Characterization, and Monitoring (SCM)Team Leader: Stuart Nagourney, NJ

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)Team Leaders: Gary Moulder, PA and Jeff Swanson, CO

Vapor IntrusionTeam Leaders: John Boyer, NJ and Bill Morris, KS

State Engagement LiaisonBoard Member: Mavis Kent, OR

Team Leader LiaisonBoard Member: George Nicholas, NJ

Greetings to all ITRC mem-bers! We thoroughlyenjoyed the Fall Meeting

and only wish there had beenmore time to meet with ITRCmembers. We enter these meetingswith grand ideas about sittingdown with members to discussissues, but before we know it, it’stime to head home. Because wearen’t as successful as we’d like tobe at meetings in getting yourideas, the continuing contacts frommembers are that much moreimportant. Please don’t hesitate tocontact either of us, or any Boardof Advisors mem-ber, if you have anissue or idea you’dlike to discuss.

Unfortunately, webegan the FallMeeting on a sombernote. Dave Asiello, the DoD liai-son on the Board of Advisors,relayed the tragic news of theaccidental death of Michael Crain,who had served as the U.S. ArmyCorps of Engineers liaison on theBoard. As Dave so eloquently con-veyed in his opening tribute,Michael was a well-respectedBoard member—when Michaeltalked, the Board stopped and lis-tened. ITRC lost a valuable Boardmember, but more importantlywe lost a good friend. A memorialfund has been set up for the edu-cation of Michael’s daughters. Ifyou’d like to contribute, see theaddress on the next page of thisnewsletter.

We are on the verge of opening anew year, and 2007 is sure to beproductive for ITRC, thanks to thedevotion and efforts of our mem-bers. We are nearing completion ofnumerous efforts, in the middle ofothers, and just starting some—then there are a multitude of proj-ects we would like to begin. Ifthere were just more hours in theday….

As we look to 2007, it’s criticalthat all ITRC members reflect onthe theme for the Fall Meeting:ITRC—Building for the Future.While it is incredibly difficult tolook beyond the demands of day-to-day responsibilities, that isexactly what we have to do. Theinfrastructure efforts that we havepreviously discussed and thatwere the subject of the presenta-tions by George Nicholas, MavisKent, Michael Smith, CarolynHanson, and Anna Willett, pro-vide a firm foundation for ITRC’scontinued growth.

Speaking of growth,ITRC welcomes ournewest state,Montana, to theITRC fold. We nowhave 46 state mem-bers and continue

discussions with the four remain-ing states. Equally important, wewere glad to reengage with NewMexico. As we enter 2007, weneed to look to active participa-tion from all states. We’d love tosee all states participate in nextyear’s Fall Meeting—let’s hopewe’ll increase our state participa-tion from the 34 states thatattended the meeting in Scottsdaleto the full ITRC state contingentat the 2007 Fall Meeting.

The Board of Advisors looks to anexciting and promising 2007.We’re eager to complete a num-ber of important projects andhope to initiate a few new ones.The Board committed to having abudget prepared before we enter2007, something that—while itshould be routine—has been diffi-cult to accomplish over the lastfew years. The Board is commit-ted to Building for the Future andwe look to you, the members, tohelp us achieve that goal. Pleasedon’t hesitate to contact anyBoard member with any ideas tomove ITRC into the future.

By Joe Francis (NE)and Bob Mueller (NJ)

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At the end of 2006, the terms of three positions on the Board of Advisors are set to expire: State EngagementCoordinator, State Representative-at-Large, and Industry Representative. Mavis Kent, the current State EngagementCoordinator, and Saba Tahmassebi, the current State Representative-at-Large, have agreed to serve another three-year term. Anna Willett, the current Industry Representative, has completed her term, and the Board has namedBrian Sogorka as her replacement. The Board appreciates Anna Willet’s service as the Board’s first liaison for theIndustry Affiliates Program and welcomes Brian, who in previous years served as an ITRC co-chair from New Jersey.

The nine-member Board of Advisors provides overall direction for ITRC. Members of the Board of Advisorsrepresent the various groups important to ITRC: state agencies, industry, and public stakeholders.

Michael Crain, a federal liaison on the ITRC Board ofAdvisors, died in a fall while hunting in rural Bartlett,Iowa. He worked for the U.S. Army Corps ofEngineers in the Omaha office and participated onITRC’s Perchlorate and Diffusion/Passive Samplersteams. His ITRC team colleagues will miss him. TheBoard of Advisors appreciates his two and a half yearsof service to ITRC.

Michael was 45 and leaves his wife, Sue, and twoteenage daughters, Kelli, a freshman at CreightonUniversity, and 16-year-old Megan. The Board ofAdvisors has made a modest, personal contribution tothe girls’ college fund.

Expressions of personal condolences should be sent toSue Crain and Family, 56001 230th St., Glenwood,IA 51534. Memorial contributions can be sent to theKelli and Megan Crain College Fund, c/o GlenwoodState Bank, 32 N. Walnut St., Glenwood, IA 51534.

