SynTerra hosts week-long course on constructed wetlands
SynTerra, along with co-sponsor Diamond V, hosted an international group in the Innovate Building Conference Center for a week-long short course on the use of constructed wetlands for water quality improvement. The program was led by Dr. John H. Rodgers, Jr., an internationally recognized expert in the use of these special wetlands to improve water quality. The group participated in classroom activities, design problem solutions, and engaged in two field trips to observe operating wetlands.
Carlton Owen receives honor
State Energy Office presents to the Greenville Chamber of Commerce
The South Carolina Energy Office presented to the Greenville Chamber Environmental Issues Committee. To view the slides from the presentation, click the image to the right.
Carlton Owen joins SynTerra’s board.
SynTerra Corp., Greenville, S.C. has added Carlton Owen as its first non-employee member of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Owen is President and CEO of the U.S. Endowment for Forestry and Communities -- www.usendowment.org -- a national not-for-profit organization based in Greenville. For 35 years, he has been at the forefront of conservation innovation. A forester and wildlife biologist, Owen holds degrees in forestry and wildlife ecology from Mississippi State University. As an environmental policy consultant in The Environmental Edge, LLC that he founded and headed for six years, he succeeded at "bringing business and the environment together" to benefit both. He is a former Executive Director of the Sustainable Forestry Board, Inc.; Vice President -- Forest Policy, Champion International Corporation; Supervisor, Forestry Environmental Affairs, Potlatch Corporation; and Executive Director, Mississippi Wildlife Federation. He is co-creator of Acres for America, a 10-year $35 million partnership between Wal-Mart and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation that has led to more than 500,000 acres in conservation lands to off-set Wal-Mart’s U.S. development footprint nearly three-fold. Owen offers governance experience in both for-profit and non-profit organizations and brings his extensive forest products and not-for profit experience to to SynTerra.
Mark Taylor, President of SynTerra said, “We are delighted that Carlton accepted the invitation to share his expertise with us. The unanimous vote of support from our shareholders speaks to our expectation his expertise will strengthen to our strategic planning as we position our company to serve our clients in the future.”
SynTerra's Kathy Webb is featured in Brownfield Renewal magazine!
Kathy Webb is one of only four individuals from the southeast that are featured in a profile in the magazine. The article, written by Steve Dwyer, covers four of the southeast's premier environmental professionals. It is a great honor for us to include such a highly regarded member of the environmental community on our staff. To read the article, click HERE.
Greenhouse Gas Inventory Projects Underway!
SynTerra is in the midst of helping several clients evaluate their "carbon footprints". SynTerra is currently performing detailed greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories for two separate clients' manufacturing operations, one in South Carolina and one in North Carolina. These facilities are developing the GHG Emissions Inventories under the U.S. EPA Mandatory Reporting Rule. SynTerra has designed customized Excel spreadsheets to enable efficient and complete capture of necessary data and to facilitate calculations. For more information on our GHG project capabilities, contact Eric Snider at 864.527.4671.
EPA Soliciting Applications for Environmental Justice Grant Funding
(ATLANTA – Nov. 5, 2009) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is accepting grant applications for a total of $1 million in funding for projects aimed at addressing environmental and public health issues in communities. EPA expects to award approximately 40 grants of up to $25,000 each and will accept applications until January 8, 2010. Local governments and non-profit organizations are eligible to apply.
The goals of the Environmental Justice Grant Funding Program are to help communities understand and address environmental challenges and create self-sustaining, community-based partnerships focused on improving human health and the environment. Past projects have focused on issues including exposure to toxins, farm worker pesticide protection, mercury in fish, indoor air quality, drinking water contamination, and pollution from shipping ports.
In addition to the traditional criteria, EPA is encouraging applications that address the disproportionate impacts of climate change in communities by emphasizing climate equity, energy efficiency, renewable energy, local green economy, and green jobs capacity building.
Since 1994, EPA has provided more than $32 million in general funding to more than 1,100 community-based organizations.
For information on eligibility and application materials: http://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-smgrants.html
SynTerra has received certification by U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)
as a Federal Supply Schedule provider
in the Environmental Special Item Number Program.
SynTerra’s GSA Contract Number: GS-10F-0013W
SynTerra holds the following contracts:
SIN 891-1 Environmental Consulting Services
SIN 891-3 Environmental Training Services
SIN 891-7 GIS Services
SynTerra is pleased to announce that Charlie Isham has joined the firm!
