Conference Agenda

Navigate

Session Type

Thursday, April 24

Chair
Joel Block, Emergency Management, Pembina Pipeline
Moderator
Tony Houdyshell, Hazmat & Emergency Response Officer, CPKC Railway
Speakers
Lawrence Malizzi, Senior Consultant, CTEH, LLC
  • Safety, Environmental, and Claims Considerations to Manage Liability Associated with Ammonia Releases during an Emergency Response Event
Jim Elliott, Chief Operating Officer, T&T Group of Companies
  • Future Fuels: Risks, Response, and Recommendations
Gabriel Perez, Sr. Specialist, Industrial Engineer, American Airlines
  • The Airlines: Spills, Incidents, and Crime Scenes
Tony Houdyshell, Hazmat & Emergency Response Officer, CPKC Railway
  • New Hampton, Iowa Train Derailment Involving an Anhydrous Ammonia Release

Speakers will present case studies and best practices on responding to new cargo and fuel challenges in the transportation industry. From ammonia, hydrogen and liquified gases, presentations will address myriad new challenges facing emergency responders with the goals of life safety, environmental protection, and protecting property.

11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Chair
Eddie Murphy, Emergency Response Liaison, U.S. DOT PHMSA
Co-Chair
Bob Patterson, Managing Director, Witt O'Brien's, LLC / Ambipar Response
Speakers
Patrick Brady CIH, CSP, General Director Hazardous Materials Safety, BNSF Railway
  • Rail Perspective
John Carroll III, Associate Managing Director - Compliance Services, Witt O'Brien's, LLC / Ambipar Response
  • What is Missing in Your Facility Response Plan?

This session will provide an opportunity to learn the current state of planning, preparedness, and response capabilities in the western inland response area. Updates will be given from multiple perspectives to include rail, pipeline and the U.S. EPA

Chair
Daniel Murray P.E., Associate, Project Manager, GHD, Inc.
Moderator
Scott Karcher, Manager of Hazardous Materials, Midwest Region/Special Agent CSXPD, CSX Transportation, Inc.
Speakers
Jon Douglas (Doug) Cheek, Project Manager, Burns & McDonnell
  • After the Response: Planning for Restoration
Joey Medolia, Business and Biodiversity Consultant, Wildlife Habitat Council
  • Beyond Remediation: Restoration Opportunities for Today and the Future
Arden Wabisca, Project Manager, GHD
  • Using a Risk-Based Approach to Achieve Net Environmental Benefit During Derailment Remediation
Co-Author:
Mike Linder, Senior Regional Manager Environment - Western Canada, Canadian National Railway

None of us want to intentionally harm the environment, or wildlife, or pollute our air and water. But spills happen. This session will focus on restoration enhancements that can accelerate the recovery of the natural environment after the initial response.

Co-Chairs
Kent Lien, Technical Leader, Emergency Management, Canada Energy Regulator (CER)
Dan Barghshoon, Emergency Management Technical Specialist, Canada Energy Regulator
Panelists
Tina Donald, Chair -TMX Indigenous Advisory and Monitoring Committee Emergency Management Sub-Committee, Simpcw First Nation
Travis Hallam, Three Affiliated Tribes Pipeline Authority, Three Affiliated Tribes Pipeline Authority
VJ Smith, Principal, CSR & Tribal Affairs, Marathon Petroleum Company

The importance of recognizing and involving Tribal/Indigenous Communities in emergency management continues to be recognized across a broad spectrum of industries and regulatory agencies. Such communities can find themselves on the front lines of oil spill and other hazardous substance emergencies. This session will build on the solid foundation established by the panel at Clean Waterways 2022 where the involvement of Tribal/Indigenous communities in emergency response planning was initially discussed. Tribal/Indigenous panelists will present their views on potential best practices and how they can foster strong relationships, so come prepared to learn and participate as the discussion could be directly applicable to your situation!

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Chair
TJ Engstrom CEP, Director Emergency Services, SET Environmental, Inc.
Moderator
Joey Phillips, Environmental Manager, CHS Inc.
Speakers
Kevin Voisin, Chief Operating Officer/Partner, Forefront EM
  • Enhancing OSRO Effectiveness: Innovations, Best Practices, and Personnel Training from Dual Perspectives
Co-Author:
Lawrence \\ Boucvalt, President, ES&H, Inc.
Lt. Joshua Welsh (Invited), USCG National Response Center
  • National Response Center - Lessons Learned
Ty Farrell, Senior Manager, HSE Emergency Response and Security Management, Plains All American
  • American Petroleum Institute (API) Response Guideline Updates

How do you get good at what you do? Practice, practice, practice and grow from your missteps and mistakes. This session will cover best practices and lessons learned from the OSRO, Responsible Party (RP), and Regulator perspective.

