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More coverage:

V Certifications

V Desalination

V Hawaii dams

V Hydroelectricity

V Safe yield


Dam, hydraulic, geotechnical and sustainable engineering accolades are featured in this spring edition. Renewable energy initiatives which reinforce American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) goals and innovative technologies are also examined.

 

 

 


 

Surf the Environmental Resources section of the Gannett Fleming web site to view upcoming events.

 

Dam Engineering:
Industry Distinction

Bill Bingham, P.E., recently received the USSD 2009 "Lifetime Achievement Award." This incredible honor recognizes "an individual whose lifetime of dedication and achievement has contributed significantly to the dam engineering profession." Bill has guided the advancement of dam engineering throughout his 43-year career with Gannett Fleming, setting the standard to which industry professionals aspire.

^ Dave Wilson, Bill Bingham, Rod Holderbaum and Art Walz at the USSD Awards Banquet.

As a vice president and the national leader for Gannett Fleming's dams and hydraulics practice, Bill defines "active involvement." He has either authored or assisted engineers with developing more than 130 articles and technical papers. An instrumental policy-maker with an enormous list of affiliations, Bill directly impacts national dam engineering, regulatory and safety initiatives.

 

" Bill Bingham has been a friend, a colleague, a mentor and a powerful advocate for dam safety in many roles...serving as USSD President... establishing the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) Peer Review Program...advocating the passage of the National Dam Safety Program Act...applying innovative approaches to design and construction of dam safety rehabilitation projects. There are so many dam safety successes which he has championed. "

- Brad Iarossi, P.E., Chief
Dam, Bridge and Seismic Safety Branch Division of Engineering
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Read more about Bill's industry influence on the right.

Kudos for the CAT-211 Team

Bill currently serves as Deputy Project Director on the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) CAT-211 project team, which received an “excellent” NYCDEP evaluation for continuing work on this award-winning effort. An “excellent” project performance is the highest NYCDEP score, and a rare honor.

The project is a Gannett Fleming and Hazen & Sawyer Joint-Venture involving the reconstruction of the Gilboa Dam (pictured below), located in New York's Catskill Mountains.

Led by the Dams and Hydraulics Practice in Harrisburg, Pa., this assignment involves nearly 140 Gannett Fleming personnel, spanning multiple practices throughout Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

The largest water supply system in the United States, the Catskill watershed network includes the Gilboa Dam, Ashokan Reservoir Dams and the Shandaken Intake. A $500 million project, CAT-211 involves upgrading spillways, gates, screen chambers and miscellaneous structures.
[press release]

Significant Floodplain Certification

Based in the Harrisburg, Pa., office, Maged Aboelata, Ph.D., Amanda Hess, P.E., Benjamin Israel-Devadason, E.I.T., Ashley Mengle and Brett Witmer were recently qualified as a Certified Floodplain Manager (CFM) by the Association of State Floodplain Managers. The primary goal of the CFM Program is to help reduce the nation’s flood losses and protect and enhance the natural resources and functions of its floodplains by improving the knowledge and abilities of floodplain managers.

The CFM certification is awarded upon successfully completing an exam covering the overall content of floodplain management, floodplain mapping, National Flood Insurance Program regulatory standards, regulatory administrative procedures, flood insurance, and flood hazard mitigation.

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Energy and Environmental Design

Mohamed Zakkar, a senior project manager in the Site Remediation Practice based in the firm’s Detroit, Mich., office, recently achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED® AP) certification for New Construction.

In order to become LEED® accredited,  an individual must successfully demonstrate an extensive knowledge of green building practices, pass the LEED® AP exam, and become familiar with the LEED® 2.1 rating system, resources and processes.

Gannett Fleming LEED® standards ensure that new designs promote energy efficiency and conservation goals.

Accreditation enables Gannett Fleming to continue to provide clients with high-performance, environmentally friendly designs.

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Water and Wastewater:
Energy-Certified in Sustainability

Mark Pickering, P.E., a senior project manager for the water and wastewater Practice in the Harrisburg, Pa., office, received special recognition as a Certified Sustainable Development Professional (CSDP) by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). The designation of CSDP acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated high levels of technical expertise in energy management and environmental practices on concepts and experiences basic to energy efficiency, pollution prevention and sustainability.

Mark has also received his Certified Energy Manager recognition and was recently appointed a professional advisor to the environmental program at the Pennsylvania State University (Harrisburg campus).

Florida Desalination Specialist

Matt Trzcinski, P.E., has joined the water and wastewater practice as a senior project manager skilled in design and construction of municipal and industrial water treatment plants utilizing membrane and ion exchange technologies. His expertise will boost the firm's national capabilities in this area. He will work in the Tampa, Fla., office.

