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San Francisco Public Utilities Commission and state officials break ground on the new Calaveras Dam
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September 16, 2011
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Sunol, Calif. — Representatives from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), together with local and state officials, broke ground on construction to replace the existing Calaveras Dam in unincorporated Alameda County. The Calaveras Dam Replacement Project will replace the existing dam with a 220-foot-high, new seismically designed earth and rock-fill dam that will be constructed right next to the existing one. The existing dam will be left in place and fully submerged underwater when the project is complete. |
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USGS historical map collection now online
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September 16, 2011
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RESTON, VA — Nearly 90,000 high-resolution scans of the more than 200,000 historical U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) topographic maps, some dating as far back as 1884, are now available online. The Historical Topographic Map Collection includes published U.S. maps of all scales and editions, and are offered as a georeferenced digital download or as a scanned print from the USGS Store. |
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STV Group announces executive appointments
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September 9, 2011
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NEW YORK — The board of directors of STV Group Inc., an engineering, architecture and construction management company with 1,700 employees, announced the appointment of Dominick M. Servedio, P.E., as executive chairman, and Milo E. Riverso, Ph.D., P.E., as president and CEO, effective immediately. |
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Hatch Mott MacDonald, IEW Construction, and NJDOT partner to restore service on storm-damaged I-287
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September 9, 2011
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MILLBURN, N.J. — Hurricane Irene, which battered the Atlantic Coast of the United States at the end of August, caused significant damage to New Jersey’s transportation infrastructure, and caused serious impacts to drivers throughout the region. In Boonton, the northbound lanes of I-287, a major, six-lane highway, were closed due to severe embankment scour and roadway failure. After extreme weather events, an immediate and effective response is critical for minimizing impacts on the region’s citizens and economy. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT), along with IEW Construction Group (Trenton, NJ) and Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM), a Millburn, NJ-based engineering firm, immediately mobilized following Hurricane Irene to implement emergency repairs to this critical highway link. |
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Tampa Bay Water and Veolia Water North America complete largest design-build-operate water treatment facility in U.S. history
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September 9, 2011
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TAMPA, FLA. — A new 120 million-gallons-per-day (mgd) water treatment plant, among the world's most sophisticated water treatment facilities, is now providing Tampa Bay Water customers with drinking water that exceeds federal and state drinking water quality standards. Thanks to an innovative approach taken by Tampa Bay Water, a public regional wholesale water provider, the new plant — designed, built, and operated by Veolia Water North America — is the largest design-build-operate (DBO) drinking water project in U.S. history, representing a potential model for other cities facing growing populations, tight budgets, and water resource challenges. |
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ZweigWhite announces winners of the 2011 Marketing Excellence Awards
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September 9, 2011
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FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. — In recognition of exceptional marketing efforts of architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting firms in the United States and Canada, ZweigWhite announces the winners of the 2011 Marketing Excellence Awards. |
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Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. acquires Eng-Wong, Taub & Associates
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September 8, 2011
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WATERTOWN, MASS. — Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc., a Boston-based planning, design, transportation, land development, and environmental firm, announced its merger with Eng-Wong, Taub & Associates and its affiliates (Eng-Wong, Taub), a transportation planning, traffic engineering, and research firm with offices in New York City and Newark, N.J. This latest merger is the eighth for VHB since 2005 and part of its long-term strategic growth plan. |
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Golder Associates Inc. enters alliance with O’Connell & Lawrence Inc.
