Certified Sampler Program Training Program in Ohio

Expert Geologist Tapped to Provide Training for Water Sampling


Brian Oram offers certified sampler program in association with educational partners.

WILKES-BARRE, PA—February 2013—Brian Oram, a professional geologist and soil scientist and founder of B.F. Environmental Consultants, an engineering firm providing a range of services throughout northeastern Pennsylvania, will present a class entitled “Certified Sampler Program” on March 2, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. The cost for the event is $175 and the location has yet to be determined.

“Residents of many states are now experiencing increased shale natural gas drilling, new water well development and overall water quality awareness, all of which point to the need for more certified water sample collectors,” Oram said. “This class will provide the skills necessary to properly collect water samples and to understand the importance of chain of custody.”

The Certified Sampler Program was developed to address specific collection issues and testing requirements associated with New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and Texas. Oram expects students to come from the water and water treatment industries, as well as well drillers, public water supply technicians and environmental activists. Anyone called upon to collect water samples in the field for compliance and/or regulatory testing should consider attending this course.

At the successful completion of this program, attendees will receive Water Quality Association (WQA) Continuing Education Credits, a Certificate of Completion from Wilkes University and a Certification of Completion from B.F. Environmental on Proper Chain of Custody.

The class is presented by Oram and his company, National Testing Laboratories, Ltd., Wilkes University and the Water Quality Association. For more information about the class, call 800-458-3330 extension 223 or e-mail mmetzger@ntllabs.com.

About B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc.

B.F. Environmental Consultants, based in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Poconos, has been providing professional geological, soils, hydrogeological, and environmental consulting services since 1985. The company specializes in the following areas: hydrogeological and wastewater evaluations for siting land-based wastewater disposal systems; soils consulting (soil scientists), environmental monitoring, overseeing the siting, exploration, and development of community/ commercial water supply sources; environmental training/ professional training courses, and other environmental services. For more information about B.F. Environmental Consultants, visit www.bfenvironmental.com and www.water-research.net.

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LEED Green Associate Exam Prep - Training Course

LEED Green Associate Exam Prep
March 8, 2013 8 AM – 5 PM
The Northeast Pennsylvania Branch of the Central Pennsylvania US Green Building Council, in conjunction with Wilkes University and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, invites you to join us for the LEED Green Associate Exam Prep class.

This course introduces attendees to the principles behind high performance green building and the LEED Green Building Rating System, the most widely used tool for assessing green buildings worldwide. The discussion will begin by discussing what green buildings are, why they are important, and how they are created. The concept of integrative design is then introduced as the key to engaging LEED cost-effectively, followed by an introduction of LEED, the structure of the LEED Rating system, its purpose, and its certification process. The remainder of the course will focus on the core concepts of LEED, its intent, and the principles associated its credits, which are organized around five primary categories of environmental and human health issues. The course will conclude with a discussion of the LEED exam structure and by outlining the process for becoming a LEED Accredited Professional.

Instructor: John Boecker, AIA, an architect living in Wellsville, PA, currently serves as a partner in 7group, a green building consulting firm. He has concentrated his architectural practice exclusively on designing high-performance green buildings since 1996. He has practiced architecture in New Haven, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, in addition to his current workplace in Central Pennsylvania.
Date & Time: March 8, 2013 from 8 AM – 5 PM.
Cost: $350 per attendee includes lunch, PDH Hours: 8

Registration: To register click on the following link: http://www.wilkes.edu/pages/1703.asp or call 570-408-4235 or email: continuedlearning@wilkes.edu
This course will be held on the campus of Wilkes University on the second floor of the Henry Student Center. Registration deadline March 1, 2013
Seating is limited and is going quick so register early!
Event Partners:

This Event is brought to you by the Northeast Pennsylvania branch of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Wilkes University and the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance.

