ACEC Texas Awards Gold Medal to LAN for Clear Lake Flood Control Project
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Texas awarded civil engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) a gold medal for its work on the first phase of the Clear Lake flood control project in Harris County. The award , will be presented during the ACEC Texas Engineering Excellence Awards Gala in Houston March 30, 2020.
According to a press release, the project, named Exploration Green in honor of the community’s local exploration legacy and its proximity to Johnson Space Center, is transforming a former 178-acre golf course into five massive detention ponds. Each pond can hold 100 million gal of storm water. In addition, Exploration Green will serve as a nature park comprising 105 acres of natural habitat with wetlands and native grassland areas, 12 miles of hike-and-bike trails and two athletic fields among other amenities. The first phase of the project was completed in April 2018.
“Communities throughout Texas are looking for ways to mitigate flooding events like Hurricane Harvey,” said P.E. and LAN President Wayne Swafford in a press release. “Exploration Green is transforming Clear Lake from a flood-prone community into one of the most flood-resilient communities in Texas. In addition, it is creating a healthy, sustainable neighborhood for its residents.”
EPA Proposes Next Phase of Cleanup Plan at the Sherwin-Williams/Hilliards Creek Superfund Site
The U.S. EPA is proposing a cleanup plan that includes a combination of technologies and methods to address the former paint manufacturing plant and adjoining areas of the Sherwin-Williams/Hilliards Creek Superfund Site in Gibbsboro, N.J.
According to a press release, the EPA’s study of these areas shows that soil and sediment are contaminated with arsenic, lead, as well as paint solvents.
“The former paint manufacturing plant area is a major source of contamination at this Superfund site and addressing it will be a major step to getting to the cleanup of Hilliards Creek and Kirkwood Lake, which have been long sought by this community,” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez in the news release. “EPA is working closely with our local and state partners to make progress on this cleanup as we protect people’s health.”
The cleanup plan addresses a nearly 20 acre area where the former manufacturing plant operated, which include approximately six residential properties. At the former manufacturing plant area, approximately 67,000 cu yd of contaminated soil from the site will be removed and disposed of, while the area is backfilled with clean soil, groundwater monitoring and institutional controls in the form of deed notices.