Introduction of Presenter

Social, Economic, and

Environmental Challenges:
Meeting Peoples Needs Beyond
the 21st Century
Ronald Klinczar, P.E., LEED AP
Principal Project Manager/Senior Associate
Hatch Mott MacDonald

Ronald J. Klinczar, P.E.

Principal Project
Manager/Senior Associate
B.S., Civil Engineering, SUNY
Buffalo
30 Years Consulting Design
Experience
Preaches balance in design
between infrastructure and
environment

Presentation Topics - Part A:

Our World and the Practice of Engineering
History of the relationship between Society
and its Environment
The Engineers Role in Society and in Project
D
Development
l
t
Case History 1: Stevens Street Bridge
The Environmental Review Process
Social, Economic, and Environmental
Considerations

February 22, 2010

Topic 1: History of

The makeup of man

the relationship between Society

and its Environment
A Quick overview of
significant changes in
societal thinking,
leading to the modern
Environmental Review
Process.

Maslows
Hierarchy of
Needs

Prehistoric Society
Basic Survival Needs of Man met first and
foremost by use of earths resources

Socrates

Gehenna

Roman Empire: Acqueducts

Valley of
Hinnom,
Reported site
off burning
b
City Garbage
Dump

The New Dawn

The Development of America
(1492-1950)

Roman Sewers

Pont Du
Gard
Gard,
France,
built circa
19 B.C.

The Industrial Revolution

The Romans recycled

public bath waste water
by using it as part of the
flow that flushed under
the latrines.

1960s Environmental Disasters

The new
factory was
viewed as a
good place
where a living
could be earned,
by native born
and immigrants
alike

1969 Santa Barbara oil spill -200,000 gallons of

crude oil from natural gas explosion

1960s Environmental Challenges

1960s Societal Response

1969 Ohio River burning

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

1960s - 1970s Legislative Response

1965 Wilderness Act
1967 Clean Air Act ( set NAAQS)
1968- Wild and Scenic Rivers Act
N i
l Environmental
E i
l
1970 National
Protection Act
1972 Clean Water Act (NPDES)
Various State Acts

State Environmental Review Actions

Set the policy for social economic, and

environmental consideration related to
any project, federal, state or local, that
involves federal funding or work
performed by the federal government
government.

Similar State Actions

based on NEPA

Its purpose is to ensure that

environmental factors are weighted fully
in the federal decision making process

Adds to but does not

supercede NEPA

Requires a parallel
State environmental
review on all projects

The Past Generation

1980s- Industrial Reaction: Business
Call for Fair Assessment
1990s- Renewed Environmental Action
2000s- A Sophisticated Public

Topic 2: The Engineers Role

in Society and in Project
Development

Traditional Engineer Role

Empirical Design, Live Test

Engineers, in the fulfillment of their professional duties,

shall:
1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the
public.
2. Perform services only in areas of their competence.
3. Issue public statements only in an objective and
truthful manner.
4. Act for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees.
5. Avoid deceptive acts.
6. Conduct themselves honorably, responsibly, ethically,
and lawfully so as to enhance the honor, reputation,
and usefulness of the profession.

NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers

As members of this profession,
engineers are expected to exhibit the
highest standards of honesty and
integrity. The good of the public
must be held in high esteem.

We have a large role

and
d responsibility
ibili iin
maintaining the
balance between what
we develop and what
we should protect.

Code of Ethics: Fundamental Canons

The Engineer in Todays World

A closer look at PE Cannon No. 1

1. Hold paramount the safety, health, and
welfare of the public.
Holding the safety, health, and welfare of the
public paramount is a mandate to ensure that
the engineers
engineer s work does not result in undue
harm to the environment!

CSSQ: Traditional View

The 4 variables in a project:
Cost
Scope
Schedule
Quality

One variable cannot change without a

second one changing!

Design of a Twin Golden Gate Bridge

Cost: Add for protection of
avian, waterway and
subsurface conditions
Scope: Will include special
mitigation
g
design
g of island
habitat
Schedule: Add 15 years for
public involvement and
agency review
Quality: New Seismic Design
Criteria

The future of Project Development

Responsibility: As the environment becomes
more critical and regulated, expect public
agencies to have greater say in project
development.
The engineer must be vigilant and
persuasive with critical arguments to assist
in the selection of the right alternative!

