The document summarizes entries for the 2002 Excellence in Environmental Engineering competition. It describes several projects that were recognized, including the Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project which received a Superior Achievement award for its holistic approach to improving water quality in the Rouge River watershed. It also summarizes other award winning entries focused on areas like remediation of contaminated soils and groundwater, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.

1. 8 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER April 2002
THE EXCELLENCE IN ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING®
competition of the American Academy of Environmental
Engineers exists to identify and reward the best of today’s
environmental engineering research, planning and
design and the best operation and management of
environmental facilities and programs. Launched 15 years
ago, the 2002 edition drew entries from around the world that typify the
creativity and innovations of consulting engineers, municipal utilities,
industrial corporations, and academics. This year’s entries ranged from
projects costing more than $1 billion to projects costing just a few
thousand dollars and from those requiring years to complete to one
completed in just a few weeks.
The Academy’s Excellence in Environmental Engineering® competition
singles out those projects and programs for recognition which testify to
the genius of humankind. Its criteria define what it takes to be the best in
environmental engineering practice — a holistic environmental
perspective, innovation, proven performance and customer satisfaction,
and contribution to an improved quality of life and economic efficiency.
Those chosen for prizes in 2002 by an independent panel of
distinguished experts addressed the broad range of modern challenges
inherent in providing life-nurturing services for humans and protection
of the environment. They best exemplify the Excellence in Environmental
Engineering® criteria.
2002

2. April 2002 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER 9
A Grand Prize
is awarded in each category.
An Honor Award
is awarded to others deserving
of commendation.
Superior Achievement
for Excellence in
Environmental Engineering
is awarded to the best entry.
The Rouge River National Wet Weather Demonstration Project provides a
blueprint for improving the River’s deteriorated 400 square mile watershed.
Begun in 1992, the project combines control of combined sewer overflows,
point sources of pollution and improved watershed management in an integrated approach to
restore and protect water quality in the Rouge River. Complicating plan implementation was the
multiple jurisdictions — 47 communities and three counties — and many other responsible
parties in the watershed. Both the technical and institutional challenges were overcome by the
project’s holistic watershed approach that involved all stakeholders, extensive community involve-
ment, and consideration of all natural resources, including the air and land, along with the water.
Preliminary results indicate that CDM’s plan is working.
Stretches of the river that rarely met water quality standards regularly
do so now and aquatic life is improving. Recreation tied to the River
is also increasing as the plan takes hold.
ROUGE RIVER NATIONAL WET
WEATHER DEMONSTRATION
PROJECT
SUPERIOR
ACHIEVEMENT
ENTRANT
Camp Dresser &
McKee Inc.
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
Carl R. Johnson, P.E., DEE
LOCATION
Wayne County, Michigan
Since the project’s inception, there has
been an increase in fish and wildlife
returning to the river and its banks.
Due to improved water quality residents and
visitors now enjoy many recreational activities
on the Rouge River and Newburgh Lake
Stormwater controls are also
integrated with CSO controls, and
plans are underway to repair the
concrete channel to improve
aquatic and riparian habitats.

3. 10 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER April 2002
LANDFARMING PILOT TREATMENT SYSTEM
FOR WATERVLIET ARSENAL PROFILE
CRITICAL EVALUATION OF FIELD MEASUREMENT
TECHNOLOGIES FOR TOTAL PETROLEUM
HYDROCARBONS IN SOIL
Remediation of contaminated sites is often delayed while engineers await test results. Tetra Tech EM, Inc.
evaluated seven new innovative technologies that enable rapid, on-site testing for Total Petroleum Hydrocar-
bons (TPH) for USEPA as part of its SITE program. These technologies were evaluated using 1400 soil
samples selected to mimic typical conditions across the United States. This evaluation proved that some of
these new approaches can be used to provide TPH results, comparable in all respects to those obtained by
customary laboratory techniques, quicker and at much lower cost.
Pilot testing of a new approach to
bioremediation employing deep trench
landfarming (six to seven feet as opposed
to the customary one to two feet) proved
its viability. TPH and PAH are reduced
by 70 percent. Using this method, the
Army Corps of Engineers can remediate
the Watervliet Arsenal’s contaminated
soils and save $500,000 plus as compared
to conventional remediation methods.
GRAND PRIZE
RESEARCH
ENTRANT
Tetra Tech EM Inc.
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
Kirankumar V. Topudurti,
Ph.D., P.E., DEE
LOCATION
Chicago, Illinois
RIGHT: Chemetrics’ Remedi-Aid™ TPH
Kit. LEFT: Horiba’s OCMA-350 Oil
content analyzer
HONOR AWARD
RESEARCH
ENTRANT
Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
Gregory P. Matthews,
P.E., DEE
LOCATION
Watervliet, New York
In situ bioremediation via landfarming
destroy contaminants instead of
transferring them off-site, making
remediated land available without
restriction for various beneficial uses.

