Posted in Civil, Environmental, General, Geotechnical, Seismic | Tagged Civil Engineering, environmental engineering, Geologist, Geotechnical engineering, happy holidays, Langan, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Langan International, Treadwell & Rollo, Treadwell and Rollo | Leave a Comment »
Dorinda Shipman, Phil Tringale and Julie Frankel
The Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite® is nationally recognized as the largest and most prestigious gathering in California of leaders in environmental, land use, and natural resources law. For the twelfth consecutive year, Treadwell & Rollo, now part of Langan Engineering, is proud to have been one of the sponsors. T&R Senior Associates Dorinda Shipman and Patrick Hubbard, Director of the Western Region Phil Tringale and Marketing Manager Julie Frankel attended the conference, which was held at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, California on October 20-23rd.
Being one of the supporters of the nationally-recognized event, which is sponsored annually by the State Bar of California Environmental Law Section, has been a priority for our firm for more than a decade. This conference has consistently been a great opportunity for our staff to stay current on the latest environmental and regulatory issues affecting the environmental law community, which includes many of our clients as well as other environmental officials, lawyers, and consulting professionals.
There were a variety of sessions to choose from with a wide range of speakers and topics and social activities in the evenings. Select topics of interest included:
- CERCLA and Superfund- Progress, status, and accomplishments in cleanups. Less future work at multi-party groundwater sites but current mega remediation in mining and river/ bay sediments; vapor intrusion growth and more natural resource damages cases are coming.
- Green Advertising and Claims- Review of Federal Trade Commission Green Guides and California statutes; increased enforcement and lawsuits likely involving certifications and terms such as biodegradable, green, and others.
- Is Brown the New Green?- A discussion of energy and environmental issues in the Brown Administration, views on reaching the Governor’s renewable energy goals, prospects for CEQA revisions, and the Brown Administration’s vision for California.
Keynote speakers included Cliff Rechtshaffen who works on energy, environmental and agricultural issues in the governor’s office; Ken Alex who works on energy and environmental matters for the governor; Nancy Sutley, the Chair of CEQ where she serves as the principal environmental policy advisor to the president; Pete McCloskey who co-chaired the very first earth day in 1970 and co-authored the 1973 Endangered Species Act; and Catherine Sandoval with CPUC.
Posted in Environmental | Tagged Dorinda C. Shipman, Environmental, environmental assessment, Environmental Consulting Services, environmental engineering, Environmental Law Conference, Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite, Julie D. Frankel, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Patrick Hubbard, Philip Tringale, Treadwell & Rollo | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Awards, Uncategorized | Tagged 11.1.11, Langan, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Langan International, SPUR Urban Center, Treadwell & Rollo | Leave a Comment »
Vapor Intrusion Diagram
In October 2011 The California Environmental Protection Agency’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) released two documents related to Vapor Intrusion issues. The document titled “Guidance for the Evaluation and Mitigation of Subsurface Vapor Intrusion to Indoor Air” represents a revised document that incorporates public comments. This document, considered by the DTSC to be a final version outlining a stepwise approach to performing vapor intrusion evaluations, includes recommendations for field investigation techniques (i.e. soil gas, sub-slab, and air indoor sampling), screening of sampling results, and specific information relevant to California for use with the commonly applied Johnson and Ettinger vapor intrusion model. A description of changes to its prior guidance document is included.
The DTSC also released a final version of its Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Advisory document, which provides details on selection and design of vapor intrusion mitigation systems and operation and maintenance of mitigation systems.
Finally, the DTSC also noted that it plans to finalize its document titled “Advisory – Active Soil Gas Investigations” during the Fall of 2011. This document will provide greater detail on planning and designing field investigations related to soil gas characterization than other DTSC documents.
The link to these documents on the DTSC’s website can be found here. For more information on Vapor Intrusion, please contact Michael Chendorain.
Posted in Environmental | Tagged air indoor sampling, CA DTSC, DTSC, Environmental, environmental engineering, Johnson and Ettinger, Michael Chendorain, soil gas, soil vapor, Soil vapor extraction, sub-slab, vapor intrusion, Vapor Intrusion Mitigation, Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Advisory, vapor mitigation, vapor mitigation systems | 1 Comment »
Dr. Ramin Golesorkhi will be speaking about the earthquake ground motions provisions of ASCE 7-10 which is a reference code for the IBC 2012 and the 2013 version of the California Building Code (CBC). These new provisions present a significant change from previous codes. The presentation will discuss the implications of these changes and give examples from a comparative study in California. The presentation will be today, Wednesday October 19th, at the URS Corp Office at 1 Montgomery Street, in the One Montgomery Tower from 5:30-7:30.
Dr. Golesorkhi has more than 23 years of experience in seismic analysis and foundation engineering. He provides engineering consultation for projects involving deep excavation, tunneling, foundation support and settlement, vertical and lateral evaluation of pile foundations, stability of earth structures, seismic soil-structure interaction, seismic hazard evaluation, ground response analysis, liquefaction potential evaluation, evaluation of ground improvement techniques, and other geotechnical and environmental projects.
For additional information on our seismic services, contact Ramin Golesorkhi.
Posted in Seismic | Tagged California Building Code, earthquake, earthquake engineering, Geologist, Geotechnical, Geotechnical engineering, geotechnical services, ground motions, Ramin Golesorkhi, seismic, seismic design, seismic engineering, seismic engineers, seismicity | Leave a Comment »
Please join us on 11.1.11 for our 1st Anniversary Celebration at the SPUR Urban Center at 654 Mission Street, San Francisco. The event will occur from 6 – 9pm. To RSVP, please click here. For additional information, please contact Julie Frankel.
Posted in Uncategorized, Awards | Tagged Treadwell & Rollo, Julie Frankel, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Langan, Treadwell and Rollo, Julie D. Frankel, 1st Anniversary, SPUR Urban Center, 654 Mission Street | Leave a Comment »
Please join us on November 1st for the Sustainable Redevelopment and Green Remediation Forum in San Francisco. Langan, in cooperation with the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC), proudly presents this exceptional program in sustainable redevelopment and green remediation. This policy and technology forum will offer both regional and national perspectives from both federal and state regulators, industry stakeholders, consulting engineers, and attorneys.
11:30 am Registration
12:00 noon Welcome & Program Introduction
Nick DeRose, Langan; Phil Tringale, T&R12:00 – 1:00 Networking Luncheon
1:00 – 1:30 Sustainable Redevelopment & Green Remediation
Jane Diamond, USEPA Region 91:30 – 2:00 ITRC and SURF Sustainability Initiatives
Paul Hadley, CA DTSC2:00 –2:30 Sustainable Remediation & Reuse Case Studies
Stephanie Fiorenza, BP, Houston2:30 – 2:40 Break
2:40 – 3:00 Carbon Footprint Evaluation Alternatives
Christopher N. Glenn, P.E., LEED GA, Langan3:00 – 3:30 The GM bankruptcy – Opportunities for Redevelopment
and Green Remediation
David McMurtry, D. McMurtry & Associates3:30 – 4:00 Renewable Energy Siting on Contaminated Properties
John Cote, Langan and Pam Andes, Allen Matkins4:00 – 4:30 Green Buildings – Emerging Policies
Dan Geiger, US Green Buildings Council and Aaron Welch, LEED AP, Rami & Associates4:30 – 5:00 Panel – Economics of Expedited Brownfield
Redevelopment
Phil Smith, T&R, facilitator, Emily Murray, Allen Matkins; Stephen Hill, SF Bay Area CA Regional Water Quality Control Board; Don Capobres, Grosvenor; DJ Hodson, Langan5:00 pm Closing Statement
To register for the event, please click here or contact Julie Frankel for more information. We look forward to seeing you at 11:30 am on November 1st at Le Meridien.
Posted in Environmental | Tagged Aaron Welch, Allen Matkins, CA DTSC, Carbon Footprint Evaluation Alternatives, Christopher N. Glenn, Contaminated Properties, D. McMurtry & Associates, Dan Geiger, David McMurtry, DJ Hodson, Don Capobres, Emily Murray, Expedited Brownfield Redevelopment, GM bankruptcy, Green Buildings, Grosvenor, Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council, ITRC, Jane Diamond, John Cote, Julie Frankel, Langan, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Nick DeRose, Pam Andes, Paul Hadley, Phil Smith, Phil Tringale, Rami & Associates, Renewable Energy Siting, SF Bay Area CA Regional Water Quality Control Board, Stephanie Fiorenza, Stephen Hill, surf, Sustainable Redevelopment and Green Remediation Forum, sustainable remediation, T&R, Treadwell & Rollo, Treadwell and Rollo, US Green Buildings Council, USEPA Region 9 | Leave a Comment »
For the twelfth consecutive year, Treadwell & Rollo, now part of Langan Engineering, will be one of the sponsors of The State Bar of California Environmental Law Section’s 2011 Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite®, on October 20-23, at Tenaya Lodge in Fish Camp, California.
The following staff will be representing our firm at this year’s conference:
- Philip Tringale, Ph.D., P.E., Director of Western Region
- Dorinda Shipman, PG, CHG, Vice President
- Patrick Hubbard, PG, CEG, Vice President
- Julie Frankel, CPSM, Marketing Manager
Like all those attending the conference, we are dedicated to conserving natural resources and supporting sustainability issues. If you are one of the many attorneys attending this year, please stop by our table throughout the weekend, and don’t forget to say hello at the Saturday Reception.
We will be co-sponsoring the Saturday Night Dessert Event, “ROARING 20’s” Party, which follows Saturday evening’s dinner from 9 to 11 pm. The reception will feature a selection of delicious desserts, after-dinner libations, music and dancing. It will be a fun event for adults and children alike.
For more information about the Environmental Law Conference, please visit The State Bar of California’s website.
We look forward to seeing you in the beautiful Yosemite Valley.
Posted in Environmental | Tagged Dorinda Shipman, Environmental Law Conference, Julie Frankel, Langan, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, natural resources, Patrick Hubbard, Philip T. Tringale, State Bar of California, sustainability, Tenaya Lodge, Treadwell & Rollo, Yosemite, Yosemite Valley | Leave a Comment »
An example of uncontrolled runoff
The greatest source of pollution to San Francisco Bay is the combined runoff from roads, industries, neighborhoods and construction areas. In an effort to improve water quality, the California State Water Resources Control Board is revising runoff requirements to most construction projects (those disturbing more than one acre). These Storm Water Pollution Prevention requirements are part of a site’s Construction General Permit, and are intended to prevent suspended sediments and chemical pollutants from leaving construction sites in storm water runoff.
As of September 2nd, 2011, regulated construction projects are now required to establish a runoff “Risk Level” ranging from 1 to 3. The risk level depends on potential for sediment runoff and proximity to water bodies. Increasing risk levels have progressively stricter requirements for monitoring of site runoff. Additionally, ongoing projects previously grandfathered as Risk Level 1 are required to have their risk level re-evaluated. The evaluation of the project, the type of risk level, assigned erosion control practices and type and frequency of monitoring and reporting are all combined into one plan, the “Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan” (SWPPP).
The Water Board is additionally requiring that all SWPPPs be developed by a Qualified Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Developer (QSD) and all Sites requiring a SWPPP will have monitoring by either a Qualified Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Practitioner (QSP) or a QSD. Non-compliance can range from a verbal warning to written warnings to fines of $10,000 a day in state penalties, and up to $37,500 per day in federal penalties. A QSD accepted must be a California Licensed Professional Engineer, Geologist, Hydrologist, or Erosion and Sediment Control Specialist.
Treadwell & Rollo can determine the applicability of these rules to your project, whether your project may qualify for an exemption, the level of risk associated with your site, and identify best management practices to control runoff from and meet goals associated with maintaining high water quality standards. For additional information on these revised requirements please contact DJ Hodson or our regional experts, Noel Liner in Northern California and Diane Fiorelli in Southern California.”
Posted in Civil, Environmental | Tagged California Licensed Professional Engineer, California State Water Resources Control Board, Construction General Permit, Erosion and Sediment Control Specialist, Geologist, Hydrologist, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Noel Liner, QSD, QSP, Qualified Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Developer, Qualified Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan Practitioner, Storm Water Pollution Prevention, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan, SWPPP, Treadwell & Rollo | Leave a Comment »
Last month, Adrian Smith+Gordon Gill Architecture announced their designs for Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia near the Red Sea. At more than 1,000 meters (about 3,300 feet) it will eclipse the reigning tallest building, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, by more than 173 meters (568 feet). Langan International is the engineer of record providing geotechnical, site/civil, and traffic engineering, as well as parking planning services for this world-record structure.
Treadwell& Rollo | A Langan Company, proudly proclaims that the leader of the site/civil engineering efforts for Kingdom Tower is based in San Francisco. DJ Hodson relocated to the Bay Area from New York after the merger of Langan and Treadwell & Rollo last year. Since establishing a site/civil practice here, Hodson and his growing team have been working on numerous projects in the region, while maintaining an impressive portfolio abroad. Yet nothing to date can compare to the heights of Kingdom Tower.
Geotechnical engineering efforts are being handled from Langan’s offices in Abu Dhabi and New York, and traffic and parking consulting services are also being performed from Langan’s office in New York. However, site/civil engineering sits squarely in San Francisco where Mr. Hodson directs a local team and field staff in the Middle East.
Kingdom Tower presents many site/civil challenges ranging from locating and orienting a tower in the center of a planned city to stormwater designs that will mitigate flooding in a region recently stricken with severe flooding disasters. Part of the overall stormwater management system designed by Langan will eventually collect, detain, and discharge rainwater into a massive reflection pond at the base of Kingdom Tower. Also, Langan will support the transformation of the conceptual master plan into construction level documents complete with roadway elevations, defined property boundaries, subsurface utility layouts, and stormwater detention requirements.
“It’s great that I can continue to support projects around the world as I reside in the Bay Area,” said Mr. Hodson. “But what’s really important for clients and industry allies to know is that the combined resources of Langan and Treadwell & Rollo can capably support major projects like Kingdom Tower. Our skills and experience fit well together, and we are winning work together that we would not have won separately. It’s clear that our partnership produces results.”
Posted in Civil | Tagged Adrian Smith+Gordon Gill Architecture, Geotechnical engineering, Kingdom Tower, Langan Engineering & Environmental Services, Langan International, Site/Civil, Treadwell & Rollo | 1 Comment »
