2023 NCASI Annual Conference

Thank you for participating in NCASI’s annual conference. We are pleased to make this year’s exceptional presentations available to you.

Keynote Speaker

Chemical Management – PFAS

The PFAS session will cover recent developments in the regulatory and technology space regarding this class of chemistry. Speakers will provide information related to regulatory activity, analytical method updates, alternatives to AFFF firefighting foams, air deposition as an environmental pathway, and remediation technologies.

Presentations

1. PFAS Regulatory Update presented by: Giffe Johnson, Program Manager, Chemical Management and Health Effects, NCASI
2. Evaluation of EPA Draft Method 1633 in Pulp and Paper Wastewater Samples presented by: Cecilia Silva Sanchez, Senior Research Scientist, NCASI and Cher Lindelien, Associate Scientist, NCASI
3. Firefighting Foam: Fluorine-Free Foam Selection and Transitioning Away from PFAS-Containing AFFF presented by: Lauren March, Staff Chemical Engineer, Arcadis
4. Simulation of the Air Deposition Pathway to PFAS Groundwater Contamination presented by Kevin Eisen, Barr Engineering and Eric Edwalds, Barr Engineering
5. Beyond PFOA and PFOS: Treatment, Separation, and Destruction. A Data-Driven Overview of the Current PFAS Treatment Landscape presented by: Charlie Liu, National PFAS Lead, Kennedy Jenks Consultants

Forest Sustainability – Eastern Regional Topics

Forest managers in the eastern U.S. must consider multiple issues associated with forest sustainability, some of which may have profound implications for forest management across large landscapes.  This session explores 3 of these topics in detail – alternatives to herbicide use, landscape management and harvest planning, and forest bats.

Presentations
1. Beyond Herbicides: Do Alternative Vegetation Management Strategies Make the Cut? presented by Kevin Solarik, Director of Forestry Research Canada & Northeastern/Northcentral U.S., NCASI
2. HabplanR: Improving Usability of a Multi-Objective Optimization Program presented by Max Jones, Virginia Tech
3. Bats and Forests – From Many to Few…..presented by Mark Ford, Unit Leader, U.S. Geological Society

Sustainability & Climate and Forest Sustainability Combined Session – Carbon and Climate

The forest sector is addressing carbon and climate change throughout the fiber supply chain and within the manufacturing segment.  This session focuses on issues being faced by forest owners and managers, providing context in terms of growing expectations for public reporting, describing greenhouse gas and reporting program nuances of particular relevance to forest managers, and how NCASI is providing support for our Members.

Presentations
1. The Future of Climate & Biodiversity Reporting in the Context of ESG presented by Kirsten Vice, Vice President, Sustainability & Canadian Operations, NCASI
2. Forest Carbon – Gaps, Needs and How NCASI is Responding presented by Steve Prisley, Research Forest Biometrician/Economist, NCASI
3. Greenhouse Gas Accounting Strategies for Forest Management/Owning Companies presented by Adam Costanza, Program Manager, Sustainability Metrics, NCASI

Forest Sustainability – Current and Potential Collaborators 1

The NCASI Forestry Program works collaboratively across federal and state agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations, Member Companies, and others, to execute our technical support program.  This extensive collaboration is essential to leverage technical expertise and resources and disseminate NCASI research results.  These sessions provide overviews of current and potential partner organizations to facilitate further networking and to encourage additional collaborative efforts.