ITRC remembers Michael Crain

As ITRC enters its second decade,it is taking steps toward building asound infrastructure. One suchstep is a new proposal process fordetermining the projects ITRC willsupport in coming years. The newapproach, which affects projectsstarting up in 2008, goes beyondselecting teams and then allowingthem to extend scope throughaddition of new activities to theirwork plans. The new process is acontrolled and strategic way toselect projects that reflect ITRC’sStrategic Plan and Objectives, arefundable, and have either potentialfor placement within existingteams or state support and funding

for startup as projects to be under-taken by new teams.

Carolyn Hanson, ITRC projectmanager with ECOS, presented atthe Fall Meeting the rationale andprocedures for submitting projectproposals. She stated that the newprocess includes preproposal andproposal phases and separate tracksfor funded and unfunded initia-tives.

State POCs have already begunworking under this process byidentifying priorities and emergingissues that most concern states. Atthe Fall Meeting, POCs began toconsider how they could best

develop preproposals to addressthese priorities and issues.

The “Planning” page on the ITRCWeb site (www.itrcweb.org) hastwo explicit flowcharts that outlinethe entire process, from ITRC’sidentifying priorities for new proj-ects in early 2007 to the Board’sannouncing continuing and newprojects at year’s end. Otherresources under “Planning” includeinstructions and forms for propos-ing standard and funded projects,review criteria for preproposals,quality assurance criteria for pro-posals, and criteria used by theBoard in ranking standard andfunded proposals.

Project planning—Another step forward

Several people who are stepping down from leader-ship roles were recognized at the Fall Meeting fortheir service to ITRC. Co-chairs Joe Francis and BobMueller presented Anna Willet with a plaque andthanked her for getting the Industry AffiliatesProgram off the ground. They also recognized BrianSogorka for his 10 years of service to ITRC, includ-ing two terms as an ITRC co-chair.

Several team leaders are stepping aside, passing thebaton of leadership to others. ITRC appreciates thecontributions of Jeff Swanson, who led the UXO Teamfor four years, and of Sara Arav-Piper (NV) and LaurieRacca (CA), co-leaders of the Perchlorate Team.

The new leaders of the UXO and Perchlorate Teams,along with leaders of other ongoing teams, new leadersof emergent teams, and leaders of closing teams, willparticipate in a Kick-Off meeting in January.

Goodbye to some, hello to others

Board names new Industry Representative

ITRC successfully held its 2006 Fall Meeting in Scottsdale,Arizona during the last full week in October. More than 230 peopleshowed up to either work on team products; exhibit their companies’or agencies’ environmental products and services; speak during themidweek plenary session; meet in special state points of contact(POC), team leader, or Industry Affiliates Program (IAP) sessions; orparticipate in a Board of Advisors meeting. Some folks who serve inseveral ITRC roles kept especially busy during activities spread overthe 41/2-day event.

During the week of October 23, team sessions dominated each daywith each of 11 technical teams working two or three days on a vari-ety of endeavors from scoping their next product, to refining theirguidance document or online course, to wrapping up their activework as teams before entering the “implementation” phase (duringwhich teams may receive some level of funding to publicize theirproducts to get them into sustained use around the country).

Plenary brings ITRC participants togetherCo-chairs Joe Francis (NE) and Bob Mueller (NJ) kicked offWednesday’s plenary, lasting from 8:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., with apresentation on the “State of the ITRC.” They characterize 2006 as a

growth year with both some positive steps and some stumbles along the way.Accomplishments in 2006 bode well for future growth, and ITRC is poised to continue its forward momentum.Some positive, and negative, happenings in 2006 include the following:

FALL MEETING

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Sriram Madabhushi (SC), Stu Nagourney (NJ), Tom O’Neill (NJ),and co-chair Bob Mueller (NJ) at the reception.

Co-chairs Joe Francis (NE) and Bob Mueller (NJ) present an appreci-ation plaque to Anna Willett, retiring as the first Industry AffiliatesProgram liaison on the Board.

George Nicholas stands between John Boyer (NJ) and Bill Morris (KS),who share the Team Leader of the Year Award for their work with theVapor Intrusion Team.

Tom O’Neill (NJ), Sriram Madabhushi (SC), and Patty Reyes, program advisor to the Remediation Process Optimization Team.

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� Forty-six states now participate, with Montana join-ing and New Mexico, Idaho, and Wyoming recommit-ting to ITRC.

� Five thousand, two hundred people have beentrained so far in 2006.

� Nine documents have been produced thus far: fourtechnical/regulatory documents and five other guid-ance documents. Three more products are plannedfor completion by year’s end.

� Several elements have been introduced this year toimprove ITRC’s infrastructure: a monthly projecttracking system, a new project proposal system forprojects with start-ups in 2008, state action plans,and a new training strategy.