SynTerra welcomes Charlie Isham as a Senior Consultant. Charlie holds an undergraduate degree in civil engineering and graduate degree in civil/environmental engineering from Tennessee Technological University.
For over 28 years Charlie has been serving the consulting profession with his specialties including Business Development, Client Relations, and Program and Project Management for high profile clients.
Anderson County hosts public meeting
SynTerra client, Anderson County, is applying to US EPA for a cleanup grant to support cleanup activities at the Riverside and Toxaway Mill sites. As part of the grant application process, the County hosted a public input meeting at the Anderson Alternative School on October 8, 2009. View the slide set and a video of the presentation below.
SynTerra serves as the County’s consultant for the Phase II assessment activities at these historic sites.
Anderson County Receives SC DHEC Approval for two SynTerra Reports
Our client, Anderson County, has received approval of two Phase II Assessment Reports prepared by SynTerra (Riverside Mill site and Toxaway Mill site) under the Voluntary Cleanup Program. This step clears the way for application for a cleanup grant from US EPA, which will be submitted October 16. A public meeting for input on the grant application will be held October 8 at 6 PM at the Anderson Alternative School, located at 805 East Whitner Street in Anderson, and is open to the public. Contact the Anderson County Planning Division (864-260-4720) for more information.
SynTerra and Anderson County to Host Public Outreach for Toxaway and Riverside Mills Brownfield Cleanup Updates... and Prepare for Future Grant Opportunities
SynTerra will join the Anderson County Planning Division in hosting a community outreach forum on Tuesday, September 22nd at 6PM to discuss updates for the on-going Toxaway and Riverside Mills' Brownfield Revitalization projects. The event will take place at the Anderson Alternative School, located at 805 East Whitner Street in Anderson, and is open to the public.
For more information, please contact the Anderson County Planning Division at (864) 260-4720. CLICK HERE to view a brochure describing the Brownfields process and activities at these sites. Anderson County personnel along with SynTerra participated in a webinar to learn details of upcoming Brownfields grant opportunities on September 17, 2009. CLICK HERE for photos of the Anderson County feed of the webinar and HERE for a fact sheet on the grant program. The goal of those attending the webinar was to learn how to best prepare applications for grants from the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to maximize the County's success and to secure funds for future County projects.
SynTerra at the "Green is Good for Business" Conference
SynTerra was prominent at the "Green is Good for Business" Conference in Columbia on Tuesday, September 1. In addition to providing an exhibit that included our "green" services, SynTerra's Eric Snider delivered a technical paper. His paper described the development and implementation of an Environmental Management System (EMS) for a client's office setting.
SynTerra announces new PE
SynTerra is pleased to announce that Martin Bowen has received his Professional Engineers License in South Carolina. Mr. Bowen has four years of experience while working with SynTerra after graduating with a masters degree in Civil Engineering-Applied Fluid Mechanics from Clemson University. His work with SynTerra involves both design and project management. He has worked and coordinated with clients of both government and private organizations. His design experience includes pump stations, stream relocations, site grading, and storm drainage detention. His service experience includes project coordination as well as state and local government permitting for storm water, construction, and encroachment. Mr. Bowen is an active member of the Water Environment Association of South Carolina where he currently serves on the Education Committee for the local branch and on an ad hoc storm water committee at the state level.
SynTerra is certified "green" by StampedGreen.com.
Continuing our theme of "We practice what we preach", SynTerra has been certified as an environmentally "green" firm by StampedGreen.com. Click the image to see our Stamped Green profile.
SynTerra client Holcim wins national award.
Holcim's Holly Hill, South Carolina plant has won the Environmental Performance Award at the Eighth Annual Cement Industry Environment and Energy Awards, presented by Portland Cement Association (PCA) and Cement Americas magazine at PCA's Spring Meeting in Chicago, April 28, 2009. For details go to: Environmental and Energy Awards
SynTerra congratulates Holcim on this impressive award. SynTerra has been pleased and honored to provide environmental and related professional services to Holcim's Holly Hill location for more than 15 years.
SynTerra Celebrates Earth Day with a Sustainability Client
Earth Day provides an opportunity for SynTerra to showcase our environmental engineering and science services. For Earth Day 2009, there’s no better way to “do the right thing” for the environment than through the medium of sustainability.
