WaterBriefs: Blancett flow meters receives $1.6 million military contract

In other news below:
-- EPA commits $1,380,000 to protect Great Lakes beaches
-- Spartan Environmental picks Applied Process Equipment to cover Ariz., N.M.
-- Walkerton Clean Water Centre plans demonstration site
-- New research details how a virus hijacks cell signals to cause infection
-- Hatch Mott MacDonald opens Baltimore regional office
-- DLEC announces key engineering additions
-- Schwing America appoints Material Handling Division national sales manager
-- Earthjustice says Supreme Court nominee's position bodes poorly for CWA future
-- Global clean energy goals encourage fuel cell membrane separation research
-- Pa. Gov. working to revitalize former industrial, mining sites
-- Baker receives two awards for DDOT Anacostia waterfront project
-- Uranium Resources Inc. announces favorable NRC decision for N.M. projects
-- Shaw joint venture awarded $192 million remediation contract from DOE
-- Supreme Court to hear landmark Clean Water Act case
-- Superfund tax will be both costly, ineffective

Blancett flow meters receives $1.6 million military contract
RACINE, WI, Jan. 12, 2006 (USWaterNews) -- Blancett Flow Meters, a division of Racine Federated Inc., has been awarded a $1.6 million dollar military contract for the Model 1100 Turbine flow meter and B2800 flow monitor. These meters are part of a fuel transfer system used by the Department of Defense for measurement of filling capacity and flow consumption. Due to the quality, accuracy and durability, the Blancett flow meters were approved by procurement and all transfer fuel systems will be replaced with the Blancett flow systems. The Blancett turbine flow meter can be used in temperature ranges of -25°F to +140°F (-30°C to +60°C), thus withstanding all global environments. The turbine meter consists of only one moving part, thus reducing maintenance costs greatly. Based in Racine, WI, Racine Federated also owns the Hedland, Dynasonics, Preso, Racine and Vortex line of flow meters and elements...

Among other recent headlines:

• EPA commits $1,380,000 to protect Great Lakes beaches -- CHICAGO, Jan. 12, 2006 -- Six states with Great Lakes shoreline (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) are eligible to share $1,380,380 to protect beaches. In a notice published in the Federal Register on Jan. 11, EPA announced that the money will be available to the states for beach water quality monitoring and public notification programs. Since 2001, it has provided nearly $52 million under the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act (BEACH) of 2000 to states and territories with shorelines along the nation's ocean coasts or around the Great Lakes. The grants were announced in January to get a jump on the 2006 beach season. States must submit their grant proposals by April 11. Beach water monitoring enables beach managers to better protect public health. When bacteria concentrations reach unsafe levels, beaches are closed or advisories are issued. In addition, as part of the Clean Beaches Plan, EPA is working on new technologies that will provide faster test results, enabling local health agencies to determine more quickly if a beach should be open for swimming. In addition to monitoring, Great Lakes states have used past grants for activities that provide better beach information to the public, such as beach health brochures, telephone hot lines, posting up-to-date information on beach closings on Web sites and posting warning signs at beaches in multiple languages. The BEACH Act of 2000 requires coastal states and territories to adopt up-to-date pathogen criteria to protect beach-goers from harmful bacteria...

• Spartan Environmental picks Applied Process Equipment as representative for Ariz., N.M. -- MENTOR, OH, Jan. 12, 2006 -- Spartan Environmental Technologies, a distributor and manufacturer of chemical oxidation and disinfection equipment, has appointed Applied Process Equipment, Inc. as its representative for the states of Arizona and New Mexico. Anthony Sacco, Marketing Director for Spartan said, "Spartan is pleased to have Applied Process Equipment and it staff of experienced sales people representing our products in Arizona and New Mexico." Spartan's product line includes a full range of ozone generators, odor control systems and a proprietary electrolytic system for the removal of organics from water. These systems treat air and water from municipal, commercial and industrial facilities. Applied Process Equipment (www.apewater.com) is dedicated to fulfilling their clients water treatment needs through innovative products and personalized service. They utilize the latest advancements in treatment technologies to custom design practical solutions to meet their customers specific water needs. Applied Process Equipment's staff has considerable experience integrating ozone based solutions into water treatment applications...

• Walkerton Clean Water Centre plans demonstration site -- WALKERTON, ON, Canada, Jan. 12, 2006 -- The Walkerton Clean Water Centre is in the process of planning an interim state-of-the-art technology demonstration site which will include, but not be limited to, conventional and advanced water treatment systems; monitoring and control instruments; a distribution system; and numerous kinds of operating devices (e.g., valves and pumps). The Centre intends to have the technology demonstration site include a pilot scale system to be used for hands-on training, technology demonstration and research. The Centre is inviting all drinking water equipment manufacturers and suppliers to participate in the process of building this state-of-the-art site by donating equipment and instruments that would be representative of the advanced treatment technologies currently being used in the drinking water industry...

