Nancy Varricchio, CPSM
Craig A. Savage, P.G.
Myrna Valdez
More coverage:
Gannett Fleming stakeholders are making positive strides to transform the national and international landscape. Important initiatives in dam safety and flood protection are explored in this edition, including a valuable ASCE levee resource guide. Multi-faceted construction, remediation and water resource endeavors, and associated technologies also present promising opportunities for the new year ahead.
News
ASCE Levees Guide
Gene Koontz, P.E., and Bill Bingham, P.E., contributed on the development and the review of a new American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) booklet and tri-fold brochure titled, “So, You Live Behind a Levee!”. This ASCE guide examines levee risks and associated community and homeowner flood protection topics.
Koontz is a senior vice president with Gannett Fleming, and the national director for the water and wastewater, environmental management, and dams and hydraulics practices. Bingham is a vice president with Gannett Fleming and the national leader for the dams and hydraulics practice.
Koontz [bio] was the American Water Works Association (AWWA) 2009 George Warren Fuller Award recipient for distinguished service to the water supply field. Bingham [bio] received the United States Society on Dams (USSD) 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Breaking News:
Rapid Response to the Steel City
PWSA, which serves approximately 250,000 consumers, joins a growing list of Rapid Response users. Pennsylvania-American Water Company and United Water use Rapid Response to deliver emergency notification to more than 1.1 million water customers throughout six states.The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) based in Pittsburgh, Pa., has selected Gannett Fleming and its information technology and geographical information system division, GeoDecisions®, as its public notification service provider. Gannett Fleming will employ its Rapid Response System to facilitate PWSA compliance with changes in state drinking water regulations coming next Spring. These Chapter 109 updates include the Public Notification (PN) Rule regarding adverse health effects of short-term ("Tier 1") exposure to drinking water violations or other scenarios requiring rapid (24-hour) public alert. [July 2009 edition]
Dam Safety Contract Award
Gannett Fleming has also been awarded a five-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for architectural and engineering services related to dam safety. Gannett Fleming was one of six firms chosen for this $60 million, multiple-award contract.
This nationwide contract is funded in part by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). It will include dam assessments, design, design review, and construction management of new or rehabilitated dam or other water resource-related projects. [press release]
Design-Build Collaboration
AWWA and the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) are partnering with numerous water and wastewater constituents including owners, contractors and engineers to compile design-build (D-B) information for a new textbook. Gannett Fleming’s portion of the book will discuss how value engineering is utilized by owners in a D-B project environment while sharing case studies.
The D-B delivery method streamlines responsibilities through one multidisciplinary project team. A “Ground-Floor Survey” is available for D-B industry constituents.
Multiple-Award Navy Contract
A global multiple award construction (GMAC) contract is the United States (U.S.) Navy’s principal vehicle for implementing work under ARRA. GMAC projects may be D-B or design-bid-build and include new construction, repair, demolition, and renovation of military facilities. Types of assignments range from utilities and waterfronts to energy and water conservation. The contract may also be used for projects not related to ARRA.
As a subconsultant to Environmental Chemical Corporation, Gannett Fleming was awarded one of four open-end GMAC contracts for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Pacific. Gannett Fleming will serve as lead designer for task orders focused on anti-terrorism, force protection and security; instrumentation and controls; military housing; roads, bridges and parking; and water resource management and conservation.
The maximum dollar value for the four contracts is $900 million. Work is expected to be completed by July, 2014. Recently appointed Gannett Fleming International Development Director, Sheldon Kauffman, is spearheading the GMAC initiative.
Regs/Programs
Accounting for Lost Water in Kentucky
Non-revenue water (NRW) is water that has been produced and is “lost” before it reaches the customer. Losses can be real, such as leaking water mains; or apparent, such as metering inaccuracies. High levels of NRW are detrimental to the financial viability of water utilities.
Gannett Fleming recently teamed with Integrated Science and Engineering, Inc., to complete an NRW study for Kentucky American Water (KAW), the largest investor-owned water utility in Kentucky. This study focused on the KAW Central Division system, which serves approximately 115,000 customers within the city of Lexington, Ky., and the surrounding area. The system is comprised of approximately 1,700 miles of water mains.
The purpose of this study was to identify potential NRW causes, assess related KAW tracking methods, and establish best industry practices. This will enable KAW to cost effectively manage NRW.
Brown also delivered an NRW project presentation at the AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition in San Diego, Calif., last summer. He examined information technology as an innovative NRW reduction method. Led by Mike Brown, P.E., and Charles Maher, P.E., the Gannett Fleming project team developed several recommendations as result of the study. Proposed action ranged from main replacement and pressure surge modifications, to pilot programs and a water audit in accordance with recognized industry standards.
Maryland’s First “Green Highway” Project
The U.S. 301 Waldorf Area Transportation Improvements Project was recognized by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) as a 2009 Exemplary Ecosystem Initiative (EEI). Gannett Fleming prepared an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) in support of this assignment. The firm facilitated the NEPA process among federal, state, and local agency and public interests while addressing varied environmental issues.
A unique aspect of this project was the development of an SHA environmental stewardship program to identify, evaluate and implement natural resource and community improvements. In addition to providing necessary transportation infrastructure upgrades, stewardship efforts included watershed-based stormwater management, recycling and reuse.
Gannett Fleming assisted SHA in developing this program and managing natural and community resource work group activities.
Well Developed Environmental Compliance
The Marcellus Formation underlies the majority of Pennsylvania and West Virginia and sections of Ohio, New York, Maryland, and Virginia. Natural gas companies are expanding operations into this region to take advantage of its commercial potential. Gannett Fleming works with natural gas clients and key regulatory agencies such as the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) and the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) to maintain environmental compliance focusing on water resource management.
The firm has completed surface water withdrawal applications, erosion and sediment control plans, water management plans, surface water intake design, and land development plans. This documentation has been developed for SRBC, PADEP, and county-level review and approval in numerous north-central Pennsylvania counties.
Gannett Fleming has also developed a Pennsylvania guide to permitting for Marcellus Shale gas operations that focuses on SRBC, PADEP Chapters 102 and 105, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 authorizations.
Papers/Presentations
Geophysics Applications
Richard Lee, president of Gannett Fleming’s Quantum Geophysics Division, recently delivered a presentation on "The Role of Geophysics in Environmental Investigations." Geophysical applications guide intrusive activities such as drilling and test pit excavations, enabling environmental professionals to drill smart by minimizing the number of borings and maximizing the information gathered. Lee explained that geophysics serves the same function in oil and gas exploration, and that radiography serves a similar function in the medical field.
Lee’s presentation highlighted several case histories where certain geophysical methods were used (and limitations identified). Part of his discussion examined why hydrocarbons and other organic materials (e.g., pesticides) are difficult to detect using geophysical methods, and why geophysical data are considered “non-unique.”
Massachusetts Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy Conference
Environmental Site Remediation Manager Ken Guttman, P.E., and Dr. Atul Salhotra, Ph.D., founding principal of Gannett Fleming’s Risk Assessment and Management Group (RAM Group), delivered presentations at the 25th International Conference on Soils, Sediments, Water and Energy at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Guttman examined the challenges associated with using mass flux (rate of transport of groundwater contaminants) at a Virginia service station. Dr. Salhotra discussed lessons learned during indoor vapor intrusion activities at several manufactured gas plant sites. The conference theme focused on “Assessment, Remediation, Regulation and the Energy Environmental Interface.”
Dr. Salhotra, Ph.D., is a world-renowned expert on vapor intrusion pathways [press release].