� ITRC’s long-standing communication support con-tractor went out of business, but the communicationprogram is back on track now supported by Battelle.

� There were serious budget issues in 2006, but ITRCthanks Jeff Marqusee of the Environmental SecurityTechnology Certification Program/StrategicEnvironmental Research and Development Program(ESTCP/SERDP) for his part in securing somemuch-needed funding for late 2006 operations. Thepositive news for 2007 is that all funding contractshave been renewed or are renewing, and the IAP willbegin its first fully funded year.

Mavis Kent (OR), State Engagement Coordinator,updated attendees on the State Engagement Program.She pointed out that 30 states have developed theirstate action plans and presented examples of statesusing ITRC guidance and training to improve workprocesses at state levels. She also presented the resultsof a survey POCs conducted to determine the highestpriorities and emerging issues at state environmentalagencies. Twenty-nine states completed the survey,which revealed 142 state priorities and 48 emergingissues. The top five priorities and issues are as follows:� institutional controls/long-term stewardship,� mines,� environmental impact of alternative energy,� vapor intrusion, and� confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs).

As a result of the survey and other information, theState Engagement Program plans to guide the directionof ITRC in 2008 by developing proposals on environ-mental impact of alternative energy, CAFOs, and sedi-ments.

George Nicholas, ITRC Team Leader liaison on theBoard of Advisors, presented ITRC’s project planningsystem, which replaced “team” tracking and monitoring

George Nicholaspresents the Teamof the Year Awardto Kim Ward (NJ),team leader of theDiffusion/PassiveSamplers Team. POCs Rochelle Cardinale (IA) and Chris Hurst (GA) receive the Great

Beginning Award and the ITRC Outstanding Performance Award,respectively, from Mavis Kent (OR).

(See Fall Meeting, page 6)

John Liptak (NH) on left listens to Jim Harrington’s (NY) comments.

with management by “projects.” In 2006, 14 ITRCteams managed 28 projects successfully with minimalschedule delays. The new project management systemhelps team leaders and advisors predict and plan forfuture work load, including the scheduling for new ini-tiatives. George also discussed the possible timetablefor teams closing out.

Michael Smith, ITRC Training Program liaison on theBoard of Advisors, highlighted the 2006 achievementsof the ITRC training program, including the following:

� More than 5,200 participants benefited from onlineclasses presented during the first nine months of2006.

� There have been 36 public offerings on 20 environ-mental topics.

� The training program has been formalized throughthe development of a strategy, policy manual, andprocedures.

� Classroom-style training is the next frontier.

Anna Willett spoke about the achievements of theIndustry Affiliates Program and recognized IAP repre-sentatives who contributed to technical team perform-ance. Carolyn Hanson, ITRC project manager, present-ed the process for proposing 2008 projects (see articleon page 3).

Charles Buchanan, Director of Operations for the U.S.Air Force Barry M. Goldwater Range in southernArizona, gave a presentation that showcased the bene-fits of interagency collaboration and teamwork inbuilding understanding among diverse groups and solv-ing mutual problems. His examples showed how theAir Force, Marines, Bureau of Land Management, localgovernment officials, tribes, and the U.S. Border Patrolworked together on two projects to increase the num-ber of Sonoran pronghorn and also control the entry ofundocumented aliens over the border.

(See Fall Meeting, next page)

Co-chairs Bob Mueller (NJ) and Joe Francis (NE) atthe plenary.

Paul Hadley (CA) listens asDib Goswami (WA) makes apoint during a team meeting.

Members of the Perchlorate Team toured the Phoenix-Goodyear Area North(PGA North) Perchlorate Treatment System.

Fall Meeting from page 5

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Jeff Marqusee, Director ofESTCP and Technical Directorof SERDP, has been involvedwith ITRC for more than 10years. He spoke about ITRC’ssuccessful partnering withESTCP/SERDP to further theDepartment of Defense (DoD)mission, enhance its environmen-tal performance, and save fundsor avoid costs. One example ofthe benefits of this partnershipand collaboration is the increaseduse of permeable reactive barri-ers (PRBs) throughout the DoDcomplex. ITRC’s three PRB doc-uments, along with ESTCPdemonstration and validationsupport, have led to more than20 full-scale PRB systems, savingDoD more than $150 million intreating chlorinated solvents.

Putting on the 2006 FallMeeting was an amazing feat ofplanning, coordination, and exe-cution, but it was well worththe effort because it once againbrought together people whoare working together to advanceenvironmental decision makingamong states, federal agencies,the private sector, and commu-nity stakeholders.

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Fall Meetingfrom previous page

ITRC honors its ownEach year at the Fall Meeting,ITRC recognizes outstanding per-formers from among state POCs,ITRC technical teams, industry par-ticipants from the IAP, and stake-holder representatives. InScottsdale this year, more than 20people and the Diffusion/PassiveSamplers Team were honored fortheir excellent contributions to fur-thering the work of ITRC.

