Document ID: EPA-HQ-OW-2003-0006-0148
Agency: epa
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2003-11-28T05:00Z

MEETING
BETWEEN
THE
WATER
ENVIRONMENT
RESEARCH
FOUDATION
(
WERF)
AND
EPA
Date:
October
8,
2003
at
8:
30
AM
Attendees:

Alan
Rubin/
OST/
EPA
202­
566­
1125
Bob
Cantilli/
OST/
EPA
202­
566­
1091
Rick
Stevens/
OST/
EPA
202­
566­
1135
Kevin
Teichman/
ORD/
EPA
202­
564­
6705
Pam
Barr/
OST/
EPA
202­
566­
0430
Walter
Brodtman/
OC/
OECA/
EPA
202­
564­
4181
Peter
Bahor/
OC/
OECA/
EPA
202­
564­
7029
Phil
Zahreddine/
OWM/
EPA
202­
564­
0587
Hend
Galal­
Gorchev/
OST/
EPA
202­
566­
1102
John
Walker/
OWM/
EPA
202­
564­
0654
Edward
Ohanian/
OST/
EPA
202­
566­
1117
Tony
Maciorowski/
OST/
EPA
202­
566­
1113
Jami
Montgomery/
WERF
703­
684­
2470
Lola
Olabode/
WERF
703­
684­
2470
Glenn
Reinhardt/
WERF
703­
684­
2494
Dan
Woltering/
WERF
703­
684­
2447
The
two
purposes
of
the
meeting
were
for
WERF
to
present
the
highlights
and
a
summary
of
results
of
the
WERF­
sponsored
Biosolids
Research
Summit
("
the
Summit")
that
was
held
in
Alexandria
Virginia
at
the
end
of
July,
2003
,
and
to
discuss
with
EPA,
EPA's
participation
in
a
multi­
stakeholder
project
to
develop
protocols
for
receiving
and
tracking
reports
of
purported
human
health
impacts
from
the
land
application
of
sewage
sludge.

After
introductions
of
the
meeting
participants,
WERF
summarized
the
results
of
the
Summit.
WERF
was
pleased
with
the
Summit's
outcome
and
WERF's
ability
to
reach
out
to
Stakeholders
including
"
non
traditional"
stakeholders"
in
planning
and
conducting
this
Summit.
The
Summit
results
that
established
sewage
sludge
land
application
research
project
priorities
matched
up
well
with
the
NRC
Report's
recommendations.
WERF
will
be
reaching
out
to
the
wastewater
industry
as
well
as
other
Stakeholders
to
help
fund
WERF
sewage
sludge
research
projects.

Kevin
Teichman/
EPA
complimented
WERF
on
the
Summit.
He
agreed
that
it
was
good
to
have
non­
traditional
Stakeholders
participate
in
the
Summit.
EPA
has
budget
uncertainties
so
at
this
time,
we
cannot
give
you
a
commitment
on
which
research
projects
we
will
be
supporting.
I
have
asked
ORD
to
reorder
the
EPA
research
budget
to
meet
the
highest
priority
projects.
We
will
try
to
get
other
Federal
partners
to
this
research
agenda
table.

WERF
stated
that
they
are
putting
up
$
250K
to
start
the
human
health
incidents
reporting
and
tracking
project..
WERF
expects
to
spend
$
1­
1.5
million
annually
on
sewage
sludge
research.

Rapid
Incidents
Response
Project
WERF
outlined
two
options
for
this
project.
Option
1.
WERF
would
establish
a
Board
to
scope
out
the
project.
The
project
would
be
approved
by
the
Board
before
it
would
be
implemented.
This
project
will
require
longterm
funding.
Option
2.
This
option
places
more
control
of
the
project
and
subsequent
human
health
investigations
in
the
hands
of
a
multi­
stakeholder
group
including
citizens
concerned
or
allegedly
impacted
by
the
land
application
of
sewage
sludge.

WERF
asked
EPA
where
it
is
in
participation
in
incident
reporting
activities.
To
which
ORD
answered:
EPA
would
sit
at
the
table
to
help
strategize
in
the
development
of
this
activity.
ORD
sees
itself
in
developing
"
tool
kits"/
protocols
to
aid
in
this
activity.
ORD
is
also
communicating
with
the
top
levels
of
CDC
in
requesting
that
they
join
in
this
effort.

Local
health
personnel
need
guidance
on
first
steps
to
respond
to
human
health
complaints.
CDC
could
fill
this
role
as
well.
CDC
has
the
tools
already
in
place
to
move
this
project
forward.

WERF
wants
to
form
a
coalition
with
all
Stakeholders
on
this
project
as
well
as
on
all
WERF
sponsored
research
that
deals
with
land
applied
sewage
sludge.

John
Walker
then
described
the
Pennsylvania
studies
that
included
participation
with
nontraditional
stakeholders
(
concerned
citizens).

Glenn
Reinhardt
then
outlined
the
WERF
proposal
for
the
incident
reporting/
tracking/
investigation
project
(
Option
1
of
above).

Initially,
create
a
Project
Committee
comprised
of
10­
15
people
that
would
meet.
The
meeting
would
be
facilitated.
Members
would
represent
EPA,
CDC,
academia,
and
nontraditional
stakeholders.
This
committee
would
define
goals,
create
a
scope
of
work,
and
issue
a
RFP
for
designing
and
implementing
the
project.
The
initial
meeting
of
the
Project
Committee
would
occur
after
January
8,
2004.

FACA
was
raised
as
an
issue
by
EPA.

John
Walker
stated
that
most
times,
odor
from
land
applied
sewage
sludge
triggers
concerns
from
citizens
and
allegation
of
human
health
impacts.

Glenn
Reinhardt
pressed
EPA
to
give
their
position
on
degree
of
participation
and
timing.

EPA
replied
that
this
type
of
project
is
not
a
traditional
EPA
activity.
We
will
have
to
take
your
request
back
to
management
to
be
able
to
give
you
a
final
response.