ECN News http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com 8/31/2010 11:52:55 AM EPA - Easing the Regulatory Burden http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=343 8/31/2010 11:51:45 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=343 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/03C6A75148EBACB4087D492186B44C65.jpg To some, the EPA’s final rule on construction-and-development (C&D) effluent limitations guidelines might appear to be a case of costly, overly burdensome regulation. But landscape designers and permitting authorities would do well to recognize that familiarity with specifics of the new rule means that it need not be so burdensome to designers, contractors, and, ultimately, property owners. A Summary of the Rule The new final rule, “Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Construction and Development Point Source Category,” is designed to strengthen the existing regulatory program for discharges from construction sites by establishing technology-based effluent limitations guidelines. (An EPA resource Web page with information about the rule is located at www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction ) Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA publishes an Effluent Guideline Program Plan every other year to announce the agency’s plans to develop new effluent guidelines and revise existing ones. Effluent guidelines were first developed for the C&D industry in the 2000 and 2002 effluent guidelines plans. A subsequent court decision ordered the EPA to publish proposed regulations specific to C&D in the Federal Register by December 1, 2008, and to publish final regulations for the C&D category by December 1, 2009. The EPA met both deadlines. A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register in November 2008, and comments were to be received in February 2009. The EPA’s construction general permit (CGP), which is set to expire on July 31, 2011, will be updated to include the new requirements when reissued. Construction projects subject to the federal CGP will be subject to CGP guidelines that are at least as stringent as those in the final federal rule for sites of 20 acres or more as soon as August 1, 2011—18 months from the federal effective date—and for sites of 10 acres or more as soon as February 1, 2014—48 months from the federal effective date. The actual effective dates in a given state will depend upon the expiration of the state’s CGP. The final rule adds to existing regulations a technology-based turbidity limit of 280 nephelometric turbidity units (NTUs) that applies nationally. The proposed rule had a limit of 13 NTUs based upon the use of active or advanced treatment systems (ATSs) consisting of polymer-assisted clarification followed by filtration; due to cost impacts and comments, the limit was changed to 280 NTUs using passive treatment systems, but active systems were also discussed in the proposed and final rules. To achieve the 280-NTU limit, construction site owners and operators can implement a range of erosion and sediment control best management practices (BMPs) to reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges and must monitor the turbidity. They must also implement pollution prevention measures to control discharges from such activities as dewatering and concrete washout. The rule also contains soil stabilization requirements. According to the EPA, the rule is projected to reduce the amount of sediment discharged from construction sites by about 4 billion pounds each year at an annual cost of about $953 million. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The proposed rule offered the combined use of flocculating polymers and active treatment systems to achieve a lower turbidity limit of 13 NTU under two options. Two main types of polymers are used: polyacrylamide (PAM) and chitosan. Both types have positively charged particles that attract negatively charged soil particles that are suspended in stormwater; combining the particles makes larger particles that settle out more easily, explains Shirley D. Morrow, CPESC, CISEC, president of ABC’s of BMP’s LLC in Lecompton, KS. In addition, the rule requires minimum standards of design for sediment basins; however, alternatives that control sediment discharges in a manner equivalent to sediment basins would be authorized where approved by the permitting authority. In response to comments, the EPA deleted sediment basin sizing requirements in the final rule. More information about sediment basins is available in a development document posted on the EPA C&D resource page. “I think that a good aspect of these regulations is that they’re going to mandate that if you have to dewater the basins—increasing the storage capacity after a storm event to get ready for the next storm event—you have to dewater the basin from the top, because the top water is the cleanest water,” says Morrow. “They’re mandating the use of skimmers.” Jesse Pritts, environmental engineer with the EPA and the lead developer of the rule, points out that a couple of major components of the rule changed between the proposed and final stages. First, a provision exempting areas of the country with an annual Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) R factor greater than 50 was dropped, making the rule applicable nationwide. Second, a requirement was dropped that would have required sediment basins to be installed on sites of 10 or more acres draining to a single water source. Dr. Jerald S. Fifield, CPESC, CISEC, president of HydroDynamics Inc. in Parker, CO, which designs erosion and sediment control infrastructure, says that designers and reviewers, i.e., permitting authorities, now will have to focus on seven new areas of erosion and sediment control under the new rule. These items are the 280-NTU turbidity limit, better standards for erosion control, soil stabilization, dewatering, pollution prevention measures, prohibited discharges going into streams, and protection of outlet structures. The new rule is sending a strong message to designers and reviewers to be more accountable, Fifield says. Total Disturbed Area: The Key To Morrow, a provision that is nearly buried within the new rule will potentially allay all of the fears that some should have in regard to the new rule, at least for some projects. “There’s one sentence in this entire regulation that nobody is focusing on—it pretty much negates everything else,” she says. “That is, you don’t have to monitor if you can keep your total disturbed area to less than 10 acres. “This creates an incentive for stabilization early in the process,” Morrow continues. “If we can work with the engineering and general contracting firms and change the way we construct things, there are two basic things that have to be met. The first is to design and fit the development to the site so we don’t have to move as much dirt around. The other aspect is stabilize as you go, and we’re not real good at doing that. We don’t focus on stabilization; we focus on building the building. When we’re putting our sequence of construction together, if we can sequence in the dirt movement and stabilization instead of bringing the landscaping company in at the very last and saying, OK, now provide stabilization to the entire site, then we’re reducing the area that has to be controlled with BMPs and we’re keeping your disturbance, if we can, to less than 10 acres.” Pritts echoes the fact that the monitoring requirement will not take effect in all cases. “The one thing that’s really important is an understanding of when the turbidity limitation and monitoring will be triggered,” he says. “It only applies if you’ve got 10 or more acres disturbed at one time, so for sites that are able to phase their activities or stabilize one area of the site they’re working on before they start working on another area of the site, there’s the ability for them to not have that monitoring requirement apply. One of the most important things for people to know is that there are ways to limit the applicability of the rule if they’re able to keep their land disturbance under 10 acres at one time.” Objections Still, Morrow argues that potentially stricter erosion and sediment control regulations are being implemented while training and enforcement are generally lagging behind. “One of the public comments that was made was that the EPA is, in essence, mandating the use of polymers, which are toxic if not used properly.” Noting that sediment control has been required on construction sites since the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase I became effective in 1992, she says, “It’s very common to go across the country 18 years later and we still have people who don’t know how to properly install silt fence, they don’t do inspections, we have engineering firms that don’t know how to prepare a compliant stormwater pollution prevention plan, and our contractors don’t know how to implement the plan,” says Morrow. “Instead of enforcing the regulations we currently have to make people do what they’re supposed to be doing, we just add more burden with the use of toxic chemicals. If I’ve got a general contractor who doesn’t know how to use silt fence, do you really think that in 18 months he’s going to learn how to properly use a toxic chemical?” Fifield suspects that the EPA could be sued by an environmental group that attempts to get the 10-acre criterion changed to 1 acre or more. Pritts points out that the 10-acre criterion was selected for multiple reasons. “It was partially for cost, it was partially to avoid overwhelming the system by forcing the smaller construction sites to do monitoring and compliance—those were the two main reasons,” he says. Still, Pritts adds, one environmental group is attempting to join a lawsuit filed in federal court by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA), and the Utility Water Act Group (UWAG), the latter of which is an association of utility companies and utility trade associations. He suspects that the environmental group will challenge the 10-acre criterion. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NAHB sent the EPA a petition to reconsider the rule on April 20, 2010—after the rule was finalized. Citing Section 553(e) of the Administrative Procedure Act, NAHB argues that the limit is costly, difficult to implement, and based on factual errors, likely because the public did not have an opportunity to comment on the data or the methodology used. NAHB asked the EPA to use the information in the petition to propose a new ELG. NAHB argues that existing regulations are sufficient to address disputes the EPA’s cost impact estimate, contending instead that the rule will cost nearly $10 billion annually, hurting small businesses and driving up housing costs, while yielding little additional environmental benefit. NAHB also claims that it discovered several technical errors that should cause the EPA to raise the turbidity limit to more than 500 NTUs and reduce the burden on contractors and owners. Additionally, NAHB claims, the EPA set the limit using data from ATSs rather than passive treatment systems. According to NAHB, if the EPA had excluded the ATSs from the calculation, the standard could be as high as 800 NTUs. The association adds that using ATSs instead of passive systems accounts for the major difference in cost-impact estimates. Another disagreement that NAHB has with the new rule is the size of the regulated sites: It advocates increasing the minimum size to 30 acres, which would lessen the threat of residual polymers polluting waters beyond regulated construction sites while also reducing the engineering expertise requirements and cost burden for small firms. Dropping the RUSLE R-factor waiver also forces firms working in areas with relatively low rainfall totals to set up elaborate stormwater treatment systems with little resulting benefits, NAHB adds. Fifield questions the logic of the new rule as it concerns the turbidity of site runoff relative to that of surrounding waters. “The way the rule is written right now, 280 NTUs is an absolute,” he says. “If I have 280 NTUs, that may be cleaner water than what’s in a nearby river. There are two arguments here, I think. One of them is, we shouldn’t have cleaner water than what surrounds our site.” Fifield indicates that ensuring cleaner runoff than naturally occurring water in a given area is a recipe for unduly burdensome regulation. “Why should I, with my development, be better than what nature’s going to do in my local area? Those are the arguments you’re going to start hearing. The other argument is, we should probably have 280 NTUs because that improves the situation,” he adds. Fifield notes that the use of polymers carries risks to aquatic life. Some research indicates that when excessive amounts of cationic PAMs are used, their positive ions can build up on the gills of fish and may attract negative ion suspended colloidal particles, resulting in possible suffocation of the fish. The Future Pritts notes that the WBA’s concerns are similar to those of NAHB, while the UWAG is concerned about the applicability and cost impacts of the new rule on its members’ construction activities, which are characterized by linear sites. It is possible that the EPA could lose a court decision and be ordered to correct the rule or submit a new final rule, Pritts says. However, as of May 2010, the EPA was not planning either course of action but, rather, awaiting the industry groups’ filing of briefs in federal court, Pritts reports. Although he was not aware of any plans specifically addressing training on practices to adhere to the new rule, or stepped-up enforcement of it as of May 2010, Pritts notes that its effective date is not uniform nationwide. He also reported that the EPA plans state-level written guidance on monitoring, implementation, and technologies for turbidity control by the end of the year. A “Development Document for Final Effluent Guidelines and Standards for the Construction and Development Category” containing information about sediment basin design is posted on the C&D resource page. The key concept in the new rule, to Fifield, is accountability. “Designers are going to have to start looking at how the whole picture works,” he says. “EPA’s throwing down the gauntlet and saying it’s time to be doing the job the way it’s supposed to be done rather than talking about it.” He hints that erosion and sediment control designers and reviewers should prepare themselves for adhering to the new rule. Assume that challenges to the rule will reach the Supreme Court, which will rule in favor of the 280-NTU limit, he says. “Can we reach 280 NTUs? Yes, we can, but a couple of things need to be done. Number one, designers, reviewers, and contractors have got to start working together. What we’re looking at is a better way of doing construction activities. Will this be more costly? Yes. Will this solve the problem? Perhaps.” Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contractors have three choices in managing stormwater runoff from a hypothetical 100-acre construction site, Fifield argues. The potential for highly turbid runoff is even higher on sites with clay soils; sediment containment system, aka sediment basins or ponds, must be used. First, the contractor can attempt to prevent runoff from leaving the site in the first place by retaining all inflows. This is not practical, because a subsequent storm may cause the structure to overflow, Fifield points out. Second, the water could be detained and gradually discharged while the suspended solids settle out—the process that occurs with most of these structures. But, Fifield notes, each of the mechanisms used to settle out the solids still has problems. Turbid water may overflow from spillways—and perforated riser pipes extending through sediment-laden water column also discharges turbid waters. Skimmers, which remove contained water from within 3 to 6 inches of the surface, figure among the more efficient ways to discharge contained waters. However, they will also discharge sediment-laden waters found near the surface of a pond. In situations where large-diameter sediments have been captured but turbidity still exceeds the 280-NTU limit, a third option comes into play: using polymers to combine particles and facilitate their removal. “This is where the design community, the contracting community, and the reviewers are really going to have to be careful,” Fifield says. Landscape and stormwater management designers should be most affected by the new rule, Fifield indicates. Despite the fact that soils vary from one region to another, they often design sites with a one-size-fits-all approach, he argues. “The idea is that one technique is going to fit all types of construction sites,” he says. “What I commonly call ‘cookie-stamp design plans’ just will not work. This is where I say to designers, ‘You’re going to have to be accountable for what you’re doing.’” Simply specifying a particular type of polymer on sites with clay soils can put a designer in legal jeopardy, given the potential for problems inherent in using polymers. The legal jeopardy is what will hold designers accountable, Fifield argues. Not only do soils vary across the nation, but construction site terrain and soils vary even within regions, Fifield points out, adding that the new rule ought to create greater demand for soil testing. Designers will not even be able to count on soil testing alone, however. “What the new rule is implying is that designers are going to have to periodically go out on that site and check on what’s going on at that site and be accountable,” Fifield says. “What it’s also saying is that designers cannot design something and expect the earthmoving contractor to know what to do. Either the designer is going to have to be involved, or there will have to be companies that will be accountable for taking samples and modifying whatever mechanisms are used for introducing polymers into the system. All the polymers are doing is ensuring that the suspended clay particles combine—flocculation occurs.” Fifield reiterates his feeling that the rule will be a good thing in the long run. “I’m glad to see that something’s happening for one very big reason: It is finally going to make the design community and, I hope, the reviewing community accountable for what they’re doing,” he says. “Right now, if something bad happens, everybody thinks it’s the contractor’s fault. Well, no, it isn’t—the contractors are putting in what they see in approved plans. The designers will have to do a much, much better job of knowing what to do.” He agrees with Morrow that comprehensive site planning and early soil stabilization could minimize cost increases on new homes, for example, which is the homebuilders associations’ main concern. “I hope the whole building industry as well as the departments of transportation, federal highway administration, everybody, looks at the big picture,” says Fifield. “If, indeed, we stabilize the land in a timely manner, we’ll reduce our maintenance costs, and we may actually save money if we do it right.” It is doubtful that designers and reviewers will get trained on the new requirements in as soon as 18 months, Fifield concedes. But “we can fight it all we want to,” he says. “My assessment on it is, let’s take a look at the new rule, and, if it doesn’t work, let’s fix it so that it does work.” He adds that the threat of litigation will prompt reviewers to pursue the necessary training to ensure that the new rule is followed. “It’s so sad that it has to go that way,” he says. “The only ones who win in a court case are attorneys.” Reviewers will have to enforce the rule and assess fines if necessary, Fifield adds, lamenting the fact that this threat will be necessary to get contractors to change their ways. “Logically, if we all decided to work this thing together and do a better job of communicating, we can do this job—we can improve the environment. But everybody’s got to change their thought patterns. Yes, it’s going to cost money for us to do this, but it also means savings when less maintenance needs to be done. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “What’s being proposed is doable if we work together—that’s the bottom line,” Fifield concludes. “This can of worms is not as bad as everybody envisions it to be if we all work together.” Author's Bio: Don Talend of Write Results, West Dundee, IL, specializes in construction trade media.

To some, the EPA’s final rule on construction-and-development (C&D) effluent limitations guidelines might appear to be a case of costly, overly burdensome regulation. But landscape designers and permitting authorities would do well to recognize that familiarity with specifics of the new rule means that it need not be so burdensome to designers, contractors, and, ultimately, property owners.

A Summary of the Rule
The new final rule, “Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Construction and Development Point Source Category,” is designed to strengthen the existing regulatory program for discharges from construction sites by establishing technology-based effluent limitations guidelines. (An EPA resource Web page with information about the rule is located at www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction )

Under the Clean Water Act, the EPA publishes an Effluent Guideline Program Plan every other year to announce the agency’s plans to develop new effluent guidelines and revise existing ones. Effluent guidelines were first developed for the C&D industry in the 2000 and 2002 effluent guidelines plans. A subsequent court decision ordered the EPA to publish proposed regulations specific to C&D in the Federal Register by December 1, 2008, and to publish final regulations for the C&D category by December 1, 2009. The EPA met both deadlines. A proposed rule was published in the Federal Register in November 2008, and comments were to be received in February 2009.

The EPA’s construction general permit (CGP), which is set to expire on July 31, 2011, will be updated to include the new requirements when reissued. Construction projects subject to the federal CGP will be subject to CGP guidelines that are at least as stringent as those in the final federal rule for sites of 20 acres or more as soon as August 1, 2011—18 months from the federal effective date—and for sites of 10 acres or more as soon as February 1, 2014—48 months from the federal effective date. The actual effective dates in a given state will depend upon the expiration of the state’s CGP.

The final rule adds to existing regulations a technology-based turbidity limit of 280 nephelometric turbidity units (NTUs) that applies nationally. The proposed rule had a limit of 13 NTUs based upon the use of active or advanced treatment systems (ATSs) consisting of polymer-assisted clarification followed by filtration; due to cost impacts and comments, the limit was changed to 280 NTUs using passive treatment systems, but active systems were also discussed in the proposed and final rules. To achieve the 280-NTU limit, construction site owners and operators can implement a range of erosion and sediment control best management practices (BMPs) to reduce pollutants in stormwater discharges and must monitor the turbidity. They must also implement pollution prevention measures to control discharges from such activities as dewatering and concrete washout. The rule also contains soil stabilization requirements. According to the EPA, the rule is projected to reduce the amount of sediment discharged from construction sites by about 4 billion pounds each year at an annual cost of about $953 million.

Story continues below
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The proposed rule offered the combined use of flocculating polymers and active treatment systems to achieve a lower turbidity limit of 13 NTU under two options. Two main types of polymers are used: polyacrylamide (PAM) and chitosan. Both types have positively charged particles that attract negatively charged soil particles that are suspended in stormwater; combining the particles makes larger particles that settle out more easily, explains Shirley D. Morrow, CPESC, CISEC, president of ABC’s of BMP’s LLC in Lecompton, KS.

In addition, the rule requires minimum standards of design for sediment basins; however, alternatives that control sediment discharges in a manner equivalent to sediment basins would be authorized where approved by the permitting authority. In response to comments, the EPA deleted sediment basin sizing requirements in the final rule. More information about sediment basins is available in a development document posted on the EPA C&D resource page.

“I think that a good aspect of these regulations is that they’re going to mandate that if you have to dewater the basins—increasing the storage capacity after a storm event to get ready for the next storm event—you have to dewater the basin from the top, because the top water is the cleanest water,” says Morrow. “They’re mandating the use of skimmers.”

Jesse Pritts, environmental engineer with the EPA and the lead developer of the rule, points out that a couple of major components of the rule changed between the proposed and final stages. First, a provision exempting areas of the country with an annual Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) R factor greater than 50 was dropped, making the rule applicable nationwide. Second, a requirement was dropped that would have required sediment basins to be installed on sites of 10 or more acres draining to a single water source.

Dr. Jerald S. Fifield, CPESC, CISEC, president of HydroDynamics Inc. in Parker, CO, which designs erosion and sediment control infrastructure, says that designers and reviewers, i.e., permitting authorities, now will have to focus on seven new areas of erosion and sediment control under the new rule. These items are the 280-NTU turbidity limit, better standards for erosion control, soil stabilization, dewatering, pollution prevention measures, prohibited discharges going into streams, and protection of outlet structures. The new rule is sending a strong message to designers and reviewers to be more accountable, Fifield says.

Total Disturbed Area: The Key To Morrow, a provision that is nearly buried within the new rule will potentially allay all of the fears that some should have in regard to the new rule, at least for some projects. “There’s one sentence in this entire regulation that nobody is focusing on—it pretty much negates everything else,” she says. “That is, you don’t have to monitor if you can keep your total disturbed area to less than 10 acres.

