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message:
As previously reported, a sustainable society
supports human activities and economies that seek to meet its basic needs and
greatest potential. All the while, it preserves biodiversity, natural resources
and natural ecosystems indefinitely.
engineer's role:
The engineering community's responsibility in this
endeavor is to unveil risk, uncertainty and irreversibility. It should create
sustainable solutions while proactively supporting the economical realization of
those solutions.
water resource initiatives:
Accordingly, our firm endeavors to integrate its
varied technical expertise to provide leadership, creativity, guidance, economic
and technical evaluation and care in support of achieving successful projects
which contribute to water sustainability.
for more information:
Contact Environmental Resources Division Director and PAAWWA
Chair, Gene
Koontz, PE [
bio ]. Read news
to learn more about one of our west coast water conservation
assignments.
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 In
addition
to the regulatory matters previously reported, critical water
industry challenges include cost, storage and distribution, supply
and security. . .
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Achieving
Lifetime Award:
New Mexico
 Michael
W. Malloy, P.E., was recently named "Ingeniero
Veterano de Nuevo Mejico" by the New Mexico Society of Professional
Engineers (NMSPE). The highest honor bestowed by NMSPE, this prestigious title
recognizes Malloy’s lifetime of achievement and service to the community and the
engineering profession. . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Geotechnical:
New Jersey
 Syed
Ashraf, PE,
was recently appointed to the Rutgers University Civil &
Environmental Engineering Industrial Advisory Board . . .
Pennsylvania
 Terry
L. Downs, PG,
was recently named the manager of geotechnical services
for our firm's Pittsburgh office. A former geotechnical
project manager, Downs is responsible for leading business development and . . .
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Planning:
Pennsylvania
 Phillip
Brown, AICP, recently joined our firm as manager of the Pittsburgh Planning
Group responsible for preparing strategic, transportation, redevelopment,
recreation and corridor plans, in addition to . . .
Ohio
Possessing more than 20 years of experience in
environmental planning for transportation projects, Scott Duncanson, AICP,
served on the environmental skill set team for the "Cleveland Innerbelt Study"
ACTT workshop (see news). Scott provided
suggestions for streamlining environmental studies in support of NEPA compliance
that would help meet or decrease proposed construction project timeframes.
Scott possesses an extensive
background in socioeconomic and community impact assessment studies
performed in compliance with NEPA regulations.
Surf our links
for detailed ACTT workshop information.
. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Site
Remediation:
New England
 Peter
A. Golonka, PG, recently named a vice president
and the regional office manager for our firm's Newton, Mass., office,
possesses over 25 years of experience in preparing cost estimates; providing
technical support; and completing remedial investigations, hazardous waste
cleanups, and feasibility studies . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Recycling/Solid Waste:
A Certification First
Steve Deasy
was recently recognized as a senior
certified recycling professional (SCRP) in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Deasy is Pennsylvania's first
resident from the private sector to complete the SCRP process
and one of only 27 others who have attained this special status.
PROP
Involvement
In addition to delivering a
recycling law presentation, Steve will be among our firm's
professionals showcasing Gannett Fleming's extensive recycling
and solid waste planning expertise at the Professional Recycler's of Pennsylvania
(PROP) annual conference (see papers/
presentations).
Project
Alliances
PROP has also served as a Gannett
Fleming subconsultant on several assignments involving recycling
and solid waste planning. To learn more about our firm's
Recycling Technical Assistance (RTA) partnerships, visit
regs/programs.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Water/Wastewater:
Arizona New Hires
Tania Paez-Rubio, Ph.D., recently
joined our firm's Phoenix, AZ, office as a Designer in the Water/ Wastewater Group. Tania accumulated three years of
project experience in Uruguay before receiving the Fulbright
Scholarship to attend Arizona State University, where she
received her Masters Degree and Doctorate in Environmental
Engineering. Her doctorate thesis encompassed aerosol emissions
during land application of sludge biosolids.
