SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA - News & Events
Wednesday May 19, 2010 • Berkeley, CA
Please submit reservation by Friday, May 14, 2010

GRA San Francisco Bay Area Branch
Proudly Presents


Old and New Emerging Contaminants:
“Stuff You Haven’t Thought About”


William E. Motzer, Ph.D. PG
Senior Geochemist
Todd Engineers


Scholastic Sponsor: Blaine Tech Services, Inc.

To RSVP -- http://www.grac.org/reservation

PRESENTATION HIGHLIGHTS

For the past decade our attention has been captured by emerging chemical contaminants (ECCs) with the potential for impacting groundwater. These include methyl-tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), perchlorate (ClO4–), “hexavalent” chromium [Cr(VI)], N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), and 1,4-dioxane. Such earlier investigated ECCs are now referred to as “post” emergent or “old” ECCs and parameters have been established for definition as post-emergent ECC. “New” emergent EECs include: (1) Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs), with hundreds if not thousands of complex chemicals; (2) nanomaterials including those derived from geogenic (natural) and anthropogenic sources; (3) platinum group metals (PGMs), which are being emitted in increasing quantities by erosion of automobile catalytic converters and may be impacting groundwater in urban and suburban areas, and (4) prions (misfolded proteins) that are environmentally persistent and recalcitrant and are responsible for amyloidal diseases including bovine spongiform enthalopathy (BSE) or “mad cow disease”. These and other potential ECCs will be discussed in detail.

SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY

Bill Motzer, Ph.D., PG has 31 years of experience as a Professional Geologist and more than 22 years of experience in conducting surface, subsurface, and environmental forensic geochemical investigations. He is a recognized expert in forensic geochemistry, with particular expertise in stable and other isotopic “fingerprinting” and age dating techniques and water quality/contaminant geochemistry, particularly in MTBE, NDMA, PPCPs, perchlorate, Cr(VI), arsenic, lead, mercury, and nitrate issues. Dr. Motzer has conducted more than 400 projects throughout California and other western states for realtors, lending institutions, attorneys, private corporations, water districts, municipalities, and state agencies. In addition, Dr. Motzer has 10 years experience as a minerals/mining exploration geologist, specializing in base and precious metal deposits and has been retained as an expert witness for mine litigation issues. He has contributed to several book chapters and is the author of numerous journal articles. Bill served as San Francisco Bay Branch President from 2007 through 2008; he regularly contributes articles to the GRA’s publication HydroVisons, and is also co-chair of GRA’s Technical Committee. He was recently elected as Vice President for the International Society of Environmental Geochemistry and Health (2010-2011). He is Vice Chair/Programs (2009-2010) for the Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration (SME), and is a contributing editor for the California Section of American Chemical Society newsletter The Vortex.


LOCATION

Spenger's - Fresh Fish Grotto
1919 Fourth Street, Berkeley, CA 94710
510-845-7771


DIRECTIONS

From San Francisco and points south:
- Take I880 to I80 east towards Berkeley/Sacramento.
- Take University Avenue off-ramp and stay in your right lane.
- Follow the Fourth Street/Frontage Road signs.
- Turn right on Hearst Street and go 3 blocks to Fourth Street and turn right.
- Spenger's will be on the left and guest parking is to the right.

From points north:
- Take I80 towards Berkeley and exit at University Avenue and keep right.
- You will pass over the highway and at the first stoplight, Sixth Street, turn left.
- Take the first left at Hearst Street.
- Go 2 blocks and turn left again on Fourth Street.
- Spenger's will be on the left and guest parking is to the right.

From points east:
- Take Highway I680 to Highway 24 and Highway 24 to Highway I580.
- Head west on I580 West following the signs to Berkeley/Sacramento.
- Take the University Avenue off-ramp and stay in your right lane.
- Follow the Fourth Street/Frontage Road signs.
- Turn right on Hearst Street and go 3 blocks to Fourth Street and turn right.
- Spenger's will be on the left and guest parking is to the right.