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September 8, 2011
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Golder Associates Inc. and O'Connell & Lawrence Inc. announced a strategic alliance agreement for mutually beneficial client development and business opportunities in the fields of construction consulting, construction management, and engineering services. The primary objective is to work together to provide integrated solutions for large capital construction and infrastructure projects. The agreement enables both companies to collaborate and use their combined skills and expertise to broaden client offerings for joint business development pursuits. |
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SCS Engineers renews contract with Merced County Regional Waste Management Authority
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September 8, 2011
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SACRAMENTO, CALIF. — SCS Engineers (SCS) has been under contract with Merced County since 1998, providing a wide range of landfill gas (LFG), landfill engineering, and air quality services. SCS was recently contracted by the newly-formed Merced County Regional Waste Management Authority (MCRWMA) to continue providing these services to the new agency. |
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Departments of Energy and Interior award nearly $17 million for advanced hydropower technologies
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September 7, 2011
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced nearly $17 million in funding during the next three years for research and development projects to advance hydropower technology. Sixteen projects in 11 states were selected through a competitive grant process for their ability to contribute to the development of innovative technologies that produce hydropower more efficiently, reduce costs, and increase sustainable hydropower generation. |
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CH2M HILL and Fayetteville, Ark., collaboration earns public-private partnership award
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September 7, 2011
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DENVER — The National Council for Public-Private Partnerships is recognizing the city of Fayetteville, Ark., and CH2M HILL with one of its 2011 Public-Private Partnership Awards for their work in sustainability. City and CH2M HILL staff will accept the award at NCPPP’s annual conference in October in Tampa. |
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ACEC New York survey documents increasing consolidation and cost competition
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September 7, 2011
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ALBANY, N.Y. — A recent survey of 93 consulting engineering firms across New York State, conducted this summer by the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York (www.acecny.org) to identify industry trends and issues, indicates that firms are actively acquiring other firms, primarily non-competing specialty engineering firms. More than one-third (36 percent) of survey respondents report that their firm acquired another firm in the last five years. This trend is expected to continue, with more than one-half (51 percent) of respondents indicating that it is likely or very likely their firm will acquire another firm in the next five years. |
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Smart phones know when rivers rise
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September 7, 2011
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RESTON, VA. — You can receive a text or email from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) when waters are rising in rivers and streams near you. The service, called WaterAlert, allows users to receive notifications about water levels at any of more than 7,000 USGS real-time streamgages around the country. There is no cost to users for this notification service. |
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NAVFAC marks 169th anniversary
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September 2, 2011
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WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, D.C. — Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) celebrated its 169th anniversary on Aug. 31. NAVFAC was established on this date in 1842 as the Bureau of Navy Yards and Docks (BuDocks) and formally changed its name to NAVFAC in May 1966. |
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Parsons Brinckerhoff Halsall creates transportation advisory board for Canada
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September 2, 2011
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TORONTO, ONTARIO — Parsons Brinckerhoff Halsall Inc., the Canadian operating company of Parsons Brinckerhoff, created a transportation advisory board of eminent Canadians from business and government to provide guidance on emerging trends and business opportunities to assist its Canadian operations. |
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Fiesta Village advanced wastewater treatment plant wins Florida Water Environment Association Award for eleventh time
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September 2, 2011
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FORT WASHINGTON, PA. — The Fiesta Village advanced wastewater treatment plant (AWTP) in Lee County, Fla., received the Florida Water Environment Association’s 2011 Earle B. Phelps Award in the advanced wastewater treatment plant category. The award honors outstanding wastewater treatment plants in Florida that have maintained the highest levels of pollutants removal. The 5-mgd Fiesta Village AWTP, owned and operated by Lee County Utilities, has won the Phelps Award 10 previous times, most recently in 2009. |
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Irene by the numbers
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September 1, 2011
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued the following report about Hurricane Irene. Irene was the first hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Ike struck Texas in September 2008. Irene was the first storm to threaten the New York City area since Hurricane Gloria in September 1985. On Saturday, Aug. 27, Irene’s hurricane force winds extended outward up to 90 miles from the center and tropical storm force winds extended outward up to 290 miles. |
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Langan employees respond in the wake of Hurricane Irene
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September 1, 2011
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ELMWOOD PARK, N.J. — Langan Engineering & Environmental Services and its employees quickly responded to the recent natural disasters impacting citizens around the country by donating $25,000 to the American Red Cross. Half of the money, $12,500, came directly from employees. Langan matched the amount to bring the total to $25,000, which will go directly to victims of Hurricane Irene and the devastating tornados that hit Alabama and other Southeastern states. |
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Successful rainwater harvesting systems combine new technology with old social habits
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September 1, 2011
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SAN ANTONIO — As a crippling drought grips much of the Southern and Southwestern United States, the population continues to grow and water resources become scarcer. One way to address the water problem is by a combination of modern engineering and ancient social principles, outlined in a new paper on rainwater harvesting that will be presented at the 2011 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition. |
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Society for Marketing Professional Services honors Gannett Fleming magazine
