Volume III, No. 1 Committee ADC60 Transportation Research e-Newsletter Waste and Environmental Management Issues in Transportation TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH BOARD of the National Academies January 2006 WELCOME BACK! Thank you for reading the third issue of this semi-annual TRB Committee ADC60 e-newsletter. The TRB 85th Annual Meeting is just a few days away; but there is still time to register and some nearby hotels are still available if you can possibly attend – we would love to see you there and we assure you that it will be a great event as always!. This year, Committee ADC60 is sponsoring some very timely and interesting technical sessions, which you can learn about on the Committee website: www.trb-adc60.org. The ADC60 Committee Meeting itself is being held on Monday, January 23, 2006 from 8am to 12pm in the Hilton Hotel Conservatory. As a Special Invited Guest Speaker, Ed Pinero, the Federal Environmental Executive within the White House, has agreed to speak to our Committee at 10:30 AM. He will provide a Federal EMS-related perspective for accomplishments, plans, and results with a focus on transportation agencies Please forward this e-mail to any of your associates or contacts who you believe may be interested in this newsletter and possibly signing up, through either e-mail or on the website, as an official “Friend of the Committee” which ensures receipt of all future editions of this newsletter, as well as other information and updates from the Committee. Thank you! Remember, your year-round participation and interest in the Committee is what helps it thrive…   Other items in this issue:       Committee Meeting and Sponsored Session Information for the TRB 85th Annual Meeting, held January 22-26, 2006, Washington, D.C.       Invitation and Call for Paper/Presentation Material for the upcoming Summer Workshop (in Chicago, IL from July 9th to 11th, 2006 at the Wyndham Hotel)       Summary of the July 2005 Summer Workshop/Conference       ADC60 Subcommittees and Activities Updates and Announcements       Open invitation regarding continuing need for Liaison volunteers to help strengthen connections and formalize relationships with other TRB Committees and Professional Organizations       Summary of Committee Activities for 2005       Other News Items and “Value Exchange”   CHAIRMAN’S REPORT As usual, there is much to report regarding the actions and plans for the Waste Management in Transportation Committee. Provided below is my summary assessment of the many important and exciting activities that our Committee has been involved with over the past year or so (see the below section entitled “2005 WORK PLAN VS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS MATRIX”), which included the tremendous Summer Workshop held in Charlotte this summer and other accomplishments since our last newsletter edition. As for 2006, the Committee will be focusing on the following priorities:         Rotating Committee membership (Mandatory policy of the TRB)       Updating our Strategic Plan       Responding to feedback from our recent Triennial Review       Securing support for each Subcommittee from the membership and friends of the Committee       Institutionalizing the liaison responsibilities of the membership       Generating new ways to identify, document, and communicate research needs       Continuing to update and improve our web site.       Continuing to “market” our Committee to environmental and management personnel in the transportation sector       And last, but not least, celebrating the incredible contributions made by our volunteer organization!!!     We look forward to seeing you both in Washington D.C. for the TRB Annual Meeting and in Chicago, Illinois for our 2006 Summer Workshop hosted by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Details regarding these meetings follow. Also it’s not too soon to be planning to attend our Committee’s 2007 Summer Workshop in Texas. We are exploring the potential of making the 2007 Workshop a “must attend” event in the area of Environmental Management Systems for the transportation sector. See you there!   Environmental Stewardship in Transportation Through Waste Management, Materials Reuse and EMS July 9-11, 2006 Wyndham Hotel, Chicago, Illinois Hosted by the Illinois Department of Transportation   This year’s upcoming Summer Workshop and Conference will build upon our Committee’s previous themes and success, with a primary focus on transportation-related, systems-based solutions and research involving:       Pollution Prevention and Waste Reduction • Materials Recycling and Reuse       Contaminated Materials Management and Tracking • Establishment of BMPs       Product Substitution and Green Designs • Environmental Management Systems       Brownfields Programs in Urban Transportation Systems Our goal is to promote the transportation industry's evolution from a solid and hazardous waste remediation and management approach to a waste minimization and reuse approach. This evolution can be achieved through the development and integration of proactive environmental systems, procedures and tools into transportation activities and programs.   