March 2020 - America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Of 2018 - How Prepared Are You?

/
March 2020 - America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Of 2018 - How Prepared Are You?

On October 23, 2018, America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) was signed into law. Congress passed this amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in response to the extensive damage to drinking water utilities from Hurricanes Maria and Harvey. AWIA requires utilities to prepare for disruptions by conducting a risk and resilience assessment, preparing an emergency response plan, and updating these documents every 5 years thereafter. Unlike previous legislation that required water systems to assess their vulnerability to malevolent acts, AWIA requires an all-hazards approach, considering cyber and natural hazards as well as malevolent threats. Compliance deadlines under AWIA are rapidly approaching. Read on to learn more about the law and how PHE can help you stay in compliance!

Read More

January 2020 - Polar Bear Plunge!

/

PHE was happy to support the SAME Mid-Maryland Polar Bear Plunge in Annapolis this weekend in support of Special Olympics Maryland.  Over $3 million was raised for this event, which will help ensure the very deserving Special Olympic Athletes continue to have access to all sports!  Special thanks to PHE Plungers Chris Rua and Greg Jackson for going “all in” in support of this event!

phe pLUNGERS cHRIS rUA AND gREG jACKSON

phe pLUNGERS cHRIS rUA AND gREG jACKSON

December 2019 - Melissa Secor Elected Secretary of SAME Pittsburgh Post

/

PHE’s is proud to announce that Melissa Secor will serve as the 2020 Secretary for the Society of American Military Engineers Pittsburgh Post.  Melissa has an active role at the Pittsburgh Post by serving on the Board of Directors in 2019, attending the SAME Post Leadership Workshop, and volunteering at STEM outreach activities including Science and Engineering Fair Judge and STEM booth volunteer.

Pittsburgh Post 2020 Officer Installation (left to right): Melissa Secor (PHE), Suzanne Thomas (ALCOSAN), Holly Douglas (Cosmos Technologies), Dan Davis (Skelly & Loy), Beth Cheberenchick (Facility Support Services), and Deb Chiaraluna (Test Ame…

Pittsburgh Post 2020 Officer Installation (left to right): Melissa Secor (PHE), Suzanne Thomas (ALCOSAN), Holly Douglas (Cosmos Technologies), Dan Davis (Skelly & Loy), Beth Cheberenchick (Facility Support Services), and Deb Chiaraluna (Test America).


September 2019 - Section 508 Compliance: 6 Tips to Stay on Track When Preparing Accessible Public Documents

/
September 2019 - Section 508 Compliance: 6 Tips to Stay on Track When Preparing Accessible Public Documents

Public involvement is an essential component of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and when the Federal Government produces accessible documents, individuals with disabilities can review and engage with the project. It’s also the law! Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires Federal documents and websites to be compatible with assistive technologies, which make them accessible to individuals with disabilities. This section was created in 1998, as Congress recognized the need for regulations governing accessibility in technology and electronic devices. On January 19, 2017, the U.S. Access Board issued a final rule that requires contractors to provide Section 508-compliant deliverables for media that will be released to the public. Therefore, digital NEPA documents, such as Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) or Environmental Assessments (EAs), need to be Section 508-compliant. By creating high-quality documents that conform with Section 508 rules, you will ensure that the greatest number of people will have the opportunity to engage with the project and provide their comments.

Read More

July 2019 – It’s Time for More Resilient Infrastructure: Reducing Risk Through Adaptation

/
July 2019 – It’s Time for More Resilient Infrastructure: Reducing Risk Through Adaptation

Our nation’s infrastructure faces increasing risks from extreme weather and other changes to climatic conditions. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has identified 16 critical infrastructure systems that are essential to our security and economic prosperity. These systems depend on various physical facilities and assets to provide a range of essential services like energy, clean water, transportation, and communication. Examples of essential assets include roads, bridges, power plants, electrical transmission lines, water treatment plants, and communication towers, all of which are potentially vulnerable to severe weather and other effects from climatic changes. This Pulse article identifies current and likely future changes to the environment and explores the concepts of adaptation and resilience as they apply to infrastructure.

Read More

April 2019 - Sustainability & Waste Management at the 2019 National NAEP Conference

/
2019naepconflogo.jpg

Join Chris Rua, CHMM on May 21, 2019 at the 2019 National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Chris, a Senior Compliance Specialist with PHE, will be presenting a paper on why a sustainable approach to construction and demolition (C&D) waste management is not only good for our environment, but can reduce regulatory compliance burdens and add to the bottom-line.

Facility managers tasked with the responsibility of sustainably managing their wastes often run up against some significant challenges when dealing with C&D waste.  This is especially true for federal facility managers/engineers that are required to comply with Executive Order 13834, Efficient Federal Operations, which mandates that federal agencies implement waste prevention and recycling measures in a manner that increases efficiency, optimizes performance, eliminates unnecessary use of resources, and protects the environment. Register today and learn about the challenges of managing construction and demolition waste, tips for cost saving measures, and potential opportunities for sustainable management.

January 2019 - PHE Awarded 10-year A/E Environmental Services Contract with the United States Coast Guard!

/
DSC_1829.jpg

PHE, with our JV partner Michael Baker International, has been awarded an IDIQ contract to provide professional environmental engineering services to Coast Guard entities nationwide.  This is the second consecutive award of this contract to PHE, and we look forward to continuing to provide exceptional support to the Coast Guard mission.