aaee e3competition-winners-2002

8 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER April 2002

THE EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING®competition of the American Academy of EnvironmentalEngineers exists to identify and reward the best of today’s

environmental engineering research, planning anddesign and the best operation and management of

environmental facilities and programs. Launched 15 yearsago, the 2002 edition drew entries from around the world that typify thecreativity and innovations of consulting engineers, municipal utilities,industrial corporations, and academics. This year’s entries ranged fromprojects costing more than $1 billion to projects costing just a fewthousand dollars and from those requiring years to complete to onecompleted in just a few weeks.

The Academy’s Excellence in Environmental Engineering® competitionsingles out those projects and programs for recognition which testify tothe genius of humankind. Its criteria define what it takes to be the best inenvironmental engineering practice — a holistic environmentalperspective, innovation, proven performance and customer satisfaction,and contribution to an improved quality of life and economic efficiency.Those chosen for prizes in 2002 by an independent panel ofdistinguished experts addressed the broad range of modern challengesinherent in providing life-nurturing services for humans and protectionof the environment. They best exemplify the Excellence in EnvironmentalEngineering® criteria.

2002

April 2002 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER 9

A Grand Prizeis awarded in each category.

An Honor Awardis awarded to others deserving

of commendation.

Superior Achievementfor Excellence in

Environmental Engineeringis awarded to the best entry.

The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project provides ablueprint for improving the River’s deteriorated 400 square mile watershed.Begun in 1992, the project combines control of combined sewer overflows,point sources of pollution and improved watershed management in an integrated approach torestore and protect water quality in the Rouge River. Complicating plan implementation was themultiple jurisdictions — 47 communities and three counties — and many other responsibleparties in the watershed. Both the technical and institutional challenges were overcome by theproject’s holistic watershed approach that involved all stakeholders, extensive community involve-ment, and consideration of all natural resources, including the air and land, along with the water.

Preliminary results indicate that CDM’s plan is working.Stretches of the river that rarely met water quality standards regularlydo so now and aquatic life is improving. Recreation tied to the Riveris also increasing as the plan takes hold.

ROUGE RIVER NATIONAL WETWEATHER DEMONSTRATIONPROJECT

SUPERIORACHIEVEMENT

ENTRANTCamp Dresser & McKee Inc.

ENGINEER INCHARGECarl R. Johnson, P.E., DEE

LOCATIONWayne County, Michigan

Since the project’s inception, there hasbeen an increase in fish and wildlifereturning to the river and its banks.

Due to improved water quality residents andvisitors now enjoy many recreational activitieson the Rouge River and Newburgh Lake

Stormwater controls are alsointegrated with CSO controls, andplans are underway to repair theconcrete channel to improveaquatic and riparian habitats.


LANDFARMING PILOT TREATMENT SYSTEMFOR WATERVLIET ARSENAL PROFILE

CRITICAL EVALUATION OF FIELD MEASUREMENTTECHNOLOGIES FOR TOTAL PETROLEUMHYDROCARBONS IN SOILRemediation of contaminated sites is often delayed while engineers await test results. Tetra Tech EM, Inc.evaluated seven new innovative technologies that enable rapid, on-site testing for Total Petroleum Hydrocar-bons (TPH) for USEPA as part of its SITE program. These technologies were evaluated using 1400 soilsamples selected to mimic typical conditions across the United States. This evaluation proved that some ofthese new approaches can be used to provide TPH results, comparable in all respects to those obtained bycustomary laboratory techniques, quicker and at much lower cost.

Pilot testing of a new approach tobioremediation employing deep trenchlandfarming (six to seven feet as opposedto the customary one to two feet) provedits viability. TPH and PAH are reducedby 70 percent. Using this method, theArmy Corps of Engineers can remediatethe Watervliet Arsenal’s contaminatedsoils and save $500,000 plus as comparedto conventional remediation methods.

GRAND PRIZERESEARCH

ENTRANTTetra Tech EM Inc.

ENGINEER INCHARGEKirankumar V. Topudurti,Ph.D., P.E., DEE

LOCATIONChicago, Illinois

RIGHT: Chemetrics’ Remedi-Aid™ TPHKit. LEFT: Horiba’s OCMA-350 Oilcontent analyzer

HONOR AWARDRESEARCH

ENTRANTMalcolm Pirnie, Inc.

