About Us
Basin Chapter
The Basin Chapter (GBC) of the Air & Waste Management Association (A&WMA) was formed in 1990 to improve environmental knowledge and decisions by providing a neutral forum for exchanging information. Our founders conceived the GBC at Diamond Lil’s Restaurant in Salt Lake City on February 28, 1990. From the beginning, our focus has been on providing a forum for discussion, education, and networking on technical issues related to environmental management in the intermountain west. The A&WMA GBC was formally chartered on August 20, 1990. Along with the New Mexico Chapter, the GBC is part of the A&WMA Rocky Mountain States Section (RMSS).
Our members are environmental professionals from government, industry, consulting, academic, legal, and other professions. Geographically, the GBC includes the entire state of Utah and the southwestern corner of Wyoming. The eastern Nevada area was once part of the GBC but later joined the Eastern Sierra Chapter when the Nevada Section was formed. The GBC is affiliated with A&WMA Student Chapters at Utah State University (chartered in 1992) and the University of Utah (chartered in 1993).
In addition to organizing and hosting events such as lunch meetings with notable speakers and industry technical tours, the GBC has a long track record of bringing A&WMA international activities to Utah. The first major event was the International Aerosol and Atmospheric Optics Specialty Conference, which brought experts from around the world to Snowbird in September 1994. Between 1995 and 1999, the GBC hosted A&WMA workshops on Clean Air Act Operating Permits (Title V), Compliance Assurance Monitoring, and New Source Review. One of our biggest milestones was hosting the A&WMA’s premier event, the Annual Conference and Exhibition (ACE), from June 19-21, 2000.
The GBC was selected to host the A&WMA 93rd ACE in June 1995, just days after Salt Lake City was chosen to host the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. Interestingly, Mitt Romney, Chairman of the Salt Lake Olympic Organizing Committee, gave a special presentation on the Olympic environmental program at the 93rd ACE. The conference theme, "Celebrating Our Sustainable Future," featured keynote speaker Maurice F. Strong, one of the world’s most respected environmentalists. A critical review of combustion aerosols and their implications for human health was presented by University of Utah Professors JoAnn Lighty and Adel Sarofim. At the time, A&WMA was facing financial challenges, and the Salt Lake City ACE became a turning point in the organization’s history. Thanks to the dedication of the local host committee and A&WMA leadership, the event was a resounding success.
Following the passage of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, the GBC collaborated with the Utah Bar Association, A&WMA, and the EPA to host annual “Implementing the Clean Air Act” satellite broadcasts. More recently, we have continued this tradition by regularly hosting A&WMA audio webcasts on timely environmental management topics. For a small A&WMA member unit with about 100 international members, the GBC has made a significant impact within the organization.
The GBC has always supported the next generation of environmental professionals. Since the mid-1990s, we have sponsored student poster competitions, financially supporting winners to attend the A&WMA ACE. More recently, we have awarded scholarships to deserving undergraduate and graduate students. Additionally, the GBC has been a strong proponent of A&WMA’s Environmental Resource Guide (ERG) initiative, holding teacher training workshops and working with the Utah Society for Environmental Education to integrate ERG content into Utah’s curriculum. Our University of Utah Student Chapter even designed and distributed ERG experiment kits to Utah high schools to help students conduct environmental projects.
Today, the Great Basin Chapter of A&WMA remains an active part of the Rocky Mountain States Section. We continue to value the opportunities A&WMA provides to environmental professionals in the intermountain west, always prioritizing the benefits we bring to our members.
