65th Annual Environmental Engineering Conference
University of Kansas
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Celebrating Earth Day and Pressing Onward: Conference Program
7:30
Registration and Continental Breakfast
Plenary Session
Moderator: Stephen J. Randtke, Professor, CEAE Dept., University of Kansas
8:35
Opening Remarks
8:45
Welcome: Michael S. Branicky, Dean, School of Engineering, University of Kansas
8:50
Keynote Address: Are You Ready? Federal Environmental Regulatory
Changes Coming Your Way
Alexandria Dapolito Dunn, Esq., Executive Director and General Counsel,
Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)
9:30
A Win for Everyone: Making Money while Reducing Environmental Impacts
and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Waste Water, Agricultural and Oil and
Gas Sectors
Steven P. Hamburg, Chief Scientist, Environmental Defense Fund
10:10 Networking and Refreshments – Exhibits Open
10:40 Induced Seismicity in Kansas
Rex Buchanan, Interim Director, Kansas Geological Survey
11:20 Future Regulatory and Resiliency Challenges for Water Systems
J. Alan Roberson, Director of Federal Relations, American Water Works
Association
Noon Announcements and Award Presentations
12:10 Conference Luncheon
Session 1: Advances in Water Distribution Systems
Co-Moderators: John H. Bailey, PEC (Retired) and Director of Utilities, City of Pittsburg,
Kan., and Robert A. Hulsey, Global Water Practice & Technology Leader, Black & Veatch
1:20
Plastics in Water Infrastructure: The Need for Scientific Understanding Before
it’s Too Late
Andrew J. Whelton, Assistant Professor of Environmental Engineering, Purdue
University
2:00
Pressure Management: Industry Practices and Monitoring Procedures
Mark W. LeChevalier, Director of Innovation and Environmental Stewardship,
American Water
2:40
Networking and Refreshments – Exhibits Open
3:00
A Tale of Two Utilities: How Portland Water (Oregon) and WaterOne
(Kansas) Justify and Apply Condition Assessment for Pipe Risk Management
Daniel J. Smith, Director of Distribution, WaterOne, and Jeff Leighton, Senior
Engineer, Asset Management, Portland Water Bureau
3:40
Taking New Approaches for Water Loss
Jeff J. Neemann, Director of Water Treatment Technology, Black & Veatch, and
Stephen Green, Director of Water Distribution, Board of Public Utilities, Kansas
City, Kan.
4:20
Adjourn
Session 2: Water Quality & Wastewater Treatment Challenges
Co-Moderators: Belinda M. Sturm, Associate Professor, CEAE Dept., University of Kansas,
and John A. Metzler, Principal Wastewater Consultant, CH2M-HILL
1:20
Emerging Water Challenges
Karen Flournoy, Director, Water, Wetlands, and Pesticides Division, EPA Region 7
2:00
Wet Weather Flow Management: From Integrated Planning and Permitting to
In-the-Storm Operations
Dave Wagner, Director, Water & Wastewater Utilities Department, Lawrence, Kan.
2:40
Networking and Refreshments – Exhibits Open
3:00
Phosphorus Recovery with Reference to MWRDGC
James L. Barnard, Global Practice and Technology Leader, Black & Veatch
3:40
Testing a New Biofilm Application – Aerobic Granular Sludge
Belinda M. Sturm, Associate Professor, CEAE Dept., University of Kansas
4:20
Adjourn
Session 3: Hot Topics in Air Quality and Energy Management
Co-Moderators: Edward F. (Ted) Peltier, Associate Professor, CEAE Dept., University of
Kansas, and Daniel R. Wilkus, Senior Manager, Air Programs, Westar Energy
1:20
State and Utility Strategies on Clean Power Plan Compliance
Thomas Gross, Chief, Monitoring and Planning Section, Kansas Department of
Health and Environment, and Brad Loveless, Executive Director, Environmental
Services, Westar Energy
2:00
Use of Reciprocating Engines to Complement Wind and Solar Energy in
Integrated Nodal Markets
Paul M. Bachmuth, Director, Business Development, TradeWind Energy, Inc.
2:40
Networking and Refreshments – Exhibits Open
3:00
Developing Distributed Generation Solutions for Environmental Stewardship
Tim Burkhalter, Strategic Energy Consultant, Burns & McDonnell
3:40
Life Cycle Assessment as a Planning Tool in Environmental Engineering
Marie-Odile P. Fortier, Doctoral Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant,
CEAE Dept., Griffin W. Roberts, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering,
Susan M. Stagg-Williams, Dept. of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering, and Belinda
S.M. Sturm, CEAE Dept., University of Kansas
4:20
Adjourn
Program Committee
Robynn Andracsek, Burns & McDonnell
John H. Bailey, PEC (Retired) and City of Pittsburg, Kansas
Deborah A. English, SCS Engineers
David H. Homer, Tetra Tech, Inc.
Robert A. Hulsey, Black & Veatch
John A. Metzler, CH2M-HILL
Edward F. Peltier, University of Kansas
Stephen J. Randtke, University of Kansas
Julian Sandino, CH2M HILL
Belinda M. Sturm, University of Kansas
Michael B. Tate, Kansas Department of Health & Environment
Daniel R. Wilkus, Westar Energy