New England Regional Lead and Healthy Housing Conference
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Two general sessions and concurrent educational tracks focusing on regional and national regulatory and programmatic issues impacting state and local public health and housing departments, lead inspectors and risk assessors, and advocacy organizations.
Schedule and Session Descriptions
Thursday, May 2, 2024
Two General Sessions focusing on ways in which new and pending regional and national regulatory and programmatic issues can impact state and local public health and housing departments, lead inspectors and risk assessors, lead abatement firms, advocacy and outreach organizations and lead laboratories.
First General Session
The Envio Ballroom
Moderator: Kate Kirkwood, K Kirkwood Consulting, Sullivan County, NH
Welcoming Remarks
Elizabeth McKenna, Special Assistant for Policy and Projects, Office of United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire
Issue #1: Lowering of Blood Lead Levels by States within the Region
Impact on public health programs, education and outreach strategies, and health advocates.
Participants: Beverly Baer Drouin, Knatalie Vetter (NH DHHS); Kimberly Ploszaj (CT DPH); Amy Danielson, Kelly Lamonda (VT DH); John Bucci, Sandy Moody (ME DEP); Michael Weakley, Michael Flanagan (MA DLS); Terry Howard (MA DPH); Ryan Leech (Woonsocket, RI); Judah Boulet (RI DOH).
Issue #2: EPA's proposed rule on Dust Lead Hazard Standards and Dust Lead Post-Abatement Clearance Levels
Consequences on public programs and on lead inspections, remediations and clearance requirements and costs.
Participants: Emma Rutin (EPA Region 1); Tom Neltner (Unleaded Kids); Ron Peik (Alpine Environmental); Mike Sharp (Janus Corporation); Mickey Laskey (American Environmental Testing Services); Doug Jones (Above the Rest Inspections).
Lunch Buffet Provided
Second General Session
The Envio Ballroom
Issue #3: Similarities and Differences among the New England States regulations and how they conduct lead and healthy housing programs.
Participants: Beverly Baer Drouin, Knatalie Vetter (NH); Kimberly Ploszaj (CT); Amy Danielson, Kelly Lamonda (VT); John Bucci, Sandy Moody (ME); Michael Weakley, Michael Flanagan (MA DLS); Terry Howard (MA DPH); Ryan Leech (Woonsocket, RI); Judah Boulet (RI).
Issue #4: Lead and Healthy Housing Achievements and Challenges in New England
Including Effectiveness of Federal Grants and Federal Enforcement Strategies, and HUD's new grant application process.
Participants: Tom Neltner (Unleaded Kids); Michelle Miller (HUD); Julian Long (City of Nashua, NH); Paul Chalifour (NH Housing); Chelcie Pinsonneault (Manchester, NH); Derek Ferland (Sullivan County, NH); Esther Figueroa (Hartford, CT).
Presentation on MA's "One-Stop Application"
Michael Flanagan, Director, MA Department of Labor Standards
Networking Reception and Exhibit Viewing
The Envio Ballroom Foyer
Friday, May 3, 2024
Two Concurrent Educational Tracks
Educational Track on Lead Poisoning Prevention and Lead Hazard Control Issues (Envio B/C)
Moderator: Kate Kirkwood, K Kirkwood Consulting, Sullivan County, NH
- Part 1: Effect on state and local lead poisoning prevention programs on EPA proposed guidance that lowered recommended screening levels and strengthened guidance for cleaning up lead-contaminated soil. Presenter: Tom Neltner, Unleaded Kids, Washington, DC
- Part 2: Results of the Needed Lead Law Conference and Project. Presenter: Richard "Rick" Reibstein, Professor, Boston University
- Part 3: Empowering families to prevent pervasive lead exposure when abatement and relocation are not immediate options. Presenter: Marta Kostecki, Regional Lead Treatment Center, New Haven, CT
- Part 4: Strategies for reaching at-risk populations, including refugee and migrant groups. Presenters: Gail Gettens (NH DHHS); Katie Hatcher, Public Health Nurse, Nashua; Katerina Liti, Urban Programs/Program Coordinator, Nashua, NH
Educational Track on Healthy Housing Issues (Envio A)
Moderator: Mike Sharp, Senior Safety Officer, Janus Corporation, Concord, CA
- Parts 1 and 2: Identifying indoor environmental health and safety hazards and determining remediation strategies (two-hour workshop). Presenter: Mike Sharp, Janus Corporation
- Part 3: Abatement for housing rehabilitation programs and navigating the regulatory requirements. Presenter: Michelle DeGarmo, President, Flatley Read, Inc.
