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Environmental Connection
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Greetings from EC09 in Reno, Nevada!
We are in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the annual conference, where attendees today will enjoy the Awards Luncheon to see who has been honored; the Cabela's Tour, complete with indoor shooting gallery; the Expo Hall Grand Opening this evening; and the hunt for
Survivor Challenge Champion is well underway. Sound like fun? Make plans now to attend EC10 in Dallas, Texas, February 14 - 18, 2010!
If you are not here with us in Reno, we have a variety of other ways that you can receive the education you need and the networking opportunities you want:
Receive tailored training from the industry's best instructors through the IECA Live program or see what you can learn through Online Education in the comforts of your own home. Local Chapter events are a great way to meet with and learn from colleagues close to home. Join IECA's Facebook and LinkedIn groups and the listserv for an easy, fun way to interact with members online.
Call for Submittals - EC10 in Dallas, TX Feb. 14-18
Mark May 15, 2009 as the submittal deadline for abstracts for EC10. Complete details will be emailed and posted to the IECA web site soon.
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Drag & Drop
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February's Featured Resources
MSGP SWPPP Template and Additional Documentation Template To assist industrial permit holders subject to the 2008 MSGP, EPA has recently posted a sample MSGP SWPPP Template and a sample Recordkeeping Template on the MSGP website. Industrial facilities can use EPA's MSGP SWPPP Template to create their own SWPPPs. The Template provides step-by-step instructions for developing a SWPPP for your site, based on the requirements in the 2008 MSGP. All facilities must have a SWPPP completed prior to submitting their NOIs for coverage under the 2008 MSGP. The sample recordkeeping template includes tables and forms to assist industrial stormwater permit holders in keeping records of monitoring, inspection, maintenance, visual evaluation and corrective action activities. The template includes example routine facility inspection and visual evaluation forms, along with examples of how to track other information required in the 2008 MSGP. Both templates can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format from http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/msgp. Source: US EPAStormwater Management Tools Web SiteA new suite of technology transfer tools, detailing how structural soils and urban trees can be used for stormwater management is available on the web. This website provides resources such as a BMP design manual, a presentation for explaining how the system works and many other resource links. Link to the Web Site. Source: Urban Natural Resources InstituteCalifornia Fire News BlogThis is a great resource for professionals dealing with fires in CA. View the Blog. Stormwater LibrarySite has resources for stormwater professionals. View Site. Includes link to a research study conducted by James Scholl of Malcom Pirnie presented at the WEFTEC 2007 conference that looks at the myriad of local stormwater management programs across the country - focusing on major differences in organizational structures, funding sources and the impetus for their development. View Research Study. Sources: Stormwater Library and Environmental Expert.comDrag & Drop features useful resources provided by members for members and others concerned about erosion and sediment control. If one of these resources is of particular interest to you, just "Drag & Drop" the web link into your Favorites folder or Bookmark it for later reference. If you know of a resource that makes your job easier and would like to share, please send your web links to Meg Tully.Back to top
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EPA Upcoming Events
EPA Green Infrastructure Workshop in San Antonio: Feb. 17-18
EPA is
sponsoring, along with local sponsors such as the City of San Antonio
and the Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance, a one and a half day workshop
on green infrastructure. The workshop is intended for municipal governments with
wet weather responsibilities and will focus on how wet weather programs
can be effectively managed using green infrastructure technologies and
approaches. Information on the workshop, along with the agenda and
registration info, is available at
http://www.tetratech-ffx.com/sanantonio/index.htm. There is a nominal
fee to attend this workshop.
2008 MSGP Monitoring and Reporting Webcast - Feb. 19
EPA will host a webcast presentation on February 19, 2009, 2:00pm - 4:00pm Eastern Time, entitled "Monitoring and Reporting for the 2008 MSGP." The webcast will discuss the monitoring requirements in the 2008 MSGP (which addresses industrial stormwater runoff), including how to collect samples, submit the monitoring results electronically via EPA's eNOI system, and complete the annual report. You must register in advance to attend this webcast. Visit the NPDES Web site at www.epa.gov/npdes/training to register.
IECA Calendar of Events
IECA lists the events we hear about on our industry-wide calendar of events. If you are aware of an event that should be posted, please email it to IECA's IT Manager. Check out the calendar often for the latest events in your area.