“This creates an incentive for stabilization early in the process,” Morrow continues. “If we can work with the engineering and general contracting firms and change the way we construct things, there are two basic things that have to be met. The first is to design and fit the development to the site so we don’t have to move as much dirt around. The other aspect is stabilize as you go, and we’re not real good at doing that. We don’t focus on stabilization; we focus on building the building. When we’re putting our sequence of construction together, if we can sequence in the dirt movement and stabilization instead of bringing the landscaping company in at the very last and saying, OK, now provide stabilization to the entire site, then we’re reducing the area that has to be controlled with BMPs and we’re keeping your disturbance, if we can, to less than 10 acres.”

Pritts echoes the fact that the monitoring requirement will not take effect in all cases. “The one thing that’s really important is an understanding of when the turbidity limitation and monitoring will be triggered,” he says. “It only applies if you’ve got 10 or more acres disturbed at one time, so for sites that are able to phase their activities or stabilize one area of the site they’re working on before they start working on another area of the site, there’s the ability for them to not have that monitoring requirement apply. One of the most important things for people to know is that there are ways to limit the applicability of the rule if they’re able to keep their land disturbance under 10 acres at one time.”

Objections
Still, Morrow argues that potentially stricter erosion and sediment control regulations are being implemented while training and enforcement are generally lagging behind. “One of the public comments that was made was that the EPA is, in essence, mandating the use of polymers, which are toxic if not used properly.” Noting that sediment control has been required on construction sites since the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase I became effective in 1992, she says, “It’s very common to go across the country 18 years later and we still have people who don’t know how to properly install silt fence, they don’t do inspections, we have engineering firms that don’t know how to prepare a compliant stormwater pollution prevention plan, and our contractors don’t know how to implement the plan,” says Morrow. “Instead of enforcing the regulations we currently have to make people do what they’re supposed to be doing, we just add more burden with the use of toxic chemicals. If I’ve got a general contractor who doesn’t know how to use silt fence, do you really think that in 18 months he’s going to learn how to properly use a toxic chemical?”

Fifield suspects that the EPA could be sued by an environmental group that attempts to get the 10-acre criterion changed to 1 acre or more. Pritts points out that the 10-acre criterion was selected for multiple reasons. “It was partially for cost, it was partially to avoid overwhelming the system by forcing the smaller construction sites to do monitoring and compliance—those were the two main reasons,” he says. Still, Pritts adds, one environmental group is attempting to join a lawsuit filed in federal court by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA), and the Utility Water Act Group (UWAG), the latter of which is an association of utility companies and utility trade associations. He suspects that the environmental group will challenge the 10-acre criterion.

NAHB sent the EPA a petition to reconsider the rule on April 20, 2010—after the rule was finalized. Citing Section 553(e) of the Administrative Procedure Act, NAHB argues that the limit is costly, difficult to implement, and based on factual errors, likely because the public did not have an opportunity to comment on the data or the methodology used. NAHB asked the EPA to use the information in the petition to propose a new ELG.

NAHB argues that existing regulations are sufficient to address disputes the EPA’s cost impact estimate, contending instead that the rule will cost nearly $10 billion annually, hurting small businesses and driving up housing costs, while yielding little additional environmental benefit. NAHB also claims that it discovered several technical errors that should cause the EPA to raise the turbidity limit to more than 500 NTUs and reduce the burden on contractors and owners. Additionally, NAHB claims, the EPA set the limit using data from ATSs rather than passive treatment systems. According to NAHB, if the EPA had excluded the ATSs from the calculation, the standard could be as high as 800 NTUs.

The association adds that using ATSs instead of passive systems accounts for the major difference in cost-impact estimates. Another disagreement that NAHB has with the new rule is the size of the regulated sites: It advocates increasing the minimum size to 30 acres, which would lessen the threat of residual polymers polluting waters beyond regulated construction sites while also reducing the engineering expertise requirements and cost burden for small firms. Dropping the RUSLE R-factor waiver also forces firms working in areas with relatively low rainfall totals to set up elaborate stormwater treatment systems with little resulting benefits, NAHB adds.

Fifield questions the logic of the new rule as it concerns the turbidity of site runoff relative to that of surrounding waters. “The way the rule is written right now, 280 NTUs is an absolute,” he says. “If I have 280 NTUs, that may be cleaner water than what’s in a nearby river. There are two arguments here, I think. One of them is, we shouldn’t have cleaner water than what surrounds our site.” Fifield indicates that ensuring cleaner runoff than naturally occurring water in a given area is a recipe for unduly burdensome regulation. “Why should I, with my development, be better than what nature’s going to do in my local area? Those are the arguments you’re going to start hearing. The other argument is, we should probably have 280 NTUs because that improves the situation,” he adds.

Fifield notes that the use of polymers carries risks to aquatic life. Some research indicates that when excessive amounts of cationic PAMs are used, their positive ions can build up on the gills of fish and may attract negative ion suspended colloidal particles, resulting in possible suffocation of the fish.

The Future
Pritts notes that the WBA’s concerns are similar to those of NAHB, while the UWAG is concerned about the applicability and cost impacts of the new rule on its members’ construction activities, which are characterized by linear sites. It is possible that the EPA could lose a court decision and be ordered to correct the rule or submit a new final rule, Pritts says. However, as of May 2010, the EPA was not planning either course of action but, rather, awaiting the industry groups’ filing of briefs in federal court, Pritts reports.

Although he was not aware of any plans specifically addressing training on practices to adhere to the new rule, or stepped-up enforcement of it as of May 2010, Pritts notes that its effective date is not uniform nationwide. He also reported that the EPA plans state-level written guidance on monitoring, implementation, and technologies for turbidity control by the end of the year. A “Development Document for Final Effluent Guidelines and Standards for the Construction and Development Category” containing information about sediment basin design is posted on the C&D resource page.

The key concept in the new rule, to Fifield, is accountability. “Designers are going to have to start looking at how the whole picture works,” he says. “EPA’s throwing down the gauntlet and saying it’s time to be doing the job the way it’s supposed to be done rather than talking about it.” He hints that erosion and sediment control designers and reviewers should prepare themselves for adhering to the new rule. Assume that challenges to the rule will reach the Supreme Court, which will rule in favor of the 280-NTU limit, he says. “Can we reach 280 NTUs? Yes, we can, but a couple of things need to be done. Number one, designers, reviewers, and contractors have got to start working together. What we’re looking at is a better way of doing construction activities. Will this be more costly? Yes. Will this solve the problem? Perhaps.”

Contractors have three choices in managing stormwater runoff from a hypothetical 100-acre construction site, Fifield argues. The potential for highly turbid runoff is even higher on sites with clay soils; sediment containment system, aka sediment basins or ponds, must be used. First, the contractor can attempt to prevent runoff from leaving the site in the first place by retaining all inflows. This is not practical, because a subsequent storm may cause the structure to overflow, Fifield points out. Second, the water could be detained and gradually discharged while the suspended solids settle out—the process that occurs with most of these structures. But, Fifield notes, each of the mechanisms used to settle out the solids still has problems. Turbid water may overflow from spillways—and perforated riser pipes extending through sediment-laden water column also discharges turbid waters. Skimmers, which remove contained water from within 3 to 6 inches of the surface, figure among the more efficient ways to discharge contained waters. However, they will also discharge sediment-laden waters found near the surface of a pond. In situations where large-diameter sediments have been captured but turbidity still exceeds the 280-NTU limit, a third option comes into play: using polymers to combine particles and facilitate their removal. “This is where the design community, the contracting community, and the reviewers are really going to have to be careful,” Fifield says.

Landscape and stormwater management designers should be most affected by the new rule, Fifield indicates. Despite the fact that soils vary from one region to another, they often design sites with a one-size-fits-all approach, he argues. “The idea is that one technique is going to fit all types of construction sites,” he says. “What I commonly call ‘cookie-stamp design plans’ just will not work. This is where I say to designers, ‘You’re going to have to be accountable for what you’re doing.’” Simply specifying a particular type of polymer on sites with clay soils can put a designer in legal jeopardy, given the potential for problems inherent in using polymers. The legal jeopardy is what will hold designers accountable, Fifield argues.

Not only do soils vary across the nation, but construction site terrain and soils vary even within regions, Fifield points out, adding that the new rule ought to create greater demand for soil testing. Designers will not even be able to count on soil testing alone, however. “What the new rule is implying is that designers are going to have to periodically go out on that site and check on what’s going on at that site and be accountable,” Fifield says. “What it’s also saying is that designers cannot design something and expect the earthmoving contractor to know what to do. Either the designer is going to have to be involved, or there will have to be companies that will be accountable for taking samples and modifying whatever mechanisms are used for introducing polymers into the system. All the polymers are doing is ensuring that the suspended clay particles combine—flocculation occurs.”

Fifield reiterates his feeling that the rule will be a good thing in the long run. “I’m glad to see that something’s happening for one very big reason: It is finally going to make the design community and, I hope, the reviewing community accountable for what they’re doing,” he says. “Right now, if something bad happens, everybody thinks it’s the contractor’s fault. Well, no, it isn’t—the contractors are putting in what they see in approved plans. The designers will have to do a much, much better job of knowing what to do.” He agrees with Morrow that comprehensive site planning and early soil stabilization could minimize cost increases on new homes, for example, which is the homebuilders associations’ main concern. “I hope the whole building industry as well as the departments of transportation, federal highway administration, everybody, looks at the big picture,” says Fifield. “If, indeed, we stabilize the land in a timely manner, we’ll reduce our maintenance costs, and we may actually save money if we do it right.”

It is doubtful that designers and reviewers will get trained on the new requirements in as soon as 18 months, Fifield concedes. But “we can fight it all we want to,” he says. “My assessment on it is, let’s take a look at the new rule, and, if it doesn’t work, let’s fix it so that it does work.” He adds that the threat of litigation will prompt reviewers to pursue the necessary training to ensure that the new rule is followed. “It’s so sad that it has to go that way,” he says. “The only ones who win in a court case are attorneys.” Reviewers will have to enforce the rule and assess fines if necessary, Fifield adds, lamenting the fact that this threat will be necessary to get contractors to change their ways. “Logically, if we all decided to work this thing together and do a better job of communicating, we can do this job—we can improve the environment. But everybody’s got to change their thought patterns. Yes, it’s going to cost money for us to do this, but it also means savings when less maintenance needs to be done.

“What’s being proposed is doable if we work together—that’s the bottom line,” Fifield concludes. “This can of worms is not as bad as everybody envisions it to be if we all work together.”

Author's Bio: Don Talend of Write Results, West Dundee, IL, specializes in construction trade media.]]> Stenlund Selected Presenter of the Year http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=342 8/31/2010 11:45:42 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=342 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/CDCB05B0954B9793A3D37044075811CA.jpg IECA is proud to announce that Dwayne Stenlund, MS, CPESC, CPRM, is being recognized with the 2010 Presenter of the Year Award. This award recognizes an outstanding presenter that demonstrates excellence in presentation skills, educational delivery, and content preparation. The winner is determined through the review of presenter evaluations received at IECA’s annual conference and expo. Stenlund is being honored as the Presenter of the Year for his course Concrete Management Best Practices in Minnesota, which was presented at Environmental Connection 2010 in Dallas, TX. Dwayne Stenlund Stenlund is a certified professional in erosion and sediment control and rangeland management and holds an adjunct teaching position at the University of Minnesota in the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department. He has worked in this capacity for the Minnesota Department of Transportation for more than 14 years and is involved with design, construction, and maintenance, using old and new ecologically and sustainable-based technologies to solve difficult soil and stormwater quality problems. He has a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in plant biology and extensive work in bioremediation of poor soils and naturalizing plant community systems. Stenlund had this to say of the award: “I am honored. While I gave everything I had to the audience, the effort does not seem worthy of this recognition, knowing so many great people from around the world also presented at IECA. I want to thank the contractors who enabled education to flow in both directions, and ultimately changed behaviors and invented best practices to meet the challenges of the Clean Water and Air Acts. I simply captured both the good and bad practices on digital media and let the images tell the story.” Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stenlund will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony during EC11 in Orlando, FL, this February.

IECA is proud to announce that Dwayne Stenlund, MS, CPESC, CPRM, is being recognized with the 2010 Presenter of the Year Award. This award recognizes an outstanding presenter that demonstrates excellence in presentation skills, educational delivery, and content preparation.

The winner is determined through the review of presenter evaluations received at IECA’s annual conference and expo. Stenlund is being honored as the Presenter of the Year for his course Concrete Management Best Practices in Minnesota, which was presented at Environmental Connection 2010 in Dallas, TX.

Dwayne Stenlund
Stenlund is a certified professional in erosion and sediment control and rangeland management and holds an adjunct teaching position at the University of Minnesota in the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering Department. He has worked in this capacity for the Minnesota Department of Transportation for more than 14 years and is involved with design, construction, and maintenance, using old and new ecologically and sustainable-based technologies to solve difficult soil and stormwater quality problems. He has a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota in plant biology and extensive work in bioremediation of poor soils and naturalizing plant community systems.

Stenlund had this to say of the award: “I am honored. While I gave everything I had to the audience, the effort does not seem worthy of this recognition, knowing so many great people from around the world also presented at IECA. I want to thank the contractors who enabled education to flow in both directions, and ultimately changed behaviors and invented best practices to meet the challenges of the Clean Water and Air Acts. I simply captured both the good and bad practices on digital media and let the images tell the story.”

