WaterBriefs: Federal court stops Kern County ban of L.A. biosolids
In other news below:
-- Longwatch selected by USEPA for WaterSentinel program
-- Water reuse project earns American Water a N.J. Environmental Excellence Award
-- Dow wetlands project wins Wildlife Habitat Council's 'Lands for Learning' award
-- UC Hub Group signs deal for Tsimshian Environmental Systems
-- Mueller Water Products builds executive staff
-- Colfax launches Colfaxcorp.com
-- German inge AG wins market share with ultrafiltration modules in Russia and China
-- SulphCo hires European programs director
-- Innovative projects wanted for AISC awards competition
-- ASHRAE issues new guidance on becoming part of 'Green Team'
• Federal court stops Kern County ban of L.A. biosolids -- Judge issues preliminary injunction finding ban illegal and biosolids safe -- LOS ANGELES, Nov. 28, 2006 -- A federal judge in Los Angeles issued an opinion last week that allows the city of Los Angeles and other Southern California agencies, businesses and farmers to continue the land application of biosolids on farmland in Kern County. The court issued a preliminary injunction that stops Kern County from enforcing its "Measure E" ordinance passed by voters in June, which would have halted all land application of biosolids beginning early next year. The 24-page opinion by U.S. District Judge Gary Alan Feess granted the request of the city and plaintiffs for a stay of the Kern County biosolids ban while the case awaits trial. Judge Feess ruled that a preliminary injunction is justified because Measure E is likely illegal on three separate grounds -- it violates the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution by discriminating against biosolids from metropolitan Los Angeles, it undermines California law that mandates recycling and it exceeds Kern County's Police Power authority to regulate biosolids. The court also found "no evidence at all" of environmental harm to Kern County from the two farms that recycle biosolids...
Also see: "L.A.'s west side welcomes urban runoff treatment facility"
• Longwatch selected by USEPA for WaterSentinel program -- Video surveillance of remote sites is a key component of critical infrastructure security for water and wastewater treatment systems -- NORWOOD, MA, Nov. 29, 2006 -- The Longwatch Video Surveillance System was selected by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to participate in the EPA Drinking WaterSentinel program. The WaterSentinel program is intended to address Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9 by developing a robust, comprehensive and fully coordinated surveillance and monitoring system for timely detection and appropriate response to drinking water contamination threats and incidents. The pilot project will be deployed through the spring of 2007. Drinking water utilities of all sizes are expected to implement an effective contamination warning system...
Also see: "Verano's Visualizer for RTAP on Linux Brings Flexibility and Security to Mission-Critical SCADA Security Market"
• Water reuse project earns American Water a N.J. Governor's Environmental Excellence Award -- Company recognized by Gov. Jon Corzine for first-of-its-kind residential water reuse project -- VOORHEES, NJ, Nov. 29, 2006 -- The Applied Water Management Group of American Water has been honored with the 2006 New Jersey Governor's Environmental Excellence Award, for development of a first-of-its-kind Reclaimed Water for Beneficial Reuse (RWBR) project at the Homestead of Mansfield active adult community, in Burlington County, NJ. New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine presented the company with the award in the Clean and Plentiful Water category at a ceremony and press event on today at Drumthwacket, the official residence of the Governor. The Mansfield active adult community project, which was initiated in August 2006, involved a series of upgrades to Homestead at Mansfield's existing wastewater facility and enabled delivery of high-quality water to the sprawling grounds of the community. Construction took place over a six-year period and was aided by a $100,000 grant from the NJDEP. Under continuous-operation conditions, the facility will provide up to 275,000 gallons per day of reclaimed water to the 295-acre site. The water will be used to maintain the residential grounds and will help achieve multiple state goals related to Smart Growth...
• Dow Chemical wins Wildlife Habitat Council's Corporate Lands for Learning of the Year Award -- The Dow Wetlands Preserve helps secure top honor, a 'trifecta' for the company -- PITTSBURG, CA, Nov. 29, 2006 -- The Dow Chemical Company was awarded the Wildlife Habitat Council's Corporate Lands for Learning of the Year Award for its Dow Wetlands Preserve project in Pittsburg, CA. The preserve, being recognized for its formation of productive strategic educational partnerships, was presented with the honor at the WHC's 18th Annual Symposium in Baltimore, MD. Dow has now won all three of the top WHC International Conservation Awards: In 2000, it was awarded the Corporate Habitat of the Year Award; in 2003, Dow's partner, Steve Andrews, won the Community Partner of the Year Award. This Corporate Lands for Learning Award marks the third in the "trifecta" of honors for Dow...