4. April 2002 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER 11
COAGULATION PRE-
TREATMENT FOR MEM-
BRANE FILTRATION
Microfiltration and ultrafiltration are increas-
ingly deployed for water treatment. However,
the membranes employed are prone to fouling
and often must be supplemented with other
treatment technologies. Dr. Howe has proven
that pretreating water using coagulation can
substantially improve membrane performance.
Additionally, his research also identified those
components in natural waters that are primarily
responsible for fouling.
TREATMENT OF SUBSURFACE CONTAMINANTS
USING ZERO-VALENT IRON
GRAND PRIZE
UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH
ENTRANT
University of Central
Florida
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
Debra R. Reinhart,
Ph.D., P.E., DEE
LOCATION
Orlando, Florida
HONOR AWARD
UNIVERSITY
RESEARCH
ENTRANT
University of Illinois
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
Kerry James Howe,
Ph.D., P.E., DEE
LOCATION
Urabna, Illinois
Permeable reactive barriers using zero-valent iron
are one of the more promising in situ methods
for remediation of groundwater. The University’s
research focused on improving the efficiency and
effectiveness of this approach using deep soil
mixing and ultrasound sonication to maintain
the reactivity of the metal. This research proved
that deep soil mixing of zero-valent iron can
successfully remediate chlorinated organic
compounds. Further, sonication is effective in
restoring the metal’s reactivity enabling the
expense of periodic replacement to be avoided.
Deep soil mixing for placement of
zero-valent iron.
Extensive laboratory research proved the value of
coagulation pretreatment to membrane filtration.

5. 12 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER April 2002
ON TRACK TO SOLVING THE SOLID
WASTE DISPOSAL DILEMMA
In about 10 years, Los Angeles County will be without local sites to dispose of its 36,000
tons per day of solid waste. The solution to this approaching dilemma developed by the
Sanitation Districts is to recover recyclable materials to reduce waste quantity and to provide
an economical means to access remote landfills. As a result of an extensive public education
effort, support for this plan has enabled the Districts to begin construction of a centrally-
located Material Recovery and Rail Loading Facility and to obtain permits for landfilling at
sites far to the east of the County.
STONEMAN LAKE TMDL MODELING STUDY
Malcolm Pirnie adapted and upgraded water quality models originally developed for the Chesapeake
Bay to identify the cause of Stoneman Lake’s deterioration. The model enabled the firm to objec-
tively assess a wide array of possible problem causes and potential solutions. A management-based
solution costing only $10,000 annually was ultimately approved by USEPA.
HONOR AWARD
PLANNING
ENTRANT
Malcolm Pirnie, Inc.
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
Kenneth E. Spiker, P.E.
LOCATION
Stoneman Lake,
Arizona
GRAND PRIZE
PLANNING
ENTRANT
Sanitation Districts of
Los Angeles County
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
James F. Stahl, P.E., DEE
LOCATION
Whittier, California
The former Eagle Mountain Iron Ore Mine in
Riverside County is one of the future landfill sites.
An innovative hydrologic modeling project has
helped identify cost-effective solutions to water
quality violations and aquatic weed overgrowth
problems in Stoneman Lake.
Train transport of containerized waste
makes using remote sites cost effective.

6. April 2002 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER 13
THE TOLT DBO PROJECT
The 120-mgd Tolt River water treatment plant designed
by CDM includes a unique use of ozone disinfection prior
to deep-bed, mono-medium high rate filtration to reduce
high raw water turbidity and disinfection byproducts. By
combining ozone addition with flocculation, construction
and treatment costs were reduced even while producing a
water that surpasses all state and federal requirements.
Using the DBO approach to implement the project, only
30 months were required and $70 million were saved.
ULU PANDAN WASTEWATER RECLAMATION
PLANT REUSE
GRAND PRIZE
DESIGN
ENTRANT
Camp Dresser &
McKee Inc.
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
Gregory L. Lindstadt, P.E.
LOCATION
Duvall Washington
HONOR AWARD
DESIGN
ENTRANT
Camp Dresser &
McKee Inc.
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
A. Neysadurai, P.E.
LOCATION
Singapore
Tolt’s pioneering design allows for continuous
operation through periods of high source water
turbidity and provides long-term regulatory
compliance.
The filter gallery contains all filter process piping and
exemplifies Tolt’s compact design philosophy.
Increasing the capacity of this 75-mgd wastewater
treatment plant to 95-mgd is the first use of two-
stage aeration in Asia. By combining enhanced
treatment trains, enclosed processes, and advanced
odor control technologies, nearby residences are
shielded from the plant’s odor and noise. By
limiting the plant’s impact, adjoining lands have
been freed for development, a key consideration in
this densely populated area.
The 5000-cubic-meter digesters are the first partially
submerged egg-shaped digesters for a plant of this
capacity in the world.