TIMES
5:30 - 6:30 -- No-Host Social and Registration
6:30 - 7:30 -- Dinner and Announcements
7:45 - 8:30 -- Keynote Speakers
8:30 - 8:45 -- Questions and Answers

DINNER CHOICES
Vegetarian – Pasta Primavera with Fresh sautéed Seasonal Vegetables
Meat – Grilled Chicken Breast Piccata with Fresh Seasonal Vegetables
Fish – Cedar Roasted Atlantic Salmon with Northwest Berry Sauce and Vegetables
Dinner includes mixed greens salad with Balsamic vinaigrette, rolls, butter, coffee or tea

DINNER COSTS
$35 for members
$40 for non members
$20 for students

Please pay on-line by credit card or at the door either by cash or checks payable to: GROUNDWATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION (GRA). If you pay on line by credit card, please check in at the door with David Abbott so that we can get an accurate count.

RSVP REQUIRED
Please submit electronic reservation by 12 PM (Noon) ***Friday, May 14, 2010***


SUBMIT RSVP -- http://www.grac.org/reservation

CANCELLATION POLICY: GRA will accept cancellations with no charge until 12:00 PM (Noon) on Friday, May 14, 2010. At that time, we must submit a final headcount to Spenger’s and we will be charged accordingly. If you cancel after that time, or are a no-show, we will ask you to pay the cost of your meals. Thank you for your cooperation.

If you have any announcements or questions, please contact the Branch President, Jim Jacobs (jimjacobs@ebsinfo.com) at 415-381-5195 or Branch Treasurer, David Abbott (dabbott@toddengineers) at 510 747-6920 X103.



Announcing Scholastic Sponsorship Opportunities
All Proceeds to Benefit Science Students


GRA San Francisco Branch is interested in supporting university science students. Our Scholastic Sponsorship Program is an opportunity to publicize your business while contributing toward a good cause. Your sponsorship will be acknowledged in the announcement (see below), at the meeting, and space will be provided for a small display and brochures. The cost is minimal; if interested, please contact John Karachewski at 510-540-4121 or jkarache@dtsc.ca.gov for additional information.

Our May Scholarship Sponsor is Blaine Tech Services (BLAINE TECH):
Blaine Tech Services, Inc. (BLAINE TECH) is a Certified Woman Owned company that specializes in groundwater monitoring and sampling. Related field services include well development and wellhead maintenance and repair.

BLAINE TECH serves as a dependable subcontractor to a large base of corporations and environmental consultants, performing groundwater sampling services on all types of remediation sites including solvent release sites, retail fuel sites, perchlorate impacted sites, landfills, refineries, bulk fuel terminals, chemical plants, pipeline facilities, DOD, DOE, DTSC & CERCLA sites.

Offices in Seattle, Sacramento, San Jose, Los Angeles and San Diego provide coverage throughout the West Coast.

25 years of consistent leadership in quality, cost, performance and safety has made BLAINE TECH a recognized resource within the environmental industry.

Visit us at www.blainetech.com.

Francis Thie
Vice President

Blaine Tech Services, Inc.
1680 Rogers Avenue
San Jose, CA 95112

(408) 573-0555 x 201 office
(408) 639-2985 cell
(408) 573-7771 fax


DISCLAIMER: The Groundwater Resources Association of California (GRA) makes available certain forums, including its publications, conferences, seminars, internet sites, webcasts, and audiocasts, through which information may be presented. Information presented may relate to controversial issues, and authors, presenters and contributors of such information are given full opportunity to express their individual interpretations and opinions. Statements of fact and opinions expressed are those of author, presenter or contributor, and, unless expressly stated to the contrary, are not necessarily the opinions or positions of the GRA, its Board of Directors, or its members. The GRA does not endorse or approve, assumes no responsibility for, and expressly disclaims liability for, any errors or omissions as to the content, accuracy or completeness of the information presented. No warranty of any kind, implied or expressed, or statutory, is given with respect to the information presented or its references to other resources. The information presented in these forums is intended for informational purposes only and should not be relied on in lieu of independent professional judgment. Reference within the information presented to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm or corporation name is for the purposes of information and convenience, and does not constitute endorsement, recommendation or favoring by the GRA, its Board of Directors, or its members.
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