PLEASE TRY TO ATTEND – The ADC60 summer conferences are traditionally organized by Committee members for Committee members and friends, to demonstrate the Committee's commitment to its mission of disseminating new trends, experiences and research related to waste management in transportation.  Please support your committee's activities both now and in the future.  It's your conference and its success directly influences others' perceptions of the Committee.  This summer's conference includes all of the components necessary to continue the tradition of quality demonstrated in past years' conferences.  The only thing missing is YOU.!   INVITATION AND CALL FOR PAPERS, TRB ADC60 2006 ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP CONFERENCE Suggested Topic Areas       Lessons Learned with EMS – measuring success, gaining support, what did / did not work and why, measuring and reporting EMS performance and sector-based approaches       Practicing Waste Management Stewardship – development and incorporation of Best Management Practices       Agency Buy-In of Environmental Management Approaches -       Innovative Reuse of Materials       Methods for Tracking Waste Throughout Project Duration       Innovative Technologies for Contaminated Site Cleanups       Applications of Green Design in Transportation Facilities Abstract Submission To be considered as a presenter, a one-page abstract on the conference abstract form must be submitted no later than March 15, 2006. Send abstracts via e-mail to Diane Anderson, Program Sub-Committee Chair, at. Persons whose abstracts are selected for presentation will be notified via e-mail no later than April 15, 2006. A copy of each presentation, and optional written papers, must be submitted to danderson@wrsie.com no later than June 1, 2006. All abstracts, presentations and written reports will be collected on a CD for distribution during the conference.   Please visit our web site at www.trb-adc60.org for complete conference information.   SUMMARY OF JULY 2005 SUMMER WORKSHOP/CONFERENCE   The TRB Committee for Waste Management in Transportation 2005 summer conference occurred July 17 – 19 at the Charlotte Hilton & Towers in Charlotte, North Carolina. This year’s conference was entitled “Environmental Stewardship in Transportation”. The North Carolina Department of Transportation and the North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources served as co-hosts for the event.   One hundred thirty one conference attendees represented twenty states and Australia. Two concurrent technical sessions were scheduled for the first time at an ADC60 summer conference, due to a very strong response to the Call for Papers.   The conference was aimed at groups and individuals involved in environmentally sound planning, design, construction, maintenance and management of transportation facilities. The goal of the conference was to reinforce the respective skills and services of transportation and environmental professionals by presenting the latest technologies and practices in "green" transportation operations related to waste management, materials reuse and EMS.   All technical sessions were divided into two broad categories – “Stewardship Through Processes / Systems” and “Stewardship Through Practices / BMPs.” Presentations included a diverse range of topics, including, but not limited to, remediation of contaminated properties, environmental management in transit systems, evaluation of recycled materials usage and environmental regulatory updates. A third session, “Aspect and Impact Identification Ranking”, was offered on July 19 to assist agencies and businesses in developing environmental management systems. In conjunction with the conference, the North Carolina State University Industrial Extension Service conducted two days of Internal Auditor Training for those attendees who wanted to increase their ISO 14001 auditing capabilities.   An evening reception on July 18 was held at Discovery Place, a natural science museum in downtown Charlotte. Attendees were treated to the film Forces of Nature in the museum’s IMAX® Dome Theater after the social hour. Based upon responses to a post-conference questionnaire, attendees were overwhelmingly positive about all aspects of the event. The Committee for Waste Management in Transportation is very proud of the success of this year’s summer conference and would like to thank the North Carolina Departments of Transportation and Environment & Natural Resources for their hospitality.   Based on this year’s tremendous success, we even more look forward to the 2006 summer conference in Chicago!   OTHER TRB COMMITTEES OF INTEREST – LIAISON PROGRAM UPDATE   Need For More Liaison Volunteers and Activity Last year there were only a few responses, and fewer resulting reports after our initial call to have members and friends of ADC60 sign up and report back as liaisons with other TRB committees, so more are definitely needed. It is a very important activity, and simply involves attending and reporting back on the meeting of another relevant Committee during the TRB Annual Meeting (for example, Tom Lewis attended the meeting of the Task Force on Transportation and Sustainability at last year’s TRB Annual Meeting and then reported back on what he heard as part of our Committee’s summer business meeting in Charlotte). Alternatively, liaison can be with a relevant non-TRB professional organization. If