The Ludington Pumped Storage Plant is one of the world’s largest “batteries” and an engineering marvel. The 27 billion gallon reservoir, which measures 2.5 miles long and one mile wide, can generate up to 1,872 megawatts of electricity. That’s enough power to serve a community of 1.4 million residential customers. The plant was named one of Michigan’s Top 10 civil engineering projects for the 20th century.

The tour will be followed by Happy Hour at Oh Brother's, 9521 US Route 31, Montague, MI 49437.

Registration is full at this time. If you are interested in a future tour, please contact Jill at jkwmawma@gmail.com to be added to a potential future tour list.

For those that have registered, please click the "View Event" button for updated information.

Date: Thursday, September 28, 2024
Time: 4:00 pm (please arrive by 3:45 pm)
Tour Location:  Bridging North America, 1001 Springwells Ct, Detroit (map)
Discussion and Networking:  Batch Brewing, 1400 Porter St, Detroit (map)
Flyer to share on the event (PDF)

Date:  Tue., September 10, 2024
Time:  4:00 - 7:00 pm
Location:  Valentine Distilling Company, Ferndale, MI (map)
Flyer with full details on the event (PDF)

Join the WM-AWMA Young Professionals to make a very real, concrete difference in protecting water quality in our community!

The Power of Aerial Insights: Drone Use in Environmental Applications

Get ready for liftoff with our exciting program on drones! Our technical session will cover EGLE’s use of drones for photographic and sensory purposes, including a case study on methane emission sampling at two landfills in Michigan. There will be a display of different drones and a hands-on opportunity to fly small drones inside.

Presenters:

• Art Ostaszewski, EGLE Drone/Sensor Coordinator, Information Management Division, EGLE

• Jay Olaguer, Assistant Director, Air Quality Division, EGLE

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Drone Program: Use of Drones for Compliance Evaluations

Registration Is Now Open!

Join us for a day of learning and networking at the Spring Conference on April 25, 2024. This in-person event will be held at the Watermark Country Club. Connect with industry professionals, attend informative sessions, and gain valuable insights. Don't miss out on this opportunity to grow your knowledge and expand your network. Save the date and mark your calendar for this exciting event!

Join us for an informative workshop on hazardous waste management. This in-person event will be held at the Prince Conference Center and Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI, USA. Learn about the best practices, regulations, and techniques for handling hazardous waste.

Get the latest scoop from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality! Join us for updates from the Air Quality, Materials Management, Remediation and Redevelopment, and PFAS programs.  There will also be an opportunity to ask any burning questions of the Department.

Presenters:

• Abigail Hendershott, MPART Executive Director

• Heidi Hollenbach, Air Quality Division District Supervisor

• Fred Sellers, Materials Management Division District Supervisor

• Karen Vorce, Remediation and Redevelopment District Supervisor

Environmental Compliance: Regulation, Investigation, Enforcement, and Litigation

Join us for an exciting in-person event at Lansing Community College West Campus! This joint conference brings together experts in our state's environment and law including sessions on air and waste. This is an opportunity for all professionals involved in the environmental industry to learn about and discuss environmental scientific, technical, legal, and related policy issues including insights into emerging issues. Whether you're an environmental or legal professional or simply interested in environmental issues, this conference is the perfect opportunity to expand your knowledge and network with like-minded individuals. Don't miss out on this informative and engaging event!

Please join us for a lively and informative luncheon program on Thursday, October 19, 2023, 11 AM – 1 PM at the Grand Rapids offices of Warner Norcross + Judd.

Canadian Wildfire Smoke
Jim Haywood, EGLE Chief Meteorologist, will discuss the dramatic impacts on ambient air quality this past summer resulting from the long-range transport of the Canadian wildfire fine particulate smoke in combination with unusual meteorological conditions.  The wildfire smoke episodes caused elevated ambient concentrations of fine particulate matter and documented health impacts.

PM2.5 Annual Ambient Air Quality Standard
Sarah Arra, EPA Region 5 Attainment Planning Supervisor, will discuss EPA’s January 2023 proposal to lower the primary annual ambient air quality standard for PM2.5.  It currently stands at 12.0 µg/m3, and it is proposed to revise it to as low as 8.0 µg/m3, which may cause certain areas in Michigan to become redesignated as non-attainment, and present additional challenges passing modeling in support of air permit applications.  Timing of the final rule, the final standard, PM2.5 sources, and mitigation measures will be discussed. 

Navigating Carbon Management & Climate Mitigation Driven by ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and Sustainability Plans

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Panel Discussion

· Nicole L. Nguyen, PMP, PE - Barr Engineering

· Linda M. Hilbert, PE - Consumers Energy

· Lawrence Meredith - Grand Valley State University

· Diana Bach - Positive Scenarios Consulting, LLC

12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Networking Luncheon

1:00 p.m. Golf (nine holes) (optional)

Compliance and Beyond: Navigating a Changing Regulatory Landscape

Join us for this 27th annual conference!

Sponsored By:
TECHNOLOGY: Fleis & VandenBrink

BREAKFAST: Plummer’s Environmental

NETWORKING BREAK: Brown & Caldwell

LUNCH: NTH Consultants, Ltd.

RAFFLE: MillerKnoll

HAPPY HOUR: Fishbeck

Join us for the 27th annual workshop on secondary use, manifesting, and biennial reporting. Presentations begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by a networking luncheon at noon. Attendees will also receive free access to the “Butterflies Are Blooming” exhibit at Meijer Gardens.

