2015 NEMC / TNI ConferenceCheryl Wood

Chicago

What is NEMC

• A combined partnership between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the regulated community, the public, the state regulatory agencies and the monitoring community.

• NEMC has three goals:– To serve as a forum for ALL interested parties to work together to solve environmental

monitoring problems in a cost effective manner.– To give state regulatory agencies and the public information about EPA activites and

programs. – To give members of the monitoring community an opportunity to exchange information,

ideas and experiences in using both existing and new monitoring methods and approaches.

Who Should Attend the NEMC Conference?

• Lab Managers and Directors• QA/QC Managers• Regulatory Managers• Laboratory Analysts• Anyone concerned with Environmental

Monitoring

The Benefits of Attending the Conference

• As an attendee, you have the opportunity to learn about new monitoring approaches, methods, technologies, equipment, etc…

• Contribute to discussions regarding regulatory issues, rules, standards, etc…

• Learn about various agency efforts related to environmental monitoring.

• Participate in one-on-one discussions with experts concerning various issues.

• Obtain the information you need to plan for future capital purchases and staffing needs.

• Learn how to save both time and money when performing sampling and analyses techniques.

• Get a head start learning new technologies and regulations.

NEMC…A Brief History

• 2007: this Symposium was created by combining the National Environmental Monitoring Conference (NEMC) with the Forum on Laboratory Accreditation.

• This change reduced the travel costs and time commitments for those who attended both meetings and provided new opportunities for those who only participated in one of these events in the past.

• Since combining the meetings, attendance has more than doubled, the number of technical papers has grown and the quality of the exhibit program has significantly improved.

• Today, The NELAC Institute (TNI) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) are the co-sponsors of the eighth Environmental Measurement Symposium, the largest conference focused on environmental measurements in North America.

2015 National Environmental Monitoring Conference

• Chicago Illinois• Hyatt Regency• July 13-17, 2015• is the combined meeting of the Forum on Laboratory Accreditation and the National

Environmental Monitoring Conference (NEMC. • The symposium is co-sponsored by The NELAC Institute (TNI) under a cooperative

agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). • This year’s theme was "Big Data: Environmental Measurement and Monitoring Data

in the 21st Century." • Some of the highlights for the week included:

A special half-day general session focused on the conference theme; Over 160 oral and poster presentations on a variety of cutting-edge environmental monitoring issues; Meetings of TNI Committees to further TNI efforts on environmental laboratory accreditation,

proficiency testing, and accreditation of field sampling and measurement organizations; An exhibit program showcasing the latest innovations in environmental monitoring; Five special keynote presentations on topics of general interest; and An open meeting of US Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Laboratory Advisory Board

2015 National Environmental Monitoring Conference ~cont~

• NEMC 2015 featured over 160 presentations and posters organized into concurrent technical sessions from Monday through Thursday.

• A general session on Wednesday morning: Big Data: Environmental Measurement and Monitoring Data in the 21st Century.

– Federal Perspective: Stan Meiburg, Acting Deputy Administrator, USEPA– Regulated Industry Perspective: Jennifer Glasgow, Chief Privacy Officer, Acxiom Corporation– Academic Perspective: Rayid Ghani, Research Director at the Computation Institute and Senior Fellow,

University of Chicago– Citizen Perspective: Anthony P. Garcia, Attorney, Chicago Council on Global Affairs

• A keynote address on a major topic kicked-off the start of each day. • Individual TNI Committee meetings, councils and sessions; all available to

attendees• Innovative new technology showcase• Various receptions and seminars hosted by vendors• The Exposition hall complete with lots of swag

The Forum

• The Forum on Laboratory Accreditation (the Forum) held concurrently with NEMC, is the principal conference for addressing policy and technical issues affecting the accreditation of environmental laboratories in addition to field sampling and measurement organizations.

• The Forum features open public meetings of all TNI committees to allow quality professionals, chemists, analysts, microbiologists, engineers, and managers from federal and state agencies; commercial, municipal, state and federal laboratories; and many others who are actively involved and interested in laboratory accreditation issues to review what has been done and participate in the efforts to establish a national program for environmental laboratories and field sampling and measurement organizations.

• Details for the Forum meetings can be found at www.nelac-institute.org.

Why Go?

• The Laboratory Association of New Hampshire votes to send one member each year to this conference. That means the conference, lodging and airfare are covered.

• Participation in actual TNI committees; the ability to ask questions and have input on new standards.

• Learning about upcoming regulatory actions• Case studies: Listening to how others have solved different issues• Networking: interacting with your peers, mentors and various other

individuals is a valuable tool to help with questions that you may have concerning:

– Standards– Regulations– Techniques– Equipment– Or just meeting new people

What Do You Get

• A welcome kit that includes the conference booklet with all workshops, seminars, sessions and committee happenings.

• A booklet with all attendees names, places of work and contact information.• A list of various networking opportunities.• SWAG: notebook, pens, etc…• The ability to connect with old friends and meet new people.• KNOWLEDGE!

Should You Go Next Time?

I encourage any of you to go to this Conference. I have gone six times and each time has been extremely valuable both professionally and personally to me. • I have made important professional contacts that have allowed me to reach

out to them, if and when I need their expertise. • I have made life long friends, that I look forward to connecting with each

summer.• I have had the ability to see demos of new equipment• Learned new methods• Benefitted from case studies• Discussed various topics with EPA personal in regards to my workplace• Kept updated on TNI standards• So YES….please volunteer to go! You will not regret it!

Thank You

Thank you all for listening and Thank you LANH for allowing me, once again this opportunity! I enjoyed all aspect of Chicago!

I have some presentations available if anyone is interested. Or go to http://www.nemc.us/meeting/2015/techprog.php to find downloads for all technical sessions (presentations)

You can also contact me:Cheryl WoodManchester Water Works Laboratorycwood@manchesternh.gov603-792-2855