2024 Conference Program

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Tuesday, April 9

Come celebrate opening day of CLEAN WATERWAYS! We’ll be serving up beer and wine along with some classic ballpark food for you to enjoy while you mingle with friends and colleagues who just arrived in town.

Wednesday, April 10

8:00 am - 9:00 am
Room: Grand Ballroom B

Welcome to the first official day of CLEAN WATERWAYS 2024! Kick-off day one of the conference with breakfast and networking in the exhibit hall.

9:00 am - 9:15 am
Room: Jr. Ballroom D
Welcome and Keynote Session
Speakers
Capt. Heather Mattern, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Ohio Valley
Richard Harrison, Executive Director & Chief Engineer, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO)
Moderator
Brian House, Executive Director, Spill Control Association of America (SCAA)
Panelist
J. Troy Swackhammer Ch.E., Chemical Engineer and National FRP Lead, U.S. EPA/OEM
Speaker
John Carroll, Associate Managing Director, Compliance Services, Witt O'Brien's, LLC / Ambipar Response
Panelist
Angie Martin, President, Spill Control Association of America (SCAA)

Organized by Spill Control Association of America (SCAA)

With potential and pending legal implications, the upcoming deadline for the Proposed Rulemaking on Clean Water Act Hazardous Substance Worst Case Discharge Planning is a critical topic to industry and regulators alike in the inland waterways environment. A panel of experts will be led through a facilitated session designed to educate and engage the audience about the various elements, challenges and considerations to this important topic.

10:30 am - 11:00 am
Room: Grand Ballroom B

Head to the exhibit hall and fuel up with more coffee and snacks as you check out the products, services and technologies offered by our variety of exhibitors. 

11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Room: Jr. Ballroom C
Track 1: Inland Planning and Preparedness
Moderator/Chair
Dan Barghshoon, Emergency Management Technical Specialist, Canada Energy Regulator
Speakers
Jon Wickersham, Emergency Response Program Specialist, Colonial Pipeline Company
  • Applying GIS to Tactical Planning and Real-Time Response Mapping...with Drones!
Lauren Pillow, GIS/Data Projects Administrator, Pollution Response & Emergency Preparedness, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
  • GIS Wildlife Capture Survey

As James O’Brien said, “There is not one right way to ride a wave”. Various forms of technology are rolling-in, catching the right ones and making them your own are key to maximizing the benefits to your preparedness and response program. GIS technology provides an excellent opportunity for custom development of mapping data for both preparedness activities and response operations. Advances in cloud-based applications allows for greater flexibility and sharing of GIS Data, and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) provides secure access to external Response Partners. What are you waiting for? Ride the Wave! Topics for discussion include customized GIS applications, flexibility in design, development time, challenges, and benefits of rolling-out GIS applications, both internally and externally. Speakers will demonstrate GIS response tools and discuss real experiences using them for preparedness activities, exercises, and response operations. Attendees are encouraged to share their advancements with GIS or other technologies during the Q&A session. Board wax will not be provided!

11:00 am - 12:30 pm
Room: Jr. Ballroom D
Chair
Paul Nony PhD, CIH, CSP, Senior Vice President and Principal Toxicologist, CTEH, LLC.
Panelists
Patrick Brady CIH, CSP, General Director Hazardous Materials Safety, BNSF Railway
Michael Sobel, Senior Project Manager, Incident Management Service Line, Antea Group
Johnny Mitchell, Chief Technology Officer, Pace Analytical Services, LLC
Shanna Horvatin, Occupational Health & Safety Scientist, U.S. EPA, Region 5

Evolving socio-political environments have put the response industry under a new microscope. Challenges related to environmental justice, sensitive receptors, established response techniques and technologies, analytical methods and interpretations affect traditional approaches to mitigating risks to workers, communities, and the environment. Operators and responders must be aware of how these challenges affect the response landscape.

12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom B
Networking Breaks

Enjoy lunch in the exhibit hall and spend time connecting with your fellow attendees. You just might make an invaluable connection over lunch!  

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Room: Jr. Ballroom C
Chair
Erika Lamberth, Sr. Consultant, Crisis Communications, The Response Group
Panelists
Peter Knudson, Spokesperson, National Transportation Safety Board
Chris Sims, Corporate & Government Relations, Central Region, Shell USA
Travis Hallam, Three Affiliated Tribes Pipeline Authority, Three Affiliated Tribes Pipeline Authority
Paul Rhynard, Managing Partner, COO, Shawn Douglas Communication

Communicating to stakeholders (community, media, agencies) before, during, and after a response can make or break public perception. Hear best practices, and gain knowledge from a panel of experts who focus on building open communications and solid relationships for emergency response.

1:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Room: Jr. Ballroom D
Chair
Eddie Murphy, Emergency Response Liaison, U.S. DOT PHMSA
Co-Chair
Jordan Garrard, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA, Region 4
Speakers
Jim Elliott, Chief Operating Officer, T&T Group of Companies
  • Genius Star XI Ion Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Response Case Study
Bryan Vasser, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA, Region 4
  • Maui Lithium-Ion Battery Fires Response Case Study
Fire Chief Michael O'Brian, Brighton Area Fire Authority
  • How can we Reduce the Impact of Battery Fires on our Communities?

Speakers in this session will discuss battery response from varying perspectives. Perspectives included will be responder areas of concern and best practices, environmental concerns, clean-up, the management of damaged, defected, recalled (DDR) batteries and the regulations that govern them. 

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom B

Overcome the afternoon slump with a sweet or salty (or both!) snack to pick you up and power you through the final session of the day and evening reception.  

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Room: Jr. Ballroom C
Co-Chairs
Eddie Murphy, Emergency Response Liaison, U.S. DOT PHMSA
Kent Lien, Technical Leader, Emergency Management, Canada Energy Regulator
Speakers
Jerome Popiel, Incident Management & Preparedness Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard 9th District
  • U.S./Canada Agreements
Tricia A. Edwards, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA, Region 5
  • Cross-Border Train Derailment Response Case Study
Rebecca Wade CEM, MBA, MBCP, Manager Emergency Management, Trans Mountain Pipeline LP
  • The Industry Experience

This session will focus on the challenges and complexities associated with response planning across borders and jurisdictional boundaries. Speakers will address topics at the international, interstate and interprovincial, and municipal levels, and how planning, preparedness, and response can take such boundaries into consideration. The session will outline existing response agreements, and government and industry representatives will share their experiences and lessons learned through exercises and incidents followed by an interactive Q&A.

3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Room: Jr. Ballroom D
Chair
CWO Dana Fleming, All-Hazards Response Specialist, U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Ohio Valley
Speakers
Lt. Nathaniel Kelley, Lieutenant, Mountain View Fire Rescue
  • Foam of the Future; Protecting Diverse Communities Across the USA
Jim Elliott, Chief Operating Officer, T&T Group of Companies
  • US Waterways Marine Casualty Response Case Studies and Lessons Learned
Bryan Vasser, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA, Region 4
  • National Marine Firefighting Plans

The recent loss of municipal firefighters on board a ship fire and the proposed ban on firefighting foam containing toxic chemicals has increased scrutiny on firefighting safety and environmental protection. Speakers in this session will cover recent case studies and discuss the future of firefighting operations.

5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom B

It’s time to network and unwind at the Around the World Reception in the exhibit hall. We’re serving up beverages and lite bites with flavors from around the world as you relax and mingle with your fellow attendees and exhibitors. 

Thursday, April 11

8:00 am - 8:30 am
Room: Grand Ballroom B

It’s time to fuel up for the final day of CLEAN WATERWAYS! Start the day off right with coffee and breakfast in the exhibit hall before today’s sessions start. 

8:30 am - 10:00 am
Room: Jr. Ballroom C
Track 1: Inland Planning and Preparedness
Chair
Barbi Lee, Regional Contingency Planner, U.S. EPA, Region 5
Speakers
Mary Goolie, AK RRT Coordinator/Area Planner, US EPA Region 10 Alaska
  • Joint Planning without Joint Plans
Jon Gulch, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA, Region 5
  • U.S. EPA Region 5 Sub Area Plans
Panelists
Douglas Witsken, LEPC Coordinator, Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency
Keith Wise, On-Scene Coordinator, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
Jon Gulch, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA, Region 5
Sam Dinkins, Technical Program Manager, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO)

Regional planning is a must since spill and/or hazmat events know no boundaries. Changes are high that overlapping agencies will responds to a singular event. The discussion in this session will focus on how those agencies can preplan, adapt and/or work together with other agencies who share oversight on an incident that crosses jurisdictional lines such as a river that flows from one state to another. Oil spills and hazmat incidents know no boundaries and changes are high that response jurisdictions will be crossed with overlapping agencies responding to a singular event. The discussion in this session will focus on the area planning process before “The Big One” hits. Agencies from all levels of government work together to preplan, adapt and work together with other agencies who share response authority on an incident that can cross jurisdictional lines from an air plume that migrates from one county to the next or an oil spill that flows down river from one state to the next. The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion on how responses evolve from local to state to federal.

