ECIC 2017 Track Descriptions

TAEP's Environmental Challenges and Innovations Conference is a source of valuable information regarding practical, technical, and regulatory issues and trends related to environmental protection topics including air and water quality; solid waste management; resource use and protections; real estate due diligence; risk assessment and remediation; pollution prevention; emergency planning and response; and professional ethics.

Air Quality

The Air Quality track follows the science, status, regulation, and community concerns regarding air pollution, indoor air toxins, noise, and climate effects, including industrial and transportation emissions and innovative equipment technologies.

Water Resources

The Water Resources track addresses planning, management, design, and permitting of systems affecting stormwater, floodplain management, storm surge, drinking water, wastewater, surface water, groundwater, bays and estuaries, and the ocean.  The track will address both the quantity and quality of water resources in industrial, municipal and private land development settings and highlight current challenges and solutions.

Solid Waste

The Solid Waste track addresses challenges affecting municipal and special landfills, industrial waste management efforts and hazardous waste transport, tracking, storage, and endpoint disposal.  Related issues such as litter and recycling are also included.

Natural and Cultural Resources

The Natural and Cultural Resources track combines issues addressing the protection of natural habitats, endangered species, waterways, wetlands, and coastal areas with issues addressing the potential impacts of the oil, gas, mining, solar, dredging, manufacturing, and wind industries.  It also addresses cultural resource investigation, tribal issues, aesthetics, public participation, and sustainable development initiatives.

Due Diligence

Due Diligence in this context refers to the performance of appropriate inquiries to help assess the potential for existing environmental concerns during the planning stages of land acquisition, development, and reconstruction projects.  The established standard developed by ASTM differentiates between Environmental Transaction Screenings (ETS), Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESA) and Phase II ESA efforts.  Potentially related considerations such as Vapor Encroachment Conditions will also be addressed.

Risk and Remediation

The Risk Assessment and Remediation track provides information on how to plan for and implement environmental risk assessment, evaluate and select remediation technologies, and developing trends in these areas.  It provides case studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of and challenges to current best practices and compliance with regulatory programs.

Emergency Response

Fire, chemical, and biohazard Emergency Response best practices are addressed in this track, touching on natural disasters, human error, and criminal or terror activity as root causes.  It includes considerations related to planning, training, prevention, countermeasures, security, and continuity of operations.

Professional Ethics

A sound basis for Professional Ethics is essential to help ensure improved outcomes in environmental planning, assessment, compliance, and response efforts.  This track will focus on the fields of engineering and geology, addressing the rules for required state registration.