Title: Intern.

Job: I wear a lot of different hats at WET to fill whatever role I can. Sometimes I accompany an engineer into the field and help them with well sampling or surveying. Sometimes I build things that need to be built, or fix things that need to be fixed. Sometimes I’m given raw computer data and asked to put it into a more manageable form. Ultimately, everything that I do helps build the experience I’ll need to make the transition to engineer-in-training.

How long have you been in the industry? How long with WET?

This is my third year as an environmental intern, and my second with WET.

What is the most satisfying part of your job?

The dynamism – I never feel bored at work! Very rarely is anything that I do exactly like something I’ve done before. Every day I get to expand my knowledge of, and experience in, the consulting world.

What do you do in your spare time?

Since I’m still a student, spare time is sometimes tough for me to come by! But I usually fill my open days with reading and photography. During the summer, I try to go to as many concerts as I can.

What is an interesting/obscure fact about yourself?

In 8th grade, I taught myself how to write backwards, so the paper could be read normally on the other side when held up to a light. I still do it from time to time.

 

January 1, 2018 was not only New Year’s Day, but day one of the new Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MPDES) Construction General Permit, referred to as the CGP.

When is a CGP needed?

If both of the following two criteria are met:

1. There are areas of ground disturbance or other potential pollutant sources due to the construction activity where a storm water discharge to state surface water can occur.

2. The construction activity has a total area of ground disturbance through clearing, excavating, grading, or placement/removal of earth material which is equal to or greater than one acre

This new CGP is a big deal because there are some changes in both the paperwork and procedures.

PERMIT HIGHLIGHTS

-The form Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is shorter, 10 pages versus 19 pages.

-Checklists are used to identify ‘potential pollutants’, ‘BMPs’, ‘major construction activity’, and ‘BMP phasing.’

-There are three choices on how to revise the SWPPP (revise SWPPP and site maps, use inspection reports and revise site maps, and updates in a log and revise site maps.

-Inspections can be delayed if severe winter conditions occur.

-Public signage is required beginning in 2021.

WHAT does the new CGP mean for construction projects that were started last year but not ready to be closed?

You need to submit a renewal.  A renewal consists of an NOI and SWPPP.  Additional fees are not needed AT THIS TIME.

WHO provides that service?

WET will gladly prepare renewal packages.  We have an interview form with all the required site information identified.

WHY can’t I take care of the renewal myself?

You can if you are a certified SWPPP Administrator and your certification is current.

WHERE can I get recertified?

WET will gladly help (are you sensing a pattern here?) WET is one of the ‘acknowledged training provider by the state of Montana’.  That means we provided a curriculum to the state, which was reviewed and approved for:

-BMP 201 SWPPP Preparer and Administrator Certification Program and

-BMP 201-R SWPPP Preparer and Administrator Recertification Program.

WHEN are trainings scheduled?

Our 2018 schedule will be announced soon.

Stay tuned!

In July 2017, Water & Environmental Technologies (WET) merged with Bozeman engineering consultants Nicklin Earth & Water (NE&W).  NE&W has been in business in Bozeman since 1995 offering professional environmental, hydrologic, and Bozeman engineering services to clients in the region.  NE&W is known for performing environmental investigations and developing remedial alternatives for the Bozeman Solvent […]

As many UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) enthusiasts are well aware, 14 CFR Part 107 (the small UAS rule) went into effect on August 29^th.  The much anticipated rule hopefully simplifies things for commercial UAS users.  As part of this rule, UAS operators (now called Remote Pilots) are required to pass a knowledge test administered by the FAA.  In many ways, this knowledge test is similar to the test that manned aircraft student pilots are required to pass in order to receive their pilot certificates.  A few of the knowledge areas included on the test include: The Part 107 rule, airspace classification (this is a big one!), weather, emergency procedures, aeronautical decision making, reading a VFR chart, and airport operations.  Unless you have pre-existing aeronautical knowledge, you definitely want to study up or you may be sweating during the exam!

The FAA’s study guide is a good resource to start your studying.

WET has multiple employees that have passed the Part 107 knowledge exam and hold remote pilot airman certificates with a small UAS rating.  This enables WET to continue to legally provide commercial UAS services to its diverse client base across the Northwest.  Prior to Part 107, WET commercially flew UAS under the rules of an FAA 333 Exemption.  With the implementation of Part 107, the 333 exemptions are still valid and commercial UAS users can legally fly under Part 107 or the 333 exemption.  However, you can’t mix and match requirements from both.