During 2008 and early 2009, SynTerra performed a detailed sustainability assessment for a local Greenville branch of a Fortune 100 services company that wanted to “green up the Greenville operation”. The sustainability assessment resulted in more than 40 initiatives that the branch is implementing (more on this in another News announcement!)
To celebrate Earth Day 2009, the local branch invited SynTerra to join their employees at their offices for a lunchtime exhibition. More than 100 attended the event, which focused on steps the local branch as well as individual employees can make in recycling and conserving.
SynTerra joins Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce
SynTerra has recently become an active member in the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce. “This action recognizes the importance of our expanding client relationships in Anderson County and surrounding areas,” said Mark Taylor, President of SynTerra.
“Our recent win of a Brownfields Assessment project for Anderson County involves activities at two old mill sites, and is a great example of our commitment to the Anderson area,” said Kathy Webb, Principal.
SynTerra is active in the Chamber’s Water Issues Committee and has been invited to provide a lunchtime seminar on sustainability issues in manufacturing for the Chamber’s Plant Managers’ Roundtable.
Synterra participates in Engineer's Week 2009 at Mauldin Middle School:
SynTerra named "Small Business of the Year" at Greenville Chamber annual meeting
SynTerra Corporation was recognized as the Small Business of the Year at the Greenville Chamber of Commerce120th Annual Meeting Thursday night (January 5, 2009). SynTerra won the award over eleven other small businesses vying for the title. The twelve had each been selected as Small Businesses of the Month during 2008 by the Greenville Chamber.
"We are excited and humbled in recieving this award", said SynTerra President Mark Taylor. "As an engineering and environmental firm, our two strongest attributes are our employees and our clients." According to Taylor, SynTerra's focus on "practicing what we preach" has caused both staff and clients to feel that SynTerra really does make a difference on the job and in the community.
As examples, Taylor cited the firm's conversion of four fleet vehicles to hybrids and an annual "public service day" in which the entire group spent a day upgrading areas of the Conestee Park. He commented that SynTerra participated in the Brownfields redevelopment of the Innovate building in Greenville's West End, providing environmental services for the building that is now the firm's home. Taylor added that several SynTerra staff contribute numerous hours on the boards of service and charitable groups, including the American Red Cross,Boy Scouts,and Habitat for Humanity.
Brownfields Assessment Project Awarded to SynTerra by Anderson County
Anderson County has announced the award of a Brownfields Assessment project to SynTerra. The project focuses attention on two closed former textile mill sites, the Riverside Mill site and the Toxaway Mill site. Kathy Webb, SynTerra’s Principal in charge of the project, stated, “We appreciate very much the confidence Anderson County has placed in our team in selecting us for this exciting project. We look forward to using our talents and experience to provide the County with the best in assessment, planning, and community relations skills.”
Anderson County has been awarded a $400,000 grant from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) through the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) Brownfields Assessment initiative, and this grant includes the project awarded to SynTerra.
The Riverside Mill site has been cleared of site debris, and a groundwater monitoring network exists as a result of past assessment activities. The Toxaway Mill site soon will be cleared of site debris in preparation for SynTerra’s site activities.
SynTerra will complete assessment activities, including preparation of a Quality Assessment Project Plan (QAPP), a Health and Safety Plan, and a Work Plan. SynTerra’s assignment also includes participation in community outreach activities to keep local residents and other stakeholders informed. SynTerra’s duties also include periodic reporting to the US EPA Region 4 office in Atlanta.
Within the past 10 years, SynTerra has completed more than 25 Brownfields projects in South Carolina, with more than 10 located at textile mill sites similar to the ones in the current assignment.
Client Relationships are the Focus at SynTerra
The focus of everything we do at SynTerra is our clients, client relationships, and strengthening SynTerra through even stronger client interactions. This focus was punctuated well as SynTerra held its annual organization and planning retreat on Friday, October 17, 2008. Throughout the day, SynTerra personnel and client guests participated. Our guests discussed with us a variety of projects and the client relationships that generated success for both SynTerra and our clients. Three clients, representing private development, industrial processing operations, and the government sector shared their observations.