7. 14 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER April 2002
CRESCENT/CARVER
SEWER SEPARATION &
STORMWATER
IMPROVEMENTS
To prevent systemic flooding of the Crescent-Carver
neighborhood, SEA/MWH designed a new
stormwater management system that employs off-line
underground storage reservoirs totaling 44 acre-feet in
capacity and increases the utility of existing facilities.
To enlist community support, a variety of innovative
methods were used during construction to minimize
disruption to this densely developed urban area.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND OCCUPATIONAL
HEALTH SURVEILLANCE AND ASSESSMENT
OF THE PENTAGON
To pave the way for rescue workers, cleanup personnel, and, ultimately, construction personnel after the
September 11th attack on the Pentagon, the U.S. Army’s Center for Health Promotion and Preventative
Medicine was tasked to assess the hazards present. Over 15 hundred analyses and 19 thousand screenings were
performed using innovative sampling and analytical techniques, such as combining environmental sampling
and biological screening, solid phase microextraction, to name just two. The Center’s rapid risk assessment
permitted rescue and reconstruction to proceed with ample protection for the workers’ health and safety.
GRAND PRIZE
OPERATIONS/
MANAGEMENT
ENTRANT
US Army Center for
Health Promotion and
Preventive Medicine
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
LTC Laurie Cummings, P.E.
LOCATION
Washington, DC
The USACHPPM deployed a Special medical Augmentation
Response team-Preventive Medicine (SMART-PM) to
support the medical response to the disaster.
Assembling air samplers.
HONOR AWARD
DESIGN
ENTRANT
SEA Consultants/
MWH
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
William C. Pisano, P.E.
LOCATION
Boston, Massachusetts
With community support, SEA/MWH initiated construction of the 44 acre-
feet of underground stormwater storage facilities with sewer-flushing vaults
and a new large diameter storm drain.

8. April 2002 ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER 15
SOIL WASHING PCB
REMEDIATION —
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP
SUPERFUND SITE
By convincing the regulators that soil washing could
be used to cleanup PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl)
contaminated soil, the Chrysler Group was able to
economically remediate a 4-acre Superfund site. This is
the first successful use of soil washing for remediating
PCB-contaminated soil. More than 12 thousands tons
of contaminated soil were cleaned; only thirteen
percent of the soil had to be disposed off site.
EAST BREMERTON
CSO FACILITY
CDM designed the nation’s first facility to combine high-
rate clarification and ultraviolet disinfection to treat up to
20,000 gpm of combined sewer overflows for Bremerton.
The facility is totally enclosed and operable by remote
control. It can be brought on line and begin treating flow
within fifteen minutes of a wet weather event. The CSO
facility removes 85 to 95 percent of total suspended solids
and is the first in the Puget Sound area to meet
Washington’s fecal coliform standards.
GRAND PRIZE
SMALL
PROJECTS
ENTRANT
Camp Dresser &
McKee Inc.
ENGINEER IN
CHARGE
Edward Fernbach, P.E.
LOCATION
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton’s state-of-the-art combined sewer
overflow (CSO) facility features the nation’s first-
time combination of high-rate clarification (HRC)
and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection to treat CSOs.
Hydrocyclones separate solids from microsand, sending
solids to the city’s wastewater treatment plant and returning
microsand to the injection tank for use in future treatment.
HONOR AWARD
SMALL PROJECTS
ENTRANT
DaimlerChrysler
Corporation/
Arcadis G&M, Inc./
Earth Tech, Inc.
PERSON IN
CHARGE
Greg Rose
LOCATION
Davisburg, Michigan
The soil washing process starts as excavated soils are loaded into the feed hopper
equipped with a grizzly screen to remove large boulders and tree roots. A rotary trommel
further segregates soils less than two inches in size from gravel and other vegetative matter.