Public Involvement
It is the engineers
responsibility to
foster public
comment on the
project
project
The public provides
inputfor evaluation
by the engineering
team

Where are we headed?

Accountability: The engineer will always be
held accountable for his or her actions. The
public can not be expected to be accountable
for actions resulting from its comments
Authority:
y The Authority
y can lie with the
permitting agencies!
Will owners have the energy and inertia to
develop difficult projects?
Measurability: Is it built yet?
Is the project dead yet?

RAAM Traditional View

Responsibility-who?
Accountability-performance based
Authority-can decisions be rendered?
Measurability-report card

Topic 3: Case History 1

Stevens/Prospect Street Bridge
Replacement over the Erie Barge Canal
A replacement
crossing of the
Historically
Significant Canal in
Lockport, NY

Existing Pony Truss over Erie Barge Canal

The Pony truss was
deteriorated beyond
repair.
Bridge had been
closed to traffic in
late 1990s.
Bridge carried active
20 dia. water line

Stevens Street Truss Layout

34 ft. high
267 ft. c/c bearings, 10 panels

2m elevational difference

Community Issues
Prospect Street
did not align
with the City of
Lockport grid.
Several
alignment
alternatives
were studied.

Truss Members
Truss members are
fabricated plates
Box section top &
bottom chords
I section verticals
and diagonals
Painted Weathering
Steel

Cultural Resources

Photo
h
3

The Pony Truss was a

contributing element
to the historical Erie
Barge Canal. MOA
prepared allowed a
replacement Pratt
Truss.
Design agreed to by
State Historic
Preservation Office in
New York.

Utilities
20 inch water
line supported
in floorbeam
extensions
Gas lines

Decorative Lattice Railings

Old

Further Environmental Issues

Former
Hazardous
Materials site
Historic Stone
Arch Canal Wall

New

ABCD WNY 2005 Bridge of the Year

Contaminated
Canal Sediments

Topic 4: The Environmental Review Process

A brief overview of the National
Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and
its Review Process

Contractor Erection Technique

Erection of the truss
based on the need to
not disturb canal
sediments
2005 Video of Erection
Procedure

National Environmental Protection Act

(NEPA)
Policy for Federally
Funded Projects.
Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA):
Leads the nation
nation's
s
environmental science
efforts since 1970.
EPA's mission is to

protect human health

and the environment.

The Enforcer!

The Environmental Process

Acceptance of Lead Agency Status- Federally
funded projects must be advanced by a
federal agency such as the Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) or Their Designee
Similar Lead Agency Status for State Projects
Project Owner Agency can be lead agent for
public projects
Agency must accept lead agency status for
private projects

What can be the Publics Reaction??

Example: New Expressway with several
bridge overpasses

NIMBY
Too much noise
Too much traffic
Poor route
Too much impact on
undisturbed land

Project Classification

The Environmental Process

NEPA
CLASS

DEFINITION

EXAMPLE

CLASS I

NEW OR HIGH
IMPACT ACTION

NEW EXPRESSWAY

CLASS II

LIMITED ACTION

BRIDGE REPLACEMENT,
EXISITING ALIGNMENT

CLASS III

BRIDGE REPLACEMENT,
POSSIBLE
RELOCATED
ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACTS, UNKNOWN ALIGNMENT

Scoping- The act of

defining a project and
ensuring full development
of alternatives considered
Purpose and Need
Statement
Statement
NEPA Class I Projects:
Public must be given
opportunity to comment
on the range of
alternatives developed

Preliminary Design and EIS or EA

What does an EIS or EA Address??

Preliminary Design/ Report: Concept design to a

level necessary to identify environmental impacts

Social Impacts: Will action create a

disproportionate impact on a disadvantaged
social group?
Economic Impacts: Will any alternative disrupt
businesses or employment?
Environmental Impacts: Our ecosystem

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): Class I

Action
Environmental Assessment (EA): Class III Action

Your Project

Agency and Public Reviews

Agency Review-

Federal, e.g. USACOE

State, e.g.
Departments of
Environmental
o
e ta
Protection
Municipalities and
Local Planning
Commissions
Public Review-

Selecting the Preferred Alternative

Document Agency and Public
Comments- prepare responses

Address Appropriate Comments and

Modify Design
Public Comment is NOT one person,
person one
vote!!
Be prepared for legal challenges

Detailed Design
Hard Engineering
Develop Construction Bid Documents
Incorporate Environmental Restrictions in
the documents

Record of Decision:
Publish notice

Various Techniques

Finally, Construction!