• New research details how a virus hijacks cell signals to cause infection -- PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 12, 2006 -- A common virus that causes meningitis and heart inflammation takes a "back door" approach to evade natural barriers, then exploits biological signals to infect human cells. Broadening knowledge of how viruses cause infection, a new study describes elaborate methods that the virus has evolved to bypass the body's defenses. The study, co-authored by Jeffrey M. Bergelson, M.D., a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, with Carolyn B. Coyne, Ph.D., also of Children's Hospital, appears in the Jan. 13 issue of the journal "Cell." Grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association supported this research...

• Hatch Mott MacDonald opens Baltimore regional office -- HUNT VALLEY, MD, Jan. 12, 2006 -- Hatch Mott MacDonald (HMM) opened a new office location on December 14 in Hunt Valley, Maryland. The new office is located at 11019 McCormick Road, Suite 100. The new phone and fax numbers are 866-363-1471 and 443-785-0440, respectively. The new location will allow the firm to better serve clients in and around Baltimore. Hatch Mott MacDonald is a full-service infrastructure, transportation and environmental engineering company. The firm has offered water, wastewater, environmental compliance, civil, transportation and architectural services to public and private clients for over 65 years. Services include planning, design, construction management and operations. As a division of Hatch Mott MacDonald Group, our staff of 1,000 employees is augmented by the resources of our global parent firms, which number more than 13,000...

• Aquatech introduces WATERTRAK -- CANONSBURG, PA, Jan. 12, 2006 -- Aquatech International Corp., a leader in the field of desalination, water reuse, and zero liquid discharge, recently introduced WATERTRAK™, a collection of pre-engineered products based upon all of the necessary components such as filtration, demineralization, reverse osmosis and electrodeionization. These designs are created to work as standalone units and also to be easily integrated into system packages...

• Emerson's 2006 educational course offerings feature expanded process automation training -- AUSTIN, TX, Jan. 11, 2006 -- Emerson Process Management announces availability of the company's expanded educational course offerings for 2006. The new course catalog from Emerson's Educational Services, available in print or CD, describes more than 300 training courses designed to facilitate the engineering, operation, maintenance, and optimization of industrial process automation systems and devices. Engineers and technicians who take these courses are better able to optimize the performance of their processes and enhance productivity in their plants. Training is available across North America at factory locations, regional training centers, locally in hotels or at customer sites, and as packaged programs...

• DLEC announces key engineering additions -- PHOENIX, Jan. 11, 2006 -- DL Engineering & Controls Inc. (DLEC) has added three engineers to its Arizona officee -- Eric Hardwick, P.E., as senior engineering manager, and Hong Nguyen and Howard Sun as project managers...

• Schwing America appoints Material Handling Division national sales manager -- WHITE BEAR, MN, Jan. 11, 2005 -- Schwing America Inc, with headquarters in White Bear, MN, recently appointed Chuck Wanstrom to the position of national sales manager within the company's Material Handling Division. With an educational background in civil engineering, Wanstrom joined the Schwing team in October 1995 as project engineer for the Concrete Pump Division. As the manufacturer's material handling product line expanded, Wanstrom was promoted to the division as West Coast sales engineer...

• Earthjustice says Supreme Court nominee's position bodes poorly for the future of Clean Water Act -- WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 11, 2006 -- In a series of rather stunning responses to questions from Senators at his confirmation hearing today, Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito defended his decision in a key public health and water pollution case to dismiss the lawsuit brought by citizens to clean up pollution in the Delaware River, declared the nonprofit public interest law firm Earthjustice. In restating his opinion that the citizens in the case "had not even alleged personal injury," Judge Alito did acknowledge that the citizens "had alleged that enjoyed the Delaware River in a variety of ways"...
"Earthjustice opposes Judge Alito's nomination to Supreme Court; 1st environmental opposition to Supreme Court nominee since Bork in 1987"

• Global goals of clean energy encourage research to improve fuel cell membrane separation technologies -- LONDON, Jan. 11, 2006 -- Among the numerous applications for membrane separation technologies, scientists have been challenged mostly by fuel cells, notes an analysis released Jan. 4 by Frost & Sullivan. They have been working on membrane electrode assemblies to meet the automotive industry's requirements for robust, cost-effective and durable fuel cells to reduce the industry's dependence on fossil fuels. Development of advanced membrane separation technologies in the energy and environmental markets are gaining an impetus from growing concerns over supply chain issues as well as political and security factors. These apprehensions stem from the substantial and continuous use of fossil fuels for transportation and as primary energy sources. To meet the demand for clean water convincingly, technology developers need to find a solution to fouling in many fluid separation applications. In desalination and wastewater treatment, the variability of water sources requires fouling issues to be addressed for each specific application to extend the lifetime of membranes...

