In other news below:
-- U.S. city buys two JMAR BioSentry systems for water security, quality assurance
-- Canada's Green Party proud opponents finally agree Victoria's sewage must be treated
-- Kadent AES names new senior managers
-- Vanson HaloSource, partner tackle safe drinking water in planes, trains
-- Kennedy/Jenks Consultants installs disk-based disaster data recovery appliance from Revinetix
-- Texas' Trinity River Authority retains funds to repair of Lake Livingston Dam
-- Hampton Roads Sanitation District picks Datastream 7i to manage wastewater system
-- Pentair names Durant to senior vice president of finance, analysis
-- UK's Ofwat plans increased protection for water resale customers
-- San Jose Water Co. withdraws timber harvest plan to complete fire study
-- LADWP moves to accelerate renewable energy goal to 20% by 2010
-- Seattle-based 3TIER Environmental Forecast Group announces operational expansion
Rhodia marks Bay area environmental milestones -- Peyton Slough re-alignment project nears completion -- MARTINEZ, CA, Dec. 22, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- One of San Francisco Bay's longstanding toxic "hot spots" left over from a bygone industrial era has been eliminated, and restoration of the surrounding wetlands has begun, as part of the multi-year Peyton Slough remediation and re-alignment project.
The Peyton Slough drains a marsh system and watershed surrounded by refineries, industrial terminals and a Rhodia Inc. manufacturing plant.
The project is one of the largest public/private, cooperative partnerships in state history, led by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. The project included participation by other government agencies, companies, environmental groups and interested individuals.
The environmental milestones highlighted the recent completion of the second construction season for Rhodia's Peyton Slough program, adjacent to the company's Mococo Road chemical plant. Rhodia had no role in creating the environmental issues in the Slough, but continues to meet its obligation as property owner to address the site's environmental legacy.
The project's comprehensive planning and oversight process comprised meticulous engineering and environmental studies, numerous public hearings and closely-monitored construction. Construction activities remain for next year's construction season after which a comprehensive environmental monitoring program will be launched to track the restoration.
Over the last five years, the Regional Water Quality Control Board has led nearly two-dozen government and regulatory agencies, environmental groups and interested individuals who partnered with Rhodia, its environmental consultant, URS Corp. of Oakland, and its construction contractor, The Dutra Group of San Rafael, to address the pollution source and improve the wetlands.
Activities performed through the 2005 construction season include:
-- A re-aligned Peyton Slough channel, more than a mile long, has been opened to flow, with curved banks, in clean soil, with more than a half-mile of associated tributaries that are expected to attract shore birds to the enhanced wetlands now covering more than 200 acres.
-- Side cast dredge material along the banks of the old slough was removed and backfilled to marsh plain elevation to provide an expanded and contiguous wetland habitat.
-- The old slough containing sediments with copper and zinc, from long-discontinued smelting operations, was capped in place to isolate the sediments and prevent them from impacting the Carquinez Strait that leads to San Francisco Bay.
-- The re-aligned Peyton Slough began to drain upstream wetlands, while allowing potential tidal flow of salt water in the wetland ecosystem. A new tide gate now allows better management of freshwater and tidal flows.
-- During all construction activities, sensitive species were protected or temporarily relocated, and their populations monitored. After the completion of construction, the habitat will be monitored to document the effectiveness of the restoration project.
-- Adjacent infrastructure, including underground pipelines, railroad tracks and roads were preserved, protected or rebuilt, depending on their planned or potential impact on the wetlands.
The overall Peyton Slough remediation plan targets, among other things, copper and zinc contamination in the Slough that dates back a century ago to long-discontinued ore handling and copper smelting operations. Adjacent to the project site, Rhodia continues to operate a sulfuric acid regeneration plant, a completely different type of operation, that began in 1970 after its predecessor company purchased the property in 1968.
"This project has been unique in so many ways," explains Mary Brown, Rhodia's project manager. "From the cooperative engagement of the public and private sectors, to the challenges of this ecosystem, the Peyton Slough success demonstrates that significant environmental progress can be made when diverse groups approach a common goal. Rhodia is proud to share in this accomplishment and we acknowledge the many technical and public policy goals advanced by our partners along the way."
Pete Jurichko, Rhodia's Martinez plant manager, cited another unique attribute of the project: "Peyton Slough proves that environmental priorities can be well-served, even in the midst of a major petrochemical industrial complex. Years ago, doubters might have described the Peyton Slough remediation as an impossible dream. Today it's a reality."
The Regional Water Quality Control Board served as the lead regulatory agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and actively participated in the development and oversight of the project.
The other participating agencies included the San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission, the California State Lands Commission, the California Department of Fish and Game, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other local, regional and statewide agencies.