Presentations
1. Collaborative Conservation for Listed and At-Risk Species – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Perspectives presented by John Tirpak, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
2. Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center – Forest Resilience Research and Collaboration Opportunities presented by Katherine Smith, Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center Director, U.S. Geological Society
3. National Science Foundation’s Center for Advanced Forestry Systems: Evolution and Future Opportunities presented by Aaron Weiskittel, Director, University of Maine
4. Conservation Without Conflict: Collaborative and Voluntary Conservation of Natural Resources presented by Leo Miranda, Executive Director, Conservation Without Conflict

Forest Sustainability – Current and Potential Collaborators 2

Presentations
1. Species Challenges and Research Needs to Achieve a Clean Energy Future presented by Christian Newman, Technical Executive, Electric Power Research Institute
2. Activities of the Forest Carbon Modeling Group presented by Christopher Woodall, Research Forester, U.S. Forest Service
3. A Pine Pandemic Preparedness Plan (P4) for High-Impact Invasive Insects and Diseases on Southern Pines presented by Kamal Gandhi, Professor, University of Georgia

Sustainability and Climate – Responding to Marketplace Drivers

Heightened stakeholder interest in the environmental sustainability profile of products and supply chains has led to an array of non-governmental initiatives that are reshaping the marketplace. Forest products companies, in turn, have increased their efforts to develop strategies that drive towards a reduction in their environmental footprint, striving for more transparent reporting to meet financial investor needs, and a greater recognition of the sustainability and positive carbon profile of their products. This session will explore industry developments associated with environment, social and governance (ESG), the use of recycled fiber, and strategies for advanced reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Presentations
1. Sylvamo, Delivering on the Promise of Paper presented by James McDonald, Chief Sustainability Officer, Sylvamo
2. Recyclability of Paper and Paperboard presented by Barry Malmberg, Principal Research Scientist – Sustainability & Climate, NCASI
3. Next-Level GHG Accounting Strategies presented by Adam Costanza, Program Manager, Sustainability Metrics, NCASI

Sustainability & Climate and Forest Sustainability Combined Session – Carbon and Climate

The forest sector is addressing carbon and climate change throughout the fiber supply chain and within the manufacturing segment.  This session focuses on issues being faced by forest owners and managers, providing context in terms of growing expectations for public reporting, describing greenhouse gas and reporting program nuances of particular relevance to forest managers, and how NCASI is providing support for our Members.

Presentations
1. The Future of Climate & Biodiversity Reporting in the Context of ESG presented by Kirsten Vice, Vice President, Sustainability & Canadian Operations, NCASI
2. Forest Carbon – Gaps, Needs and How NCASI is Responding presented by Steve Prisley, Research Forest Biometrician/Economist, NCASI
3. Greenhouse Gas Accounting Strategies for Forest Management/Owning Companies presented by Adam Costanza, Program Manager, Sustainability Metrics, NCASI

Air Quality and Sustainability & Climate – Carbon Regulations

This joint session will present updates on the status of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission regulations in various jurisdictions. The session will also include discussions on the status of industry efforts to ensure that biomass is considered to by carbon neutral in GHG accounting and reporting programs.

Presentations
1. Leveraging Required GHG Assessments to Highlight Environmental Benefits of Capital Projects presented by Hui Cheng, Senior Consultant, Trinity Consultants; Anna Henolson, Trinity Consultants; and Nancy Liang, Managing Consultant, Trinity Consultants
2. Greenhouse Gas and Decarbonization Policy Developments presented by Barry Malmberg, Principal Research Scientist, NCASI
3. Pulp and Paper Industry View and Policy Updates: Carbon Neutrality of Woody Biomass presented by Jesse Levine, AF&PA

Water Resources – Probabilistic Risk Assessment Workshop

This workshop will provide an overview of the underlying science and application of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) in Human Health Water Quality Criteria development and other potential environmental management scenarios.

Presentations
1. Dr. Giffe Johnson (NCASI) will present an overview of PRA as applied to human health risk assessment and environmental criteria.
2. Dr. Brad Barnhart (NCASI) will present the NCASI PRA calculation tool and provide a comparison of water quality criteria development through deterministic and probabilistic methods.
3. Gillian Wason (GA Environmental Protection Division) will provide an overview of Georgia’s proposed implementation of PRA to develop human health water quality criteria in the current triennial review.

Water Resources – Eastern Regulatory Focus

This session will focus on regulatory and technical updates related to the Eastern US.  Topics to be covered include water-related regulatory updates in Georgia, ongoing fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) developments, and a review of strategies and opportunities when conducting mixing zone studies.

