By Michaela Burns

School’s out but EPA webinars are still in session! Check out a few of the upcoming open meetings and webinars we are hosting so that you can spend your summer with science.

Small Business Innovation Research Informational Webinar
Tuesday, June 14^th at 2:00 p.m. ET

Interested in how small businesses can get involved in environmental research and the development of innovative technologies? Check out the informational webinar on EPA’s 2015-2017 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I solicitation.  Attend to learn more about EPA’s SBIR program, this year’s solicitation topics, and how you can apply for an SBIR contract.  EPA SBIR program experts will be available to answer questions during a question & answer session following the presentation. Don’t wait to register!

Small Systems Webinar: Disinfection Byproducts Regulatory Issues and Solutions
Tuesday, June 14^th at 3:30 p.m. ET
*This webinar was originally scheduled for April 26^th

Gastrointestinal illnesses with symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, cramps can be caused by pathogens and viruses that are often found in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. This water must therefore be treated with disinfectant in order to be safe to drink. However, some disinfectants react with naturally-occurring materials in the water to form byproducts that are associated with health risks.

EPA environmental engineer Michael Finn will review the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule, a series of regulations aimed at limiting public exposure to these disinfectant byproducts. Jolyn Leslie, a regional engineer for the Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water, will discuss the challenges for small systems dealing with disinfectant byproducts in Washington State and the possible solutions.

Bonus—attendees may have the option of receiving a certificate for participating in this webinar. Register now!

Science Advisory Board Meeting for EPA’s Hydraulic Fracturing Drinking Water Study
Tuesday, June 14^th—Wednesday, June 15^th       

EPA’s chartered Scientific Advisory Board is hosting a meeting today and tomorrow to discuss the Science Advisory Board’s Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel’s draft peer review report of EPA’s Hydraulic Fracturing Drinking Water Assessment.

The discussion will be webcasted. Here is the call-in information.

Non-Targeted Chemical Exposure Screening
Thursday, June 23^rd at 11 a.m. ET 

This month’s Computational Toxicology Communities of Practice Meeting webinar is focusing on non-targeted chemical exposure screening. Most exposure sampling techniques are designed to test for a specific chemical that is suspected to be present. EPA researchers are developing “Non-Targeted Screening” methods to test indoor environmental samples for all chemicals present in the home. Contact Monica Linnenbrink (linnenbrink.monica@epa.gov) to register and learn more.

Revised Total Coliform Rule for Small Systems
Tuesday, June 28^th at 2:00 p.m. ET

Attend this Small Systems webinar to learn about the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR). Mark Verbsky of Ohio EPA will provide a brief glimpse into Ohio EPA’s experience with implementing the rule in Ohio. Cindy Mack of EPA Office of Water will discuss the federal RTCR requirements applicable to small systems serving 1,000 or fewer persons. She will also address sampling requirements and events that trigger a level 1 or level 2 assessment along with the actions public water systems should take. Register now for the webinar.

Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Source and Treated Drinking Water
Wednesday, June 29^th at 2:00 p.m. ET

Tune into this month’s water research webinar to hear about contaminants of emerging concern, a term which encompasses a vast array of chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, perfluoroalkyl substances, and surfactants, as well as microorganisms such as Mycobacteria and Legionella.

Scientists from EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey have collaborated on a study examining the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern in source water and treated drinking water. Dr. Susan Glassmeyer, lead researcher on the project, will discuss the chemical and microbial contaminants measured in the study, and examine the implications for aquatic life and human health. Register now to stay informed.

Air Quality Monitoring and Community Science
Wednesday, June 29^th at 3:00 p.m. ET

Want to know which low-cost air sensors can best serve your community? Look out for this month’s EPA Tools and Resources Webinar discussing EPA’s online Air Sensor Toolbox. This tool provides a one-stop place for information and guidance on how to evaluate the performance of air sensors available in the marketplace, what to consider before conducting an air monitoring project, and what others are doing to monitor air quality.

Register to hear EPA’s Ron Williams present research that is advancing the development and evaluation of air sensor technology and helping communities learn more about their air quality.

Integrated Risk Information System Public Science Meeting
Wednesday, June 29^th—Thursday, June 30^th

The Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program is hosting an event to get input from the scientific community and the public on the draft assessments of tert-Butyl Alcohol (tert-Butanol) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), two substances that pose a risk to human health. Register by June 20^th to attend the IRIS public science meeting at the EPA Conference Center in Arlington, Virginia. Register by June 24^th to attend via webinar.

For more events, head on over to the EPA research event page.

About the Author: Michaela Burns is an Oak Ridge Associated Universities contractor and writer for the science communication team in EPA’s Office of Research and Development.