Mavis Kent, State EngagementCoordinator, presented awards tohigh-performing POCs: ChristopherHurst (GA), Joe Rogers (MI), andRochelle Cardinale (IA).

Chris Hurst, the recipient ofthe ITRC OutstandingPerformance Award, was cited forhis success in increasing Georgia’sparticipation in training and prod-uct development, specifically hissuccess in� promoting ITRC within his

organization to gain significantparticipation on technical teamsand in ITRC Internet-based train-ing courses,

� submitting a state action plan thatincludes the incorporation of theITRC POC role in his job descrip-tion to ensure ongoing commit-ment from his management forparticipating in ITRC,

� establishing a concurrence processwithin Georgia with the state’sfirst-time concurrence on an ITRCtechnical and regulatory guidancedocument in 2006, and

� volunteering to lead a POC discus-sion at the Midyear Meeting basedon the Georgia concurrence devel-opment experience.

Joe Rogers of the MichiganDepartment of EnvironmentalQuality was honored with theOutstanding Service AwardCitation. Joe was recognized for hisservice to the ITRC StateEngagement Team exemplified by

� submitting a high-quality stateaction plan that serves as a tool fornewer POCs and volunteering toshowcase the plan to ITRC leader-ship at the ITRC Midyear Meeting;

� working to build state membershipin ITRC, including establishing aninternal state committee to assist inpromoting ITRC within Michigan;

� establishing an ITRC concurrenceprocess in Michigan;

� serving as a leader among fellowPOCs within the StateEngagement Team, including coor-dinating with other POCs to pro-vide state perspective on institu-tional controls and land-use con-trol issues for a monthly POC ses-sion; and

� coordinating Michigan’s participa-tion in ITRC dry run Internet-basedtraining sessions to assist teams indeveloping their course curricula.

Rochelle Cardinale from theIowa Department of NaturalResources received the GreatBeginning Award for the energy,enthusiasm, and success she brings toher role as a new POC. Rochelle hasquickly brought Iowa, a new ITRCstate, into a high level of ITRC par-ticipation. Among the ways Rochellehas demonstrated her leadership is by� serving as POC for her state and

significantly increasing Iowa’sparticipation in ITRC Internet-based training courses, especiallyparticipation in dry run sessionsto help teams complete theirtraining development;

� effectively engaging and informingher upper management aboutITRC activities to ensure Iowa par-ticipation in key items of interestto her state;

� volunteering to help lead POC ses-sions at the Midyear and FallMeetings;

� actively responding to several teamrequests to ensure that Iowa’sinput was included in technicalteam products; and

(See ITRC honors, page 8)

ITRC opens annualmembership drivefrom page 1

Don’t delay—Apply formembership todayThe open membership drive clos-es on January 31, 2007. Fromamong the applicants, team lead-ers will approve members and settheir team rosters during the firstquarter of 2007. To start theprocess, apply for membershiptoday. Go online to join or recom-mit to an ITRC team. By joining,you’re doing your part to helpITRC advance environmentaldecision making.

� highlighting ITRC successes in Iowa, such as use ofinformation from the MTBE/TBA training courseto modify an Iowa state laboratory procedure.

George Nicholas, Team Leader liaison on the Board ofAdvisors, presented technical team awards to teamleaders Bill Morris and John Boyer and to theDiffusion/Passive Samplers Team.

Bill Morris (KS) and John Boyer (NJ) of the VaporIntrusion Team shared the Team Leader of the Yearaward for their� ability to manage a large team,� ability to keep their team motivated and moving

forward,� leading product development with little or no

schedule delays,� perfect attendance on ITRC team leader calls and

meetings, and� cooperation with ITRC management in implementing

Board directives and new project planning system.

The 2006 Team of the Year award went to theDiffusion/Passive Samplers Team, led by KimWard (NJ), for its� ability to work in a collaborative manner to reach

project goals,� timely completion of work,� passion for team products and ITRC,� team member willingness to promote ITRC and iden-

tify success stories, and� accurate project planning and on-time posting of

monthly project plan updates.

Anna Willett, Industry Affiliates Program liaison on theBoard of Advisors, presented ITRC IndustryRecognition Awards to IAP representatives who madeoutstanding contributions to their technical teams’ per-formance. The following hardworking individualsreceived citations and also earned 25% discountstoward their companies’ 2007 IAP membership fees:� Fred Payne, Arcadis (Bio DNAPLs)� Lawson Anderson, Tetra Tech NUS, Inc. (Brownfields)� Sandy Britt, ProHydro, Inc. (Diffusion/Passive

Samplers)� Kent Cordry, GeoInsight (Diffusion/Passive Samplers)� Ryan A. Wymore, CDM Federal (EACO)� Richard Lewis, HAS Engineers & Scientists (EACO)� Tony Lieberman, Solutions-IES (Perchlorate)� Harold Bud Johnson, Remedial Operations Group,

Inc. (RPO)� Mike Rafferty, S.S. Papadopoulos and Associates, Inc.

