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Our quarterly newsletter captures project spotlights, conferences and events attended, and recent staff updates.
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 | Geotextile tube being installed at the toe of Sankaty Bluff.
Image courtesy of George Riethof and the Sconset Trust. |
Epsilon provided environmental permitting and coastal geology services for the installation of geotextile tubes at the toe of Sankaty Bluff. Sankaty Bluff, located on the southeastern coast of Nantucket, is one of the more active coastal erosion areas on the east coast. After severe erosion during the 2012-2013 winter caused an imminent threat to both public infrastructure and private homes, the Town of Nantucket partnered with private homeowners to propose immediate measures to protect the area. This led to the permitting of an "Emergency Project" under the Wetlands Protection Act, which consists of three tiers of stacked geotextile tubes to help protect the bluff from coastal erosion. Construction was completed in January 2014, and the project and surrounding beaches will be subject to an extensive monitoring system over the next several years.
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Update: Martha's Vineyard Hybrid Submarine Cable Project
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 | | Coils of cable ready for direct burial beneath the seafloor. |
This project has been progressing on schedule since we first featured it in our December 2012 newsletter, and construction of the submarine portion was completed in May. This collaboration between Comcast and NSTAR is the first project to be permitted under the new state Ocean Management Plan and consists of a new submarine cable that provides both high capacity fiber optic communications and 35 kV electric power to Martha's Vineyard. Regulatory permits and approvals for the project included, among others, state Ocean Team review, MEPA environmental review, Development of Regional Impact (DRI) review by the Martha's Vineyard Commission and the Cape Cod Commission, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting, and Orders of Conditions from the Falmouth and Tisbury Conservation Commissions.
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Berklee College of Music Completes New Building
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 In February 2014, Berklee College of Music dedicated the college's new dorm and academic building at 160 Massachusetts Avenue. In addition to serving as a residential hall, the building provides a number of other amenities, including state-of-the-art recording studios, dozens of practice rooms, a fitness center, a cafeteria and performance space. Epsilon developed the college's Institutional Master Plan as well as led the permitting associated with the Boston Redevelopment Authority's Article 80 process for the project. |
 Staff Updates | |
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Peggy Briggs Receives EBC Award
 | Peggy receiving EBC award.
Image courtesy of EBC. |
Epsilon congratulates Managing Principal Peggy Briggs on
receiving the Environmental Business Council (EBC) Stephen G. Lewis Merit Award for Service to the Environmental-Energy Industry at EBC's 21st Annual EBEE Awards! The award recognizes admirable service, leadership and dedication to improving the quality of the environment and to the development of the environmental - energy industry in New England.
Organizational Involvement
Principal Rob O'Neal obtained Board Certification through the Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the USA (INCE/USA) and was also recently elected to the INCE/USA Board of Directors.
Principal Les Smith was invited to participate in a Coastal Zone Management stakeholder meeting aimed at reviewing and evaluating the Massachusetts Coastal Management Program. The review is being conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under requirements of the Coastal Zone Management Act.
New Employee
Epsilon recently welcomed Jack Besse as a Staff Engineer within our Air Quality and Environmental Engineering teams. A recent graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute with a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering, Jack will be a great fit to support our energy and industrial permitting and compliance projects.
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Conferences & Events | |
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In March, Epsilon sponsored as well as exhibited at the 11th Annual Northeast Energy and Commerce Association Conference (NECA) on Renewable Energy. Also in March, Epsilon Principal A.J. Jablonowski presented at the Connecticut Energy, Environment and Economic Development Conference in Cromwell, Connecticut.
 | | Pictured (from left to right) Rich Lampeter, Mike Guski, Rob O'Neal, and Brian Graves at AWEA WINDPOWER 2014 in Las Vegas. |
In May, Epsilon exhibited at AWEA WINDPOWER 2014, in Las Vegas, providing a great opportunity to meet up with clients and learn about the latest developments with the wind industry. Next, Epsilon exhibited at the Annual New England Energy Conference and Exposition in North Falmouth, Massachusetts. Finally, rounding out a busy month, we exhibited at the Independent Power Producers of New York Annual Spring Conference and Showcase in Albany, New York.
Click here to learn more about these and other upcoming events.
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 Epsilon is excited to announce the opening of our new office in downtown Boston! This satellite office is centrally located at 50 Congress Street and provides a convenient location for meetings with clients and project teams. |
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