Presentations
1. Georgia Regulatory Update presented by Liz Booth, Georgia Environmental Protection Division
2. Fecal Indicator Bacteria: Regulatory Trends & Implications for Facilities presented by Renee Ragsdale, Senior Research Scientist, NCASI
3. Mixing Zones: Background & Use presented by Andrew Thuman, Water Quality Client Development Leader, HDR

Water Resources – Wastewater Treatment Management

The Wastewater Management Session focuses on topics, issues, and tools relevant to the permitting, maintenance, and optimization of industry wastewater treatment plants.  Included in this session are discussions of NPDES permitting, real-time sensors, TMDLs, and best practices for planning and conducting a dredging project.

Presentations
1. Permit Modification Process Taken to Remove Inappropriately Applied Permit Limits presented by Jihyan Giordano, Sylvamo
2.  Using UV / IR Spectrum Technology for Online, Real-Time Water Quality Monitoring presented by Kelly Simmons, Environmental Manager, International Paper
3. Effluent Limitation Study Success through Florida DEP and International Paper Pensacola Mill Collaboration presented by Cristhian Mancilla, Water Quality Project Engineer, HDR
4. Dredging and Dewatering Project Case Study presented by Shaelyn Thomas, Associate Engineer, Kennedy Jenks Consultants

Water Resources – Wastewater Treatment Characterization

The Wastewater Characterization Session will provide audience members a glimpse into several technologies currently in use that are generating information for wastewater managers to develop a new perspective on their treatment systems.  This new information which includes genetic analysis of wastewater biota, aerial drone imaging of wastewater flows, and adsorption of PFAS to common pulp and paper solids is increasingly being relied upon to answer common wastewater questions.

Presentations
1. Effect of Inhibitory Substances on Pulp and Paper Activated Sludge Performance presented by Heidi Gough, University of Washington
2. Assessing the Extent of PFAS Precursor Transformation in Pulp and Paper Mill Wastewater under Different Redox Environments presented by William Hockaday, Associate Professor, Baylor University; Manyiel Mel, Student, Baylor University; and Boris Lau, Senior Research Engineer, NCASI
3. Drone Technology for Enhanced Data Analytics and Decision Making presented by Jason Diamond, Arcadis

Wood Products – Regulatory and Compliance

This session will start with an overview of EPA’s proposed amendments to PCWP MACT along with a summary of comments on the proposal submitted by AWC and NCASI. This will be followed by a review of other recently proposed and finalized regulations impacting the wood products industry. The session then shifts focus to compliance strategies for facilities on topics related to evaporation pond modeling, emission factor development for panel plants and lumber facilities, and fine particulate emission estimates using particle size analysis.

Presentations
1. Anticipating New PCWP Requirements and Other Clean Air Rules presented by Tim Hunt, American Wood Council (AWC)
2. Achieving Zero Liquid Discharge Through Evaporation: Estimating the impact of aeration, temperature, and rainfall using the NCASI heat balance model presented by Boris Lau, Senior Research Engineer, NCASI
3. NCASI Research Round-Up presented by Alejandra Borquez, Associate Engineer, NCASI; Rob Crawford, Principal Research Scientist, NCASI; and Ric Law, Project Leader, NCASI

Wood Products – Fugitive PM

This session will focus on approaches for estimating, reporting, and controlling fugitive particulate matter sources at wood products facilities. Topics include an overview of wood dust management practices for minimizing health and safety risks within a facility, emissions of fine particulate matter from material processing and handling sources, and estimates of dust emissions from facility roads.