(RPO)� Jim Pastorick, UXO Pro, Inc. (UXO)� Mark Dollar, Tetra Tech, Inc. (UXO)� Tim Diegnan, Tetra Tech, Inc. (UXO)� Michelle Mazza, TetraTech, Inc. (UXO)� Jay Hodny, W.L. Gore (Vapor Intrusion)� Todd McAlary, GeoSyntec Consultants

(Vapor Intrusion)

John Chambliss, stakeholder representative fromTennessee, presented a stakeholder recognition awardto J. R. Capasso for his contributions to theBrownfields Team. J. R. is the brownfields coordinatorfor Trenton, N.J.

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ITRC guidance and training onremediation process optimization(RPO) have found a receptiveaudience—the U.S. Department ofEnergy. DOE has embraced thebenefits of RPO, which is the sys-tematic evaluation of existingremediation systems to improveeffectiveness and efficiency, whilereducing risks and costs. BethMoore, a hydrogeologist in DOE’sOffice of EnvironmentalManagement (EM) Office ofGroundwater and Soil Remediationand an ITRC RPO Team member,

reports that upper-level EM man-agers at headquarters are stronglyurging DOE contractors to takeadvantage of the online trainingthat ITRC’s RPO Team offers. Allsites are scheduled to take thetraining, and some sites are receiv-ing hands-on instruction to imple-ment the RPO methodology.

In January 2006, ITRC offered itsbasic online RPO training class—“What Is Remediation ProcessOptimization and How Can ItHelp Me Identify Opportunities for

Enhanced and More Efficient SiteRemediation?” Realizing the valueof the course, DOE requested thatit be offered again to target partici-pation by DOE contractors, and inJuly ITRC offered the class again.DOE participants have also takenand benefited from the RPOTeam’s follow-on class,“Remediation ProcessOptimization—Advanced Training,”which was offered in April andSeptember.

SUCCESS STORY:DOE embraces Remediation Process Optimization

ITRC honors from page 7

(See RPO success, next page)

Gary Beyer has been the Texas POC for three years—one of the longest-serving POCs currently on the ITRCState Engagement Team. Gary is a remediation projectmanager for the Texas Commission on EnvironmentalQuality (CEQ), where he oversees RCRA, voluntarycleanup, Superfund, and petroleum storage tank proj-ects and works with federal facilities and refineries.Gary was originally a member of the Small Arms FiringRange (SMART) Team, which in its five years of exis-tence produced two documents:� SMART-1: Characterization and Remediation of Soils

at Closed Small Arms Firing Ranges (January 2003)� SMART-2: Environmental Management at Operating

Outdoor Small Arms Firing Ranges (February 2005)

The SMART Team, which has now retired from pro-ducing documents, presents online classes based onSMART-2—information that assists range operators indeveloping, using, and monitoring environmentalmanagement plans to minimize potential exposure to

metals, especially lead, at active outdoor small armsfiring ranges.

Gary admits that it’s demanding to wear his two hats—as a POC and a remediation project manager. He says,“You get to everything as you can. Especially challeng-ing is getting Texas back on the ITRC track after arecent reorganization. The management was changingfaster than I could brief them on ITRC. Now, I’m goingthrough a whole new education process to impressupon management the benefits ITRC brings to Texas.

“ITRC’s free training classes create an incentive for mycolleagues to continue their ITRC participation. Texasjust recently adopted and began licensing ProfessionalGeoscientists. Our people appreciate the practicalityand relevance of ITRC classes in helping them meettheir professional licensing requirements. The trainingprovided by ITRC has allowed state regulators to makeeducated decisions regarding the implementation ofnew technologies, which has saved private and federalcleanup programs millions of dollars and greatlyreduced assessment and cleanup times.

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Beth Moore says that DOE isgung-ho on contractors’ receivingRPO training as a way to bringthem onboard as collaborators inconducting RPO evaluations.“When DOE has independentRPO experts visit a site to assesshow a remediation system can beimproved, our contractors can feelthreatened. They may worryabout losing their jobs becausethey’re being paid to operatethese systems.” Beth says that theITRC training classes help DOEcontractors understand the pur-pose of RPO and the contractors’role in finding ways to improvesystem performance, capture costsavings, and reduce risks. In exam-ining ways to improve andstreamline remediation operations,contractors contribute their prac-tical understanding of how a sys-tem works. Their experience, com-bined with the input from knowl-

edgeable third parties, willimprove remediation and lowerthe costs of cleanups across thecomplex. Beth says, “Our contrac-tors have come to realize thatRPO is a positive process.”

