WPPA 2024 Environmental Seminar

Marcus Whitman Hotel
6 West Rose Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
866.826.9422

Dear Colleagues,

It's time to gather for WPPA's Environmental Seminar! As you know, this event provides participants with a relaxed venue to learn about environmental issues, share experiences, and reconnect with friends in the port community. In addition to presentations by experts, this year's agenda is full of the peer-to-peer interactions that have time and again proven so valuable.

The 2024 seminar will be held at the Marcus Whitman Hotel in Walla Walla. The meeting officially begins the morning of Thursday, September 19th and will conclude by noon on Friday, September 20th. There is an optional networking happy hour Wednesday September 18th from 4-6Pm at Burwood Brewery, an awesome port tenant!

Thank you and we look forward to seeing you in Walla Walla!

Sincerely,
Carly Michiels
Sr. Director of Environmental Policy


WPPA 2024 Environmental Seminar Agenda


Draft Agenda


Wednesday, September 18th

4:00 - 6:00 pm - Unofficial Networking Happy Hour, Burwood Brewing (1120 E Street, Walla Walla)

This is an optional get together that is not hosted, you’re on your own for drinks and food. There will be a food truck at this location at 5:00 pm. This is a Port of Walla Walla tenant, in their business park near the airport, come check them out!


Thursday, September 19th

7:00 am - Registration & Breakfast

8:00 am - Welcome Remarks

  • Port of Walla Walla Commissioner Kip Kelly

  • Walla Walla Mayor Tom Scribner

8:30 am - Energy: Hydrogen

  • Chris Green, Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Association

9:30 am - Noise, Noise Everywhere! In the water and in the air!  

  • Luke Watry, Wilson Ihrig  

  • Kevin Warner, Landau 

10:30 am - Break

11:00 am - Water Supply and Economic Impacts  

  • Michelle Hennings, WA Association of Wheat Growers

  • Jon DeVaney, WA State Tree Fruit Association

  • Scott Revell, Roza Irrigation District 

12:00 pm - Lunch

1:00 pm - When Rubber Meets the Road, 6PPD-q 

  • Ross Dunning, Kennedy Jenks  

  • Patrick Hsieh, DOF

2:00 pm - Environmental Law, Key Legal Updates

  • Sara Frase, CSD Attorneys at Law

  • Margaret (Meg) Lee, Cascadia Law

3:00 pm - Break

3:30 pm - Show me something cool!

  • Ports from around Washington share their environmental stories and experiences in a “show and tell” style presentation. Each port staffer attendee who wants to share will have three minutes by way of a video, multimedia, verbal story, song, dance, one act mini-play, the sky is the limit…wow us with your tales of glory!  Past presentations have been diverse, creative, fun, and motivational. Stories with cute fuzzy animals get extra “oohs and ahhhs”.
    Bring your story to share with the group and prepare to be inspired!

Immediately after “Show Me Something Cool”, we will adjourn for the day and you can freshen up before the reception.

5:45 pm - Reception and Dinner


Friday, September 20th

7:30 am - Breakfast

8:30 am - 30-Minute Break to Check Out of Your Hotel Room
(you can bring your bags to the meeting room to store until the end of the meeting)

9:00 am - Climate Migration 101, in the Face of Natural Disaster  

  • Pamela Xander, ESA

  • Rachel Gregg, ESA

9:45 am - Alphabet Soup Regulatory Updates: SEPA, MTCA, PFAS and ESA/NMFS 

  • Erin Anderson, Van Ness Feldman (SEPA update)  

  • Trevor Louviere, Dept. of Fish & Wildlife (MTCA Update)  

  • Tiffany Thomas, Haley & Aldrich (PFAS update)  

  • Dena Horton, PNWA (ESA/NMFS Conservation Calculator Update)

11:15 am - Sediment Management: We can do better!  

  • Clay Patmont, Anchor QEA

  • Shawn Gilbertson, Port of Olympia

  • Tony Warfield, Port of Tacoma  

12:00 noon - Wrap up and Adjourn


2024 ENVIRONMENTAL SEMINAR FAQ


Meeting Location:

Marcus Whitman Hotel
6 West Rose Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
866.826.9422


How do I register for this event?

Please register using our online form so we capture all the proper information. Click here to go to our registration form.

Will I receive a confirmation of my seminar registration?

Confirmation of online registrations will be sent via email within 48 hours. The confirmation will be sent to both the attendee and admin email addresses shown in the registration section.  

There was no link to pay for my registration, how do I pay you?

WPPA will send an invoice for all registrations and sponsorships after the event has occurred. You can pay via check or call in a credit card payment.

What is the dress code?

Dress is business casual.

Hotel Information:

Our special group rate at the Marcus Whitman Hotel is $179 a night + taxes. To make a reservation, call the hotel directly at 866.826.9422 and be sure to tell them you are with the WPPA 2024 Environmental Seminar. Please book your reservation directly with the hotel so we can be sure to account for you in our room block. If you are a no-show for your reservation or if you cancel your hotel room after September 11, the credit card on account will be charged for one night + any applicable taxes.

