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DULUTH (Nov. 20, 2015) –U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Susan Hedman today announced the completion of a major habitat restoration project and additional funding for another habitat project in the St. Louis River Area of Concern on Lake Superior. Hedman was joined by U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan and Mayor Don Ness for a tour of the completed project in Chambers Grove Park in Duluth. The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funded restoration work in the park and will contribute an additional $2 million to support the other habitat project at 21st Avenue West in Duluth Harbor.
“Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding has played a major role in the significant progress that has been made in the St. Louis River Area of Concern during the past five years — and it will play an even greater role in the future.” Hedman said. “Federal, state and local partners are working together to restore habitat and to clean up contamination that accumulated in the river and harbor during decades of industrial activity that occurred before modern environmental laws were enacted.”
The federal government has spent over $34 million to clean up and restore the St. Louis River Area of Concern. This includes over $26 million from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and approximately $5.7 million from the Federal Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses for critical dredging projects. Minnesota Legacy Fund resources totaling $10 million have also been used for work in the St. Louis River Area of Concern.
“The Great Lakes are a part of Minnesota’s heritage and history, and we must continue working together to preserve them for future generations,” said U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar. “This funding will help protect our vital water resources from pollution and invasive species as well as restore the Great Lakes wetlands.”
“The progress that’s been made through the Chambers Grove and St. Louis River projects is a remarkable testament to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the hard work of the EPA and the commitment of people throughout our region,” said Rep. Nolan. “Now the work continues to complete restoration projects by 2020 – and to secure full federal funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative going forward so we can continue to clean up old pollution, restore habitats, wetlands and shorelines and battle invasive species throughout the entire system.”
“The future health of Duluth is dependent on our stewardship of Lake Superior and improving the integrity of the St. Louis River,” said Mayor Ness. “The river continues to be the backbone of Duluth’s economic health which is made stronger through partnerships with the EPA Great Lakes Restoration Initiative and our state partners: the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Land Trust. The ingenuity of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has stabilized the St. Louis River estuary in Chambers Grove Park that was severely impacted by the 2012 flood and moves us in a positive direction as the City plans park improvements of up to $1 million next year to enrich the outdoor experience for all visitors to this critical gateway park.”
The United States and Canada identified 43 Areas of Concern pursuant to the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. These sites are primarily rivers and harbors on the Great Lakes where habitat is degraded and contaminants have accumulated in sediment as a result of decades of industrial activity.
The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world. Since then, three U.S. Areas of Concern have been cleaned up and taken off the bi-national list: Presque Isle Bay (on Lake Erie in Pennsylvania), Deer Lake (on Lake Superior in Michigan) and White Lake (on Lake Michigan in Michigan).
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding has also been used to complete all necessary restoration actions at three additional Areas of Concern: Waukegan Harbor (on Lake Michigan in Illinois), Sheboygan River (on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin) and Ashtabula River (on Lake Erie in Ohio). Environmental monitoring is ongoing at these sites to assess their eligibility for delisting.
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative funding is being used to accelerate cleanup work in the St. Louis River Area of Concern and the other remaining Areas of Concern on the U.S. side of the border. The St. Louis River Area Concern includes the lower 40 miles of the St. Louis River in Minnesota and Wisconsin and extends into the harbor area in Lake Superior. All of the work required to clean up and restore the St. Louis River Area of Concern is expected to be completed by 2020.
More information about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is available at: www.glri.us.
Contact Information: Peter Cassell, 312-886-6234, 312-859-9614(cell), cassell.peter@epa.gov
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NASTT turns 25 in 2015! What was happening 25 years ago?
On November 18, 1990, the largest ever art robbery at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston took place. 13 works valued over $500 million were stolen.
On November 20, 1990, the LA Lakers retired Kareem Abdul-Jabbar‘s #33 jersey.
On November 21, 1990, “Normal Life” starring Moon Unit & Dweezil Zappa premiered on CBS-TV.
Check in every Friday in 2015 when NASTT posts more facts about 25 years ago…
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Whitaker Construction adds Alphaliner™ to their trenchless technology specialization.
