The Great Basin Chapter of A&WMA is one of several chapters in the Rocky Mountain States Section. The Chapter territory covers Utah, eastern Nevada and southwestern Wyoming. For more information concerning the history of the Great Basin Chapter of the A&WMA, its goals and accomplishments, please download the pdf below.
Environmental Legislation pending in the 2010 Utah Legislature can be reviewed here.
Science Fair GBC Award Winners
SLVSEF winner: Christopher Bujnowski AMES High School
Project Title: Pollution Sensors: Symptoms and Peak Flow Values in Adolescents
Abstract: Continued industrialization and demand for power has increased air pollution in parts of the world. A by-product of combustion, PM 2.5, particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter, can lodge in the alveoli of the lungs, overtime, damaging lung tissue. Lung capacity was monitored in adolescents, ages 14 to 17 on days with healthy, moderate and poor levels of PM2.5, as defined by government standards and reported by local monitors. In year-1, peak lung flow values were compared on green and red air days (p=0.055). In year 2, refinements of year 1's methods attributed to a significant variation in lung capacity, when red and green air days were compared for one test population (p=0.029).
NUSEF winner:Kassandra Wilson
Title: A Field Evaluation on the Presence of Viruses in Treated Sewage from Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Abstract: Wastewater treatment plants have government regulations that are designed to remove contaminants from the water. These contaminants include: viruses, bacteria, chemicals, solids, etc. One of the most challenging to remove and detrimental to the environment are viruses. Therefore, the purpose of this experiment was to determine the level of viral contamination in the effluent (out flowing) water of Northern Utah wastewater treatment plant. It was hypothesized that viruses would not be present because the treatment process should completely remove them. To test this, 10 ml of wastewater samples were collected from 10 wastewater treatment plants. Samples were also collected from various stages of the treatment process. Lab techniques were completed to culture the viruses found in the collected wastewater samples. The results did not support my hypothesis. Effluent samples from eight of the ten plants showed viral contamination. Two of the wastewater treatment plants had 100% removal of viruses, when comparing influent and effluent samples. To determine the efficiency of viral removal throughout various stages of the treatment process, samples were collected and tested from 13 stages of wastewater treatment. The data shows that through each treatment stage the number of viruses decreased, but did not consistently eliminate the viruses. Therefore, additional treatment methods are necessary to more efficiently remove the viruses. It is vital that these viruses be removed to have clean and safe water and to protect our environment, thus ensuring human health.
2010 Scholarship Winners
Congratulations to this years GBC A&WMA scholarship winners.
The three scholarship winners are:
Each received a $1000 scholarship from the Great Basin Chapter.
Federal air quality regulatory updates lunch and learn
The Great Basin Chapter (GBC) was pleased to host a panel discussion with Bill Harnett, Director of the Air Quality Policy Division of EPA. A Powerpoint presentation from this informative meeting is available:
GBC 2010 Annual Dinner
The Great Basin Chapter of A&WMA held it's annual Social and Dinner on Thursday April 29th, 2010 at the Alta Club in downtown Salt Lake City. Vicki Bennett, Director of the Mayor’s office of sustainability and the environment was the keynote speaker. Please view pictures taken at the dinner.
Air and Waste Management Association’s (A&WMA) 2010 High School Essay Contest.
This year's contest, “Energy and the Environment: Changing our Communities, our Schools and our World,” provides high school students in grades 9-12 the chance to share their thoughts on environmental issues. The deadline for the essay submissions is on Earth Day – Thursday, April 22, 2010. The contest gives students the chance to compete for prize money and the opportunity to be recognized for their work at the honors and awards ceremony at A&WMA’s 103rd Annual Conference & Exhibition (ACE) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, June 22-25, 2010. Three attachments are available 1) contest flyer, 2) essay contest rules, and 3) the reprint of the winning essay from 2009, featured in A&WMA’s monthly magazine, EM. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Elgina McCoy at elgina.mccoy@basf.com or 734.324.6206, or email your questions to awma-high-school-essay-contest@googlegroups.com.