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Chair
CWO4 Dana Fleming, All-Hazards Response Specialist, U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Ohio Valley
Speakers
Michael Goglia, MSSR4, MEP, U.S. Coast Guard, Office of Marine Environmental Response Policy (CG-MER)
  • National Salvage and Marine Firefighting (SMFF) Task Force Updates
Anthony Velasco, Environmental Protection Specialist, USDOI - Office of Restoration and Damage Assessment
  • Department of the Interior's Inland Oil Spill Preparedness Program - Highlights of the First Decade
Co-Author:
Pat Scida, Acting Chief, Environmental Response and Recovery Division, USDOI - Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance
Mark Howard, National SPCC Program Manager, U.S. EPA
  • Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) 40CFR112 Regulation Updates/ Haz Sub Rule (spell out?)

Join us for a comprehensive update on federal initiatives and regulatory changes impacting inland waterways, featuring insights from key representatives of the USEPA National SPCC Program, the US Coast Guard’s National Marine Salvage and Firefighting Task Force, the Department of the Interior, and EPA Region 8.

This session will provide an overview of current federal policies and collaborative efforts focused on spill prevention and mitigating environmental impacts. Participants will learn about the latest strategies and tools available for industry stakeholders, regulators, and local and state agencies to enhance planning and preparedness for oil spills and hazardous materials incidents.

Engage in an interactive Q&A discussion addressing the challenges and successes of regulatory oversight, inter-agency coordination, and stakeholder engagement in fostering resilient waterways. Attendees will gain actionable insights and resources to strengthen their preparedness efforts in alignment with federal standards.

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and contribute to the dialogue on safeguarding our vital inland waterways!

Friday, April 25

8:00 am - 8:30 am
8:30 am - 10:00 am
Chair
Dan Frazen, Managing Director, Colorado Preparedness & Response Network (CPRN)
Moderator
Sam Dinkins, Technical Program Manager, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO)
Speakers
Paul MacKeigan, Environmental Emergencies Officer, National Environmental Emergencies Centre- Environment and Climate Change Canada
  • Responding to Oil Spills in Urban Waterways: A Case Study from the National Environmental Emergencies Centre
Helen Dubach, Environmental Director, CTEH, LLC
  • Challenges of Responding to a Coal Spill In a River
Co-Author:
Lawrence Malizzi, Senior Consultant, CTEH, LLC

Case Studies provide real-world lessons that can be used to develop a risk-based approach that will lead to safer, more efficient, and resilient response systems. Each community and response organization is different, and the types of disasters we are likely to face vary by region, but discussing these North American incidents will allow the attendees to gather insights from leaders who have faced complex problems and prevailed.

8:30 am - 10:00 am
Chair
Servil Hoff, Emergency Response Coordinator, Marathon Petroleum Company
Speakers
Kathryn McMullin, Emergency Manager, Summit County, Utah
  • LEPC Mutual Aid Role
Joshua Williams, Emergency Preparedness Specialist, Marathon Petroleum Company, LP
  • Industry Partner's Role
Josh Clifford, Vice President, Operations and Emergency Response, QT Environmental
  • OSRO Contractors Role

It’s been said that “all emergency events are local”. And, it’s local emergency personnel who respond first. Drills and exercises can vary in size and location, but this session will focus on an actual inland mutual aid drill in conjunction with state and federal agencies along with industry.

10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Track 1: Response and Restoration
Chair
Barry Forsythe Ph.D., National Spill Response Coordinator, US Fish & Wildlife Service
Speakers
Rhonda Murgatroyd, Managing Director, Wildlife Response Services, LLC
  • Guiding Wildlife Response In The Right Direction
Brian Balmer, Environmental Contaminants Specialist, US Fish and Wildlife Service Montana Ecological Services Field Office
  • Determining Pre-disaster Avian Carcass Detection and Persistence Rates in Freshwater Riparian Habitats: Case Studies for the Yellowstone and Missouri River Basins
Co-Authors:
Matthew Schwarz, Environmental Contaminants Specialist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service South Dakota Ecological Services Field Office
Lukasz Binkowski, Assistant Professor, Pedagogical University of Cracow
Jo Ann Banda, Fish and Wildlife Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
  • Mussel Assessment Technique - Developing a Protocol to Determine the Extent, Fate, and Effects of Contaminants on Freshwater Mussels in Wadeable Streams
Co-Author:
Jess Jones, Fish and Wildlife Biologist- Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration Program, US Fish & Wildlife Service

This session will explore the topics of oiled wildlife response and ephemeral data collection for protection and injury determination to birds and freshwater mussels. Wildlife response covers a broad range of actions some common and others that you may have never thought of.