In other news below:
-- American Sugar Refining selects ESS-hosted application for EH&S compliance
-- Shanghai Baosteel selects Bentley's DigitalPlant for 3D plant design solution
-- ASCE names executive VP of new Civil Engineering Forum for Innovation
-- LADWP commissioners to review to solar incentive program
-- GE Fanuc's Users Conference set for May 30-June 2 in Orlando
-- USAID announces additional relief assistance for Maldives water projects
-- Labtronics, Hanson Research to host pharmaceutical labs webcast
-- Innovative structural steel projects win national AISC awards
-- May event to focus on 'Innovative Financing in Mexico's Infrastructure Market'
-- Sensicore honored as one of 'Michigan 50 Companies to Watch'
-- EnviroMetal Technologies settles legal action against ARS Technologies
-- Kansas City Power & Light to restore 106 acres in wetlands conservation project
Woodard & Curran facilities recognized by state and regional associations
PORTLAND, ME, May 1, 2006 -- Three treatment facilities contract operated by Woodard & Curran have been recognized by state and regional associations for excellence in operations, safety, emergency response, training, and environmental compliance, the company announced last week.
The Georgia Association of Water Professionals (GAWP) recognized the Fowler Water Reclamation Facility as the 2006 Wastewater Plant of the Year for the 1-mgd and less non-discharging category. The plant produces a high quality water for reuse and land application. The facility was recognized among other Georgia facilities for its excellence in compliance, permit monitoring, safety, maintenance, and training. The contract operations team of Woodard & Curran and Metcalf & Eddy have operated the 1-mgd membrane bioreactor technology facility for Forsyth County, Georgia, since 2004.
The GAWP also recognized Delta Air Lines' Industrial Wastewater Treatment Facility as Industrial Plant of the Year in the indirect discharge, biological treatment category. The facility, which is located at Delta's headquarters at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia, was recognized for its excellence in compliance, permit monitoring, safety, maintenance, and staff training. Delta also won Gold Awards for 100% permit compliance for its oily and plating waste permits. Woodard & Curran has contract operated this facility since 1999.
The Ellsworth Air Force Base Wastewater Treatment Facility was recognized by the South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources with the 2005 Industrial Operation and Maintenance Excellence Award. The 1-mgd wastewater treatment facility serves U.S. Air Force Base housing, base flight lines, and a base hospital. Woodard & Curran has contract operated this facility since 2001.
Woodard & Curran is a consulting and operations firm integrating services in engineering, science, and operations. Founded as a 10-person office in 1979, the firm has offices throughout the eastern U.S. with operational offices nationwide.
Among other recent headlines:
• American Sugar Refining selects ESS-hosted application for EH&S compliance -- Corporate-wide installation of safety, training and audit compliance software expected to improve overall safety performance and reduce compliance costs -- TEMPE, AZ, May 1, 2006 -- ESS, a leading provider of environmental, health & safety (EH&S) and crisis management software and services, announced today that American Sugar Refining Company, a subsidiary of Florida Crystals, has selected ESS' Compliance Suite™ Training, Safety and Audit software solutions in a hosted configuration for its facilities nationwide. American Sugar's five facilities in Chalmette, LA; Yonkers, NY; Baltimore; Crockett, CA; and Cleveland, currently report to management on a monthly basis regarding safety initiatives. John Green, the company's EH&S director, said the software will allow for increased frequency and accuracy of reporting to better address safety processes at the facilities...
• Shanghai Baosteel selects Bentley's DigitalPlant for 3D plant design solution -- BEIJING, China, May 1, 2006 -- Bentley Systems, Incorporated today announced April 26, at the 2006 Global Construction Summit, a gathering of more than 400 construction executives and government officials, that Shanghai Baosteel Engineering and Technology Company Ltd. (BSEE) has chosen Bentley's DigitalPlant as its principal 3D plant design software. BSEE provides state-of-the-art engineering and technology for parent company Shanghai Baosteel Group Corp., the largest iron and steel conglomerate in China. Its services include planning, research and development, plant design, equipment design, equipment manufacture, integration of equipment, technical assembly, general contracting, and technical advisory.
