Greetings from Omaha

Things are busy here at Olsson-with new employees, training opportunities, compliance changes, and interesting projects. We hope this issue is full of items that are helpful to you.

 

This marks my final issue of Olsson's Perspectives. You'll continue to receive our monthly e-newsletter, but you'll be greeted with a new face starting in January. As I announced in our October issue, I will be stepping down as the Omaha region leader and Mike Piernicky will be taking over. I'll still be around, just working fewer hours.

 

As I reflect back on my seven years Olsson, I find myself very thankful - thankful for your business, your friendship, or your partnership on projects. Being only days away from Thanksgiving, this seems an appropriate time to say thank you.

 

From all of us at Olsson Associates, we wish you a happy Thanksgiving.  

 
Louis Lamberty, PE
Omaha Region Office Leader
402.938.2433 or
[email protected]
Olsson Gets USGBC Approval to Provide Continuing Education Training
  

Olsson Associates is the first Nebraska-based consulting firm to be approved by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) as an education provider. The USGBC provides LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification for buildings and neighborhoods and accreditation for LEED professionals. Initially, Olsson will provide three courses: LEED for Neighborhood Development, Omaha Stormwater Requirements...And Creative Ways to Address Them, and LEED Certified Designs and the Impact on MEP Systems.  READ MORE

 

The USGBC-approved courses that Olsson will be providing are designed for those who have recently passed the Green Associate exam or newer versions of the LEED AP exams and who qualify for the Green Building Certification Institute's (GBCI's) Credential Maintenance Program. To request training or more information, visit http://oaconsulting.com/ContinuingEd/ or contact Katie Underwood in Olsson's Omaha office, at 402.341.1116 or [email protected]. Training can be provided live or via webinar.

Featured Project: Renewable Food and Energy Project | Springfield, Missouri 

Generating Energy from Landfill Gasses
  
The City of Springfield and City Utilities of Springfield jointly owns and operates a 2.3 MW electric generation station fueled by methane gas from the city's Noble Hill Sanitary Landfill. Recently, the city was awarded a grant from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to investigate the potential for increasing efficiency and total quality of renewable energy available by using waste heat released from the generating station for beneficial use by heating a public/private commercial greenhouse.

Olsson and Sapp Design Associates, P.C., were selected to prepare a feasibility study to support a sustainable greenhouse operation. The Olsson team will evaluate how much heat and power can be generated from landfill gasses to provide a baseline to properly design the greenhouse and to establish expectations on what can be achieved as a sustainable program. READ MORE
Keith Tillotson Joins Olsson's Environmental Assessment Team
   
Keith Tillotson has joined Olsson Associates as a senior scientist for the firm's Environmental Assessment team. He brings experience performing environmental assessments, collecting research data, reviewing permit applications and conducting wetland delineation investigations.

Tillotson spent the first nine years of his career as a junior high school science teacher in Garden City, Kansas, then worked as a graduate research assistant in entomology at Kansas State University for the next four years. He went on to serve as a biologist with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Galveston, Texas, and later accepted a position as an environmental resource specialist for the Corps' Nebraska Regulatory Office in Kearney.


Tillotson has a B.S. in wildlife biology from Kansas State University, an M.S. in science education from the State University of New York-Albany and an M.S. in entomology from Kansas State University. He can be reached at 308.995.8706 or [email protected].
 
Understanding Compliance with Distribution Integrity Management Plans
By James Hoff, Golden Office

Natural gas supplies nearly one quarter of the energy used in the United States. In 2008, the U.S. consumed 23.2 trillion cubic feet, which is enough gas to fill the Empire State Building nearly 630 times. Natural gas reaches most of us in our homes and workplaces through the gas distribution system in our local community. More than two million miles of underground pipe are dedicated to this service.

 

The vast majority of the time, natural gas delivery goes unnoticed. Unfortunately, accidents do happen. The Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Agency (PHMSA) and its state designees (public service commissions, state fire marshals, etc.) oversee the safe operations of the nation's gas distribution systems.

Beginning with the Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2002, regulatory agencies are increasing their scrutiny of all gas distribution systems. The latest step in these efforts commences on August 2, 2011, when all natural gas distribution companies must be able to demonstrate compliance with the Distribution Integrity Management Program (DIMP) rules. 

READ MORE | SIGN UP FOR WEBINAR ON THIS TOPIC
  
Jeff Kratzke Chosen to Lead Landscape Architecture/Urban Planning Practice

Jeff Kratzke, RLA, ASLA, of Olsson's Phoenix office, has been named the leader of the firm's landscape architecture and urban planning (LAUP) practice.

In his 12 years at Olsson, Kratzke has helped build the landscape architecture and urban planning practice into a strong business unit that works with Olsson's multidisciplinary engineering staff on projects ranging from national park master plans to downtown revitalizations to location-sensitive roadway designs to municipal comprehensive plans.


In his new role, Kratzke will focus on strategy, business development, staffing and workloads for the entire landscape architecture/urban planning practice, which includes seven teams throughout the Southwest and Midwest. He also will have business development responsibilities for the practice.

READ MORE | LEARN ABOUT THE LAUP PRACTICE
 
Help Decide Where Our 2010 Holiday Donation Should Go
  
Each year, we make a holiday donation in honor of our clients and project partners in lieu of giving gifts. Last year, Olsson Associates made a contribution to Charity: Water, the leading charity for clean, safe water and sanitation in Africa and Asia.
 
This year, we'd like your help determining where our gift will go. 

 
Please VOTE HERE for:


The Arbor Day Foundation - This organization inspires people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.


The National Audubon Society - The organization's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the Earth's biological diversity.

Engineers Without Borders - EWB-USA helps create a more stable and prosperous world by addressing people's basic human needs by providing necessities such as clean water, power, sanitation, and education.

 
Water for People - Water for People helps people in developing countries improve quality of life by supporting the development of locally sustainable drinking water resources, sanitation facilities, and hygiene education programs.  


Habitat for Humanity - Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, the organization has built or rehabilitated more than 350,000 houses, providing shelter for more than 1.75 million people in nearly 90 countries around the world. 

 
We'll announce the winner in our December e-newsletter/holiday message.

In This Issue
Olsson Gets USGBC Approval to Provide Continuing Education Training
Featured Project: Renewable Food and Energy Project
Keith Tillotson Joins Olsson's Environmental Assessment Team
Understanding Compliance with Distribution Integrity Management Plans
Jeff Kratzke Chosen to Lead Landscape Architecture/Urban Planning Practice
Help Decide Where Our 2010 Holiday Donation Should Go
Olsson Practices

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At Olsson, everything is Elemental:  LAND | WATER | AIR | LIFE 
To learn more, please visit www.oaconsulting.com.