DNR names new division manager

OLYMPIA — Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark hired Joseph Shramek as division manager of resource protection at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources.

The division is responsible for overseeing emergency response, urban forestry, forest health, correctional camps and fire prevention and suppression activities. Shramek had been serving as the acting division manager since January and has worked at DNR for 13 years.

SPU seeks engineering services on project

SEATTLE — Seattle Public Utilities is requesting proposals from qualified consultants for engineering services on the Capacity Management Operation and Maintenance Implementation Program. Each proposal will be evaluated for the selection of a consultant or team for a contract estimated up to $3.5 million.

Proposals are due by Sept. 10. Currently, $500,000 has been budgeted in 2009 with the remaining $3 million being proposed for 2010 and beyond. Due to the economy, there is no assurance that the entire estimate amount will be spent.

SPU will consider consultants’ qualifications for providing the full range of engineering services to address information, planning, assessment and implementation gaps in its CMOM program. SPU invites consultants to submit proposals describing an approach to reducing its number of sanitary sewer overflows to the ultimate goal of zero SSO’s. Infrastructure, software, systems or products may be suggested for purchase or installation.

ABC talk on irrigation Thursday

SEATTLE — On Thursday, the Associated Builders & Contractors’ Green Council will hold a free presentation and networking event on water irrigation systems.

Speakers will discuss how attendees can make better long-term decisions for irrigation, ultimately saving money in operating costs. Speakers are Rick Wagner, area specification manager at Rain Bird, Karen Galt, irrigation coordinator at the city of Seattle and Ellen Beighley of Irrigation Management Systems.

The talk will run from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the ABC offices in Bellevue at 399 114th Ave. N.E. For more information or to RSVP, contact Kim Trautman at (425) 646-8000.

New permit for S. Wastewater Treatment Plant

BELLEVUE — The Washington State Department of Ecology has issued a draft discharge permit to King County’s South Wastewater Treatment Plant in Renton. The permit would be more stringent.

The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit is a key tool to provide water quality protection for Puget Sound. Ecology wants public comments on the proposed five-year re-issuance. The public comment period will run through Sept. 18.

The treatment plant serves an area of 152 square miles and 25 cities and utility districts in parts of south and east King County. It treats an average of 70 million gallons of incoming sewage per day. Ecology issued a similar permit in June of 2009 for King County’s larger West Point Treatment Plant in Seattle.

New or updated provisions in the renewed South Plant permit include: more restrictive dilution factors than in the previous permit, increased monitoring of priority and toxic pollutants in discharge, more extensive tests for sediments toxicity and new requirements to track the input of industrial chemicals into the sewer system, among other actions.

A presentation and public hearing will be held on Sept. 3 at King County’s Regional Library in Bellevue. The presentation will begin at 6 p.m. and a formal public hearing will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Written comments may be sent to Tricia Miller, permit coordinator at Ecology at tmil461@ecy.wa.gov with South Plant Permit in the subject line. For more information, visit http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wq/permits/northwest_permits.html.

McKinsey: energy efficiency has big payoffs

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new report by McKinsey & Co. says investing in the energy efficiency of buildings could reduce the nation’s energy consumption 23 percent by 2020, save the U.S. economy $1.2 trillion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1.1 gigatons annually.

The study, sponsored by the U.S. Green Building Council and 11 other organizations, looks at how much the nation can increase energy efficiency in buildings and other sectors using existing methods and technologies. It says a targeted investment of $50 billion a year over 10 years would enable those potential savings to be realized, saving the U.S. economy $1.2 trillion and generating 900,000 jobs.

The report is called “Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy.” The energy efficiency potential cited in the report is divided across three sectors of the U.S. economy: industrial, residential and commercial. For more information, visit http://www.usgbc.org.

Tacoma port gets $1.5M to cut emissions

TACOMA — The Port of Tacoma has received nearly $1.5 million from the federal stimulus through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reduce diesel and greenhouse gas emissions by retrofitting ships and adding electrical plug-ins at the Totem Ocean Trailer Express terminal.

TOTE, a private shipping company that serves the Alaska trade, has already spent almost $900,000 to retrofit two ships to accommodate shore power connections, which allow ships to turn off their engines at the terminal. TOTE said it will contribute another $283,000 to complete the project. TOTE ships will become the first to plug in at Port of Tacoma berths.

The project also will install a shore-side connection system and power at the TOTE terminal. This plug-in system will eliminate diesel particulate matter and greenhouse gas emissions for ships docked there.

TOTE ships, which call twice a week in Tacoma, are expected to plug into the system by fall of 2010.

Riley Group opens two offices

Tomren

Harper

Uchison

Smith

Lannie Smith has been promoted to branch manager of RGI's University Place office. Smith has 12 years of experience in environmental assessment and remediation, including eight at RGI's Bothell office. Elizabeth Uchison, a senior hydrogeologist, has recently moved to the University Place office. Uchison has 15 years experience, including six at Bothell office.