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August 31, 2011
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HARRISBURG, PA. — Gannett Fleming’s corporate magazine, Forces of Change, was honored in the Society for Marketing Professional Services’ (SMPS) National Marketing Communications Awards program. The publication received the designation of second place in the magazine category. |
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Anchorage selects CH2M HILL to review city services
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August 31, 2011
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DENVER — The municipality of Anchorage, Alaska, selected CH2M HILL to improve the service and cost efficiency of its core services including fleets, public works, parks and recreation, facilities, and emergency services. The consulting contract involves more than 1,000 municipal vehicles including police and fire vehicles and heavy equipment for road maintenance, facility maintenance on the city's 164 buildings and 211 parks, and public works with design, engineering, and management of roads and drains. CH2M HILL will identify essential functions and recommend ways the city can streamline operations and maintenance to save money while still providing quality services. |
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HDR’s Water Business Group wins Water Research Foundation manganese research project
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August 30, 2011
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OMAHA, NEB. — HDR’s Water business group was selected by the Water Research Foundation to develop a guidance manual that provides utilities with a comprehensive resource for solving water treatment problems that come from variable levels of manganese in their source water. |
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University of California, Irvine Extension launches online Multi-media Environmental Compliance course
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August 30, 2011
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IRVINE, CALIF. — The University of California, Irvine Extension announced the launch of Multi-media Environmental Compliance, a new, online course developed to enhance participants’ understanding of environmental compliance programs. The six-week course, beginning Monday, Oct. 3, will be led by Christina Schwerdtfeger, Ph.D., REA, president and founder of Coto Consulting Inc. |
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Virginia Tech to launch database on water and wastewater pipeline infrastructure systems
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August 26, 2011
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BLACKSBURG, VA. — Unfortunately, more than 2 million miles of the nation’s infrastructure of water and wastewater pipelines are underground and nearing the end of their useful life. For state and local water utilities, making accurate predictions of exactly when the pipes might fail are extremely difficult since they are invisible to the human eye in their buried environmental conditions. In an effort to address this potentially serious problem, a national database on technologies to assess the conditions and rehabilitation of the underground pipes will be available to utilities and the general public, starting on Sept. 1, 2011. |
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Freese and Nichols chief named CEO of the Year by Fort Worth Business Press
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August 26, 2011
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FORT WORTH, TEXAS — Robert F. Pence, P.E., BCEE, CEO of Freese and Nichols, was recognized by the Fort Worth Business Press as CEO of the Year for a private company. The announcement was made during the publication’s annual Top 100 luncheon at the Fort Worth Club featuring Mayor Betsy Price as keynote speaker. Pence was nominated and selected by the publication’s advisory committee in recognition of his continuation and expansion of the firm’s continuous improvement program, which resulted in Freese and Nichols becoming the first and only engineering and architecture firm to receive the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. |
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University of Michigan launches collaboration to help Great Lakes cities adapt to changing climate
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August 26, 2011
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ANN ARBOR, MICH. — Faced with increasing risks of intense storms, heat stress, clean water availability, and economic hardship, municipal leaders are seeking high-quality, location-specific analyses to help plan for climate change impacts. That is the focus of a new $1.2 million University of Michigan (U-M) research project called the Great Lakes Adaptation Assessment for Cities. The three-year project seeks to strengthen the science and decision-making necessary for more effective urban climate adaptation in the Great Lakes region, in both Canada and the United States. |
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New flood prediction technology simulates rivers faster to boost preparedness
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August 25, 2011
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AUSTIN, TEXAS — Researchers from IBM and the University of Texas at Austin have applied advanced analytics to river systems, weather and sensor data, to predict the Guadalupe River’s behavior more than a hundred times the normal speed. Simulating thousands of branches at a time, this technology could help provide up to several days warning of a flood, allowing more time for disaster prevention and preparedness. |
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One of Colorado’s largest water projects celebrates start of major construction
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August 25, 2011
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PUEBLO, COLO. — Southern Colorado officials and community leaders gathered at the base of Pueblo Dam on Aug. 19 to celebrate the beginning of major construction on the historic Southern Delivery System (SDS), one of the largest water supply projects under way in the Western United States. The SDS project will serve the southern Colorado communities of Colorado Springs, Pueblo West, Fountain, and Security. With the ultimate capacity to deliver up to 96 million gallons per day (mgd), SDS will provide a stable supply of water for decades to come. |
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EPA and USDA create partnership to improve rural water systems
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August 22, 2011
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a national partnership to protect Americans’ health by improving rural drinking water and wastewater systems. Nationwide, small water and sewage treatment facilities with limited funding and resources face challenges due to rising costs and aging equipment and pipes. The agreement will send federal resources to support communities that need assistance and promote job training to help put people to work while addressing the growing workforce shortage in the water industry. |
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NCEES awards Cal State L.A.’s civil engineering students for research, design of mud flow barrier
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August 22, 2011
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LOS ANGELES — For demonstrating successful collaboration in engaging students with licensed professional engineers to solve real-world problems, Cal State L.A.’s (CSULA) Civil Engineering department garnered a $7,500 Engineering Award for Connecting Professional Practice and Education. The prize was awarded by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES). |
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