Project Title: Updates on Environmental Monitoring
Project Author: Mario Castaneda (GateWay)
Abstract: Write a concise summary with descriptive information about your project, location, time span, your relationship to it, etc. Include specific information-- since you have completed your project, your knowledge is valuable and can be shared with your colleagues.
I spent 20 hours as a part-time intern with the Arizona Department of Health Services State Laboratory and indirectly 24 hours with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality in Phoenix, AZ during the week of May 22-26, 2006 and June 5-9, 2006 to learn about the new sampling and analytical techniques developed to detect emerging contaminants in water. I learned how these contaminants are being analyzed and observed the quality assurance and quality control involved with these new analytical methodologies. Also, I attended the USEPA-sponsored national forum in Washington DC during the week of May 16-18, 2006. The Forum highlighted the relationship between our environment and public health, and included discussions on issues as diverse as the impact of understanding the human genome and the impacts of the built environment.
I attended an USGS Data Conference in Louisville, Kentucky on June 13-15, 2006. This workshop was attended by field hydrologic technicians performing the water monitoring activities in the eastern part of the US. I learned about the new and emerging monitoring technologies for determining the emerging contaminants in water and attended several workshops within the conference to learn to use the latest monitoring equipment and to learn new software being used by the USGS on field data management.
Outcomes: In a paragraph or two describe what worked well. Did you accomplish your objective(s)? Were you able to complete your summer project as written? If not, what did you modify and why? What did not go as well as expected, if anything? Were there any surprises? Note: Use the questions as guides for your outcomes. Do not include detailed list of workshops attended, speakers who presented, or a list of items you have seen, heard, or read.
I was able to complete my internship with the State Laboratory and accomplish my objectives set for the summer project. In addition, I was able to attend both conferences with the USEPA and USGS. These events gave me the opportunity to visualize the emerging issues related to water contamination that communities are starting to face. As new and emerging contaminants are being found in the environment, the regulations and the monitoring methodologies change and scientist (and faculty) are also obligated to be kept updated on the regulations, monitoring strategies, and methodologies to address these changes.
However, I had to modify my schedule with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality. I was not able to meet face to face with some of the representatives from this agency. We had phone communications only. The agency went through an organizational change and the departments or sections identified during my Summer Project proposal either were eliminated or re-organized. I did, however, communicated with the ADEQ Volunteer Monitoring Program to learn about the approach that the volunteer groups in Arizona are taking to understand these contaminants. I was able to continue with our program agreement with the State Agency to provide maintenance to the field equipment used by these groups. I was able to complete the research part of my project proposal and spent more time calibrating the field equipment back at GateWay to replace the missing project hours.
Professional Growth: Your own professional growth is a large part of your project. Your professional growth is important to you, your students, your college, and possibly other colleagues. How did project affect you professionally? What skills did you learn? What environments were you working in and how might your summer project influence your teaching or other responsibilities? Did you gain a different perspective? Was it professionally valuable for you?
I benefited from this project by learning and interacting with colleagues on current national environmental issues. The three-day national forum hosted by the USEPA Federal Agency was attended by national renowned experts, scientists or other member of the scientific community, Member of Congress or Congressional staff, colleagues from another Federal or State Agency. This experience gave me the opportunity to meet and exchange my views and opinions with peers. As stated above, environmental regulations are constantly changing. My teaching discipline is water resources and several of the courses that I teach require me to be aware and up to date on these issues. The three-day workshop with the USGS provided me with the knowledge about new monitoring methodologies for water containing these emerging contaminants. Monitoring equipment is continuously changing due to changes in technology. The USGS Data Conference was also attended by USGS vendors that have the latest water monitoring technology and field equipment. I was offered to continue visiting the Arizona State Lab as part of my academic activities to expose our program students to the lab technology. I will be taking my students to visit the lab. In addition, my interaction with the environmental state agency provided me with a local perspective on water quality volunteer monitoring. I am using that information to apply for an EPA grant this year so GateWay can be a key player in providing the training to the Arizona Water Quality Monitoring Volunteers. The state agency (ADEQ) will be supporting GateWay on this grant.
Dissemination: How will you share this information with your colleagues, department, students, or college?
As a result of my summer project, our Water Resources Program is receiving additional field equipment being donated by equipment vendors. This new equipment will be used in developing new program courses that will be offered at GateWay. Courses will be kept updated with current water monitoring technology. Also, our program is applying to an EPA national grant to provide training to the Arizona Water Quality Monitoring Volunteers. GateWay is teaming up with the University of Arizona Master Watershed Program on this goal. If the grant is approved, the grant will expose our program to state and national levels and will provide additional internships for our students. One component of the grant is for GateWay to lead the Arizona Water Quality Monitoring Council. Meetings will be held at GateWay for two years during the grant period (and more) to disseminate the water quality data gathered by the volunteers in Arizona. In addition, a new course is being developed specifically designed for the Arizona volunteers. Some of the volunteers taking this training might decide to enroll at our Associate Degree Program on Water Resources.
For more information about this project, check out the "package" in the Maricopa Learning eXchange:
http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/mlx/slip.php?item=01885