Stories of Interest
County Commits $14.6M to Stormwater Upgrades
Leon County commissioners decided recently to commit $14.6 million toward stormwater improvements in light of flooding from Fay, which dumped about 17 inches of rain on Tallahassee in a three-day period. Read Full Story. Source: Tallahassee.com
EPA & Florida DEP Work Together to Restore FL's Surface Waters
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) are taking actions to protect and restore both recreational uses and aquatic life in Florida waters. Read the full news release. Source: US EPA news release
Video Shows Green Practices to Manage Stormwater Runoff
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Botanic Garden produced an online video, "Reduce Runoff: Slow It Down, Spread It Out, Soak It In," that highlights green techniques such as rain gardens, green roofs and rain barrels to help manage stormwater runoff. View the video. More resources on stormwater management. Source: US EPA
Africa's Soil Erosion to be Mapped Digitally
To try and stop the growing famines plaguing the African continent, a digital soil-health surveillance system has been launched to help scientists map areas at risk of soil degradation. Read full story. Source: Digital Journal.com
Ottawa River will be Cleaner Thanks to Great Lakes Legacy Act
The Ottawa River will soon be much cleaner thanks to an agreement signed recently between U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Ottawa River Group. They agreed to a $43 million cleanup of contaminated sediment in the river. Read the full news release. Source: US EPA news release
Vegetation Along India's Coasts Can Reduce Soil Erosion
The construction of a sea wall is not the only solution to avoid tsunamis and sea coast erosion, but taming the sea waves and its
sediments also plays a vital role. Read the full story. Source: The Times of India
Five Star Mining Fined for Filling in Wetlands Near Petersburg
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 has signed a consent agreement and final order with Five Star Mining, Inc. Petersburg, Ind., for filling in about seven acres of forested wetlands at its Prosperity Mine without a permit. Read full news release. Source: US EPA news release
DEP Grant Funds Largest Green Roof in the State
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) awarded a $1.4 million Urban BMP Research and Demonstration grant to Escambia County to assist with the construction of a green roof and a pervious pavement parking lot. When complete, the green roof will total 33,160 square feet, the largest in Florida. Read the full story. Source: WMBB News
Big Bucks Protect River Banks From Erosion
A major project is now underway along Queensway to beef up the Skeena River's bank against erosion during high water periods. Approximately 4,000 truck loads of rock will be placed by the time the work is finished. The Kitimat-Stikine regional district received nearly $1.9 million last year from the federal and provincial governments to do the work. Read the full story. Source: Terrace Standard.com
Four New England Developers Pay Fines for Clean Water Violations
Four New England site operators have agreed to pay fines for violations of federal regulations designed to prevent pollution from stormwater runoff at construction and industrial sites. Read the full news release. Source: US EPA Region 1 news release
Grants Available to Help Local Communities Deal With Polluted Urban and Agricultural Runoff
Local governments have until April 15 to apply for cost sharing grants to help meet state and federal requirements to control polluted runoff from agricultural and urban areas. Read the full story. Source: WI Dept. of Natural Resources
2008 Top 10 Hot Trends in Greenroof Design
Summary of the past year's biggest green roof trends. View Summary. Source: Greenroofs.com
Shell to Pay $1 Million Penalty, Enhance Pollution Controls for Clean Water Act Violations in Puerto Rico
Shell Chemical Yabucoa, Inc. of Puerto Rico has agreed to pay a $1,025,000 penalty and spend at least $273,800 enhancing its pollution controls and monitoring to remedy Clean Water Act violations. Read the full news release. Source: US EPA news release
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| Members in the News |
Filtrexx Partners Up for A Playground Built of Super Bowl ProportionsFiltrexx International, the NFL, Home Depot and Kaboom united Wednesday, Jan. 27th with almost 300 volunteers to build a playground as part of the NFL Super Bowl experience in Tampa. Read the full news release. Source: FiltrexxExpress Blower Customers Gather For Annual Summit in Las VegasExpress Blower, Inc. held its EB Summit, the company's annual meeting of Express Blower equipment owners recently in Las Vegas, NV. Express Blower has hosted the event for more than 10 years as an avenue for companies to increase their business opportunities and working knowledge through networking with other Express Blower owners from around North America. Source: Express Blower news releaseWoolpert Recognized for Role in Stormwater Management ProgramWoolpert recently won a Merit Award from the Virginia Chapter of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) for its role in the Loudoun County, Virginia, Stormwater Management Program. Woolpert mapped the county's stormwater infrastructure and created a GPS-based field inventory to implement a system capable of tracking pollutants that infiltrate the system in a timely manner so they can be eliminated as quickly as possible. Read the full story. Source: Water World Online North American Green Hosts 2009 Distributor ConferenceNorth American Green hosted its 2009 Annual Distributor Conference on January 16-18 in Louisville, Ky. More than 135 of North American Green's exclusive distributors and their Erosion Solutions Specialists attended the conference. "The Annual Conference provides a forum for our worldwide network of Erosion Solutions Specialists to enhance their industry and product knowledge, sales and marketing skills and receive continuing education from the North American Green staff of professionals," said Tim Lancaster, president. At the pre-conference training program, North American Green trained an additional 36 Erosion Solutions Specialists I and 9 Erosion Solutions Specialists II, for a total of 375 Erosion Solutions Specialists nationwide. Source: North American Green news releaseWhat's New? IECA welcomes news and updates from all of our members. If you have news that you would like included in our Members in the News section, please send your press releases to Meg Tully.Back to top
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Chapter News & Events
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Upcoming Events
Visit the IECA web site home page for IECA and Chapter sponsored events.
