73rd Annual Environmental Engineering Conference Program


Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Finding Solutions in a Non-Linear World: Equity, Escalation and Capital Planning

Plenary Session

Moderator

Belinda Sturm, Director and Professor CEAE Department, University of Kansas

TimeEvent
8:30 am

Opening Remarks

8:40 am

Welcome: Dave Darwin, Chair, Civil, Environmental, & Architectural Engineering Department, University of Kansas

8:45 am

US EPA’s Efforts in Environmental Justice 

Meg McColister, Regional Administrator for US EPA Region 7

9:15 am

PFAS: Developing Information About the Effects on Human Health to Inform Regulatory Needs 

Detlef Knappe, Distinguished Professor and Deputy Director of North Carolina State University’s Center for Environmental and Human Health Effects of PFAS

10:00 amNetworking Break
10:30 am

A Utility’s Perspective: Investing in Research and Innovation to Address the Water and Wastewater Industry’s Biggest Challenges 

John Norton, Director of Energy, Research, & Innovation, Great Lakes Water Authority  

11:20 am

A Focus on Finances: Utility Rate Planning and Challenges Facing Utilities Today 

David Neumann, Senior Project Manager, 1898 & Co, Part of Burns & McDonnell 

11:40 am

Project Delivery Lifecycle Risks: Considerations for Escalation, Funding, Design Phasing, Market Capacity, Supply Chain, and Craft Labor

 

BJ Peterson, Senior Vice President Operations, McCarthy Building Companies 

12:00 pmAnnouncements and Award Presentations
12:10 pmLunch Break

Session 1: Water Supply and Treatment

Co-Moderators

Robert A. Hulsey, Global Practice & Technology Leader, Black & Veatch

Justin M. Hutchison, Assistant Professor, CEAE Department, University of Kansas

TimeEvent

1:00 pm

See No, Speak No: Challenges with Addressing Legionella in Drinking Water Distribution Systems

William Rhoads, Process Engineer, Black and Veatch

1:45 pm

Estimating the National Cost of a PFAS Drinking Water Regulation: Surveying Costs on the PFAS Roadmap 

Dan Farley, Water Process Specialist, Black and Veatch

2:30 pm

Break 

3:00 pm

Land Use Planning to Reduce Risks From Natural Hazards and Climate Change

Ward Lyles, Associate Professor, University of Kansas

3:45 pm

Biofilter Configurations and Applications for Drinking Water Treatment 

Justin Hutchison, Assistant Professor, CEAE Department, University of Kansas

4:30 pm

Networking

Session 2: Water & Facilities Resource Recovery

Co-Moderators

Belinda Sturm, Director and Professor CEAE Department, University of Kansas

Aaron Witt, Chief Engineer, Johnson County Wastewater

TimeEvent

1:00 pm

Biological Process Intensification – Lessons from Denver Metro 

Rudy Maltos, Wastewater Process Engineer, Metro Water Recovery

1:45 pm

Startup and Commissioning of Tomahawk Creek WWTP 

Doug Nolkemper, Operations Engineer, JCW

Anjana Kadava, Operations Engineer, JCW

2:30 pm

Break 

3:00 pm

A Utility’s Perspective: Using Hydrothermal Liquefaction for Sludge Processing 

Xavier (Xavi) Fonoll Almansa, Management Professional Research & Innovation, Great Lakes Water Authority

3:45 pm

Water Reclamation is a Critical Path to Sustainability in Western Kansas 

Jake White, Project Manager and Technical Leader, Burns and McDonnell 

Fred Jones, Water Resource System Manager, City of Garden City 

4:30 pm

Networking

Session 3: Air, Waste & Energy Management

Co-Moderators

Robynn Andracsek, Senior Air Quality Engineer, Providence – An Engineering and Environmental Consulting Firm 

Ted Peltier, Associate Chair & Professor, CEAE Department, University of Kansas

Daniel R. Wilkus, Director, Environmental Services, Evergy, Inc.

TimeEvent

1:00 pm

Talking Trash in Indian Country

Page Hingst, Tribal Response Program Manager, Office of Environmental Protection, Santee Sioux Nation of Nebraska 

1:45 pm

Circular Bioeconomy for Rural Residency:  Recovering Efficient Fertilizers, Biogas, and Water from Diverse Wastewaters with Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors

Prathap Parameswaran, Associate Professor, Kansas State University

2:30 pm

Break 

3:00 pm

Implications of a lower PM2.5 National Ambient Air Quality Standard 

Robynn Andracsek, Senior Air Quality Engineer, Providence – An Engineering and Environmental Consulting Firm 

3:45 pm

Energy and Environmental Justice, a Utility’s Perspective 

Dan Wilkus, Director, Environmental Services, Evergy, Inc. 

4:30 pm

Networking