LSPA News & Blog

LSPA Scholarship Fund Now Accepting Scholarship Applications

The LSP Association Scholarship Fund is now accepting applications for educational scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year. The scholarship program supports continued education within environmental fields of study at colleges and universities throughout New England. Deadline for submission is Friday, April 24, 2020.
 
The goal is to provide two scholarships, each up to an amount of $5,000, to qualified individuals. 
 
One of the scholarships, established in 2007, honors the outstanding contributions to the profession of LSPA past president Jeffrey M. Hardin, and is awarded to an individual who is part of the LSP community. The applicant for this scholarship must be an LSPA member or an immediate family member of an LSPA member and enrolled in a degree program at an accredited New England college or university. 
 
The applicant for the other scholarship does not have to be an LSPA member or in the immediate family of an LSPA member but must be a qualified Massachusetts resident who is enrolled in a Massachusetts college or university with a major in environmental studies.
 
Please visit www.lspa.org for application information. Deadline for submission is Friday, April 24, 2020.  

MassDEP Updated Its CAM Protocol for Method for Determination of EPH

The LSPA received the following email from MassDEP on Thursday, January 23, 2020. 

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection has updated its Method for the Determination of Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (EPH) and the corresponding CAM protocol, WSC-CAM-IVB, Quality Control Requirements and Performance Standards for the Analysis of Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons (EPH) in Support of Response Actions under the Massachusetts Contingency Plan.  The updates include revised holding times when samples are frozen, clarifications on the peak integration process during calibration, and a series of other minor revisions and clarifications.  A complete list of the updates is provided in the preface of the revised method.  The revised method may be found here

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LSPA Unviels January 2020 Compliance Tip

The LSPA presented the following compliance tip at the January 2020 Membership Meeting at the DoubleTree Hotel in Andover, MA on January 16, 2020.  

COMPLIANCE TIP OF THE MONTH

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Representative Robert DeLeo Awarded River Hero Award



Earlier this week, LSPA Executive Director Wendy Rundle, attended the Annual Dinner Meeting of the Massachusetts Rivers Alliance where Representative Robert DeLeo, MA Speaker of the House was presented with a River Hero award.  Also attending from the LSPA were Susan Chapnick, former LSPA Board member and President of New Environmental Horizons; Dot McGlincy, LSP and Executive Director of MA Association of Conservation Commissions (MACC); and Joel Mooney, LSP and Sr. VP Haley & Aldrich, an LSPA Platinum Partner.


Speaker DeLeo, and Wendy Rundle, right after she mentioned the LSPA's S.594 to require insurance for remediation of residential home heating oil releases.


LSPA Launches November 2019 Compliance Tip

The LSPA presented the following compliance tip at the November 2019 Membership Meeting at the DoubleTree Hotel in Westborough, MA on November 21, 2019.  

COMPLIANCE TIP OF THE MONTH

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Introduction to Drilling Techniques with Technical Drilling Services

Last night, LSPA’s Emerging Professionals Committee hosted Introduction to Drilling Techniques with Technical Drilling Services (TDS). At the sold-out event at their headquarters in Sterling, TDS demonstrated various drilling and monitoring well installation methods.  Environmental consultants along with students from Bridgewater State University (BSU) learned about basic drilling/sampling techniques (including continuous and discrete soil cores) and groundwater monitoring well installations on a 15-foot monitoring well.  

Here are a few photos from the event (photo credit to Michael Penzo).

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MassDEP’s Natural Resource Damages Program at Work

In anticipation of the LSPA’s November 21, 2019 member meeting on MassDEP’s Natural Resource Damages (NRD) Program, the LSPA highlights one such project:  the completion of the Mystic Riverfront Restoration project on the shores of the Mystic River in Arlington, MA at a location directly impacted by a 2013 spill of nearly 10,000 gallons of diesel fuel.

To compensate for the harm to the Mystic River from the spill, MassDEP settled a claim for Natural Resource Damages. These funds support work that began in 2017 and involved MassDEP, DCR, the Town of Arlington's Conservation Commission and DPW.