In August 2006, an RPO team ofexperts headed by Beth Moore vis-ited DOE’s Hanford site inWashington state to evaluate apump-and-treat system and a soilvapor extraction system. The teamevaluated the performance of theexisting system, including the wellsand treatment components, andassessed the site exit strategy anddirection on a final site remedy.The resulting RPO report, contain-ing recommendations for optimiz-ing Hanford’s groundwater treat-ment systems and lowering costs, iscurrently being considered by DOEmanagers at headquarters. Beth saysthat the report has been well

received by DOE. Dave Becker ofthe U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,a member of both the ITRC RPOTeam and the RPO team that visit-ed Hanford, says the evaluationwent well because the contractorsknew what to expert—their train-ing had prepared them to workwith the RPO team.

In October, an RPO team evaluatedremedial systems at DOE’sPaducah, Kentucky site. DaveBecker says that the team is draftingits recommendations and will sub-mit the report to DOE HQ soon.

While DOE is taking the lead inpromoting RPO training amongDOE contractors, states can alsoget on the RPO bandwagon. POCsin states with DOE sites canencourage their colleagues whooversee DOE work plans to takethe training.

RPO success from previous page

Gary Beyerof Texas

(See Highlight of a POC, page 10)

The dynamic duo of Bill Morris (KS) and John Boyer(NJ) has worked closely together since 2004 whenthe Vapor Intrusion Team was formed. Bill Morrissays, “We had no idea of the overall effort it wouldtake to guide an ITRC team and keep it on track. It’sbeen an amazing journey and certainly the mostrewarding of any government work I’ve ever done.”

The pair’s achievements won them recognition at theFall Meeting as the outstanding team leaders for2006. But the challenges the pair faced back in 2004could easily have overwhelmed them: the new leadershad no previous experience in ITRC, the team washuge (55 people showed up at the start-up meetingin Atlanta.), and the program advisor (the first of sixeventual program advisors) was also new to ITRC.

Overcoming challengesJohn says that he and Bill were knowledgeable in thesubject matter of vapor intrusion but confronted alearning curve in mastering the way ITRC functionsadministratively. Both John and Bill credit JimHarrington (NY) for holding everything together dur-

ing those early days. Bill says, “He was our anchor. Hetold us how other teams he had participated onworked through various issues.” One challenge toovercome was the idea that every issue, even minorpoints of language, had to be democratically decided.“Jim advised us that democracy had its limits. He toldus to exert our authority to keep the process going,”says John.

Setting goalsBill and John took control of their team and were sin-gle-minded in their efforts to accomplish the goal ofproducing a technical/regulatory document and asso-ciated online training within the originally scopedthree-year time frame. Bill says, “It took motivationand pride to keep focused on this goal, when it prob-ably would have been acceptable to let the scheduleslip; but to us that was not an option. We were will-ing to accept extra work to meet our deadline.” Johnagrees, saying, “We were determined to not be a teamthat finds ways to hang around forever.” John alsomakes the point that ITRC does great things, and

“A recent training focus in Texas isUXO-contaminated sites.Approximately 70 bombing rangeshave been identified under theFederally Used Defense Sites(FUDS) program. The ITRC UXOdocuments and courses help usevaluate these sites and understandthe relevant factors when consider-ing options for cleanup.”

Gary has devised and is continu-ously updating his state actionplan for building ITRC awareness,support, and endorsement amonghis colleagues and managers atTexas CEQ. A major recentaccomplishment is Texas’ concur-rence on seven ITRC guidancedocuments. For the following doc-uments, Texas agrees (Level Aconcurrence level) to use theITRC technical and regulatory

guidance as a decision-makingtool when considering technologyalternatives:� DNAPLs-5: Strategies for

Monitoring the Performance ofDNAPL Source Zone Remedies(August 2004)

� ECO-1: Making the Case forEcological Enhancements (January2004)

� PHYTO-2: PhytotechnologyTechnical and RegulatoryGuidance Document (April 2001)

� SCM-2: The Use of Direct Push-Well Technology for Long-TermEnvironmental Monitoring inGroundwater Investigations(March 2006)

� SMART-2: EnvironmentalManagement at OperatingOutdoor Small Arms Firing Ranges(February 2005)

� UXO-2: Technical/RegulatoryGuideline for Munitions ResponseHistorical Records Review(November 2003)

� UXO-3: Geophysical Prove-Outsfor Munitions Response Projects(November 2004)

Gary uses an e-mail list to keepeveryone informed of new docu-ments and training opportunities.He also works to bring particulardocuments to the attention of col-leagues working in remediationareas covered by ITRC documents.

Gary takes his downtime as seri-ously as his professional life. He’s aCub Scout leader and enjoys wind-surfing on the myriad lakes in cen-tral Texas near his Austin home.

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Bill Morris and John Boyer of the Vapor Intrusion Team

Highlight of a POC from page 9

(Continued on next page)

teams must be willing to step off the stage to allowother teams to do their great things.