- 2nd Annual Put a "LID" On It: Protecting Our Water Resources Today and into the Future," March 4-5 in Dubuque, IA, USA. Co-Hosted by the Great Rivers Chapter.
- Urban Stormwater Management Workshop, March 26 in Jefferson City, MO, USA. Hosted by the Great Rivers Chapter.
- 8th National Symposium on Erosion Control, March 29 - April 2 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Co-Hosted by the IberoAmerican Chapter.
- Erosion and Sediment Control: Our Environment - Regain - Sustain - Maintain, June 21-24 in Auckland, New Zealand. Hosted by the Australasia Chapter.
Chapter Leadership Updates
Mid-Atlantic Chapter Announces 2009 Board of Directors Officers
Congratulations to these members: Roy Van Houten, President; Don Sheaffer, 1st Vice-President; Paul Evans, 2nd Vice-President; John Gonzalez, PE, Secretary; and Scott Keefer, CPESC, Treasurer. Additional Board members and State Representatives are on the web site.
Northern Plains Call for Volunteers
The Northern Plains Chapter of IECA is looking for members interested in volunteering and leading the Chapter. Anyone interested is invited to attend the Chapter's face to face meeting at EC09 or to contact IECA's chapter director, Meg Tully, at meg@ieca.org.
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IECA News & Information
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EPA Effluent Guideline Update
Last November, IECA sent members information and a call for responses when EPA was seeking input from erosion and sediment control vendors and others on the proposed Effluent Guideline for the Construction and Development industry. Due to the input of a wide range of E&S experts and vendors, EPA's proposal was improved over prior versions. For instance, EPA is now proposing a 13 NTU turbidity limit for sites greater than 30 acres that also fall into certain rainfall and soil regions.
But, in the view of environmental organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, the proposal still needs improvement in a number of aspects, including more linkages to quantified measures for Erosion Prevention, and to Low Impact Site Design as a way to reduce construction costs including Erosion, Sediment and Turbidity control costs.
IECA members are encouraged to become involved by submitting more comments. Discussions about this will take place at EC09 in Reno as well. The deadline for public comment on this proposal is February 26. Click here for the web link for the proposed Effluent Guideline for the Construction and Development industry: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction/
IECA Offers Multiple Year Memberships
With so many things on your mind these days, joining or renewing your IECA membership for several years in a row is an easy way to take one thing off your to do list. It's also the "green thing to do," as it saves paper and postage.
When you join or renew, you can pay for up to 5 years of membership at once. Simply click the option of your preference as you are submitting your payment. Read about our Membership Benefits and Join Today!
How to Write and Implement a SWPPP to Meet NPDES Compliance - Course Available March 17, 2009
IECA is working with the Beckley, WV Sanitary Board on this course offering.The course is open to the public as well. Learn how to keep your SWPPP active, up-to-date and available for review. Learn how your SWPPP drives your Best Management Practices (BMPs) to effectively control stormwater pollutants from leaving your site. Course Details and a Registration Flyer are on our web site. Mid-Atlantic Chapter representatives will be on hand as well to tell you about how the Chaper can benefit you.
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Career Center News
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It's All About Who You Know
In this difficult economy, don't forget about the power of connections through IECA membership and the Career Center. If you are a member, you can post your resume for free, and member employers receive discounts when you purchase a job ad. View all the latest job postings on the web site, including the following:
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