• UC Hub Group signs deal with Alaskan tribes for Tsimshian Environmental Systems -- LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29, 2006 -- UC Hub Group Inc. is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, DCL Environmental Systems Inc, has signed a contract with Native American groups in Alaska. DCL Environmental has completed arrangements to acquire 49% of Tsimshian Environmental Systems, in exchange for the licensing rights to the DCL proprietary software and wastewater treatment system. Tsimshian Environmental Systems is a company formed by the Metlakatla Community, located on the Annette Island Reserve in Southeastern Alaska. Although the majority of its population is Tsimshian, Metlakatla is also home to many individuals with diverse tribal affiliations such as Tingit, Haida, Aleut, Yupik and other Alaskan Native peoples...
• Mueller Water Products builds executive staff -- ATLANTA, Nov. 29, 2006 -- In critical moves prior to finalizing its spin-off from Water Industries, Mueller Water Products Inc. announced today that it has named C. Robert Barker its executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary and chief compliance officer, while Marietta Edmunds Zakas has been named senior vice president for strategic planning and investor relations. Formerly with Powell Goldstein LLP and Coca-Cola, Barker will manage all legal affairs of Mueller Water and will have responsibility for corporate governance issues, which include SEC reporting obligations, general legal oversight and supporting the activities of the Board of Directors...
• Colfax launches Colfaxcorp.com -- Website provides one-stop source for information on the company's fluid-handling solutions, product brands and applications, as well as adds value to its global brand -- RICHMOND, VA, Nov. 29, 2006 -- Colfax Corp., the parent company for leading brands Allweiler, Houttuin, IMO, Portland Valve, Tushaco, Warren Pumps and Zenith, announced today the launch of its new website, Colfaxcorp.com. The new website is a result of the company's focus on elevating the Colfax brand as the home for the world's best fluid-handling solutions. It's organized so that users can find what they need quickly. Sectioned by application (commercial marine, oil & gas, etc.), pump technology, product brand and geographic area, the site enables visitors to zero in on the Colfax solutions that can best help their businesses and their customers' businesses...
Also see: "Colfax claims partial victory in European patent infringement lawsuit"
• German inge AG wins market share with ultrafiltration modules in Russia and China -- GREIFENBERG, Germany, Nov. 29, 2006 -- If something has to be newly built or modernized then the best choice is always a leading technology. To make this grade, more Russian and Chinese operators of industrial water treatment plants use the ultrafiltration modules of the German inge AG. The company specializes in development and production of ultrafiltration membranes and modules increasingly gaining market share in those two countries, especially among more difficult cases of water treatment. Russia for example is a difficult market as in some regions of this country the three-month spring melting period lead to high impurities of rivers. Not all membranes can deal with such an exposure to turbidity successfully over time. It's in those cases where the patented Multibore® membrane of inge AG proves its strength...
Also see: "Italians largest utility company uses German high-technology for water purification: inge AG equips desalination pretreatment of a power plant near Rome -- 1000 cubic meter per hour will be purified with ultrafiltration modules"
• SulphCo hires European programs director -- Nevada-based oil technology company hires former BP scientist -- SPARKS, NV, Nov. 29, 2006 -- SulphCo Inc. announced today announced that it has hired Dr. Spencer Taylor as its European programs director. Prior to his employment with SulphCo, Dr. Taylor spent 21 years with British Petroleum as a research scientist and project manager at British Petroleum's Sunbury-on-Thames facility in the United Kingdom. His activities focused on crude oil production, refining and refinery products. Since his retirement from British Petroleum in 2004, he has founded and worked for his own consulting company and holds a visiting readership position at the University of Surrey in the United Kingdom. In his new post, Dr. Taylor's main responsibilities will be to oversee SulphCo's current European customer projects, including the recently announced cooperation agreement with OMV in Austria, as well as interfacing with SulphCo's European-based engineering and equipment suppliers...
• Innovative projects wanted for AISC awards competition -- CHICAGO, IL, Nov. 29, 2006 -- Engineers, architects, fabricators, and all other building team members are invited to submit their best recent building projects to the American Institute of Steel Construction's IDEAS2 Awards. The Awards recognize those projects where structural steel has been used in an innovative manner. To be eligible, the building must be predominantly steel-framed (either wide flange or hollow structural steel sections) and must have been completed between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2006. Projects must be located in North America and both new and renovated buildings are eligible. While the awards are given for a project, all members of the project's team (including the architectural firm, structural engineering firm of record, general contractor, detailer, fabricator, and erector) will be recognized and honored...
• ASHRAE issues new guidance on becoming part of 'Green Team' -- ATLANTA, Nov. 29, 2006 -- Looking to become a more effective player on the green team? "ASHRAE GreenGuide: The Design, Construction and Operation of Sustainable Buildings" will help teach designers how to participate effectively on design teams charged with producing green buildings. The book, an update to the 2003 version of ASHRAE GreenGuide, contains a new chapter outlining guidance on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED™) Rating System developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. The chapter discusses ways in which LEED credits affect engineers and how they can best respond to the opportunities presented by the use of LEED on projects...
Also see: "ASHRAE, Canada Green Building Council Partner to Advance Sustainability"
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