ENGINEER INCHARGEGregory P. Matthews,P.E., DEE

LOCATIONWatervliet, New York

In situ bioremediation via landfarmingdestroy contaminants instead oftransferring them off-site, makingremediated land available withoutrestriction for various beneficial uses.


COAGULATION PRE-TREATMENT FOR MEM-BRANE FILTRATIONMicrofiltration and ultrafiltration are increas-ingly deployed for water treatment. However,the membranes employed are prone to foulingand often must be supplemented with othertreatment technologies. Dr. Howe has proventhat pretreating water using coagulation cansubstantially improve membrane performance.Additionally, his research also identified thosecomponents in natural waters that are primarilyresponsible for fouling.

TREATMENT OF SUBSURFACE CONTAMINANTSUSING ZERO-VALENT IRON

GRAND PRIZEUNIVERSITYRESEARCH

ENTRANTUniversity of Central Florida

ENGINEER INCHARGEDebra R. Reinhart, Ph.D., P.E., DEE

LOCATIONOrlando, Florida

HONOR AWARDUNIVERSITYRESEARCH

ENTRANTUniversity of Illinois

ENGINEER INCHARGEKerry James Howe,Ph.D., P.E., DEE

LOCATIONUrabna, Illinois

Permeable reactive barriers using zero-valent ironare one of the more promising in situ methodsfor remediation of groundwater. The University’sresearch focused on improving the efficiency andeffectiveness of this approach using deep soilmixing and ultrasound sonication to maintainthe reactivity of the metal. This research provedthat deep soil mixing of zero-valent iron cansuccessfully remediate chlorinated organiccompounds. Further, sonication is effective inrestoring the metal’s reactivity enabling theexpense of periodic replacement to be avoided.

Deep soil mixing for placement ofzero-valent iron.

Extensive laboratory research proved the value ofcoagulation pretreatment to membrane filtration.


ON TRACK TO SOLVING THE SOLIDWASTE DISPOSAL DILEMMAIn about 10 years, Los Angeles County will be without local sites to dispose of its 36,000tons per day of solid waste. The solution to this approaching dilemma developed by theSanitation Districts is to recover recyclable materials to reduce waste quantity and to providean economical means to access remote landfills. As a result of an extensive public educationeffort, support for this plan has enabled the Districts to begin construction of a centrally-located Material Recovery and Rail Loading Facility and to obtain permits for landfilling atsites far to the east of the County.

STONEMAN LAKE TMDL MODELING STUDYMalcolm Pirnie adapted and upgraded water quality models originally developed for the ChesapeakeBay to identify the cause of Stoneman Lake’s deterioration. The model enabled the firm to objec-tively assess a wide array of possible problem causes and potential solutions. A management-basedsolution costing only $10,000 annually was ultimately approved by USEPA.

HONOR AWARDPLANNING

ENTRANTMalcolm Pirnie, Inc.

ENGINEER INCHARGEKenneth E. Spiker, P.E.

LOCATIONStoneman Lake, Arizona

GRAND PRIZEPLANNING

ENTRANTSanitation Districts of Los Angeles County

ENGINEER INCHARGEJames F. Stahl, P.E., DEE

LOCATIONWhittier, California

The former Eagle Mountain Iron Ore Mine inRiverside County is one of the future landfill sites.

An innovative hydrologic modeling project hashelped identify cost-effective solutions to waterquality violations and aquatic weed overgrowthproblems in Stoneman Lake.

Train transport of containerized wastemakes using remote sites cost effective.


THE TOLT DBO PROJECTThe 120-mgd Tolt River water treatment plant designedby CDM includes a unique use of ozone disinfection priorto deep-bed, mono-medium high rate filtration to reducehigh raw water turbidity and disinfection byproducts. Bycombining ozone addition with flocculation, constructionand treatment costs were reduced even while producing awater that surpasses all state and federal requirements.Using the DBO approach to implement the project, only30 months were required and $70 million were saved.

ULU PANDAN WASTEWATER RECLAMATIONPLANT REUSE

GRAND PRIZEDESIGN


ENGINEER INCHARGEGregory L. Lindstadt, P.E.

LOCATIONDuvall Washington

HONOR AWARDDESIGN


ENGINEER INCHARGEA. Neysadurai, P.E.