Stenlund will be recognized at the Awards Ceremony during EC11 in Orlando, FL, this February.]]> Soil On The Move http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=341 8/31/2010 11:29:07 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=341 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/267248DA7FFA9BD7EF9A1710742D59EF.jpg Silt and sediment management devices may not be as impressive as retaining walls or as subtly beautiful as rain gardens, but they’re the first line of defense against soil that’s on the move. They range from simple wattles to trackout devices to sophisticated polymer treatment systems that reduce turbidity in runoff. The goal in choosing one or more of these devices for a project is to effectively contain the silt and sediment and prevent it from reaching areas outside the project limits. In some cases, it’s possible to build a structure to divert the flow around the project. That’s rare, however, because often the structure would destroy the native vegetation, says Jesus Jaramillo, owner of Eagle Environmental Consultants in Tucson, AZ, which designs stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs). Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Designers have a multitude of choices for best management practices (BMPs) that can be used alone or in combination. Selecting BMPs for developed areas is often easier than for undeveloped areas because it’s easier to determine where the stormwater will flow, Jaramillo adds. On the other hand, in developed areas, designers have to take the safety of pedestrians into consideration, as well as the safety of workers on sites where passing traffic cannot be stopped. Among the most basic BMPs are wattles, snake-shaped tubes often made of biodegradable burlap or geosynthetic fabric and filled with straw or other material. Wattles shorten the length of slopes and slow erosion by slowing, spreading, and filtering the flow of stormwater. They also can stabilize soils and capture seeds with the sediment, allowing plants to revegetate. On flat ground, they can be configured around storm drains and construction sites and along roadways. Gator Guard is a longer-lasting, UV-resistant wattle stuffed with recycled foam. Filtrexx manufactures socks that filter soluble pollutants in stormwater, such as phosphorus and petroleum hydrocarbons. Sandbags are usually made of burlap or polypropylene. They can be filled with sand, nutrient-rich earth, and seeds to encourage revegetation, or, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, 10 parts of sand or soil mixed with one part of cement for a more durable bag with a longer effective life. While the bags themselves are porous, the contents tend to plug with sediment, so sandbag barriers on slopes also interrupt the slope length and reduce erosion. They also can be used as sediment traps at culvert and pipe outlets, along site perimeters, around temporary stockpiles, and parallel to roadways to keep sediment off paved areas. Check dams are small barriers, usually constructed of rock, gravel bags, sandbags, or fiber rolls, that are placed across a swale or drainage ditch. They reduce the velocity of stormwater, reducing erosion and allowing sediment to settle and vegetation to establish in the channel. The Triangle Silt Dike, a lightweight, durable, easily installed, and reusable alternative to check dams, conforms to curves and rough terrain. Silt fencing, both reinforced and unreinforced, also impedes the flow of water. Sediment settles out, and clean water slowly passes through the openings. Silt-fence machines trench or slice into the soil to make installation faster, easier, and tighter than hand installation. Newer silt-fence machines are designed to turn tight corners. SiltShield is a flexible and reusable alternative to silt fence and is used on residential construction sites. A center layer that filters stormwater is laminated to two outer layers that give the center layer support. SiltShield can bounce back to its original position after being hit, so it can be used near traffic. Damaged sections can be easily replaced. Inlet protection products include geotextile sediment barriers, reusable bags, and filters that can be used at curb, median, and gutter inlets to capture silt, sediment, and construction debris before they enter the inlet. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The reusable SiltSack hangs from grates and collects silt and sediment from construction sites. The GutterBuddy is installed aboveground, either around or across curb inlets, to keep sediment from entering storm drains and inlets. It has built-in overflows so water can drain quickly during extreme storm events. Blocksom & Co. manufactures mats that attach to the tops of grates. After each rain event, silt and sediment can be swept away. Water from ponds, sumps, or holes around construction sites can be pumped into a DirtBag, which retains silt and sediment and allows the filtered water to drain out. Trackout devices prevent silt and sediment from clinging to vehicles leaving a site. Trackout pads usually consist of washed gravel, crushed rock, or large stones that scrape sediment off tires as the vehicle rolls over them. The Grizzly Trackout Control Device consists of sections of steel abutted together to form a track that shakes vehicles as they drive across it, knocking off dust, mud, and other debris. One of the newest additions to the silt and sediment management arsenal is that of polymer treatment systems, which reduce turbidity in stormwater runoff and sediment ponds. Dallas Zoo and Aquarium Even zoos, which have elephant-size water-quality issues, still have to stay on top of runoff laden with sediment and trash. Although the Dallas area receives only about 20 to 25 inches of rain throughout the year, it usually comes down in 2-inch rain events in a two- to three- hour period, says Gary Talley, vice president of Terradyne Group LLC, which is based in Dallas and has been providing SWPPP compliance services in Texas and Oklahoma since 1989. In addition, he says, the terrain is hilly, and “like any city, every day you wake up, there’s more pavement.” At the Dallas Zoo itself, there are a lot of trees as well as a creek running through the property, says Deborah Zimmern, director of environmental services for the Dallas Zoo and the Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park. “Because of that, during rain events, runoff collects sediments in the form of soil as well as leaves and trash.” The sediment used to flow from the storm-drain inlets into Cedar Creek and from there into the Trinity River and then to the Gulf of Mexico. Recently, the city of Dallas received a grant to install a new kind of inlet protection device, the Curb Companion, manufactured by the Inlet Protection Co. (IPC) in Gonzales, TX. The Curb Companion has been installed in the zoo’s service areas, in the parking lot, and along the main drive. “We wanted to test the product to see if it would hold sediment back,” Zimmern says. “Our objective is to keep the sediment and trash out of Cedar Creek.” A major feature of the Curb Companion is that the units fit flush with the curb. This greatly increases safety, because they don’t interfere with pedestrian and vehicle traffic. It also facilitates street cleaning. One of the biggest advantages of the Curb Companion is that its frames and screens are very adaptable, Talley says. The frames consist of two galvanized metal rods, one for the top and one for the bottom of the inlet. Each rod is cut to fit to the width of the opening, so it’s important for them to be lined up properly with the bottom of the throat of the inlet. Brackets made of steel and rubber tubing attach the rods within the throat of the inlet by a tension system, so there’s no penetration of the inlet. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The frames can be used with one of four different screens, which allow the units to stop debris of different sizes. Half-inch hardware cloth stops floatables and debris. A 300 polyscape landscaping fabric stops sediment, floatables, and debris. Fiberglass screening stops floatables, debris, and most sediment. And a new hybrid made of half-inch hardware cloth and polyscape landscaping fabric stops a wider variety of debris. The different screen sizes allow optimum drainage, and these units have overflow built into their design, Talley says. Once the volume reaches a certain point, trash is trapped in a basket and runoff flows over it. With the Curb Companion, one screen can easily replace another. For example, the original fabric used at the Dallas Zoo was landscape filter fabric, but when some areas flooded, the holes clogged with sediment. “We’re trying different fabrics,” Zimmern says. “Where one works well, we left it. Where we get flooding, we replaced the filter fabric with screening that looks like window screen. It lets water through more quickly and stops trash and sediment. They’re working quite well. We’ve been really pleased with IPC and their product,” she adds. “They’ve been really receptive to any challenges we had.” Terradyne also maintains the Curb Companion. When they’re full, you pull them out, clean them, and put them back in, Talley says. It takes no more than five or 10 minutes. The cost is marginally higher than other inlet protectors, he says, but they’re a good value when you consider their efficiency and safety. IPC is priced lower than other internal designs that are more difficult to install and whose maintenance costs are higher. “It’s a new product,” he says. “As they gain exposure, there will be more and more municipalities interested. Cities have to be concerned not only about stormwater, but also safety.” Linear Projects in Tucson Designing effective plans for silt and sediment management on linear projects has a number of special challenges. One is that there isn’t one standard entrance and exit to the work site, so a BMP such as a construction entrance isn’t feasible, says Jaramillo. The company designs SWPPPs, documents that describe site-specific controls to manage the discharge of pollutants in stormwater from construction sites. Another challenge is that often the project is constantly moving. Jaramillo designed a SWPPP for a 3,000-foot sewer system for KE&G Construction Inc., a heavy contractor that works on a broad range of construction projects throughout southern Arizona, including asphalt paving and water and wastewater systems. The work took place in one continuous line, and Jaramillo’s crew had to keep picking up and moving the wattles. “A contractor might install 500 feet of water piping per day,” he says. “In a week there can be a total of 2,500 feet of piping. And once the contractor is finished in certain sections, they might not return to those areas at all. So in reality, one must design [BMPs for] a SWPPP to be used temporarily—and if they are temporary, they must be cost efficient.” He often uses Gator Guard wattles from Gator Guard Environmental Products Inc. The cost efficiency comes from its durability, he says. Traditional straw wattles degrade quite rapidly, and usually once they’re installed, you can’t move them. Gator Guard is made of a UV-resistant geotextile stuffed with recycled foam. The wattles can be reused throughout a project, or they can be stacked in a yard when the project is finished and reused on a future project. KE&G Construction purchased about 3,000 linear feet of Gator Guard and has used—and reused—it on about 15 projects that have lasted from one month to four or five months. Gator Guard can be used on hills and steep grades as well as on flatter land to contain sediment, and it withstands the intense desert sun and heavy rain typical of Arizona. “The rainy season is between July and September, and we get monsoons of about an inch and a half of rain in two hours,” Jaramillo says. Traditional straw wattles fill with sediment and water, and rip because they get too heavy. Its durability is also an asset in projects where equipment is moving. When straw wattles are run over, they need to be replaced, he says. Gator Guard can be run over a few times without being damaged. If it does get damaged, it can be repaired in a matter of minutes by cutting out the damaged section and tying the ends together with baling wire or just filling the tear with caulking. Jaramillo uses other BMPs as well. He usually uses drain inlet gravel bags around inlets. They’re effective because they serve as a temporary dam and collect the sediment before it enters a storm drain, he notes. On some sites, he selects trackout pads or simply has a street sweeper available at the end of each shift. There has been a report of the filler material blowing around when Gator Guard wattles are damaged, but that can be avoided quite easily by not running over them, Jaramillo adds. That is usually controlled by the contractors and how well they maintain their sites. According to Bob Hanson of Gator Guard, “This is something we’ve been working on for a long time. We’ve been using a larger-size foam, about 2 inches thick and a little longer, since the beginning of 2010. It’s 15 times its original dimensions. The bigger pieces don’t get out of a rip as easily and there are fewer pieces to pick up.” I-69 in Obion County A new four-lane interstate highway, the I-69, is being built through the gently rolling countryside of west Tennessee. When it’s completed, it will stretch from the US-Mexico border at Laredo, TX, to the US-Canada border at Port Huron, MI. This leg begins at the Kentucky state line and extends 4.2 miles into Obion County, TN. Construction began in February 2010 and will take almost two years. The project required reinforced silt fence to contain the area’s highly erodible sandy soil. If silt and sediment weren’t stopped, they’d make their way down a network of creeks and small rivers until they reached the Mississippi, says Dale Kraus, supervisor at Green Thumb of Dyersburg LLC, located in Dyersburg, TN. Green Thumb specializes in silt fencing, erosion control, seeding, and sodding. The company is installing Belted Silt Retention Fence (BSRF) along the right of way for the primary contractor, Ford Construction, which is also in Dyersburg. BSRF is made by Silt-Saver Inc. “It’s a very exciting project for us.” Kraus says. “It’s the first part of the I-69 that’s coming through the state.” There’s an enormous amount of dirt work, he says. It includes grading for the highway, side roads, bridges, and culverts and trenching for the gas pipe that will go underground. With this much disturbed ground, there’s a lot of silt fence: roughly 57,000 linear feet in this project alone. Unlike traditional reinforced fencing, which consists of fabric backed with supporting wire, BSRF is a fiberglass scrim, or net, laminated between two layers of spunbond polyester, according to Silt-Saver. It costs a little less than wire-backed silt fence, eliminates the problem of the fabric separating from the supporting wire, and also cuts down dramatically on labor costs for installation. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “We’ve used it in quite a few places,” Kraus says. “It’s very easy to install.” Crews are using a tommy Silt Fence Machine to slice through the soil and install the fabric. Then they drive posts into the ground 4 feet apart, sandwich the fabric—which is marked with the locations of the posts—between a wooden post and a wooden bonding strip, and staple all three parts together. They’re also using riprap in the ditches and straw to keep the soil in place on areas where dirt has been disturbed but isn’t being worked on. “We put the straw through a machine where it’s chopped into pieces of 2 or 3 inches, and blow it on top of the dirt,” he says. “We put 75% coverage down—you can barely see the dirt through the straw. When it rains, the rain hits the straw first. When the soil is moved to another location, the straw gets incorporated into it.” The fence keeps sediment out well, and it’s strong enough to contain water even when the water is overtopping it. After a period of time, the belting stretches a little bit from containing the water, Kraus says, but that doesn’t affect the performance. Also after some time, it seems to get a bit weakened from sun and water hitting it. If it tears, it isn’t too hard to replace a section. The project is going well, says Rodney McClellan, assistant manager of Williams Equipment in Jackson, TN, which supplied the fencing and has offices in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. “There’s been great cooperation between everyone involved—and it’s put some people back to work.” SR-38 in Memphis The wonders of chemistry have reached the world of silt and sediment management. When a biopolymer called Gel-Floc, from HaloSource in Bothell, WA, is combined with the company’s charging agent, DBP-2100, they form a product called StormKlear. When silt- and sediment-laden water is pumped over StormKlear, the sediment drops out of suspension, leaving the water clarified. “It’s the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” says John Griffin, of ILM Inc. in Falkner, MS. ILM specializes in seeding and erosion control and used StormKlear on the last leg of the SR-385 loop around the Memphis metro area to clear the water before discharging it. The project began November 2009 and is scheduled to be completed by November 2012. According to Jason Sholtz, P.E., a civil engineer with Allen & Hoshall in Memphis TN, who is charged with environmental oversight for the project, “The section of SR-385 is approximately 7 miles long; has eight bridges, including one measuring approximately 3,200 feet; requires approximately 1.5 million yards of excavation and fill, balanced on site; and crosses what is probably the most environmentally sensitive watershed in the area, the Wolf River bottom lands.” Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soil types in west Tennessee contain a tremendous amount of fines, which, left untreated, will remain suspended almost indefinitely, Scholtz says. Because of this, stormwater is nearly impossible to treat to the extent that discharge would not appear visually objectionable. Though there is a very small amount of actual silt suspended in the water, and in many cases, almost none, the discharge from even the best erosion prevention and sediment control structures almost always appears an opaque brown—as if it is transporting large amounts of sediment. Unlike competing products, which can be soil specific, StormKlear works on just about any type of soil, says Bobby Starling, vice president of engineered products for Hanes Geo Components, a Winston Salem, NC-based national distributor for geosynthetics and sediment and erosion control products. “The two-part biopolymer system is why it works so well,” Starling says. “This will be used more and more in the future, given the new EPA Effluent Limitation Guidelines that passed in December of 2009.” Because StormKlear clarifies water by removing sediment, pollutants that are attached to the sediment, such as phosphorus, nitrates, and metals, are also removed. Hydrocarbons are flocculated as well, but they float to the surface. Water that needs to be clarified is pumped out of the basin or pond, over both substances in series, and then into a filter bag that looks something like an oversized air mattress, where the flocculated sediment is trapped. If the clarified water is being recirculated, it’s returned to the pond. If the pond is being dewatered, the clarified water is pumped to a discharge point on or off the job site. The filter bags are large and heavy once they’re full of sediment and are usually transported on a flatbed truck to a landfill. Occasionally they’re left at the site. Gel-Floc and DBP-2100 can also be used passively. Both are packaged in segmented socks in dry form and should be set in a channel, in series, where stormwater is flowing prior to the discharge point. “It’s important to make sure to determine the correct dosage before starting,” Starling says. “First, because it costs more without any added benefit to use more than you need, but, even more importantly, you don’t want chemicals to leave the site in the water.” It’s easy to monitor the dosage and discharge right in the field and to make adjusts it if it’s either too high or too low. The cost depends on factors such as how fast the silt and sediment come out of suspension, the volume of water to be treated, and the clarity that is required. He’s looking for additional ways to apply StormKlear around the site, Sholtz notes. “StormKlear is amazing. We pumped water directly from a sediment trap through the StormKlear socks and into a sediment bag. It came out looking like drinking water. The treatment is literally almost instantaneous.” Author's Bio: Janet Aird is a California writer specializing in agricultural and landscaping topics.

Silt and sediment management devices may not be as impressive as retaining walls or as subtly beautiful as rain gardens, but they’re the first line of defense against soil that’s on the move. They range from simple wattles to trackout devices to sophisticated polymer treatment systems that reduce turbidity in runoff.

The goal in choosing one or more of these devices for a project is to effectively contain the silt and sediment and prevent it from reaching areas outside the project limits. In some cases, it’s possible to build a structure to divert the flow around the project. That’s rare, however, because often the structure would destroy the native vegetation, says Jesus Jaramillo, owner of Eagle Environmental Consultants in Tucson, AZ, which designs stormwater pollution prevention plans (SWPPPs).

Designers have a multitude of choices for best management practices (BMPs) that can be used alone or in combination. Selecting BMPs for developed areas is often easier than for undeveloped areas because it’s easier to determine where the stormwater will flow, Jaramillo adds. On the other hand, in developed areas, designers have to take the safety of pedestrians into consideration, as well as the safety of workers on sites where passing traffic cannot be stopped.

Among the most basic BMPs are wattles, snake-shaped tubes often made of biodegradable burlap or geosynthetic fabric and filled with straw or other material. Wattles shorten the length of slopes and slow erosion by slowing, spreading, and filtering the flow of stormwater. They also can stabilize soils and capture seeds with the sediment, allowing plants to revegetate. On flat ground, they can be configured around storm drains and construction sites and along roadways. Gator Guard is a longer-lasting, UV-resistant wattle stuffed with recycled foam. Filtrexx manufactures socks that filter soluble pollutants in stormwater, such as phosphorus and petroleum hydrocarbons.

Sandbags are usually made of burlap or polypropylene. They can be filled with sand, nutrient-rich earth, and seeds to encourage revegetation, or, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, 10 parts of sand or soil mixed with one part of cement for a more durable bag with a longer effective life. While the bags themselves are porous, the contents tend to plug with sediment, so sandbag barriers on slopes also interrupt the slope length and reduce erosion. They also can be used as sediment traps at culvert and pipe outlets, along site perimeters, around temporary stockpiles, and parallel to roadways to keep sediment off paved areas.

Check dams are small barriers, usually constructed of rock, gravel bags, sandbags, or fiber rolls, that are placed across a swale or drainage ditch. They reduce the velocity of stormwater, reducing erosion and allowing sediment to settle and vegetation to establish in the channel. The Triangle Silt Dike, a lightweight, durable, easily installed, and reusable alternative to check dams, conforms to curves and rough terrain.

Silt fencing, both reinforced and unreinforced, also impedes the flow of water. Sediment settles out, and clean water slowly passes through the openings. Silt-fence machines trench or slice into the soil to make installation faster, easier, and tighter than hand installation. Newer silt-fence machines are designed to turn tight corners. SiltShield is a flexible and reusable alternative to silt fence and is used on residential construction sites. A center layer that filters stormwater is laminated to two outer layers that give the center layer support. SiltShield can bounce back to its original position after being hit, so it can be used near traffic. Damaged sections can be easily replaced.

Inlet protection products include geotextile sediment barriers, reusable bags, and filters that can be used at curb, median, and gutter inlets to capture silt, sediment, and construction debris before they enter the inlet.

The reusable SiltSack hangs from grates and collects silt and sediment from construction sites. The GutterBuddy is installed aboveground, either around or across curb inlets, to keep sediment from entering storm drains and inlets. It has built-in overflows so water can drain quickly during extreme storm events. Blocksom & Co. manufactures mats that attach to the tops of grates. After each rain event, silt and sediment can be swept away. Water from ponds, sumps, or holes around construction sites can be pumped into a DirtBag, which retains silt and sediment and allows the filtered water to drain out.

Trackout devices prevent silt and sediment from clinging to vehicles leaving a site. Trackout pads usually consist of washed gravel, crushed rock, or large stones that scrape sediment off tires as the vehicle rolls over them. The Grizzly Trackout Control Device consists of sections of steel abutted together to form a track that shakes vehicles as they drive across it, knocking off dust, mud, and other debris.

One of the newest additions to the silt and sediment management arsenal is that of polymer treatment systems, which reduce turbidity in stormwater runoff and sediment ponds.

Dallas Zoo and Aquarium Even zoos, which have elephant-size water-quality issues, still have to stay on top of runoff laden with sediment and trash.

Although the Dallas area receives only about 20 to 25 inches of rain throughout the year, it usually comes down in 2-inch rain events in a two- to three- hour period, says Gary Talley, vice president of Terradyne Group LLC, which is based in Dallas and has been providing SWPPP compliance services in Texas and Oklahoma since 1989. In addition, he says, the terrain is hilly, and “like any city, every day you wake up, there’s more pavement.”

At the Dallas Zoo itself, there are a lot of trees as well as a creek running through the property, says Deborah Zimmern, director of environmental services for the Dallas Zoo and the Dallas Aquarium at Fair Park. “Because of that, during rain events, runoff collects sediments in the form of soil as well as leaves and trash.” The sediment used to flow from the storm-drain inlets into Cedar Creek and from there into the Trinity River and then to the Gulf of Mexico.

Recently, the city of Dallas received a grant to install a new kind of inlet protection device, the Curb Companion, manufactured by the Inlet Protection Co. (IPC) in Gonzales, TX. The Curb Companion has been installed in the zoo’s service areas, in the parking lot, and along the main drive.

“We wanted to test the product to see if it would hold sediment back,” Zimmern says. “Our objective is to keep the sediment and trash out of Cedar Creek.”

A major feature of the Curb Companion is that the units fit flush with the curb. This greatly increases safety, because they don’t interfere with pedestrian and vehicle traffic. It also facilitates street cleaning.

One of the biggest advantages of the Curb Companion is that its frames and screens are very adaptable, Talley says. The frames consist of two galvanized metal rods, one for the top and one for the bottom of the inlet. Each rod is cut to fit to the width of the opening, so it’s important for them to be lined up properly with the bottom of the throat of the inlet. Brackets made of steel and rubber tubing attach the rods within the throat of the inlet by a tension system, so there’s no penetration of the inlet.

The frames can be used with one of four different screens, which allow the units to stop debris of different sizes. Half-inch hardware cloth stops floatables and debris. A 300 polyscape landscaping fabric stops sediment, floatables, and debris. Fiberglass screening stops floatables, debris, and most sediment. And a new hybrid made of half-inch hardware cloth and polyscape landscaping fabric stops a wider variety of debris.

The different screen sizes allow optimum drainage, and these units have overflow built into their design, Talley says. Once the volume reaches a certain point, trash is trapped in a basket and runoff flows over it.

With the Curb Companion, one screen can easily replace another. For example, the original fabric used at the Dallas Zoo was landscape filter fabric, but when some areas flooded, the holes clogged with sediment.

“We’re trying different fabrics,” Zimmern says. “Where one works well, we left it. Where we get flooding, we replaced the filter fabric with screening that looks like window screen. It lets water through more quickly and stops trash and sediment. They’re working quite well. We’ve been really pleased with IPC and their product,” she adds. “They’ve been really receptive to any challenges we had.”

Terradyne also maintains the Curb Companion. When they’re full, you pull them out, clean them, and put them back in, Talley says. It takes no more than five or 10 minutes.

The cost is marginally higher than other inlet protectors, he says, but they’re a good value when you consider their efficiency and safety. IPC is priced lower than other internal designs that are more difficult to install and whose maintenance costs are higher.

“It’s a new product,” he says. “As they gain exposure, there will be more and more municipalities interested. Cities have to be concerned not only about stormwater, but also safety.”

Linear Projects in Tucson Designing effective plans for silt and sediment management on linear projects has a number of special challenges. One is that there isn’t one standard entrance and exit to the work site, so a BMP such as a construction entrance isn’t feasible, says Jaramillo. The company designs SWPPPs, documents that describe site-specific controls to manage the discharge of pollutants in stormwater from construction sites.

Another challenge is that often the project is constantly moving. Jaramillo designed a SWPPP for a 3,000-foot sewer system for KE&G Construction Inc., a heavy contractor that works on a broad range of construction projects throughout southern Arizona, including asphalt paving and water and wastewater systems. The work took place in one continuous line, and Jaramillo’s crew had to keep picking up and moving the wattles.

“A contractor might install 500 feet of water piping per day,” he says. “In a week there can be a total of 2,500 feet of piping. And once the contractor is finished in certain sections, they might not return to those areas at all. So in reality, one must design [BMPs for] a SWPPP to be used temporarily—and if they are temporary, they must be cost efficient.”

He often uses Gator Guard wattles from Gator Guard Environmental Products Inc. The cost efficiency comes from its durability, he says. Traditional straw wattles degrade quite rapidly, and usually once they’re installed, you can’t move them. Gator Guard is made of a UV-resistant geotextile stuffed with recycled foam. The wattles can be reused throughout a project, or they can be stacked in a yard when the project is finished and reused on a future project. KE&G Construction purchased about 3,000 linear feet of Gator Guard and has used—and reused—it on about 15 projects that have lasted from one month to four or five months.

8-31-2010 11-39-58 AM.jpg

Gator Guard can be used on hills and steep grades as well as on flatter land to contain sediment, and it withstands the intense desert sun and heavy rain typical of Arizona. “The rainy season is between July and September, and we get monsoons of about an inch and a half of rain in two hours,” Jaramillo says. Traditional straw wattles fill with sediment and water, and rip because they get too heavy.

Its durability is also an asset in projects where equipment is moving. When straw wattles are run over, they need to be replaced, he says. Gator Guard can be run over a few times without being damaged. If it does get damaged, it can be repaired in a matter of minutes by cutting out the damaged section and tying the ends together with baling wire or just filling the tear with caulking.

Jaramillo uses other BMPs as well. He usually uses drain inlet gravel bags around inlets. They’re effective because they serve as a temporary dam and collect the sediment before it enters a storm drain, he notes. On some sites, he selects trackout pads or simply has a street sweeper available at the end of each shift.

There has been a report of the filler material blowing around when Gator Guard wattles are damaged, but that can be avoided quite easily by not running over them, Jaramillo adds. That is usually controlled by the contractors and how well they maintain their sites.

According to Bob Hanson of Gator Guard, “This is something we’ve been working on for a long time. We’ve been using a larger-size foam, about 2 inches thick and a little longer, since the beginning of 2010. It’s 15 times its original dimensions. The bigger pieces don’t get out of a rip as easily and there are fewer pieces to pick up.”

I-69 in Obion County A new four-lane interstate highway, the I-69, is being built through the gently rolling countryside of west Tennessee. When it’s completed, it will stretch from the US-Mexico border at Laredo, TX, to the US-Canada border at Port Huron, MI. This leg begins at the Kentucky state line and extends 4.2 miles into Obion County, TN. Construction began in February 2010 and will take almost two years.