Rhodia is a global specialty chemicals company recognized for its strong technology positions in applications chemistry, specialty materials & services and fine chemicals. Partnering with major players in the automotive, electronics, fibers, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, consumer care, tires and paints & coatings markets, Rhodia offers tailor-made solutions combining original molecules and technologies to respond to customers' needs. Rhodia subscribes to the principles of Sustainable Development communicating its commitments and performance openly with stakeholders. Rhodia generated net sales of EUR 5.3 billion in 2004 ($7.2 billion using the Dec. 31, 2004 USD/Euro exchange rate of 1.3621) and employs 20,000 people worldwide.
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Among other recent headlines:
• U.S. city purchases two JMAR BioSentry water monitoring systems to support new security measures and advanced water quality assurance -- SAN DIEGO, Dec. 22, 2005 -- JMAR Technologies Inc. has received a purchase order from a key U.S. city for two BioSentry™ Water Monitoring Systems to help protect the city's drinking water against the possible introduction of Cryptosporidium or other harmful microorganisms. The systems will be installed in the municipal water plant to monitor the city's water on a 24-hour continual basis for the presence of potentially harmful protozoa (e.g., Cryptosporidium and Giardia) and bacterial pathogens (e.g., E. coli). In February 2006, one unit will be installed at the distribution point of the municipal water plant and the other unit will be installed at a pumping station in the distribution network. As a leading proponent of real-time, continuous monitoring systems to quickly detect harmful contamination by waterborne microorganisms, the city plans to showcase its BioSentry operations so other potential users can evaluate the benefits of this approach in their water districts...
• Harris calls for tougher waste-water treatment standards -- Canada's Green Party proud opponents finally agree Victoria's sewage must be treated -- VICTORIA, British Columbia, Canada, Dec. 22, 2005) - Past governments failed Canadians by not implementing strict national waste-water standards or building a sewage-treatment plant in Victoria when they had the chance, said Green Party of Canada leader Jim Harris. He made the comments at Clover Point, which is the location of one of two pumping stations in Victoria that pump an average of 129 million liters of raw sewage into Juan de Fuca Strait every day. Joining Harris were local candidates Ariel Lade, Andrew Lewis and Mike Robinson...
• Kadent AES names new senior managers -- QUEENSBURY, NY, Dec. 22, 2005 -- Kadant AES has appointed Lynn Wadleigh as controller. In addition, Dick Goldy has been appointed research and development manager, and Stan Green has joined the company as engineering manager. Kadant AES, a subsidiary of Kadant Inc., is your source when choosing cleaning and conditioning, forming and filtration system products for the pulp and paper industry. With headquarters in Queensbury, N.Y., Kadant AES offers an extensive line of showers, oscillators, liquid filtration and forming systems products...
• Vanson HaloSource, Monogram Systems tackle safe drinking water in commercial planes, high speed trains -- REDMOND, WA, Dec. 21, 2005 -- Without careful maintenance, commercial aircraft drinking water is contaminated with bacteria in 17% of cases according to the Environmental Protection Agency. A partnership between two leading companies in water safety and technology may change all that. Vanson HaloSource Inc, a Redmond, Wash.-based health science technology company, has signed a joint development agreement with Monogram Systems of Carson, Calif. The agreement covers feasibility and technical development for water sanitization and purification systems for commercial airliners and high speed trains, using HaloPure®, Vanson HaloSource's innovative water treatment and purification technology. Monogram Systems is a global leader in application of water and waste technology for the transportation industry, with 50 years experience designing complete potable water systems for business, regional and large commercial aircraft...
• Leading West Coast engineering, environmental science consulting firm selects Revinetix Sentio 2000 Network backup appliance -- Kennedy/Jenks Consultants installs disk-based disaster recovery appliance from Revinetix to improve reliability, speed of data backup -- SAN FRANCISCO & SALT LAKE CITY, Dec. 21, 2005 -- Revinetix, a pioneer in Disk2Disk2Disk™ (D2D2D) backup solutions, today announced that Kennedy/Jenks Consultants, a full-service engineering and environmental sciences consulting firm, has implemented a Revinetix Sentio 2000 backup appliance to protect corporate server data relied upon by the firm's 500+ employees. Kennedy/Jenks' former tape-based backup solution did not provide the reliability nor storage capacity provided by Revinetix' disk-based solution. With 23 offices in the western United States, Kennedy/Jenks Consultants serves public and investor-owned water, wastewater, airport, railroad, marine port, food processing, institutional, and manufacturing clients with environmental and infrastructure consulting. The company selected a Revinetix Sentio device to be installed at Kennedy/Jenks' San Francisco headquarters. This backup appliance currently backs up approximately 750 GB of data...
• Texas' Trinity River Authority retains funds to repair of Lake Livingston Dam -- LIVINGSTON, TX, Dec. 21, 2005 -- Full funding for the repair of the damage caused by Hurricane Rita to Lake Livingston Dam was announced on Tuesday, December 20 when Congressman Kevin Brady (R - The Woodlands) advised that the Federal Emergency Management Agency would fund 75 percent of the anticipated $9.6 million repair cost. Separately, the Houston City Council took action that would fund the balance of the required funding...
