Sessions, Speakers & Presentations/Handouts

Conference Tracks
Select a conference track from the list below to see session, speaker, and handout/presentation information for that track.

Monday Morning Training Sessions
Monday, October 28, 2013 • 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

CUPA Case Studies
Room 311/312

Household Hazardous Waste managers are responsible for compliance of their facilities with many regulatory requirements from many different local and state agencies. This course is designed for those HHW program supervisors that oversee operations but do not actively work in the facility handling wastes. It provides information on how to make sure your facility is in compliance with the multitude of regulatory requirements imposed on HHW programs.

Speakers

Dermot Casey, Hazardous Materials Specialist, San Mateo County CUPA
Mickey Pierce, Hazardous Materials Specialist II, Santa Clara County, Department of Environmental Health
Marjorie Terrell, Hazardous Materials Specialist, San Mateo County Environmental Health
Moderator: Elizabeth Rouan, HHW Program Coordinator, San Mateo County

Presentations/Handouts

No presentations or handouts have been submitted for this session.
HHW for Managers
Room 309/310

Household Hazardous Waste managers are responsible for compliance of their facilities with many regulatory requirements from many different local and state agencies. This course is designed for those HHW program supervisors that oversee operations but do not actively work in the facility handling wastes. It provides information on how to make sure your facility is in compliance with the multitude of regulatory requirements imposed on HHW programs.

Speakers

Larry Sweetser, President, Sweetser & Associates

Presentations/Handouts

No presentations or handouts have been submitted for this session.
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Monday Afternoon Training Sessions
Monday, October 28, 2013 • 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Chemistry for Non-Chemists
Room 311/312

Build on your knowledge of what the hazards are for those HHW products that come to your HHW program. Learn how to use practical references such as labels, MSDS’s, DOT Charts, and reference books to identify the chemical ingredients and properties of these HHW products. This course provides information on basic chemistry related to HHW including the basic properties of chemicals hazardous properties, incompatibles, and classification of chemicals collected at HHW programs.

Speakers

Billy Puk, HHW Collection Facility & Operations Manager, Recology San Francisco

Presentations/Handouts

Emergency Response for HHW Programs
Room 309/310

Emergency responses at HHW programs are rare but staff needs to be aware of potential emergency situations. The Emergency Response for HHW Programs is a new course that focuses on the applicable emergency response requirements for HHW programs and offers practical advice to plan for and address emergencies. The training will include how to determine an emergency situation, response measures, agency notifications, and documentation.

Speakers

Sharon Simpson, Environmental Protection Specialist, Waste Management
Larry Sweetser, ESJPA Consultant, Sweetser & Associates
Wes Won, Hazardous Materials Specialist, San Mateo County
David Wyatt, HHW Program Supervisor , Central Contra Costa Sanitary District

Presentations/Handouts

No presentations or handouts have been submitted for this session.
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Tuesday Morning Training Sessions
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 • 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

DOT HM Transportation Refresher
Room 309/310

This course provides the required refresher for workers who package hazardous waste and these individuals signing manifests, bills of lading, and other shipping documents for hazardous and universal wastes. An update of numerous new shipping requirements will also be presented including the new Uniform Hazardous Waste Manifest requirements, security plans, packaging standards, shipping names, and hazardous waste of concern requirements. This training is required every three years or when regulations change.

Speakers

Billy Puk, HHW Collection Facility & Operations Manager, Recology San Francisco
Sharon Simpson, Environmental Protection Specialist, Waste Management

Presentations/Handouts

Green Chemistry 101 Training
Room 314

This course hosted by WSPPN and EPA offers a foundational understanding of green chemistry. Richard Williams, a recognized instructor for the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute explores the twelve principals of green chemistry covering history, roadmap, global sustainability, value proposition for industry, achieving results, metrics and decision-making tools inspiring green chemistry innovations and case studies. Participants will receive a P2 Certificate from WSPPN.

Speakers

Richard Williams, President, Environmental Science & Green Chemistry Consulting

Presentations/Handouts

No presentations or handouts have been submitted for this session.
Identification of Unknowns
Room 311/312

Participants will learn some principles involved in categorizing unlabeled wastes for storage compatibility and to meet criteria for recycling, treatment, or disposal. Known and unknown HHW products will be tested using basic chemical tests such as pH, oxidizer, and water solubility. Other testing methods will also be discussed.