In Summary

Your contractor must follow the

permit requirements of the
jurisdictional agencies!

Topic 5: Social, Economic, and.

Environmental Considerations
In Detail!

Establish the scope off the project

Allow public comment on Alts to be studied
Study the impacts of each alternative
Allow agency & public comment on Alts
Select an alternative
Design and Build the Project

These are legislated requirements that allow

for Federal (and State) Project Approval

Some Social Considerations

Does project discriminate against race,
color, sex, or national origin?
Are particular social groups harmed?
Are neighborhoods segregated such that
community
it interaction
i t
ti
iis d
destroyed?
t
d?

Environmental Considerations
Is water quality degraded though
sedimentation, contamination,
disturbance?
Are wetlands disturbed?
Are
A designated
d i
d coastall zones
compromised?
Are navigable waterways obstructed?
Are wild and scenic rivers distubed?
Are parks or recreation areas impacted?
Are floodplains at all changed?

Additional Social Considerations

Are particular income groups more
disenfranchised than others?
Are relocations and disturbances
minimized?
Is fair compensation for loss provided?

More Environmental Considerations

Economic Considerations

Are businesses economically harmed?

Are regional or local employment barriers
created ?
Does the project favor one community over
another?
Will jobs be lost?
Will the project place undue financial
burdens on individuals and families?

Further Environmental Considerations

Is farmland use minimized?
Is air quality compromised?
Is noise quality compromised?

Will groundwater become contaminated?

Will stormwater pollution be avoided?
Are sole source aquifers uncontacted?
Are forest preserves avoided?
Are endangered species identified and
protected throughout construction?
Are historic and archaelogical sites preserved?

Does efficiency in energy use result?

Is asbestos identified and abated properly?
Are hazardous and contaminated materials
identified and planned for disposal ?

10

Example: Managing Floodplains

Example: Options for Treating Stormwater

Bridge replacement projects cannot

affect upstream or downstream
flood plain areas
M i t i
Maintain
Bridge
Waterway
Opening!!

Stormwater Management: Sand Filter

Stormwater can be more

toxic than sewage water
One Goal is to treat Total
Suspended Solids

Stormwater Management: Vortechs Unit

Proprietary Product
Utilizes Centrifugal Force to remove TSS
DEC Approved as a Pre-treatment Practice
Does not store water

Phosphorus
Nitrates

Stormwater Management- Wet or Dry Pond

Stormwater Pond 24 hr settlement

Example: Landfills to Good Use

Use a clay cap to
contain waste and
prevent migration
of groundwater
contamination

11

Presentation Topics Part B:

Sustaining Our World for Our Children and
Beyond
Case History 2: Sacramento Intl. Airport
Paying for Damages
Beyond Regulations: The age of Voluntary
Commitment
Sustainability: Its About Society
Case History 3: Peace Bridge Expansion Project

New Central Terminal B

Topic 6: Case History 2

Existing Central Terminal B

Sacramento International Airport: New

Central Terminal B

Corgan Associates,
Lead Architect
Hatch
h Mott
MacDonald, Civil
Subconsultant
Sacramento
County, Owner

Structural Components of New Terminal B

Structural Components of New Terminal B

$75 M APM

Mile Long
Upper Level
Viaduct

12

Introduction to LEED
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
Developed by the Architecture
Profession to Address
Environmental Efficiency in
Buildings
New
N
Construction
C
i
Point
P i
System (69 items in v 2.2) that
affect use of resources
LEED Categories include
US Green
Existing Buildings, Commercial
Building
Interiors, etc.
Council

Stormwater Design
SS C6.1: Stream Channel Protection and
Quantity Control Strategies

Engineers Role in the LEED Process

Develop Design to Obtain LEED Points as
appropriate

Site Selection
LEED 2.2 SS C1.1 Avoid Inappropriate Sites

Sustainable Sites (SS)

Water Efficiency (WE)
Energy and Atmosphere (EA)
Materials and Resources (MR)
Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)
Innovation in Design (ID)
Use of Former Parking Lot for
New Construction