A graduate from the University of
Guanajuato in Mexico with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering,
Manuel Saenz also recently joined our firm as a Water/Wastewater
Designer. Manuel, currently attending graduate courses at
Arizona State University (ASU), participated in a cooperative
study program at the Mesa Wastewater Treatment Facility while
attending ASU.
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process:
Web EMS Manager is useful for
organizations striving to manage environmental programs easily
and effectively.
process:
The application directs
the user to the EMS requirements of policies, environmental
aspects, documentation, objectives and targets, training, EMS
audits and corrective actions. Web EMS Manager also
features a user-specific dashboard presenting the user with
their key information.
additional benefits:
The application can be customized, which provides the user with
flexibility to develop and maintain requirements specific to and
operation. Gannett Fleming can also host this application,
requiring no additional software or server capabilities.
for more information:
Contact EMS and Compliance Program Director,
Steve
Rowley, CHMM, EMS-LA, to request a WEB EMS Manager brochure.
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Mission Statement:
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"To provide timely
industry news and information while sharing related Gannett
Fleming activities." |
Notes:
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California Conservation:
Suburban Water Consumption
Database
In order to comply
with California's water conservation initiatives (see
regs/programs), all state Suburban Water Systems were required to
evaluate their water conservation rate structure. To facilitate this
effort, our firm constructed a water consumption database (or bill frequency
analysis) of all Suburban Water System customers for each service area, customer
classification and meter size over a one-year period. This bill frequency
analysis, examined to understand customers’ usage patterns, included monthly
variations.
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Underlying Mission: |
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A major component of the California Public
Utilities Commission Water Action Plan is to "strengthen water conservation
programs to a level comparable to those of energy utilities." |
While existing rates
were applied to the data to ensure its accuracy, alternative water conservation
rate structures were designed for management review. Inclining block rates and
summer and winter rates were also considered.
Contact Vice President
and Rate Study Manager, Paul Herbert,
for more information.
 Energy-Saving Landfill
Wins Multiple Awards
Recognized for its innovative delivery
of renewable energy, the Lanchester Gas Utilization Project in
Lancaster County, PA, has won again. The project has received
both the 2005 Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Environmental
Excellence and the Solid Waste Industry of North America (SWANA)
2006 Landfill Gas Utilization Silver Excellence Award.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Secretary, Kathleen A. McGinty, estimated that enough landfill gas will be
utilized through the project to save 122,800 barrels of oil on an annual basis.
The amount of recovered landfill methane gas could heat 33,900 homes; offset the
use of 250 railcars of coal; and provide greenhouse gas reduction benefits equal
to planting 15,600 acres of forest or removing the emissions from 11,550 cars.
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Highlights
(including related Granger project video): |
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SWANA's award will be presented
during WasteCon 2006 in Charlotte, NC. The assignment has already accrued four USEPA landfill
methane awards.
Granger Energy,
Landfill Gas Developer, began the Lanchester Project in December,
2004. Gannett Fleming served Granger as both traditional
engineering and design-build contractor. The landfill is owned
and operated by the Chester County, PA, Solid Waste Authority.
For more information,
contact Project Manager, Robert Hasemeier,
PE.
Gannett
Fleming Bridges Environmental Gap
Ned Smith Center
Ohio
Innerbelt:
Environmental Planning Study
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high traffic |
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Bearing more than 150,000 vehicles daily, the
Cleveland, OH, Innerbelt carries portions of I-71, I-77 and I-90 through
downtown Cleveland. |
The Cleveland, OH, Innerbelt
is approaching the end of its useful life. Consequently, The Ohio Department of
Transportation (ODOT) undertook a study to develop a sustainable strategy of
intelligent renewal.
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ACTT agenda |
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A Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) initiative, ACTT
workshops analyze ways to shorten construction time, curb work zone
congestion and better serve motorists through improved quality. |
As part of the
"Cleveland Innerbelt Study," ODOT convened a panel of over 100 experts to review and refine proposed
construction phasing, sequencing and technology plans.
Senior Environmental Planner,
Scott Duncanson, AICP, served on this
Accelerated Construction Technology Transfer (ACTT)
workshop, a first-of-its-kind in Ohio.