The project required reinforced silt fence to contain the area’s highly erodible sandy soil. If silt and sediment weren’t stopped, they’d make their way down a network of creeks and small rivers until they reached the Mississippi, says Dale Kraus, supervisor at Green Thumb of Dyersburg LLC, located in Dyersburg, TN. Green Thumb specializes in silt fencing, erosion control, seeding, and sodding. The company is installing Belted Silt Retention Fence (BSRF) along the right of way for the primary contractor, Ford Construction, which is also in Dyersburg. BSRF is made by Silt-Saver Inc.

“It’s a very exciting project for us.” Kraus says. “It’s the first part of the I-69 that’s coming through the state.”

There’s an enormous amount of dirt work, he says. It includes grading for the highway, side roads, bridges, and culverts and trenching for the gas pipe that will go underground. With this much disturbed ground, there’s a lot of silt fence: roughly 57,000 linear feet in this project alone.

Unlike traditional reinforced fencing, which consists of fabric backed with supporting wire, BSRF is a fiberglass scrim, or net, laminated between two layers of spunbond polyester, according to Silt-Saver. It costs a little less than wire-backed silt fence, eliminates the problem of the fabric separating from the supporting wire, and also cuts down dramatically on labor costs for installation.

“We’ve used it in quite a few places,” Kraus says. “It’s very easy to install.” Crews are using a tommy Silt Fence Machine to slice through the soil and install the fabric. Then they drive posts into the ground 4 feet apart, sandwich the fabric—which is marked with the locations of the posts—between a wooden post and a wooden bonding strip, and staple all three parts together.

They’re also using riprap in the ditches and straw to keep the soil in place on areas where dirt has been disturbed but isn’t being worked on.

“We put the straw through a machine where it’s chopped into pieces of 2 or 3 inches, and blow it on top of the dirt,” he says. “We put 75% coverage down—you can barely see the dirt through the straw. When it rains, the rain hits the straw first. When the soil is moved to another location, the straw gets incorporated into it.”

The fence keeps sediment out well, and it’s strong enough to contain water even when the water is overtopping it. After a period of time, the belting stretches a little bit from containing the water, Kraus says, but that doesn’t affect the performance. Also after some time, it seems to get a bit weakened from sun and water hitting it. If it tears, it isn’t too hard to replace a section.

The project is going well, says Rodney McClellan, assistant manager of Williams Equipment in Jackson, TN, which supplied the fencing and has offices in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. “There’s been great cooperation between everyone involved—and it’s put some people back to work.”

SR-38 in Memphis The wonders of chemistry have reached the world of silt and sediment management.

When a biopolymer called Gel-Floc, from HaloSource in Bothell, WA, is combined with the company’s charging agent, DBP-2100, they form a product called StormKlear. When silt- and sediment-laden water is pumped over StormKlear, the sediment drops out of suspension, leaving the water clarified.

“It’s the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” says John Griffin, of ILM Inc. in Falkner, MS. ILM specializes in seeding and erosion control and used StormKlear on the last leg of the SR-385 loop around the Memphis metro area to clear the water before discharging it. The project began November 2009 and is scheduled to be completed by November 2012.

According to Jason Sholtz, P.E., a civil engineer with Allen & Hoshall in Memphis TN, who is charged with environmental oversight for the project, “The section of SR-385 is approximately 7 miles long; has eight bridges, including one measuring approximately 3,200 feet; requires approximately 1.5 million yards of excavation and fill, balanced on site; and crosses what is probably the most environmentally sensitive watershed in the area, the Wolf River bottom lands.”

Soil types in west Tennessee contain a tremendous amount of fines, which, left untreated, will remain suspended almost indefinitely, Scholtz says. Because of this, stormwater is nearly impossible to treat to the extent that discharge would not appear visually objectionable. Though there is a very small amount of actual silt suspended in the water, and in many cases, almost none, the discharge from even the best erosion prevention and sediment control structures almost always appears an opaque brown—as if it is transporting large amounts of sediment.

Unlike competing products, which can be soil specific, StormKlear works on just about any type of soil, says Bobby Starling, vice president of engineered products for Hanes Geo Components, a Winston Salem, NC-based national distributor for geosynthetics and sediment and erosion control products.

“The two-part biopolymer system is why it works so well,” Starling says. “This will be used more and more in the future, given the new EPA Effluent Limitation Guidelines that passed in December of 2009.”

Because StormKlear clarifies water by removing sediment, pollutants that are attached to the sediment, such as phosphorus, nitrates, and metals, are also removed. Hydrocarbons are flocculated as well, but they float to the surface.

Water that needs to be clarified is pumped out of the basin or pond, over both substances in series, and then into a filter bag that looks something like an oversized air mattress, where the flocculated sediment is trapped. If the clarified water is being recirculated, it’s returned to the pond. If the pond is being dewatered, the clarified water is pumped to a discharge point on or off the job site. The filter bags are large and heavy once they’re full of sediment and are usually transported on a flatbed truck to a landfill. Occasionally they’re left at the site.

Gel-Floc and DBP-2100 can also be used passively. Both are packaged in segmented socks in dry form and should be set in a channel, in series, where stormwater is flowing prior to the discharge point.

“It’s important to make sure to determine the correct dosage before starting,” Starling says. “First, because it costs more without any added benefit to use more than you need, but, even more importantly, you don’t want chemicals to leave the site in the water.” It’s easy to monitor the dosage and discharge right in the field and to make adjusts it if it’s either too high or too low.

The cost depends on factors such as how fast the silt and sediment come out of suspension, the volume of water to be treated, and the clarity that is required.

He’s looking for additional ways to apply StormKlear around the site, Sholtz notes. “StormKlear is amazing. We pumped water directly from a sediment trap through the StormKlear socks and into a sediment bag. It came out looking like drinking water. The treatment is literally almost instantaneous.”

Author's Bio: Janet Aird is a California writer specializing in agricultural and landscaping topics.]]> Caterpillar Announces Expansion of Its North Carolina Compact Construction Facility http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=340 8/6/2010 11:53:04 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=340 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/7EA6E4872FB5A79340EF27C178002D07.jpg PEORIA, Ill., Aug 05, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) is announcing the expansion of its Compact Construction Equipment operations located in Sanford, North Carolina. The development will provide the increased logistics and fabrications capacity required to meet growing global demand for the skid steer, compact track and multi-terrain loaders produced in Sanford today. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The expansion plans include a 270,000-square-foot building addition that will house logistics and the latest robotic welding technology for fabrication production. "The Sanford campus project provides Caterpillar with several key benefits that support our quest to constantly improve value for our customers," said Mary Bell, Vice President of Caterpillar's Building Construction Products Division. "We appreciate the support we received from our local partners and from the State of North Carolina for our growth strategy." The expansion of compact construction equipment production capacity is part of Caterpillar's long-term strategy to deliver the highest quality, best value building construction machines in the industry. Construction is expected to begin in early September 2010, with operations commencing in July 2011. When the expansion is complete and fully operational, it is anticipated that Caterpillar will add roughly 325 additional workers over a five-year period bringing the total workforce to approximately 750. "For the second time in less than a week, Caterpillar is making a major investment in North Carolina and strengthening its ties as a corporate citizen of our state," said Governor Bev Perdue. "By expanding its stake in North Carolina, Caterpillar has demonstrated that our own investments in education, worker training, transportation and infrastructure have paid off. We have created the kind of business climate and workforce that is attracting new companies and encouraging the ones that are here to grow." Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Caterpillar currently employs roughly 1,000 full-time workers in North Carolina in locations throughout the state including Cary, Charlotte, Clayton, Franklin, Goldsboro, Morganton, New Bern and Smithfield. The company recently announced the construction of a lower powertrain components facility in Winston-Salem that is expected to be operational in 2012 and will employ roughly 400 workers. About Caterpillar: For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2009 sales and revenues of $32.396 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.cat.com   SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.

PEORIA, Ill., Aug 05, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) is announcing the expansion of its Compact Construction Equipment operations located in Sanford, North Carolina. The development will provide the increased logistics and fabrications capacity required to meet growing global demand for the skid steer, compact track and multi-terrain loaders produced in Sanford today.

The expansion plans include a 270,000-square-foot building addition that will house logistics and the latest robotic welding technology for fabrication production.

"The Sanford campus project provides Caterpillar with several key benefits that support our quest to constantly improve value for our customers," said Mary Bell, Vice President of Caterpillar's Building Construction Products Division. "We appreciate the support we received from our local partners and from the State of North Carolina for our growth strategy."

The expansion of compact construction equipment production capacity is part of Caterpillar's long-term strategy to deliver the highest quality, best value building construction machines in the industry.

Construction is expected to begin in early September 2010, with operations commencing in July 2011. When the expansion is complete and fully operational, it is anticipated that Caterpillar will add roughly 325 additional workers over a five-year period bringing the total workforce to approximately 750.

"For the second time in less than a week, Caterpillar is making a major investment in North Carolina and strengthening its ties as a corporate citizen of our state," said Governor Bev Perdue. "By expanding its stake in North Carolina, Caterpillar has demonstrated that our own investments in education, worker training, transportation and infrastructure have paid off. We have created the kind of business climate and workforce that is attracting new companies and encouraging the ones that are here to grow."

Caterpillar currently employs roughly 1,000 full-time workers in North Carolina in locations throughout the state including Cary, Charlotte, Clayton, Franklin, Goldsboro, Morganton, New Bern and Smithfield. The company recently announced the construction of a lower powertrain components facility in Winston-Salem that is expected to be operational in 2012 and will employ roughly 400 workers.

About Caterpillar:
For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2009 sales and revenues of $32.396 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.cat.com

SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.

]]> NPDES News - August 4, 2010 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=339 8/6/2010 11:49:20 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=339 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/8CC01DA67784E5C69B8107A28D567FEF.jpg NPDES News - August 4, 2010 1. Webcast: Re-Visioning Landscapes with LID: The Houston Experience Join us for a webcast on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 1:00 pm EDT on ?Re-Visioning Landscapes with LID: The Houston Experience.? Register at: www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts   Take a break from the summer heat to join us for the ?Re-Visioning Landscapes with LID: The Houston Experience? webcast. During the past winter, the Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum sponsored a national Low Impact Development (LID) Design Competition. The competition was created to educate design professionals, decision makers and the public on the economic, environmental and quality-of-life positive impacts of LID. The design teams, most of whom had no previous experience with LID, created designs for three real developments being planned around greater Houston?a green roadway, urban redevelopment, and a suburban residential design. This webcast will feature participants from all portions of the competition?competition organizers, competition winners, and design judges. Speakers include Robert C. Adair, President, Construction EcoServices, Justin Ring, PE, Senior Project Manager, Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ & Associates, Christopher Browne, LEED AP, Manager, Land Planning and Development Services, Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ & Associates, and Frank Liu, President, Lovett Interests, Inc. The webcast will also feature a discussion of the competition?s ripple effect on Houston?s design/build community as well as the building ordinances in Houston. You must register in advance to attend this webcast. Register at the Watershed Academy Webcast Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. Moratorium extended for incidental vessel discharges from commercial fishing vessels and non-recreational vessels under 79 feet On July 30, 2010, President Obama signed Senate Bill S. 3372 to extend the existing moratorium from July 31, 2010 to December 18, 2013 that exempts all incidental discharges except ballast water from commercial fishing vessels and non-recreational vessels under 79 feet from having to obtain a Clean Water Act permit. This date coincides with the expiration of EPA's current vessel general permit (VGP) which covers incidental discharges from larger vessels (greater than 79 feet), and all ballast water discharges (regardless of vessel size). The extension of the moratorium provides EPA with the time needed to consider the impacts of incidental discharges, develop appropriate discharge limits, and provide the necessary permit coverage for the moratorium vessels if needed. The extension also gives Congress additional time to consider this issue and determine what regulatory approach might best control discharges from commercial fishing and smaller vessels. Go to http://www.epa.gov/npdes/vessels for more information. 3. Appalachian surface coal mining projects EPA recently released a final Report outlining its key conclusions after reviewing state water pollution permits for Appalachian surface coal mining projects. The report, ?Review of Clean Water Act '402 Permitting for Surface Coal Mines by Appalachian States: Findings and Recommendations,? summarizes the findings of EPA's Permit Quality Review (PQR) performed to assess the adequacy of State National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act. EPA recommends that states more consistently evaluate the potential for mining discharges to cause or contribute to a violation of state water quality standards, and the need to more fully implement narrative water quality standards. EPA's review helps its Regional offices, Appalachian States, and the public to identify areas for improvement and to ensure that States are developing permits that protect water quality consistent with the law. Report can be viewed on EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/guidance/mining.html    Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *** You can now manage your own account on NPDES News. Just go to www.epa.gov/npdes/npdesnews  to subscribe, change your email address, edit your contact information, or unsubscribe. *** U.S. EPA, NPDES Program npdesbox-request@epa.gov  

NPDES News - August 4, 2010

1. Webcast: Re-Visioning Landscapes with LID: The Houston Experience

Join us for a webcast on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 at 1:00 pm EDT on ?Re-Visioning Landscapes with LID: The Houston Experience.? Register at: www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts

Take a break from the summer heat to join us for the ?Re-Visioning Landscapes with LID: The Houston Experience? webcast. During the past winter, the Houston Land/Water Sustainability Forum sponsored a national Low Impact Development (LID) Design Competition. The competition was created to educate design professionals, decision makers and the public on the economic, environmental and quality-of-life positive impacts of LID.

The design teams, most of whom had no previous experience with LID, created designs for three real developments being planned around greater Houston?a green roadway, urban redevelopment, and a suburban residential design. This webcast will feature participants from all portions of the competition?competition organizers, competition winners, and design judges. Speakers include Robert C. Adair, President, Construction EcoServices, Justin Ring, PE, Senior Project Manager, Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ & Associates, Christopher Browne, LEED AP, Manager, Land Planning and Development Services, Edminster, Hinshaw, Russ & Associates, and Frank Liu, President, Lovett Interests, Inc. The webcast will also feature a discussion of the competition?s ripple effect on Houston?s design/build community as well as the building ordinances in Houston.

You must register in advance to attend this webcast. Register at the Watershed Academy Webcast Web site at: http://www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts

2. Moratorium extended for incidental vessel discharges from commercial fishing vessels and non-recreational vessels under 79 feet

On July 30, 2010, President Obama signed Senate Bill S. 3372 to extend the existing moratorium from July 31, 2010 to December 18, 2013 that exempts all incidental discharges except ballast water from commercial fishing vessels and non-recreational vessels under 79 feet from having to obtain a Clean Water Act permit. This date coincides with the expiration of EPA's current vessel general permit (VGP) which covers incidental discharges from larger vessels (greater than 79 feet), and all ballast water discharges (regardless of vessel size). The extension of the moratorium provides EPA with the time needed to consider the impacts of incidental discharges, develop appropriate discharge limits, and provide the necessary permit coverage for the moratorium vessels if needed. The extension also gives Congress additional time to consider this issue and determine what regulatory approach might best control discharges from commercial fishing and smaller vessels. Go to http://www.epa.gov/npdes/vessels for more information.

3. Appalachian surface coal mining projects

EPA recently released a final Report outlining its key conclusions after reviewing state water pollution permits for Appalachian surface coal mining projects. The report, ?Review of Clean Water Act '402 Permitting for Surface Coal Mines by Appalachian States: Findings and Recommendations,? summarizes the findings of EPA's Permit Quality Review (PQR) performed to assess the adequacy of State National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act. EPA recommends that states more consistently evaluate the potential for mining discharges to cause or contribute to a violation of state water quality standards, and the need to more fully implement narrative water quality standards. EPA's review helps its Regional offices, Appalachian States, and the public to identify areas for improvement and to ensure that States are developing permits that protect water quality consistent with the law. Report can be viewed on EPA's website at http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/guidance/mining.html

*** You can now manage your own account on NPDES News. Just go to www.epa.gov/npdes/npdesnews to subscribe, change your email address, edit your contact information, or unsubscribe. *** U.S. EPA, NPDES Program npdesbox-request@epa.gov ]]> 3 Essential Workshops including a New Advanced Course http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=338 7/27/2010 8:44:15 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=338 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/DB1D32B146D10F1FA2A83810336337CA.jpg How to Control Turbidity on Construction Sites: Methods for Meeting EPA Turbidity Limits Charlotte, NC   August 25, 2010   Learn methods for meeting the turbidity limits in the new US EPA rule on construction site stormwater management.  (See the rule issued 12/1/09:  http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction/ )  This workshop provides the basic principles of turbidity reduction using chemical treatment systems, including a variety which were developed at North Carolina State University and cited in the EPA rule. The focus will be on inexpensive, passive treatment approaches which can easily be integrated into an erosion and sediment control plan.   Class Time: 8am-5pm Credit: 6.5 Hours (Soil Scientists, Landscape Architects, Engineers, CPESCs) Fee: $235 Location: Charlotte, NC   Installation of Construction Site Erosion & Sediment Control Devices Raleigh, NC September 22, 2010 October 13, 2010 December 1, 2010   Training on the development of erosion and sediment control plans is widely available, but proper installation of these devices is just as critical as a good plan. This workshop is designed for people who actually need to know how to install these devices. Attendees will learn what properly installed devices should look like and the common failures in their installation; how to install the most common devices by actually installing them; how to install alternatives to common rock systems and how to save some money using them.   Class Time: 1:00-5:00pm Credit: 3.5 Hours (Soil Scientists, Landscape Architects, Engineers, CPESCs) Fee: $60 Location: Booth Field Learning Lab, 4000 Chi Rd., Raleigh, NC     Advanced Construction Site Turbidity Control NEW! Raleigh, NC September 23-24, 2010 October 14-15, 2010 December 2-3, 2010   This workshop expands on the 1-day Turbidity Control Workshop to include more detailed information on basic principles and a wide range of design options for turbidity control. You will spend more time evaluating options for treating stormwater with flocculants, including dosing systems and costs involved. You will take part in group projects to solve specific problems using a variety of approaches, including passive and active treatment systems. This workshop is designed for those who have to make decisions on the approaches to turbidity control in a variety of situations.   Class Time: Day 1: 8:00am-5:00pm; Day 2: 7:30am-12:00pm Credit: 12 Hours Pending Approval Fee: $325 Location: Booth Field Learning Lab, 4000 Chi Rd., Raleigh, NC     Click on the Course Date to View Full Information and Register Online Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Questions Joni Tanner and Kathryn Luxford soils_training@ncsu.edu 919-513-1678

How to Control Turbidity on Construction Sites:

Methods for Meeting EPA Turbidity Limits

Charlotte, NC

August 25, 2010

Learn methods for meeting the turbidity limits in the new US EPA rule on construction site stormwater management. (See the rule issued 12/1/09: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction/) This workshop provides the basic principles of turbidity reduction using chemical treatment systems, including a variety which were developed at North Carolina State University and cited in the EPA rule. The focus will be on inexpensive, passive treatment approaches which can easily be integrated into an erosion and sediment control plan.

Class Time: 8am-5pm
Credit: 6.5 Hours (Soil Scientists, Landscape Architects, Engineers, CPESCs)
Fee: $235
Location: Charlotte, NC

Installation of Construction Site Erosion &

Sediment Control Devices

Raleigh, NC

September 22, 2010

October 13, 2010

December 1, 2010

Training on the development of erosion and sediment control plans is widely available, but proper installation of these devices is just as critical as a good plan. This workshop is designed for people who actually need to know how to install these devices. Attendees will learn what properly installed devices should look like and the common failures in their installation; how to install the most common devices by actually installing them; how to install alternatives to common rock systems and how to save some money using them.

Class Time: 1:00-5:00pm

Credit: 3.5 Hours (Soil Scientists, Landscape Architects, Engineers, CPESCs)

Fee: $60

Location: Booth Field Learning Lab, 4000 Chi Rd., Raleigh, NC

Advanced Construction Site Turbidity Control NEW!

