Newsletter Volume No., Issue No.

NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Opts for Natural Wetlands at VAB Complex


The Jones Edmunds team of environmental engineers and scientists proved that by incorporating wetlands into carefully designed stormwater management systems, wetland functional values can be enhanced, and the efficient use of tax dollars can be maximized.

Originally constructed in the 1960s, the area surrounding the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) Industrial Area at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC), incorporated minimal reduction or treatment of stormwater runoff from buildings, roads, and parking lots. As a result, untreated stormwater discharged into an existing wetland area, and a canal altered the wetland’s natural water regime by accelerating drying of the wetland.

In 2002, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
undertook a project to replace temporary housing with a new office building in the VAB complex. This new structure, Operations Support Building II (OSB II), needed land area for stormwater treatment ponds that would have required relocation of both personnel and underground utilities.
 
To remedy these problems, the Jones Edmunds team proposed a natural wetland stormwater management system as an alternative to traditional treatment ponds. The construction of a low berm and weir allowed greater retention of storm waste and created a gradual release of water going downstream. Because water is detained in the wetland during peak storming, it is ultimately discharged into the nearby Banana River. By agreeing with Jones Edmunds’ plan to use the natural wetland for stormwater management, NASA saved approximately $3 million.

Results

As a result of the project, water levels in the VAB natural wetland stormwater management system rose from nine to 46 cm. Before this project was implemented, water was intercepted by the ditches rather than allowed to enter wetlands. That hydraulic alteration has now been eliminated with construction of a ditch block in the north ditch.

Potentially harmful concentrations of certain contaminants were returned to normal levels. Overall, positive trends were documented after the first operational year and suggested that the introduction of stormwater did not have a harmful effect on nearby trees.

The VAB natural wetland stormwater management system represents a compatible multi-use wetland project. Ongoing testing and evaluation of the project’s success indicate that the pretreatment wetland system is providing enhanced protection of downstream water quality. In addition, hydrological data indicate that normal wetland water levels have been reestablished and plant communities are beginning to recover to more charact eristic obligate wetland plant species.

This project is a prime example of how effective stormwater management is a viable option in wetland restoration. Because many of Florida’s natural wetlands have been impacted by drainage and adjacent development, incorporating wetlands into carefully designed stormwater management systems can enhance wetland functional values while maximizing the benefits of dollars spent on environmental protection.

Family Man Makes Time for Work
and Family with Flexible Schedule


When geologist John Locklear, M.S., is not leading teams of scientists and geologists in the field or in high-profile investigations, such as the recent investigation of the old dump site in Hawthorne, Fla., he is a busy father and husband.

Locklear sets aside time for his two-year-old son, Heath, and wife, Catherine, who is expecting their second child in November (a girl named Kendal).

“Jones Edmunds offers me a unique opportunity to avoid using daycare and to spend more time with my son. It is challenging and tiring at times, but ultimately it is well worth the sacrifice,” said Locklear, who has been a Jones Edmunds project manager for seven years.

A typical day for Locklear begins at 6 a.m. Both he and his wife work full time. Locklear works until 3 p.m., then takes care of his son until his wife, an occupational therapist who performs research at the University of Florida, gets home around 6:30 p.m. At that  time, Locklear either goes back to the office or works from home.

He always keeps his Blackberry, a handheld device for sending and receiving phone calls and emails, to field any questions or concerns arising while out of the office. On many weekends, Locklear can usually be seen at the office.

“John’s ability to solve problems and dedicate himself to projects while maintaining a busy schedule has been recognized by various Jones Edmunds clients who appreciate his efforts on their projects,” said Allan Biddlecomb, vice president and environmental discipline director at Jones Edmunds.

A sixth-generation Floridian born n Crystal River, Locklear earned his Bchelor of Science degree and Master o Science degree in Geology from the University of Florida.

In’s and Out’s

Jones Edmunds Considered one of Gainesville’s Leading
Energy-Conscious Businesses

Jones Edmunds is the newest corporate member of Gainesville Regional Utility’s GRUgreen Energy 4g-rating program, making it one of Gainesville’s leaders in energy-conscious businesses. By becoming involved with the program, the Gainesville office of Jones Edmunds is saving the equivalent of 156 cars worth of smog, 208 acres of trees, or 1664 barrels of oil each year.

GRUgreen Energy is a blend of renewable resources - biomass from landfill gas produced by decomposing garbage at the Alachua County Southwest Landfill, wind purchased from other energy companies, and solar produced locally. The biomass landfill gas project is generating approximately 1.1 megawatts of electricity. Wind and solar energy make up approximately five percent of the total blend.

“This program was a natural fit for us to become involved with,” said Ken Vogel, vice president and office manager of Jones Edmunds’ Gainesville office. “We support and encourage innovative approaches to improving our environment and enhancing the quality of life while protecting our natural resources.”

NPDES Inspections Prove Beneficial

The movement of stormwater and sediment into Florida’s wetlands, lakes, creeks, rivers, and estuaries has been identified as a major source of environmental degradation. The majority of sediment comes from construction sites. In response, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), administered by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), expanded to include sedimentation and erosion control on construction sites of one acre or more. Jones Edmunds is helping the Florida Department of Transportation control erosion and sedimentation and maintain compliance with permits at several large road-construction projects.

Arsenic Standard Changes

The drinking water and groundwater standard for arsenic will be lowered as of Jan. 1, 2005. The arsenic standard will change from 50 µg/L (parts per billion) to 10 µg/L. For solid-waste permits, FDEP will be issuing “unilateral modifications”, and the permit holder is not required to submit anything additional. FDEP has indicated that they will enforce the new standard in northeast Florida. If you have any questions regarding the recent standard changes, contact Tim Cully, tcully@jea.net or 352/377-5821.

Until the early 1980s, household and commercial waste was disposed of in unlined dumps and “sanitary” landfills.  Many of the effects from this disposal method are literally becoming unearthed.  As Florida’s population grows, communities have replaced many rural areas, and some of these new communities were built without developers or homeowners being aware of what may lie underneath.

Five years ago, residents in Hawthorne, Fla., noticed their homes settling at differing rates and levels. Cracks in the homes started to appear. The area in which these residents were living was suspected to have been a dump site which closed in the mid-1970s. To address these potential health and safety concerns to community residents and the environment, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners hired Jones Edmunds to evaluate the extent of buried debris in the community, and to monitor selected homes for the presence of landfill gases such as methane.

Jones Edmunds began by evaluating historical aerial photography of approximately 15 acres to identify specific areas where dumping may have occurred. The first phase of the investigation consisted of emission monitoring within seven private residences. Each home was monitored for the presence of methane gas, carbon monoxide, and chlorinated solvent vapors.

The second phase of the investigation consisted of a geophysical survey of the 15 acres. In this survey Jones Edmunds geologists used electromagnetics (EM) and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to evaluate the areas likely underlain by
waste.

The final phase of the investigation consisted of test borings at locations selected based on the interpretation of geophysical data collected in the second phase. The test borings were done to depths of 20 feet below land surface.

Jones Edmunds submitted findings and recommendations to the Alachua County Office of Waste Management in January 2004 and has helped the county present the findings and discussions regarding the properties. The County has reached a compensation agreement with the homeowners and is currently evaluating potential impacts to groundwater quality.