Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Understanding Emerging Issues with these Widespread Compounds
Amy Wilson, PhD, PE
Technical Director, TRC
PRESENTATION:
PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) are a diverse group of man-made chemicals that were developed to be resistant to heat, water, and oil. PFAS have historically been produced for widespread uses such as carpeting, apparel, firefighting foams, and metal plating, and are likely to be found at refineries, military bases, airports, landfills, sludge/biosolids land application sites, fire training facilities, rail yards, chemical facilities, plating facilities, and semiconductor manufacturing facilities. PFAS have been detected at concentrations above state standards and EPA Health Advisory Levels in public water systems throughout the United States. They are widespread globally, and have been detected even in remote places. The toxicology of PFAS is only beginning to be understood. Their persistence, ability to transport, and resistance to typical natural attenuation processes are of increasing concern. The demand for PFAS testing and analysis has increased, and the ubiquitous presence of PFAS presents both a sampling challenge and an important consideration in source attribution. This presentation will provide a broad overview of the various issues and most up-to-date information associated with PFAS, including its unique chemistry, history and sources, toxicology, fate and transport, sampling and analytical challenges, Federal and state regulatory status, and remediation and treatment issues associated with PFAS’ complex properties.
SPEAKER BIO:
Amy Wilson is a civil engineer and hydrogeologist with over 20 years of experience managing complex remediation sites, with an emphasis on providing long-term technical, financial, and regulatory strategic direction. Amy’s technical expertise includes: groundwater and soil vapor fate and transport; conceptual site/hydrogeologic modeling; numerical modeling; water quality; remediation system design and operations; and landfill management and remediation under RCRA. Amy is a registered Professional Engineer in the State of California and holds a PhD in contaminant hydrogeology from the University of California at Berkeley.
SCHOLASTIC SPONSOR:
ABOUT TRC:
A pioneer in groundbreaking scientific and engineering developments since the 1960s, TRC is a national engineering, environmental consulting, and construction management firm that brings an integrated approach to the issues facing the power, oil and gas, environmental, and infrastructure markets. With over 4,000 professionals at more than 120 offices throughout the US, we serve a broad range of commercial, industrial, and government clients. Our multidisciplinary teams implement complex projects from initial concept through permitting, engineering, and construction. At TRC, we understand our clients’ goals and embrace them as our own, delivering results that enable you to succeed in a complex and changing world.
ANNOUNCING SCHOLASTIC SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
All Proceeds to Benefit Science Students
The GRA Sacramento Branch has a history of supporting university-level science students. Our Scholastic Sponsorship Program is an opportunity to publicize your business while contributing toward a good cause. The cost is minimal; if interested, please contact Michael Bombard at (916) 514-4458 or Michael.Bombard@ghd.com.
AGENDA:
Social Hour - 5:30-6:30 p.m.
Announcements & Dinner - 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Presentation - 7:30-8:30 p.m.
Usual great food, including two meat entrées, salad, rice, potatoes, vegetable and iced tea. A no-host beer and wine bar will be available.
MEETING COSTS AND RSVP:
EARLY BIRD MEETING COSTS
Members: $27.00
Non-Members: $32.00
Students: $10.00
Cancellations must be made by Noon on Monday, January 7th.
If you register after Noon on Monday, January 7th, or walk-in, a $3.00 surcharge will be added to the meeting cost.
If you have questions about the meeting, please telephone Rodney Fricke at 916-407-8539 or email him at rodneyafricke@gmail.com. For questions about Sacramento Branch in general, including submittal of your ideas and/or desires for future presentations, please telephone Linda Bond at (530) 757-1500 or email her at Linda.Bond@water.ca.gov.
UPCOMING MEETINGS & EVENTS:
March 13th: Maurice Hall, PhD., Associate Vice President, Ecosystems-Water Environmental Defense Fund, Resilience from Below: Proactively Managing Groundwater to Sustain Communities and Nature in an Uncertain Future (Annual GRA David Keith Todd Lecture-Scholarship Awards meeting at CSUS)
April 10th: Dr. Laura J. Crossey, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences at the University of New Mexico, GSA Birdsall-Dreiss Distinguished Lecturer, Chemistry and Geoscience Education at Grand Canyon and Beyond: Who Knew Groundwater Hydrology Could Be So Complicated?
May 8th: Deborah Green, AEG-GSA 2018-2019 Richard H. Jahns Distinguished Lecturer in Applied Geology, Let’s Talk: A Conversation on How We Communicate about Science
June 12th: David Santino, Esq., Senior Staff Counsel, California Department of Water Resources, The Disconnect Between Groundwater Legal Systems and Groundwater Hydrology: What Changes Should Be Made to Groundwater Law to Better Reflect the Physical Environment? (GRA David Keith Todd Lecturer with outreach to UC Davis)
Coming this Fall: California Regulatory Panel, State Board and DTSC, Emerging Issues