With featured speakers from EPA Headquarters, EPA Region IX, the RWQCB, DTSC, private industry (e.g., Honeywell) and the environmental consulting community, GRA is pleased to announce this comprehensive symposium on Site Closure Strategies.

A large number of the technical abstracts submitted to GRA will be presented in platform and poster sessions. Topics presented will cover a wide range of closure strategies including EPA's Technical Impracticability (TI) Waivers, the RWQCB's Containment Zone, an industry insurance-based approach and Triad methodologies. In addition, the San Francisco RWQCB will be introducing its recommended closure criteria for low threat solvents and other non-fuel cases. Several cases studies will be featured throughout the symposium.

This symposium is timely and the topics covered important in light of the large number of contaminated sites that seem to be mired in never-ending remediation costs with little improvement in recovery results. The long-term environmental commitments require precious resources that are always limited. In the absence of appropriate closure strategies, it is not possible to reach agreements among the stakeholders as to when to stop active remediation or monitoring. Instead, operations are extended, especially when cleanup goals are difficult to achieve using current technologies.

Site closure strategies define the boundaries of the remediation program. They are used to establish the standards used to evaluate if the performance of the remedial project has achieved the objectives and if the activities, passive or active, can be terminated. Closure strategies, therefore, are vital because they determine the data needed to demonstrate that the performance objectives have been met.

Site strategies to achieve expedited site characterization/remediation and regulatory closure to facilitate Brownfield development will also be the interest of this seminar. The sky-rocket property value and the shortage of land for development have become a real challenge in California and demand for redevelopment of Brownfield properties has become not only a political drive but also a business drive.

Location & Overnight Accomodations
The Symposium will be at the Hilton Concord Hotel, 1970 Diamond Boulevard, Concord, CA 94520, (925) 827-2000. The Hotel has set aside a block of sleeping rooms for GRA that are available on a first come, first serve basis at the rate of $149 plus tax per night for single/double occupancy. The deadline for making hotel reservations is February 5, 2008. Please make your reservations by calling and identifying yourself as an attendee of the Groundwater Resources Association Symposium or click here to access the hotel reservations web page for this event.

Exhibitors: Accutest Laboratories (Entech Analytical) | BC Laboratories | Blaine Tech Services
Calscience Environmental Laboratories | Columbia Technologies | Gregg Drilling & Testing, Inc.
Instrumentation Northwest | Kiff Analytical, LLC | Laboratory Data Consultants
Precision Sampling, Inc. | ProHydro, Inc./Snap Sampler | Regenesis | RSI Drilling
TestAmerica Analytical

Sponsor Exhibitor Opportunities
If you are interested in exhibiting your organization's services or products, or being an event sponsor, please contact Mary Megarry (mmegarry@nossaman.com; 916-446-3626) or click here for details. GRA welcomes co-sponsors as well as lunch, break, reception and student paper competition sponsors.