Browse Speakers

ABBY BURTON, Senior Environmental Analyst - ERG, Inc.

Abby Burton is a senior environmental analyst at Eastern Research Group, Inc. She supports EPA Region 9s work with the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), conducting data quality outreach, assisting with TRI training webinars, and supporting other regional TRI needs. Ms. Burton also supports TRI work for EPA Headquarters, such as development of the annual TRI National Analysis. She is currently studying to become a credentialled EPCRA inspector. Through her ongoing TRI support to EPA, Ms. Burton maintains a cutting edge knowledge of TRI.

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ALBERT WELSH, Quality Manager - Air Liquide Large Indust

My name is Albert Welsh and I work in the Large Industries division of Air Liquide based out of Los Angeles, CA. My current role at Air Liquide is lead auditor. In my role I confirm compliance with the applicable regulatory standards (OSHA, EPA, PSM, CALCUPA, Responsible Care...), as well as internal procedures for our different technologies (ASU, Cogen, SMR, Water Treatment).

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ALEXANDER (ED) MORELAN, Chief, Cypress Cleanup Branch - DTSC

Alexander (Ed) Morelan, Branch Chief for the Department of Toxic Substances Control, Site Mitigation and Restoration Program, Cypress Cleanup Branch. Since 2019, I have been leading a team of scientists, engineers, geologists and analysts to effectively and safely regulate the investigation and cleanup of military facilities, corrective action and enforcement sites, and voluntary agreements.

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ALONSO MEJIA, Hazardous Materials Specialist - Orange County EH

Alonso Mejia is a Hazardous Materials Specialist with Orange County Environmental Health (OCEH).

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ALVIN DONG, RMPPS - Los Angeles City Fire Dept

Alvin currently works for the Los Angeles Fire Department conducting CalARP, APSA and Hazardous Materials Inspections and is a member of the City's Emergency Response Team.

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ALVIN LAL, CUPA Manager - Stanislaus County DER

Alvin Lal is the CUPA Manager at Stanislaus County Environmental Resources. He is a CSTI Certified Hazardous Materials Specialist and oversees the CUPA Programs, Site Mitigation, Emergency Response and the Household Hazardous Waste Programs at Stanislaus County. He is also a Registered Environmental Health Specialist and was a health Inspector with the County from 2005 to 2010. Alvin Lal is a Certified Assistant Refrigeration Operator and Chairs Central Valley Chemical Safety Day Committee in Modesto Ca. He has a wealth of experience in Hazardous Materials, Food Safety, Audits and Inspections. Alvin has a B.S in Biological Science with concentration in microbiology.

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ANDREA SUMITS, Partner - Bay Law Group LLP

Andrea Sumits is a partner at the law firm Environmental General Counsel LLP. Her practice includes environmental, health and safety (EH&S) regulatory compliance, product regulatory compliance, and strategic EH&S counseling for industrial clients, as well as EH&S aspects of real estate and business transactions. She has 25 years of experience advising domestic and international clients in the consumer products, automotive, electronics, medical device, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, energy, and general manufacturing industries. Ms. Sumits areas of expertise include Proposition 65 for both consumer products and buildings, hazardous materials and waste, occupational health and safety requirements, stormwater, air quality regulations and permitting, and due diligence. While Ms. Sumits works to prevent her clients from becoming targets of enforcement through implementing effective compliance strategies, she also represents clients who do find themselves involved in enforcement actions and has successfully negotiated favorable settlements and withdrawals of enforcement actions for her clients.

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ANDY SMITH, Senior Consultant - Environmental Resource Ctr

Andy Smith Senior Consultant Environmental Resource Center

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ANGELA SAMAYOA, Plan Checker - Fire Prevention II - Long Beach CUPA

Angela Samayoa is presently employed as a Plan Checker - Fire Prevention II by the Long Beach CUPA within the Fire Department. Current duties include UST/AST Plan Check (and associated inspections), UST program compliance inspections, and other duties as assigned.

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ANTHONY CARDNO, Lead Instructor - Lion Technology

Anthony R. Cardno Instructor Level 3 Lion Technology, Inc. I deliver corporate training on a variety of Federal and State environmental and transportation regulations.

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ANTHONY ROSAS, Environmental Scientist - CalEPA

Anthony Rosas is project manager and digital media specialist at California Department of Toxic Substances Controls Office of Brownfields. His responsibilities include managing several voluntary agreement projects, ensuring that the DTSC brownfield website is up to date with current and relevant information, and he leads American Disabilities Act compliance for documents and deliverables.