Matt served as a technical specialist during the design, construction and start-up of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Facility in El Paso, Texas, and the Newark Desalination Facility in Newark, Calif. The Kay Bailey facility won the 2008 Superior Achievement Award from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers. The Newark Desalination facility won the 2005 National Honor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies.

Senior Associate

Congratulations to Jeff Butler, P.E., who was named senior associate. Jeff, based in the Locust Valley, N.Y., office, provides environmental assessments, permitting and design for a wide variety of municipal infrastructure assignments. He is the senior project manager on the reconstruction of the Gilboa Dam for the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

Jeff also serves as chairperson of the New York Water Environment Association's Metropolitan Chapter. [press release]

Young Professionals Award

Lars Augustin, P.E., a project manager in the Locust Valley, N.Y., office, received the New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) Young Professionals Service Award. Lars was chosen for this honor because of his NYWEA leadership and active role in increasing opportunities for young professionals in the water environment industry. [press release]

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IntelliGrout® integrates real-time data collection, display and analyses with computer control of foundation grouting operations. Consisting of both hardware and software components, the system enables owners and designers to make sound engineering decisions which effectively accommodate geologic conditions.

^ IntelliGrout activity at Wolf Creek Dam, Ky.

Additional IntelliGrout® advantages include project goal measurement, quality control of work in progress, automatic record generation, and transmission to off-site resources.

Thanks to investments in research and development by Gannett Fleming and ACT, IntelliGrout® has led major industry advances in the science of grouting. IntelliGrout® has been utilized on nearly all of the largest grouting projects in North America, and it is recognized as the international state-of-the-art in grouting technology.

 

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Dam Engineering Feature

Several Gannett Fleming clients, projects and speakers were on the agenda at the United States Society on Dams (USSD) Annual Conference in Nashville, Tenn. In addition to an International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) update and presentations on carbonate foundations (papers/presentations), there were field tours to Center Hill Dam, Tenn., and Wolf Creek Dam, Ky. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Nashville District, classified both of these dams as Class 1 Action for dam safety remediation, the highest priority for USACE projects.

Industry renowned dam engineer, Bill Bingham, P.E., received the coveted USSD "Lifetime Achievement Award" during the conference.

Center Hill Dam, Tenn.
The Center Hill Dam rehabilitation includes extensive grouting using IntelliGrout®, critical in the embankment area as preparatory step for cutoff wall construction, and in the abutment area as the sole long-term remediation measure. Gannett Fleming is providing engineering and geologic services on the project as subcontractor to the Kiewit-ACT Joint Venture.
Wolf Creek Dam, Ky.

The largest reservoir east of the Mississippi River, Lake Cumberland was created by the Wolf Creek Dam, which also includes a power generating station.

Gannett Fleming also used IntelliGrout® to monitor, control and analyze one of the largest dam grouting programs undertaken by the USACE. Grouting is part of the comprehensive, long-term solution to address seepage problems and potential structural deficiencies at the Wolf Creek Dam. This earthen embankment dam is located on the Cumberland River in south central Kentucky. Gannett Fleming provided geotechnical engineering and geologic services to the prime contractor (ACT, Ltd.) and to the USACE, Nashville District.
Herbert Hoover Dike, Fla.
Engaged as engineering subcontractor, Gannett Fleming analyzed and designed rehabilitation measures for a 3.8-mile reach of this dike rehabilitation assignment. Significant seepage occurred through and beneath the Herbert Hoover Dike as a result of high water events on Lake Okeechobee.
Elkwater Fork Dam, W.Va.
Gannett Fleming was engaged by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to design a new 130-foot high roller-compacted concrete (RCC) dam on Elkwater Fork in the Upper Tygart Valley Watershed. Construction was completed this year and will provide a reliable 3 million-gallons-per-day (mgd) source of supply for the city of Elkins and surrounding communities.
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Bingham National Influence

In addition to his 2009 USSD "Lifetime Achievement Award," Bill was named "Engineer of the Year" by the Pennsylvania Society for Professional Engineers in 2000.

Bill Bingham's project portfolio is a dam engineer's blueprint for success. Beginning in the early '80s, RCC was introduced in the United States as a method of economically and rapidly constructing new dams. Bill has been instrumental in advancing RCC technology over the past quarter century. His projects from the past decade alone include multiple award-winning assignments.

Bill promoted RCC to improve the safety of existing dams, such as the $30 million repair of the Loch Raven Concrete-Gravity Dam in Maryland. This effort garnered nine engineering and construction awards including the ASDSO 2006 "National Rehabilitation Project of the Year." [national accolades]

Bill provided technical review of all design aspects to the 318-foot-high Olivenhain Dam located in a highly seismic region in southern California. He further promoted the use of an external geomembrane liner system on the dam, ensuring its performance following a major earthquake. The Olivenhain project was the first application of this upstream facing technology on an RCC dam in the United States. [outstanding civil engineering achievement]

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Hawaii Dam Investigations

Bill, Dean Durkee, Ph.D., P.E. [bio], and Paul Schweiger, P.E. [bio], have also been providing invaluable guidance on the State of Hawaii Dam Safety Program. The state's dam safety staff felt overwhelmed by the daunting task of rebuilding the program's effectiveness after a tragic dam failure in Hawaii.