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LSPA 26th Annual Dinner Wrap-Up

The LSP Association’s Board of Directors hosted over 300 attendees at this year’s Annual Dinner at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. It was a wonderful night and great to see so many LSPA members, clients, and friends. Click here to see the photograph album from the evening.

In addition to a performance by the Harvard-Radcliffe Veritones, the LSPA presented its Contribution to the Practice Awards. The following recipients were honored for their outstanding efforts: 

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Should Insurance Protect Homeowners From Financially Devastating Heating Oil Spills?

Many thanks to Ryan Kath of NBCBoston for another installment, which aired last night, on LSPA efforts to require insurers to cover the costs of remediating home heating oil spills and leaks.

The LSPA Legislative Committee is appreciative of Senator Anne Gobi's sponsorship of S. 594

LSPA Scholarship Fund Annual Silent Auction

Greetings LSPA Members and Friends; 
 
As you know the LSPA Annual Dinner is coming up on Thursday, October 17th and along with it, the annual silent auction for the LSPA Fund Scholarship. The Fund is in need of auction items - large or small. Examples of past donations include food baskets, beer, wine, sporting events, timeshares, sports memorabilia, trips, gift certificates, etc.  
 
Here is your chance to get your name out there on behalf of the LSPA Scholarship Fund! All donated items (tax deductible, mind you), will be displayed at the Annual Dinner on tables around the banquet hall for all to view along with a note of sponsorship. Please help the LSPA Scholarship Fund raise additional funds for education!
 
To pledge donations, please contact Lisa Malmgren by Tuesday, October 15.  Thank you in advance for your continued support!


LSPA Launches September 2019 Compliance Tip

The LSPA presented the following compliance tip at the September 2019 Membership Meeting at the Newton Marriott in Newton, MA on September 18, 2019.  

COMPLIANCE TIP OF THE MONTH 

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2019-2020 LSPA Membership Meeting Dates

Mark your calendars! The LSPA Membership Meeting dates and locations for 2019-2020 have been announced. The LSP Association's membership meetings take place monthly from September through June in the Greater Boston area. See below or click here to view the schedule for the upcoming year.
 
Member meetings are also held in Springfield, MA about four times a year; the schedule is announced as meeting topics become available. The first meeting,"Environmental Law: Part 1," is being held on September 26, 2019. 

Meeting Date & Location  Topic & Speaker
Wednesday, September 18, 2019 
Boston Marriott Newton, Newton
Liz Callahan and Paul Locke, MassDEP
Thursday, September 26, 2019
Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield
Environmental Law: Part 1
Jeanine Grachuk, Beveridge & Diamond
1.0 non-DEP Regulatory Credit
Course #1626A
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Mechanics Hall, Worcester 
Annual Dinner
October 2019
Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield
Environmental Law: Part 2

Michelle O'Brien, Pierce Atwood LLP
 1.0 non-DEP Regulatory Credit
Course #1626B
Thursday, November 21, 2019 
Doubletree Hotel, Westborough
Topic for Credit
 November 2019
Hilton Garden Inn, Springfield
 Environmental Law: Part 3

 1.0 non-DEP Regulatory Credit
Course #1626C
 December 2019
Downtown Boston Area
 Co-Sponsor the EBC Winter Garden Party 
 Thursday, January 16, 2020
Doubletree Hotel, Andover
  Topic for Credit
Michael Marley, XDD Environmental
 Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Doubletree Hotel, Westborough

 Theory and Applications of ISCO Injectate Selection and
In Situ Remediation Using Activated Carbon Based Injectates

 
Speakers from ISOTEC and AST Environmental
1.5 Technical Credits 
Course #1677
Thursday, March 19, 2020
Holiday Inn, Mansfield 
 Topic for Credit
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 
Crowne Plaza, Woburn
 Topic for Credit
 Tuesday, May 19, 2020
Doubletree Hotel, Westborough
 Topic for Credit
Thursday, June 18, 2020
Holiday Inn, Taunton 
 Topic for Credit and LSPA Scholarship Presentation
You'll notice that we've added some new locations this year -in Andover, Mansfield and Woburn, MA. The changes were based upon feedback collected in an LSPA member survey. While we can't accommodate every request received, we are listening and doing our best to adjust accordingly. Any ideas for meeting topics or locations, please let us know! You can email [email protected].
  