Raleigh, NC

September 23-24, 2010

October 14-15, 2010

December 2-3, 2010

This workshop expands on the 1-day Turbidity Control Workshop to include more detailed information on basic principles and a wide range of design options for turbidity control. You will spend more time evaluating options for treating stormwater with flocculants, including dosing systems and costs involved. You will take part in group projects to solve specific problems using a variety of approaches, including passive and active treatment systems. This workshop is designed for those who have to make decisions on the approaches to turbidity control in a variety of situations.

Class Time: Day 1: 8:00am-5:00pm; Day 2: 7:30am-12:00pm

Credit: 12 Hours Pending Approval

Fee: $325

Location: Booth Field Learning Lab, 4000 Chi Rd., Raleigh, NC

Click on the Course Date to View Full Information and Register Online


	Questions	Joni Tanner and Kathryn Luxford soils_training@ncsu.edu 919-513-1678

]]> Day of Service at Arlington National Cemetery and Capitol Hill Visits http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=337 7/27/2010 8:41:50 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=337 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/000001B37AA933E2F9C55EB9AB453835.jpg HERNDON, Va., July 26, 2010 — The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) held its 14th annual “Renewal & Remembrance” event at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, July 19, 2010. The next day members went to Capitol Hill to talk with congressional leaders about key issues facing the industry. More than 450 individuals from across the nation participated in “Renewal & Remembrance.” They spent the day mulching, caring for and cabling trees with lightening protection, pruning, liming, planting, and aerating the soil. This gift is valued at more than $250,000. To date, PLANET has contributed more than $2 million to the care of these historic landmarks. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Each year our members work together toward a common goal – to honor those who sacrificed so we could live in peace,” said Walter Wray, LIC, PLANET member and chairman of the event. “No other event brings the green industry together like this.” The event, which began 14 years ago with a dozen volunteers, has grown to involve more than 300 companies. As the day of service has grown, more and more PLANET members bring their families as well as their company employees.  The event includes special projects for children of PLANET members.  This year, children planted flowers in key locations at Arlington National Cemetery and participated in the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The logistics of the event are significant. Here are some of the numbers: •                     More than 450 adults and 55 children participated •                     100 companies were represented •                     29 states represented •                     32 area captains •                     120 tons of lime was applied to 275 acres •                     31 acres of turf was aerated •                     10 yards of soil was installed •                     Seven yards of mulch was applied •                     22 trees and six shrubs were installed •                     60 perennials were planted •                     9 trees were pruned, cabling and had bracing installed •                     Lightning protection was installed on seven trees •                     The Columbarium and Receiving Vault irrigation systems were updated The Irrigation Association partnered with PLANET to host this year’s event, and the event sponsors at the Platinum level included Husqvarna Outdoor Products and Syngenta. In addition to the Capitol Hill visits, Legislative Day participants enjoyed presentations from conservative columnist Cal Thomas and liberal Democratic strategist Bob Beckel, authors of Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That Is Destroying America . Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With almost 3,500 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals. Some of these professionals have taken the extra step of becoming certified through PLANET and bear the distinction of being known as Landscape Industry Certified .

HERNDON, Va., July 26, 2010 — The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) held its 14th annual “Renewal & Remembrance” event at Arlington National Cemetery on Monday, July 19, 2010. The next day members went to Capitol Hill to talk with congressional leaders about key issues facing the industry.

More than 450 individuals from across the nation participated in “Renewal & Remembrance.” They spent the day mulching, caring for and cabling trees with lightening protection, pruning, liming, planting, and aerating the soil. This gift is valued at more than $250,000. To date, PLANET has contributed more than $2 million to the care of these historic landmarks.

“Each year our members work together toward a common goal – to honor those who sacrificed so we could live in peace,” said Walter Wray, LIC, PLANET member and chairman of the event. “No other event brings the green industry together like this.”

The event, which began 14 years ago with a dozen volunteers, has grown to involve more than 300 companies. As the day of service has grown, more and more PLANET members bring their families as well as their company employees. The event includes special projects for children of PLANET members. This year, children planted flowers in key locations at Arlington National Cemetery and participated in the laying of the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The logistics of the event are significant. Here are some of the numbers:

• More than 450 adults and 55 children participated

• 100 companies were represented

• 29 states represented

• 32 area captains

• 120 tons of lime was applied to 275 acres

• 31 acres of turf was aerated

• 10 yards of soil was installed

• Seven yards of mulch was applied

• 22 trees and six shrubs were installed

• 60 perennials were planted

• 9 trees were pruned, cabling and had bracing installed

• Lightning protection was installed on seven trees

• The Columbarium and Receiving Vault irrigation systems were updated

The Irrigation Association partnered with PLANET to host this year’s event, and the event sponsors at the Platinum level included Husqvarna Outdoor Products and Syngenta.

In addition to the Capitol Hill visits, Legislative Day participants enjoyed presentations from conservative columnist Cal Thomas and liberal Democratic strategist Bob Beckel, authors of Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan War That Is Destroying America.

PLANET is the association of members who create and maintain the QUALITY OF LIFE in communities across America. With almost 3,500 member companies and affiliates, these firms and their employees represent more than 100,000 green industry professionals. Some of these professionals have taken the extra step of becoming certified through PLANET and bear the distinction of being known as Landscape Industry Certified.

]]> Mike Rowe is Ready to Hit the Dirt with Caterpillar Customers and Dealers http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=336 7/27/2010 8:34:27 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=336 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/B7566AD9850FE2B93944FB3F06640392.jpg PEORIA, Ill., July 26, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) has announced that it is partnering with Mike Rowe, the creator and star of the Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs and founder of mikeroweWORKS.com. With Mike's dedication to the trades and Caterpillar's commitment to its customers, the two have joined forces to highlight the important and essential work Caterpillar customers perform everyday. Rowe will be spending time with Caterpillar customers and dealers to get a real world perspective on their jobs and how the two partner to be successful. These encounters will be featured on cat.com and at Cat Dealerships across the country and will be used to demonstrate the solutions that Cat Dealers provide their customers throughout the lifecycle of their equipment, highlighting their superior parts and service support. "When hard work is being performed and progress is being made , Mike wants to be in the thick of it, so teaming with him is an absolute perfect fit," said Denny Vosberg, Caterpillar Parts and Service Support Manager. "Our dealer personnel are the best in the world and have been supporting our customers with their critical work for generations. Now is the time to shine a light on it and Mike is going to help us with that." Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rowe, who calls himself a perpetual apprentice, has performed more than 300 jobs in locations around the country via his show, Dirty Jobs , which is currently one of the Discovery Channel's most popular programs. Mike is also the creator of mikeroweWORKS.com, a website dedicated to and for people in the trades to meet, discuss relevant topics and learn what is the latest in the industry. He says his partnership with Caterpillar was "inevitable" because the two share the same work philosophy. "I see Cat equipment and the hard working people operating it around the world, building and creating infrastructure," said Rowe. "I'm excited to go beyond the machine and talk with the people who are actually making it happen." More information can be seen on http:// www.cat.com . About Caterpillar: For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2009 sales and revenues of $32.396 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.cat.com . Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About mikeroweWORKS mikeroweWORKS is a PR campaign for hard work and skilled labor. Its purpose is to call attention to the growing skills gap in the trades while providing a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to investigate a career in those vocations, as well as focus the country on the very real issues facing our trade workers and farmers. In addition to the trade resource center, Mike has established the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to help fund scholarship programs and other initiatives that reinvigorate Trade School enrollments and industrial arts programs around the country. www.mikeroweWORKS.com .

PEORIA, Ill., July 26, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) has announced that it is partnering with Mike Rowe, the creator and star of the Discovery Channel's Dirty Jobs and founder of mikeroweWORKS.com. With Mike's dedication to the trades and Caterpillar's commitment to its customers, the two have joined forces to highlight the important and essential work Caterpillar customers perform everyday.

Rowe will be spending time with Caterpillar customers and dealers to get a real world perspective on their jobs and how the two partner to be successful. These encounters will be featured on cat.com and at Cat Dealerships across the country and will be used to demonstrate the solutions that Cat Dealers provide their customers throughout the lifecycle of their equipment, highlighting their superior parts and service support.

"When hard work is being performed and progress is being made, Mike wants to be in the thick of it, so teaming with him is an absolute perfect fit," said Denny Vosberg, Caterpillar Parts and Service Support Manager. "Our dealer personnel are the best in the world and have been supporting our customers with their critical work for generations. Now is the time to shine a light on it and Mike is going to help us with that."

Rowe, who calls himself a perpetual apprentice, has performed more than 300 jobs in locations around the country via his show, Dirty Jobs, which is currently one of the Discovery Channel's most popular programs. Mike is also the creator of mikeroweWORKS.com, a website dedicated to and for people in the trades to meet, discuss relevant topics and learn what is the latest in the industry. He says his partnership with Caterpillar was "inevitable" because the two share the same work philosophy.

"I see Cat equipment and the hard working people operating it around the world, building and creating infrastructure," said Rowe. "I'm excited to go beyond the machine and talk with the people who are actually making it happen."

More information can be seen on http://www.cat.com.

About Caterpillar:

For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2009 sales and revenues of $32.396 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.cat.com.

About mikeroweWORKS

mikeroweWORKS is a PR campaign for hard work and skilled labor. Its purpose is to call attention to the growing skills gap in the trades while providing a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to investigate a career in those vocations, as well as focus the country on the very real issues facing our trade workers and farmers. In addition to the trade resource center, Mike has established the mikeroweWORKS Foundation to help fund scholarship programs and other initiatives that reinvigorate Trade School enrollments and industrial arts programs around the country. www.mikeroweWORKS.com.

]]> Welcoming Steve Jones to the Hydrostraw Team http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=335 7/16/2010 11:32:40 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=335 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/76C0BEE603C7AD0BB3BD95620A934891.jpg The team at HydroStraw, LLC would like to welcome Steve Jones whom recently joined our team as the Business Development Director. Steve brings over 15 years of field experience in erosion control and vegetation establishment, and over 10 years experience within the erosion control products and equipment industry while with FMI/FINN. His combined twenty five plus years and extensive knowledge from the in-field experience coupled with his high level of knowledge of hydraulically applied mulches and equipment sales, service and operation will bring a new level of service to HydroStraw's existing and new distributors. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Steve also brings a great deal of experience in sales & customer service and is looking forward to the new challenges ahead. We are excited to have someone of Steve’s level join our organization. Please take a minute to welcome Steve to the team by sending him an email at steve@hydrostraw.com .  He's looking forward to hearing from the folks within the industry. Sincerely, Ron Edwards | President www.hydrostraw.com

The team at HydroStraw, LLC would like to welcome Steve Jones whom recently joined our team as the Business Development Director.

Steve brings over 15 years of field experience in erosion control and vegetation establishment, and over 10 years experience within the erosion control products and equipment industry while with FMI/FINN. His combined twenty five plus years and extensive knowledge from the in-field experience coupled with his high level of knowledge of hydraulically applied mulches and equipment sales, service and operation will bring a new level of service to HydroStraw's existing and new distributors.

Steve also brings a great deal of experience in sales & customer service and is looking forward to the new challenges ahead. We are excited to have someone of Steve’s level join our organization. Please take a minute to welcome Steve to the team by sending him an email at steve@hydrostraw.com. He's looking forward to hearing from the folks within the industry.

Sincerely,
Ron Edwards | President
www.hydrostraw.com

]]> California General permit 2009-0009-DWQ http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=334 7/16/2010 9:06:46 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=334 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/F95F9EFC4893126D3156CD1EEA7D74E5.jpg With the new California General permit 2009-0009-DWQ now a reality; there are some key things we need to know that will help our customers. Site compliance is very important under the new permit and testing and monitoring have high priorities. There will be increased requests for turbidity testing equipment (test the amount of sediment in storm water discharge after a .25” storm) and pH testing equipment. The immediate and best pH testing equipment are pH strips (basic pool equipment) so these should be available to our customers to help us remain a one stop shop. The most important thing about the new permit is that construction sites have no discharge of contaminated (primarily sediment) storm water. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The more we know and understand the erosion and sediment control materials we offer the better our customers will be when offering site inspections to their clients, and if done right during installation there will be manageable control of the site. Know what our products offer, and ask our team experts as many questions as necessary to supply our customers with the best we can offer. Encourage our customers to bring their questions to us. If we don’t have the answers we have access to the answers through our suppliers. Also write the following on all your receipts for those asking questions: www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/construction Source: Lucinda Dustin, Mud Hen Environmental LLC, Sacremento, CA

With the new California General permit 2009-0009-DWQ now a reality; there are some key things we need to know that will help our customers. Site compliance is very important under the new permit and testing and monitoring have high priorities. There will be increased requests for turbidity testing equipment (test the amount of sediment in storm water discharge after a .25” storm) and pH testing equipment. The immediate and best pH testing equipment are pH strips (basic pool equipment) so these should be available to our customers to help us remain a one stop shop. The most important thing about the new permit is that construction sites have no discharge of contaminated (primarily sediment) storm water.

The more we know and understand the erosion and sediment control materials we offer the better our customers will be when offering site inspections to their clients, and if done right during installation there will be manageable control of the site. Know what our products offer, and ask our team experts as many questions as necessary to supply our customers with the best we can offer. Encourage our customers to bring their questions to us. If we don’t have the answers we have access to the answers through our suppliers. Also write the following on all your receipts for those asking questions: www.swrcb.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/stormwater/construction

Source: Lucinda Dustin, Mud Hen Environmental LLC, Sacremento, CA

]]> Master Naturalisits: There are many variations of rainwater harvesting http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=333 7/13/2010 12:40:53 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=333 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/11389732687EAD75B69FCA2B1BA7CF4E.jpg By Paul and Mary Meredith While Hurricane Alex threatened the Gulf Coast, we joined several other Texans in learning about rainwater harvesting - its benefits for Texas and how we can harvest rainwater. Texas doesn't have enough water to keep on doing what we want to do. Citizens in some parts of the state are working to use rainwater harvesting to increase the amount of water their residents and/or businesses have to use. Rainwater harvesting offers ways to increase our water resources and to use those resources more effectively, so that we can have larger water supplies. It includes ways to capture more rainwater to use. It also includes more effective and efficient ways to use our water resources to achieve our objectives. We can utilize existing systems, or we can design custom systems to collect and utilize our water resources. We may use techniques that others have found effective, or we may devise other techniques to reach our goals. Ways to accomplish those goals are what we learned. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Understanding how our water system works To start, we need to understand more about how rainwater works. A demonstration display has been designed to show how rainwater retention works, so we can apply better retention techniques to increase the amount of water available to us. The display shows how rainwater falling on different kinds of surfaces acts once it hits the ground. Water hitting the ground can soak into the ground to become groundwater, or it can run off. For example, running off is common when rain falls on typical paved surfaces. The runoff flows into storm drains and water drainage ditches, unless it is harvested for other uses. Some other alternatives the demonstrator can show about what happens to falling water usually deal with situations where water falls on areas where turfgrass or "bunchgrasses" grow. Bunchgrasses are grasses that grow in clumps or bunches. Some are "well-mannered" and can be planted in flower beds, perhaps instead of small bushes. They remain clumps, rather than spreading like many grasses tend to do. Examples of these bunchgrasses include sideoats grama, little bluestem, Indiangrass and upland switchgrass. However, other bunchgrasses take over larger areas. They can be used for erosion control or for large areas of landscape. Examples of those bunchgrases include Indian seaoats and lowland switchgrass. Bunchgrasses, compared to other grasses, have very long roots - generally as long as the grass is tall. The long roots convert falling water to groundwater, so it may be available for future use. Turfgrass, however, has much shorter roots and, especially when it's affected by, for example, like being walked on, cannot convert much water hitting the ground into groundwater. The demonstrator part for turfgrass areas shows that most water falling on it becomes runoff. Most people seeing the demonstrator probably find the most startling part is the part providing an example of what happens when water falls on hard surfaces. For the demonstrator, we're setting up a bird feeder shaped like a schoolhouse, sitting on a piece of hard plastic. The scenario depicts a building sitting on an impermeable surface, like typical pavement in a parking lot. Rainwater falling on the schoolhouse roof runs off the roof onto the pavement, becoming runoff. But we've modified the schoolhouse to have functional gutters. When rainwater falls on the schoolhouse roof, some runs off through those gutters onto the paved surface. But when collection tanks are placed under the low end of the gutters, water running off the schoolhouse roof through the gutters can be collected in those tanks and used for other purposes. The tanks can include such things as barrels, trash cans and other "tank-shaped" containers. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wildlife Waterers Another benefit of rainwater harvesting is wildlife watering. It can be done by constructing a lean-to of sorts. The lean-to's roof is sloped, corrugated metal. And the lean-to sits atop a wooden base that has all four sides open. A collection tank sits under the roof. A gutter is attached to the roof's lower edge, and a PVC-pipe drain is attached to the gutter to collect water and condensate into the tank. A drip outlet attached to the tank's lower edge allows water to flow from the tank at a rate of one drip a second (about a gallon a day) into a shallow pan, shaped like a bird bath. The pan holds the water collected for animals to drink when they visit the tank. Depending on the tank, more than one drip outlet and pan can be used. A motion-sensing camera attached to the waterer takes photos of animals visiting at night. One photo we saw showed a mountain lion drinking from a wildlife waterer located northwest of San Antonio. A larger waterer or smaller wildlife waterer can be set up by using a larger or smaller tank to collect the moisture. A smaller waterer usually has the tank lying on its side under a shorter stand. We first saw a wildlife waterer near Fort Davis in 2005, in an extremely dry area. The waterer consisted of a corrugated tank whose top was attached upside down (pointed side pointing down into the tank), so that water and condensation hitting the upside-down roof ran into the tank. Multiple drip outlets were attached near the tank's base to accommodate multiple animals getting water at the same time. Learning how rainwater harvesting is done overseas One member of our group was originally from an extremely dry area of Australia. That area has had a drought for 15 years now. And a normal year's rainfall is only about 10 inches. Area residents are required to use rainwater harvesting. Each household receives their water allocation in liters of water per person per day. In the U.S., we use about the same number, but in gallons of water per day. In that part of Australia, if someone uses more than their share of water, or if they're reported to be using the water to irrigate their lawn or other plants, their home's water supply is turned off. After that, they must take a bucket to the community tap, fill it and carry it back to their house to get water. Graywater and its uses Australians use graywater for such things as watering plants. In general, graywater is any water used for washing in the home, except water from toilets. Graywater comprises 50 to 80 percent of residential waste water and may be reused for other purposes, especially landscape irrigation. Supplies for implementing rainwater harvesting Box stores in South Australia have large sections for rainwater-harvesting system materials. Water line available is color-coded to indicate the quality of water the line carries. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sharing ideas, techniques, and designs with others One of the biggest, most rewarding advantages of such sessions as the one we participated in, is learning from other participants. We shared experiences with rainwater harvesting. Systems yield better results when they're tailored to the particular circumstances where they're used. The advantages and constraints for each place they will be used must be taken into account, including any legal constraints involved. Paul and Mary Meredith are master naturalists. Contact them at paulmary0211@sbcglobal.net

By Paul and Mary Meredith

While Hurricane Alex threatened the Gulf Coast, we joined several other Texans in learning about rainwater harvesting - its benefits for Texas and how we can harvest rainwater.

Texas doesn't have enough water to keep on doing what we want to do. Citizens in some parts of the state are working to use rainwater harvesting to increase the amount of water their residents and/or businesses have to use.

Rainwater harvesting offers ways to increase our water resources and to use those resources more effectively, so that we can have larger water supplies. It includes ways to capture more rainwater to use. It also includes more effective and efficient ways to use our water resources to achieve our objectives. We can utilize existing systems, or we can design custom systems to collect and utilize our water resources. We may use techniques that others have found effective, or we may devise other techniques to reach our goals.

Ways to accomplish those goals are what we learned.

Understanding how our water system works
To start, we need to understand more about how rainwater works. A demonstration display has been designed to show how rainwater retention works, so we can apply better retention techniques to increase the amount of water available to us.

The display shows how rainwater falling on different kinds of surfaces acts once it hits the ground. Water hitting the ground can soak into the ground to become groundwater, or it can run off. For example, running off is common when rain falls on typical paved surfaces. The runoff flows into storm drains and water drainage ditches, unless it is harvested for other uses.

