July 19, 2005

Environmental Watch: Landau Associates promotes staff

EDMONDS — The Northwest engineering and environmental consulting firm Landau Associates promoted the following in its Edmonds office: Jerry R. Ninteman to principal, Michelle L. Ramos to senior geotechnical engineer, Dana L. Olcott to senior staff engineer, Mario Lòpez-Ramos to staff engineer, Erik R. Gerking to senior staff geologist, Evalyn A. Albright to senior staff scientist and April C. Wallace to staff scientist.

In Tacoma, Edward J. Heavey was promoted to senior associate geotechnical engineer and Brian A. Bennetts to senior staff engineer. Shannon E. Moore was added as a project scientist to manage the firm's noise and traffic air quality services.

Landau offers consulting on natural resources, environmental permitting, and environmental and geotechnical engineering.

Jones & Stokes names energy director

SACRAMENTO — Dail Miller has joined Jones & Stokes as an energy services director. Miller has 20 years of project management experience in the energy, telecommunications and construction fields. He has consulted on energy-related issues with regulatory agencies in the United States, Europe, Central America and the Caribbean.

He has supervised fossil fuel power plants, electrical transmission lines, gas pipelines and renewable energy projects.

Jones & Stokes is a Sacramento-based environmental consulting firm with Washington offices in Bellevue and Vashon.

Corps plans Willamette dredging

PORTLAND — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will hold a public meeting this week on a management plan it is preparing for how to handle dredge material on the Lower Willamette River.

This plan would guide maintenance activities on the 40-foot deep federal navigation channel for the next 20 years.

The first public meeting on this project will be held Thursday in the Port of Portland Commission Room at 121 N.W. Everett St., in Portland from 7 to 9 p.m. Topics will include dredging methods and disposal options, cultural and environmental impacts, channel maintenance requirements and engineering studies.

The plan must comply with state and federal regulations. Federal funding to complete the plan is authorized under the Rivers and Harbors Act.

The Corps is coordinating with the Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine Fisheries Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Oregon Division of State Lands and Oregon Department of Environmental Quality.

Brownfields conference in Portland

PORTLAND — The fifth annual Oregon Brownfields Conference will be Aug. 23-24 in Portland.

Speakers include consulting firm Elesco's president Leland (Lee) Smith, who was an executive member of the Urban Land Institute and worked as a marketing director for San Francisco's Grubb & Ellis Real Estate Co.

Public and private-sector groups will share brownfield success stories and the tools they used in assessing a site, doing cleanup, designing remediation and doing construction.

Sponsors are the Oregon Department of Economic and Community Development, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and the Northwest Environmental Business Council.

Registration costs start at $100. See http://www.nebc.org. For more information call Cara Bergeson at (503) 227-6361.

Firms to show their energy technology

SEATTLE — Seven Northwest energy technology companies will present products they are set to launch on Aug. 23 at the Northwest Energy Technology Showcase in Portland.

Representatives from utilities, governments, venture firms and the industry in Western Canada and around the Northwest are expected to attend.

Hydrogen Power of Seattle will show new ways to produce hydrogen and Seattle-based Prometheus Energy will demonstrate how it can turn methane into high-purity liquid natural gas. ADI Thermal Power of Woodinville has a technology to produce stirling engines, and Stecher Proprietary of Gig Harbor can process sulfur into hydrogen and other energy sources. Carmanah Technologies of Victoria, B.C., will show its solar-powered LED lighting products. First American Scientific of Delta, B.C., does work on producing biomass power. Novus Power of White Rock, B.C., will show efficient electric motor technology.

Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative is the event sponsor, and is working with groups including Puget Sound Energy, Avista Corp., Bonneville Power Administration, Tacoma Power and BC Hydro.