Templeton

Because Anchor Environmental is a niche provider, principal David Templeton said his firm has seen significant growth in the last year.

“We’ve seen revenues and staff increase, and we’ve also seen increasing interest from clients who have projects outside the Seattle area,” he said. “I haven’t seen any indication that the type of business we do is slowing down.” In fact, Anchor recently added offices in Long Beach, Calif., and the Bay Area.

An environmental science and engineering firm, Anchor is focused on shoreline projects addressing issues in sediment management, environmental review, natural resources and waterway, coastal and geotechnical engineering.

Two noteworthy projects Anchor is involved with are in Tacoma — the Middle Waterway clean-up and the Hylebos Waterway clean-up.

For Hylebos, Anchor is directing sediment investigation, remediation design and natural resource damage and restoration assessments within the mouth of the waterway. Anchor conducted sediment profiling and reconstructed the contaminant release history. In addition, detailed PCB fingerprinting analysis helped isolate source areas within the site and helped develop an allocation of clean-up costs to be possibly used as part of pending cost recovery litigation. The information also helped negotiations with regulatory agencies for a cost-effective blend of natural recovery, capping, dredging, near-shore fill disposal and habitat elements for the clean-up and restoration of the entire mouth of the waterway.

Anchor has performed remedial design for the clean-up of the Middle Waterway, a mercury sediment problem area. As project coordinator, Anchor interpreted sediment quality objectives and biological data to identify areas that do not require further action, areas suitable for natural recovery and areas that require removal.

Sediment quality and physical data were used to evaluate remedial alternatives including natural recovery, capping, dredging and disposal. Anchor recently completed the pre-remedial design phase and started design activities. The remedy includes dredging with near-shore-confined disposal, monitored natural recovery, thin-layer capping and thick capping. Construction is scheduled for early 2003.

Regardless of the project, Templeton said his firm is always looking for innovative methodologies. “Integrating habitat restoration elements is key,” he said.

Even with the softening economy, he said business at Anchor is brisk. “We just see an increasing workload,” said Templeton. “I see no reduction in staff — I plan on seeing an expansion. The key to our success is the ability to retain and hire excellent staff.”