Chemical Safety in Water/Wastewater Treatment Facilities
SE AWWA - Chemical Safety session provides participants with recommendations on conducting Safety Planning and Hazard Communication activities.
SE AWWA Fall Conference
Darryl Jenkins, PE | Vice President Civil and Environmental Engineering presents 'Chemical Safety in Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities' providing participants with recommendations on conducting Safety Planning and Hazard Communication activities.
Chemical Handling
Recommendations on conducting Safety Planning and Hazard Communication activities.
Berks County Water and Sewer Association Annual Conference
Darryl Jenkins, PE | Vice President Civil and Environmental Engineering presents 'Chemical Safety in Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities' providing participants with recommendations on conducting Safety Planning and Hazard Communication activities.
Sam Zook, SIT Receives Certification as Drone Pilot
Sam Zook, SIT is the third surveyor at SSM to receive certification as a Drone Pilot.
Sam Zook, SIT, Surveyor has received his certification as a FAA Certified Remote Pilot. Zook is one of three certified pilots at SSM. He is a 2009 graduate of Pennsylvania College of Technology.
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.
DEP Offers Funding for Stormwater Management Programs
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is offering grants up to $200,000 to local entities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed for stormwater management projects that implement best management practices (BMP) to reduce the amount of nutrients and sediment pollution in local waterways.
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Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is offering grants up to $200,000 to local entities in the Chesapeake Bay watershed for stormwater management projects that implement best management practices (BMP) to reduce the amount of nutrients and sediment pollution in local waterways.
The program is available to counties, cities, boroughs, townships, incorporated towns and municipal authorities. Stormwater projects must be located in Blair, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Luzerne, Lycoming and York counties.
“The department continues to work toward one of the top goals of this administration: improving local water quality and ultimately cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay,” said DEP Acting Secretary Patrick McDonnell. “This grant program achieves that by offering financial assistance to local governments that share in that goal and they are encouraged to apply as we work together in this important environmental initiative.”
Some examples of eligible projects include: raingardens, bio-swales, urban nutrient management/tree planting, vegetated open channels/roofs and wet ponds and wetland preservation. The projects can be located on public or private property.
Applicants can be eligible for grants of up to $200,000, and no local matching funds are required. Funding for the projects is competitive and the department will apply a scoring system when awarding the grant money. The application must include a description of the project and timetable for the work. Grant applications are due by March 3, 2017.
Please visit http://www.elibrary.dep.state.pa.us/dsweb/View/Collection-12545 for application instructions and eligibility. Other parties that wish to obtain funding for a stormwater project are encouraged to approach the eligible local entity where the project would be located and offer to assist with the project application and management.
The grant program is federally funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and administered by the department.
Grant monies will be awarded on September 1, 2017.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Mark Stabolepszy, PE Director Municipal Engineering and Planning
SSM Group, Inc. Announces Management Changes - Brian Kelly named President and CEO
SSM Group, Inc. recently announced a corporate management restructure. Brian R. Kelly has been named President and Chief Executive Officer of the firm. Kelly, who formerly served as the company’s Executive Vice President with responsibility of running the firm’s operations, replaces J. Carlton Godlove, II, who has left the company to pursue other interests.
Kelly is one of four McCoy family members who assumed control and management of the firm in 1996. Kelly has an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology from The Pennsylvania State University. Prior to joining the SSM management team, Kelly was employed at AT&T for more than 17 years in various roles. Kelly resides in Reading with his wife, Kay McCoy Kelly, who is a daughter of the company’s founder, Lewis J. McCoy, Sr. In a prepared statement, Kelly said, “I look forward to leading the company as we embark upon strategic growth and expansion. I am very proud of our exceptionally talented senior leadership team and all of our employees, and I am confident that, with their help and support, we will continue to grow the company and succeed at fulfilling our corporate mission – ‘Enhancing the quality of life for our clients, our employees, and all of the people touched by our work.’ Our work is so important because it touches this generation and future generations with a scope broader than we can imagine – and it leaves a legacy that will live far beyond us.”