Speakers

Larry Sweetser, President, Sweetser & Associates

Presentations/Handouts

No presentations or handouts have been submitted for this session.
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Keynote Presentation: Allen Fish
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 • 12:45 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Raptors, Rats, and Rodenticides – Is this DDT all over again?
Main Ballroom

Allen Fish, Director of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) and Co-Founder of Raptors are the Solution (RATS), will trace the history of raptor population studies, including the impact of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and the current impact of anticoagulant rodenticides on the health of raptors. The US EPA recently banned second-generation rodenticides because they caused “unreasonable risks to the environment” by not only killing rodents, but also killing the wildlife and pets that feed on poisoned rodents. Allen will discuss how RATS was founded as an offshoot of the GGRO’s citizen science-based methods, as well as the progress that RATS has made toward removing these rodenticides from store shelves.

Speakers

Allen Fish, Director/Co-Founder, Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (GGRO) and Raptors Are The Solution (RATS)

Presentations/Handouts

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Workshops Session One
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 • 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

EI.1: EPR for Batteries, Sharps, and Pharmaceuticals
Room 309/310

Local governments face several challenges in collecting household batteries, sharps and pharmaceuticals in California, but statewide efforts toward Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for each of these products could help. Learn how existing programs make the case for statewide action and discuss the pros and cons of an EPR program that balances public goals with private program efficiency.

Speakers

Rob D’Arcy, Division manager, Department of Agriculture and Environmental Management, Santa Clara County
Ryan Jackson, Residential Toxics Reduction Associate, San Francisco Department of the Environment
Burke Lucy, Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle
Bill Pollock, Program Manager, HHW Program, Alameda County
Carl Smith, CEO/President, Call2Recycle, Inc.

Presentations/Handouts

HHW.1: Practical Approaches to Making Decisions on Alternative Products
Room 313

Many products manufactured today generate large quantities of waste and wastewater and contain Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that contribute to smog. These toxic materials pose a threat to workers and community members. This panel will feature practical approaches to making decisions on alternative products: 1) Nine Ways to Avoid Household Toxins; and 2) Safer Alternative Graffiti Management Methods.

Speakers

Matt McCarron, Senior Environmental Scientist, CA. Department of Toxics Substances Control (Hazardous Waste Management Program)
Katy Wolf, Ph.D., Institute for Research and Technical Assistance
Moderator: Jessica Counts-Arnold, Pollution Prevention Coordinator, US EPA, Region 9

Presentations/Handouts

UO.1: Outreach Strategies for Your Target Audience
Room 311/312

The audience for used oil and filter recycling messages can be large and varied. Learn how to “find” your target audiences and reach them using different outreach and event strategies. The speakers will discuss how they identified their audiences and then developed outreach programs, event organizing strategies and messages to reach their audience and achieve their program goals.

Speakers

Marianne Butler, Environmental Education Program Manager, Solano Resource Conservation District
Raquel Ruvalcaba, Used Motor Oil Recycling Associate, San Francisco Department of Environment
Jen Winfrey, Recycling Specialist, County of San Diego, Department of Public Works

Presentations/Handouts

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Workshops Session Two
Tuesday, October 29, 2013 • 3:45 p.m. - 5:15 p.m.

EI.2: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Café
Room 309/310

Statewide Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs for mercury thermostats, carpet, and paint are now in full swing in California. Some local ordinances take an EPR approach to varying degrees, and more programs are on the horizon. What makes EPR work well? What do you think is most important in an effective EPR program? How should the needs of local governments be addressed in EPR programs? How should programs be set up to better advance green design? Should costs be visible on consumer receipts or internalized? Come share your insights with others working on EPR programs and policy in this highly interactive, world café-style session. After short introductory presentations, participants will rotate through small groups where questions like these are posed, and discover the views of your peers and other professionals as EPR moves forward in California and the U.S.

Speakers

Cynthia Dunn, Senior Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle
Kathy Frevert, Senior Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle
Burke Lucy, Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle
Matthew Mullinax, Hazardous Substances Engineer, CalEPA DTSC

Presentations/Handouts

HHW.2 Who’s Liable for your HHW?
Room 313

Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Programs provide a great public service but are not without some potential liability to sponsoring jurisdictions. Collected HHW passes though many hands and travels throughout the county before delivery to the final treatment or disposal facility. This session will provide an examination of various potential liabilities including Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)— Superfund. Suggestions will be provided to minimize those liabilities including operational and contractual measures.

Speakers

Leah S. Goldberg, Senior of Counsel, Meyers Nave
Malcolm Maxwell, California Environmental Compliance Manager, NRC Environmental Services
Moderator: Larry Sweetser, President, Sweetser & Associates, Inc.