• ASCE names executive VP of new Civil Engineering Forum for Innovation -- RESTON, VA, April 28, 2006 -- The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) announced that Susan "Sue" H. Skemp has been selected to serve as the executive vice president of its newly formed Civil Engineering Forum for Innovation (CEFI). Skemp spent 31 years with Pratt & Whitney in East Hartford, Conn., where she rose through the ranks to become manager of advanced technology planning. In that role, Skemp was responsible for strategic planning of the technology portfolio associated with the company's aircraft engines, power systems and space propulsion. From 2002 to 2003, she served as the 121st president of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), is a Fellow of ASME, and currently sits on the board of directors for the association's Foundation. She has also served as a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics' (AIAA) Public Policy Committee on Aeronautics, and is an Associate Fellow of AIAA. Since October 2004, Skemp has been an ASME Federal Fellow, in the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), Executive Office of the President, where she has served as the policy lead on industrial technology issues as they relate to the President's Manufacturing Initiative and Manufacturing Innovation Executive Order...
• LADWP commissioners to review to solar incentive program -- LOS ANGELES, April 28, 2006 -- The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Board of Commissioners will hold a special workshop on May 2 at 12 noon at the LADWP headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. Management will present its proposed strategy and revised guidelines for LADWP's Solar Photovoltaic Incentive Program. The revised guidelines are designed to meet escalating requests by customers that are eager to participate in one of the largest solar electric system installation programs in the nation. The guidelines reinforce LADWP's continued commitment to solar power for the City of Los Angeles. The proposed revisions include a performance based incentive payment directly linked to the actual efficiency of the solar photovoltaic system. In addition, the proposed guidelines for the program include two separate funding categories for residential and commercial customers to ensure a broad and equitable distribution of incentive funds...
• GE Fanuc's Users Conference set for May 30-June 2 in Orlando -- CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, April 28, 2006 -- GE Fanuc Automation Inc, a unit of GE Industrial, will be hosting its second annual Users Conference, Discover 2006, at the Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, May 30-June 2. The three-day event will highlight best practices in technology, manufacturing and business. The full breadth of GE Fanuc's automation solutions will be featured in workshops, presentation and discussion tracks with hands-on eduction and training available in self-paced labs...
• USAID announces additional relief assistance for Maldives water projects -- WASHINGTON, DC, April 28, 2006 -- Today, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that $1.9 million of post-tsunami recovery funds would be utilized to improve clean water access for those people affected in the Republic of Maldives. A persistent problem since the December 2004 catastrophe, the relief funds will bolster water and sanitation capacity to two of the islands affected. This announcement was made in New York at the Global Consortium on Tsunami Recovery, a United Nations event that was opened by UN Special Envoy, former President Bill Clinton. This relief assistance is in addition to the $10 million previously provided to the Maldives by the U.S. government...
Also see:
-- "USAID in Tsunami Reconstruction"
-- "USAID in Iraq"
-- "USAID in Afghanistan"
• Webcast for pharmaceutical laboratories co-hosted by Labtronics, Hanson Research -- GUELPH, ON, Canada, April 27, 2006 -- Hanson Research and Labtronics Inc. have teamed up to host a free Webcastfor pharmaceutical laboratories to address the critical need for integrating dissolution equipment with laboratory systems to ensure the integrity of dissolution data and provable regulatory compliance. The one-hour Webcastentitled "Ensuring the Integrity of Your Dissolution Data" will take place Thursday, June 15, at 2 p.m. EDT North America. Interested parties can register at: www.labtronics.com/webcasts/webcast-billdds.htm...
• Innovative structural steel projects win national awards -- CHICAGO, IL, April 27, 2006 -- Eleven structural steel building projects have earned national recognition in the 2006 Innovative Design in Engineering and Architecture with Structural Steel awards program (IDEAS2). Conducted annually by the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC), the IDEAS2 awards recognize outstanding achievements in engineering and architecture on structural steel projects around the country. A panel of design and construction industry professionals identified one National and two Merit award winners in three categories, based on constructed value. In addition, the panel awarded two Presidential Awards of Excellence for structural engineering accomplishments...