LOCATIONSingapore

Tolt’s pioneering design allows for continuousoperation through periods of high source waterturbidity and provides long-term regulatorycompliance.

The filter gallery contains all filter process piping andexemplifies Tolt’s compact design philosophy.

Increasing the capacity of this 75-mgd wastewatertreatment plant to 95-mgd is the first use of two-stage aeration in Asia. By combining enhancedtreatment trains, enclosed processes, and advancedodor control technologies, nearby residences areshielded from the plant’s odor and noise. Bylimiting the plant’s impact, adjoining lands havebeen freed for development, a key consideration inthis densely populated area.

The 5000-cubic-meter digesters are the first partiallysubmerged egg-shaped digesters for a plant of thiscapacity in the world.


CRESCENT/CARVERSEWER SEPARATION &STORMWATERIMPROVEMENTSTo prevent systemic flooding of the Crescent-Carverneighborhood, SEA/MWH designed a newstormwater management system that employs off-lineunderground storage reservoirs totaling 44 acre-feet incapacity and increases the utility of existing facilities.To enlist community support, a variety of innovativemethods were used during construction to minimizedisruption to this densely developed urban area.

ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONALHEALTH SURVEILLANCE AND ASSESSMENTOF THE PENTAGONTo pave the way for rescue workers, cleanup personnel, and, ultimately, construction personnel after theSeptember 11th attack on the Pentagon, the U.S. Army’s Center for Health Promotion and PreventativeMedicine was tasked to assess the hazards present. Over 15 hundred analyses and 19 thousand screenings wereperformed using innovative sampling and analytical techniques, such as combining environmental samplingand biological screening, solid phase microextraction, to name just two. The Center’s rapid risk assessmentpermitted rescue and reconstruction to proceed with ample protection for the workers’ health and safety.

GRAND PRIZEOPERATIONS/

MANAGEMENT

ENTRANTUS Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine

ENGINEER INCHARGELTC Laurie Cummings, P.E.

LOCATIONWashington, DC

The USACHPPM deployed a Special medical AugmentationResponse team-Preventive Medicine (SMART-PM) tosupport the medical response to the disaster.

Assembling air samplers.

HONOR AWARDDESIGN

ENTRANTSEA Consultants/ MWH

ENGINEER INCHARGEWilliam C. Pisano, P.E.

LOCATIONBoston, Massachusetts

With community support, SEA/MWH initiated construction of the 44 acre-feet of underground stormwater storage facilities with sewer-flushing vaultsand a new large diameter storm drain.


SOIL WASHING PCBREMEDIATION —SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIPSUPERFUND SITEBy convincing the regulators that soil washing couldbe used to cleanup PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl)contaminated soil, the Chrysler Group was able toeconomically remediate a 4-acre Superfund site. This isthe first successful use of soil washing for remediatingPCB-contaminated soil. More than 12 thousands tonsof contaminated soil were cleaned; only thirteenpercent of the soil had to be disposed off site.

EAST BREMERTONCSO FACILITYCDM designed the nation’s first facility to combine high-rate clarification and ultraviolet disinfection to treat up to20,000 gpm of combined sewer overflows for Bremerton.The facility is totally enclosed and operable by remotecontrol. It can be brought on line and begin treating flowwithin fifteen minutes of a wet weather event. The CSOfacility removes 85 to 95 percent of total suspended solidsand is the first in the Puget Sound area to meetWashington’s fecal coliform standards.

GRAND PRIZESMALL

PROJECTS


ENGINEER INCHARGEEdward Fernbach, P.E.

LOCATIONBremerton, Washington

Bremerton’s state-of-the-art combined seweroverflow (CSO) facility features the nation’s first-time combination of high-rate clarification (HRC)and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection to treat CSOs.

Hydrocyclones separate solids from microsand, sendingsolids to the city’s wastewater treatment plant and returningmicrosand to the injection tank for use in future treatment.

HONOR AWARDSMALL PROJECTS

ENTRANTDaimlerChrysler Corporation/ Arcadis G&M, Inc./ Earth Tech, Inc.

PERSON INCHARGEGreg Rose

LOCATIONDavisburg, Michigan

The soil washing process starts as excavated soils are loaded into the feed hopperequipped with a grizzly screen to remove large boulders and tree roots. A rotary trommelfurther segregates soils less than two inches in size from gravel and other vegetative matter.

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