EPA Briefs

EPA advised that you can order RMP*Submit through EPA’s National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP):

 RMP*Submit can be ordered in either CD-ROM (EPA publication #: 550-C99-001) or diskettes (EPA publication #: 550-C99-002).  Both CD-ROM and diskettes come with the RMP*Submit User Manual (EPA publication #: 550-B99-001).  The CD-ROM version also has RMP*Comp. Karen Shanahan of EPA, says, “I suggest you order the CD-ROM version so you will also get RMP*Comp.”
 

The DoD/EPA SERDP is requesting proposals for proof-of-principle demonstrations of innovative ideas and approaches in four areas of interest under the SERDP Exploratory Development (SEED) program:

(1) UXO detection and discrimination
(2) In-situ treatment of groundwater contaminated with explosives
(3) Indicators of eco-system health
(4) Environmentally benign alternatives for Cadmium

 SEED projects are limited to a cost of $100-thousand or less, and a duration of one year or less. The solicitation is open to both Federal and Non-Federal organizations. Proposals are limited to 10 pages (8 page technical + 2 page cost). Proposals from Federal organizations should be submitted through the appropriate member of the SERDP Executive Working Group.  All proposals are due to SERDP on April 21. For further information consult the Funding & Opportunities section on the SERDP homepage at http://www.serdp.gov/funding/funding.html
 

Standards News

The Process Data Exchange Institute (pdXi)has requested membership as a Voting Member of the TAG.

They have identified Dr. Thomas L. Teague as the TAG member.  pdXi is a U.S. based industrial consortium, organized as an Industry Technology Alliance under the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). pdXi, which currently has 13 sponsor companies, was formed in 1991 with the stated purpose of developing open industry approaches for the electronic exchange of process engineering data. pdXi has an active, material interest in the success of STEP, in that they have been and currently are the sponsor organization for the development of the Application Protocol 231:  Process Engineering Data:  Process Design and Process Specifications of Major Equipment.  AP231 has been under development since 1995 and pdXi has been actively participating, either directly or through representatives, in the Process Plant working group meetings since 1995.  Contact: Stacy R. Watts, US TAG Administrator, 5300 International Blvd., N. Charleston, S.C. 29418, 843-760-3327, fax: 843-767-3352, watts@aticorp.org, https://www.uspro.org.
 

Julian Fowler and Mike Ward of PDT Solutions has been asked by the UK Process Industries STEP Consortium (PISTEP) to coordinate a UK review of the Committee Draft of ISO 10303-231 “Application protocol - Process engineering data: Process design and process specifications of major equipment” (AP231).

This review will be conducted at two meetings. The first will be held on Monday, March 29 at Shell Centre, London. The data and venue of the second meeting has yet to be determined, but will be in late April/early May (the Committee Draft period closes on May 5). The issues arising from the review, and a recommendation for the UK vote on this ballot, will be submitted to BSI Technical Committee AMT/4 “Product data exchange”. Full information has been published on PDT Solutions’ website, at:

  http://www.pdtsolutions.co.uk/standard/ap231/

 From this page you can download the AP231 document - this has been divided into sections to facilitate the review.

 In addition to this UK review, the pdXi project team which has developed AP231 has organized a two-day workshop (also at Shell Centre in London) on April 20-21. Further information about this workshop is available from the PDT Solutions website (URL above), or from the pdXi website (http://www.aiche.org/pdXi).