Jul 02, 1996

Lugo Construction

Lugo Construction of Fife has announced it has formed a new small works division within the company to exclusively handle tenant improvements and building repairs. Heading the new division, called LTM, is Charles Bathurst. LTM does tenant improvement work and renovations ranging from $2,000 to $250,000.

DPR Construction

Jim Riley and Todd Gill have joined DPR Construction Inc. Riley has joined as a project manager and Gill is a chief estimator. Riley has seven years of experience and will focus on advanced technology and microelectronics. He holds a civil engineering degree from the University of Washington. Gill has 14 years of experience and holds a civil engineering degree from the University of Portland.

CITC

The Construction Industry Training Council named Mike Martin its Student of the Year in an awards ceremony held recently at the Bellevue Conference Center. Martin was selected from a roster of 350 students for his outstanding scholarship during his first year of the four-year program and his exceptional work in the field with Charter Construction, his sponsoring employer.

Graham Steel

Graham Steel, a Kirkland-based steel fabrication plant, has recently been elected to the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute. The institute is a national association serving the reinforcing steel industry since 1924. Graham Steel supplies rebar for airport runways, commercial buildings and military complexes.

Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers

Doug Collins has been named the director of sales and marketing at the Sheraton Seattle Hotel & Towers.

Oregon Washington California Pear Bureau

Linda Bailey has been promoted to vice president, operations, for the Oregon Washington California Pear Bureau. The new position is an element of restructuring plans underway within the bureau.

CleanCare

CleanCare Corp. has formed the Industrial Group, which will operate out of corporate headquarters in Federal Way, with additional resources located at the company's Vancouver/Portland branch. CleanCare is a full service environmental waste management firm with branch offices in Tacoma, Everett. Spokane, and Vancouver and a treatment facility located in the Port of Tacoma. The company's initial focus was on the automotive industry concentrating on recycling waste oils and antifreeze, but it has steadily expanded to include other waste streams as well. The Industrial Group will focus on market sectors outside of the automotive industry.

McCann-Erickson Seattle

McCann-Erickson Seattle has made the following promotions and additions to its creative and account services departments: Eric Prock has been promoted to account supervisor. He will manage The Bon Marche and Mariners accounts, as well as head up Internet and new media projects. Wendy Ostenson has been promoted to account coordinator. Janay Blazejewski joins McCann as art director; Beth Atkins, production assistant; Bobby Pearce, senior copywriter; and Adam Kuhr, copywriter. McCann's media planning and local broadcast departments has also made some additions and promotions. Michelle Birds, Kathi Mydland and Rob Mainar have all been promoted to assistant broadcast buyer. Kims Chochon has been hired as a media supervisor; DJ Clark, media planner; Noel Estrada, assistant broadcast buyer; and Tiffany Kirk, local broadcast coordinator.

Westin Hotels & Resorts

Westin Hotels & Resorts has opened its fifth Westin Demeure property in Paris in the newly renovated Hotel Astor. The Hotel Astor is the eighth upscale Westin Demeure hotel in Europe resulting from the partnership formed between Demeure Hotels and Westin.

Draft report on risk assessments available

OLYMPIA -- The Commission on Risk Assessment and Risk Management was mandated by Congress in 1990 to address risks that are regulated under laws aimed at protecting the environment and human health. The Commission just released its "Risk Assessment and Risk Management in Regulatory Decision-Making" draft report for public review and comment. This draft report may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.riskwatch.com. The Commission is requesting written comments on the draft report, preferably by July 17 so the comments can be considered in a public hearing on July 23 in Boston, but as late as Aug. 9 so they can be considered in the preparation of the final report. Mail written comments to: The Commission on Risk Assessment and Risk Management, 529 14th St. N.W., Suite 452, Washington, D.C. 20045.

Grants available for educational projects

OLYMPIA -- Citizen and not-for-profit groups interested in educating and involving the public on waste issues can apply for Public Participation Grants from the Department of Ecology now through Aug. 30. A total of $425,000 is available, and grants will range in size from $1,000 to $50,000. Projects must focus on effective public participation in cleanups of hazardous waste sites or waste reduction activities. To receive an application packet, call Ecology's Solid Waste and Financial Assistance Office at (360) 407-6095. For more information, call Dolores Mitchell at (360) 407-6057 or Jerry Gilliland at (360) 407-6149.