Presentations
1. Wood Dust Management at Wood Product Facilities presented by Ilich Lama, Principal Research Scientist – Environmental Data Scientist, NCASI
2. Fugitive Road Dust Emission Reduction Strategies and Emission Factor Development presented by Allison Casey, Environmental Director, Georgia-Pacific; Rachel Velthuisen, Office Practice Leader, TRC; and Maria Zufall, Director-Air Quality, Georgia-Pacific
3. Fine Particulate Matter Emissions from Material Processing and Handling Sources at Wood Products Facilities presented by Zachery Emerson, Program Manager – Air Quality, NCASI

Air Quality – Workshop – NCASI Audit Tool for U.S. EPA Method 5 Test Reports

Speaker: Lee Carlson, Project Leader, NCASI
This workshop will guide participants in the use of an Excel-based tool for auditing test reports where US EPA Method 5 has been used to determine particulate matter emissions from a stationary source.

Air Quality – Regulatory Drivers

This session will focus on new and emerging regulatory issues and industry research to address. Focus areas will include National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), permitting and updates to the NESHAPs for pulping and chemical recovery.

Presentations
1. Emerging and Upcoming Air Regulations and Associated NCASI Research presented by Zachery Emerson, Program Manager, NCASI
2. State Perspective on the PM2.5 NAAQS Proposal presented by James Boylan, Georgia Environmental Protection Division
3. Assessments of PM2.5 Data Comparability Between FRM and FEM Monitors presented by Tanivir Khan, Senior Research Engineer, NCASI

Air Quality – Eastern Regulatory Panel

This session will consist of a panel of experts from state air permitting and regulatory agencies. The states participating are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Panelists will discuss recent trends in air permitting and emerging issues and answer questions. Attendees are encouraged to submit their questions in advance to the moderators for inclusion in the discussion.
Moderators: Deanna Duram, Trinity Consultants; Sheryl Watkins, Trinity Consultants; and Zachery Emerson, NCASI
Speakers: Samantha Sims, Chief, Industrial Chemicals Section, Alabama Department of Environmental Management; Heather Brown, Georgia Department of Environmental Protection; Christopher Hardee, South Carolina Dept. of Environmental Health and Control; and Hastings Read, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Air Quality – Monitoring and Control

This Air Session will present industry experience addressing recent issues. Covered topics will include facility-level ambient monitoring, experience with odor investigations, and technologies to achieve low NOx emission levels.

Presentations
1. Considerations for Ambient Hydrogen Sulfide Monitoring presented by Chufan Zhou, Environmental Engineer, TRC Companies, and Melita Debaise, Data Quality Manager, TRC Companies
2. Developing a Community-Based Monitoring Program to Address Environmental Justice Initiatives presented by Scott Adamson, Managing Consultant, Trinity Consultants

Air Quality and Sustainability & Climate – Carbon Regulations

This joint session will present updates on the status of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission regulations in various jurisdictions. The session will also include discussions on the status of industry efforts to ensure that biomass is considered to by carbon neutral in GHG accounting and reporting programs.

Presentations
1. Leveraging Required GHG Assessments to Highlight Environmental Benefits of Capital Projects presented by Hui Cheng, Senior Consultant, Trinity Consultants; Anna Henolson, Trinity Consultants; and Nancy Liang, Managing Consultant, Trinity Consultants
2. Greenhouse Gas and Decarbonization Policy Developments presented by Barry Malmberg, Principal Research Scientist, NCASI
3. Pulp and Paper Industry View and Policy Updates: Carbon Neutrality of Woody Biomass presented by Jesse Levine, AF&PA

Agenda

Download the agenda

Monday, September 25th

• Workshop: NCASI Audit Tool Workshop for US EPA Method 5 Test Reports – This workshop will guide participants in the use of an Excel-based tool for auditing test reports where US EPA Method 5 has been used to determine particulate matter emissions from a stationary source. Participants will be provided with a copy of the Excel spreadsheet and are encouraged to bring a laptop for an interactive experience.
• Workshop: Probabilistic Risk Assessment -This workshop will provide an overview of the underlying science and application of probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) in Human Health Water Quality Criteria development and other potential environmental management scenarios.  Dr. Giffe Johnson (NCASI) will present an overview of PRA as applied to human health risk assessment and environmental criteria.  Dr. Brad Barnhart (NCASI) will present the NCASI PRA calculation tool and provide a comparison of water quality criteria development through deterministic and probabilistic methods.  Gillian Wason (GA Environmental Protection Division) will provide an overview of Georgia’s proposed implementation of PRA to develop human health water quality criteria in the current triennial review.
• Opening Session
  • Keynote: Role of Forests in the Bioeconomy and Emerging Technical Needs – Terry Baker, CEO, Society of American Foresters
• Reception

