Wednesday, August 23 @ 9am to 11am

ES1. Student Research Presentation Session

The invited Student Scholarship finalists will present their research, with time for Q&A, and will be moderated by Scott Anderson, Haley & Aldrich, GEC Scholarship Committee Chair. Each Finalist will also present their research throughout the conference near the main stage in the Exhibit Hall, and be available for your rapid fire questions as you give your assessment and cast your vote for winners.

Student Scholarship Finalists:

Kaley Arboleda, University of Florida, Sustainability and the Built Environment; Urban Revitalization in Flood Risk Areas: Resilience and Adaptation Planning for Vacant sites in Jacksonville, FL

Lina Cardenas Caro, University of Georgia, Civil Engineering; Rapid Flood Risk Assessment Methodology (Study case: Coastal military installations and surroundings)

Ariel Lineberger, East Carolina University, General Engineering (Environmental); Determination of Nutrient Adsorption Capabilities of 3D-printed Ecomodules

Andrew McMains, East Carolina University, Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program in Biology, Biomedicine, and Chemistry; Investigating the Impacts of Dredging on Coastal Inlet Habitat Function Using Acoustic Imaging

Bailey Williams, University of Georgia, Crop and Soil Science; Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Breakthrough Times through Buffer Zones Surrounding Land Application Systems

James “Brad” Willis, Georgia Southern University, Mechanical Engineering; Emissions Mitigation Using Fischer-Tropsch Isoparaffinic Kerosene in a Common Rail Direct Injection Research Engine


ES2. Pre-Planning and Post-Disaster Building Health Science Response for Portfolio Property Owners and Managers

With 14 named storms in 2022, to include the destructive Hurricane Ian, and predictions of increasing number of storm events into the future, owners and managers of property portfolios need to be prepared to respond to post-disaster building health science concerns. This 1.5-hour workshop presents strategies and considerations when preparing and deploying response teams brought in to address post-disaster building environmental condition, such as, indoor air quality, drinking water, water damage, mold, ACMs, lead paint, PCBs, and legionella. Response teams may be brought in to address insurance claims or determine building conditions for safe re-occupancy. In either case, responses present planning, operation, and technical challenges for the teams, such as, licensing, training, management, staffing, scaling, mobilization, logistics, health and safety, and security. Experts will present practical advice and lessons learned from previous disaster responses in an interactive format. We will present perspectives from client representatives responsible preparing for a response and deploying teams to effected sites; field managers balancing licensing requirements with staffing, and logistical needs, as well as, reporting and quality control; and field staff working in potentially dangerous conditions immediately after a storm to collect data and samples so clients can resume operations as soon as possible.

Moderator: Lawrence Malizzi, Ramboll; Presenters: Crystal Calloway, Quest Diagnostic; Rob Rottersman, Ramboll; Brian Reilly, CK Associates; Adam Martin, Ramboll


ES3. Myth Busting: Can I really use an Abandoned Gas Station for a Health Clinic? The Many Ways to Reuse an Abandoned Gas Station.

Numerous Abandoned Gas Stations dot the landscape along US Highway 17, which runs the length of the Atlantic Coastline. While millions of travelers and tourists take Interstate Highways, locals prefer the “old” Hwy 17. However, what is missing is the commercial and other services needed by small and remote communities. Many continue to solve this problem by using former gas stations, also known in the Environmental World as Underground Storage Tanks or UST sites. Two Roundtables Sessions will address first, what is most needed by a rural community: Quality Health Care, Jobs, Shopping and Services, Ways to address Environmental and Health Concerns, and second defining the specific steps to determine if a site such as a UST/abandoned gas station or other “Brownfield.” qualifies for no-cost Technical Assistance to begin a reuse scenario to address community needs.

Roundtable 1: Saralyn Stafford, Assistant Director, Rural Development, University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute (moderator); Glynn County Commissioner Allen Booker, City of Brunswick Commissioner Felicia Harris; Miles Ballogg, Brownfields National Practice Leader, EnSafe, Inc.

Roundtable 2: Camilla Warren, US EPA Region 4 Brownfields and Land Revitalization Technical Expert (moderator); Mallory Miller, US EPA Region 4 Underground Storage Tank Program; Jay Kemberling, GA Environmental Protection Division UST Manager; David Hayes, US EPA Brownfields and Targeted Brownfields Assessment Lead.

Community Guests:

Father Bill Barton – St Andrews Episcopal Church, Darien

Brunswick/Glynn County Community First Planning Commission: 

Commissioner (Glynn County) Allen Booker

Commissioner (City of Brunswick) Felicia Harris

Charlene Thompkins

Pastor Darren West

Dr Kavanaugh Chandler, MD Coastal Community Health

Early Session#3 will be repeated in Session 8.7 and 9.4 on Friday, August 25, and specific sites will be evaluated with assistance of Mallory Miller, Jay Kemberling, and David Hayes.