The Air & Waste Management Association’s Annual Conference & Exhibition, scheduled for June 26 -29 in Pittsburgh, will celebrate 100 years of environmental stewardship.

“A&WMA’s 100th Conference & Exhibition is a celebration of our membership – the scientists, engineers, regulators, academics, lawyers, and other professionals – whose work is often unsung when the we look back on a century of environmental progress,” said current A&WMA President, Tony van der Vooren. “These are the professionals who meet the complex environmental challenges facing us today. The kind of networking, education, and idea exchange fostered at A&WMA’s annual conference will inspire those future solutions.”

A&WMA’s 2007 conference and exhibition will open June 26 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, the world’s largest green building. Christine Todd Whitman, former administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and one-time governor of New Jersey, will keynote the event on June 28.

Also addressing the conference will be Carnegie Mellon University Professor Lester Lave, internationally renowned expert on the complex relationships between environmental issues and political economies. John Bachmann, recently retired from EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, will discuss the successes and failures of U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards in what promises to be a lively, interactive session.

Additionally, the conference agenda includes three days of professional development courses, a comprehensive technical program that looks at the latest on specific regulations, and opportunities to explore new developments, methodologies, and topic areas in the environmental business. Exhibit hall displays will provide a closer look at the world’s leading environmental products and services.

A&WMA traces its roots to the establishment of the International Association for the Prevention of Smoke, convened in 1907 by municipal smoke inspectors concerned about emissions from railroads and industry.

As early as 1916, the group advocated a national “Cleaner Air Week,” and in 1958, the Association expanded to include environmental professionals whose primary responsibilities included work with hazardous wastes. Today, A&WMA focuses on air quality, waste issues, and environmental management, and continues to expand its purview as the environmental profession evolves.

“Holding this conference in Pittsburgh, our headquarters city, will be a distinct reminder to attendees just how far we have come in environmental stewardship,” van der Vooren said. “We will certainly find inspiration in once-smoky Pittsburgh, which has been reborn through the growth and success of its environmental businesses and organizations.”

During the conference, the Association will unveil its “History of A&WMA” display, featuring a look back at key people and events that shaped A&WMA and the environmental profession over the past century. The exhibit will include original notes and drafts of the Clean Air Act, as well as photos and other documents of significance.

For more information, visit A&WMA’s 2007 Annual Conference & Exhibition webpage.

4/20/2007