Some other alternatives the demonstrator can show about what happens to falling water usually deal with situations where water falls on areas where turfgrass or "bunchgrasses" grow.

Bunchgrasses are grasses that grow in clumps or bunches. Some are "well-mannered" and can be planted in flower beds, perhaps instead of small bushes. They remain clumps, rather than spreading like many grasses tend to do. Examples of these bunchgrasses include sideoats grama, little bluestem, Indiangrass and upland switchgrass. However, other bunchgrasses take over larger areas. They can be used for erosion control or for large areas of landscape. Examples of those bunchgrases include Indian seaoats and lowland switchgrass. Bunchgrasses, compared to other grasses, have very long roots - generally as long as the grass is tall. The long roots convert falling water to groundwater, so it may be available for future use. Turfgrass, however, has much shorter roots and, especially when it's affected by, for example, like being walked on, cannot convert much water hitting the ground into groundwater. The demonstrator part for turfgrass areas shows that most water falling on it becomes runoff.

Most people seeing the demonstrator probably find the most startling part is the part providing an example of what happens when water falls on hard surfaces. For the demonstrator, we're setting up a bird feeder shaped like a schoolhouse, sitting on a piece of hard plastic.

The scenario depicts a building sitting on an impermeable surface, like typical pavement in a parking lot. Rainwater falling on the schoolhouse roof runs off the roof onto the pavement, becoming runoff. But we've modified the schoolhouse to have functional gutters.
When rainwater falls on the schoolhouse roof, some runs off through those gutters onto the paved surface. But when collection tanks are placed under the low end of the gutters, water running off the schoolhouse roof through the gutters can be collected in those tanks and used for other purposes. The tanks can include such things as barrels, trash cans and other "tank-shaped" containers.

Wildlife Waterers
Another benefit of rainwater harvesting is wildlife watering. It can be done by constructing a lean-to of sorts. The lean-to's roof is sloped, corrugated metal. And the lean-to sits atop a wooden base that has all four sides open. A collection tank sits under the roof. A gutter is attached to the roof's lower edge, and a PVC-pipe drain is attached to the gutter to collect water and condensate into the tank. A drip outlet attached to the tank's lower edge allows water to flow from the tank at a rate of one drip a second (about a gallon a day) into a shallow pan, shaped like a bird bath. The pan holds the water collected for animals to drink when they visit the tank. Depending on the tank, more than one drip outlet and pan can be used.

A motion-sensing camera attached to the waterer takes photos of animals visiting at night. One photo we saw showed a mountain lion drinking from a wildlife waterer located northwest of San Antonio. A larger waterer or smaller wildlife waterer can be set up by using a larger or smaller tank to collect the moisture. A smaller waterer usually has the tank lying on its side under a shorter stand.

We first saw a wildlife waterer near Fort Davis in 2005, in an extremely dry area. The waterer consisted of a corrugated tank whose top was attached upside down (pointed side pointing down into the tank), so that water and condensation hitting the upside-down roof ran into the tank. Multiple drip outlets were attached near the tank's base to accommodate multiple animals getting water at the same time.

Learning how rainwater harvesting is done overseas
One member of our group was originally from an extremely dry area of Australia. That area has had a drought for 15 years now. And a normal year's rainfall is only about 10 inches. Area residents are required to use rainwater harvesting. Each household receives their water allocation in liters of water per person per day. In the U.S., we use about the same number, but in gallons of water per day. In that part of Australia, if someone uses more than their share of water, or if they're reported to be using the water to irrigate their lawn or other plants, their home's water supply is turned off. After that, they must take a bucket to the community tap, fill it and carry it back to their house to get water.

Graywater and its uses
Australians use graywater for such things as watering plants. In general, graywater is any water used for washing in the home, except water from toilets. Graywater comprises 50 to 80 percent of residential waste water and may be reused for other purposes, especially landscape irrigation.

Supplies for implementing rainwater harvesting
Box stores in South Australia have large sections for rainwater-harvesting system materials. Water line available is color-coded to indicate the quality of water the line carries.

Sharing ideas, techniques, and designs with others
One of the biggest, most rewarding advantages of such sessions as the one we participated in, is learning from other participants. We shared experiences with rainwater harvesting. Systems yield better results when they're tailored to the particular circumstances where they're used. The advantages and constraints for each place they will be used must be taken into account, including any legal constraints involved.

Paul and Mary Meredith are master naturalists. Contact them at paulmary0211@sbcglobal.net]]> Fighting Invasive Species of Another Sort http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=332 7/13/2010 12:12:54 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=332 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/1BB464C2547EEEAE71D4CC4EB0584558.jpg Deploying mats underwater is nothing new; gabion mattresses or articulated concrete block mats are often used for stabilization. However, mats of a different type are being used in Lake Tahoe in an attempt to improve water quality. Last week, divers placed rubber mats over half an acre of the lake bottom with the goal of smothering an invasive species. The Asian clam, researchers say, is causing excessive algae growth in the lake, changing the color of the water from blue to green in some places and altering the lake’s chemistry, possibly making it vulnerable to other invasives. The tiny clams—which are found as densely packed as 5,000 per square yard—are believed to have been brought in by boaters about eight years ago. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Another half-acre of mats will be added soon. The mats will be removed at the end of the summer and the lake monitored to see whether the clam population returns.

Deploying mats underwater is nothing new; gabion mattresses or articulated concrete block mats are often used for stabilization. However, mats of a different type are being used in Lake Tahoe in an attempt to improve water quality.

Last week, divers placed rubber mats over half an acre of the lake bottom with the goal of smothering an invasive species. The Asian clam, researchers say, is causing excessive algae growth in the lake, changing the color of the water from blue to green in some places and altering the lake’s chemistry, possibly making it vulnerable to other invasives. The tiny clams—which are found as densely packed as 5,000 per square yard—are believed to have been brought in by boaters about eight years ago.

Another half-acre of mats will be added soon. The mats will be removed at the end of the summer and the lake monitored to see whether the clam population returns.]]> FGI Publishes Guideline for Subgrade Preparation for Fabricated Geomembranes http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=331 7/13/2010 12:11:27 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=331 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/1B0D704CD2EC2D6FCF0EBB38CF121CAD.jpg St. Paul, Minn., July 10, 2010) The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) has produced a new guideline entitled Subgrade Requirements for Fabricated Geomembranes. This guideline details the proper preparation of the subgrade for the installation of all fabricated geomembranes. This document is written such that these guidelines can be picked up by an engineer or specifier and put into a specification for subgrade condition and requirements. Color pictures of both acceptable and unacceptable subgrade preparations and protrusions are provided to give the user a visual depiction of what is described in the text. The subgrade requirements for preventing water pressure build-up below the liner are addressed in this guideline. This is an important consideration in preventing the geomembrane from being lifted off the subgrade by ground water or gas build up. This document can be found at http://www.fabricatedgeomembrane.com/?page_id=180  and is available for use by the industry. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute is housed at the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign. Dr. Timothy D. Stark is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an expertise in Geotechnical Engineering. Dr. Stark has been teaching, researching, and consulting on geosynthetics, stability of manmade slopes, and design of waste containment facilities for more than 15 years. For more information on the FGI, contact Dr. Stark at +1 217-333-3929 or geomembrane@illinois.edu  

St. Paul, Minn., July 10, 2010) The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute (FGI) has produced a new guideline entitled Subgrade Requirements for Fabricated Geomembranes. This guideline details the proper preparation of the subgrade for the installation of all fabricated geomembranes. This document is written such that these guidelines can be picked up by an engineer or specifier and put into a specification for subgrade condition and requirements. Color pictures of both acceptable and unacceptable subgrade preparations and protrusions are provided to give the user a visual depiction of what is described in the text.

The subgrade requirements for preventing water pressure build-up below the liner are addressed in this guideline. This is an important consideration in preventing the geomembrane from being lifted off the subgrade by ground water or gas build up. This document can be found at http://www.fabricatedgeomembrane.com/?page_id=180 and is available for use by the industry.

The Fabricated Geomembrane Institute is housed at the University of Illinois at Urban-Champaign. Dr. Timothy D. Stark is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with an expertise in Geotechnical Engineering. Dr. Stark has been teaching, researching, and consulting on geosynthetics, stability of manmade slopes, and design of waste containment facilities for more than 15 years.

For more information on the FGI, contact Dr. Stark at +1 217-333-3929 or geomembrane@illinois.edu ]]> Azteca Systems Announces Release of Cityworks 2010 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=330 7/13/2010 12:09:40 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=330 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/F988E48F061B26E5F9D9EF1FF1FA5AD5.jpg San Diego, CA — Azteca Systems, Inc., the leading provider of GIS-centric management solutions, announced today the release of Cityworks 2010, launching an exciting new array of solutions to automate licensing, permit, case, and asset management for public works, utilities, and government agencies of all sizes. Marking this release, a new naming convention for Azteca’s software encompasses the theme of a new and broadened product direction that includes the entire suite of GIS-centric management tools. Cityworks 2010 brings significant enhancements to the entire Cityworks product line resulting in overall product performance being greatly increased. Cityworks Server MMS (maintenance management system) includes enhanced tools for managing equipment, labor, and materials (ELM), new contract tools, and enhancements to Project Manager. Among the exciting additions is the integration of Cityworks PLL (Permits, Licensing, and Land) and MMS, with which users can easily create permits from a work order or service request—or the other way around—work orders or requests can be created from a permit. Other enhancements to PLL include Flex Forms, Public Access, and business licensing with more coming through the remainder of the year. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “The software development tools available in Cityworks 2010 allow us to create a system so tightly coupled with ESRI’s GIS that the constituent parts of the resulting system become indistinguishable to the end user,” states Brian Haslam, President of Azteca Systems. “Cityworks is powered by ESRI, and in turn is empowering GIS for infrastructure, assets, permits, and licensing. For many users, Cityworks is the GIS as it is essentially through Cityworks that users interact with the GIS. Taking all this into account, we realize that at the end of the day, the end users care about ease of use as they perform their day-to-day, mission-critical work.” “Cityworks 2010 represents a fundamental step in the advancement of our products,” said Carl Horton, Executive Director of Product Development. “What began a few years ago with the introduction of Cityworks Server MMS continues as we migrate our core product platform to the leading, state-of-the-art programming languages and techniques. This enables tremendous functionality and cross compatibility among our full line of products while facilitating integration with other mission critical business systems. In addition it allows us to deploy Cityworks across a wide array of devices – from a conventional desktop to virtually any mobile device.” Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cityworks Server 2010 supports ESRI ArcGIS 9.3.1 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 or Oracle 10g or 11g. ESRI’s ArcGIS 10 will be supported fall 2010.

San Diego, CA — Azteca Systems, Inc., the leading provider of GIS-centric management solutions, announced today the release of Cityworks 2010, launching an exciting new array of solutions to automate licensing, permit, case, and asset management for public works, utilities, and government agencies of all sizes. Marking this release, a new naming convention for Azteca’s software encompasses the theme of a new and broadened product direction that includes the entire suite of GIS-centric management tools.

Cityworks 2010 brings significant enhancements to the entire Cityworks product line resulting in overall product performance being greatly increased. Cityworks Server MMS (maintenance management system) includes enhanced tools for managing equipment, labor, and materials (ELM), new contract tools, and enhancements to Project Manager. Among the exciting additions is the integration of Cityworks PLL (Permits, Licensing, and Land) and MMS, with which users can easily create permits from a work order or service request—or the other way around—work orders or requests can be created from a permit. Other enhancements to PLL include Flex Forms, Public Access, and business licensing with more coming through the remainder of the year.

“The software development tools available in Cityworks 2010 allow us to create a system so tightly coupled with ESRI’s GIS that the constituent parts of the resulting system become indistinguishable to the end user,” states Brian Haslam, President of Azteca Systems. “Cityworks is powered by ESRI, and in turn is empowering GIS for infrastructure, assets, permits, and licensing. For many users, Cityworks is the GIS as it is essentially through Cityworks that users interact with the GIS. Taking all this into account, we realize that at the end of the day, the end users care about ease of use as they perform their day-to-day, mission-critical work.”

“Cityworks 2010 represents a fundamental step in the advancement of our products,” said Carl Horton, Executive Director of Product Development. “What began a few years ago with the introduction of Cityworks Server MMS continues as we migrate our core product platform to the leading, state-of-the-art programming languages and techniques. This enables tremendous functionality and cross compatibility among our full line of products while facilitating integration with other mission critical business systems. In addition it allows us to deploy Cityworks across a wide array of devices – from a conventional desktop to virtually any mobile device.”

Cityworks Server 2010 supports ESRI ArcGIS 9.3.1 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 or Oracle 10g or 11g. ESRI’s ArcGIS 10 will be supported fall 2010.]]> Kristar Perk Filter Achieves Wa Doe Guld Listing http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=329 7/13/2010 12:02:52 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=329 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/F7A027A435033FCAFA3E8FE40233C9DD.jpg KriStar Enterprises, Inc. received notification today that its FloGard® Perk Filter has achieved a General Use Level Designation (GULD) from the Washington State Department of Ecology for Basic and Phosphorous Treatment. The report’s findings indicate average removal ratings exceeding the standards established for both Total Suspended Solids and for Phosphorous. “ We are extremely pleased to receive both designations after an extensive development program of full scale laboratory testing and field monitoring over the past three years ”, reported Craig Beatty of KriStar. “Washington has one of the most respected technology review programs in the country and this designation is a validation of our continuing efforts to provide site specific solutions for improving the quality of our nation’s waterways.” The FloGard® Perk Filter is a radial media cartridge style filtration system with multiple configurations available in catch basins, manholes, or vaults, allowing the specifier maximum flexibility in optimizing their site’s drainage facilities. A wide variety of filter medium is available to target specific pollutants of concern. For more information, contact Michelle Dunlop ( mdunlop@kristar.com ) or visit www.kristar.com

KriStar Enterprises, Inc. received notification today that its FloGard® Perk Filter has achieved a General Use Level Designation (GULD) from the Washington State Department of Ecology for Basic and Phosphorous Treatment. The report’s findings indicate average removal ratings exceeding the standards established for both Total Suspended Solids and for Phosphorous.

“ We are extremely pleased to receive both designations after an extensive development program of full scale laboratory testing and field monitoring over the past three years ”, reported Craig Beatty of KriStar. “Washington has one of the most respected technology review programs in the country and this designation is a validation of our continuing efforts to provide site specific solutions for improving the quality of our nation’s waterways.”

The FloGard® Perk Filter is a radial media cartridge style filtration system with multiple configurations available in catch basins, manholes, or vaults, allowing the specifier maximum flexibility in optimizing their site’s drainage facilities. A wide variety of filter medium is available to target specific pollutants of concern.

For more information, contact Michelle Dunlop (mdunlop@kristar.com ) or visit www.kristar.com]]> ESCN.TV Video News http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=328 6/24/2010 1:49:00 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=328 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/8CF04474E5B1D8D38F88DC267F350394.jpg Click Here to Watch The Video ESCN.TV Erosion and sediment control information and education at your fingertips. Top Stories for 06/22/10: ► Geosynthetic Technology Tested At Gulf Oil Spill ► Profile Adds New Product To Erosion Control Line ► Erosion Control And Stream Restoration On MD Highway Project ► Scholarship Opportunity From the IECA's Western Chapter ► New Expert Tip Of The Week   - Planning Your Project Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Click Here to Watch The Video

ESCN.TV

Erosion and sediment control information and education at your fingertips.

Top Stories for 06/22/10:

► Geosynthetic Technology Tested At Gulf Oil Spill
► Profile Adds New Product To Erosion Control Line
► Erosion Control And Stream Restoration On MD Highway Project
► Scholarship Opportunity From the IECA's Western Chapter
► New Expert Tip Of The Week
- Planning Your Project

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]]> NPDES News - June 23, 2010 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=327 6/24/2010 1:46:04 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=327 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/07D0D5DE11655EB915FDEBA255EC5FD7.jpg 1. Open for Comment: Proposed Sufficiently Sensitive Methods Rulemaking EPA is proposing minor amendments to the CWA regulations to codify that under the NPDES program, only ?sufficiently sensitive? analytical test methods can be used when completing an NPDES permit application and when performing sampling and analysis pursuant to monitoring requirements in an NPDES permit. On June 23, 2010 EPA issued a Federal Register Notice announcing the proposed amendments to the CWA, and the public will have 45 days to comment on the proposed rulemaking. View the Federal Register Notice and more information at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/ssmethods.cfm 2. New Publication Added: NPDES Permitting of Wastewater Discharges from Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) and Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Impoundments at Steam Electric Power Plants The purpose of this memorandum is to provide users with interim guidance to assist NPDES permitting authorities to establish appropriate permit requirements for wastewater discharges from Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems and coal combustion residual (CCR) impoundments at Steam Electric Power Plants. View the new publication at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/docs.cfm?view=allprog&program_id=14&sort=date_published    Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. Reminder: Registration Open for Listening Sessions and Webcast on Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) Rulemaking and Peak Flows Registration is open for four listening sessions and a webcast for EPA to receive input to help determine whether to modify the NPDES regulations as they apply to municipal sanitary sewer collection systems and SSOs. June 24, 2010 - Seattle, Washington June 28, 2010 - Atlanta, Georgia June 30, 2010 - Kansas City, Kansas July 13, 2010 - Washington, D.C. July 14, 2010 - Webcast All listening sessions will be held from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm local time. More specific information can be found in the Federal Register Notice. Registration information is available at www.epa.gov/npdes/sso Written comments are due by August 2, 2010. See the Sanitary Sewer Overflows and Peak Flows Website at www.epa.gov/npdes/sso  for more information. U.S. EPA, NPDES Program npdesbox-request@epa.gov  

1. Open for Comment: Proposed Sufficiently Sensitive Methods Rulemaking

EPA is proposing minor amendments to the CWA regulations to codify that under the NPDES program, only ?sufficiently sensitive? analytical test methods can be used when completing an NPDES permit application and when performing sampling and analysis pursuant to monitoring requirements in an NPDES permit. On June 23, 2010 EPA issued a Federal Register Notice announcing the proposed amendments to the CWA, and the public will have 45 days to comment on the proposed rulemaking. View the Federal Register Notice and more information at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/ssmethods.cfm

2. New Publication Added: NPDES Permitting of Wastewater Discharges from Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) and Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Impoundments at Steam Electric Power Plants

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide users with interim guidance to assist NPDES permitting authorities to establish appropriate permit requirements for wastewater discharges from Flue Gas Desulfurization (FGD) systems and coal combustion residual (CCR) impoundments at Steam Electric Power Plants. View the new publication at http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/docs.cfm?view=allprog&program_id=14&sort=date_published

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3. Reminder: Registration Open for Listening Sessions and Webcast on Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO) Rulemaking and Peak Flows

Registration is open for four listening sessions and a webcast for EPA to receive input to help determine whether to modify the NPDES regulations as they apply to municipal sanitary sewer collection systems and SSOs.

June 24, 2010 - Seattle, Washington June 28, 2010 - Atlanta, Georgia June 30, 2010 - Kansas City, Kansas July 13, 2010 - Washington, D.C. July 14, 2010 - Webcast

All listening sessions will be held from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm local time. More specific information can be found in the Federal Register Notice. Registration information is available at www.epa.gov/npdes/sso

Written comments are due by August 2, 2010. See the Sanitary Sewer Overflows and Peak Flows Website at www.epa.gov/npdes/sso for more information.

