NACD Continues to Focus on Regulations at Operations Seminar (OPSEM)

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Members of the National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) are meeting in Sacramento, CA this week for the Association's 23rd Annual Operations and Purchasing Conference (OPSEM).

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OPSEM, the premier trade show for the chemical distribution industry, attracted over 300 attendees. The program was developed with a focus on current and future regulations/legislation and the impact new regulatory initiatives will have on the industry. Jennifer Gibson, Vice President, Government Affairs, NACD said, "The philosophy of the Obama Administration is clearly focused on the development of new regulations and more aggressive enforcement of existing regulations. With that in mind, the OPSEM Planning Committee should be commended for developing a robust program that helped our industry better understand how these regulations will impact their business and prepares them to adhere to these new standards, successfully."

Some session highlights of OPSEM:

Regulatory Compliance and Strategy - Randy Block, Kestrel Management Services, LLC, is leading a session on Regulatory Compliance Management and Regulatory Strategy.  In addition to EPA, DOT and OSHA compliance, he will talk about successful strategies for dealing with regulatory agencies for internal planning as well as how to build strong relationships with the agencies.

Regulatory Trends - Charlie Rottmund, J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc. and Chris Lind, Mauser Corp. will talk about Regulatory Trends in Chemical Packaging and General DOT Transportation Issues. They will take a closer look at some of the recent citations by federal inspectors and how they can be avoided.  They will also look at what may be on the horizon and what we can do to avoid or minimize regulatory issues.

Regulatory Outlook - Jennifer Gibson, NACD and Kathleen Roberts, B&C Consortia Management, L.L.C. will lead the regulatory outlook session. The promulgation of new regulations and enforcement of existing rules has increased across all Federal agencies that regulate the chemical distribution industry including EPA, DOT, OSHA, and DHS.  Ms. Gibson and Ms. Roberts will provide an overview of the regulatory initiatives underway that will impact your company as well as those expected in the coming months and will discuss prospects for positive changes.

Another highlight of OPSEM will include the presentation of the Responsible Distribution Excellence Award to G.S. Robins (now part of Brenntag Mid-South). The award is given each year to the NACD member that epitomizes the attributes of Responsible Distribution, such as quality, safety, the environment and commitment to excellence.

For more information on OPSEM or NACD's regulatory or legislative positions, please visit our website at www.nacd.com.

NACD and its over 400 member companies are vital to the chemical supply chain providing products to over 750,000 end users. They make a delivery every six seconds while maintaining a safety record that is more than twice as good as all manufacturing combined. NACD members are leaders in health, safety, security, and environmental performance through implementation of Responsible Distribution, established in 1991 as a condition of membership and a third-party verified management practice. For additional information on our members, their safety record or NACD, visit NACD at www.nacd.com.

Media contact:
Matthew Glaser
1-703-527-6223 x3043
[email protected]

SOURCE National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD)