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After six seasons of in-river work, dredging to remove polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from a 40-mile stretch of the upper Hudson River between Fort Edward and Troy, New York, was completed in the fall of 2015. The cleanup was conducted and paid for by General Electric Company with EPA oversight under a legal agreement with the EPA.
The current five year review will include new data to be collected this spring and summer, including fish, water and sediment data. EPA will also use all available data for the project, including fish, water and sediment data collected since the last five-year review.
This five-year review will be one of a series of future reviews. It will evaluate whether the stated goals of the project are being met, or are expected to be met, based on the available data. Several more years’ worth of post-dredging data will be needed to understand the reduction of PCB levels in fish as a result of the project.
The five-year review will also include a review of the cleanup plan for the areas of PCB-contaminated sediment upstream of the areas targeted for dredging. These areas, known as the remnant deposits, became exposed after the river water level dropped following removal of the Fort Edward Dam in 1973. These areas are now capped, maintained, and monitored.
As part of the EPA’s commitment to conduct the five-year review in a transparent manner, in 2016 the EPA will hold public workshops with the Hudson River PCBs Site Community Advisory Group to discuss the second five-year review. The Hudson River Community Advisory Group meetings are open to the public and information about the workshops will be announced in advance. Following an evaluation of data and discussions with the federal Hudson River Natural Resources Trustees, New York State and the Community Advisory Group, the EPA expects to issue the second five-year review report in late 2016 or early 2017 and will make it available for public comment. The second five-year review will be completed by April 23, 2017.
The five-year review report will be available on the EPA’s Hudson River website athttp://www.epa.gov/hudson and in the local repositories established for the site: Edgewater Public Library, 49 Hudson Avenue, Edgewater, NJ 07020; Adriance Memorial Library, 93 Market Street, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601; NY State Library, Cultural Education Center, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12230; Crandall Public Library, 251 Glen Street, Glens Falls, NY 12801; Saratoga County EMC, 50 W. High Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020; EPA Hudson River Field Office, 187 Wolf Road, Suite 303, Albany, NY 12205; and at the EPA Region 2 Superfund Records Center, 290 Broadway – 18th Floor, New York, NY 10007.
Between 1947 and 1977, an estimated 1.3 million pounds of PCBs were discharged into the river from two General Electric capacitor manufacturing plants located in Fort Edward and Hudson Falls, New York. The dredging of the Hudson River was designed to occur in two phases. The first phase of the dredging project was conducted in 2009. The plan for dredging underwent extensive review by the EPA and General Electric Company at the end of the 2009 dredging season. The plan was also reviewed by a panel of independent scientific experts at that time, and various stakeholders participated in that review, including the Hudson River Natural Resources Trustees, the Hudson River Community Advisory Group and members of the public. The second and final phase of dredging began in June 2011 and concluded in fall 2015. During 2016 restoration of habitat areas disturbed by the dredging will be completed. The 100-acre Fort Edward facility that was constructed to dewater and process the dredged sediment is in the process of being taken apart, after which the site will be restored. Once that process is completed, and the required project reports are prepared and approved by the EPA, the dredging portion of the cleanup will be considered complete. The Operation, Maintenance & Monitoring phase of the project is underway and will continue. During this phase, monitoring is conducted to track the ongoing recovery of the river and the effectiveness of the cleanup over time. As stated above, the EPA will also continue to conduct five-year reviews of the project.
(Albany, NY) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has initiated its second review of the cleanup of the Hudson River PCBs Superfund site. The purpose of this review, which is called a five year review and is legally required under the Superfund law every five years after the start of on-site construction, is to ensure that the cleanup is working as intended and will be protective of public health and the environment. The first five-year review for the Hudson River PCBs Superfund Site was completed in 2012 and the EPA anticipates conducting reviews every five years well into the future. The EPA will conduct its current review in an open and transparent manner with input from the public.
Detailed Hudson River Superfund site information can be found on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/hudson.
For further information or to submit comments on the five year review of the Hudson River PCBs Superfund site, please contact Gary Klawinski (Hudson River Field Office Director) at Klawinski.gary@epa.gov or Larisa Romanowski (Community Involvement Coordinator) atRomanowski.larisa@epa.gov. They can also be reached at:
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Hudson River Field Office
187 Wolf Road, Suite 303
Albany, NY 12205
(518) 407-0400 or (866) 615-6490 (Toll Free)
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Lithos Engineering is excited to announce our newest team member: Amara Meier. In March, 2016, Amara joined Lithos Engineering as a Geological Engineer and will be based out of our Lakewood, CO Office. Amara has a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison; she double-majored in Geological Engineering and Geology & Geophysics. After completing her undergraduate work, Amara attended Colorado State University where she received a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering.
Nate Soule, Vice President and Tunnel Practice Lead for Lithos Engineering said, “Amara is a great addition to the Lithos family and her skill set and personality are a great addition to our team. I am certain our clients will quickly be impressed by the value that she brings to our tunnel, trenchless, geotechnical, and geological engineering services.”
Prior to joining Lithos Engineering and starting her graduate work, Amara worked for Barr Engineering in Duluth, MN; performing field investigations for various remediation project sites. At Lithos, Amara will assist with geologic and geotechnical investigations, tunnel and trenchless designs, and construction management. Starting in June, 2016, Amara will be providing oversight during construction of an 800-foot-long, hard rock tunnel, designed by Lithos Engineering and located in the mountains west of Fort Collins, CO.
Lithos Engineering was formed with the vision of serving our communities by providing our clients and their projects with recognizable value through prudent site evaluations, constructible solutions, and an understanding of project risks. Lithos focuses on tunnel, trenchless, geotechnical, and geological engineering and design services through innovative, collaborative, client-focused consulting uniquely tailored to suit the needs of our clients and their projects.
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THOMPSON, CONNECTICUT USA, March 3, 2016– Numa, the leading designer and 
manufacturer of down hole hammers and bits, is proud to announce the company has added Skelair International as its new distributor in the UK. Skelair is a leading supplier of Ground Engineering and Rock Drilling equipment and machines. The company both sells and rents equipment for drilling applications around the globe.
Effective February 1, 2016, Skelair will now supply the full range of Numa’s down hole hammers and bits. Combining this with expert technical support and advice, Skelair is well equipped to provide a solutions-based and service-focused approach, primarily aimed at supporting major infrastructure and civil engineering projects.
Commenting on the agreement, Ralph Leonard, President of Numa, stated: “Our focus as a company has always been to provide high performing products underpinned by the very best in technical service and support. Skelair is a well-respected name in the industry from a supply perspective but also through their proven experience in contract drilling. We are very confident that Skelair will add value to our existing customers, and equally importantly, help us to further cement our position in Europe.”
John Mayo, Managing Director, Skelair, echoes these views: “Numa is an excellent complement to every aspect of our existing portfolio – consumables, sales and rentals. Our aim is to be able to provide a turnkey solution for challenging drilling requirements and by doing so, help customers to keep major drilling projects on track. We’re not a company that wants to stand still and by bringing Numa on board at a buoyant time in the market, we expect to make some significant moves forward.”
As part of the agreement Skelair will be collaborating with Geolorn, specialists in Numa products and experienced deep hole drilling consultants. Kevin Mallin, Managing Director, Geolorn, explains: “This is an exciting opportunity for us. By working together with Numa and Skelair, we are able to provide a unique service to the drilling industry which will help to raise the benchmark for quality by delivering a solutions-based approach.”
For further information on Skelair or the wide range of drilling consumables, rig purchases and rig rentals it can offer, please call John Mayo or Chris Neighbour on 01477 539100, email chris@skelair.com. You can also visit the Skelair website at www.skelair.com.
ABOUT NUMA
Numa is the global leader in the design and manufacturing of down hole hammers and bits for drilling vertical, horizontal, and reverse circulation holes from 3½ to 48 inches (89 – 1,219 mm) in diameter. Numa’s products are used in over 105 countries drilling in a wide range of industries including Construction, Foundation, Micro Piling, Oil & Gas, Quarry, Mining, Utility, Geothermal, Environmental, Horizontal, and Water Well.
Foremost to the success of our customers is Numa’s personal service and technological expertise. Numa is dedicated to supporting customers on the job site and is constantly talking to drillers around the world to get first hand input about the products required for today’s demanding drilling environment. Being so close to drillers’ needs has allowed Numa to develop 13 patents for ground breaking drilling technology and produce over 110 different DTH hammer and bit models in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.
About Skelair International
Skelair is a leading supplier of Ground Engineering and Rock Drilling equipment and machines and has supplied equipment and machines to many areas of the world. Skelair supplies a complete range of drilling consumables at very competitive prices, to which Skelair can arrange delivery of almost any item anywhere in the world. This helps ensure you make the most efficient and cost effective choice for your drilling project.
Skelair are official distributors for Klemm Bohrtechnik, Atlas Copco Drill & Compressor parts, TEI Rockdrills, EMCI, Marini Quarries Group, Mitsubishi Drilling Materials, OCMA (Drilltech), Obermann and Doosan Compressors and Generators. A UK Rental fleet of various drill rigs and mast attachments is also available for short and long term hire.
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Electro Scanning Inspection Recommended to Certify Trenchless Lining and New Installations, Instead of Visual Inspection Using Closed Circuit Television Cameras
Sacramento, Calif. – Electro Scan, Inc. announced that it will unveil new certification standards for sewer and water pipe rehabilitation at the 2016 NASTT Show.
Currently, there are major defects routinely not being found using Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) inspection prior to the acceptance of Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) lining projects and new pipe installations.
Defects not identified or accurately measured by visual inspection, include accelerator burns, bad service reconnections, cracks, cuts, defective inverts, over-cooking, and wrinkles.
In contrast, new guidelines recommend locating and estimating the size of each defect – in gallons per minute – by measuring the variation in electric current able to pass through each defect or opening, in accordance with ASTM F2550.
New standards of practice were recently added to Chapter 4, Inspecting and Testing Collection Systems, in the industry’s leading manual, Volume 1, Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Collection Systems, Seventh Edition, recommending the use of Electro Scanning Inspection.
Co-authored by the late Ken Kerri, Ph.D., P.E., Office of Water Programs, Dr. Kerri concluded that while CCTV inspection provides good visual documentation of sewer maintenanceissues, like grease, roots, and debris, CCTV is not the best choice to provide an accurate structuralassessment of sewer mains or service laterals, especially given the advantages of Electro Scanning Inspection for certifying CIPP rehabilitation and sewer assessment projects.
A key advantage of using Electro Scanning Inspection is its ability to automatically differentiate between superficial surface cracks – that do not leak – and cracks or defects that extend completely through a pipe or liner – that represent major leaks.
Common remedies to fix defects identified by Electro Scanning Inspection include liner or pipe removal & replacement and trenchless point repair.
Utilities are recommended to reference ASTM F2550-13, Section 8.5.1 and the Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Collection Systems manual, Section 4.40-4.45, to certify any pipe repair, relining, or renewal project.
During the conference, Electro Scan will also discuss its new Water Leak Detection Services – incorporating its low voltage conductivity expertise as part of its patent-pending Multi-Sensor Water Probe– designed for pressurized water mains and transmission pipes.
Founded in 1990, the North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) promotes responsible ways to manage underground infrastructure.
The conference will be held March 20-24, 2016 at the Gaylord Texan Convention Center, Grapevine, Texas.
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GSSI, the world’s leading manufacturer of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, 
announces the launch of the StructureScan™ Mini XT – the newest generation of GSSI’s popular all-in-one concrete inspection GPR system. Rugged, compact, and flexible, StructureScan Mini XT is ideal for locating rebar, conduits, post-tension cables, and voids. The Mini XT can help identify structural elements, including pan deck and concrete cover, and can also provide real time determination of concrete slab thickness. StructureScan Mini XT is the perfect blend of price and performance, and is backed by a two-year warranty.