Buffet Lunch Provided
Two Concurrent Educational Tracks
Lead Poisoning Prevention and Lead Hazard Control (Envio B/C)
Moderator: Kate Kirkwood
- Part 1: Strategies for engaging local code officials. Presenters: Cecilia Muela (4Leaf, Inc.); Nelson Ortega, Julian Long (Nashua, NH); Bob Veno (Rochester, NH)
- Part 2: Safe Water in Schools: NH's new law and other states' policies on lead in schools' drinking water. Presenters: John Rumpler (Environment America); Ian Atwell (NH Department of Environmental Services)
- Part 3: Lessons learned from NH's Residential Market Survey for accessing housing data and engaging landlords. Presenters: Kate Kirkwood; Alexsandra Galanis (New Hampshire Housing)
- Part 4: The new approach for issuing HUD's Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes Grants. Presenter: Tom Neltner, Unleaded Kids
Healthy Housing Issues (Envio A)
Moderator: Mike Sharp
- Part 1: Strategies for improving living conditions for migrant families. Presenters: Leah Bradley (Central MA Housing Alliance); James Brooks (Worcester Housing Development and Healthy Homes)
- Part 2: Improving ventilation in commercial and residential buildings. Presenter: Robert Powitz, R.W. Powitz & Associates, Old Saybrook, CT
- Part 3: Neighborhood Environmental Assessments and Restoration (NEAR) Project – collaborative approach for healthy homes in Hartford. Presenter: Esther Figueroa, Children's Office of Community Child Health, Hartford, CT
- Part 4: Manchester Initiative: Enforcement and Outreach. Presenter: Molly Magoon, EPA Region 1
- Part 5: How to save money on construction while complying with the new federal hazards and clearance lead in dust levels. Presenter: Mike Sharp, Janus Corporation
Conference Presenters and Exhibiting Organizations
Conference Presenters
Ian Atwell
Lead in Schools and Child Care Facilities Program Manager
Drinking Water and Groundwater Bureau, NH Department of Environmental Services
Concord, NH
Judah Boulet
CLPPP Development Chief
RI Department of Health
Providence, RI
Leah Bradley
Chief Executive Officer
Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc.
Worcester, MA
James Brooks
Director
Worcester Housing Development and Healthy Homes
Worcester, MA
John Bucci
OHMS III Bureau of Remediation and Waste Management
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Augusta, ME
Paul Chalifour
Program Manager – Lead Program
New Hampshire Housing
Bedford, NH
Amy Danielson
Asbestos and Lead Regulatory Program Manager
Vermont Department of Health
Waterbury, VT
Michelle DeGarmo
President
Flatley Read, Inc.
