2024 AIPG Michigan Section Annual Meeting

Buffet Dinner: Forest Mushroom Chicken: Pan-seared chicken breast topped with a sherry wine sauce with roasted wild mushrooms and fresh spinach. Tilapia: Herb encrusted, served wih a light lemon butter sauce. Side dishes: Mixed vegetables, Wild Rice Pilaf, Penne with Marinara, Fresh Garden Salad, and Bread.

Fresh Pumpkin pie with house made whipped cream, apple pie, caramel apples, cider and donuts for dessert.

Cash Bar.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) first published national minimum standards to address the Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) management in landfills and surface impoundments located at power utility sites nearly a decade ago. After several rule amendments, a significant administrative court decision, and nearly a dozen enforcement actions, the US EPA published it’s most recent amendment to the CCR rule that extends regulations to broadly address CCR at power generation sites, and requires Owners and Operators to consider “legacy” placement of CCRs through a framework of self-implemented milestones culminating in expanded groundwater monitoring and consideration for how to “close” CCR deposits not previously regulated. This presentation will navigate the complexity of the definitions with emphasis on state and federal requirements while forecasting impacts to Owners and Operators of CCR units and the environmental professional community. One case study from recent US EPA enforcement on evaluation of groundwater will be summarized to illustrate complexities with complying with the self-implementing framework.

Harold D. Register, Jr. is a professional engineer in Michigan with 27 years of experience in environmental regulatory compliance, engineering, and groundwater monitoring and remediation at complex environmental remediation sites. He has a B.S in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida and a M.S. in Civil Engineering from the Florida State University and is currently pursuing a secondary M.S. in Statistics from Purdue University. He started his engineering career as a public infrastructure engineer supporting response and recovery operations from federally declared disasters. After a few years, he transitioned to permitting and technical support of hazardous waste (Subtitle C) operations and remediation at the Florida Department of Environmental Protection until his most recent move to the utility industry. Currently he serves as a Senior Principal Environmental Engineer at Consumers Energy where he has executed numerous high-impact projects focused on compliance with the management of Coal Combustion Residuals (CCRs). Focusing on state and federal environmental regulations, Mr. Register has been a strategic innovator for the closure of CCR waste management units and the implementation of groundwater monitoring and remediation solutions. His leadership extends beyond Consumers Energy, with advisory roles at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and active participation in regulatory frameworks at the Utility Solid Waste Activities Group (USWAG).

Students are invited to share posters as part of our annual student poster contest. We are reserving time from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm for students to present their work for an opportunity to win $1,000 for the best poster in both graduate and undergraduate categories and $500 to runners up in each category as well. If you would like to present your poster, please indicate your interest and title of your poster in your Eventbrite registration. We may lengthen the time for poster presentations based on the number of submissions.

The Michigan Section is seeking is seeking volunteers to judge the student’s posters. If you are interested in judging the posters, please indicate your interest on your Eventbrite registration. AIPG has a standard student poster evaluation form that will be shared with judges for the event.

Cost: Members $35, Non-Members $55, Students Free

AIPG events aim to be inclusive to the largest number of contributors, with the most varied and diverse backgrounds possible. As such, we are committed to providing a friendly, safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or religion.

This Events Code of Conduct Policy outlines our expectations for those who participate in any capacity at sanctioned AIPG events, as well as the consequences for unacceptable behavior.

AIPG expects all participants in AIPG events to create safe and positive experiences for everyone.

“Participant” in this policy refers to anyone present at AIPG events, including all attendees, members, vendors, exhibitors, contractors, staff, and venue staff.

We expect all participants at AIPG events (attendees, members, vendors, exhibitors, contractors, staff, and venue staff) to abide by this Events Code of Conduct Policy in all venues and at all AIPG events, including ancillary events and official and unofficial social gatherings.

Exercise consideration and respect in your speech and actions.

Refrain from demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behavior and speech.

Be mindful of your surroundings and of your fellow participants.

AIPG event venues may be shared with members of the public; be respectful to all patrons of these locations.

Alert community leaders if you notice a dangerous situation, someone in distress, or violations of the Code of Conduct Policy, even if they seem inconsequential.

Unacceptable behaviors include, but are not limited to:

intimidating, harassing, abusive, discriminatory, derogatory, or demeaning speech or actions by any participant in AIPG events, related events, and in one-on-one communications carried out in the context of AIPG events;

bullying, badgering, or aggressive behavior toward a presenter before, during, or after a presentation in the form of abrasive or overly-assertive comments or questions;

derogatory, harmful, or prejudicial verbal or written comments or visual images related to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, appearance, or other personal characteristics;

inappropriate use of nudity and/or sexual images in public spaces (including presentation slides);

deliberate intimidation, stalking, or following;

harassing photography or recording;

sustained disruption of talks or other events;

unwelcome and uninvited attention or contact;

physical assault (including unwelcome touching or groping);

real or implied threat of physical harm;

real or implied threat of professional or financial damage or harm.

Exhibitors in the expo hall, sponsor or vendor booths, or similar activities are also subject to the Events Code of Conduct Policy. In particular, exhibitors should not use sexualized images, activities, or other material. Booth staff (including volunteers) should not use sexualized clothing, uniforms, costumes, or otherwise create a sexualized environment.

Be careful in the words that you choose. Remember that sexist, racist, and other exclusionary jokes can be offensive to those around you. Excessive swearing and offensive jokes are not appropriate for AIPG events.

Unacceptable behavior from any participant at AIPG events, including attendees, members, vendors, exhibitors, contractors, staff, venue staff, and anyone with decision-making authority, will not be tolerated.

If a participant engages in unacceptable behavior, the individual may be asked to leave the AIPG event (without refund) or may be removed from the event (without refund) at which the harassment occurred.

Host or Publisher AIPG Michigan Section