U.S. EPA, NPDES Program npdesbox-request@epa.gov ]]> Geosyntec Welcomes Wayne Huber as Senior Consultant http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=326 6/24/2010 1:38:37 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=326 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/B641DB5B802B03CEE8FD51C32D250859.jpg Geosyntec Consultants welcomes Wayne Huber, Ph.D., P.E., to its Portland, Ore., office as Senior Consultant in watershed and stormwater management. Wayne brings a wealth of experience in stormwater modeling, water resources, urban hydrology, and environmental issues in natural waters. Before joining the firm, Wayne spent more than 40 years in research and teaching at the University of Florida and Oregon State University (OSU), collectively. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wayne is a primary author of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). He has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal papers, conference proceedings papers, and technical reports, addressing topics such as best management practices (BMPs), low impact development (LID), control trade-offs, and stormwater management methodologies. Wayne has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator for projects sponsored by the U.S. EPA, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, and Water Environment Research Foundation related to guidance methodology for evaluation, selection, placement, and design of BMP and LID facilities. Most recently, he served as principal investigator on a project for Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) involving the conversion of their stormwater sewer modeling basis to SWMM5 with input from an ArcGIS database. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In addition to serving as Senior Consultant at Geosyntec, Wayne serves as Professor Emeritus of Civil and Construction Engineering at OSU. He received his B.S. in engineering from the California Institute of Technology and both his MS and PhD in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Geosyntec Consultants welcomes Wayne Huber, Ph.D., P.E., to its Portland, Ore., office as Senior Consultant in watershed and stormwater management. Wayne brings a wealth of experience in stormwater modeling, water resources, urban hydrology, and environmental issues in natural waters. Before joining the firm, Wayne spent more than 40 years in research and teaching at the University of Florida and Oregon State University (OSU), collectively.

Wayne is a primary author of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Storm Water Management Model (SWMM). He has authored or co-authored more than 100 peer-reviewed journal papers, conference proceedings papers, and technical reports, addressing topics such as best management practices (BMPs), low impact development (LID), control trade-offs, and stormwater management methodologies.

Wayne has served as principal investigator or co-principal investigator for projects sponsored by the U.S. EPA, National Cooperative Highway Research Program, and Water Environment Research Foundation related to guidance methodology for evaluation, selection, placement, and design of BMP and LID facilities. Most recently, he served as principal investigator on a project for Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) involving the conversion of their stormwater sewer modeling basis to SWMM5 with input from an ArcGIS database.

In addition to serving as Senior Consultant at Geosyntec, Wayne serves as Professor Emeritus of Civil and Construction Engineering at OSU. He received his B.S. in engineering from the California Institute of Technology and both his MS and PhD in civil engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.]]> EPA Supports Superfund "Polluter Pays" Provision http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=325 6/24/2010 1:37:10 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=325 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/18A3E4708BBDDBAF240FA3A80D3F91D2.jpg WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today sent a letter to Congress in support of reinstating the lapsed Superfund “polluter pays” taxes. Superfund is the federal government's program that investigates and cleans up the nation's most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites. If reinstated, the Superfund provision would provide a stable, dedicated source of revenue for the program and increase the pace of Superfund cleanup. It would also ensure that parties who benefit from the manufacture or sale of substances that commonly cause environmental problems at hazardous waste sites, and not taxpayers, help bear the cost of cleanup when responsible parties cannot be identified. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Since the beginning of this administration we have made it clear that we support the reinstatement of the polluter pays system for the Superfund program,” said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “Our taxes should be paying for teachers, police officers and infrastructure that is essential for sustainable growth -- not footing the bill for polluters. Today, we are formalizing our call to Congress to pass this important legislation and ensure responsible steps to keep our communities clean. In the meantime, EPA is taking action to better manage the Superfund program to increase cleanups and enhance transparency, accountability, and community input in agency decision-making.” Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Superfund taxes expired on December 31, 1995. Since the expiration of the taxes, Superfund program funding has been largely financed from General Revenue transfers to the Superfund Trust Fund, thus burdening the taxpayer with the costs of cleaning up abandoned hazardous waste sites. The administration is proposing to reinstate the taxes as they were last in effect on crude oil, imported petroleum products, hazardous chemicals, and imported substances that use hazardous chemicals as a feedstock, and on corporate modified alternative minimum taxable income. Under the administration’s proposal, the excise taxes and corporate environmental taxes would be reinstated for a period of 10 years beginning in January 2011. More information on the Superfund program: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today sent a letter to Congress in support of reinstating the lapsed Superfund “polluter pays” taxes. Superfund is the federal government's program that investigates and cleans up the nation's most complex, uncontrolled or abandoned hazardous waste sites. If reinstated, the Superfund provision would provide a stable, dedicated source of revenue for the program and increase the pace of Superfund cleanup. It would also ensure that parties who benefit from the manufacture or sale of substances that commonly cause environmental problems at hazardous waste sites, and not taxpayers, help bear the cost of cleanup when responsible parties cannot be identified.

“Since the beginning of this administration we have made it clear that we support the reinstatement of the polluter pays system for the Superfund program,” said Mathy Stanislaus, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response. “Our taxes should be paying for teachers, police officers and infrastructure that is essential for sustainable growth -- not footing the bill for polluters. Today, we are formalizing our call to Congress to pass this important legislation and ensure responsible steps to keep our communities clean. In the meantime, EPA is taking action to better manage the Superfund program to increase cleanups and enhance transparency, accountability, and community input in agency decision-making.”

The Superfund taxes expired on December 31, 1995. Since the expiration of the taxes, Superfund program funding has been largely financed from General Revenue transfers to the Superfund Trust Fund, thus burdening the taxpayer with the costs of cleaning up abandoned hazardous waste sites. The administration is proposing to reinstate the taxes as they were last in effect on crude oil, imported petroleum products, hazardous chemicals, and imported substances that use hazardous chemicals as a feedstock, and on corporate modified alternative minimum taxable income. Under the administration’s proposal, the excise taxes and corporate environmental taxes would be reinstated for a period of 10 years beginning in January 2011.

More information on the Superfund program: http://www.epa.gov/superfund/]]> Case Manufactures Its 250,000th Skid Steer http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=324 6/18/2010 4:00:59 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=324 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/2CE5E55B3994232C103C27756878C5EA.jpg WICHITA, Kan. (June 17, 2010) – Case Construction Equipment today celebrated production of its 250,000th skid steer loader. Case has been among the world’s leading skid steer manufacturers since launching its skid steer line in 1969. A special ceremony was held at the company’s global skid steer manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kan. Case presented the 250,000th skid steer to its new owner, Dino Folino of A. Folino Construction, a paving contractor from Oakmont, Penn. The milestone unit – a Case 430 Series 3 model – is Folino’s fourth Case skid steer in a fleet of equipment that includes a total of nine Case machines. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Case began producing skid steers in 1969 with the 1530 Uni-Loader model, and has been innovating ever since with Case-exclusive features like Ride Control and side lighting. Last year, the company marked its 40th anniversary of manufacturing skid steers with Case Rockin’ Block Parties (especially themed dealer open houses) at Case dealerships across North America. “In 2000, we manufactured our 100,000th skid steer. Then, just 10 years later, we more than doubled our sales,” said Curtis Goettel, skid steer marketing manager. “Today’s achievement testifies that customers around the world prefer Case skid steers. With more than 75 attachments available, you’ll find Case skid steers digging, hauling, pushing and loading material on jobsites in more than 150 countries around the globe.” A. Folino Construction is a major paving contractor in the Pittsburgh area. The company was founded by Dino’s father, Anthony, in 1972 and operates a large equipment fleet, including Case wheel loaders, excavators, loader/backhoes and skid steers for a total of nine products, including the new skid steer. “We’re honored to take delivery of this machine, and we appreciate the attention that comes with owning the 250,000th Case skid steer,” said Dino Folino. “We’ll put it to work right away, like all of our other Case equipment. We have Case skid steers on all of our crews – they’re versatile, dependable and the operators love them. We’ve been very pleased with all of our Case equipment, and with our Case dealer, Groff Tractor.” The Case 400 Series 3 skid steer loader line includes eight models, ranging from 57 to 83 net hp (42 to 62 kW) and 1,500 to 3,000 lb (680 to 1361 kg) rated operating loads. Case skid steers offer superior power, operator comfort and serviceability. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- For additional skid steer product specifications, customer testimonials, competitive comparisons, finance offers and more, please visit www.casece.com  For a Case skid steer demonstration, see your local Case dealer.

WICHITA, Kan. (June 17, 2010) – Case Construction Equipment today celebrated production of its 250,000th skid steer loader. Case has been among the world’s leading skid steer manufacturers since launching its skid steer line in 1969.

A special ceremony was held at the company’s global skid steer manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kan. Case presented the 250,000th skid steer to its new owner, Dino Folino of A. Folino Construction, a paving contractor from Oakmont, Penn. The milestone unit – a Case 430 Series 3 model – is Folino’s fourth Case skid steer in a fleet of equipment that includes a total of nine Case machines.

Case began producing skid steers in 1969 with the 1530 Uni-Loader model, and has been innovating ever since with Case-exclusive features like Ride Control and side lighting. Last year, the company marked its 40th anniversary of manufacturing skid steers with Case Rockin’ Block Parties (especially themed dealer open houses) at Case dealerships across North America.

“In 2000, we manufactured our 100,000th skid steer. Then, just 10 years later, we more than doubled our sales,” said Curtis Goettel, skid steer marketing manager. “Today’s achievement testifies that customers around the world prefer Case skid steers. With more than 75 attachments available, you’ll find Case skid steers digging, hauling, pushing and loading material on jobsites in more than 150 countries around the globe.”

A. Folino Construction is a major paving contractor in the Pittsburgh area. The company was founded by Dino’s father, Anthony, in 1972 and operates a large equipment fleet, including Case wheel loaders, excavators, loader/backhoes and skid steers for a total of nine products, including the new skid steer.

“We’re honored to take delivery of this machine, and we appreciate the attention that comes with owning the 250,000th Case skid steer,” said Dino Folino. “We’ll put it to work right away, like all of our other Case equipment. We have Case skid steers on all of our crews – they’re versatile, dependable and the operators love them. We’ve been very pleased with all of our Case equipment, and with our Case dealer, Groff Tractor.”

The Case 400 Series 3 skid steer loader line includes eight models, ranging from 57 to 83 net hp (42 to 62 kW) and 1,500 to 3,000 lb (680 to 1361 kg) rated operating loads. Case skid steers offer superior power, operator comfort and serviceability.

For additional skid steer product specifications, customer testimonials, competitive comparisons, finance offers and more, please visit www.casece.com For a Case skid steer demonstration, see your local Case dealer.]]> Caterpillar Increases Commitment to Mining Customers; Company to Produce Full Line of Mining Shovels and Expand Truck Capacity http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=323 6/17/2010 1:25:59 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=323 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/DF6F88DD1C8F3B020AFBFB77D5FA4E97.jpg Multi-Year investment of nearly $700 million aimed at strengthening Caterpillar's global leadership in the mining industry PEORIA, Ill., June 17, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) is announcing a series of investments that, over the next four years, will significantly enhance the company's position as the leading manufacturer of products and solutions for the global mining industry. The company will produce a full range of mining shovels, ranging from a 125-ton model through an 800-ton model. Caterpillar has selected its manufacturing facility in Aurora, Ill., for initial production of the new product range and is conducting a study of additional production sources in other parts of the world. In early 2011, Caterpillar will begin pilot production of the new 125-ton class shovel. The first commercial shovels produced in Aurora are expected to be available later in 2011. The larger shovels are planned for commercial availability beginning in 2013 and through 2014. This range will give customers a direct match for loading Caterpillar's industry leading mining trucks--from the 100-ton class 777F through the 400-ton class 797F. The Aurora facility also produces Caterpillar's largest wheel loaders, which are an alternative method for loading mining trucks. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "As we discuss solutions with our global mining customers, it's clear they want a complete line of Caterpillar shovels to best match the full range of Caterpillar trucks operating at their mines," said Chris Curfman, president of Caterpillar Global Mining. Increasing Truck Capacity: The company is also accelerating previously announced capacity expansion plans for trucks in Decatur, Ill., with additional capacity expected to come on line beginning in 2011. The expansion in Decatur will increase truck capacity at the facility by nearly 30 percent. Decatur produces Caterpillar's largest mining trucks, including the flagship 797F series truck, which has a maximum capacity of 400 tons. In addition, Caterpillar plans to increase capacity for 60 and 100-ton trucks at its existing manufacturing facility near Chennai, India. The capacity expansion would more than double truck production capabilities in India. The expansion for its 100-ton 777D and 60-ton 773E trucks in India should be completed by early 2012. "The increased production in India and Decatur will better position the company to serve our mining customers in every region of the world, with a particular focus on the growing demand and customer base in the emerging markets of Asia and in Russia," Curfman added. Combined, the long-term shovel development program and added truck capacity represent investments of nearly $700 million in Caterpillar mining products through 2014. Caterpillar is also updating the status of its new electric-drive mining trucks. The company currently has pilot units of its 345-ton 795F AC truck at customer sites for final evaluation, with commercial production set to begin in late 2010. Initial interest in the new Cat 795F AC trucks has been strong, and the company has increased its planned build rate for 2011 by more than 40 percent to meet demand in all major mining markets throughout the world. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- In early 2012, the company also plans to produce pilot units of the 793F AC truck with a 240-ton payload. Both the 793F AC and 795F AC will complement Caterpillar's full range of mechanical drive trucks. "For generations, customers have relied on Caterpillar products, along with the service support of our global dealer network, to give them the lowest owning and operating costs over the life of a machine," said Caterpillar Chief Executive Officer-Elect Doug Oberhelman. "In today's globally competitive environment, our customers are counting on that level of reliability, durability and support more than ever. This investment of nearly $700 million demonstrates our commitment to Caterpillar mining customers around the world. It also is a great example of the job-creation benefits of global trade, as well over 60 percent of the large mining products made at our Illinois facilities are exported outside of the United States," Oberhelman added. About Caterpillar: For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2009 sales and revenues of $32.396 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.cat.com Forward-Looking Statements: Certain statements in this press release relate to future events and expectations and, as such, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to known and unknown factors that may cause actual results of Caterpillar Inc. to be different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "believe," "estimate," "will be," "will," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "project," "intend," "could," "should" or other similar words or expressions often identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our outlook, projections, forecasts or trend descriptions. These statements do not guarantee future performance, and Caterpillar does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It is important to note that actual results of the company may differ materially from those described or implied in such forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) economic volatility in the global economy generally and in capital and credit markets; (ii) Caterpillar's ability to generate cash from operations, secure external funding for operations and manage liquidity needs; (iii) adverse changes in the economic conditions of the industries or markets Caterpillar serves; (iv) government regulations or policies, including those affecting interest rates, liquidity, access to capital and government spending on infrastructure development; (v) commodity price increases and/or limited availability of raw materials and component products, including steel; (vi) compliance costs associated with environmental laws and regulations; (vii) Caterpillar's and Cat Financial's ability to maintain their respective credit ratings, material increases in either company's cost of borrowing or an inability of either company to access capital markets; (viii) financial condition and credit worthiness of Cat Financial's customers; (ix) material adverse changes in our customers' access to liquidity and capital; (x) market acceptance of Caterpillar's products and services; (xi) effects of changes in the competitive environment, which may include decreased market share, lack of acceptance of price increases, and/or negative changes to our geographic and product mix of sales; (xii) Caterpillar's ability to successfully implement Caterpillar Production System or other productivity initiatives; (xiii) international trade and investment policies, such as import quotas, capital controls or tariffs; (xiv) failure of Caterpillar or Cat Financial to comply with financial covenants in their respective credit facilities; (xv) adverse changes in sourcing practices for our dealers or original equipment manufacturers; (xvi) additional tax expense or exposure; (xvii) political and economic risks associated with our global operations, including changes in laws, regulations or government policies, currency restrictions, restrictions on repatriation of earnings, burdensome tariffs or quotas, national and international conflict, including terrorist acts and political and economic instability or civil unrest in the countries in which Caterpillar operates; (xviii) currency fluctuations, particularly increases and decreases in the U.S. dollar against other currencies; (xix) increased payment obligations under our pension plans; (xx) inability to successfully integrate and realize expected benefits from acquisitions; (xxi) significant legal proceedings, claims, lawsuits or investigations; (xxii) imposition of significant costs or restrictions due to the enactment and implementation of health care reform legislation and proposed financial regulation legislation; (xxiii) changes in accounting standards or adoption of new accounting standards; (xxiv) adverse effects of natural disasters; and (xxv) other factors described in more detail under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Part I of our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 19, 2010 for the year ended December 31, 2009 and in Part II of our Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 3, 2010 for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. These filings are available on our website at www.cat.com/sec_filings   SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.

Multi-Year investment of nearly $700 million aimed at strengthening Caterpillar's global leadership in the mining industry

PEORIA, Ill., June 17, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) is announcing a series of investments that, over the next four years, will significantly enhance the company's position as the leading manufacturer of products and solutions for the global mining industry. The company will produce a full range of mining shovels, ranging from a 125-ton model through an 800-ton model. Caterpillar has selected its manufacturing facility in Aurora, Ill., for initial production of the new product range and is conducting a study of additional production sources in other parts of the world. In early 2011, Caterpillar will begin pilot production of the new 125-ton class shovel. The first commercial shovels produced in Aurora are expected to be available later in 2011. The larger shovels are planned for commercial availability beginning in 2013 and through 2014.

This range will give customers a direct match for loading Caterpillar's industry leading mining trucks--from the 100-ton class 777F through the 400-ton class 797F. The Aurora facility also produces Caterpillar's largest wheel loaders, which are an alternative method for loading mining trucks.

"As we discuss solutions with our global mining customers, it's clear they want a complete line of Caterpillar shovels to best match the full range of Caterpillar trucks operating at their mines," said Chris Curfman, president of Caterpillar Global Mining.

Increasing Truck Capacity:
The company is also accelerating previously announced capacity expansion plans for trucks in Decatur, Ill., with additional capacity expected to come on line beginning in 2011. The expansion in Decatur will increase truck capacity at the facility by nearly 30 percent. Decatur produces Caterpillar's largest mining trucks, including the flagship 797F series truck, which has a maximum capacity of 400 tons.

In addition, Caterpillar plans to increase capacity for 60 and 100-ton trucks at its existing manufacturing facility near Chennai, India. The capacity expansion would more than double truck production capabilities in India. The expansion for its 100-ton 777D and 60-ton 773E trucks in India should be completed by early 2012.

"The increased production in India and Decatur will better position the company to serve our mining customers in every region of the world, with a particular focus on the growing demand and customer base in the emerging markets of Asia and in Russia," Curfman added.

Combined, the long-term shovel development program and added truck capacity represent investments of nearly $700 million in Caterpillar mining products through 2014.

Caterpillar is also updating the status of its new electric-drive mining trucks. The company currently has pilot units of its 345-ton 795F AC truck at customer sites for final evaluation, with commercial production set to begin in late 2010. Initial interest in the new Cat 795F AC trucks has been strong, and the company has increased its planned build rate for 2011 by more than 40 percent to meet demand in all major mining markets throughout the world.

In early 2012, the company also plans to produce pilot units of the 793F AC truck with a 240-ton payload. Both the 793F AC and 795F AC will complement Caterpillar's full range of mechanical drive trucks.

"For generations, customers have relied on Caterpillar products, along with the service support of our global dealer network, to give them the lowest owning and operating costs over the life of a machine," said Caterpillar Chief Executive Officer-Elect Doug Oberhelman. "In today's globally competitive environment, our customers are counting on that level of reliability, durability and support more than ever. This investment of nearly $700 million demonstrates our commitment to Caterpillar mining customers around the world. It also is a great example of the job-creation benefits of global trade, as well over 60 percent of the large mining products made at our Illinois facilities are exported outside of the United States," Oberhelman added.

