Briefs

And the winner is…

The Newark, N.J.-based Writing Co. has received the First Place Award of Excellence in the Public Service TV — Institutional category of the New Jersey Advertising Club’s 2001 Jersey Awards. The firm was recognized for an anti-littering public service announcement it created for the Clean Newark campaign.

Parsippany, N.J.-based Keller & Kirkpatrick has received a 2002 New Jersey Historic Preservation Award from the New Jersey Historic Sites Council and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks & Forestry’s Historic Preservation office. The company was recognized for its rehabilitation work on two single-span, truss bridges in Somerset and Hunterdon counties.

The Troy, N.Y.-based New York State Society of Professional Engineers has presented Syosset, N.Y.-based Lockwood, Kessler and Bartlett with the Outstanding Engineering Achievement Award. The company was recognized for capping the Merrick Landfill (owned and operated by Hempstead, N.Y.) and constructing the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve in its place. The park features a freshwater pond with a wind-powered recirculation system, an educational wildlife center and a wetland overlook constructed with recycled materials.

The Los Angeles Department of Public Works Bureau of Sanitation has received two 2002 National Environmental Achievement Awards from the Washington, D.C.-based Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies. The Bureau was recognized for an educational video about its wastewater program and for implementing a program to assess and optimize aeration basins in activated sludge plants.

Company news

Oak Brook, Ill.-based Federal Signal has acquired Oshkosh, Wis.-based Leach. The acquisition has allowed the company to expand its manufacturing offerings to include rear-loading refuse vehicles.

San Francisco-based URS has formed URS Strategic Development Planning Group. The group is providing real estate development, economic development, brownfield redevelopment, and redevelopment planning services for land and property owners, public agencies, developers and financial institutions.

San Rafael, Calif.-based Autodesk has acquired Tampa, Fla.-based CaiCE Software. The acquisition allows the company to add transportation-specific features to its civil engineering software.

Cambridge, Mass.-based CDM has contracted with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to update EPA’s public domain Storm Water Management Model. The new version — SWMM 5 — will include updated computational techniques such as modular, object-oriented computer code. The project is scheduled for completion by the second quarter of 2003.

Denver-based CH2M Hill has acquired Huntsville, Ala.-based DeMil International, which produces technology used to destruct unexploded ordnance, obsolete munitions, energetics and certain hazardous wastes.

Plugged in

Summit County, Colo., has contracted with Blacksburg, Va.-based Tele-Works to develop an interactive building inspection application. The application will integrate multiple channels of communication including the telephone and the Internet.

Saint Charles, Ill., has purchased software from Victoria, B.C., Canada-based Municipal Software to automate its community development processes, including planning, construction, inspections, code enforcement and business licensing.

Fulton County, N.Y., has purchased Financial Management, Human Resources and Property Tax software from Troy, Mich.-based New World Systems.

Water, water everywhere…

The Boston Water and Sewer Commission has contracted with Ocala, Fla.-based ABB to replace 79,000 water meters and upgrade the city’s meter reading system to an automated fixed network radio system. Under the $22 million, 36-month contract, the company will provide project management services and supply absolute encoder water meters.

The Township of Neptune (N.J.) Sewage Authority has contracted with Richmond, Va.-based Ondeo Degrémont to install a biological aerated filter system at its 8.5-mgd wastewater treatment plant. The system will provide year-round nitrification and will reduce toxicity in accordance with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection standards.

Traverse City, Mich., has contracted with Oakville, Ontario, Canada-based Zenon Environmental to convert the city’s conventional activated sludge plant to a membrane bioreactor. By retrofitting the plant, Traverse City is increasing capacity and improving the quality of treated wastewater discharged into Boardman Lake.