Tuesday, September 26th 

• Water Program: Eastern Regulatory Focus – This session will focus on regulatory and technical updates related to the Eastern US.  Topics to be covered include water-related regulatory updates in Georgia, ongoing fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) developments, and a review of strategies and opportunities when conducting mixing zone studies.
  Presenters: Liz Booth (Georgia Environmental Protection Division), Renee Ragsdale (NCASI), Andy Thurman (HDR)
• Air Program: Regulatory Drivers – This session will focus on new and emerging regulatory issues and industry research to address. Focus areas will include National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), permitting, and updates to the NESHAPs for pulping and chemical recovery.
  Presenters: Zach Emerson (NCASI), TBA (Georgia Environmental Protection Division), Tanvir Khan (NCASI)
• Sustainability & Climate Program: Responding to Marketplace Drivers – Heightened stakeholder interest in the environmental sustainability profile of products and supply chains has led to an array of non-governmental initiatives that are reshaping the marketplace. Forest products companies, in turn, have increased their efforts to develop strategies that drive towards a reduction in their environmental footprint, striving for more transparent reporting to meet financial investor needs and greater recognition of the sustainability and positive carbon profile of their products. This session will explore industry developments associated with environment, social and governance (ESG), the use of recycled fiber, and strategies for advanced reporting of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
  Presenters: James McDonald (Sylvamo), Barry Malmberg (NCASI), Adam Costanza (NCASI)
• Water Program: Wastewater Treatment Management – This session focuses on topics, issues, and tools relevant to the permitting, maintenance, and optimization of industry wastewater treatment plants.  Included in this session are discussions of NPDES permitting, real-time sensors, TMDLs, and best practices for planning and conducting a dredging project.
  Presenters: Jihyan Giordano (Sylvamo), Kelly Simmons (International Paper), Cristhian Mancilla (HDR, Inc.), Shaelyn Thomas (Kennedy Jenks Consultants)
• Wood Products: Regulatory and Compliance – This session will start with an overview of EPA’s proposed amendments to PCWP MACT along with a summary of comments on the proposal submitted by AWC and NCASI. This will be followed by a review of other recently proposed and finalized regulations impacting the wood products industry. The session then shifts focus to compliance strategies for facilities on topics related to evaporation pond modeling, emission factor development for panel plants and lumber facilities, and fine particulate emission estimates using particle size analysis.
  Presenters: Tim Hunt (American Wood Council), Boris Lau (NCASI), Alejandra Borquez (NCASI), Robert Crawford (NCASI), Ric Law (NCASI)
• Water Program: Wastewater Treatment Characterization – This session will provide audience members a glimpse into several technologies currently in use that are generating information for wastewater managers to develop a new perspective on their treatment systems.  This new information which includes genetic analysis of wastewater biota, aerial drone imaging of wastewater flows, and adsorption of PFAS to common pulp and paper solids is increasingly being relied upon to answer common wastewater questions.
  Presenters: Heidi Gough (University of Washington), Amanda Mattingly (NCASI), Manyiel Mel (Baylor University), William Hockaday (Baylor University), Jason Diamond (Arcadis)
• Wood Products: Fugitive PM – This session will focus on approaches for estimating, reporting, and controlling fugitive particulate matter sources at wood products facilities. Topics include an overview of wood dust management practices for minimizing health and safety risks within a facility, emissions of fine particulate matter from material processing and handling sources, and estimates of dust emissions from facility roads.
  Presenters: Ilich Lama (NCASI), TBA (Georgia-Pacific), Zach Emerson (NCASI)
• Dinner and Reception