• Pa. Gov. working to revitalize former industrial, mining sites -- BAT designation hastens cleanup, makes way for thousands of jobs in Lackawanna, Montgomery, Washington Counties -- HARRISBURG, Pa, Jan. 11, 2006 -- Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell announced old industrial sites and strip mines in three counties will be turned into new business locations with the potential to employ thousands of Pennsylvanians.
The projects in Lackawanna, Montgomery and Washington counties have been designated to receive assistance under Governor Rendell's innovative Brownfield Action Team (BAT) program, which provides technical support to streamline the permitting process at targeted sites -- as well as address related stormwater, wastewater and water quality issues -- to bring key community revitalization efforts to reality sooner...
Also see: "Pa. DEP to publish proposed changes to CAFO general permit"

• Baker receives two awards for DDOT Anacostia waterfront project -- ALEXANDRIA, VA, Jan. 11, 2006 -- Michael Baker Corp. announced that Michael Baker Jr. Inc., its engineering unit, has received two significant awards for work performed on the District Department of Transportation's (DDOT) Anacostia Waterfront Transportation Design Standards project in Washington, D.C. Baker developed a comprehensive design manual for transportation infrastructure throughout the Anacostia Waterfront area that lays the foundation for a sustainable urban transportation network by addressing mobility, environmental stewardship, and community planning. The manual also provides tools to integrate the Anacostia Waterfront with other parts of the District and specifies new standards unique to the project area...

• Uranium Resources Inc. announces favorable NRC decision for the New Mexico projects and update on Texas TCEQ PAA3 approval -- LEWISVILLE, TX, Jan. 9, 2006 -- Uranium Resources Inc. announced that the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Atomic Safety and Licensing Board (ASLB) has ruled the company has carried the burden of demonstrating that an intervenor's challenges to its license regarding radiological air emissions do not provide a basis for invalidating or amending HRI's license to perform ISL uranium mining at its Crownpoint Uranium Project in New Mexico. The ASLB concurred with the Federal Environmental Impact Statement and noted that calculated radiation doses from operations are a small fraction of the regulatory limits and will not be inimical to public health and safety...

• Shaw joint venture awarded $192 million remediation contract from DOE -- BATON ROUGE, LA, Jan. 6, 2006 -- The Shaw Group Inc.'s joint venture company, Paducah Remediation Services LLC, has been awarded a business contract by the U.S. Department of Energy to perform environmental remediation and waste management activities at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Kentucky. Paducah Remediation Services, which includes joint venture partner, Portage Environmental, Inc., will be responsible for groundwater and soil remedial actions, removing legacy waste, decontamination and decommissioning certain inactive facilities, operation of the site waste storage facilities, surveillance and maintenance activities, as well as other activities. Following a transition period, Paducah Remediation Services will take over from the existing contractor in April 2006. The contract covers a three-year period ending in September 2009...

• Supreme Court to hear landmark Clean Water Act case -- WASHINGTON, DC, Jan. 6, 2006 -- For over three decades, the Clean Water Act has aimed to protect and restore the physical, chemical, and biological integrity of our nation's waters. But that could change if a South African-owned paper company gets its way. It's now up to the Supreme Court to decide. On Feb. 21, oral arguments are set in the case of S.D. Warren v. Maine Board of Environmental Protection. This landmark case concerns a radical effort to reverse Congress' 35-year-old mandate in the Clean Water Act, which allows states to mitigate the water quality impacts of hydroelectric dams and other federally licensed activities. For more details on this case and its significance, as well as to review all of the briefs, go to http://www.americanrivers.org/SDWarrenBackgrounder...

• Superfund tax will be both costly, ineffective -- NCPA E-Team scholar says EPA's program needs to be scrapped -- DALLAS, Jan. 5, 2006 -- Superfund celebrated its 25th Anniversary last month and some members of Congress commemorated the event by introducing legislation to reinstate taxes to finance the costly and ineffective program. National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) Senior Fellow H. Sterling Burnett believes the tax will hurt already wounded companies and irreparably damage the economy. The legislation, co-sponsored by Maurice Hinchey (D-N.Y.) and Christopher Shays (R-Conn.), seeks to reinstate a 9.7 cent per barrel tax on oil used by U.S. refineries, impose various fees on chemicals manufactured or sold in the U.S., and add a .12 percent environmental tax on companies with corporate taxable income above $2 million...

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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: Ex-EPA official says new oversight, resources needed for nanotechnology" -- Also in this report (Jan. 11, 2006): Upcoming workshops to feature info on PA Watersheds Data System; Moen launches new water filtration technology at International Builders' Show; Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Wachovia present award to Aqua America CEO; Los Alamos lab contractor caught in scientific fraud on chromium contamination; International panel concludes U.S. has improved environmental performance; American States Water Co. announces approval by CPUC of rate increases; MWDSC Board ratifies first step of plan to overhaul CALFED environmental restoration efforts; Calgon Carbon to consolidate operations; Met-Pro Division receives equipment order for $900,000; Pioneer appoints vice president of sales; H2O Innovation first to win government approval for Quebec drinking water membrane solution; CH2M Hill named one of '100 Best Companies to Work For'; China AsiaStocks.com reports on India, China and water markets...

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