Conference Agenda
Day 1- Wednesday, June 14th
8:00-8:15 Breakfast and registration
8:15-9:00 Welcome and Introduction to the Conference and overview of PFASs and the challenges of communities (as breakfast continues)
Phil Brown (Northeastern University
Laurel Schaider (Silent Spring Institute)
Sylvia Broude (Toxics Action Center)
9:00-9:45 Keynote Address
Linda Birnbaum (Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences)
Introduction by Michelle Dalton (Testing for Pease)
9:45-10:30 Social and scientific discovery – The legal angle
Rob Bilott (Taft Law; counsel on DuPont litigation)
10:30-10:45 Break
10:45-11:25 Social and scientific discovery – The national organization level
Ken Cook (Environmental Working Group)
11:25-12:45 State of the science on PFASs
– Chaired by Courtney Carignan (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
Courtney Carignan (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
Alan Ducatman (West Virginia University)
Richard Clapp (University of Massachusetts-Lowell)
12:45-1:45 Lunch – this will include a separate room for community groups to discuss strategic planning
1:45-3:15 Community organizing (Military and airport sites)
– Chaired by Sylvia Broude (Toxics Action Center)
Andrea Amico (Testing for Pease – Portsmouth, NH)
Aaron Weed (Elected official for the town of Oscoda, Michigan) and Cindi Ashbeck (Michigan Contaminated Water Group Affecting Veterans/Civilians Worldwide)
Hope Grosse and Joanne Stanton (Warminster, PA)
Susan Gordon (Colorado Springs, CO)
3:15-3:30 Break
3:30-5:00 Source identification and drinking water treatment
– Chaired by Laurel Schaider (Silent Spring Institute)
Mark Ells (Town of Barnstable, MA)
Elsie Sunderland (Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Science)
Brandon Kernen (New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services)
Andrew Lindstrom (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Jason Galloway (Ohio State University)
5:00-6:00 Social and scientific discovery: Building a broad coalition around chemical classes
– Chaired by Alayna Davis (Testing for Pease)
Alissa Cordner (Whitman College)
Lauren Richter (Northeastern University)
Tony Fletcher (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)
6:00-8:00 Informal networking dinner – options will be available at your own cost
Day 2- Thursday, June 15th
8:00-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-10:00 Scientists working with communities
– Chaired by Dick Clapp (University of Massachusetts-Lowell)
Edward Emmett (University of Pennsylvania)
Courtney Carignan (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
Laurel Schaider (Silent Spring Institute)
Frank Bove (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry)
10:00-10:15 Break
10:15-11:45 Role of local, state, and federal agencies
– Chaired by Alissa Cordner (Whitman College)
Alyssa Schuren (formerly Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation)
Fardin Oliaei (DST Health Solutions; formerly Minnesota Pollution Control Agency)
Christina Bush (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services)
Sue Manente (Michigan Department of Health and Human Services)
11:45-12:45 Lunch
12:45-2:15 Community organizing (Industrial sites)
– Chaired by Shaina Kasper (Toxics Action Center)
Joe Kiger (Keep Your Promises DuPont)
Silvia Potter (Hoosick Falls, NY)
Tracy Carluccio (Delaware Riverkeeper Network)
Laurene Allen (Citizens for Clean Water in Merrimack – Merrimack, NH)
2:15-3:30 Local and investigative media coverage
– Chaired by Michelle Dalton (Testing for Pease)
Sharon Lerner (The Intercept)
Callie Lyons (author of Stain-Resistant, Nonstick, Waterproof, and Lethal: The Hidden Dangers of C8)
Mariah Blake (author of forthcoming Welcome to Parkersburg)
Emily Corwin (New Hampshire Public Radio)
3:30-3:45 Break
3:45-5:00 Small Group Workshops
1) Is a Health Study Right for My Community?
Dick Clapp (University of Massachusetts-Lowell)
Greg Howard (Environmental Health Consultant)
2) Legal Considerations for Impacted Communities
Gary Davis (Davis & Whitlock, PC; class action lawyer on PFAS in Bennington, VT, and Decatur, AL)
Ken Rumelt (Vermont Law School Environmental and Natural Resources Law Clinic)
Kevin Hannon (class action lawyer on PFAS in Merrimack NH)
Lizzie Tischer
3) How to Build Positive Relationships with Legislators
Rep. Mindi Messmer (New Hampshire State Representative District 24)
Senator Brian Campion (Vermont General Assembly – Bennington County)
4) Beyond Water: Retailer and Manufacturer Action on PFASs in Consumer Products
Laurel Schaider (Silent Spring Institute)
Arlene Blum (Green Science Policy Institute)
5) Effective Strategies for Engaging with Media
Kyle Bagenstose and Jenny Wagner (Bucks County Courier Times)
6) How Health Professionals Can Help Affected Communities
Alan Ducatman (West Virginia University)
7) Scientist Discussion of Coordinated Health Studies for Exposed Communities
Courtney Carignan (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health)
5:00-5:30 Closing comments and future directions
Alissa Cordner (Whitman College)
Andrea Amico (Testing for Pease)
Shaina Kasper (Toxics Action Center)
Arlene Blum (Green Science Policy Institute)