you do take up this important challenge, which we hope many will, all we ask is that you prepare and send a simple email to the Committee leadership and newsletter editor (lleventhal@trb-adc60.com) to document your efforts and share what you heard. Your report back can be very short and easy to prepare, following this suggested brief outline:   1. Name of Organization and the Title, Date and Time of Meeting:   2. Identification of Discussion or Presentation Topics Relevant to the Scope and Interests of Committee ADC60:   3. Attachment Of or Link To Associated Web Site, Resource Information or Other Materials (if any):   The following is a list of some of the other TRB committees with interests and/or missions related to ADC60:       Transportation in Developing Countries Committee       Technology Transfer Committee       Environmental Analysis in Transportation Committee       Natural Resources and Stewardship Subcommittee       Transportation and Air Quality Committee       Ecology and Transportation Task Force       Transportation and Sustainability Committee       Landscape and Environmental Design Committee       Hydrology, Hydraulics, and Water Quality       Emerging Technology for Design and Construction       Transportation Earthworks Committee       Environmental Maintenance Subcommittee       Bridge Steel Coatings Subcommittee       Environmental Issues in Transportation Law Committee       Transportation Safety Management Committee       Environmental Issues Related to Guided Intercity Passenger Transportation Subcommittee       Environmental Impacts on Aviation Committee       Marine Environmental Task Force Please consider attending and reporting to ADC60 on any meetings held by these other committees. Using the above list, liaison volunteers visiting the meeting of another TRB committee are asked to consult the 2006 Annual Meeting Program Book and identify the date and time of the subject other committee’s meeting of their choice, attend and observe that meeting, introduce themselves as representing Committee ADC60, mention our Committee’s interest in potential future collaboration, and then follow-up with the above mentioned email report.   2005 WORK PLAN VS. ACCOMPLISHMENTS MATRIX The following table presents Committee Work Plan items from the Year 2005. The color block indicates the level of action/accomplishment taken for each objective undertaken, with green being the highest degree of accomplishment and red being the lowest.   Key Work Plan Objectives That Were Established for 2005 Degree of Accomplishment (Green, Yellow, Red) Poll other TRB committees to determine how they have obtained/attracted research funding for their problem statements and report findings to the Committee.   Provide reviews/summaries of research related to ADC60’s strategic goals and mission through presentation   Sponsor 2 paper sessions at 2006 Annual Meeting – perhaps in cooperation with another TRB Committee for a Mega-Session on Environmental Management Systems   Lengthen horizon of paper and presentations solicitation to fill pipeline and of meeting planning   Continue enhancement of web site (e.g., links, routine updates, liaison reports)   Convene 4 Steering Committee meetings exclusive of Annual Meeting and Summer Workshop   Focus on inter-committee liaisons and begin exchange of information on our committees’ respective goals and activities   Review A1F07 scope and mission against other Committees to minimize overlap and encourage cooperation – consider sponsorship of multi-Committee workshop at the 2005 Annual Meeting   Sponsor Summer Workshop in Charlotte, N.C.   Secure state DOT sponsorships of 2006 and 2007 Summer Workshop with goal to co-sponsor with at least one other TRB Committee   Develop and implement guidelines for Committee financial management   Convene 2 Committee business meetings       OTHER NEWS ITEMS AND “VALUE EXCHANGE” One of the very important functions of our Committee is to support the sharing and exchange of relevant news, technical resources, and other information of value between our Committee’s members and friends. At the upcoming meeting in Washington, D.C., we intend to continue this activity, including but not limited to the discussion of the following subjects:         Special Guest Speaker: Ed Pinero, the Federal Environmental Executive from the White House       Green Highways Initiative (www.Greenhighways.org)       US EPA Resource Conservation Challenge for Tires       Updates by Federal Agencies (e.g., FHWA) and other organizations (e.g., AASHTO Center for Environmental Excellence, Recycled Materials Resource Center, etc.)       EMS Job Opportunity with North Carolina DOT, closes February 1, 2006 (http://apps.dot.state.nc.us/personnel/jobvacancies/detail.aspx?key=4250-3390-0000-202)   We hope you can attend and be a part of this valuable exchange of ideas and information!   The TRB ADC60 Committee e-Newsletter is distributed semi-annually, and is also posted on our Committee web site (www.trb-adc60.org) for any persons having difficulty viewing the HTML/color format of this email should you have a text-only email system. If you have any questions or comments about this publication or the Committee, please feel free to contact Leigh Leventhal, the editor of this e-newsletter, at lleventhal@trb-adc60.com.