Gerald Harper joined RGI as principal engineering geologist and branch manager of the Kennewick office. Harper has 20 years of experience in Eastern Washington and Oregon providing geotechnical, environmental and special inspection services. Scott Tomren has also joined RGI's Kennewick office as senior project manager. Tomren has 14 years of experience in geotechnical investigations.

PSE names commissioning providers

SEATTLE — Engineering Economics, Inc., or EEI, announced that Jeff Nichols and Brendon Mattis, were chosen as professional commissioning agents for Puget Sound Energy's Building Energy Optimization Program.

The new energy incentive/rebate program provides PSE commercial customers with financial incentives for energy conservation. Through the program, commercial customers receive a rebate of up to 100 percent of the commissioning fees; low-cost improvements with a payback of less than two years; energy reductions of between 5 and 10 percent; reductions in annual energy costs; and increased Energy Star ratings.

EEI is a national engineering consulting firm.

Renton seek stormwater bypass help

RENTON — The city of Renton has issued a request for statements of qualifications for construction management services on a stormwater bypass. Responses are due by 3 p.m. July 31.

Renton's Transportation Systems Division, as part of its Capital Improvement Program, has employed a consultant to design and prepare the project for bid as a part of the Rainier Avenue South Improvements Project, or state Route 167.

This phase of the project consists of installing about 1,150 feet of 48-inch diameter storm pipe in Shattuck Ave South from the intersection of South Fourth Place, underneath the BNSF Railway, to the intersection of South Seventh Street.

The work includes: clearing and grubbing, removal of structures and obstructions, roadway excavation, removal of unsuitable materials, grading, paving, sidewalk, installation of storm sewer structures, relocation of sanitary sewers, and other work.

For more information, see the public notice in the July 20 edition of the DJC or contact Robert Lochmiller at Rlochmiller@Rentonwa.gov.

Redmond updates shoreline program

BELLEVUE — The Washington State Department of Ecology has approved the city of Redmond's recently updated Shoreline Master Program, an effort intended to improve shoreline management and protection for the Sammamish River, Lake Sammamish and Bear and Evans creeks.

The program guides construction and development along Redmond's 11.4 miles of stream and lake shorelines. The city last updated the program in 1979. The revised program combines local plans for future shoreline development and preservation with new shoreline development ordinances and permitting requirements.

Redmond has integrated the shoreline regulations with its comprehensive plan and community development guide. It improves protection of habitat and water quality with the goal of achieving no net loss of ecological functions over time. It limits the size of recreational piers while requiring designs that lessen impacts on shorelines and limits construction of new shoreline armoring, among other actions.

Ecology adopted new shoreline guidelines in 2003.

Redmond joins six other cities and towns and Whatcom County in updating their programs using Ecology's new guidelines. More than 70 cities and counties are working on updates. All Washington's 266 cities and counties with shorelines must do so by December of 2014. Ecology has final approval authority for each.

Ecology is providing $7.5 million in state grants to an additional 77 cities and counties to help them begin updating the work, including $3 million earmarked by the 2009 Legislature to help municipalities throughout the region revise shoreline programs.

Bothell OKs green building rules

BOTHELL — The city of Bothell formally adopted a community commitment to sustainability. It also adopted a number of new regulations that provide incentives for green building.

The new regulations reduce parking requirements and permit fees for certified green buildings. They also create a new building type, called the Green Planned Unit Development. Under the Green PUD regulations, developers may reduce lot sizes and street width in exchange for building energy efficient buildings, using pervious pavement, maximizing indoor air quality and natural lighting, and other sustainable practices.

Bill Wiselogle, community development director for Bothell, said Bothell is one of the first cities to offer green building incentives in this way.

Algal Biomass names first director

SEATTLE — The Algal Biomass Organization hired Mary Rosenthal as the organization's first executive director. The ABO is a nonprofit that works for the development of commercially viable transportation and power generation fuels, and other non-energy applications for algal biomass.

Rosenthal has 20 years of experience and was recently director of communications and public affairs for NatureWorks, a manufacturer of bioplastics. Billy Glover, chair-person on the nonprofit's board of directors and managing director of environmental strategy for Boeing, said this is a pivotal time for the algae industry.

New terms on Puget Sound Partnership

OLYMPIA — The Puget Sound Partnership's governing board reappointed Diana Gale, Dan O'Neal and Steve Sakuma for another four-year term on the Leadership Council.

Gale, O'Neal and Sakuma will remain on the council until June of 2013. The reappointments are subject to confirmation by the state Senate. The Legislature will hold its next regular session beginning in January of 2010.

The terms of Bill Ruckelshaus and three other current Leadership Council members — Billy Frank Jr., Martha Kongsgaard and Bill Wilkerson — don't begin expiring until June of 2010. Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Legislature created the partnership to organize a region-wide effort to clean up Puget Sound.

Port seeks waste system contractor

SEATTLE — The Port of Seattle is seeking bids for a trash handling and recycling system. Bids are due by July 28 at 2 p.m. The project is estimated to cost between $247,000 and $495,000.

Work includes site allocation and preparation for installing trash and recycling compactors at six sites on an air operations area. Each site will contain one trash compactor and one recycling compactor assembly.