Some noteworthy provisions of the Part 107 rule include: maximum altitude of 400 AGL, operations within controlled airspace require Air Traffic Control permission, and operating a UAS from a moving vehicle is permitted but only in sparsely populated areas (and the operator can’t be driving the vehicle).  Part 107 still requires remote pilots to maintain visual line of sight (VLOS) at all times, however this is a waivable regulation.  So, perhaps Amazon will be using UAS to deliver boxes to our houses sooner than we think!

Since entering the UAS market, WET has established itself as a premier provider of UAS services in Montana and the Rocky Mountain region.  WET has completed a variety of projects involving UAS data collection including: stockpile volume surveys, topographic surveys (used for site development, engineering design, environmental permitting, landfill life expectancy, etc.), open pit mine planning surveys, vegetation and weed mapping, and stream temperature mapping.  WET currently owns two Sensefly eBees and a DJI Phantom multi-rotor platform.  WET has access to multiple payloads for the eBees including RGB, NIR (great for vegetation mapping), thermal, and high definition video applications.

Contact WET today to learn more about specific applications and how a UAS survey/mapping project can bring value to your company.

Storm water regulations go you down?

Feeling overwhelmed by all of the MPDES and SWPPP related paperwork?

You are not alone!

WET was recently asked by Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) staff to participate in a stakeholders meeting for the renewal process of the Montana General Permit for Storm Water Discharges Associated with Construction Activity.  At the meeting, WET and several other stakeholders were asked how the permit could be improved.

For those unfamiliar with the Montana Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (MPDES), here is a quick review:

• If construction activities disturb more than one-acre, permit coverage must be obtained. The permit submittal package includes a Notice of Intent (NOI), Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), and the appropriate fee (based on project size).

• A SWPPP requires that all possible on-site pollutants be identified. Pollutants can include petroleum products, concrete washout, or sediment – That’s right sediment, also known as soil, mud, debris… (You know, the stuff that never wants to stay on site?).

• If your site has any of these pollutants, a Best Management Practice (BMP) must be implemented to prevent it from leaving the site. A BMP can be as simple as a vegetative buffer to a more complicated silt fence or rock check dam.

• Inspections must be conducted to ensure that BMPs are functioning correctly and to complete any required maintenance. Which is usually an invitation for a certain four-legged animal to take your silt fence completely out after you leave. Only in Montana, right?

So now you are wondering how MDEQ is going to make this process easier for us.  MDEQ’s Lead Compliance Inspector, Chris Romankiewicz, was present to take feedback on permit issues. Many of the stakeholders asked that the permit be simplified as much as possible and to reduce the number of total pages. Chris’s response was to provide more checklists and reduce the about of required narrative text. This was well-received by everyone in attendance.

Identifying potential on-site pollutants can be difficult for companies new to the permitting process. MDEQ is hoping to remove some of the mystery by providing a list of typical substances and sources of common pollutants. A rule of thumb is if it has any chance of adversely affecting a state water, it is considered a pollutant.

MDEQ will be providing a list of recommended BMPs in the new permit as well. While MDEQ cannot specify which BMP to use in each situation, the list will provide a convenient reference for SWPPP preparers and contractors in the field.

MDEQ also introduced a graph system that will allow the preparer to designate different BMPs for each phase of construction.  Utilizing phasing in construction is one of the most powerful tools to ensure compliance.  As an example, concrete washout won’t be used if it is not installed before concrete is poured.  BMPs should be provided prior to a pollutant being introduced, not later as a Band-Aid.

While some parts of the permit must remain unchanged to comply with Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) rules, overall the changes discussed would be a welcome improvement. WET is excited for the new permit release in 2017, and was pleased to be chosen as one of the initial stakeholders for the renewal process.

WET has always strived to maintain a positive working relationship with state and county regulators, and our staff works hard to keep permit requirements from postponing construction schedules for our clients.  WET takes a practical approach to storm water management on construction sites, and our permitting staff has strong experience with both SWPPP preparation and BMP installation and maintenance. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for any of your permitting needs.