Schuylerville, NY
Beverly Baer Drouin
Section Administrator
Healthy Homes and Environment Section, NH Department of Health and Human Services
Concord, NH
Derek Ferland
Sullivan County Manager
Sullivan County, NH
Sullivan County, NH
Esther Figueroa
Program Manager
CT Children's Office of Community Child Health, Healthy Homes Program
Hartford, CT
Michael Flanagan
Director
MA Department of Labor Standards
Boston, MA
Alexsandra Galanis
Manager, Research and Data Analytics
New Hampshire Housing
Manchester, NH
Gail Gettens
Child Development Specialist, Health Communications Coordinator
NH DHHS/Division of Public Health Services
Concord, NH
Katie Hatcher
Public Health Nurse – Lead Coordinator
Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services
Nashua, NH
Terry Howard
Deputy Director
Bureau of Climate and Environmental Health, MA Department of Public Health
Canton, MA
Doug Jones
Risk Assessor/Lead Inspector and Contractor
Above the Rest Inspections, New England Restoration
New England
Kate Kirkwood
Consultant
K Kirkwood Consulting
Sullivan County, NH
Marta Kostecki
Regional Lead Treatment Center
Regional Lead Treatment Center
New Haven, CT
Kelly Lamonda
Healthy Homes Program Manager
Vermont Department of Health
Waterbury, VT
Warren (Mickey) Laskey
Licensed Lead Risk Assessor
American Environmental Testing Services of New England
Bedford, NH
Ryan Leech
Director of Housing and Community Development
Woonsocket, RI
Woonsocket, RI
Katerina Liti
Urban Programs/Program Coordinator
Nashua Community Development
Nashua, NH
Julian Long
Urban Programs Manager
City of Nashua
Nashua, NH
Molly Magoon
Environmental Protection Specialist and Inspector
EPA Region 1
Boston, MA
Elizabeth McKenna
Special Assistant for Policy and Projects
Office of United States Senator Jeanne Shaheen
Concord, NH
Michelle Miller
Deputy Director
HUD Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes
Washington, DC
Sandy Moody
Environmental Specialist
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Augusta, ME
Cecilia Muela
Director of Code Enforcement
4Leaf, Inc.
Pleasanton, CA
Tom Neltner
National Director
Unleaded Kids
Washington, DC
Nelson Ortega
Code Enforcement Manager
Code Enforcement Department, Nashua, NH
Nashua, NH
Ron Peik
President
Alpine Environmental
Chelmsford, MA
Chelcie Pinsonneault
Lead Program Manager
Planning and Community Development, Manchester, NH
Manchester, NH
Kimberly Ploszaj
Supervising Environmental Analyst
Connecticut Department of Public Health, Childhood Lead Poisoning Program
Hartford, CT
Robert W. Powitz
Forensic Sanitarian
R.W. Powitz & Associates
Old Saybrook, CT
Richard Reibstein
Professor
Boston University
Boston, MA
John Rumpler
Clean Water Director
Environment America
Boston, MA
Emma Rutin
RCRA Waste Management and Lead Branch
Land, Chemicals and Redevelopment Division, EPA Region 1
Boston, MA
Mike Sharp
Senior Safety Officer
Janus Corporation
Concord, CA
Bob Veno
Health Inspector
Rochester, NH
Rochester, NH
Knatalie Vetter
Environmental Supervisor
Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, NH Department of Health and Human Services
Concord, NH
Michael Weakley
Supervisor, Lead and Asbestos Enforcement & Licensing
MA Department of Labor Standards
Lawrence, MA
Exhibiting Organizations
Absolute Resources Associates
Environmental Hazards Services LLC
Fluoro-Spec Inc.
Lead-EDU
Lead and Environmental Hazards Association
NH Healthy Homes and Lead Poisoning Prevention Programs
New Hampshire Housing
Sci-Aps Inc.
Viken Detection
Thank You
Attendees & Participants
The 2024 New England Regional Lead and Healthy Housing Conference has successfully concluded. We extend our sincere gratitude to all attendees, speakers, presenters, and participants whose engagement and contributions made this event a resounding success.
Sponsors & Partners
We express our deep appreciation to our generous sponsors and partners whose invaluable support was essential in bringing this conference to life. Your commitment to advancing lead poisoning prevention and healthy housing initiatives drives meaningful change.
We hope you found the sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities valuable. We look forward to continuing this important work together and invite you to join us at our upcoming conferences as we advance the mission of creating safer, healthier living environments for all communities.
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