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APOLLONIA HELM, Hazardous Materials Specialist III - San Mateo County EH

Apollonia often goes by Polly. She works for San Mateo County (SMC) Environmental Health as hazardous materials specialist. She conducts multi-program inspections for a wide range of facilities. Reviewing HMBPs and assisting businesses with HMBP questions is also a frequent activity. At the request of the HMBP TAG, she worked with the battery reporting guidance work group on the UPAAG battery reporting guidance document in 2021 and presented on it in 2022.

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APRIL RANNEY, Environmental Program Manager I - DTSC

April Ranney, Ph.D. Environmental Program Manager I for the Berkeley-Clovis Office of the Enforcement and Emergency Response Division for the Department of Toxic Substance Control. I oversee the Berkeley-Clovis branch that inspects and enforces the Hazardous Waste Control Laws at various hazardous waste facilities (treatment, storage, and disposal facilities; generators; hazardous waste transporters; e-waste facilities; etc.) throughout the state. In addition, I oversee the CUPA oversight team that performs audits and assists CUPAs statewide.

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ARLEEN GURFIELD, Supervising Environmental Health Specialist - San Diego County DEHQ

My name is Arleen Gurfield. I have worked for the County of San Diego for over 15 years and am currently a Supervising Environmental Health Specialist for the Hazardous Materials Division (HMD). I have been an SEHS for over 5 years and oversee the inspection, compliance, and enforcement of 3,500 facilities. I am also the technical lead for hazardous and medical wastes in San Diego County, specializing in Healthcare Facilities, Shooting Ranges, and Universities.

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AUSTIN LEMIRE-BAETEN, Water Resources Control Engineer - State Water Board

Austin is a Water Resources Control Engineer at the State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality, UST Leak Prevention Unit. He performs reviews of third-party evaluations of leak detection equipment to determine if they meet performance standards required by California Code of Regulations. Austin provides statutory and regulatory guidance for UST stakeholders. He is currently leading the rewriting of Title 23, chapter 16

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BAVNEET BENIPAL, Sr. Environmental Scientist - Consultant

Bavneet Benipal is a Sr. Environmental Scientist in the Waste Evaluation and Recycling Unit of the Hazardous Waste Management Program at the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). In her current position, she provides trainings on Waste Classification and Hazardous Waste Recycling, develop regulatory guidance and provides regulatory assistance to regulated agencies and regulated businesses. Previously, she was in the Enforcement and Emergency Response Division of DTSC, where she managed inspection projects of environmental law violations and potential threats to public health and the environment. Her previous work experience also includes Adjunct Professor position at Life Chiropractic College West, Hayward, CA where she instructed health care professional students in Public Health, Histology and Microbiology labs and gave lecture presentations in Toxicology courses. Bavneet received her B.S in Biochemistry from University of Michigan and her PhD in Pharmacology from Wayne State University. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Institute for Environmental Medicine at University of Pennsylvania. During her research career, she published several research articles in scientific journals and gave research presentations at regional and national scientific conferences.

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BRENDA PUEPKE, Environmental Consultant - Puepke Consulting

Brenda Puepke, Environmental Consultant and Owner, Puepke Consulting My business consists of consulting in a variety of CUPA Programs - Underground Tanks, Aboveground Tanks, CERS, ICC UST Designated Operator, ICC UST Inspector, Hazardous Material & Hazardous Waste. I have about 30 facilities where I conduct monthly Designated Operator inspections. I am the Environmental Consultant for a large company who manages Federal Facilities at Border Crossing on the California/Mexico. I complete CERS submissions for UST owners and sub-contract with several UST contractors. I also conduct Hazardous Materials and SPCC annual trainings and assist businesses in follow-ups after agency inspections. I was previously employed by Orange County HCA CUPA for 25 years prior to my retirement in 2014.

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BRENT CASEY, Supervising Environmental Health Specialist - Riverside County DEH

Brent Casey, Program Chief II and Public Information Officer for the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health. Workplace is the Health Administration Building at 4065 County Circle Dr., Riverside. A basic overview of my role is to oversee and evaluate the function and efficiencies of a variety of programs within our Department, and to act as Public Information Officer for the Department.

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BRIAN KNIESER, Physical Scientist - US EPA

Brian Knieser, Physical Scientist with the U.S. EPA. I work in the hazardous waste recycling and generator program. I help write and implement regulations that pertain to entities that generate hazardous waste and the hazardous wastes themselves. I also dedicate a lot of time to coordinating with States and EPA Regions to assist with a wide variety of 40 CFR part 262 hazardous waste generator implementation questions and issues; part of which includes regularly interfacing with other divisions and branches within ORCR on cross-cutting issues.

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BRIAN OTTER, Instructor - Otter Training & Consulting

My name is Brian Otter, Retired from San Bernardino County Fire and I currently teach Hazardous Materials Safety courses

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