Twelve compactors have been pre-purchased by the port. An equipment supplier will provide and install compactors, power units, control units, hoses, fluids and compactor guide rails. A limited asbestos inspection has been preformed, with negative results in work areas. All contractor provided work shall be coordinated with the engineer to ensure each area is free of regulated materials. The time limit for substantial completion of the work is 180 calendar days.

For more information, see the public notice in the July 14 edition of the DJC.

Lecture: How to be green and profitable

RENTON — On Thursday, City University of Seattle will present a free talk with Kevin Wilhelm, CEO of Sustainable Business Consulting. Wilhelm will discuss how businesses can increase profitability and climate response during an uncertain economy.

Wilhelm will speak about current trends and how companies can meet economic goals while improving their sustainability performance. He will also sign copies of his book “Return to Sustainability.” The event is sponsored by City University's School of Management.

The talk is at the LEED silver Seattle Seahawks Training Facility at 12 Seahawks Way in Renton and runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Registration is required. To register, visit https://cityu.yourmembership.com.

Ocean Shores seeks wetland bank services

OCEAN SHORES — The city of Ocean Shores has issued a request for qualifications for wetland and environmental services. Submittals are due by July 29.

The project includes the environmental tasks necessary to designate a city-owned parcel, called Weatherwax, as a wetland mitigation bank. The 120-acre parcel includes 29 acres of Duck Lake separating three upland portions of 8 acres, 11 acres and 72 acres.

Firms will be evaluated and ranked based on key personnel, firm experience, ability to meet schedule, familiarity with relevant codes and standards, and past performance. Questions should be directed to the Public Works Office at (360) 289-2754. For more information, see the public notice in the July 15 edition of the DJC.

$4M will extend soil cleanup program

OLYMPIA — A program that's been used to identify and address soil contamination at schools and child care centers is being continued for the next two years. The 2009 Legislature authorized the Washington Department of Ecology to spend up to $4 million on the program.

The program was slated to end this year. The money lets Ecology address contamination at more facilities and contractors will start working soon on nearly 40 sites in the Puget Sound region.

High priority sites include places where lead and arsenic pollution from the former Tacoma Asarco Smelter has been found. East of the Cascades, Ecology's efforts have been aimed at contamination from lead-arsenate pesticides in old orchards where schools have since been built.

The program was created by the 2005 Legislature to reduce children's exposure to soil contamination. Ecology published a report on the results in June.

Ecology partners with state and local governments to identify centers and schools eligible for the free sampling and analysis. An evaluation helps refine the list of properties and play areas that should be tested. Sampling results help decide the type of cleanup approach to address contamination.

Tech Center OKs $376,000 funding

SEATTLE — The Washington Technology Center has awarded $376,500 in state funding to five researchers working with companies to develop commercially promising technologies. The companies said they expect commercial adoption of their technologies to create 175 new jobs in Washington during the next five years.

Company partners are Data Data of Vancouver; Healionics of Redmond; Modumetal of Seattle; Paine Electronics of East Wenatchee; and Simulab of Seattle.

Winning proposals from the University of Washington and Washington State University Vancouver described innovation in computer systems and microelectronics, advanced materials and manufacturing, and biotechnology and biomedical devices.

The center is a statewide economic development organization that competitively awards about $1 million annually to technology projects. Each project team includes a Washington company and a researcher from a university or nonprofit.

Winning companies are working on a range of technologies. Data Data is working with WSU Vancouver on ways to improve document classification and information extraction from images of public records documents. The process could create 40 new jobs.

Modumeta, a nanostructured materials company, is working with UW to develop anti-corrosion technology. It should create 50 jobs in the company during the next five years.

CWU seeks team for biofuel study

ELLENSBURG — Central Washington University is seeking a qualified consultant team to perform a biofuel feasibility study. Submittals are due by July 23.

The study will look at the economic feasibility of using processed agricultural and/or forest waste products as thermal fuel in Ellensburg. Teams should have experience in cost analysis and design of combined heat and power plants using processed biofuels, and in evaluating the economic viability of processing and delivery system.

This contract is for a preliminary economic analysis. If the results show the system will not be economically viable, CWU intends to do a complete investment grade analysis of the supply and end use systems through a separate contract. The results will form the basis for seeking investments from a variety of sources.

CWU will short list teams for presentations and interviews at its campus. Energy Service Companies are encouraged to submit qualifications. For more information, see the notice in the June 26 edition of the DJC.

Tour county's wastewater plants

KING COUNTY — King County's Wastewater Treatment Division will host two free tours this month of its regional water treatment plants. The tours are offered due to public interest in similar events that were held in June.

A tour of the South Treatment Plant at 1200 Monster Road S.W. in Renton will be on July 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. A tour of the West Point Treatment Plant at 1400 Utah St. W. in Seattle will be on July 18 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The tour will show where wastewater goes, and the resources created from the 200 million gallons of wastewater King County treats each day. Sturdy, closed-toed shoes are required. Tours last about two hours and children must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-registration is required online at http://green.kingcounty.gov/wastewater-education/apptrequest.aspx or by calling 206-263-6028.