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Certified Sampler Training Program - Baseline Water Testing

I'm sure most of you have heard one thing or another about the natural gas drilling boom and its possible negative effects on groundwater. As a result of the growing concern about the water quality and possible contamination, there are opportunities to test the water of concerned homeowners in areas nearby these gas drilling operations. Establishing baseline water quality must meet sate certifications and must be collected by the laboratory or a trained collector to ensure the samples meet chain of custody requirements.
National Testing Laboratories (NTL) is offering a class on March 2, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio for those of you interested in these collection opportunities. For those completing the course, NTL is looking to establish territories, so contact us right away to see what is available in your area. NTL pays each sampler a collection fee for samples collected. Additional sales opportunities are available for any testing you sell directly to your clients, since we offer our sample collectors additional discounts on testing packages.
The business lends itself to repeat customers, since homeowners will want follow-up testing done to ensure their water supply remains safe. This also affords water treatment professionals the opportunity to discuss possible treatment options and precautions that can be taken. Attached you will find information on the class as well as a reservation form. We have limited class capacity, so reservations will be taken on a first come first served basis. Don't wait, register right away!
If you have questions regarding this up coming Certified Sampler Training Program, please click here, and we will call you immediately. Otherwise you can reach us at 1-800-458-3330 x223 or email me at mmetzger@ntllabs.com,
Sincerely,

Marianne Metzger
Business Unit Manager
National Testings Laboratories
6571 Wilson Mills Rd
Cleveland, OH 44143
1-800-458-3330
Need baseline water testing in your area - Fill Out this Request Form

Training provided by B.F. Environmental Consultants Inc.
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Northeast Pennsylvania Forest Landowners Conference

Pennsylvania’s forests provide us with untold economic, ecological, and social benefits. While many believe the state owns most of the forestland when in reality, seven out of ten acres is privately owned. To provide proper stewardship of their forests landowners need an understand-ing of specific, "essential" information. This con-ference is intended to serve as a landowner’s guide to forest ownership. I hope you will plan to join us for a day of learning. The event will occur on Saturday - March 16, 2013 at Keystone College in LaPlume PA from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.  Meeting place will be the Hibbard Campus Center - Evans Hall

The schedule for the day

8:30am Registration

9:00am The Importance of Private Forestland Stewardship in the Pennsylvania Landscape - Matt Keefer, Assistant State Forester, DCNR Bureau of Forestry
9:15 Utility ROW Management Regulations and Options for Forest Landowners Mary Baker, Forester, PPL Utilities
10:00 Break
10:30 Forestland Stewardship Incentive Programs for Private Forest Landowners - Andrew Duncan, PA DCNR Bureau of Forestry
11:15 Insect and Disease Forest Pest Update Tim Marasco, Bureau of Forestry
12:00pm Lunch (provided)

Concurrent Sessions

1:00pm
A - Forest Industry Picture: Today and Tomorrow - Mark Lewis, Lewis Lumber Products
B - Gas Lease Wildlife Habitat Restoration - Bob Hobbes, Consulting Forester
1:45pm
A - The Knowledge Connection for Private Forest Landowners Chad Gadsby, PA Bureau of Forestry
B - Invasive Species ID and Control Options - Carrie Gilbert, Ecological Services, PA Bureau of Forestry
2:30pm Break
2:45pm
A - Utilizing and Marketing Low Grade Forest Products from Your Woodlands Joseph Ulozas, Assistant District Forester, Bureau of Forestry
B - Prescribed Burning on Pennsylvania Private Forest Lands - Michael Kern, Forest Fire Protection, Bureau of Forestry

3:30pm Closing Remarks   To Register Registration Fee:$25 per person Registrations must be received byMarch 8, 2013
Please make checks payable to: PSCE - Luzerne


Mail the registration form and payment to:
Forest Landowners Conference
Luzerne County Cooperative Extension
16 Luzerne Avenue, Suite 200
West Pittston, PA 18643

For More Information Contact:
Vincent Cotrone via email at vjc1@psu.edu
Or call the Luzerne County Extension Office:  570-825-1701

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About B.F. Environmental Consultants, Inc.


B.F. Environmental Consultants, based in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Poconos, has been providing professional geological, soils, hydrogeological, and environmental consulting services since 1985. The company specializes in the following areas: hydrogeological and wastewater evaluations for siting land-based wastewater disposal systems; soils consulting (soil scientists), environmental monitoring, overseeing the siting, exploration, and development of community/ commercial water supply sources; environmental training/ professional training courses, and other environmental services. For more information about B.F. Environmental Consultants, visit www.bfenvironmental.com and www.water-research.net.