Waterways 2000 program awarded

SEATTLE -- King County's Waterways 2000 program has been honored with a 1996 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACO). NACO awards are given to county programs worthy of replication by other counties. Created by Councilmembers Larry Phillips and Louise Miller, the Waterways 2000 program focuses on preserving salmon runs and river, creek and wildlife habitat by acquiring and managing streamside property. Instead of imposing new regulations, the county works with citizens, scientists and other groups to identify sections of streams to be protected. In some cases, the county purchases streamside land, while in others, property owners are encouraged to dedicate their land as open space for at least 10 years in exchange for tax breaks through the Public Benefit Rating System. Once the land is acquired or dedicated, the county develops a plan to manage it in a way that would benefit salmon runs. Almost 1,000 acres of streamside property is now being managed through the program -- 827 purchased outright by the county, and 146 acres dedicated by property owners. Waterways 2000 also administers grants for projects that enhance salmon habitat.

`Smog Watch' campaign about to begin

SEATTLE -- A public education campaign should soon be underway to help residents of the Puget Sound area understand how they can reduce summertime smog. Coordinated by the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency (PSAPCA), the Smog Watch campaign will be heard on traffic and weather reports whenever temperatures soar into the 90s and winds are too calm to disperse pollutants. During Smog Watch, people will be asked to avoid driving whenever possible, wait to mow their lawns and refuel their vehicles in the cooler hours of the evening. Instead of driving their cars, residents will be encouraged to carpool, ride their bikes, take the bus or work at home. If people must mow their lawns, non-gas powered lawn equipment will be recommended. The goal of the Smog Watch program is to avoid exceeding the federal health standard for ozone, the primary pollutant in smog. The Puget Sound region is designated a "non-attainment area" for ozone because the air quality of the region failed to meet Clean Air Act standards in the past. Since 1991, though, the region has been meeting the ozone standard. Because of this, PSAPCA has developed an ozone maintenance plan and has applied to the Environmental Protection Agency for "attainment area" status for the region. The EPA is expected to make a decision in August.

AGI wins Air Force grant

BELLEVUE -- AGI Technologies, an engineering and environmental consulting firm based in Bellevue, has been awarded a Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) grant from the U.S. Air Force to study a cleanup technique called "intrinsic bioremediation." The $80,000 grant will provide funding for the research phase of the project, which is being conducted at AGI's laboratory in Bellevue with assistance from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Rutgers University. The cleanup approach, which has been endorsed by California and other states, relies on the natural ability of certain microorganisms to degrade organic contaminants in soil and ground water. The goal of the research is to develop a simple laboratory technique for quantifying the natural biodegradation process. If the research proves successful, the Air Force could provide an additional $750,000 to commercialize the measurement technique. AGI is seeking a partner company to assist with manufacturing and marketing. For information, call AGI at (206) 453-8383.

Update of Hanford community relations plan

RICHLAND -- A public comment period is underway on revisions to Hanford's Tri-Parties Community Relations Plan. The comment period began June 17 and will continue until July 31. The community relations plan is a guide that teaches citizens how to learn about and get involved in Hanford cleanup decisions. The plan was last revised in 1993. The newest parts of the plan include: establishment of a semi-annual public meeting process to discuss Hanford's budget and cleanup activity; a schedule of Hanford permit and cleanup activities expected to occur in the next several months; and a description of the Hanford Advisory Board's mission, members and charter. For more information on community relations plan revisions, call Robert Harper at the Department of Ecology at (360) 407-7122.

Draft plan for assessing wetland functions

OLYMPIA -- A draft plan for assessing wetland functions using the proposed hydrogeomorphic (HGM) approach is now available from the Department of Ecology. The draft plan explains how the HGM approach could be adopted and implemented in Washington. The plan also calls for regional assessment teams to test models in the field. Two public workshops on the draft plan will take place today from 2 to 4:30 p.m. and from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Everett Public Library auditorium. More workshops are scheduled for July 17 in Ellensburg and July 18 in Spokane at the same times of the afternoon and evening. For more information or to receive a copy of the draft plan, call Teri Granger at (360) 407-6547.