About Caterpillar:
For more than 85 years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive and sustainable change on every continent. With 2009 sales and revenues of $32.396 billion, Caterpillar is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines and industrial gas turbines. The company also is a leading services provider through Caterpillar Financial Services, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services, Caterpillar Logistics Services and Progress Rail Services. More information is available at: http://www.cat.com

Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements in this press release relate to future events and expectations and, as such, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to known and unknown factors that may cause actual results of Caterpillar Inc. to be different from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Words such as "believe," "estimate," "will be," "will," "would," "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "project," "intend," "could," "should" or other similar words or expressions often identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding our outlook, projections, forecasts or trend descriptions. These statements do not guarantee future performance, and Caterpillar does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

It is important to note that actual results of the company may differ materially from those described or implied in such forward-looking statements based on a number of factors, including, but not limited to: (i) economic volatility in the global economy generally and in capital and credit markets; (ii) Caterpillar's ability to generate cash from operations, secure external funding for operations and manage liquidity needs; (iii) adverse changes in the economic conditions of the industries or markets Caterpillar serves; (iv) government regulations or policies, including those affecting interest rates, liquidity, access to capital and government spending on infrastructure development; (v) commodity price increases and/or limited availability of raw materials and component products, including steel; (vi) compliance costs associated with environmental laws and regulations; (vii) Caterpillar's and Cat Financial's ability to maintain their respective credit ratings, material increases in either company's cost of borrowing or an inability of either company to access capital markets; (viii) financial condition and credit worthiness of Cat Financial's customers; (ix) material adverse changes in our customers' access to liquidity and capital; (x) market acceptance of Caterpillar's products and services; (xi) effects of changes in the competitive environment, which may include decreased market share, lack of acceptance of price increases, and/or negative changes to our geographic and product mix of sales; (xii) Caterpillar's ability to successfully implement Caterpillar Production System or other productivity initiatives; (xiii) international trade and investment policies, such as import quotas, capital controls or tariffs; (xiv) failure of Caterpillar or Cat Financial to comply with financial covenants in their respective credit facilities; (xv) adverse changes in sourcing practices for our dealers or original equipment manufacturers; (xvi) additional tax expense or exposure; (xvii) political and economic risks associated with our global operations, including changes in laws, regulations or government policies, currency restrictions, restrictions on repatriation of earnings, burdensome tariffs or quotas, national and international conflict, including terrorist acts and political and economic instability or civil unrest in the countries in which Caterpillar operates; (xviii) currency fluctuations, particularly increases and decreases in the U.S. dollar against other currencies; (xix) increased payment obligations under our pension plans; (xx) inability to successfully integrate and realize expected benefits from acquisitions; (xxi) significant legal proceedings, claims, lawsuits or investigations; (xxii) imposition of significant costs or restrictions due to the enactment and implementation of health care reform legislation and proposed financial regulation legislation; (xxiii) changes in accounting standards or adoption of new accounting standards; (xxiv) adverse effects of natural disasters; and (xxv) other factors described in more detail under "Item 1A. Risk Factors" in Part I of our Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 19, 2010 for the year ended December 31, 2009 and in Part II of our Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 3, 2010 for the quarter ended March 31, 2010. These filings are available on our website at www.cat.com/sec_filings

SOURCE Caterpillar Inc.]]> Bureau of Reclamation Takes a Laser Look at Hoover Dam Plaza http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=322 6/17/2010 12:53:56 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=322 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/B5DDD72075CDC34982C714E93B2CB96F.jpg (Norcross, GA, 14 June 2010) In a first of its kind effort, the Bureau of Reclamation's Engineering Services Office in Boulder City, NV, built a detailed, highly accurate, as-built model of Hoover Dam's 75-year-old Monument Plaza using high-definition surveying technology from Leica Geosystems. Monument Plaza includes the Winged Figures of the Republic, two 30-foot high, statuary bronze sculptures that rest on a base of black diorite set atop a terrazzo floor. The floor is inlaid with a celestial map that pinpoints the precise astronomical time-September 30, 1935, 8:56 pm-when Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the dam. Near the figures and elevated above the floor is a compass framed by the signs of the zodiac. There is also a nearby plaque commemorating the 96 men who died during construction of the dam. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The terrazzo floor is cracking and showing weather damage as are some of the bronze features on the Plaza, likely due to weather, pedestrian traffic and age. To determine repair or rehabilitation options, Reclamation needed as-built data of the Plaza to within a fraction of an inch. Alejandro Orosco, LSI, surveyor with Reclamation's Engineering Services Office, said, "We selected laser scanning because of the technology's overall price, performance, and ability to integrate with our existing software and hardware inventory." Orosco's team gathered over two million data points over the course of four days. They used Leica Cyclone 3D point cloud processing software to manage most of the point cloud data and Leica CloudWorx to translate data into Autodesk Civil 3D application. "The results are impressive. In a very short time, we created a baseline 3D model of Monument Plaza that is helping us evaluate structural changes in a clear, visual manner. The scanner's capabilities have allowed us to cut down on field labor costs and capture a great deal of additional valuable data," says Orosco. The results will ultimately help the agency determine the best method for restoring the plaza to its original condition. Using the free Leica TruView software, Reclamation and its partners are able to view, zoom in/out and rotate the model, measure distances, extract 3D coordinates, and create markups and hyperlinks. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reclamation expects to contract an expert to review the facility history, scanner and survey data, and perhaps do some additional non-destructive geophysical exploration and core sampling in the next few months. With the consultant's recommendations and assistance, they can develop a plan for returning Monument Plaza to its original condition. For more information on the latest HDS technology: http://www.leica-geosystems.us/en/HDS-Laser-Scanners-SW_5570.htm   For more about the project, see the POB June 2010 issue cover story titled Time in a Model: http://www.pobonline.com/Articles/Cover_Story  

(Norcross, GA, 14 June 2010) In a first of its kind effort, the Bureau of Reclamation's Engineering Services Office in Boulder City, NV, built a detailed, highly accurate, as-built model of Hoover Dam's 75-year-old Monument Plaza using high-definition surveying technology from Leica Geosystems.

Monument Plaza includes the Winged Figures of the Republic, two 30-foot high, statuary bronze sculptures that rest on a base of black diorite set atop a terrazzo floor. The floor is inlaid with a celestial map that pinpoints the precise astronomical time-September 30, 1935, 8:56 pm-when Franklin Delano Roosevelt dedicated the dam. Near the figures and elevated above the floor is a compass framed by the signs of the zodiac. There is also a nearby plaque commemorating the 96 men who died during construction of the dam.

The terrazzo floor is cracking and showing weather damage as are some of the bronze features on the Plaza, likely due to weather, pedestrian traffic and age. To determine repair or rehabilitation options, Reclamation needed as-built data of the Plaza to within a fraction of an inch.

Alejandro Orosco, LSI, surveyor with Reclamation's Engineering Services Office, said, "We selected laser scanning because of the technology's overall price, performance, and ability to integrate with our existing software and hardware inventory."

Orosco's team gathered over two million data points over the course of four days. They used Leica Cyclone 3D point cloud processing software to manage most of the point cloud data and Leica CloudWorx to translate data into Autodesk Civil 3D application.

"The results are impressive. In a very short time, we created a baseline 3D model of Monument Plaza that is helping us evaluate structural changes in a clear, visual manner. The scanner's capabilities have allowed us to cut down on field labor costs and capture a great deal of additional valuable data," says Orosco.

The results will ultimately help the agency determine the best method for restoring the plaza to its original condition. Using the free Leica TruView software, Reclamation and its partners are able to view, zoom in/out and rotate the model, measure distances, extract 3D coordinates, and create markups and hyperlinks.

Reclamation expects to contract an expert to review the facility history, scanner and survey data, and perhaps do some additional non-destructive geophysical exploration and core sampling in the next few months. With the consultant's recommendations and assistance, they can develop a plan for returning Monument Plaza to its original condition.

For more information on the latest HDS technology: http://www.leica-geosystems.us/en/HDS-Laser-Scanners-SW_5570.htm

For more about the project, see the POB June 2010 issue cover story titled Time in a Model: http://www.pobonline.com/Articles/Cover_Story ]]> Industry Pioneer Al Nitta, CPESC, Passes Away on Memorial Day http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=321 6/17/2010 12:50:35 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=321 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/9B3688C237D09F98B678B0B3B81D09AE.jpg Denver, Colo. – One of the most beloved members of IECA, Alfred Tsuguo Nitta, CPESC, founder of Nitta Erosion Control, passed away on May 31, 2010 on the family ranch in Loomis, CA where he was born on March 19, 1923. Al was 87 years old. Al joined IECA in 1977 and was awarded the Environmental Achievement Award for his innovative retrofit designs and, at 85 years of age, was named Contractor of the Year at EC08 in Orlando, FL. For more on this award, please click here: http://www.ieca.org/resources/Documents/PR021308nitta.pdf   Al also served on the Board of Directors of the Western Chapter IECA for many years. His last annual conference was EC09 in Reno, Nev. where he volunteered as a greeter at the IECA membership booth, where he shared his warmth, stories, laughter and life with everyone. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “Al was one of the first members I met when I started working for IECA 15 years ago. It was a highlight to see him every year at our annual conference, where he never ceased to amaze me with his stories, his warmth, his love of life, and his genuine nature. He was one of a kind, and I feel blessed to have called Al a friend,” said Meg Tully, CAE, IECA’s Association Development Director. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- IECA is proud to have called Al a member. He will be dearly missed by all. Please click here for the Member Spotlight article that ran in the December 2008 edition of Erosion Control about Nitta: http:/www.ieca.org/Al Nitta For Web.pdf  

Denver, Colo. – One of the most beloved members of IECA, Alfred Tsuguo Nitta, CPESC, founder of Nitta Erosion Control, passed away on May 31, 2010 on the family ranch in Loomis, CA where he was born on March 19, 1923. Al was 87 years old.

Al joined IECA in 1977 and was awarded the Environmental Achievement Award for his innovative retrofit designs and, at 85 years of age, was named Contractor of the Year at EC08 in Orlando, FL. For more on this award, please click here: http://www.ieca.org/resources/Documents/PR021308nitta.pdf

Al also served on the Board of Directors of the Western Chapter IECA for many years. His last annual conference was EC09 in Reno, Nev. where he volunteered as a greeter at the IECA membership booth, where he shared his warmth, stories, laughter and life with everyone.

“Al was one of the first members I met when I started working for IECA 15 years ago. It was a highlight to see him every year at our annual conference, where he never ceased to amaze me with his stories, his warmth, his love of life, and his genuine nature. He was one of a kind, and I feel blessed to have called Al a friend,” said Meg Tully, CAE, IECA’s Association Development Director.

IECA is proud to have called Al a member. He will be dearly missed by all. Please click here for the Member Spotlight article that ran in the December 2008 edition of Erosion Control about Nitta: http:/www.ieca.org/Al Nitta For Web.pdf ]]> The Ethanol Trap http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=320 6/17/2010 12:37:01 PM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=320 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/1C1D7D616D4928E623AB7BA4981B8282.jpg The most disgusting aspect of the blowout in the Gulf of Mexico isn't the video images of oil-soaked birds or the incessant blather from pundits about what BP or the Obama administration should be doing to stem the flow of oil. Instead, it's the ugly spectacle of the corn-ethanol scammers doing all they can to capitalize on the disaster so that they can justify an expansion of the longest-running robbery of taxpayers in U.S. history. Listen to Matt Hartwig, communications director for the Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol industry lobby group: "The Gulf of Mexico disaster serves as a stark and unfortunate reminder of the need for domestically-produced renewable biofuels." Or look at an advertisement that was recently placed in a Washington, D.C., Metro station: "No beaches have been closed due to ETHANOL spills. … America's CLEAN fuel." That gem was paid for by Growth Energy, another ethanol industry lobby group. The blowout of BP's Macondo well has given the corn-ethanol industry yet another opportunity to push its fuel adulterant on the American consumer. And unfortunately, the Obama administration appears ready and willing to foist yet more of the corrosive, environmentally destructive, low-heat-energy fuel on motorists. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why does the ethanol business need federal help? The answer is so disheartening that after five years of reporting on the corn-ethanol scam, I find it difficult to type, but here goes: The corn-ethanol industry needs to be bailed out by taxpayers because the industry was given too much in the way of subsidies and mandates. And now the only way to solve that problem is—what else?—more subsidies and mandates. The BP mess provides the industry with the opening it needs to win those subsidies from the federal government. In its 2005 energy bill, Congress dramatically increased the mandates (and subsidies) for corn ethanol. That resulted in a surge of new construction. Led by German financial giant WestLB AG, banks poured billions of dollars into new distilleries, which quickly created an ethanol bubble that mirrored the U.S. real estate bubble. Over the past five years, U.S. ethanol production capacity has more than tripled and now stands at more than 13 billion gallons per year. But that's far more capacity than the U.S. motor fuel market can absorb. In March, nearly 1 billion gallons of ethanol production capacity was sitting idle. And yet, according to the Renewable Fuels Association, the industry has about 1.4 billion gallons of additional distilling capacity under construction. The bankruptcy court is the best place to comprehend the oversupply of ethanol. Over the past 18 months or so, bankruptcy casualties have included VeraSun, the second-largest producer in the United States; Pacific Ethanol; Aventine Renewable Energy; and others. In industry parlance, the corn-ethanol sector is facing a head-on collision with the "blend wall." Ethanol producers depend on gasoline sales because their product must be mixed with conventional fuel. But thanks to the recession and the end of Americans' love affair with large SUVs, U.S. gasoline demand is flat or declining. That has left a smaller pool of gasoline to absorb all the alcohol the ethanol industry is producing. Or as Bob Dinneen, the president of the Renewable Fuels Association, has put it, "[W]e have lots of gallons of ethanol chasing too few gallons of gasoline." Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now the industry is counting on a president beleaguered by the made-for-TV crisis in the Gulf of Mexico to help it out. And he appears ready to do just that. On April 28, six days after the Deepwater Horizon rig sank, President Obama visited an ethanol plant in Missouri and declared that "there shouldn't be any doubt that renewable, homegrown fuels are a key part of our strategy for a clean-energy future." Obama also said, "I didn't just discover the merits of biofuels like ethanol when I first hopped on the campaign bus."

Corn.

The most disgusting aspect of the blowout in the Gulf of Mexico isn't the video images of oil-soaked birds or the incessant blather from pundits about what BP or the Obama administration should be doing to stem the flow of oil. Instead, it's the ugly spectacle of the corn-ethanol scammers doing all they can to capitalize on the disaster so that they can justify an expansion of the longest-running robbery of taxpayers in U.S. history.

Listen to Matt Hartwig, communications director for the Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol industry lobby group: "The Gulf of Mexico disaster serves as a stark and unfortunate reminder of the need for domestically-produced renewable biofuels." Or look at an advertisement that was recently placed in a Washington, D.C., Metro station: "No beaches have been closed due to ETHANOL spills. … America's CLEAN fuel." That gem was paid for by Growth Energy, another ethanol industry lobby group.

The blowout of BP's Macondo well has given the corn-ethanol industry yet another opportunity to push its fuel adulterant on the American consumer. And unfortunately, the Obama administration appears ready and willing to foist yet more of the corrosive, environmentally destructive, low-heat-energy fuel on motorists.

Why does the ethanol business need federal help? The answer is so disheartening that after five years of reporting on the corn-ethanol scam, I find it difficult to type, but here goes: The corn-ethanol industry needs to be bailed out by taxpayers because the industry was given too much in the way of subsidies and mandates. And now the only way to solve that problem is—what else?—more subsidies and mandates. The BP mess provides the industry with the opening it needs to win those subsidies from the federal government.

In its 2005 energy bill, Congress dramatically increased the mandates (and subsidies) for corn ethanol. That resulted in a surge of new construction. Led by German financial giant WestLB AG, banks poured billions of dollars into new distilleries, which quickly created an ethanol bubble that mirrored the U.S. real estate bubble. Over the past five years, U.S. ethanol production capacity has more than tripled and now stands at more than 13 billion gallons per year. But that's far more capacity than the U.S. motor fuel market can absorb. In March, nearly 1 billion gallons of ethanol production capacity was sitting idle. And yet, according to the Renewable Fuels Association, the industry has about 1.4 billion gallons of additional distilling capacity under construction.

The bankruptcy court is the best place to comprehend the oversupply of ethanol. Over the past 18 months or so, bankruptcy casualties have included VeraSun, the second-largest producer in the United States; Pacific Ethanol; Aventine Renewable Energy; and others.

In industry parlance, the corn-ethanol sector is facing a head-on collision with the "blend wall." Ethanol producers depend on gasoline sales because their product must be mixed with conventional fuel. But thanks to the recession and the end of Americans' love affair with large SUVs, U.S. gasoline demand is flat or declining. That has left a smaller pool of gasoline to absorb all the alcohol the ethanol industry is producing. Or as Bob Dinneen, the president of the Renewable Fuels Association, has put it, "[W]e have lots of gallons of ethanol chasing too few gallons of gasoline."

Now the industry is counting on a president beleaguered by the made-for-TV crisis in the Gulf of Mexico to help it out. And he appears ready to do just that. On April 28, six days after the Deepwater Horizon rig sank, President Obama visited an ethanol plant in Missouri and declared that "there shouldn't be any doubt that renewable, homegrown fuels are a key part of our strategy for a clean-energy future." Obama also said, "I didn't just discover the merits of biofuels like ethanol when I first hopped on the campaign bus."]]> Caterpillar, Navistar near $586 mln China truck tie-source http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=319 6/11/2010 10:21:12 AM http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/news/news_detail.aspx?n=319 http://www.erosioncontrolnetwork.com/images/newsitems/thumbs/4D99360CD22030D8F8A2607F11165CA7.jpg June 11 (Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N) and Navistar International Corp (NAV.N) are finalising a 4 billion yuan ($586 million) truck and engine manufacturing tie-up with China's Jianghuai Automobile (600418.SS), a source with direct knowledge of the deal said on Friday. Initial investment in the project will be twice as much as the amount previously disclosed -- 2 billion yuan -- as Jianghuai and Navistar are also planning a separate 50-50 diesel engine tie, the source told Reuters. "There will actually be two joint ventures. The engine venture is meant to be a supplier for the truck project," said the source. "The partners have already reached agreement on major issues. They are pouring over some technical details now and the case could be closed pretty soon." Initial capacity of the heavy truck project, to be based in Jianghuai's home base in the eastern city of Hefei, is 40,000 units, said the source. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Under a prior framework agreement in September 2009, only a 2 billion yuan 50-50 heavy truck venture between Jianghuai and NC2 Global, a tie-up between Caterpillar and Navistar, was announced. Jianghuai, Caterpillar and Navistar executives could not be immediately reached for comment. The deal, if it goes ahead, will make Caterpillar and Navistar the latest entrants in China's 150 billion yuan heavy truck market, joining Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE) and other European rivals. Story continues below --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- advertisement --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- It would also provide a new growth opportunity for Jianghuai, a major player in China's multi-purpose vehicle segment which is diversifying into car and heavy truck manufacturing. Trucks made at the venture will be sold in China and emerging markets in Asia to begin with, the source said. ($1=6.828 Yuan) (Reporting by Fang Yan and Jacqueline Wong)

June 11 (Reuters) - Caterpillar Inc (CAT.N) and Navistar International Corp (NAV.N) are finalising a 4 billion yuan ($586 million) truck and engine manufacturing tie-up with China's Jianghuai Automobile (600418.SS), a source with direct knowledge of the deal said on Friday.

Initial investment in the project will be twice as much as the amount previously disclosed -- 2 billion yuan -- as Jianghuai and Navistar are also planning a separate 50-50 diesel engine tie, the source told Reuters.

"There will actually be two joint ventures. The engine venture is meant to be a supplier for the truck project," said the source.

"The partners have already reached agreement on major issues. They are pouring over some technical details now and the case could be closed pretty soon."

Initial capacity of the heavy truck project, to be based in Jianghuai's home base in the eastern city of Hefei, is 40,000 units, said the source.

Under a prior framework agreement in September 2009, only a 2 billion yuan 50-50 heavy truck venture between Jianghuai and NC2 Global, a tie-up between Caterpillar and Navistar, was announced.

Jianghuai, Caterpillar and Navistar executives could not be immediately reached for comment.

The deal, if it goes ahead, will make Caterpillar and Navistar the latest entrants in China's 150 billion yuan heavy truck market, joining Daimler AG (DAIGn.DE) and other European rivals.

It would also provide a new growth opportunity for Jianghuai, a major player in China's multi-purpose vehicle segment which is diversifying into car and heavy truck manufacturing.
Trucks made at the venture will be sold in China and emerging markets in Asia to begin with, the source said. ($1=6.828 Yuan) (Reporting by Fang Yan and Jacqueline Wong)]]>

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