“Approximately six months ago we appointed a team of independent professionals to work with us as members of an Advisory Board: Thomas A. Beaver, CPA, former managing partner at RKL; Patricia L. Langiotti, President of Creative Management Concepts; and Mike Shor, former executive with Carpenter. These Advisory Board members have played a key role in helping us plan for our future,” Kelly said.
Kelly also announced that shareholder, Patrick M. McCoy, PE, has been promoted to Executive Vice President. “Patrick will lead the company’s business development and sales and marketing efforts and he will be a strong right-hand man,” Kelly said. Patrick McCoy has been with the firm since 1996. He graduated from Drexel University, like his father, and holds Bachelor’s degrees in Civil Engineering and Architectural Engineering. McCoy formerly led the company’s Facilities and Site Engineering Division which provides services to worldwide companies such as IBM. Prior to joining SSM, he was with Ortega Consulting, Media, PA, and Gredell & Associates, Wilmington, DE.
Shareholder Lewis J. (Lou) McCoy, Jr. of Reading, who joined the firm in 1985, will continue in his role as Director of Human Resources.
Catherine (Kitty) Bell, who joined the firm in 2004, is being promoted to Divisional Vice President. Formerly the firm’s Vice President of Facility Engineering, she assumes an expanded role, with additional management responsibility for Site Engineering and Survey and Data Capture disciplines (formerly managed by Patrick McCoy). Bell resides in Reading, PA.
SSM Group, Inc. is an engineering and consulting firm founded by Lewis J. McCoy, Sr. in 1967. The company continues to be family owned and operated. Headquartered at 1047 North Park Road in Wyomissing with satellite offices in Harrisburg and the Lehigh Valley, SSM has just under 100 employees and provides services to various types of local, regional and national businesses that include commercial, industrial, manufacturing and telecommunications as well as healthcare and higher education institutions. The company also provides services to numerous local, regional, and county government entities. While the company’s primary market is a regional footprint including Berks County and the Lehigh Valley, SSM serves clients throughout PA and the Northeastern United States as well as to some international clients.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Brian Kelly, President and CEO
brian.kelly@ssmgroup.com | P: 610-621-2000
DEP Offers Funding for Projects to Improve Local Water Quality by Reducing Stormwater Runoff
Grant Opportunity: Municipalities, including cities, boroughs, or incorporated towns within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are eligible to apply.
Grants will fund urban stormwater best management practices in Chesapeake Bay Watershed
HARRISBURG, PA -- The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has opened a grant program to control urban stormwater and improve local water quality. Municipalities, including cities, boroughs, or incorporated towns within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are eligible to apply.
“Urban stormwater runoff has a big role in local water quality, it’s so important to manage that stormwater properly to prevent pollution from reaching our waterways,” said DEP Secretary John Quigley. “These grants will serve as a valuable tool to enable local governments to improve their urban stormwater management and ultimately, their water quality and that of their neighbors downstream.”
The grants will fund construction of urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs) to reduce the discharge of nutrients and sediments delivered to local waterways, and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay. Eligible projects include but are not limited to:
• Raingardens/bioretention
• Permeable pavement
• Urban stream restoration
• Urban tree planting
• Green roofs
• Wetlands and wet ponds
Projects must be complete within two years of grant award. Grants will be selected on a competitive basis.
The money for these grants is provided by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. There is $2,300,000 available for the grant program. The maximum funding amount per applicant is $200,000.
Projects cannot be associated with new development or for new detention basins. Projects must be within urbanized areas according to the latest Decennial Census in which National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit coverage is required for the discharge of stormwater from municipal separate storm sewer systems, or for discharges from combined sewer overflows through combined sewer systems.
Grant applications are due no later than October 9.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Dept. of Environmental Protection
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 308, Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg PA., 17120
CONTACT: Amanda Witman, DEP, 717-787-1323
CONTACT: Leif Rowles at lerowles@pa.gov or 717-783-2290.
