Applying Geophysics to Engineering and 
Environmental Problems ********************
April 6-10
San Antonio, TX
***********
symposium focused on applying non-invasive subsurface investigation technologies 
featuring exhibits, tours and presentations ranging from landfills, archaeology and ground penetrating radar to environmental geophysics, infrastructure and GIS data integration
************

www.sageep.info/homepage.html

Sprawl’s Lasting Effects

As reported last Issue, “sprawl” can be defined as irresponsible development.   While it can have devastating impacts on our quality of life, sprawl also contributes to numerous environmental pitfalls:

• Water Pollution.  Inadequate zoning laws in many urbanizing areas fail to protect riparian areas, wetlands and floodplains.  Riparian buffers provide a barrier between developments and streams, thus protecting water quality and habitat.  Wetlands provide a natural barrier against water pollution, removing approximately 90% of water’s pollutants.  Floodplain destruction also contributes to the $3 billion/year average property damage caused by floods.

• Infrastructure.  As previously reported, there is a major infrastructure “needs vs. spending” gap in the U.S.  Rushing to develop new sewer lines and roads before finishing current projects depletes available funding in an era of tight budgets.

• Air Pollution.  We rely heavily on automobiles, and very little on alternative modes of transportation.  Emissions from cars, trucks and buses contribute to various health problems.

• Green Space.  We’re rapidly losing it.  It takes longer now to “get out to the country” than ever before.  Uncontrolled development paves over our natural environment.

Ending sprawl isn’t about stopping development.  Instead, it’s about developing smarter.  This “Smart Growth” not only sustains our environment, but preserves our entire community.

Building Green Makes "Cents"

The "Green Design" process protects our natural resources through efficient, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable engineering.  Strongly connected to smart growth, green buildings utilize many of the same planning principles.

^ This 15,000 square-foot Maryland police facility  was designed with a  "Green Architecture" approach.

Green fac- ilities consistently reflect compact building designs, green space accountability, energy efficiency and pollution reduction strategies.

For more design process details, click here for a related .pdf on the Pennsylvania Governor's Green Council web site.  

Community Asset Management
GASB 34 Makes Us More Accountable

Government Accounting Standards Board Statement 34 (GASB 34) sets new requirements for reporting operations and capital assets . . . 

USEPA Green Communities
Region 3 (Philadelphia, PA)

"Green Communities" is a USEPA approach to helping all communities become "cleaner, greener and economically sustainable."  To this end, USEPA developed an internet-based green communities assistance kit.  This information provides a framework for environmental planning in an urban, rural or suburban setting.

The kit includes a series of tools organized to answer four basic questions, which enable environmental solutions to be implemented.

Topics including community involvement, environment and economics and measuring success are interwoven throughout the kit.

While each question describes a piece of the process, together the material allows commun- ities to fully achieve their goals.

Accessible via www.epa.gov/greenkit, this web-based format provides quick linkage to other community assistance information on the internet.

In addition to this web site, Gannett Fleming assisted the USEPA with developing a green communities user manual, training modules and a testing program in selected locations. 

PA Greenways Web Site
Department of Conservation 
and Natural Resources (DCNR)

The Pennsylvania Greenways Clearinghouse Web Site features documents and links for planning, funding and implementing greenways.  The site, an item from the state's Greenway Action Plan, was developed with assistance from Gannett Fleming for the DCNR.  Check it out at www.pagreenways.org.

Cell SCADA:
CDPD And Beyond

A presentation examining wireless supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) transmission technologies will be delivered at the PRWA Annual Conference later this month (see Events).

Focused on water and wastewater systems, discussion topics will include design criteria, technical viability, security, reliability, testing, installation & maintenance issues and future trends.

Cellular Digital Packetized Data (CDPD) will also be examined and related case histories presented.  Gannett Fleming Project Manager Evan Curtis, PE, will conduct the presentation.  For more on CDPD technology, see Evan's article in Issue 5. 

Oxidation Ditch Process Achieves
Nitrification and Denitrification

The PRWA conference will also include a presentation on how nitrification/denitrification can occur in an Oxidation Ditch activated sludge treatment process.  Gannett Fleming Project Manager Dale Shope, PE, will present a related case history.

Understanding GASB 34

There are several upcoming Government Accounting Standards Board Statement 34 (GASB 34) presentations that examine all sides of the issue.  

Among them, next month's PSATS convention (see Events) will include a "nuts and bolts" GASB 34 overview; while this summer's Pennsylvania Government Finance Officers Association meeting will highlight GASB 34 valuation and inventory processes.

Stay tuned to future issues for more related presentation information.  Click here for our GASB 34 article; or contact Gannett Fleming Project Manager Harold Walker for more information.

Top 5 on Smart Growth:

»  Envision Lancaster County, PA

»  Growing Smarter in Pennsylvania

»  Smart Growth America

»  Smart Growth And
The Clean Water Act (.pdf)

»  Smart Growth Online