We invite our members to a fun evening at a Grand Rapids Griffins Hockey game! We have reserved seats in Section 126 along with Amway Section A where you can enjoy complimentary food and non-alcoholic beverages. Each adult will also receive a complimentary drink ticket for an alcoholic beverage.

This is a family event so bring your significant other and your children and/or grandchildren. Enjoy the action of a Griffins game in style with your WM-AWMA friends!

Sponsored by Fishbeck and Taplin Environmental Services.

January WM-AWMA Webinar: Surviving Reporting Season!

Reporting Season is just around the corner. Having a strategy to navigate the myriad of reporting requirements, incorporate best practices, and anticipate changes is critical to success. In this virtual webinar, we will walk through key reporting programs (MAERS, ROP, SARA Title 3 Tier II, TRI, Greenhouse Gas, NPDES, etc.), common pitfalls, and strategies for success all while taking a wholistic compliance approach. 

Additionally, staff from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will present anticipated changes to air emissions reporting (MAERS) with the upcoming transition to MiEnviro Portal and what you can do now to plan for a smooth transition. We look forward to you joining us virtually in the New Year for this important topic!

This year's conference is co-sponsored by the State Bar of Michigan Environmental Law Section and the East and West Michigan Chapters of the Air and Waste Management Association. The conference will be held:

Wednesday, November 9, 2022
Lansing Community College - West Campus (map)
8:00 am to 5:00 pm with happy hour at Eagle Monk Brewery (map)

Joint Conference Agenda
Speaker Biographies

Come relax with your friends and colleagues! Social Time sponsored by your WM-AMWA Young Professionals Group. Please click View Event to learn more and to sign up to attend!

Lakeshore Redevelopment Event:

• Brownfields 101: What are they? Where are they? What challenges do they pose to redevelopment? Speaker: Roman Wilson, Vice President of Due Diligence and Brownfield Services, Fishbeck

• Brownfield Redevelopment Funding Sources; Economic and Community Development. Speakers: David Stegink Vice President – Manager of Redevelopment Services, Envirologic Technologies; Cathy Brubaker-Clarke, Community Development Specialist, Greater Muskegon Economic Development

• Muskegon Lake Nature Preserve, Remediation and Restoration Activities. Kris Heckman, VP of Remediation, Taplin Enterprises, LLC.

• Trolley Tour of Muskegon Area Brownfield Sites

• Post-Event Gathering – Pigeon Hill Brewery

The Grand River Cleanup is upon us again and coming up very soon. We’d love to see a large group of WM-AWMA folks get involved. Similar to last year, WMEAC has set up the cleanup to be at our own pace and schedule.

The 2022 Technical Session & Golf Outing will once again be a fundraiser for our scholarship program. Recognizing the critical role emerging professionals play in the future of air pollution control, waste management and other environmental management fields, the West Michigan Chapter of the Air & Waste Management Association (WM-AWMA) has long prioritized efforts to develop the next generation of environmental professionals in industry, government agencies, and research, as well as those of educators, attorneys, and consultants within West Michigan. Over the past years we have honored these future leaders by providing scholarships. Since 1994, $182,500 has been awarded to 100 college juniors, seniors, and graduate students pursuing a qualifying environmental career in the West Michigan area.

Your tax-deductible contribution will help WM-AWMA continue this tradition of support. Please give generously. Even if you are unable to attend this event, remember that contributions to the scholarship fund are always welcome.

WM-AWMA Spring Conference LIVE!!

We are live and in person! Join us to network with long-lost colleagues and hear from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy division directors, about the Michigan and City of Grand Rapids climate plans, the Kent County Department of Public Works Sustainable Business Park, air reporting and permitting, MPART update, and win a Herman Miller Aeron chair!

Manufacturers must comply with an ever-changing number of air regulations all while trying to compete with companies in other states and in low-cost locations around the world. This must-attend virtual event partners the Environmental Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and the MMA and features leading professionals from government, industry, advocacy groups and the legal profession.

This workshop provides a discussion on the hows, whats, and whys of Rad, NORM, and TENORM waste handling and disposal. Wade O’Boyle, Grand Rapids District LIB and Hazardous Waste Inspector, will also provide an update. The program will also feature a detailed look at the art of Lab Packing, including preparing for a lab pack, waste classification and packaging, along with documentation, transportation, and disposal.

In addition, EGLE field inspectors and technical specialists will be on-site to answer any questions throughout the workshop, and there will be time for networking and exhibitor interaction during arrival, breaks, and lunch.

EGLE 2022 Waste Resources handout

Presentations begin at 9:00 a.m. followed by a networking luncheon at noon. Attendees will also receive free access to the “Butterflies Are Blooming” exhibit at Meijer Gardens.

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This workshop is sponsored by Plummer’s Environmental Services!

Additional Exhibitors Welcome! Each exhibitor ($250) will receive one eight-foot, skirted table and two chairs. Complimentary entry to the workshop and food are provided for one individual. Additional attendees are asked to register at the regular registration rates.

Registration and refunds accepted through 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9. No refunds can be provided after this date. REGISTRATION AFTER THE 9TH WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $20/PERSON.

Employers everywhere have been challenged by a labor shortage and frequent staff turnover. This presentation will review potential environmental reports, plans, etc. that require notification with a change of staff, and/or registering new staff that will review, certify, or submit upcoming annual environmental reports.

Join us to learn the latest PFAS information as it relates to permitting and disposal concerns.