Use of High Albedo Paving Materials

LEED 2.2 SS C7.1
Use Paving
materials, such
as concrete,
with a solar
reflectivity
index (SRI) of
at least 29

Establish Contractor Requirements

Construction Waste:
LEED MR C2.1
requires that 50%
of construction
waste be diverted
from disposal
LEED MR C2.2 75%
of construction
waste diverted

13

Specify Use of Regional Materials

LEED MR C5.1
requires that 10%
of materials be
obtained within
500 miles of
project site

LEED Ratings

Topic 7: Paying for Damages

New Central Terminal B: LEED Silver

Limit State Perspectives

The Pollute for free perspective
I can pollute all I want, and as long as it
does not affect my
y bottom line,, then ok

MR C5.2-20% of
materials obtained
regionally

An alternative limit state perspective

The Do not Pollute perspective
No one should be allowed to pollute at
all. I want my air perfectly clean and my
drinking water pure

Example: The cost of clean water

Cost
$$

The cost to have perfectly pure

drinking water approaches infinity

Pollutants (ppm)

The role of Government

Cost
$$

Establish the appropriate

level of pollutants allowed
that is both safe for
society and economical

Pollutants (ppm)

14

How does the Govt. manage pollution?

Enforcement of Legislation
Permitting of new actions

Example: Bridge twinning over stream

Bridge will unavoidably impact 0.6 acres of
wetland

Fines that exceed cost to pollute!!

Government agency options

No regulation: Allow construction to occur with
unavoidable wetland impacts
>>>unacceptable to society
Block project: No permit to construct, since
there are unavoidable wetland impacts
>>>unacceptable to society
What is acceptable?

Paying for Damages (Allowing Pollution)

Mitigation

Agency has the option of allowing the

project to occur but stipulating paying
for damages through mitigation.
W l d iimpacts can b
Wetland
be mitigated
ii
d
through a 3:1 or 4:1 replacement ratio

Other forms of mitigation:

Example: Mitigating Visual Impacts

Correcting for negative factors

Screenings: Elements such as plantings to shield

unwanted views

Compensating owners for property value loss

Erecting noise barriers
Building new parks for torn neighborhoods
Relocating affected businesses to new areas
Its all part of the Environmental Law!!

15

Non-Replacement Techniques
Constructing a Fishing Access Site

Purchase of Polluting Rights

Environmental protection or tax?

Non-Mitigatable Impacts

Many proposals are not accepted by

reviewing agencies

These include actions that would create

irreversible damage to the environment
Historic Buildings

Parkland
removal

Topic 8: Beyond Regulation:

Neighborhood Clean-ups

Recycling Movement

The age of voluntary commitment

There is a continuous evolution of the balance

humans maintain with their environment.
More voluntary activities are happening.
It is politically correct to be green.

16

Watchdogs

Corporate America: In to be green!

Citizens Groups that scrutinize industry

or Government Policy

Serious stuff or consumer relations?

Use professional influence to properly

steer and guide those less knowledgeable

Public Interest Groups

Advise clients on requirements they may

not understandfind a qualified
environmental professional if necessary

Many times those who have been

harmed come back to spearhead
grass roots efforts

Issue: Ozone Depletion

4% per decade decline in ozone
volume, with ozone holes over
polar regions
ozone depletion results from
chlorofluorocarbons ((CFCs)) and
halons: Banned by Montreal Protocol.

Join a Committee
Become active in Planning Boards

Environmental Groups

Lois Gibbs

The Role of the Engineer

Left Photo courtesy The Motor Report

Global Warming
What is it? What causes it?
Short term trends- since 1900
Long term trends-known?
y
Protocol: reduce
Kyoto
greenhouse emissions

Ozone layer prevents passage of

harmful ultraviolet light wavelengths

Why do some people think this

topic is ridiculous?

Results: Malignant Melanoma (skin

cancer) and crop changes

Do we really care?

Extreme Measures to stop ozone

depletion and future global warming
Eliminate Automobile Use: $10 per gallon
tax on gasoline
Create self contained community centers:
Severe tax on global and long distance trade
Reverse suburban sprawl: 50% income tax on
people that live more than walking distance
from work
Shut down environmentally unfriendly
industries: that produce carbon emissions

17

Extreme Measures

Topic 9: Sustainability: Its About Society

Space Exploration
Has to date confirmed that the supply of
resources available to man is finite.

