 |
|
Our quarterly newsletter captures project spotlights, conferences and events attended, and recent staff updates.
|
|
|
|
|
ISSUE NO. 10 / MARCH 2015
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fore River Bridge under construction.
|
Boston Business Journal's Book of Lists
came out in January 2015. Among the lists were the largest construction projects in Massachusetts, ranked by dollar value, for projects completed in 2013 or under way in 2014. Of the top ten projects listed, Epsilon worked on four of these projects: Millennium Tower, Brigham and Women's Hospital - Brigham Building for the Future, Fore River Bridge Replacement, and the new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. Epsilon provided a range of services for these projects, including permitting support, historic services, and water quality monitoring. We are proud to help contribute to the growth of the Commonwealth.
|
|
Squibnocket Beach Management Recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
|
Existing parking lot/revetment with adjacent coastal bank retreating.
|
Epsilon provided coastal geology consulting services to the Town of Chilmark Committee on Squibnocket (the "Town Committee") on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The Committee was formed as a result of a Town Meeting vote, with the goal of developing a comprehensive and coordinated plan for the relocation of the town's Squibnocket Beach parking lot (currently located on the barrier beach), developing a long term plan for access to private homes across the barrier beach in the Squibnocket Farm Association, and providing coastal geology based management recommendations for the existing revetment at Squibnocket Beach. Several proposals with dramatically different designs and impacts had been put forth before the Town Committee for its consideration.
|
|
Revetment on barrier beach with landward access road threatened.
|
Epsilon's
report to the Town Committee provided coastal geology and Wetlands Protection Act analysis for the management of this important town beach resource and critical access point for homeowners, and included the following recommendations:
- Move the town parking lot to an upland location off the barrier beach, and remove the existing revetment and roadway allowing the barrier beach to return to a more natural state.
- Relocate the access road as far landward as feasible, utilizing an open-pile or causeway design which would permit natural barrier beach processes.
The Town Committee utilized Epsilon's report in developing their recommendations to the town, which were approved unanimously by a Special Town Meeting vote in February 2015.
|
 Conferences & Events
|
|
|
|
|
Staff Updates
|
|
|
Principal Steve Slocomb's article on shale gas was published in the January 2015 issue of Natural Gas & Electricity. The article, Northeast Shale Gas Replacing Other Fuel Sources, Leading to Overdependence?, focuses on the use of natural gas in the Northeast over coal and oil. The article includes relevant case studies of power plants in New England and how they are operating as fuels adjust.
As a contributing author to the Environmental Science Deskbook (Thomson Reuters/West 16th ed. 2013), Senior Consultant David Klinch recently submitted his updates to Chapter 9: Wetlands. He originally authored the chapter on wetlands, which focuses on wetlands regulations, policy, and science, and has since provided regular updates with each new edition. The next edition will be released later this year.
A number of Epsilon employees are active in non-profit organizations and serve as committee board members. In this newsletter issue, we spotlight Principal Andrew Magee. Andy has provided guidance and insight to a number of non-profit organizations over the years and currently serves on the board for three environmental organizations:
A former Selectman in the Town of Acton, Andy also serves on the Acton Conservation Commission and Chairs the Acton Open Space Committee.
|
|
|
|
|