Wednesday, September 27th

• Air Program: Eastern Regulatory Panel – This session will consist of a panel of experts from state air permitting and regulatory agencies. Panelists will discuss recent focus areas and emerging issues in air permitting and answer questions. Attendees are encouraged to submit their questions in advance to the moderators for inclusion in the discussion.
  Presenters: Deanna Duram (Trinity Consultants), Sheryl Watkins (All4, Inc.), Zach Emerson (NCASI)
• Forest Sustainability: Eastern Regional Topics – Forest managers in the eastern U.S. must consider multiple issues associated with forest sustainability, some of which may have profound implications for forest management across large landscapes.  This session explores 3 of these topics in detail – alternatives to herbicide use, landscape management and harvest planning, and forest bats.
  Presenters: Kevin Solarik (NCASI), Max Jones (Virginia Tech), Mark Ford (U.S. Geological Survey, Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit)
• Chemical Management: PFAS – This PFAS session will cover recent developments in the regulatory and technology space regarding this class of chemistry. Speakers will provide information related to regulatory activity, analytical method updates, alternatives to AFFF firefighting foams, air deposition as an environmental pathway, and remediation technologies.
  Presenters: Giffe Johnson (NCASI), Cecilia Silva Sanchez (NCASI), Lauren March (Arcadis), Kevin Eisen (Barr Engineering), Eric Edwalds (Barr Engineering), Charlie Liu (Kennedy Jenks Consultants)
• Forest Sustainability and Sustainability & Climate Joint Session: Carbon and Climate – The forest sector is addressing carbon and climate change throughout the fiber supply chain and within the manufacturing segment.  This session focuses on issues being faced by forest owners and managers, providing context in terms of growing expectations for public reporting, describing greenhouse gas and reporting program nuances of particular relevance to forest managers, and how NCASI is providing support for our Members.
  Presenters: Kirsten Vice (NCASI), Steve Prisley (NCASI), Adam Costanza (NCASI)
• Air Program: Monitoring and Control – This session will present industry experience addressing recent issues. Covered topics will include facility-level ambient monitoring, experience with odor investigations and technologies to achieve low NOx emission levels.
  Presenters: Chufan Zhou (TRC Environmental Consultants), Scott Adamson (Trinity Consultants)
• Forest Sustainability: Current and Potential Collaborations 1 – The NCASI Forestry Program works collaboratively across federal and state agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations, Member Companies, and others, to execute our technical support program.  This extensive collaboration is essential to leverage technical expertise and resources and disseminate NCASI research results.  These sessions provide overviews of current and potential partner organizations to facilitate further networking and encourage additional collaborative efforts.
  Presenters: John Tirpak (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service), Katherine Smith (U.S. Geological Survey), Aaron Weiskittel (University of Maine), Leo Miranda (Conservation Without Conflict)
• Air Program and Sustainability & Climate Joint Session: Carbon Regulations and Beyond – This joint session will present updates on the status of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission regulations in various jurisdictions. The session will also include discussions on the status of industry efforts to ensure that biomass is considered to be carbon neutral in GHG accounting and reporting programs.
  Presenters: Nancy Liang (Trinity Consultants), Anna Henolson (Trinity Consultants), Hui Cheng (Trinity Consultants), Barry Malmberg (NCASI), Jesse Levine (AF&PA)
• Forest Sustainability: Current and Potential Collaborations 2 – The NCASI Forestry Program works collaboratively across federal and state agencies, academia, non-governmental organizations, Member Companies, and others, to execute our technical support program.  This extensive collaboration is essential to leverage technical expertise and resources and disseminate NCASI research results.  These sessions provide overviews of current and potential partner organizations to facilitate further networking and to encourage additional collaborative efforts.
  Presenters: Christian Newman (Electric Power Research Institute), Chris Woodall (U.S. Forest Service), Kamal Gandi (University of Georgia)