Berks County Water and Sewer Association - Plant Tour
Legislative and Regulatory Update - May 2018
Serena DiMagno | Sr. Environmental Consultant presented a Legislative and Regulatory update at the recent Berks County Water and Sewer Association's Plant Tour at the Reading Area Water Authority Water Treatment Plant.
Matt Smith Receives Certification as Drone Pilot
Matt Smith, Survey Crew Chief has received his certification as a FAA Certified Remote Pilot.
MATT SMITH | Survey Crew Chief
Matt Smith, Survey Crew Chief has received his certification as a FAA Certified Remote Pilot. Smith is one of three certified pilots at SSM. He is a graduate of Pennsylvania College of Technology, Associate of Applied Science and Forest Technology, with over 15 years of surveying and data capture.
On June 21st, 2016 the FAA finalized a new regulatory framework for small, unmanned aerial systems. Titled Part 107, these new regulations created a new drone certification process that covers the majority of low-risk, commercial UAS flight operations for all commercially operated drones. Commercial refers to any kind of flight operation that can be tied to economic benefit. These new regulations were implemented on August 29, 2016.
Drones are a powerful solution for monitoring construction, documenting infrastructure on expansive sites, and capturing hard-to-reach details.
Mariner East 2 Pipeline Grant Opportunity
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the creation of a new water quality project grant program funded by the penalty assessed against the Mariner East 2 (MEII) Pipeline.
Grants will be awarded for projects that reduce or minimize pollution and protect clean water in the 85 municipalities along the length of the pipeline corridor.
Examples of eligible projects include:
- Projects to improve water quality while enhancing community recreational opportunities, such as restoration and enhancement of natural water resource features at community parks and public properties, including lake restoration and wetland creation.
- Projects to educate future generations about water resource protection, such as demonstration projects that showcase pervious pavement, stormwater runoff management features and systems, bioretention systems, constructed wetland complexes, stormwater runoff collection and reuse projects, stormwater mitigation projects that reduce rate and volume and improve water quality on a school or other public property.
- Projects to improve and/or protect public drinking water sources and infrastructure, such as repairs to drinking water system source facilities that improve resiliency of the water supply, including water supply dam rehabilitation work and upgrades, and repairs to water treatment infrastructure and water intakes.
- Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) projects to address rate, volume and/or sediment load, including flood-control project features and retrofits to existing stormwater runoff control infrastructure that reduce rate and volume of stormwater runoff.
- Projects that result in nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment load reductions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed and impaired waters, including stream buffers, stream restoration projects, wetland restoration or enhancement projects.
- Projects that result in water quality improvements in DEP Priority Watersheds and Impaired Watersheds within the 85 municipalities.
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the creation of a new water quality project grant program funded by the penalty assessed against the Mariner East 2 (MEII) Pipeline. Grants will be awarded for projects that reduce or minimize pollution and protect clean water in the 85 municipalities along the length of the pipeline corridor. These grants will be directed to the municipalities to eliminate pollution and protect the public from unsafe dams, water obstructions, and encroachments.
In February, DEP collected the $12.6 million penalty for permit violations related to the construction of the project. The penalty, one of the largest collected in a single settlement, was deposited into the Clean Water Fund and the Dams and Encroachments Fund, in accordance with the provisions of the Clean Streams Law and the Dam Safety and Encroachments Act.
Eligible grant applicants include the 85 municipalities, county conservation districts, incorporated watershed associations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations along the length of the MEII Pipeline.
The 45-day grant application round will open May 7 and close June 21. DEP anticipates announcing the approved projects in the summer of 2018.
For more information about the Program
- Eligible applicants can apply via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Electronic Single Application website.
- Mariner East II Pipeline Webpage
- Questions should be directed to R. Scott Carney, Chief Watershed Support Section, 717-783-2944.
2018 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence
Spotts, Stevens and McCoy as a proud partner with Berks County Water and Sewer Association is excited to announce that the Berks County Source Water Protection Program was a 2018 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence recipient.
Lyn O'Hare | SSM and Shannon Rossman | Berks County Planning Commission
Berks County Source Water Protection Program
Spotts, Stevens and McCoy as a proud partner with Berks County Water and Sewer Association, is excited to announce that the Berks County Source Water Protection Program was a 2018 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence recipient. The program incorporates new and existing protection zones to maintain safe drinking water in Berks County, identifying possible sources of contamination for both surface water and groundwater. The program combines education and water quality improvements to the Schuylkill River and Chesapeake Bay Watersheds. The program promotes the “One Water” concept, which integrates source water protection with the reduction of stormwater and wastewater impacts.
The Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence are awarded each year by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Each year the Governor’s Awards for Environmental Excellence provide statewide recognition to businesses and organizations involved in a cross-section of environmental initiatives from cleaning up watersheds, saving energy, eliminating pollution, reducing waste and more. The awards highlight those projects that promote innovative technological advances, partnerships, public service and environmental outreach as well as encourage pollution prevention, demonstrate economic impact or employ innovative technology.
Brian Hassinger, PE joins SSM as Sr. Project Manager
Brian Hassinger, PE joins Spotts, Stevens and McCoy as a Sr. Project Manager in the Water/Wastewater Engineering and Operations department.
Spotts, Stevens and McCoy (SSM) welcomes Brian Hassinger, PE as Senior Project Manager to the firm’s Water and Wastewater Engineering and Operations department. Mr. Hassinger brings 35 years of civil and water/wastewater design, engineering, operations and management experience to SSM.
Hassinger will be providing client management, project management and operations management support and engineering expertise to SSM’s extensive water/wastewater and municipal client base. His focus will be maintaining and expanding existing client relationships, helping our clients identify opportunities to increase the efficiency of their operations, fostering new relationships and actively representing and promoting the firm across the water, wastewater and municipal arenas.
Spotts, Stevens and McCoy is a family-owned regional engineering, environmental, and surveying firm serving local and global clients. SSM offers extraordinary experience in the planning, design, and construction management of wastewater and water systems, piping systems, pumping stations, and treatment plants.
Our work touches everyday life; from the water you drink, to the air you breathe, to the buildings and communities where you live, work and play.