Unnatural Selection: Evolution of PFAS Policy

Speakers:

• Anne Germain, PE, COO and SVP of Regulatory Affairs, National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA)
• Sean McGinnis, Partner, The COEFFICIENT Group

Moderator: Bryan Staley, PhD, PE, President and CEO, Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF)While research is still needed to fully understand the impacts and treatment methods for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), regulations have been implemented at the federal, state and local level to manage these man-made chemical compounds. What are these regulations and how do they impact the solid waste industry?

During this session, NWRA COO and SVP of Regulatory Affairs, Anne Germain, and The COEFFICIENT Group Partner, Sean McGinnis, will discuss:

• PFAS regulations and policies as they impact the waste industry and manufacturing/production industry
• Future policies as ongoing research uncovers additional sources of PFAS, such as food packaging
• The focus of regulations on “end of pipe” or environmental concentrations in surface/groundwater and why this is the focus
• Recently developed EPA interim guidance for PFAS management and how this impacts solid waste operations
• Where the regulations are relative to the science

Speakers:Anne Germain, PE
Anne Germain is the Chief Operating Officer and Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs for the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), responsible for establishing and implementing strategies for recycling, landfilling, and sustainability in accordance with member needs. Her over 30 years in the industry includes extensive background in analysis of industry trends, contracting, engineering, operations and compliance.

Prior to joining NWRA, Anne was Chief Engineer with the Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA). Anne is a Past President of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and serves on the executive committee of ABET. She is a professional engineer and a Board Certified Environmental Engineer with a Master in Civil Engineering from the University of Delaware and a B.S. in Civil Engineering from Virginia Tech. In 2020, she was recognized by MSW Management with their legacy award.Sean McGinnis
Sean McGinnis is a Partner with The Coefficient Group, a Washington D.C. based strategic advisory firm specialized in energy, climate, and environmental policy and markets. Sean has contributed over a decade to national environmental policy initiatives. He draws on his expertise in finance, communications, and environmental consulting to advance the business case for sustainability. Sean’s policy expertise spans the water-energy-land use nexus and includes infrastructure and public-private partnerships, digitalization for decarbonization, and market-driven sustainability solutions.

Prior to joining Coefficient, Sean was Director for The Horinko Group, working with former U.S. EPA Acting Administrator Marianne Horinko. Previously, Sean was an International Credit Portfolio Manager for The Northern Trust Company. Sean received his Masters in Natural Resources from the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability at Virginia Tech University, and his Bachelor of Science in Finance from the College of Business at University of Illinois.Moderator:Bryan Staley, PhD, PE
Dr. Bryan Staley currently serves as President and CEO of the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF), one of the largest sources of research funding and graduate scholarships related to solid waste management. He joined EREF in 2008, where he started as Vice President of Environmental Programs, and has over 20 years’ experience in the environmental engineering field.

He is recognized nationally as a technical expert in sustainable solid waste management issues, and obtained a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from North Carolina State University, where his research focused on understanding microbiological mechanisms for waste decomposition and methane generation from solid waste. He also holds a Master’s degree in Biosystems Engineering from the University of Tennessee, and a B.S. in Biological & Agricultural Engineering from North Carolina State University.

Dr. Staley is a licensed professional engineer who has held key positions in consulting firms as a Project Manager and Vice President of Engineering, where he managed projects ranging from solid waste management, wastewater treatment system design, to retail/commercial land development and environmental management of large-scale livestock operations.