THE CUTOFF DATE FOR ROOM RESERVATIONS IS Monday AUgust 19th

Once our room block is “sold out", standard rates will apply. Please note: our block may sell out any time prior to the cut-off date. Your reservation is fully refundable as long as you cancel by September 11.

PARKING

Parking at the Marcus Whitman is no charge.

IS THERE A REGISTRATION DEADLINE?

The registration deadline to attend the seminar is Wednesday, September 11, 2024. Please sign up by this date so we have a proper headcount for seats and meals.

What are the registration fees?

Registration for the Environmental Seminar is $425 for members and $525 for non-members.

What does my registration fee include?

Your WPPA registration fee includes everything listed on the agenda.

Can I bring a guest and what portion of the event can they attend?

Yes, you can bring a guest! Guests are invited and encouraged to attend the Thursday evening reception. There is no additional fee for this! Breakfast and lunch during the meeting is for registered attendees only, not for guests.

Do I need to register my guest?

While there is no separate fee for a spouse/guest to attend the receptions, we do ask that you register them in advance so we have a proper headcount for food. Please be sure to include your guests full name on your registration form.

I have food allergies/I’m a vegetarian. How do I let you know this?

There is a comment section on the registration form. PLEASE note this information there so we can be sure to order meals that accommodate your needs! If you experience challenges with the form or have any questions, please contact Mandy Lill for help: [email protected] or call 360.878.6299.

What if I have to cancel?

A $100 administration fee will be charged for cancellations received after WEDNESDAY, September 11, 2024, and for registrants failing to show.

We would like to be a sponsor for this event, what sponsorships are available?

Sponsorships are key for us being able to provide a quality event. If you would like to be a sponsor, you can view the sponsor worksheet here. You can also email Mandy for more information and to let her know at what level you would like to participate.


 

2024 ENVIRONMENTAL SEMINAR SPONSORS


Sponsorships are key to being able to provide a quality event for our members so we’d like to say THANK YOU to all of our sponsors.
We couldn’t do this without you!

You can View Sponsorship opportunities here for this year’s Environmental Seminar. You can also reach out to Mandy Lill
for additional information.


 

Established in 1919, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants is an employee-owned, multidisciplinary environmental engineering consulting firm specializing in water, wastewater, stormwater, and ballast water management, civil engineering and utility design, construction management, upland environmental investigation and site remediation, brownfields redevelopment, environmental compliance, and litigation support for Northwest marine ports and airports.

 
 

Law and policy firm specializing in energy, environment, land use, real estate, and government relations matters.

 
 

A full-service law firm with a nationally recognized environmental, natural resources, and real estate practice. Stoel Rives assists with all aspects of regulatory compliance, site remediation, project permitting, development, and construction, including counseling and litigation services related to cost recovery, insurance coverage, and project construction.

 

ESA partners with Washington ports and port-tenants to drive sustainable, resilient, and equitable solutions that shape a better world. Ports can call on ESA for shoreline and nearshore development, engineering, coastal and habitat restoration, fisheries, wetland delineations, upland and in-water permitting and regulatory compliance for local, state, and federal agencies (including SEPA and NEPA), mitigation design and monitoring, biological evaluations, air and noise quality, greenhouse gas emissions, climate action plans, stormwater and water quality, landscape architecture, cultural resources, sustainability, resiliency, drone and geospatial services. ESA’s clients include small and large Washington ports, transit and transportation agencies, public works departments, and private developers. Major projects have included container and cruise terminals, ferry terminals, runway and airport facilities, and freight mobility projects. ESA is an inclusive employee-driven firm that continuously raises the industry standard through technical excellence and innovation.

 
 
 

— Is an integrated consulting firm offering award-winning services in environmental and civil engineering, site planning and development, communications and outreach, environmental assessment and cleanup, strategic planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), health and safety services, and air quality. MFA has decades of experience assisting Washington ports with their unique commercial, environmental, statutory, and community priorities.

 

Services include environmental, geotechnical, contaminated site management, seismic, natural resources, and hydrogeology for port and harbor planning, permitting, terminal design and waterfront development. Specialize in remediation of contaminated sediments/dredged material and development on sites with complex geological and environmental issues. Includes support for deep water projects, capped aquatic disposal sites, piers, wharfs, marinas, dry docks, upland facilities, and retaining structures. Also specialize in wetlands, freshwater and marine fish biology, endangered species, habitat restoration, and stormwater management.

 

Environmental consulting and engineering; site characterization and remediation, compliance auditing, stormwater management, SEPA/NEPA compliance, land use and shoreline permitting, strategic planning and feasibility analysis for both in-water and upland development projects, environmental management system (EMS) development and implementation.

 
 
 

Thank You to our Sponsors!


2024 ENVIRONMENTAL SEMINAR REGISTRATION