The session included a tour of the Acadia neighborhood in Greenville. Our client, Caleb Freeman, developer of Acadia, gave a walking tour of the environmentally friendly planned community. The remainder of the day was spent at Acadia’s River House meeting facility. Caleb provided a summary of SynTerra’s project work in civil and related engineering associated with his Acadia development. Caleb discussed the range of services performed by our team. These services have included master plan development, wetlands delineation, flood plain permitting, road/water/sewer designs, stormwater management design, grading plans for the Village Center, major sanitary sewer lift station engineering, construction-phase observation, and miscellaneous environmental permitting.
Susan Harrison, on behalf of Greenville County, related her experience with consultants and especially the benefits that have come from the relationship the County has developed with SynTerra. Susan’s message was that engineering service providers should always respond directly to a request from the County, but should also share additional experience and approaches that may save the County time, money, or achieve a higher quality final product.
Richard McKinley of SPF USA in Greenwood, manufacturer of pet food palatability enhancers, shared his experience in opening the new manufacturing facility and SynTerra’s continuing role at the site as operations there evolve. Richard’s message to SynTerra was to remember that SPF hires engineering consultants because of our expertise, but the job also involves putting matters in “plain English” so non-engineers can relate the information to management and others.
SynTerra is grateful to these clients who helped us sharpen our focus on our clients and client relationships.
SynTerra is the Greenville Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Month!!!
SynTerra is please to announce that the Greenville Chamber of Commerce has selected SynTerra has the Small Business of the Month for the month of May in 2008.
Congratulations to everyone that makes SynTerra so great!
SynTerra's Taylor Addresses Mining Association on Wetlands Topics!
Mark Taylor recently presented SynTerra project experience with wetlands permitting for large-scale mining projects to the annual Mining Association of South Carolina workshop. The talk emphasized the value of integrating wetlands permitting and mine planning during the process of developing a new mine or quarry. Projects that involve relocation of a mile-long segment of stream for Holcim (US) Inc. in South Carolina and development of an 1,800-acre limestone quarry by Houston American Cement in Georgia were discussed as examples. In the Georgia example, careful wetland and stream planning conducted in conjunction with mine and reclamation planning led to a comprehensive plan for relocation of five miles of streams that has been accepted by the regulatory community.
Synterra and The Cliffs at Keowee Springs Wellness Village!
SynTerra is please to announce that we are the site design engineer for The Cliffs at Keowee Springs Wellness Village.
SynTerra was recently named one of the "top places to work" in South Carolina. Now, with the announcement that the firm has qualified for the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Commendation of Excellence award for 2007, SynTerra can aptly be called "one of the safest places to work" as well. The Chamber award is made to qualifying firms with a commendable safety record for the year.SynTerra maintains health and safety records and data related to two Federal programs, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA).
A key to SynTerra's success in safety is employee involvement and commitment and a vigorous training program, including monthly seminars on health and safety matters. The Chamber will honor the companies who have qualified for the award at a Safety Awards luncheon in March.
SynTerra is pleased to announce that Howard Frank, P.G. has joined the firm!
SynTerra welcomes Howard Frank to our team. Howard holds a Bachelor's degree in geology from the University of Massachusetts and a Masters in geology from Boston College. He has over 14 years of environmental project experience and is a Registered Professional Geologist in South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia.
His specialties include groundwater modeling, soil and groundwater assessment, Phase I and II Environmental Site Assessments, and solid waste landfill assessments.
SynTerra is pleased to announce that Brandon Russo has joined the firm!
SynTerra welcomes Brandon Russo to our team. Brandon holds a geomatics degree from Greenville Technical College. He has more than six years of land surveying and construction project management experience.
His specialties include civil design for roadways, land surveying including calculations and stakeout for roadway and bridges, use of geographic information systems and global positioning systems for surveying and engineering, use of computer models , and highway design related to stormwater systems and erosion control.
Starting the New Year "GREEN"!
When SynTerra set goals for performance for the New Year, "staying green" was a top priority. To make this goal a reality, SynTerra has added three fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles to the company fleet and retired three older vehicles.
"We want to practice what we preach", says company president, Mark Taylor. "Our fleet of vehicles is used daily for projects around the upstate, where the great gas mileage and reduced emissions are helping reduce our local carbon footprint." According to Taylor, the fleet is also used for wider-ranging project work throughout the southeast. SynTerra begins 2008 with three new gas-electric hybrid vehicles added to the company's fleet. On average, these vehicles will get twice the miles-per-gallon of the three vehicles being retired.