Documents and training imminentThe Vapor Intrusion Team is very close to releasing itstechnical/regulatory document, Vapor IntrusionPathway: A Practical Guide, and a companion docu-ment, Vapor Intrusion Pathway: InvestigativeApproaches for Typical Scenarios. Also on tap is theteam’s online training based on its documents. Theteam plans to shut down during the first quarter of2007. Bill says that the last conference call is sched-uled and members at that time will be updated onthe final dates for project completion. If the team’sproposal is accepted for developing classroom train-ing, then a small portion of the team will remainactive to develop and present training.

Vapor Intrusion Pathway: A Practical Guide providesgeneral information and background for the prelimi-nary screening, investigation, and mitigation of vaporintrusion sites. Vapor Intrusion Pathway: InvestigativeApproaches for Typical Scenarios applies the back-ground information from the technical/regulatorydocument and walks the reader through the decisionmaking and rationales for using specific tools andinvestigative approaches appropriate for six commonscenarios:� a gas station in a residential neighborhood� a dry cleaner in a strip mall located next to a neigh-

borhood� a large industrial facility with a long plume under

several hundred buildings� a vacant lot with proposed brownfields development

over a groundwater plume� a vacant large commercial building with warehouse

and office space� an apartment building with a parking garage over a

groundwater plume

Working togetherJohn and Bill have become true friends while servingas co-leads. They describe their personalities andmanagement and leadership styles as complementaryand found their collaboration therapeutic. John says,“I would have gone insane by now without him. Wepicked up the slack for each other and bounced ideasoff each other.” Without planning to do so, theyfound that they fell naturally into good cop/bad coproles, balancing out their demands on team members.

They both strongly recommend that all ITRC teamshave two leaders to share the work load and theinevitable stress of guiding an ITRC team. Beingfriends, they are unafraid to joke at the other’sexpense. John cracks, “He was a royal pain in thebutt, but I couldn’t have done it without him.”

What’s next?Bill is looking forward to taking a breather from thehectic pace his team leader responsibilities requiredbut plans to continue his ITRC participation in somefashion. Bill’s short-term, post–Vapor Intrusion Teamgoal is “getting caught up at work.” He estimates thathis ITRC duties over the past three years have been30%–40% of his professional life, “a huge commit-ment” that required him to work weekends and otherextra hours.

A self-described workaholic, Bill is definitely not laidback at home either. He’s married and has two chil-dren in high school. He and his wife own a Polishpottery shop, where they sell new Polish pottery man-ufactured in accordance with 17th and 18th centurymethods. They buy their stock from distributors butplan to start importing directly from Poland in 2007.They opened their store in April 2006 in Lawrence,Kansas, a university town. Bill and his family live out-side a small town (pop. 1200) on the outskirts ofTopeka, where Bill built a cabin on five acres. He alsobuilds furniture in his workshop. Bill says he finds hispeace in this tranquil setting.

John is ready for a long vacation but is prepared tocontinue to function as a team leader if the proposalfor classroom training is picked up by the Board forimplementation. John loves to travel and appreciatesthe opportunities his ITRC service opened up for see-ing different parts of the country.

John is ready to say goodbye to the Vapor IntrusionTeam but treasures the good friendships he’s madeover the years. “I met an incredible group of people—probably three-fourths of the world-class experts onvapor intrusion have been team members at sometime during these three years, but more important tome is their willingness to share their ideas and differ-ent viewpoints. I’ve worked with a great team, and Ihave found a network of people I can call on when-ever I have questions about any aspect of vaporintrusion.”

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Many people reading this article have participated inITRC Internet-based training classes. Thanks to you,ITRC expects to come close to 7,000 participants in2006 and total over 33,000 participants since the pro-gram began in July 1999. ITRC Internet-based train-ing courses focus on the technical and regulatoryinformation developed by ITRC’s consensus-basedteams—information that is detailed in ITRC docu-ments on environmental technologies and innovativeapproaches. The January 2007 training schedule, alongwith 2007 courses, is listed below. In early 2007, youwill be able to access a detailed schedule on the ITRCWeb site by clicking on the ITRC “Internet-BasedTraining” page at http://www.itrcweb.org/ibt.asp.

In addition to your continuing to participate inITRC’s online training classes, there is more you cando—tell your colleagues about ITRC’s training class-es. ITRC offers a wide variety of courses. While notevery course will match your needs, you can let yourcolleagues working on different projects, in differentdepartments, and in different divisions know aboutcourses that may meet their needs. Help make ITRCtools and resources a regular part of how your organ-ization does business.