LSPA committee meeting dates have also been finalized for the upcoming year. Now is the perfect time to get involved, connect with a committee chair or sit in on an upcoming meeting. With eight LSPA Committees, there is something for everyone. We welcome your interest and support at any level! Click here to learn more.    
 
Annual corporate packages will be announced shortly. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please email Kristi Lefebvre at [email protected] and we'll make sure you receive the information as soon as its published.


LSPA Announces FY 20 Board Officers and Welcomes New Board Member

LSPA Announces FY 20 Board Officers and
Welcomes New Board Member

The LSP Association (LSPA) recently announced leadership changes to the Board of Directors as well as the election of a new Board member. These changes went into effect on July 1, 2019.

The LSPA welcomes new Board member:
  • Joseph Roman, LSP, Senior Project Manager and Human Health Risk Assessor, GEI Consultants, Woburn, MA.
Two Board members were elected for a second term:
Officers for this fiscal year are:

  • Michele Paul, LSP, Director of Environmental Stewardship for the City of New Bedford, MA, has been appointed as LSPA President.
  • Matthew Young, Senior Project Manager with Cumberland Farms in Westborough, MA, will continue to serve as Treasurer of the LSPA.
  • Lauren Konetzny, LSP, Senior Project Manager at Cooperstown Environmental in Andover, MA, will continue serving on the Board of Directors as Clerk.
  • Marilyn Wade, LSP and Managing Engineer with Brown and Caldwell in Andover, MA, will serve as Past President of the LSPA; her terms as President were 2017-2018 (FY 18) and 2018-2019 (FY 19).
See the full list of LSPA Board members here.
There are also several new committee chairs/co-chairs. Please click here to view the complete list of LSPA Committee Chairs.

A big thanks to everyone who volunteers their time and energy; it's what makes the LSPA run!

Past President Marilyn Wade (l) passes the
gavel to Michele Paul (r), current President. 

Do you have a great story to tell? Join LSPA's Story Slam!

Do You Have a Great Story to Tell? 

Join Our 2nd Annual STORY SLAM

 
We had so much fun at last year's Story Slam that we're doing it again. See the highlight reel here   
                                                                                
This year, the LSPA will host a fun, casual event in late September for storytellers and others and then from there, two storytellers will be tapped to tell their stories at the Annual Dinner on October 17.  So, dig into your professional history for stories to tell; they can be funny, surprising, touching, insightful, enlightening, weird, or sentimental. AND they must be true.  
 
Sharing stories, particularly oral storytelling, is a time-honored tradition dating back to ancient civilizations and cultures.  At the LSPA, we are proud of our community's history and culture so, let's tell each other some stories! 
 
During the STORY SLAM, each storyteller will tell their story in front of a live audience. The stories will be short, no more than 5 minutes and centered around this theme:
 
Thrills & Spills in Waste Site Cleanup 

The LSPA will host a fun, casual event in late September and then from there, two storytellers will be nominated to tell their stories at the Annual Dinner on October 17.  Two coveted Story Slam Trophies will be presented.  

Janet Connolly, LSP, ARCADIS, 
Winner of 2018 LSPA Story Slam

If you want to share your story, please let Kristi or Wendy know by August 20, 2019. Don't hesitate to contact Wendy with any questions or ideas.
 
And you can check out clips from last year's STORY SLAM on LSPA's YouTube Channel.     


Don't Assume Your Insurance Will Cover A Home Heating Oil Spill

Ryan Kath and NBC 10 have aired a 3rd installment in their series on residential heating oil spills, and this time it's a bit of good news for one Massachusetts homeowner.  MassDEP has stepped in to assist with sampling and assessment at a property previously highlighted.

