Basin Chapter (GBC) of the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) was formed
in 1990 to improve environmental knowledge and decisions by providing a neutral
forum for exchanging information. Our founders conceived the GBC at Diamond Lil’s
Restaurant in Salt Lake City on February 28, 1990. From the beginning, our focus has
been on providing a forum for discussion, education, and networking on technical
issues related to environmental management in the intermountain west. The A&WMA
GBC was formally chartered on August 20, 1990. Along with the New Mexico Chapter,
the GBC is part of the A&WMA Rocky Mountain States Section (RMSS). Our members are
environmental professionals from government, industry, consulting, academic, legal
and other professions.
Geographically, the GBC includes the entire state of Utah and the southwestern corner
of Wyoming. The eastern Nevada area was once part of the GBC but broke off to be
part of the Eastern Sierra Chapter when the Nevada Section was formed.
The GBC has affiliation with A&WMA Student Chapters at Utah State University
(chartered in 1992) and at the University of Utah (chartered in 1993).
In addition to organizing and hosting events such a lunch meetings with notable
speakers and industry technical tours to benefit GBC members, the GBC has a long
track record of success bringing A&WMA international activities to Utah. The first was
the International Aerosol and Atmospheric Optics Specialty Conference bringing
experts from around the world to Snowbird in September 1994. Between 1995 and
1999, the GBC hosted A&WMA Workshops about Clean Air Act Operating Permits (Title
V), Compliance Assurance Monitoring, and New Source Review. Our biggest adventure
was hosting the A&WMA premier event, the Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE),
June 19-21, 2000.
The GBC was selected to host the A&WMA 93rd ACE in June 1995, just a few days
following Salt Lake City’s selection as the site for the Olympic Winter Games of 2002.
Interestingly, Mitt Romney, Chairman of the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee,
gave a Special Feature Presentation about the Olympic environmental program at the
93rd ACE. The theme of our conference was “Celebrating Our Sustainable Future.” The
keynote address was delivered by the Honorable Maurice F. Strong, one of the world’s
most respected environmentalists. The critical review of combustion aerosols and
implications for human health was presented by University of Utah Professors JoAnn
Lighty and Adel Sarofim.
In the late 1990’s the international A&WMA faced severe financial challenges. Every
effort was put into making the ACE in Salt Lake City a wonderful experience for
delegates and a financial success. The future of the A&WMA was at stake. The GBC
local host committee and the new A&WMA Executive Director and staff
rose to the occasion and gave 110%. The result was a very successful conference in
every respect. Our Salt Lake City conference marked a turning point in the near 100
year history of the international A&WMA. We are very proud of that accomplishment.
Following passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the GBC hosted, in
conjunction with Utah Bar Association, A&WMA and EPA annual “Implementing the
Clean Air Act” satellite broadcasts. More recently, the GBC has regularly hosted
A&WMA audio web casts on a variety of timely environmental management topics.
For a small A&WMA member unit with about 100 international members, the GBC has
made a notable contribution to the leadership of the international A&WMA.
The GBC has always recognized achievement by environmental science and
engineering students. In the mid- 1990’s, the GBC and the RMSS sponsored student
poster competitions with the winners financially supported to attend the A&WMA ACE.
In recent years, we have awarded scholarships to deserving undergraduate and
graduate students.
The GBC has a strong record of supporting A&WMA’s Environmental Resource Guide
(ERG) concept. Over the years, we have held numerous ERG teacher training
workshops and worked with the Utah Society for Environmental Education to map the
ERG content to Utah curriculum making ERG use easier for Utah K-12 educators. Our
University of Utah Student Chapter designed, assembled, and distributed to Utah High
Schools ERG experiment kits giving students all the resources needed to conduct
environmental projects outlined in the ERGs.
Today, the Great Basin Chapter of A&WMA is one of several chapters in the Rocky Mountain
States Section. We continue to value all that A&WMA offers environmental professionals
in the intermountain west. Benefit to our members is our highest priority.