Also see:
-- "AISC, SSPC form Joint Paint Standard Committee"
-- "OSHA sets 5 micrograms as hexavelent chromium's new PEL"
• May event to focus on 'Innovative Financing in Mexico's Infrastructure Market' -- MEXICO CITY, Mexico, April 27, 2006 -- On May 23-24, 250 of the top infrastructure executives in the Americas will meet at the Torre Mayor in Mexico City to discuss the Top 20 infrastructure projects in Mexico, presented by international sponsors. The event, the Mexico Leadership Forum, is organized by Washington, DC's CG/LA Infrastructure. The forum has selected the 57-floor Torre Mayor, the tallest building in Latin America, as the site for the event. Private meetings can be requested with key decision-makers involved in all levels of Mexico's infrastructure market to better assure success regarding select projects, including:
• Central American Oil Refinery
• Guadalajara Intermodal Port
• Modernization of Toluca's Airport
• Cutzamala Mega Water Circuit
• Mexicali Technology Park...
Also see:
-- "MIGA calls for innnovative financing models for Latin American infrastructure, water projects"
-- "Kyrgyz Republic: World Bank supports water management improvement"
-- "World Bank Report: Water utility subsidies benefit the 'haves', not the 'have nots'"
-- "World Bank calls for increased efforts to reach water security"
• Sensicore honored as one of 'Michigan 50 Companies to Watch' -- ANN ARBOR, MI, April 26, 2006 -- Sensicore, which manufactures smart sensor systems and software for monitoring the purity and surety of our water supply, today announced that it has been recognized as one of the "Michigan 50 Companies to Watch," an awards program sponsored by the Edward Lowe Foundation. Sensicore received the honor at an award ceremony during the second annual Michigan Celebrates Small Business event, April 19 in East Lansing, MI, and was one of six companies profiled at the ceremony. It develops smart sensors and sensor networks that automate water testing, data collection and analysis for both drinking and wastewater applications. The company's WaterNOW online data network helps users understand this data through unique visualization and comparison tools while also organizing their information, process and testing procedures...
• EnviroMetal Technologies settles legal action against ARS Technologies -- FREEPORT, IL, April 25, 2006 -- EnviroMetal Technologies Inc. (ETI) is pleased to announce a settlement in legal proceedings initiated in October 2004 against ARS Technologies Inc. (ARS). As a result of this settlement, the parties have reached an agreement that will result in a profitable relationship in applying ETI's core technology using ARS' patented placement methods. ETI president John Vogan stated, "ARS is one of the leading practitioners of 'source zone' clean-up using iron (via its FeroxSM process), so reaching this agreement will allow both firms to focus on delivering cost-effective environmental solutions to their clients. The agreement should also clarify ETI's intellectual property position for others in the industry." Under the agreement, all projects utilizing ARS' Ferox injection method will require the site owner to obtain a site-specific license directly from ETI. This settlement does not affect ARS' patented pneumatic fracturing and gas based atomized injection technology...
• Kansas City Power & Light to restore 106 acres in wetlands conservation project -- KANSAS CITY, MO, April 25, 2006 -- Kansas City Power & Light (KCP&L), a subsidiary of Great Plains Energy, announced April 18 that the first phase of the restoration of a 106-acre tract of wetlands at the Iatan Generating Station was to begin on April 19. When completed, Iatan will be home to one of the most unique wetlands along the Missouri River bottom, with improved water quality, stormwater retention, and habitat for a diversity of plant and animal species. KCP&L worked collaboratively with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in developing a plan that will restore the natural wetlands to function as they did in their original state...
***
In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: RJN Group to de-combine basins in Chicago-area sewer infrastructure" -- Also in this report (April 26, 2006): WEF, Black & Veatch release new report on wastewater system damage in Gulf Coast; Saluda Dam named ASCE 2006 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement; International Activated Carbon Conference issues 2006 call for papers; AMCO Water partners with Ferguson Waterworks; Met-Pro Duall Division's second order for groundwater remediation equipment tops $800K; Watts Water Technologies acquisition Changsha Valve Works done; Report: Tighter regulations prompt industrial waste management outsourcing in Europe; SMT announces acquisition of Silvan Industries Inc.; Ridgecrest, Calif., ordered to stop discharging metals into sewer system; Verano signs new systems integrator in Lithuania...
###