Saltville, VA: Reline America™ is pleased to announce the addition of Whitaker Construction of Brigham City, Utah, to its team of authorized installers. Whitaker Construction was founded in 1953, and has been in the underground utility construction industry for over 60 years. They have grown into one of the largest utility contractors in the intermountain area. Whitaker Construction works in Utah, Idaho, Nevada, Wyoming, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington.
Mike Burkhard, President of Reline America™ explains, “Reline America is dedicated to providing quality trenchless Alphaliner™, minimally invasive footprint, and support for our certified installers. Our goal is to continue to grow; and to gain contractors throughout North America. We look forward to maintaining America’s infrastructures with Whitaker Construction as part of our Reline family.”
CIPP is an acronym for Cured-In-Place Pipe. CIPP fiberglass construction has been the standard for sewer pipe rehabilitation worldwide for more than 40 years.
- Alphaliner™ composite materials are ideal for the trenchless rehabilitation of industrial, storm, and sanitary sewer pipe in diameters from 6 to 54 inches, employing UV light curing equipment.
- Alphaliner™ installation does not require the digging up of existing pipes; allowing for a clean job site, minimal footprint, and minimized disruption to traffic.
About Reline America™: Reline America™ Inc. is the leading North American manufacturer of ultra-violet glass reinforced cured in place pipe. Reline America™ Inc. manufactures state-of-the-art installation equipment specific to Alphaliner™. The award-winning Quality-Tracker System™ monitors and records all critical aspects of the installation process. Reline America™ Inc. serves the infrastructure protection and rehabilitation needs of municipalities, DOT’s and industries throughout North America.
Contact Name: Michelle Roark
Organization: Reline America, Inc.
Phone Number: (276) 496-4000
Contact Name: Quinn Hamson
Organization: Whitaker Construction
Phone Number: (435) 723-2921
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Drill has small footprint, right torque for fiber, gas distribution line and urban water projects
PELLA, Iowa — With the launch of the D60x90 S3 Navigator® horizontal directional drill (HDD), Vermeer has extended its S3 drill portfolio to meet the needs of contractors whose projects cross over between the large underground utility and small pipeline installation markets.
With 60,000 pounds (27,240 kg) of thrust/pullback and 9,000 ft-lb (12202.4 Nm) of rotational torque, contractors can use the D60x90 S3 to install long shots of large fiber bundles; gas distribution lines; smaller diameter pipeline crossings; and water lines in crowded, urban areas requiring a smaller footprint.
Speed, sound and simplicity are the trademarks of the Vermeer S3 generation of directional drills, and the D60x90 S3 is no exception. Powered by a Caterpillar Tier 4 Final diesel engine, the D60x90 S3 offers a 17 hp (12.8 kW) boost — from 185 to 202 hp (138 to 151 kW) — compared to its Series II predecessor, for increased speed and jobsite productivity.
“Because we have more horsepower available to run the rotation, thrust and mud functions on the drill, we expect exceptional performance from the D60x90 S3,” said Tod Michael, product manager – underground, at Vermeer.
A 107 dBA guaranteed sound power level and an operator ear rating of 82 dBA make this drill 10 points quieter than its predecessor — which makes for a quieter working environment with less neighborhood disturbance and easier communication among the crew. The D60x90 S3 has rubber-covered steel tracks — like its smaller S3 counterparts — to reduce impact in urban jobsites.
HDD operators are a valuable asset. Keeping operators comfortable on the jobsite is key to productivity and their overall job satisfaction. A climate-controlled cab comes standard on the D60x90 S3 and offers operators more legroom and greater comfort in unfavorable weather conditions.
Common controls on the Vermeer S3 models can simplify operator training and make it easier for operators to transition from one S3 drill to another. The common control system includes the digital display, improved onboard diagnostics and joystick controls. The system design uses a power distribution module that reduces the amount of wiring and fuses for greater reliability. A DigiTrak® Aurora™ interactive, full-color touch-screen display delivers real-time, easy-to-view locate information and more to help increase operator productivity. In early 2016, on-rig bore planning will be released.
An onboard self-diagnostic system empowers contractors to make machine adjustments when required and helps to maximize productivity. The InSite™ Fleet remote monitoring system comes standard on the D60x90 S3.
