A Message From NEIWPCC’s UST/LUST Program Coordinator: James Plummer

Posted on Thursday, July 17th, 2025 | James Plummer

In May, tanks staff from states in Region 1 came together in our office for our triannual workgroup meeting. Mike Hollis from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection joined us to talk about tank tightness testing and the National Work Group of Leak Detection Evaluations. Mike and I met up for dinner the night before and talked a lot about music. I am going to ramble for a bit, but stay with me…

Recently, I watched “A Complete Unknown” about Bob Dylan’s rise to stardom and his infamous performance at the Newport Folk Festival. He was booed offstage by audience members for using an electric guitar at a traditional folk festival. At the time, I am sure the folk purists thought him to be outside the well-defined boundaries of folk music. Today, in a musical landscape shaped largely by Spotify listens and Ticketmaster fees, the lines between genres are blurring. It feels like we are moving into a post-genre era characterized by a population with unmatched access to sound.

In some ways, new tanks staff today have unmatched access to training resources. Despite that, you still need to dig and ask around to find the right tool or compendium, and in-person networking opportunities are not necessarily affordable for the masses. We unfortunately do not have Spotify for training materials… I will work on it, patent the algorithm, and keep you posted.

It seems today that professionals in the tanks community are still mostly grounded in their “genre” (e.g., site cleanup, facility compliance, financial responsibility). We have come a tremendous way from the early days of USTs, and a lot of the folks who got their start back then have retired and are no longer “touring.” It is more important than ever to talk with folks who have bounced between genres inside and outside the realm of USTs and hazardous waste so you can learn from both generalists and specialists. Similarly, we try to infuse varied perspectives into LUSTLine.

Like musicians today who blur the lines between jazz, funk, rap, folk, electronic, and soul to create something wholly original, we need the same kind of creative fusion in our field. At the very least, it is helpful to have varied perspectives on the work that you are doing to help create a more holistic sound.

Organizations like NEIWPCC and the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO) sort of act as producers – bringing voices together, setting the stage for collaboration, and making space for harmonies we did not know we needed. These conveners play a powerful role in building community across regulatory, technical, and institutional lines. We are only able to succeed because of the contributions of so many people in this community who consistently bring their enthusiasm and insight.

Participation is not just for program managers or seasoned professionals, but for newer folks as well. Entry-level staff and early career professionals can and should add their voice to the chorus. All it takes is asking to join a virtual roundtable, telling your supervisor you want to connect with peers in other roles, or stepping out of your comfort zone to understand how your work fits into the larger
performance. Cross-genre collaboration does not just sound better – it is smarter, more resilient, and just generally more enjoyable.

There is no better time than the 28th National Tanks Conference and Exposition from September 22–25, 2025, in Spokane, Washington. This event brings together hundreds of tanks professionals from across the country to share insights, build relationships, and explore the future of our field. You can learn more and register through NEIWPCC’s National Tanks Conference webpage. We will see what “music” we make together at the conference!