Aquaterra Environmental Solutions, Inc.

2012 Missouri MS4 Stormwater Conference

nbrownell — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:32:30 +0000

Aquaterra will be exhibiting at the 2012 Missouri MS4 Stormwater Conference. It will be February 28-29, 2012, at the Bradford Research and Extension Center in Columbia, Missouri.

Aquaterra awarded NOVA Award

nbrownell — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 16:02:09 +0000

Aquaterra was awarded the NOVA Award by the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council (OPEDC) at its 5th Annual EDC Honors Luncheon at the Ritz Charles in Overland Park on February 2nd. The award is presented annually to companies in Overland Park that experience rapid growth and help make Overland Park the “Leading Suburban Business Community in the Midwest”. Aquaterra is proud of its history of growth and looks forward to maintaining its commitment to the local community as it strives for continued success. Please click here to learn more.

Environmental/Construction Technician

mclassen — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:13:15 +0000

The Denver, Colorado office has an opening for an environmental/construction technician to work as part of a team on projects. This is a great opportunity in a growing office that is offering significant opportunities for the right individual. Job responsibilities will include the following:

Quality assurance monitoring and testing of construction activities
Collection of environmental field data including collection of samples from various media including soil, groundwater, air, surface water and sediment
Preparing memoranda, daily reports, field sampling logs, and reports summarizing the results of field testing
Assisting in the tabulation of data and production of reports

Previous soils experience is helpful, but entry level applicants will also be considered. In addition, soil moisture-density testing training is a plus. Travel will be required 80 percent of the time, so a valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record is also mandatory. The ability to work effectively in groups on complex tasks and a strong work ethic are essential.

Please send a resume in confidence to the following:

Mr. Matt Crockett, P.E.
4643 S. Ulster Street, Ste 800
Denver, Colorado 80237
mcrockett@aquaterra-env.com

Reporting Dates for 2011 Greenhouse Gas Data

nbrownell — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:02:30 +0000

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has announced the reporting dates for the 2011 greenhouse gas emissions data.

For facilities that submitted GHG report for the 2010 reporting year and do not have new 2011 source categories on-site , the reporting deadline is April 2, 2012 (note that date is extended as March 31, 2012 falls on a Saturday);

For facilities with only new 2011 source categories, the reporting deadline is September 28, 2012 (note this is a one-time extension and reporting date will return to March 31 in 2013);

If a facility contains a new 2011 source category but also submitted a GHG report for reporting year 2010 for another subpart, a notification of reporting date extension must be submitted by April 2, 2012 to extend the facility’s reporting deadline to September 28, 2012;

New 2011 source categories include:

Electronics manufacturing (Subpart I)
Fluorinated gas production (Subpart L)
Magnesium production (Subpart T)
Petroleum and natural gas systems (Subpart W)
Use of electric transmission and distribution equipment (Subpart DD)
Underground coal mines (Subpart FF)
Industrial wastewater treatment (Subpart II)
Imports and exports of equipment pre-charged with fluorinated GHGs or containing fluorinated GHGs in closed-cell foams (Subpart QQ)
Geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide (Subpart RR)
Manufacture of electric transmission and distribution (Subpart SS)
Industrial waste landfills (Subpart TT)
Injection of carbon dioxide (Subpart UU)

In addition, the USEPA reminds facilities to review and update their monitoring plans to include changes gained from experience with monitoring equipment and/or more effective procedures for data management.

Mike Miller receives the Midlands Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award

nbrownell — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:44:32 +0000

Omaha Office Manager and Environmental Practice Area Leader Mike Miller was awarded the Midlands Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award. This award was created to honor the 40 greater Omaha, Sarpy County and Council Bluffs entrepreneurs, executives and professional men and women under the age of 40.

Hazardous Waste Training Course – March 12 & 13, 2012 in Omaha Nebraska

nbrownell — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:19:13 +0000

Aquaterra is providing a Basic and Intermediate Hazardous Waste Training Course on March 12 & 13, 2012 at our Omaha, Nebraska office. This 2-day course offers a comprehensive review of hazardous waste regulations as well as a basic review of solid & hazardous waste determinations that you need as a hazardous waste manager. This training provides an overview of major topics and issues involving hazardous waste management and is an excellent way to prepare for your next regulatory inspection. Attendees will be qualified to provide hazardous waste training to their personnel. A copy of the Title 128 – Nebraska Hazardous Waste Regulations is included in the cost and will be provided on the first day of the course. The cost is $695 / person if paid by February 29, 2012 and $795 / person if paid after March 1, 2012. For more information click here.

Omaha New Hire – Mr. Jim Harford, CHMM

nbrownell — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:46:39 +0000

Aquaterra pleased to announce that Jim Harford has joined Aquaterra as a Senior Regulatory Specialist. Regarded as a RCRA expert and well known throughout the State and Region, Jim served as the NDEQ Environmental Assistance Coordinator for the past 14 years. Prior to NDEQ he spent time with the Nebraska Military Department – Army National Guard as an Environmental Analyst (civilian) and prior to that provided environmental support to multiple Air Force installations and functions; first as an enlisted member first as a B-52 Pilot and instructor pilot, then maintenance squadron commander and then leading up to and concluding as a SAC Vice Wing Commander (Colonel). He retired from the NDEQ effective October 10th and, after a long week of retirement, he is back to work and excited to get engaged in all things Aquaterra. Please please do not hesitate to contact him at jharford@aquaterra-env.com if he can provide you any assistance.

Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Compliance

nbrownell — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:21:37 +0000

On October 7, 2010, the U.S. EPA amended the date by which facilities must prepare or amend Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans, and implement those Plans. This amendment included several key compliance dates applicable to Aquaterra clients:

Drilling, production or workover facilities that are offshore or that have an offshore component, or onshore facilities required to have and submit Facility Response Plans (FRPs), are not affected by this rule amendment. Their compliance date is still November 10, 2010.
Other facilities not in the above drilling, production or workover industry categories have an additional year to update or prepare their SPCC Plans. The new compliance date for these facilities is November 10, 2011.
EPA is also delaying the compliance date to address SPCC milk and milk product containers, associated piping and appurtenances that are constructed according to the current applicable 3-A Sanitary Standards, and subject to the current applicable Grade ”A” Pasteurized Milk Ordinance (PMO) or a State dairy regulatory requirement equivalent to the current applicable PMO. The delay is for one year from the effective date of a final rule specifically addressing SPCC requirements for these milk and milk product containers.

Aquaterra is well-versed in SPCC Plan development and compliance assistance for clients in a multitude of industries. For questions related to this topic, please contact us directly by phone or by email through our website.

KDHE Industrial Storm Water Regulations Update

nbrownell — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:43:41 +0000

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment – Bureau of Water (KDHE-BOW) Kansas Water Pollution Control and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Storm Water Runoff from Industrial Activities General Permit was effective September 2006. The September 2006 General Permit expired on August 31, 2011. Aquaterra has reviewed the proposed new (draft) Kansas NPDES General Permit. Although we are not aware when the draft regulation/General Permit will be effective, we anticipate it will be approved sometime soon since the previous permit is now expired. We would like to make you aware of upcoming changes that will result once the draft becomes final.

Permit Coverage & Notification

Although the September 2006 storm water regulations and facility general storm water permits expired on August 31, 2011, current general storm water permits will remain in place until new regulations take effect. Once proposed draft regulations become final, each facility with a current permit will need to file an updated Notice of Intent to Discharge (NOI) and pay the $60 annual permit fee.

The updated NOI (included in Appendix 2 of the draft permit packet) will now require submittal of an “area location map showing boundaries of the site and storm water flow from the site to first receiving water.” A map such as this has generally already been prepared as part of a site-specific Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP).
KDHE has added a requirement that currently permitted facilities with a change in storm water discharge must notify the agency of the change in discharge at least 180 days prior to the change in discharge.

Antidegradation

The most significant change to the KDHE-BOW Storm Water Runoff from Industrial Activities General Permit is the inclusion of an antidegradation requirement. The new regulations will not authorize new discharges to an “impaired water” unless the applicant can indicate compliance with a list of criteria outlined within the draft permit. Additionally, the general permit cannot authorize new storm water discharges to a Tier 3 Outstanding National Resource Waters (such as the Cheyenne Bottoms in Barton County and the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge in Coffey County).

The antidegradation policy applies to new storm water discharges only which would include the following:

New facilities not covered under the previous storm water regulations (i.e. do not have an approved NOI); or
Currently permitted facilities with a change in storm water discharge as defined in the draft permit.

Please note that if you currently have an approved-NOI, submittal of a new NOI in accordance with the new permit does not mean you are considered a new storm water discharge falling under the antidegradation requirement.

If you have questions about how this new permit will affect your facility, please contact an Aquaterra Project Manager at (913) 681-0030. Click here for more information from KDHE.

Aquaterra Plants Vetiver Grasses to Mitigate Leachate Seeps in Payne County, Oklahoma

nbrownell — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:38:36 +0000

The Perkins Landfill located in Payne County, Oklahoma is currently closed and in the post closure-monitoring period. Aquaterra developed a work plan for submittal to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) to mitigate leachate seeps at the facility. The work plan included installing passive landfill gas (LFG) vents and planting vetiver grass within the leachate seep areas. The work plan was approved and implementation began in 2011.

Passive LFG Vents
Aquaterra provided oversight during the installation of 16 passive LFG vents. The passive LFG vents were installed using a 36-inch bucket auger on a track-mounted rig and were constructed of 6-inch diameter SDR 11 HDPE pipe and 1 to 3-inch diameter washed gravel.

Vetiver Grass Planting
Aquaterra personnel planted various plots of vetiver grass in rows at the locations of existing and previous leachate seeps. The grass was planted with a 2-foot spacing between each plant and row. Vetiver grass is native to Asia and has been used worldwide for various reasons, including soil stabilization, wastewater treatment, and leachate mitigation. The variety used for this application is USDA approved as a non-invasive plant because it produces an infertile, sterile seed. Vetiver grass can tolerate: temperatures from 5 to 115 °F; pH ranges from 3 to 10; very high salinity; high metals concentrations; agricultural chemicals; high nitrogen levels; high phosphorous levels; wide range of soil types; and planting on steep slopes. Vetiver grass typically grows to a height of 5 to 10 feet, with a root depth equal to or greater than the plant height. Vetiver grass is native to warm climates and its endurance in this region is unknown. The plant is tolerant to periods of freezing weather, but it is unknown how much cold weather it can tolerate. The Aquaterra plots will determine the effectiveness and practicality of utilizing vetiver grass for mitigation of leachate seeps in this region.‘