2025 ECOS Fall Meeting

Environmental Inspiration in the Land of Enchantment

With its vibrant scenery and rich culture, Santa Fe served as the ideal backdrop for exploring ways to transform environmental protection. ECOS member agencies are embracing new and improved approaches on air, water, land, enforcement, and PFAS, even amid budget uncertainty. Beyond priority policy issues, this gathering spotlighted artificial intelligence (AI) uses, readiness, and impacts. An interactive Shark Tank showcased AI and other technological tools that states might employ to enhance permitting.

Materials

• Agenda (as of August 27)
• Attendee List
• Sponsor Posters

September 3

ECOS Oil & Gas Caucus (O&GC): Game-Changing Technologies in Water Reuse and Methane Detection & Mitigation

• NMED 50 Year Water Action Plan, Jim Kenney, New Mexico Environment Department
• Pathway to Risk-Based Reuse of Treated Produced Water, Matthias Sayer, Bradfute Sayer
• CalEPA Oil & Gas Studies, Scott Lichtig, California Environmental Protection Agency
• MethaneSAT and What’s Next, Jon Goldstein, Environmental Defense Fund
• Oxy Current Technology, Angel Zivkovich, Oxy

2025 State Program Innovation Awards in the AI & Technology Category

• Videos, State Program Innovation Award Nominees
• Winners:
  • Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality Beach Monitoring Innovations
  • New Mexico Environment Department Project Velocity for AI
• Honorable Mentions:
  • Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation GIS Dataset for Public Water System Service Areas
  • Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Technological Enhancements to On-Site Investigations

Roundtable & Open Discussion: AI at Work in Environmental Programs

• NMED Project Velocity: AI at Work in Environmental Programs, Meta Hirschl, New Mexico Environment Department
• Lessons in Illuminating Data for Actionable Intelligence, Alicia Keyes, Apaluma

Shark Tank & Live Vote on Technology Solutions in Environmental Permitting

• ESRI: Streamlining Permitting with the Science of Where, Sunny Fleming, Esri
• Deloitte: The Future of Permitting, Sue Frost & Rafi Lav, Deloitte
• ERG ‘Permit Improve’ Intelligent Management Platform for Regulators Video, Dan Connally & Liz Gorman, ERG
• SAS/Carollton/Pega Permitting Technology Demo Video, Julie Espy & Mark Lindgren, SAS/Carollton/Pega
• EY Permitting Technology Demo, Ted Bloechle & Ken Dircks, EY
• Apaluma Services and Data Protection, Alicia Keyes, Apaluma

September 4

ECOS Climate & Energy Workgroup – Strategies in Resilience & Adaptation

• Vermont Disasters and Resilience, Julie Moore, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources
• North Carolina Flood Resiliency Blueprint, Reid Wilson, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
• Resilient Communities & Infrastructure Projects, Phetmano Phannavong, AECOM

Roundtable & Open Discussion: The State of State Compliance & Enforcement

• Iowa Wastewater Treatment and Field Monitoring, Ed Tormey, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

2025 State Program Innovation Awards in the Environmental Programs & Agency Management Category

• Videos, State Program Innovation Award Nominees
• Winners:
  • Arizona Department of Environmental Quality Real Recyclers of Arizona: Waste Reduction with a Twist
  • Maryland Environment Department Wastewater Early Warning System
• Honorable Mentions:
  • Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment Video Series: From Workroom to Studio
  • Illinois Environmental Protection Agency Brownfields Remediation Program
  • Nebraska Department of Water, Energy, and Environment Waste & Litter Reduction Calendar Contest
  • New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Wildfire SMART Initiative
  • Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Stream, Wetland, & Nutrient (SWaN) Credit Trading Platform

Roundtable & Open Discussion: Hot Topics, Hot Takes from the ECOS Chairs

• Categorical Grants Budget Graphs, Jim Kenney, New Mexico Environment Department
• NextCycle Overview Video, Resource Recycling Systems

Roundtable & Open Discussion: Challenges & Considerations for PFAS Destruction & Disposal

• PFAS Resources, Karen Hyun, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• U.S. EPA ORD PFAS in Air Lab Research Video, Katrina Kessler, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Open Problem-Solving Discussion: Workforce Solutions amid Budget Woes

• Workforce Solutions and Budget Woes, Julie Moore, Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

Roundtable & Open Discussion: Water for All, Large & Small

• NAWC Utilities Information, Robert Powelson, National Association of Water Companies