What is MSECA?
The Midwestern States Environmental Consultants Association (MSECA) was founded in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2009 as a technical association focusing on site characterization, remediation and closure. MSECA’s mission includes two specific components: 1) educating the membership and 2) providing technical assistance to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) during development of policy and guidance.

MSECA currently operates only in Indiana. However, MSECA’s goal is to ultimately operate in 13 Midwestern states. Active MSECA members include companies that provide environmental consulting services. Associate memberships are available to companies that provide goods and services to environmental consultants such as laboratories, drillers, excavators, etc.

What spurred the idea of starting MSECA?
The idea was proposed during my involvement as a board member of the Indiana Petroleum Environmental Contractors Association (IPECA). IPECA was initially comprised of petroleum equipment contractors but over recent years, the environmental consulting members outnumbered the contractor members. Additionally, while IPECA focused on petroleum, the environmental consulting members had a desire to include other contaminants and regulatory programs in the association.            

The need for a technical association like MSECA was heightened because of the changes occurring in Indiana. One of our first projects is assisting IDEM with their updating and re-writing of the Risk Integrated System of Closure (RISC) Technical Guide. MSECA is also assisting IDEM as they develop and implement policy and guidance related to House Bill (HEA) 1162, enacted in 2009. This Bill requires IDEM to consider risk-based solutions for closure. MSECA’s involvement with these projects allows our association direct input on the approach IDEM takes to these important developments.

What is your role?
I serve as the current, and first, president of MSECA. This first term is scheduled to last three years. My initial responsibilities include establishing a Board of Directors, finalizing association bylaws, establishing a structure for growth and developing a strong relationship with IDEM.

I have had several meetings with upper management at IDEM and have been very pleased with their desire to work with MSECA. To date, IDEM has been very complimentary of the technical assistance MSECA has provided and as a result, IDEM has been very generous of their time and knowledge as evidenced by their involvement in our Association Meetings. I would like to specifically point out the contributions from Ms. Laura Steadham, Branch Chief - Office of Land Quality/Science Services Branch and Mr. Bruce Oertel, Branch Chief - Office of Land Quality/Remediation Services Branch. Both Laura and Bruce have been very generous with their time, supportive of MSECA and a pleasure to work with. I am planning to meet with regulators in Ohio and Michigan in hopes of developing similar relationships.

What are the benefits of MSECA Membership for August Mack?
In addition to my involvement as MSECA President, other August Mack employees have been involved through Committees and Focus Groups. This involvement has provided us valuable insights and technical knowledge regarding existing and future policy and guidance. We share this information through internal continuing education so that all August Mack employees benefit technically. I am confident that August Mack’s involvement with MSECA is also improving our credibility and working relationship with IDEM. This improved technical expertise and enhanced relationship with IDEM will help us obtain closures in a more efficient and cost effective manner and ultimately benefit all of our clients.

What is your vision for the future of MSECA?
In keeping with our Mission Statement, we must continue to strengthen our relationship with IDEM and continue to provide them with the technical expertise they expect from our association. We must also continue to improve our sharing of technical information to the MSECA Membership. As MSECA President, I would like all MSECA members to gain technical expertise from the association as August Mack has. This will be accomplished through sharing of information during our quarterly Association Meetings.

Now that we have a strong presence in Indiana, I would like to finalize our structure for growth and visit the appropriate environmental agencies in surrounding states to facility growth outside Indiana. I see this growth initially taking place in Ohio and Michigan during 2010. I am currently working with the August Mack office in Dublin Ohio to schedule a meeting with the Ohio EPA to gauge interest. My thoughts at this time is to then grow into about two states per year until we cover the 13 state region we have slated for MSECA presence.   

How does involvement in MSECA benefit relationships with regulatory agencies?
My level of involvement gives unique insight to closure options and processes as well as various risk-based closure approaches. Our MSECA involvement has also greatly increased our credibility with and access to IDEM personnel. Overall, MSECA is offering IDEM technical information in a wide variety of areas related to cleanup and closure. Our hope is that this sharing of technical information will help IDEM efficiently and effectively formulate sound and practical policy and guidance.

Overall, August Mack has greatly improved credibility with IDEM by further nurturing an already great working relationship. This relationship will ultimately benefit our clients in many ways.

For more information on MSECA, please either contact Michael directly or visit the MSECA Web site at www.MSECA.org.