Plenary Sessions

Please note that topics and speakers are subject to change.

Opening Plenary Session, Monday, February 9

Welcome to San Diego
Laura Yoshii, Acting Regional Administrator, EPA Region 9
8:00 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.

Welcome by EPA Headquarters
Mark Mjoness, Division Director, National Planning and Preparedness Division,
EPA Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Remarks by the EPA Office of Emergency Management Director
Debbie Dietrich, Director, EPA OEM
8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.

OSC Recognition
Debbie Dietrich, Director, EPA OEM
9:15 a.m. to 9:35 a.m.

Presentation of the Gerald Foree Award
Shane Hitchcock, Removal Manager, EPA Region 4
9:35 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.

U.S. Coast Guard Capabilities
Rear Admiral Tom Atkin, Commander, Deployable Operations Group, U.S. Coast Guard
9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.

BREAK
10:15 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Administrative Remarks
Gary Turner, Technology Innovation and Field Services Division, EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI)
10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.

Hot Sites Forum
10:45 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

  • Iowa Flood Response – Randy Schademann, OSC, EPA Region 7
  • Vermont Mill Properties Site – Cathy Young, OSC, EPA Region 1
  • Greka Oil Spills 2008 Area Command – Robert Wise, OSC, EPA Region 9

Day 2 Plenary Session, Tuesday, February 10

Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. Forest Service
Kevin Misenheimer, Environmental Engineer, National Planning and Preparedness Division, EPA OEM
8:00 a.m. to 8:05 a.m.

Rule Changes
Mark W. Howard, EPA OEM
8:05 a.m. to 8:20 a.m.

Administrative Remarks
Gary Turner, EPA OSRTI
8:20 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Day 3 Plenary Session, Wednesday, February 11

Update on Activities of Information Technology Forum
Constance Haaser, Chief Architect for Information Management, EPA OEM
8:00 a.m. to 8:10 a.m.

Briefing on Portable High-Throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification System (PHILIS)
Steve Hawthorn, Director, National Decontamination Team (NDT), EPA OEM
8:10 a.m. to 8:20 a.m.

Administrative Remarks
Gary Turner, EPA OSRTI
8:20 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

Day 4 Plenary Session, Thursday, February 12

OSC Task Force Report Out
OSC Task Force Representative
8:00 a.m. to 8:10 a.m.

Removal Manager Report Out
Removal Manager Representative
8:10 a.m. to 8:20 a.m.

Administrative Remarks
Gary Turner, EPA OSRTI
8:20 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.



Federal Agency-Only Working Lunches

Monday, February 9
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Personal Liability on the Job: What You Need to Know
Presented by: Clifford J. Villa, Assistant Regional Counsel, EPA Region 10

Working on a response, you may think you've got enough to deal with without worrying about personal liability. And yet, over the years, a number of EPA OSCs and other federal employees have been sued or threatened with suit personally for carrying out their official duties. This presentation will describe the scope of liabilities that OSCs and other federal employees may face personally for acts committed within the scope of their employment. Federal law provides federal employees with various protections from such lawsuits, so that few if any of these actions will ultimately succeed. However, the presentation will suggest some ways that OSCs and others may avoid facing personal liability in the first place, accomplishing the agency mission while preserving your own peace of mind.

Wednesday, February 11
12:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m.

Managing Messages: Top 5 Media Mistakes Even Pros Make
Presented by: Pamela Avery, Principal Director, Turner Strategies

National media and spokesperson training consultant Pam Avery will share the Top 5 mistakes that even the pros make dealing with the news media. The presentation will include news clips of interview bloopers, and tips on how to avoid media pitfalls and manage your messages effectively even during a crisis.