SSM GROUP: Mark Stabolepszy, PE, Vice President Municipal Engineering and Planning
Katie Baltzley joins SSM Group, Inc.
Katie Baltzley joins SSM Group, Inc.
SSM Group, Inc., a multi-disciplined engineering and consulting firm based in Reading PA, welcomes Katie Baltzley as a GIS Technician in the Water Resources Department. Baltzley will be responsible for creating and managing GIS data in support of a variety of environmental, municipal, and industrial projects including producing maps and customized GIS applications for our Water Resources, Source Water Protection, and Comprehensive Planning projects. She received her BA degree in Geography from Millersville University.
David Morgan, RLA Named Chair PA State Board of Landscape Architects
David Morgan, RLA, Regional Vice President for SSM Group, Inc. has been appointed chair of the Pennsylvania State Board of Landscape Architects.
“The balance of beautiful outdoor spaces and technically-sound designs depends on the expertise of Landscape Architects and the work of the licensing board is essential in maintaining the high quality of professionally-licensed Landscape Architects in the Commonwealth.”
David Morgan, RLA, Regional Vice President for SSM Group, Inc. has been appointed chair of the Pennsylvania State Board of Landscape Architects.
As a professional member of the State Board of Landscape Architects, Mr. Morgan will participate in regulating the licensure and registration of landscape architects in order to promote the general welfare and safeguard the life, health and property of citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mr. Morgan was appointed to the board in 2012 by Tom Corbett, former Governor of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Morgan has over 26 years of landscape architecture and land development planning experience. In his current role, he serves as the Central Pennsylvania Regional Vice President for SSM Group, Inc., a multidiscipline consulting engineering and planning firm, headquartered in Reading, PA.
Mr. Morgan is responsible for the day-to-day business operations of the firm’s Harrisburg office along with managing all phases of landscape architecture and site design for the firm from conceptual design and master planning through production of construction documents and presentations to governmental agencies. His experience includes subdivision planning, storm water management, and land development planning; recreation facility planning; site design; grading; landscaping; soil erosion and sediment control; site construction inspections; NPDES/NOI permit preparation; review and commentary of engineering plans for local government agencies and municipalities; PENNDOT Highway Occupancy Permits; feasibility studies, cost estimates, and securing project approvals.
He holds an A.S. in Commercial Arts & Design from Antonelli Institute of Art & Design and is a Registered Landscape Architect in Pennsylvania.
Scott Carl, Sr., joins SSM Group
Mr. Carl will direct the water and wastewater services for the firm including all aspects of water and wastewater engineering services, municipality and authority representation, water and wastewater treatment operations, treatment plant design, construction phase engineering, and regulatory compliance assistance.
SSM Group, Inc., a multi-disciplined engineering and consulting firm welcomed Scott Carl, Sr. as the Vice President Water and Wastewater Services. Mr. Carl will direct the water and wastewater services for the firm including all aspects of water and wastewater engineering services, municipality and authority representation, water and wastewater treatment operations, treatment plant design, construction phase engineering, and regulatory compliance assistance.
Mr. Carl has more than 28 years of experience in the engineering and consulting industry; his experience includes project management and construction management for water and wastewater systems including treatment plants, pre-treatment facilities, source water facilities, pumping stations, residuals handling, water storage, transmission, distribution, and collection systems, SCADA and telemetry systems, automatic metering systems and operation and maintenance programs.
SSM Group, Inc. serves government, education, healthcare, industrial, and commercial clients in Pennsylvania, across the United States and in the Caribbean. SSM offers extraordinary experience in the planning, design, and construction management of wastewater and water systems, piping systems, pumping stations, and treatment plants. We offer solutions for tomorrow through far-sighted water and sewer infrastructure and environmental planning. When it comes to managing and protecting water resources, SSM is the authority that everyone turns to.