Scott
is regarded as an expert in community impact assessment and environmental
issues (see Planning
Spotlight:
Ohio).
California Conservation:
Water Action Plan
The California Public Utility Commission (CPUC)
"Water Action Plan" promotes water affordability, efficiency, reliability and
quality. The plan outlines specific conservation goals, among which
requiring regulated utilities to prepare a water conservation program for their
customer base.
In a related mandate, Suburban Water Systems must
conduct a study to develop water conservation rates to be submitted for the
Commission’s review. Our firm assisted with this effort by constructing a
water consumption database (see news).
Surf the CPUC web site found under
links for more water program information.
Microbials and Disinfection By-products (MDBP) Rules
Part 2 - LT2 and DBPR Compliance and
Schedule
Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2)
and Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule (Stage 2 DBPR)
compliance issues are complex and evolving . . .
Recycling Technical Assistance Program
In order to facilitate
Pennsylvania recycling efforts and enable municipalities to reach or surpass the
state's 35% recycling goal, the Recycling Technical Assistance (RTA) Program was
developed. Municipalities that wish to participate in the program are awarded $7,500 in
technical assistance - simply by completing a one-page
application. That request is then approved by the
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and the Solid Waste
Authority of North America (SWANA).
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^
Click image to
enLARGE.
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Project Success: |
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Our firm has conducted over 60 technical assistance assignments, some of which
leading to much larger planning studies. |
Many RTA projects
demonstrate expertise in recycling and yard waste composting. This includes a
variety of work ranging from general program guidance to preliminary design of
material recovery facilities and compost sites.
Our firm
has provided municipalities with this expertise through an RTA program
partnership with PADEP, the Pennsylvania
State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS), and SWANA.
For more RTA program or related
Gannett Fleming project information, contact Solid Waste Specialist,
Steve Deasy, SCRP,
[ bio
]. To review related recycling laws and initiatives, visit
papers/ presentations.
New
Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment Req's:
"Florida Specifier" Article
Part of the Small Business Liability
Relief and Brownfields Revitalization Act, the All Appropriate Inquiries (AAI)
standard further clarifies the requirements necessary to establish the innocent
landowner defense under CERCLA. This includes additional liability
protections for both property owners and prospective purchasers.
To learn more about additional contaminants of concern, the roles and
responsibilities of Environmental Professionals and related costs, read
Sandie Will's entire
AAI article located on our corporate site.
Pennsylvania Recyclers Workshop
Steve Deasy,
SCRP, [
bio ] delivered an
ACT 101
presentation (.ppt)
which offered a municipal perspective on the state's recycling law.
Delivered at the Professional Recycler's of Pennsylvania (PROP) annual
conference in Pittsburgh, PA, the presentation was part of a session which
evaluated recycling program administration. Our firm's conference exhibit
additionally featured a display showcasing the location of the Recycling
Technical Assistance (RTA) projects that have been completed by Gannett
Fleming across the Commonwealth.
Navigate to regs/programs
for more RTA program information. Our links
section contains the PROP site.
Water Distribution
System Security
An article entitled "How
Secure is Your Township's Critical Infrastructure," recently appeared
in the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS)
publication, "Pennsylvania Township News." Water System Vulnerability Assessment
(VA) Specialist, Tom Kiely,
PE, assisted with the article, which focused on the importance of critical
planning, practices and coordination when addressing distribution system
security issues.
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understanding the risks |
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Tom previously authored our own four-part VA series discussing
water system physical and contamination threats, countermeasures and our
step-wise solution approach. |
A well-known expert on the subject, Tom is also providing PSATS and PADEP with
invaluable technical expertise for a guidebook to help small water distribution
system providers improve their security. Guidebook development includes
security upgrade recommendations at various distribution system facilities
(tanks, booster stations and fire hydrants) and preparation of a display booth
and informative documents focused on security enhancement.
»
California Public
Utilities Commission
(Water and Sewer)
»
Federal Highway Administration
ACTT Program Skill Sets
» New
Mexico Society of Professional Engineers
»
The Professional Recyclers of
Pennsylvania
»
USEPA Resource
Conservation Challenge
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