For added versatility, there are two drill rod options available on the D60x90 S3: a 2.875-inch (7.3 cm) diameter, 15-foot (4.57 m) Firestick® or a 3.5-inch (8.9 cm) diameter, 15-foot (4.57 m) Firestick. The D60x90 S3 can carry 600 feet (182.9 m) of 2.875-inch drill rods — more than most competitive drill offerings — enabling contractors to complete longer shots more efficiently.
The Vermeer D60x90 S3 Navigator HDD will be available in December 2015. Contact a local Vermeer dealer for product availability.
Vermeer Corporation delivers a real impact in a progressing world through the manufacture of high-quality underground construction, surface mining, tree care, environmental and agricultural equipment. With a reputation for durability and reliability, that equipment is backed by localized customer service and support provided by independent dealers around the world. To learn about Vermeer Corporation, products, the dealer network and financing options, visit vermeer.com.
Vermeer, the Vermeer logo, Equipped to Do More, Navigator, InSite and Firestick are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. DigiTrak and Aurora are trademarks of Digital Controls Inc.
© 2015 Vermeer Corporation
All Rights Reserved.
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Pella, Iowa – (Nov 2, 2015) – Effective Nov. 1, 2015, Jason Andringa will serve as the 
company’s President and CEO. This announcement was first made in August 2014, as part of the company’s family succession planning process.
“I’m excited, honored and humbled to have the opportunity to continue my family’s legacy of leadership at Vermeer into the third generation,” said Jason Andringa. “We will continue to fulfill our promise to our customers by capitalizing on our strengths – innovative, high-quality products; entrepreneurial dealers; and the diligent practice of continuous improvement while continuing to create opportunities for growth with today’s fast-moving customer expectations in mind.”
Prior to becoming president and CEO, Andringa served as president and COO, in addition to a number of other roles at Vermeer. Before joining Vermeer in 2005, he was a staff engineer at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Andringa graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Calvin College and later completed advanced degrees including a Master of Science in Aeronautics and Astronautics from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Andringa and his wife live in Pella, Iowa, with their three children.
Mary Andringa, current CEO and chair of the board, will assume the role of chair of the board exclusively Nov. 1, 2015. “It’s been a great honor and privilege to be CEO,” said Mary Andringa. “I am confident in Jason and the entire team who will continue the work that’s been happening here for the last 68 years as they lead this company into a bright future.”
Visit link to learn more about Jason Andringa.
About Vermeer
Vermeer Corporation delivers a real impact in a progressing world through the manufacture of high-quality underground construction, surface mining, tree care, environmental and agricultural equipment. With a reputation for durability and reliability, that equipment is backed by localized customer service and support provided by independent dealers around the world. To learn more about Vermeer Corporation, visit vermeer.com.
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Washington– U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $4 million to four institutions to conduct research to combat the effects of drought and extreme events on water quality in watersheds and at drinking water utilities.
“As a nation we are witnessing the harmful effects of droughts and extreme events, such as wildfires and flooding, that often follow drought conditions,” said Thomas A. Burke, EPA Science Advisor and Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “This research will provide innovative strategies to help local communities, states, tribes, and the federal government better understand the impacts of these problems, and better protect our nation’s water and the health of our friends and families who rely on those water resources.”
These grants will provide innovative strategies for protecting water quality and public health during periods of drought. Increasing demands on the nation’s water resources, climate change, population growth and aging water infrastructure systems pose substantial threats to these resources.
The following institutions received funding through the EPA’s Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program:
Clemson University, Clemson, S.C., for investigating the effects of different forest fire reduction management techniques, such as prescribed burns or mechanical thinning, in experimental forested watersheds associated with rainstorm events following droughts and the impact on treated drinking water supplies.
Water Research Foundation, University of Colorado at Boulder, Colo. for developing an integrated modeling and decision framework to evaluate adaptation strategies for sustainable drinking water utility management impacted by drought and climate change.
Public Policy Institute of California, San Francisco, Calif. for synthesizing the current drought situation and its effects on water supply and quality, and conducting an assessment that examines the drought response by federal, state, and local institutions to develop innovations needed for sustainable drought management.
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah for developing and integrating tools, models, and educational materials that can be used by stakeholders to improve planning efforts related to water supply, forecasting demand for water, and nutrient reduction.
More information about the STAR grants and recipients: www.epa.gov/research-grants/water-research-grants
