GBC Chapter Information
The Great Basin Chapter of A&WMA is one of several chapters in the Rocky Mountain States Section. There are approximately 95 active members in the Chapter, with another 50 or so inactive members still around.
According to the Chapter constitution and bylaws, the Chapter territory covers Utah, eastern Nevada (zip codes 890, 893, and 898), and southwestern Wyoming (zip codes 829 and 831).
The normal functions of the Chapter are managed by a Board of Directors made up of elected officers and appointed directors. The Chapter constitution and bylaws describe each of their roles in detail, as well as the role of the Executive Board. The Chapter is also fortunate to have Joe Martone, past President of A&WMA, on its board. In addition, Rick Sprott, past-chair of the GBC and current board member, is currently one of the three Vice Presidents and also Chair of the Finance Committee for A&WMA. The current GBC board members are displayed on the right.
The Chapter exists to help its members. Tours, meetings, and workshops are held to achieve this goal.
History of the Air & Waste Management Association Great Basin Chapter
The Great Basin Chapter (GBC) of the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) was formed in 1990 to improve environmental knowledge and decisions by providing a neutral forum for exchanging information. Our founders conceived the GBC at Diamond Lil’s Restaurant in Salt Lake City on February 28, 1990. From the beginning, our focus has been on providing a forum for discussion, education, and networking on technical issues related to environmental management in the intermountain west. The A&WMA GBC was formally chartered on August 20, 1990. Along with the New Mexico Chapter, the GBC is part of the A&WMA Rocky Mountain States Section (RMSS). Our members are environmental professionals from government, industry, consulting, academic, legal and other professions.
Our core values are:
• Environmental responsibility
• Ethical behavior
• Professionalism
• Open Communication
• Quality member service
• Life-long learning
Geographically, the GBC includes the entire state of Utah and the southwestern corner of Wyoming. The eastern Nevada area was once part of the GBC but broke off to be part of the Eastern Sierra Chapter when the Nevada Section was formed.
The GBC has affiliation with A&WMA Student Chapters at Utah State University (chartered in 1992) and at the University of Utah (chartered in 1993).
In addition to organizing and hosting events such a lunch meetings with notable speakers and industry technical tours to benefit GBC members, the GBC has a long track record of success bringing A&WMA international activities to Utah. The first was the International Aerosol and Atmospheric Optics Specialty Conference bringing experts from around the world to Snowbird in September 1994. Between 1995 and 1999, the GBC hosted A&WMA Workshops about Clean Air Act Operating Permits (Title V), Compliance Assurance Monitoring, and New Source Review. Our biggest adventure was hosting the A&WMA premier event, the Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE), June 19-21, 2000.
The GBC was selected to host the A&WMA 93rd ACE in June 1995, just a few days following Salt Lake City’s selection as the site for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002. Interestingly, Mitt Romney, Chairman of the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee, gave a Special Feature Presentation about the Olympic environmental program at the 93rd ACE. The theme of our conference was “Celebrating Our Sustainable Future.” The keynote address was delivered by the Honorable Maurice F. Strong, one of the world’s most respected environmentalists. The critical review of combustion aerosols and implications for human health was presented by University of Utah Professors JoAnn Lighty and Adel Sarofim.
In the late 1990’s the international A&WMA faced severe financial challenges. Every effort was put into making the ACE in Salt Lake City a wonderful experience for delegates and a financial success. The future of the A&WMA was at stake. The GBC local host committee and the new A&WMA Executive Director, Dick Scherr and his staff rose to the occasion and gave 110%. The result was a very successful conference in every respect. Our Salt Lake City conference marked a turning point in the near 100 year history of the international A&WMA. We are very proud of that accomplishment.
Following passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the GBC hosted, in conjunction with Utah Bar Association, A&WMA and EPA annual “Implementing the Clean Air Act” satellite broadcasts. More recently, the GBC has regularly hosted A&WMA audio web casts on a variety of timely environmental management topics.
For a small A&WMA member unit with about 100 international members, the GBC has made a notable contribution to the leadership of the international A&WMA. Joe Martone served on the A&WMA Board from 1998-2001 and was Vice President in 2000-2001. He was President-elect in 2003 and President in 2004. Joe was the General Conference Chair for ACE 2000. Rick Sprott is a 2004-2006 Board member and Vice President (2006). Delbert Eatough is a 2005-2007 Board member and Chair of A&WMA’s Technical Council. Randy Martin is Chair of the Higher Education Division within A&WMA’s Education Council.
The GBC has always recognized achievement by environmental science and engineering students. In the mid- 1990’s, the GBC and the RMSS sponsored student poster competitions with the winners financially supported to attend the A&WMA ACE. In recent years, we have awarded scholarships to deserving undergraduate and graduate students.
The GBC has a strong record of supporting A&WMA’s Environmental Resource Guide (ERG) concept. Over the years, we have held numerous ERG teacher training workshops and worked with the Utah Society for Environmental Education to map the ERG content to Utah curriculum making ERG use easier for Utah K-12 educators. Our University of Utah Student Chapter designed, assembled, and distributed to Utah High Schools ERG experiment kits giving students all the resources needed to conduct environmental projects outlined in the ERGs.
Today, the GBC continues to value all that A&WMA offers environmental professionals in the intermountain west. Benefit to our members is our highest priority.
Joe Martone, a key member of the Great Basin Chapter, recently held the position of President of the Air & Waste Management Association!
You can reach the Chapter by sending email to any of the people listed above, by using our email form, or by sending mail to the following address:
AWMA Great
Basin Chapter
P.O. Box 520851
Salt Lake City, UT 84152-0851
Thank you for your interest!
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