• Hampton Roads Sanitation District picks Datastream 7i to manage wastewater system -- HRSD selects asset performance management solution based on comprehensive functionality, configurability -- GREENVILLE, SC, Dec. 21, 2005 -- Datastream Systems Inc. announced that the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) has selected the Datastream 7i™ Asset Performance Management solution to manage assets across 13 wastewater treatment plants spanning 17 cities and counties in Virginia...
• Pentair names Karen A. Durant to senior vice president of finance and analysis -- GOLDEN VALLEY, MN, Dec. 21, 2005 -- Pentair Inc. promoted Karen A. Durant, 46, to senior vice president of finance and analysis, effective Jan.1. This newly created position will report to Pentair executive vice president and chief financial officer David D. Harrison. John P. Humbert, 43, will replace Durant as Pentair corporate controller...
• Ofwat plans increased protection for water resale customers -- BIRMINGHAM, England, UK, Dec. 21, 2005 -- Plans published today by the United Kingdom's Office of Water (Ofwat) to strengthen the Water Resale Order will give people living in mobile homes and other tenanted properties greater protection in paying for their water supply.
The move follows a consultation exercise which Ofwat carried out earlier this year asking for views on how the Order could be changed to reflect new powers given to the Director General under the Water Act 2003. It also sought comments on other areas of resale which Ofwat believed could be strengthened. More than 200 people and organisations responded to the consultation and gave broad support to Ofwat's plans. The Water Resale Order protects customers who pay another person - such as a landlord or a mobile home park owner (the re-seller) - for their water and sewerage services rather than the water company direct...
In other UK water news:
-- "Defra: New Year, new stewardship - Bringing wildlife benefits to the Northwest"
-- "Cryptosporidium in N. Wales: New water watchdog, CCWater, presses company to restore public confidence"
• San Jose Water Co. withdraws timber harvest plan to complete fire study -- SAN JOSE, CA, Dec. 20, 2005 -- San Jose Water Company (SJWC), a wholly owned subsidiary of SJW Corp., has temporarily withdrawn its Non-Industrial Timber Management Plan (NTMP) submitted to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF). The NTMP proposed to harvest, in stages, timber from approximately 1,000 acres of SJWC's watershed properties in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Although a fire study is not required nor usually included in an NTMP, SJWC's goal is to include additional fire protection measures within the plan based on recommendations developed from the study...
• LADWP Board of Commissioners moves to accelerate renewable energy goal to 20% by 2010 -- LOS ANGELES, Dec. 20, 2005--The Board of Water and Power Commissioners for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) took the first step today toward increasing renewable energy sources to 20 percent of the City's power mix by 2010--seven years ahead of the renewable portfolio standard (RPS) goal that was adopted by the Board and the City Council earlier this year. Board President Mary E. Nichols asked LADWP management to begin meeting with neighborhood councils, homeowners, businesses and other stakeholders to discuss the accelerated RPS goals. The accelerated renewable energy plan, which was presented to the Board during a Dec. 13 workshop, outlines how LADWP would further diversify its retail energy mix to meet the goal of 20 percent by 2010 by procuring renewable energy resources to own and/or purchase. The renewable resources will include a mix of wind, geothermal, biomass, landfill gas, small hydroelectricity, and solar power...
• Seattle-based 3TIER Environmental Forecast Group announces operational expansion -- Move to major Internet communication, computing facility and addition of key scientists highlight continuing focus on operational renewable energy forecasting -- SEATTLE, Dec. 20, 2005 -- 3TIER Environmental Forecast Group, an independent large-scale renewable energy forecasting and assessment provider today announced a major expansion at their Seattle headquarter office. The expansion includes a transfer of the entire Seattle office into the Westin Building in downtown Seattle -- the premier telecommunications and internet hub for the Pacific Northwest -- as well as the addition of several key scientific and business development staff members. 3TIER's move into the Westin Building places the company in one of the most reliable computing and internet-access centers in the region. The 34 story Westin Building is specifically designed for high technology companies like 3TIER, which need highly reliable infrastructures required for supercomputing, including on-site backup generation, redundant hardware/software systems, controlled building access, and direct fiber connections to multiple major bandwidth providers. Heading 3TIER's newly created Research, Development, and Deployment Group is Dr. Bart Nijssen who most recently served on the Faculty at the University of Arizona in Hydrology and Water Resources and Civil Engineering...
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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: Jacobs receives contract from San Diego County Water Authority" -- Also in this report (Dec. 20, 2005): Also in this report: FuelCell Energy's high efficiency power plant meets Calif.'s strict air standards; Pionetics announces LINX Water System joint venture in China; IT project management vet to lead Labtronics implementation, validation services; QAD MFG/PRO supports strategic alliance between A.J. Antunes & Co. and Fri-Jado; New crisis management system to protect all K-12 schools in Washington state; Planning needed to keep water on tap, UK water champion warns House of Lords; Water among three new corporate divisions at Germany's Aqua Society; Baker establishes Iraq Survivors Scholarship Fund at The Pittsburgh Foundation; Ship management company to pay $10.5 million for covering up oil pollution...
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