Greetings from Olsson Associates

I'll keep my message short this month since we have so much to share with you. We're definitely not slowing down this summer -- the weather isn't the only thing heating up.

If you would like more information on anything shared in this e-newsletter or on our services, feel free to give me a call.

Enjoy the summer and stay cool!


John S. Olsson, PE

Lincoln and Greater Nebraska Office Leader
402.458.5661 or [email protected]
I've Been Working on the Railroad... Can't You Hear the Whistle Blowing?

Maybe not, since quiet zones are making some real noise lately. Does your city have trains traveling through town with their on-board locomotive horns blasting as they get close to nearby street crossings? Then you probably are aware that, on August 17, 2006, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published a rulemaking titled "Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings: Final Rule." This ruling establishes a national requirement for sounding on-board locomotive horns in advance of all public highway and street/railroad at-grade crossings.


What you may not know is that this rule also allows communities to establish quiet zones, where on-board locomotive horns are not sounded, if approved safety measures are in place.

The minimum requirements to allow for the consideration of a quiet zone include the railroad corridor meeting the following conditions:

 

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Meet One of Olsson's Quiet Zone Experts

Al Cathcart has spent more than 40 years in transportation engineering, with the last 17 years being focused on transportation infrastructure improvements involving the railroad industry. Al has been at the forefront of the new Federal Railroad Administration's "Train Horn Rule" that allows "whistle-free" quiet zones to be implemented.

 

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NDEQ Issues New Industrial Storm Water Permit

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality (NDEQ) has issued a revised Industrial Storm Water Permit effective July 1, 2011. This permit is applicable to "stormwater discharges associated with industrial activity," including industrial facilities, landfills, recycling/scrap yards, steam electrical generating facilities, transportation facilities, and treatment works. A full listing of applicable facilities is provided below. The new permit replaces the permit originally issued in 1997 and renewed in 2002. Some significant changes have occurred to the permit, two of the biggest changes are the following:

 

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Energy Audits Make It Easy To Be Green

Olsson has provided clients numerous types of energy audits throughout the course of the firm's history. These audits can be conducted on entire buildings or on specific equipment and systems.

"Audits allow us to go through our client's facilities and get familiar with their systems," said Jim Fricke, Lincoln Mechanical/Electrical team leader. "In addition, we develop a relationship with their personnel and a trust that we are all on the same team to help them resolve their issues."

Several phases are associated with the audits. The first phase is to become familiar with how the systems in each building operate. This familiarization process includes holding meetings with the maintenance personnel who help identify current system operation issues.

 

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"Mission Critical Facilities" Team Growing

Olsson Associates has enhanced its "Mission Critical Facilities" team, which will add significantly to our expertise in data center site development. This team performs work for companies who build enterprise data centers for their own internal use, as well as those companies who build and lease data center space (also known as co-location facilities).

On July 11, Tom Brink joined Olsson, and he will work as director of mission critical engineering.
 
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In This Issue
I've Been Working on the Railroad...
Meet One of Olsson's Quiet Zone Experts: Al Cathcart
NDEQ Issues New Industrial Storm Water Permit
Energy Audits Make It Easy To Be Green
"Mission Critical Facilities" Team Growing
Olsson Practices

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