Presentations/Handouts

No presentations or handouts have been submitted for this session.
UO.2: Online Tools for HHW Management: CERS, FacIT and Used Oil Mapping
Room 311/312

Are you confused over the new required online reporting system for your facility Hazardous Materials Business Plan? Wish there was an easier way to keep track of the data and promote HHW and used oil facilities in your jurisdiction? There are! Come learn about the process Household Hazardous Waste Programs are required to follow in submitting Hazardous Materials Business Plans to their Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA) via the new online system known as the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS). As part of this unified system, some jurisdictions have their own portal for submitting information. Also, CalRecycle will introduce how jurisdictions can utilize the Facility Information Toolbox (FacIT), an interactive tool in promoting the HHW and used oil facilities in California. FacIT not only allows the public to access information about California’s collection, exchange and processing sites, but also allows industry stakeholders to contribute, edit and verify that information. In addition, FacIT houses information for 35 other disposal, diversion and recycled market activities. CalRecycle will also be presenting a used oil map, developed by the GIS team, which is currently being used by staff to visualize the effectiveness of the used oil collection program.

Speakers

Dan Firth, Electronic Reporting Project Manager (CERS), Cal/EPA Unified Program
Nicki Ruszczycky, Senior Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle
Larry Sweetser, President, Sweetser & Associates, Inc.
Mike Tuck, Research Analyst II (GIS), CalRecycle

Presentations/Handouts

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Keynote Presentation: Joel Greene
Wednesday, October 30, 2013 • 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Keep it Simple: Helping People Take Action Because They Want To, Not Because They Have To
Main Ballroom

Joel Greene has the unique perspective of peering on both sides of the fences when it comes to the public and understanding used oil and household hazardous waste. As host of the PBS television show “Curiosity Quest Goes Green”, his job is to explore what people are curious about and explain and demonstrate it in a way that can be understood by a 4th grader. Joel Greene’s travels around the country have allowed him to explore a vast array of episodes such as battery recycling, HHW, storm water, etc. Through the medium of television, he is able to create awareness within communities about sustainability and instill a passion for the environment that transcends science and legislation. Greene’s “keep it simple” messaging and approach to complicated topics at hand will leave you feeling, like his television audience that you’re not just doing your job…you are making a difference.

Speakers

Joel Greene, Host, Curiosity Quest Goes Green

Presentations/Handouts

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Workshops Session Three
Wednesday, October 30, 2013 • 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

EI.3: Turning Waste Into Profit through Material Exchange Networks
Room 309/310

The Earth's regenerative ability can no longer keep pace with human demand-people are turning resources into waste faster than nature can turn waste back into resources. To restore equilibrium, businesses, government, nonprofits, trade associations, and academia are recognizing the economic and environmental value of their waste streams. Through the use of material exchange networks entities generate new revenue and savings by re-using undervalued materials. In addition, material exchange networks slow the pace of extracting virgin materials resulting in energy, water, hazardous pollutants and GHG reductions.

Speakers

Ken Pereira, Supervising Waste Management Specialist, Sacramento County
Mary Rose, Co-Executive Director, NBIS (Network for Business Innovation & Sustainability)
Thomas Vinson, Senior Program Coordinator, Zero Waste Network, University of Texas Arlington

Presentations/Handouts

HHW.3: California’s Paint Product Stewardship Program
Room 313

Product stewardship is a product-centered approach to environmental protection. It calls on those in the product lifecycle—manufacturers, retailers, consumers and recyclers—to share responsibility for reducing the environmental impacts of products. This session will provide an opportunity for various stakeholders involved in product stewardship to share successes and challenges of implementing a stewardship program. The session would also provide an update on the PaintCare Program's progress to date, and findings from the first annual report. PaintCare, a non-profit stewardship organization, was created by the American Coatings Association for the purpose of managing post-consumer paint in states with paint product stewardship legislation. California's paint product stewardship legislation went into effect October 19, 2012.

Speakers

Lyn Beurmann, Waste Management Supervisor, County of Kern
Gene Brickhouse, General Manager, True Value
Caitlin Sanders, California Program Manager, PaintCare, Inc.

Presentations/Handouts

UO.3: What’s New is Oil Again: Refreshing the Used Oil Payment Program
Room 311/312

What’s New in the Oil Program! New grant programs, new statewide outreach contracts, and the Farm and Ranch Grant Solid Waste Cleanup Grant Program. Come and hear the latest information to help you in your used oil and filter recycling programs! CalRecycle staff will provide an update overview of the Oil Payment Program (OPP) reporting system, upcoming statewide used oil contracts, and the used oil California Certified Collection Center Program. Information on CalRecycle’ s Farm and Ranch Grant Cleanup Program will also be presented for jurisdictions requiring assistance in their cleanup of illegal solid waste sites on farm or ranch properties. The session concludes with an opportunity for OPP participants to pose questions to the panel as well as meet in the smaller groups with their respective CalRecycle Program Advisors.

