IRVINE, CALIF. — RBF Consulting (RBF), a Company of Michael Baker Corporation, and the City of Murrieta, Calif., were recently awarded the Comprehensive Planning Award: Large Jurisdiction by the American Planning Association, Inland Empire Section (APA IES). The City of Murrieta contracted RBF in 2009 to update the city’s General Plan and prepare its first Climate Action Plan.  

DENVER — The American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE) awarded two of CH2M HILL’s water projects with Excellence in Environmental Engineering Honor awards: the Regional Water Planning Project in Georgia and the Brightwater Wastewater Treatment Plant and System in Washington. The AAEE Excellence in Environmental Engineering Awards recognize and promote quality environmental engineering by selecting projects that demonstrate a comprehensive, integrated approach that considers all environmental media; reflect quality as evidenced by the degree of user satisfaction and proven performance; showcase originality and innovation; address complex environmental problems and situations; and contribute to social and economic advancement.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The week of May 20-26, 2012, marks the 52nd anniversary of National Public Works Week (NPWW), which is sponsored by the American Public Works Association (APWA) and Canadian Public Works Association (CPWA) to draw attention to the vitally important contributions of public works professionals and the crucial role that infrastructure, facilities, and services serve in the quality of life in our communities. To mark this year’s anniversary, cities, towns, counties, districts, and APWA and CPWA chapters across North America are holding public events and celebrations.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a new design competition called the Campus RainWorks Challenge to encourage student teams on college and university campuses across the country to develop innovative approaches to stormwater management. EPA expects the competition to help raise awareness of green design and planning approaches at colleges and universities, and train the next generation of landscape architects, planners, and engineers in green infrastructure principles and design.  

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The University at Buffalo’s Shale Resources and Society Institute issued a report, "Environmental Impacts During Shale Gas Drilling: Causes, Impacts and Remedies," which offers the first quantitative data review of Pennsylvania's regulation of hydraulic fracturing of natural gas. The report's authors found that 1,844 of the violations, or 62 percent, were administrative and preventative in nature. The remaining 1,144 violations, or 38 percent, were environmental in nature. The environmental violations were the result of 845 events, with 25 classified as "major" environmental events. The report defines major environmental events as major site restoration failures, serious contamination of local water supplies, major land spills, blowouts, and venting and gas migration.   

IRVINE, CALIF. — Due to the continued need for professionals certified in Agile techniques, University of California, Irvine Extension announced the availability of two online summer courses titled, “Agile Project Management II” and “Agile Certified Practitioner- Certification Preparation Course.” The courses will provide participants interested in Agile certification with techniques that have become integral to the profession.  

RALEIGH, N.C. — Research from North Carolina State University will allow the development of energy-efficient LED devices that use ultraviolet (UV) light to kill pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. The technology has a wide array of applications ranging from drinking water treatment to sterilizing surgical tools.  

OMAHA, NEB. — HDR, Inc. acquired the business of Stetson Engineering Inc., a Wyoming-based firm with offices in Gillette and Riverton. Stetson Engineering Inc. specializes in design, engineering, and consulting services related to water, sewer, storm sewer, hydrology, and transportation. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. The acquisition strengthens HDR’s engineering expertise in Wyoming and its neighboring states.  

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the International Society of Automation (ISA) are teaming up to co-promote the 2012 ISA Water/Wastewater and Automatic Controls (WWAC) Symposium. Now in its seventh year, the symposium offers a unique opportunity for automation professionals from the water and wastewater sector to come together to share ideas. As a technical co-sponsor of the 2012 WWAC Symposium, WEF is helping ensure that the symposium continues to meet the needs of automation professionals who work in the wastewater sector. For the first time, discounted pricing is available to both WEF and ISA members.  

HARRISBURG, PA. — Gannett Fleming, Inc. released its 2011 Corporate Sustainability Report (CSR), which highlights the firm’s success in achieving a set of three-year sustainability goals one year ahead of schedule. The company exceeded its goals of reducing energy use, water use, and solid waste disposal since 2009 levels at its corporate headquarters in Harrisburg, Pa. Additionally, the report showcases other aspects of the corporate sustainability program, which include health and wellness, safety, continuing education, training, community service, and sustainable solutions for clients.  

DENVER — CH2M HILL announced that it has won the Global Water Award for Water Company of the Year. The Global Water Award for Water Company of the Year is given to the water company that made the most significant contributions to the development and advancement of the global water sector over the past year. In addition, a number of CH2M HILL clients and projects were recognized at the annual Global Water Awards, sponsored by the International Desalination Association and Global Water Intelligence, which distinguish outstanding achievements within the international water industry.  

NEW YORK — In the latest SmartMarket Report, “Business Value of BIM for Infrastructure: Addressing America's Infrastructure Challenges through Technology and Collaboration,” McGraw-Hill Construction demonstrates that, while the adoption and implementation of BIM in the infrastructure sector is a few years behind vertical construction, the complexity of large infrastructure projects and the benefits BIM offers for greater productivity will lead to rapid growth in BIM use in this sector. With almost half (46 percent) of the organizations surveyed reporting the use of BIM on their infrastructure projects, adoption is already up from just 27 percent two years ago.  

FREDERICK, MD — The new stormwater management manual from the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) has changed the way that construction projects are designed. “This is a fundamental change in how we look at stormwater management in the state of Maryland,” stated Stu Schwartz, Ph.D., senior research scientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and one of many stormwater professionals who contributed to MDE’s revision of the stormwater manual.  

TACOMA, WASH. — With a new look and a fresh focus, the Port of Tacoma announced its strategic development plans for the next 10 years. The strategic plan and fresh brand identity mark about a year’s worth of outreach and development with customers, community members, business leaders and employees.  

PASADENA, CALIF. — Tetra Tech, Inc. signed a definitive agreement to purchase the Brazilian mining engineering practice of CRA Engenharia Ltda. The mining practice generates about US$20 million in annual revenue and is headquartered in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. Tetra Tech plans to close the transaction during the third quarter of its fiscal 2012. The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.  

GLENWOOD SPRINGS, COLO. — Schmueser Gordon Meyer President and CEO Louis Meyer announced that after 26 years of continuous operation under the name Schmueser Gordon Meyer, the company’s name has been changed to SGM.  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Construction spending inched up in March 2012 to an annualized rate of $808 billion, up 0.1 percent compared to the previous month and is now 6 percent above year ago levels, according to a new analysis of federal data released by the Associated General Contractors of America. The overall gains mask divergent trends however, as public sector construction activity continues to decline while private sector demand for new construction continues to strengthen.  

Reston, Va. — The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is seeking to create a standard for the use of permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICP). The main objective is to provide a consensus-based national standard guideline for the design and installation of PICP that can be adopted by governmental agencies as general design requirements.  

LOS ANGELES — AECOM Technology Corporation published its first corporate Sustainability Report covering the period Oct. 1, 2010, to Sept. 30, 2011. The 2011 Sustainability Report underscores AECOM’s commitment and strategic approach towards sustainability.  

LOS ANGELES — Levels of copper, cadmium, lead, and other metals in Southern California's coastal waters have plummeted over the past four decades, according to new research from USC. Samples taken off the coast reveal that the waters have seen a 100-fold decrease in lead and a 400-fold decrease in copper and cadmium. Concentrations of metals in the surface waters off Los Angeles are now comparable to levels found in surface waters along a remote stretch of Mexico's Baja Peninsula.