The integrated all-in-one concrete inspection tool comes with an antenna, positioning system, and control unit combination. It features an intuitive touchscreen interface and six-button control options. With its 2.7 GHz antenna, the StructureScan Mini XT offers superior target resolution. It can reach depths of 20 inches (50 centimeters). The system is positioned 8 millimeters off the surface, providing additional ground clearance that allows the Mini XT to be used over rough concrete surfaces.
The redesigned StructureScan Mini XT features a rugged compact design, IP 65-rated to withstand a jobsite’s toughest conditions. Users get first-in-class data visualization with a state-of-the-art 6.5 inch HD touchscreen user interface and different operation modes tailored for beginner to advanced use. Use the Simple mode to collect data with the push of one button, or select ScanMax and Scan3D app-based data collection options for advanced data interpretation. The StructureScan Mini XT also makes it easy to customize the data display with a variety of color adjustments. Real-time migrated data, onscreen reference markers and real-time signal floor indicator are also available.
Featuring the forward thinking design found in all GSSI’s GPR equipment, StructureScan Mini XT incorporates three accessory ports to allow for future expansion. An extension pole accessory, with six-button remote operation, is ideal for walking and wall surveys. Other useful features include a removable handle for reduced vertical clearance, positioning lasers, power saver mode, and 4-wheel drive.
About GSSI
Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. is the world leader in the development, manufacture, and sale of ground penetrating radar (GPR) equipment, primarily for the concrete inspection, utility mapping and locating, road and bridge deck evaluation, geophysics, and archaeology markets. Our equipment is used all over the world to explore the subsurface of the earth and to inspect infrastructure systems non-destructively. GSSI created the first commercial GPR system nearly 45 years ago and continues to provide the widest range and highest quality GPR equipment available today.
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Perry, Okla. – Subsite® Electronics, a Charles Machine Works Company, has introduced the 
2550GR Ground Penetrating Radar System featuring a new, user-friendly Window’s-based interface that will provide operators with a number of productivity enhancing benefits.
“The 2550GR offers all the same great features as our proven 2450GR,” said Matt Lumbers, product manager, utility locating systems, Subsite Electronics. “It’s ideal for locating any type of utility conduit or piping—metallic or non-metallic, including PVC—beneath soil, rock, pavement, and other surfaces. Plus, we’ve added a number of important software upgrades that will simplify operation and improve performance.”
New software for the 2550GR is designed to make users more efficient. Easy GPS connectivity allows operators to see their path and marks in real-time as they scan. A new wireless connection enables users to easily download web-based maps such as Google Earth.
A new one-touch recalibration button lets operators transition from one scanning surface to another quickly and easily, while the earth-engaged antenna provides better contact on uneven terrain and reduces signal loss.
“We listened to users in the field and have been able to improve the operator experience with significant software upgrades,” Lumbers said.
The 2550GR locates both metallic and non-metallic pipes and cables to allow one-pass locates at depths of up to 19.7 feet (6 m), depending on soil conditions and antenna selection. A 5.6 mph (9 km/h) survey speed and digitally controlled radar allow the 2550GR to provide fast, clear images.
In addition to utility mapping efforts, the 2550GR’s advanced locating capability makes it ideal for a wide range of other applications including void and sinkhole detection, concrete detection, and locating underground storage tanks.
For more information on this product and Subsite® Electronics, visit www.subsite.com or any of our social media channels – Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+, LinkedIn and YouTube. You can contact us at info@subsite.com or 800-846-2713.
About Subsite® Electronics
Subsite® Electronics, a Charles Machine Works Company, is committed to providing underground construction professionals the most comprehensive suite of electronic products in the industry, including utility locators, Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) guidance equipment and equipment machine controls. By utilizing innovative technologies, extensive market feedback and outstanding customer support, Subsite Electronics has established itself as the premier source of electronic technology to support the installation or maintenance of underground pipe and cable.
About Charles Machine Works
Established in 1902, Charles Machine Works, an employee-owned company, founded in Perry, Oklahoma, is the only manufacturer and global distributor that solely exists to make underground utility construction profitable. Our family of companies includes Ditch Witch®, Subsite® Electronics, DW/TXS®, HammerHead®, Radius® HDD, American Augers®, Trencor® and MTI® Equipment. For more information, visit charlesmachine.works.