The move to "green" vehicles continues SynTerra's commitment to setting a high environmental standard for the firm. That commitment took hold several years ago when SynTerra performed environmental assessment for the Brownfields renovation of a local building at Camperdown Way and River Street. That building became "Innovate", a showcase for renewal of older urban properties in West Greenville. SynTerra's offices are now located in the renovated building, and the firm is a part owner of the facility. "With our commitment to Brownfields renovations and a fuel-efficient fleet already in place, we continue to look for ways to improve our own environmental performance," says Taylor.
For more information on SynTerra's commitment to the environment, contact Eric Snider at 864.527.4671.
SynTerra Volunteers for Lake Conestee Nature Park!
On Friday, October 5, the employees of SynTerra, spent the day building improvements to the new Lake Conestee Nature Park. The volunteer work, performed in conjunction with SynTerra's annual planning retreat, included construction of a trailhead staircase and kiosk at the Belmont Fire Station in Conestee, as well as installation of benches, water gauges, and other features designed to enhance the educational and recreational value of the park.
See WYFF's coverage of our work below!
Lake Conestee Nature Park preserves wetlands and a stretch of the Reedy River that was once a blighted area in an historic mill village. It has been designed to provide educational opportunities about restoration of environmentally contaminated areas and indicators of healthy stream and wetland systems. The park is the southern terminus of a greenway of parks that would extend north downtown Greenville and on to Furman University.
Native plant landscaping at the trailhead will be dedicated to the memory of Caine Halter, the community leader who died of cancer in August. Halter was the managing partner of a group including SynTerra and several of its principals, who restored an old textile-era structure on River Street into the INNOVATE building.
Funding for the kiosk, stairs and benches has been provided through a conservation grant obtained by the Foothills Paddling Club from American Whitewater and Clif Bars Flowing Rivers campaign. The grant program is designed to assist local canoe and kayaking enthusiasts improve and enhance both river access and conservation in their communities. This grant recognizes the important water quality improvements that the Lake Conestee system provides to the Reedy River.
In addition to community service, SynTerra's retreat turns the organization upside down, placing younger employees in leadership roles on the project. In addition to performing work directly related to its brownfields restoration business, every employee experiences the company from a perspective that differs from typical assignments.
SynTerra Team hard at work!
Joe Barron elected to the National Board of Directors of the Association of Conservation Engineers!
SynTerra's Joe Barron was elected to the National Board of Directors of the Association of Conservation Engineers at the national conference in Missoula, Montana on September 19, 2007. The Association of Conservation Engineers is a professional organization of engineers who work with the natural environment and promote the application of sound engineering practices to the field of natural resource protection and recreation development.
Sabrina Arledge invited to be on Spartanburg Community College's Advisory Committee!
On August 24, 2007 Sabrina Arledge was invited to become a part of the Spartanburg Community College's Advisory Committee, Engineering Department. She accepted the invitation, and will meet with the board for the first time on September 24, 2007. As part of the board, Sabrina will give valuable input to the college about workforce requirements for present and future students.
Holcim (US) Inc. Acquires Hardaway Concrete of South Carolina
HOLCIM (US) INC. recently acquired Hardaway Concrete Company Inc. and Hardaway Concrete Company Upstate Inc., leading suppliers of ready mixed concrete for residential, commercial, transportation, and speciality construction projects in the Columbia and Greenville, South Carolina markets. The acquisition aligns with Holcim's strategic objectives to expand operations in its attractive Carolina market.
Hardaway operates seven ready mixed concrete facilities in Columbia and three in Greenville. It employs over 170 people, utilizing a delivery fleet of 82 active mixer trucks. It also has two mobile plants that can be assembled on-site to serve large projects outside the business's primary markets. In 2006, the Hardaway supplied over 500,000 cubic yards of ready mixed concrete.
SYNTERRA provides wetlands, groundwater, mine permitting, wastewater, RCRA, property transfer, and due diligence services to Holcim in South Carolina.
Construction Begins on the City of Greenville Reedy River Greenway Trail
The City of Greenville is preparing to sign the contract for construction of the Reedy River Greenway Trail designed by SynTerra. The plan includes a 13 foot wide paved pedestrian and bike trail from Cleveland Park to Faris Road. The main trail includes a 100 foot bridge across the Reedy River behind the YMCA. Spur trails were also designed to the Y, the Friends of the Reedy Tract and to Heritage Hills. SynTerra also designed a 10 foot wide walk & bikeway along Faris Road and Cleveland Street to connect the trail to Greenville Tech.
