NPPR fall conference overview

[Natalie Roy <NatalieRoy@compuserve.com>]

NPPR Fall Conference Results
Against the beautiful backdrop of the Grand Canyon, NPPR held a very
productive fall meeting last week.  Thanks to all of the attendees who made
this meeting such a success.  This fall workgroup conference featured a
number of unique and interesting sessions including a special web-training
seminar sponsored by Greg Geyer and Parry Burnap from Terrachord Inc.  This
session held in the National Park Service's Albright Training Center's
impressive computer room, detailed P2 resources on the web as well as
techniques to utilize NPPR's website more effectively.  

The conference featured a P2 scavenger hunt-an EMS type exercise, which
paired National Park Service  (NPS) staff with NPPR conference attendees
into teams, to help identify creative P2 opportunities within park
operations. This was wildly successful, with NPS recognizing specific teams
for their unique contributions. The team of John Calcagni, WRRC, and Laura
Estes, MSU Extension Service, won first place for their extensive P2
suggestions. Denise Rayborn, NREL, and Andy Bray, NEWMOA placed second  for
their suggestions regarding NPS' waste water section.  The third place
team,  focusing on automotive services, was comprised of Kirk Mills,
Colorado DPHE, Ann Blake, California DTSC and Mark Johnson, LCRA.  All
three teams received wonderful prizes donated by Verkamps, a gift store
located in the Grand Canyon Village. NPPR will post all of the results of
the P2 scavenger hunt on the website within the next two weeks. 

A number of workgroups drafted very ambitious action plans. The
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) and Local Government workgroups
combined to develop a very comprehensive agenda, which includes drafting a
number of fact sheets on the topic for members.  The Sustainability and
International groups joined efforts to develop a process for soliciting
input on NPPR's draft white paper on Sustainability and P2-an outcome of
the World Summit in Johannesburg in South Africa. All workgroup details
will be posted on the websites workgroup pages as well as member site. 

There were a number of special presentations included one delivered by Jim
Kotsmith from 3M who detailed his company's EMS efforts. Tom Natan from the
National Environmental Trust also presented a very informative talk on
environmental security as well as gave an update on national chemical
safety legislation being discussed in congress. 

The meeting also featured special events including a terrific park ranger
interpretative talk on the Canyon Rim, an entertaining presentation by
Susie Verkamp, whose family was one of the first settlers in the Grand
Canyon, and an elaborate talk on dinosaurs by one of the park rangers. Gem
Car also donated the use of electric vehicles, which attendees used to
transport themselves all throughout the Grand Canyon village.  In addition
to the environmental benefits, these compact cars were tons of fun and easy
to use. All results plus pictures from the meeting will be posted on NPPR's
website later this week. 

Special thanks to Mike Schene, Steve Hastings, Craig Erikson and Marie
Zanowick from NPS and EPA for their hard work and generous hospitality in
hosting NPPR's fall meeting in one of the most beautiful places on earth. 
Natalie Roy
NPPR

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