8:30 am - 10:00 am
Room: Jr. Ballroom D
Chair
Scott Ritzer MA (DEM), Sr Preparedness and Response Specialist, TC Energy
Moderator
Kaili Kasper, Manager, Strategy, Governance & Delivery, TC Energy
Panelists
Scott Ritzer MA (DEM), Sr Preparedness and Response Specialist, TC Energy
Jeff Pritchard, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA, Region 7
Jeremy Dangel, Sr. Response Specialist-Emergency Management, TC Energy
Erich Glave, Bureau Director, Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Panelists in this session will discuss the MP 14 release in Washington, Kansas. They will provide an overview of the response and lessons learned for the Responsible Party (RP), EPA, and the State.

10:00 am - 10:30 am
Room: Grand Ballroom B

Join everyone in the exhibit hall for one of the final chances to visit with exhibitors before they head out! We’ll be serving up warm cinnamon rolls and coffee as a treat! 

10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Room: Jr. Ballroom C
Chair
Joel Block, Emergency Management, Pembina Pipeline Corp.
Moderator
Adrian Michielsen, Regional EP&R Advisor, Imperial
Panelists
Fire Marshall Greg Becker, Training Director, Colorado Preparedness & Response Network (CPRN)
Ken McLernon, Supervisor, Emergency Management, Pembina Pipeline Corp.
Shannon Jarrell, Communications & Training Manager, Western Canadian Spill Services Ltd.
Jon Gulch, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA, Region 5

In the dynamic realm of emergency response, effective collaboration is not just a bonus—it's essential. This session will delve into the intricacies of relationship-building prior to and during an emergency, exploring strategies to foster cooperation, communication, and mutual respect. Discovering how playing nice is not just a virtue but a strategic imperative in times of crisis.

10:30 am - 12:00 pm
Room: Jr. Ballroom D
Track 2: Response
Chair
Jordan Garrard, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA, Region 4
Moderator
Cody Fisher PE, BCEE, Chief, Emergency Response and Preparedness Division, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality
Speakers
Adam Davis, Scientific Support Coordinator, NOAA
  • When "Asphalt" Doesn't Sink- A Case Study from the Mississippi River
Ty Farrell, Senior Manager, HSE Emergency Response and Security Management, Plains All American
  • Condensate Spills
Michel Boufadel PhD, PE, Distinguished Professor and Director, New Jersey Institute of Technology
  • Transport of Oil Fin Rivers Following Interaction With Sediment
Co-Author:
Zhaonian Qu, PhD Student in Environmental Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology

This session will focus on case studies and research involving non-traditional oil behavior and the required response tactics. 

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Room: Grand Ballroom B
Networking Breaks

It’s closing time! Head to the exhibit hall one last time to have lunch and visit with exhibitors before the hall closes at 1:00.

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Room: Jr. Ballroom C
Moderator/Chair
Errin Howard, Career Development Program Director, Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals, Inc. (IRPT) An Association
Panelists
Eric Thomas, General Manager, Benchmark River and Rail Terminals, LLC
Christa White, Workforce Planning Manager, Ingram Barge Company
Jonathan Dunn, Director Corporate Communications, American Commercial Barge Lines (ACBL)
Stephen Porter, Chief, Regional Rivers Repair Fleet, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Huntington District

Organized by We Work the Waterways - Inland Rivers, Ports, and Terminals, Inc. (IRPT), An Association

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Room: Jr. Ballroom D
Chair
Sam Dinkins, Technical Program Manager, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO)
Moderator
CWO Dana Fleming, All-Hazards Response Specialist, U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Ohio Valley
Speakers
Craig Thomas, Federal On-Scene Coordinator, U.S. EPA, Region 5
  • Case Study - Menominee Warehouse Fire
Sam Dinkins, Technical Program Manager, Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO)
  • Lessons Learned from Past Responses on the Ohio River
LT Michael Franke-Rose, Incident Management Division Chief, U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Ohio Valley
  • Who's Who in the Zoo?

Interagency coordination is essential to spill preparedness and response along the inland waterways. The intricate rivers, lakes and streams touch multiple local, states and federal jurisdictions, generating the need for multi-agency contingency planning and response operations. These cross-jurisdictional responses are dynamic and complex and can often create confusion and misunderstanding of authorities, responsibilities, and jurisdictions. Speakers in this session provide clarity on state and federal agencies jurisdictional roles and responsibilities and will also offer valuable lessons learned from past case studies involving interagency coordination and response operations on the inland waterways.