LEA Central: Ralph Hunter Memorial Award

2009 Recipient: Lori Braunesreither, Contra Costa County

This award is given in recognition of an individual who has made a major impact to the local enforcement agency (LEA)/solid waste field by development of a special or new program, involvement with educational activities, committees and/or workgroups, or permitting and/or enforcement, or special achievement that enhances the protection of public and environmental health principles through the LEA/EA program.

Lori Braunesreither has over 21 years experience in the environmental health field and 18 years in solid waste management. Her extensive expertise has contributed to a wide range of solid waste programs and trainings both locally and statewide. Her willingness to share knowledge, participate on committees and provide training on complex issues has made her a valuable contributor and leader to LEA/EA programs throughout California. Some of her many accomplishments include:

• Developed, co-developed, and personally provided numerous essential trainings on solid waste management to operators, peers in solid waste regulation, and to others in the environmental health field, including instructing 7 solid waste trainings in her home county of Contra Costa from 2003-2005.
• Presented and/or co-presented for four California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) sponsored trainings held at 11 locations from 2005-2008, and compiled the training manual for a CIWMB CEQA Permit Training.
• Participated on the steering committees for the CIWMB/LEA Partnership Conferences in 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.
• Contributed her expertise as a member of the SWFP Significant Change/Non-Significant Change Workgroup and the AB 1497 Permit Implementation workgroup.
• Active lifetime member of the California Environmental Health Association (CEHA) and served on numerous CEHA committees (including 10 times as Chair): Strategic Plan, Nominations and Elections, Bylaws and Procedures Manual, Membership, International, Publications, AES/Update Standardization, Executive Director, Annual Educational Symposium. Also served on the CEHA Boards of the Northern Chapter and the Mission Chapter, and on the CEHA Executive Board from 1991 through 1999.
• Served on the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Focus Group.
• Provided expertise as part of the Technical Advisory Group to develop general waste discharge requirements for the land application of' biosolids.
• Lobbied for, and served as moderator during many CEHA Conferences and has been a major factor in manifesting the presence of solid waste "tracks" at these events.

Lori is a worthy recipient of the Ralph Hunter Memorial Award. Please join us in congratulating her on this achievement.

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