This story continues to drive home the point that in order to be protected from serious financial impacts, homeowners who use oil heat must proactively contact their insurance broker to request coverage.  Most homeowners assume they are covered, when in fact most are not.

Watch the story here.    

The LSP Association (LSPA) is sponsoring legislation to address this problem.  Senate bill 594 would require insurance companies to automatically provide this coverage.  Read more here and here to learn how the LSPA's legislation will close a loophole.

For more information contact Wendy Rundle, LSPA Executive Director, [email protected].


LSPA Submits Comments to MassDEP on 2019 Proposed MCP Amendments


On Friday, July 19, 2019, at the end of MassDEP's public comment period, the LSPA submitted our comments on the 2019 Proposed MCP Amendments. Our cover letter summarized three key topics of concern: PFAS, Risk Characterization, and Transition Provisions. A separate document included 15 pages of comments.  

As usual, the LSPA process started with a call to members to submit their comments to the LSPA Regulations Committee.  Then committee co-chairs Joe Roman (GEI) and Dan LaFrance (Fuss & O'Neill) assembled a team of "champions" to review, develop, and vet comments.  Many thanks and kudos to that group for an awesome job pulling together a solid draft set of comments.

These comments were reviewed by the LSPA Board and finally by Michele Paul (City of New Bedford), the LSPA's new President. 

We encourage you to share any additional thoughts and comments with the LSPA at [email protected].  


LSPA Scholarship Fund Awards Scholarships for 2019-2020 Academic Year

For the past 16 years, the LSPA Scholarship Fund has been awarding educational scholarships to individuals pursuing degrees in the fields of science, environmental engineering, or other majors that are consistent with the goal of becoming a Licensed Site Professional. At LSPA’s June 11th Membership Meeting in Taunton, MA, the LSPA Scholarship Fund awarded three individual scholarships. 

Veronica Gonsalez received the $5,000 Jeff Hardin Memorial Award, which is presented to an LSPA  member or member of their immediate family, who exemplifies the goal of environmental excellence. For those who remember Jeff, you know he strove for environmental excellence. Veronica is well-deserving of this scholarship.

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LSPA's June 2019 Compliance Tip

The LSPA presented the following compliance tip at the June Membership Meeting at the Hilton Hotel in Woburn, MA on June 13, 2019.  

COMPLIANCE TIP OF THE MONTH 

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LSPA Election Results and Board Changes

The LSPA Board is pleased to announce that three candidates have been elected to the LSPA Board of Directors for 2019 - 2022:
  •  Patrick Corcoran, LSP, Senior Project Manager, ATC Group Services. Mr. Corcoran will begin his second 3-year term on July 1, 2019. 
  •  Joseph Roman, LSP, Senior Project Manager and Human Health Risk Assessor, GEI Consultants, Inc. Mr. Roman will begin his first 3-year term on July 1, 2019. 
  • Matthew Young, Senior Project Manager, Environmental, Cumberland Farms. Mr. Young will begin his second 3-year term on July 1, 2019. 
At the end of June 2019, LSPA Past President Mike Penzo's Board term will come to an end. Mike is an LSP at Penzo Consulting and faculty at two area universities. We thank him for his contributions as a Board member, President, and Past President. We are confident that his legacy work supporting students and encouraging their involvement in the LSPA will not end with his Board term. 


LSPA Welcomes Secretary Theoharides

The LSPA leadership is planning a meeting with Kathleen Theoharides, the Commonwealth's new Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs.  See Governor Baker's recent announcement here.   

Read the LSPA's letter of congratulations here.

The LSPA's President Elect Michele Paul, LSP, Director of Resilience and Environmental Stewardship for the City of New Bedford, has worked with the new Secretary on climate change and resiliency issues as part of the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program.  Prior to her appointment, her Twitter handle was @ClimateKatie.
 
The LSPA looks forward to working with Secretary Theoharides in the year ahead, especially as climate change becomes more of a consideration at MCP sites.