Speakers

Baljot Biring, Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle
Alan Ilusorio, Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle
Carla Repucci, Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle
Harnak Samra, Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle

Presentations/Handouts

No presentations or handouts have been submitted for this session.
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Lunch and Award Presentation
Wednesday, October 30, 2013 • 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Lunch and Award Presentation: Environmental Paint Solutions

Speakers

Steven Etzler, Executive Director, Environmental Paint Solutions

Presentations/Handouts

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Workshops Session Four
Wednesday, October 30, 2013 • 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

EI.4: The Truth about Hydraulic Fracturing
Room 309/310

This session brings together environmentalists and energy professionals to discuss pros and cons of the expansion of natural gas drilling in California. How might fracking be regulated and what can be done to preserve water and other natural resources? This panel of experts explores the tremendous energy opportunity and exposes potential hazards for water contamination and waste management. It is a balanced dialog with several speakers representing different jurisdictions and viewpoints about an inevitable future.

Speakers

Don Clarke, Geologist, Director, Petroleum Technology Transfer Council
Andrew Grinberg, Oil and Gas Program Coordinator, Clean Water Action
Place Holder, , Western States Petroleum Association Manager
Katharine Moore, Ph.D., Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee
Andrew Stone, Executive Director, American Ground Water Trust
Moderator: Alan Hurt, Commercial Services/Hawaii Program Manager, Sullivan International Solutions

Presentations/Handouts

HHW.4: Beyond the Premium Item – New Strategies to Reach your Audience
Room 313

This session will look at strategies to engage your audience to create behavior change that move beyond traditional weekend oil events and handing out premium items. The speakers will cover three topics ranging from: 1) Building a brand for your program to engage hard to reach audiences; 2) Creating mobile apps that reduce barrier, provide greater service to the community and realize greater program efficiencies; and 3) Developing campaigns to reach large multi-lingual audiences through various mass media advertising and social media.

Speakers

Armin Gomez, Communications Production Specialist, City of Palmdale
Tim Grogan, Hazardous Waste Specialist, Orange County Health Care Agency
Stephen Groner, President, S. Groner Associates, Inc.
Benjamin Lucha, Senior Administrative Analyst, City of Palmdale
Moderator: Erica Mahgerefteh, Strategy Director, S. Groner Associates, Inc.

Presentations/Handouts

UO.4: Input on Used Oil Regulations and CalRecycle Used Oil Spending Plan
Room 311/312

CalRecycle intends to revise the regulations related to the California Oil Recycling Enhancement (CORE) Act. CalRecycle has also created a used oil three-year spending plan that includes a number of exciting research and service contracts such as research into high-efficiency filters and the creation of statewide outreach materials. Both the revision to the regulations and some of the contracts within the spending plan will be greatly enhanced by robust input from members of the impacted community. This session provides an opportunity for attendees to learn more about these efforts and to provide initial input.

Speakers

Robert Carlson, Senior Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle
Emily Wang, Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle

Presentations/Handouts

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Workshops Session Five
Wednesday, October 30, 2013 • 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

EI.5: Green Products: Making Decisions with Imperfect Knowledge
Room 309/310

Session purpose is to explore how the evolving fields of Alternative Assessment, Product Standards, and Product Certifications can help purchasers, consumers, and policy makers make better decisions about what make a “greener” product. Where is the state of the art now, and what challenges remain? How should these tools be wielded to avoid pitfalls and lead us toward a greener future? Attendees will come away with a better understanding of the practical application of the emerging practice of chemical alternative assessment; useful approaches for evaluating ecolabels and product certifications; and pitfalls to avoid when trying to make decisions about environmentally preferable products. We will use an engaging format to address audience questions and concerns.

Speakers

Alicia Culver, Executive Director, Responsible Purchasing Network
John Katz, Pollution Prevention Coordinator, US Environmental Protection Agency , Region 9

Presentations/Handouts

No presentations or handouts have been submitted for this session.
HHW.5: Sustaining Programs with Limited Resources
Room 313

Leveraging Partnerships to run HHW Programs—Reaching across the issues to create policies, programs and partnerships to protect the environment. One of the biggest environmental programs local governments are mandated with is managing and collecting hazardous waste. We use every trick in the book to control costs, but the simple fact remains that we must leverage resources and develop partnerships to address overlapping issues. These resources include: grants, public/private partnerships, using onsite personnel to offset costs, and treating wastes as a commodity for revenue generation. What are the real time expectations of maintaining a meaningful HHW, universal waste, and EPR Collection Programs over the coming years? Where can we find funding? What are some current program success stories? This interactive discussion welcomes aggressive thinking and the enthusiastic sharing of ideas among jurisdictions represented in the audience.