Energy Star Webinar - ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager Tool

Energy Star Webinar

Lunch and Learn Webinar event February 22, 2013

The Northeast Pennsylvania Branch of the Central Pennsylvania US Green Building Council, in conjunction with Friedman Electric and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance, invites you to join us for a “Lunch and Learn” event hosted by Benco Dental, located in the Centerpoint Commerce and Trade Park, Pittston, PA.

Please join us for a live presentation from the EPA about the Commercial Building Energy Star Rating Program. This event is via a live internet webinar. Participants will learn about the Energy Star program for commercial buildings and how you can obtain an Energy Star Rating. Emily Linn from the EPA will present on the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool for building energy tracking and benchmarking. She will also explain how the Energy Star rating is achieved, models of success, guidelines for Energy Management, and how it all works together. The tool is meant for non-residential buildings, including a wide range of building types from commercial to institutional to hotels, etc. and she will explain how the Portfolio Manager works and what qualifiers are required to obtain a rating. There will be a Q&A session following the presentation.
Date & Time: February 22, 2013 January 25, 2013 from 11:30 – 1:30.
Cost: $5 for members and $10 for non-members

Registration: To register contact Jan Russell at the Greenspring Institute at (215) 703-8515 or Barry Hendrickson at Benco Dental at (570) 602-6835 .
Payment: Payment can be made at the door ($5 for USGBC members and $10 for non-members) in the form of cash or check (made payable to “Central PA USGBC.” Lunch will be provided and includes a vegetarian option. Seating is limited and is going quick so register early!
Parking and Logistics:

All attendees should follow the signs that say “visitors” and park in the front lot. Entrance will be granted through the main entrance by pressing the buzzer and being admitted by the receptionist. Visitor name badges will be pre-printed for those attendees that registered in advance. Other visitors must sign in on the lobby computer to create a name badge. Badges must be worn while in the facility and scanned (signed out) on the same computer when leaving the facility.

Event Partners:

This Event is brought to you by the Northeast Pennsylvania branch of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Friedman Electric and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance.

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Marcellus Shale Coalition Releases Recommended Practices for Water Pipelines

MSC Releases Recommended Practices for Water Pipelines


Pittsburgh, PA – Today, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) published Recommended Practices (RP) for Water Pipelines, the sixth in a series of guidance documents aimed at further enhancing the safe development of natural gas across the Appalachian basin. This RP for constructing water pipelines is in line with the MSC’s Guiding Principles to “implement state-of-the-art environmental protection across our operations” and supports ongoing industry efforts to reduce its operational overall footprint.
“By continually implementing cutting-edge recycling technologies, water pipelines and other innovative water management practices, our industry is able to further reduce the volume of truck traffic and capitalize on environmental benefits inherent to safe development and use of natural gas,” said MSC chief executive officer Kathryn Klaber. “As Marcellus Shale development advances, and more operators build water pipeline networks to support their well operations, this guidance document will aid in the siting and construction process. Additionally, this RP builds upon a series of content-rich, member-driven guidance documents designed to raise the bar and advance our industry’s commitment to operational excellence and compliance.”

This Recommended Practice for Water Pipelines was drafted by industry professionals and provides guidance to the industry in the following areas:
Optimal Route Selection: Identify sensitive resources and minimize environmental impact.

Pipe Materials: Determine correct materials and utilize proper resources to construct pipelines.

Valves: Install appropriate valves to isolate segments of the line; allow for maintenance; and permit drainage.

Pipeline Restraints: Use restraints to prevent unwanted line movement.

Operational Considerations: Test pipelines to avoid leaks, consider any environmental consequences, monitor all lines and air venting during operations, and consider using locks, handles, protective covering, or drainage when necessary.

Deactivation: Upon completion the pipeline should be deactivated or removed in its entirety after all remaining water is removed.

Continued Klaber, “With water and water management serving a critical role in the well completion process, ensuring that water pipelines, both temporary and permanent, are constructed to the highest degree of integrity is critical for the development process, the environment and public safety.”

To view other Recommended Practices click HERE
MSC Guidance on Stray Gas

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The above is not my work - but provided as a link to information.

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