Kansas City, Mo., November 21, 2002 -- Black & Veatch Corp. has been awarded a $35 million contract to provide integrated program management and design services for a 15-year capital improvement program that will bring Toledo's wastewater and combined sewer systems into compliance with federal and state regulations.
Simultaneous with signing a consent decree with the U.S. and Ohio Environmental Protection Agencies, Toledo awarded the company a contract to oversee its $430 million, two-phase Bay View Wastewater Treatment Plant and Collection System Program.
Black & Veatch is leading a team of national and local firms in providing planning, regulatory coordination, design and construction management services aimed at abating the chronic sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and combined sewer overflows (CSOs) that impact local waterways during periods of heavy rain.
"Many cities in the northeastern United States face significant challenges as they rehabilitate and upgrade aging infrastructure systems," said Black & Veatch Senior Vice President Barry Seymour, who manages the company's Northeast Region water sector operations. "Utilities with large, complex capital improvement programs are increasingly turning to full-service national and international engineering companies with comprehensive water and wastewater capabilities to manage implementation of these programs."
Specific tasks include system-wide monitoring and modeling; analysis of technology and management alternatives; financial analyses; development of a system-wide, long-term control plan; design of recommended CSO improvements; upgrade of the Bay View wastewater treatment facility; regulatory compliance; and overseeing public involvement and public relations. Black & Veatch is also working closely with Toledo to procure state and federal funding to supplement city financing.
"Toledo has dramatically enhanced its waterfront, and the Bay View wet weather program demonstrates the city's commitment to further restoring its rivers and streams and improving the quality of life for its citizens," said Black & Veatch Senior Vice President and Technology Applications Director Dick Kuchenrither, who is chairing a national technical advisory committee as part of the company's program management role. "We're honored to work with the city on a program of this magnitude and importance."
Black & Veatch's Mike Domenica, who is serving as the program director, has more than 30 years of experience in the planning, design and construction management of large water resource programs throughout the United States.
Domenica previously managed the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority's CSO program, and he has been involved in other wet weather programs, including those in Providence, R.I.; Philadelphia, Pa.; New York City, and Portland, Ore. While with the MWRA, he assisted the U.S. EPA in developing the national CSO policy and related guidance documents.
The program management contract includes goals to stimulate and support disadvantaged businesses in Toledo. From a downtown office, the program management team will work closely with the University of Toledo, the city's Office of Affirmative Action, the Toledo Black Chamber of Commerce, and other groups to stimulate career interest and opportunities for minorities and support the growth of minority and disadvantaged businesses through subcontracts, education and training programs, and education initiatives.
Robert Stevenson, director of Toledo's Department of Public Utilities, has been involved with the program from its inception. "We're seizing this opportunity to address long-standing economic development goals and build local businesses along with new infrastructure," said Stevenson, "We selected Black & Veatch because we recognized the team's ability and commitment to accomplishing critical social and economic objectives as well as the substantial engineering demands of the program."
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch Corp. is a global engineering, construction and consulting company specializing in infrastructure development in the fields of energy, water and information. The company's Web site address is www.bv.com.
The Water Sector provides technology-based solutions to utilities, governments and industries worldwide. Local project managers work with a global team of water and wastewater treatment process experts to address site-specific challenges through a broad range of consulting, study, planning, design, design-build and construction management services.