Society must make a living. That creates a

demand.

Is that what our society wants?

The earth supplies what society needs. It

represents the supply.
Sustainability is about ensuring that the
supply of the earths resources can meet
societal demand, continuously
across time.
Across geographic and economic boundaries
Photos courtesy NASA

Earths Population

Sustainable Practices
Practices that lend themselves toward
either increasing the supply of
resources or reducing the demand of
resources, while meeting societies
needs
d

Population

6 Bil
3 Bil

Personal: turn off faucets

Workplace: automated light switches
Professional

1 Bil

1900

1950

2000

Sustainable Practices

Reforestation: Trees are known as a

renewable resource (
Supply)

Public transportation: reduce overall

fuel consumption (
Demand)

18

The role of the Engineer

Indifferent attitudes...

Practice Sustainable Engineering for

Societies Sake
Specify recycled materials or local
materials, and waste management
Consider construction impacts,
impacts and
minimize disturbed footprint
Evaluate life cycle costs
Consider reuse of materials, or rehab
Encourage appropriate maintenance

Moving toward mainstream

LAX Midfield Satellite Concourse

what much of the world thinks

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)

I want to be green, I want to be

sustainable.
,,,as long as it does not cost me any
money!

LAWA Sustainable Airport Guidelines

Tom Bradley International Terminal Expansion

Major Utility Improvements and Central Utility

Plant Improvements

New Taxiways and Related airside facilities

Making a Difference

Performance
Standards
Processes for
Monitoring and
Measuring Success
Methodologies for
adopting
sustainable
practices

Conduct a Sustainability
Project Planning Meeting
Engage Stakeholders and
Agencies
Provide Training and Set
Expectations
Discuss Sustainability
Goals Early

LAWA Sustainability Factoids

During 2006, LAWA diverted more than 21,400 tons of
recyclable materials from landfills
LAWA recycled and reused more than 64%
of trash it generated in 2006
Green materials (grass clippings and tree branches) are
recycled
y
into compost
p
Over 7,950 pounds of consumable food was
donated to homeless shelters in 2006
LAWA provides recycling services to tenants at no charge
and assists tenants with setting up their own recycling
programs

19

An unsustainable society

Beyond Sustainability
A philosophical and economic look at
reaching an equilibrium state in the
use of our planet

Haiti

Resources do not meet

demand

Available resources can

not be adequately
distributed

Black markets spring up

Let X = demand for resources per person

Pt = todays population
Pf = future population
Pt (Xt) = total resource demand rate today
Pf (Xf) = total resource demand rate future

Will we reach a point where demand

exceeds resource supply?

Topic 10: Case History 3

Beyond Sustainability
Similarly, Supply of
Resources
r = resource renewal rate
T =technology rate ( as an increase
in resource supply)
S = So + r + t Pt (X) = change in
resource supply

Peace Bridge Crossing of Niagara River

US/Canada Peace Bridge Capacity

Expansion
Original Peace Bridge Constructed 1927
Capacity Issues led to consideration of new
bridge in 1990s
Goal: Open 2nd bridge on 75th Anniversary
in 2002
Year ???

20

Its 2010, and there is no new bridge

What has happened?
USACOE Concerns
Organized Response
Community Concerns
Due Process
Further Environmental
Concerns

Due Process -2001

Challenge raised on EIS Process Used
Legal challenges
Resulted in need to re-start environmental
process and fully consider range of
alternatives

USACOE Concerns mid 1990s

New Millennium Group

River Levels

Creative advocate for a

new, signature Peace
Bridge, an International
Gateway, and full
restoration of Front Park.

Niagara River is a
highly regulated
waterway
New piers for twin
bridge could not
result in rise in
water level related
to head loss

Effectively stopped
twinning of existing bridge
through public campaign

Further Environmental Concerns-2009

Bird Flight Patterns

What the Future Holds

5 Designs have been accepted as
Environmentally acceptable

NYSDEC and USFWS

concern for migrating
birds, the common
tern and bonaparte
tern,
gulls
A reduced bridge
profile reported to
result in less birds
striking the bridge

Organized Response-1999

Forthcoming ROD
Selection
Selection of a preferred
bridge type
Design
Christian Menns Twopier cable Stay bridge

Construction by 2015?

21

Thank You for Your Attention!

Please live, work, and practice sustainably!

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