Virginia State University's new Howard Quad Complex makes use of Imbrium Systems' SorbtiveFilter technology to treat stormwater runoff.
The university is situated in Chesterfield County adjacent to the Appomattox River in a sub-basin of the James River, which empties into the lower Chesapeake Bay.
The Appomattox River contributes about one-percent of the phosphorus load to the Chesapeake Bay.
"Everyone needs to protect the Chesapeake Bay from stormwater runoff that contains sediment and nutrients and VSU takes this obligation seriously," said Taso Iraclidis, Regional Manager for Imbrium Systems.
Enviro Engineering Company Changes Name, not Focus
Science Applications International Corp. (SAIC) announced that its R.W. Beck operations are now a part of SAIC Energy, Environment & Infrastructure, LLC.
R.W. Beck was acquired by SAIC in 2009 and has since integrated its capabilities with SAIC's life-cycle energy and environmental services to enhance SAIC's position as a leading scientific, engineering, and technology applications company.
"While R.W. Beck's name is changing, the customer-focused solutions we provide are not. With this new organizational structure, our customers will benefit from a wider breadth of expertise and the ability to deliver innovative business models in an increasingly capital constrained economic environment," said JT Grumski, president of SAIC Energy, Environment & Infrastructure, LLC.
Oklahoma Wetland Program gets Funding
The U.S. EPA has awarded the State of Oklahoma $437,820 to protect, manage and restore wetlands. The project will include development of a Wetlands Program Plan and a classification system of wetland habitats.
EPA's Wetlands Program aims to increase the quantity and quality of wetlands in the United States by conserving and restoring wetland acreage and improving wetland conditions. EPA seeks to develop and refine effective, comprehensive programs for wetland protection and management.
Coal Supplier Fined for Water Quality Violations
Arch Coal Inc., the second largest supplier of coal in the U.S., has agreed to pay a $4 million dollar penalty for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky.
Under the settlement, Arch Coal will implement changes to its mining operations in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky to ensure compliance with the Clean Water Act and prevent an estimated 2 million pounds of pollution from entering the nation's waters each year.
Arch will also implement a treatment system to reduce discharges of selenium, a pollutant found in mine discharges.
Half of the $4 million civil penalty will be paid to the United States and the remaining $2 million will be divided between West Virginia and Kentucky based on the percentage of alleged violations in each state.
American Rivers to Manage Grant Program
American Rivers has been selected by EPA to oversee $1.8 million in environmental grants for projects benefitting communities and rivers in specific parts of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia that comprise the Potomac Highlands.
The competitive grant program will support quality of life improvements in Potomac Highlands communities and protect the region's ecosystems.
American Rivers will design and implement a competitive awards program designed to fund approximately 10 projects with between $150,000 and $300,000 each. All projects must be located within the Potomac Highlands and must specifically and measurably protect, improve, and/or restore the ecological resources and services of the Potomac Highlands ecosystem.
Archer Daniels Midland Donation to Support River Cleanups
Archer Daniels Midland is donating $325,000 to Living Lands & Waters, a nonprofit organization that promotes the health and vitality of the nation's inland waterways. The donation is being made through ADM Cares, the company's social-investment program.
"Helping clean up the Mississippi River is important to the 18 million people who depend on the river for drinking water. It's also important to ADM because we depend on the U.S. waterways to ship grain from American farms to where it's needed around the world," said Royce Wilken, president, American River Transportation Company, a subsidiary of ADM.
The donation includes $125,000 to support ongoing river cleanup and restoration projects and $200,000 to expand the organization's floating classroom program. The floating classroom, a barge made from materials reclaimed from the river and from other renewable materials, serves as a facility for students and teachers to study environmental issues associated with large rivers. The mobile classroom will visit several states each year along the Mississippi, Illinois and Ohio rivers.
Environmental Stewardship Program in NJ Grows to more than 500 Participants
The New Jersey DEP's Environmental Stewardship Program, now entering its fourth year, has grown to more than 500 participants comprising manufacturers, chemical companies, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, utilities authorities, medical facilities, schools, and others that are voluntarily incorporating multifaceted environmental protection efforts into the way they operate.
"These facility operators are showing they care about their communities and the environment by not just meeting the requirements of their permits, but by going the extra mile to protect the environment and their communities," Commissioner Bob Martin said.
The stewardship program has 21 categories, covering a range of activities that go beyond what facilities are required to do under permits: developing comprehensive environmental plans, water and energy conservation programs, material-use reduction programs, green building standards, environmentally friendly purchasing practices, community outreach programs, and programs to encourage employees to carpool and use mass transit.
For more information, visit: www.stewardship.nj.gov
Water Engineering Consulting Firm Acquired by AMEC
International engineering and project management company AMEC has acquired Florida-based BCI Engineers and Scientists Inc., a consulting firm focused on the water and mining sectors.
"This acquisition is consistent with our Vision 2015 growth strategy in the water and mining sectors, as well as expansion in the Southeast U.S.," said Hisham Mahmoud, President of AMEC's Earth & Environmental business.
In addition to Florida, BCI has offices in Colorado, Michigan and Missouri.
Utah Quarry Owners Cited for Unpermitted Stormwater Discharges
The U.S. EPA and Holcim (US) Inc. have entered into a consent agreement in which Holcim will pay a $50,000 penalty for unpermitted discharges to the Weber River at the Devil's Slide Quarry in Morgan, UT.
The agreement resolves an EPA complaint alleging that runoff from the quarry entered the river without a required Clean Water Act permit from the Utah Department of Environmental Quality. The complaint was a follow-up to an earlier order issued by EPA.
Stormwater Pollution Controls in Guam Strengthened
EPA recently announced a decision to require all dischargers of urban stormwater in Guam to obtain permits to control pollution in runoff from urbanized areas of the island.
Municipal stormwater is a leading cause of water quality problems in Guam, and EPA said the requirements will help protect Guam's marine environment from polluted runoff from urban areas, military bases, and road systems.
Within a year, EPA plans to issue permits that will specify controls necessary to prevent and control polluted runoff from urban and military sources. The permits will also create requirements to minimize pollution into existing storm drain systems throughout the island.
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