In early 2007, ITRC will offer the following trainingcourses:January 9–Perchlorate: Overview of Issues, Status, andRemedial OptionsJanuary 25–Remediation Process OptimizationAdvanced TrainingJanuary 30–Site Investigation and Remediation forMunitions Response ProjectsFebruary 6–An Overview of Direct-Push WellTechnology for Long-Term Groundwater MonitoringFebruary 8–Characterization, Design, Construction,and Monitoring of Bioreactor LandfillsFebruary 15–Evaluating, Optimizing, or Ending Post-Closure Care at Municipal Solid Waste LandfillsFebruary 27–Planning and Promoting Ecological LandReuse of Remediated Sites

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Training program—Getting the most out of 2007 courses

ITRC Team

Diffusion/Passive Samplers

Perchlorate

Radionuclides

Remediation ProcessOptimization

Risk Assessment Resources

Unexploded Ordnance

Vapor Intrusion

Other Planned 2007 Training CoursesCourse Title

� Protocol for Use of Five Passive Samplers

� Perchlorate Overview� Perchlorate Remediation Technologies

� Radionuclides Real-Time Data Collection� Decontamination and Decommissioning of Radionuclide Sites

� Remediation Process Optimization Advanced Training� Performance-Based Environmental Management

� Risk-Based Screening Values: Determination and Application

� Site Investigation and Remediation for Munitions Response Projects� Survey of Munitions Response Technologies� Quality Oversight for Munitions Response Projects

� Vapor Intrusion Pathway: A Practical Guide

(Continued on next page)

On Slide 1, select the orange “sound” button.When prompted, select the appropriatemedia player. For classes archived since June2005, there is also the option of downloading theclass in PowerPoint Slide Show format with embed-ded audio or MP3 format or subscribe to a Podcastfeed of the most recent courses.

For more information about ITRC online trainingcourses, visit the “Internet-Based Training” page ofwww.itrcweb.org. Course registration opens four to sixweeks in advance. There is no cost to participate, butregistration is required and can be accessed at www.itrcweb.org under “Internet-Based Training” or directly athttp://clu-in.org/studio/seminar.cfm through our part-nership with EPA.

Have questions? Contact the Training Program at (402) 201-2419 or training@itrcweb.org.

POCs play an important role in helping shape thefuture direction of ITRC. As the ITRC representatives oftheir states’ environmental agencies, POCs are in aunique position to bring to ITRC’s attention the prob-lems for which their states are seeking solutions.Working through the State Engagement Program, POCsconduct surveys and develop proposals to support ITRCin its selection of projects with potential to meet theirstates’ environmental needs.

In the summer of 2006, the POCs began a process fortargeting projects ITRC should undertake in 2008. ThePOCs completed online surveys to determine states’ pri-orities and emerging issues for which ITRC may be ableto help provide solutions and have a positive impact.“Priority” issues are defined as issues facing a state overthe next three years, while “emerging” issues are those astate anticipates facing four or more years down theroad. Responses were received from 29 states: Alabama,California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada,New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oklahoma,Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah,Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The survey identified 142 state priorities and 48 emerg-ing issues. Analyzing and grouping survey results bytopic areas revealed four high-interest topics on whichITRC is not currently focusing: institutionalcontrols/long-term stewardship, alternative energy,CAFOs, and sediments. At the Fall Meeting, Mavis Kent(OR), State Engagement Coordinator, led POCs in dis-

cussing whether the State Engagement Program shoulddevelop proposals based on the four topics. The POCsdecided to develop proposals for environmental impactsof alternative energy, CAFOs, and sediments. The exist-ing Brownfields Team will address the topic of institu-tional controls/long-term stewardship through its focuson land use controls in 2007, including plans to developan ITRC technical and regulatory guidance documentand associated Internet-based training. Mining and vaporintrusion, ranking second and fourth in the survey,underscore the importance of those current ITRCefforts.

In accord with the formal ITRC proposal process, POCswill develop proposals during early 2007 for the threeselected topics to further ITRC consideration of theseimportant state priorities. Jeff Painter (PA POC) willlead the alternative energy proposal with assistance fromArizona, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, andWyoming. Rochelle Cardinale (IA POC) will lead theCAFOs proposal with assistance from Missouri,Nebraska, Texas, and Oklahoma. Don Siron (SC POC)will lead the sediments proposal with assistance fromAlabama, Delaware, New Hampshire, New Jersey, andOregon. Other information gathered from the surveyinputs was provided to ITRC teams working on similartopics to make them aware of state interests. In addition,this information will be used by ITRC leadership tohelp plan future ITRC projects and activities.

For more information on State Engagement activities,please contact Mavis Kent (OR), ITRC State EngagementCoordinator, at (503) 667-8414, ext. 55008 orkent.mavis.d@deq.state.or.us.

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ITRC Internet-based training archives available any timeOver the years, ITRC has developed more than 30different training courses. The archive of previousITRC online training events is available to you24/7—any time you want to view and hear a courseoffered in the past by ITRC. The training courses arelisted alphabetically by training title at:http://cluin.org/live/archive.cfm#itrc.

When you choose to view a course online, the link goesto the course overview page. Like the live trainingclasses, the presentation slides, including additionalinformation in the notes pages, are available to down-load and print. Additional information includes biogra-phies and instructor photos, presentation overviews,and links to additional resources.When you are ready to listen to thetraining, select “Go to Training.”

POCs help ITRC focus on state needs