Acadia Phase II Begins
Acadia, a unique residential community along the Saluda River in Greenville County, has completed the basic road and infrastructure for Phase I. Houses, the recreation center, soccer field and pool are under construction. SynTerra provided civil engineering, wetlands delineation and permitting, and construction observation for this project. SynTerra has just completed the design for Phase II with 116 more lots which have been submitted to the various regulatory authorities for review.
SynTerra staff member takes rock hounding to new depths!
SynTerra's Brian Sakofsky has been awarded a Sara Corrie Memorial Fund grant for his cave exploration through the Active Cave Explorers Society (ACES). The grant was awarded by the US National Cave Exploration Committee of the National Speleological Society. Brian intends to continue to lead the ACES in exploring and mapping a cave in the Chattanooga, TN area, and will use the grant money for expedition equipment. Brian also hopes to discover a structural fault within the cave and locate a vertical dome-pit that could rival the vertical length of any other in the US. Our congratulations and best wishes go to Brian in this endeavor.
SynTerra welcomes Kevin Morrisey
SynTerra is pleased to welcome aboard Kevin Morrisey. Kevin holds a civil engineering degree with an emphasis in environmental engineering from the University of Missouri- Rolla. He brings to the company more than five years of engineering experience with over four years in transportation engineering at the Florida Department of Transportation, where he graduated the PE Trainee program. Kevin has completed internships with the Doe Run Company in Viburnum, MO where he worked on civil and environmental engineering projects for the lead mines. While at the university he participated in research on wetland design and concentrated animal feed operations lagoons. At SynTerra he is focusing on engineering of landfills for pulp and paper clients and operation and reclamation plans for mining clients.
SPF -USA Construction Underway
SynTerra's valued client, SPF-USA, is building a new manufacturing plant in Greenwood, South Carolina. The plant will produce pet food "palatizers" that will make pet foods tasty for our furry friends. The photo below shows the steel superstructure of the manufacturing plant as of mid-April, showcased by Olivier Lavorel, SPF-USA's project manager. SPF-USA is a subsidiary of SPF-Diana, based in Elven, France. SynTerra has provided a variety of environmental and related services to SPF-USA on this project, including site civil services (grading plans, stormwater and erosion control plans, and water and sewer plans), air emissions estimates and construction permit application package preparation, evaluation of Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) documents for conformance with All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) requirements, and wastewater evaluation, management, and permitting. SynTerra continues to host Olivier Lavorel in our suite of offices, where he manages the site construction.
SynTerra congratulates the City of Union for their
recent award of a Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $500,000
The
grant is earmarked for the completion of environmental remediation of the former
Union Mill near the heart of downtown. The property was also the 2006 South Carolina
Brownfields Pheonix award nominee. The former Union Mill, which operated from
the late 1800's to the 1900's, was once the community's principal employer, and
is surrounded by a traditional mill village located in the center of the City,
a block off downtown Main Street. The mill was destroyed in a fire in 1998. After
the fire, the site was covered with debris and rubble. During 2004 and 2005, the
City cleared the site. The property and retention pond currently resemble a Greenfield
primed for redevelopment. However, even though the area is no longer unsightly,
it still poses an environmental hazard to nearby residents and the drainage basin.
Following remediation, the City anticipates future uses of the property could
include elderly housing, commercial, recreational, and/or greenspace. Once again,
SynTerra congratulates the City of Union on its accomplishments and is proud to
be a partner on this project.
Houston American Cement Announcement
Houston
American Cement (HAC) announced its $200 million investment in a greenfield cement
plant and quarry near Hayneville, Georgia. At a March 23rd press conference featuring
Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, HAC introduced Dan Fritz, president of Votorantim
Cimentos North America, to the community. Votorantim Cimentos will be the
operating partner in HAC. SynTerra is providing wetlands, protected species, geology,
and mining consulting to the Votorantim permitting team. The mine is expected
to begin production in late 2007, and the cement manufacturing plant will commence
operation in early 2009.