Gannett Fleming assistance included Phase 1 investigations of 16 dams on the island of Oahu and concluded with a three-day owner training workshop. [project details]

 Bill provided "father-like encouragement and wisdom," and Dean and Paul provided "outstanding service when conducting dam investigations, reviewing permit applications, training dam owners and operators, and providing guidance in the development of new administrative rules and program guidelines."

 - Edwin Matsuda, P.E., Section Head,
Flood Control and Dam Safety, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources

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Renewable Energy:
Hydroelectric Power

Hydroelectric energy constitutes the largest share of renewable-generated electricity in the United States.

Renewable energy technologies reduce greenhouse gases, guard against rising utility rates, minimize operating costs, and provide employment oppotunities. Stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) supports these initiatives.

Thanks to $6 billion in ARRA funding, the United States Department of Energy loan guarantee program is expected to support loans for renewable energy systems and hydropower and transmission technologies beginning construction prior to September 30, 2011.

Hydroelectric dams collect the energy from swiftly moving water to run turbines for electricity generation.

Hydropower, hydraulic power or water power derives from the force or energy of moving water. Hydropower creates hydroelectricity, which enables low-cost energy to be used at long distances from a water source.

Related new technologies under development have the potential to capture energy from rivers and oceans. Tidal power, for example, converts tide energy into electricity, while wave power transports energy by ocean surface waves.   

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Water Supply Investigations:
Valuable Engineering Research

Safe yield studies provide important water supply system statistics on reliability and performance and facilitate regulatory compliance. Applicable for systems ranging in size and complexity, studies involve collecting extensive hydrologic and hydraulic data. A computer program can then simulate operations unique to the water system.

^ Computer program schematics and map of raw water supply system for Rivana Water and Sewer Authority in Virginia.

^ Custom graphical user interface for the city of Norfolk water supply system in Virginia.

Custom applications enable the evaluation and optimization of complex operating rules and instream regulatory flow requirements. Such studies can evaluate system expansions, provide water supply permit application data, aid with instream flow requirement negotiations, identify available surplus water, and enable development of drought contingency plans.

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Making a Sustainable Commitment:
An Ongoing Process

Collier County, Fla., Water Director, Paul Mattausch, recently delivered a presentation at the American Council of Engineering Companies of Pennsylvania (ACEC-PA) Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Fla., discussing current drinking water industry topics.

Gannett Fleming staff prepared a portion of the presentation, which highlights the current plight of United States water and wastewater systems, green infrastructure, loan subsidies and water efficiencies including a Pennsylvania non-revenue water (NRW) project.

Mike Brown, P.E., will deliver the full NRW project presentation at the AWWA Annual Conference in San Diego, Calif., this June. Mike will discuss information technology as an innovative method to reduce NRW.

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Water Filtration Accolades:
Sustainable Growth

In addition to its process engineering accomplishments, the WFP will proactively manage and treat water from the Susquehanna River.

Steve Gerlach, P.E., [bio] will present an overview of the Fullerton Water Filtration Plant (WFP) and related Pilot Study at an American Membrane Technology Association workshop on "Membrane Applications in the Chesapeake Region" in Hunt Valley, Md., on May 20. The planned 120 million-gallons-per-day Fullerton facility and current membrane pilot plant project will dramatically enhance water distribution system reliability in Baltimore, Md.

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USSD Annual Meeting and Conference:
Dams and Geotechnical Engineering

Bill Bingham received the USSD "Lifetime Achievement Award" and Art Walz, P.E., delivered an International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) update at the 29th Annual USSD Meeting in Nashville, Tenn. As featured under news, Gannett Fleming staff was actively involved throughout the event.

Gannett Fleming speakers including Art, Dave Wilson, P.E., Mike Knight, P.G., William Roman, P.G., and Trent Dreese, P.E., delivered presentations on carbonate dam foundations from engineering and geologic perspectives. Both Dave and Trent spearhead the Gannett Fleming and Advanced Construction Techniques, Ltd. (ACT) IntelliGrout® initiative described on the left.

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"Dams on Carbonate Foundations in the United States" (Walz and Wilson).
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"Characterization of Geologic Features Affecting Seepage Through Carbonate Dam Foundations" (Knight and Roman).
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"Design, Construction and Performance of Seepage Barriers for Dams on Carbonate Foundations" (Dreese and Wilson). Also co-presented by Donald Bruce (Geosystems, L.P.).
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» United States Society on Dams