Contact: Sammy McDavid
Some 800 international professionals and others involved in natural resource issues will be in Biloxi Sept. 25-27 for the 11th Southern States Environmental Annual Conference.
Sponsored by the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, the Gulf Coast Coliseum gathering will provide the latest information on hazardous and non-hazardous waste matters to representatives of government agencies, environmental organizations and a range of businesses and industries, as well as concerned citizens.
"Many people work very hard each year to design these conferences as the best possible venue for information-sharing and professional networking," said June Carpenter of the Mississippi Technical Assistance Program at Mississippi State University.
Carpenter said MISSTAP assists MDEQ in organizing and sponsoring the conferences. The United States Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency, along with the Tennessee Valley Authority, are other conference sponsors.
"Environmental Issues for the 21st Century" is this year's theme. Some 2001 session topics include:
--"How to Make Environmental Decisions,"
--"Cyberterrorism: A View from Industry" and
--"Atmospheric Pollutant Deposition on Nearshore Waters of the Gulf of Mexico."
Cory Berish, EPA's Southeast chief for planning and analysis, will deliver the opening address. "Greenways, Special Places and Partnerships: What's in It for You?" is his topic.
"In addition to the individual presentations, these gatherings always feature some of the most extensive environmental-related exhibits found anywhere," Carpenter said. "Participants are able to experience a wide range of products and services, and meet directly with top representatives of the companies and organizations that provide them."
Conference participation will provide .9 continuing education unit credit for engineers and other licensed professionals seeking annual reaccreditations. Also, two special pre-conference workshops on the 24th offer additional credit in certain highly specialized skill areas. They include:
--An eight-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration-approved refresher class on hazardous materials (HAZMAT) for persons working in remediation services at hazardous waste sites or in industrial emergency response offices. (CEU credit: .8)
--A six-hour presentation on indoor air quality led by University of Tulsa professor Richard J. Shaughnessy, a recognized authority on the air quality of buildings. (CEU credit: .6)
For information on required registration and additional conference offerings, contact Carpenter at (662) 325-8067 or carpenter@che.msstate.edu.
A complete conference schedule may be viewed at http://www.che.msstate.edu/misstap.