Ruth Albright speaks at an Environmental
Issues Committee meeting for the Greater Greenville Chamber of Commerce
At
the February, 2007 Environmental Issues Committee meeting for the Greater Greenville
Chamber of Commerce, Ruth Albright presented a summary status regarding the Ambient
Air Monitoring Network system review currently underway by SC DHEC. Due to a regulatory
change in October 2006, the agency is conducting an assessment of the existing
monitoring network and preparing a plan to modify the network to meet the new
monitoring requirements contained in the new regulation. Phil Conner followed
with a discussion of the status of the lawsuit by the Upstate Counties and several
Chamber of Commerce organization against EPA regarding the "unclassifiable" designation
for the Upstate for PM 2.5. A lively discussion followed regarding the network
review and how the committee members should or may proceed with participating
in the stakeholder and comment process for the proposed changes.
SynTerra to host Chapter Networking Reception for the South Carolina Chapter of the National Brownfield Associations in the historic Innovate Building!
Guest speakers will include:
Greenville Mayor Knox White
National Brownfield Associations Executive Director Robert Colangelo
Conestee Foundation Co-Founder David Hargett
The event will be located in the Innovate Building, a lead building in the brownfield redevelopment of downtown Greenville, along the Reedy River waterfront.
For more information see the official invitation below.
ROCK HILL, SC, BROWNFIELDS PROJECTS HIGHLIGHTED BY THE
US EPA AS ONE OF 'THE MOST CREATIVE SOLUTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY'
The City of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Economic Development Corporation (RHEDC) has been highlighted by the US EPA in a recent Brownfields publication for its creative solutions in revitalizing numerous former textile mills. SynTerra would like to congratulate RHEDC and the City of Rock Hill for its accomplishments. We have been proud to be a member of your team. Please see
http://www.epa.gov/brownfields/policy/initiatives_sb.htm#mill
for the complete story.
Below are some Arcade Mill "Before" pictures. We're looking forward to great "After" photos in the near future. Currently all the hazardous materials, drums, containers, asbestos, lead-based paint, transformers and dangerous building debris have been cleared from the site. The City hopes to keep the stack in remembrance of the history of the mill and its value to the community.
SynTerra Client SPF-USA Holds Groundbreaking
A valued SynTerra client, SPF-USA, held groundbreaking ceremonies for its new facility in Greenwood County on Friday, December 1, 2006. SPF-USA will produce pet food palatizers at the plant. Palatizers are the liquids and powders applied to 'kibble' to make the pet food appetizing to cats and dogs. The manufacturing plant will ultimately employ approximately 80 personnel. In addition, SPF-USA will add a 'Panelis' to the complex, a special animal-friendly area where cats and dogs will live and 'work' at evaluating the various formulations.
SynTerra has provided a variety of environmental and related services to SPF-USA, including:
Site civil services, including grading plans, stormwater and erosion control plans, and water and sewer plans.
Air emissions estimates and construction permit application package development and interaction with SC DHEC.
Evaluation of previously completed Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) packages for completeness and status related to All Appropriate Inquiry (AAI) compliance
Wastewater evaluation, management, and permitting support.
In addition, SynTerra is pleased to be serving as host to Olivier Lavorel, SPF-USA's site manager for the plant construction. Olivier has relocated from Elven, France, and his office is in SynTerra's suite. "From the very first meeting, I had a good feeling about the SynTerra team. They bring real expertise, strong experience, and an effective and efficient approach. After working with SynTerra for some time, my initial feelings have been confirmed by their performance. They have been excellent partners on our team." reports Olivier.
Jeff Fowler, executive director of the Greenwood Partnership/Alliance
(left) looks on as members of the SPF-USA and contractor
teams formally break ground.
Jay Sanders, Ruth Albright, Ann Bowen (local Greenwood historian with an interest in the family
cemetery located on the SPF property), and Joe Barron were among the guests that attended the groundbreaking
With an expanding range of capabilities in our engineering and scientific
disciplines, the SynTerra team announces the addition of Chuck
Sherron, P.E.
A Clemson University graduate, Chuck is a registered professional
engineer with more than 30 years of engineering design, project
management, and business leadership experience. His experience
includes industrial site development planning and design,
solid waste management facility siting, design, permitting,
and closure, management of large multi-discipline designs
for industrial facilities, industrial environmental compliance
programs, and design of water, sewer, and wastewater treatment
systems.