Speakers

Natalia Jimenez, Environmental Affairs Manager, Los Angeles County
Armine Kesablyan, Program Manager II, Los Angeles County
Justin Lewis, Environmental Management Coordinator, City of Lancaster
Moderator: Brent Whitener, Programs Manager, Humboldt Waste Management Authority

Presentations/Handouts

UO.5: Used Oil Lifecycle Assessment
Room 311/312

In 2009, SB 546 made a number of changes to the California Oil Recycling Enhancement Act, including requiring CalRecycle to complete a Lifecycle Assessment on the used oil management system in California. In July 2013, the contractor reports related to that project were completed. This session will present the results of those contractor reports and describe the draft findings made by CalRecycle.

Speakers

Robert Carlson, Senior Integrated Waste Management Specialist, CalRecycle

Presentations/Handouts

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Keynote Presentation: Dr. Eric Mussen
Thursday, October 31, 2013 • 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

The Health of our Honey Bees and our Beekeeping Industry
Main Ballroom

Dr. Eric Mussen will provide some historical information, bring us up to the present, and then discuss the various factors that seem to be involved with the inability of many beekeepers to keep their colonies alive and in a healthy condition. Discussion topics will include: colony malnutrition and reasons for the lack of adequate food resources; the impact of moving bees across the country repeatedly; the impacts of recently introduced and more familiar diseases, such as Nosema ceranae and the ubiquitous RNA viruses; the extremely difficult time beekeepers have trying to keep populations of the parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, at sub-economic levels; and how the bees are coping with frequent exposures to pesticides in their environment. Dr. Mussen will include some hints for how members of the general public can help protect the bees.

Speakers

Eric Mussen, Extension Apiculturist, University of California, Davis

Presentations/Handouts

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Workshops Session Six
Thursday, October 31, 2013 • 10:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.

EI.6: Emerging Issues in Green Business Programs – Partnerships, Green Jobs and Technology
Room 309/310

Green business program experts from the City of Placentia, the State of Hawaii and the California Green Business Program will share cutting edge program information that can benefit any environmental or pollution prevention program manager. Presenters will orient attendees to how today’s Green Business Programs help businesses and their agencies achieve environmental compliance and then go beyond to increase the sustainability of their operations. Innovations that are supporting the start up, expansion, and increased effectiveness of these programs include leveraging partnerships, focusing on economic development and job training, and gathering and using metrics to measure performance and increase program support. CAlifornia Green Business Program Network (CAGBN ) also recently participated in the first national Summit of Green Business Challenges and will share some fun new ideas for your P2 and zero waste programs.

Speakers

Antonia Castro-Graham, MPA, Management Analyst, City of Placentia
Jonathan Chin, Energy Analyst, State of Hawaii , DBEDT, Energy Office
Kirsten Liske, Vice President P2 Zero Waste, Ecology Action
Gail Suzuki-Jones, Energy Analyst, State of Hawaii , DBEDT, Energy Office

Presentations/Handouts

HHW.6: HHW Program Compliance Issues
Room 313

Household hazardous waste programs are subject to many regulatory requirements. The Department of Toxic Substances Control will begin the session with a presentation and discussion of current regulatory requirements and topics impacting operations. The session will then move into an open forum for HHW operators (and other stakeholders) to propose specific changes they believe are necessary to more effectively and efficiently collect HHW and CESQG waste. The primary audience is local government HHW program managers and operators.

Speakers

Kevin Sanchez, Environmental Scientist, DTSC
Larry Sweetser, President, Sweetser & Associates, Inc.
Marc Winkler, HHW Operations Manager, PSC
Moderator: Dee Johnson, , Novato Sanitary District

Presentations/Handouts

UO.6: Why Bio? Time for an Oil Change
Room 311/312

Hiding in plain sight, on roads and parking lots are dirty spots of oil. Ever wonder where this oil comes from and where it goes as rain washes it away? CA buys 150 million gallons of motor oil each year generating 90 million of used oil. What happens to the other 60 million gallons of uncollectable used oil and how can we effectively apply Source Reduction and Pollution Prevention techniques to this massive annual “Silent Oil Spill?” Implementing extended oil drain intervals and increasing the recyling and re-use of used oil are two ways.

Speakers

Linda Adams, Partner, Clean Tech Advocates
Ed Benelli, Hazardous Substances Engineer, California Department of Toxic Substances Control
Gregory Blake, Executive Director, Time for an Oil Change

Presentations/Handouts

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