Detroit is best known for pioneering the mass-produced automobile, but its role as an incubator for transportation innovation extends to the roads themselves.  Over a century ago, Woodward Avenue became the country’s first paved road and hosted the first tri-color traffic signal.  Now, another major metro Detroit thoroughfare—Mound Road—is poised to build on that legacy.  Our team at NTH is excited to be part of this effort.

The Mound Road corridor famously supported tank manufacturing (the “Arsenal of Democracy”) during World War II and has since evolved into a major hub for national automotive, defense, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing industries.  Recognizing its economic importance, the U.S. Department of Transportation has issued an INFRA (Infrastructure For Rebuilding America) grant for its reconstruction of the nine-mile segment north of Interstate 696.  The design-build project, led by HNTB, will not only repair aging pavement but also modernize the route.  It is anticipated to include intelligent sensors and signals; pedestrian, cycling, and transit facilities; roadway widening and traffic flow improvements; as well as landscaping, lighting, and beautification.

Uniquely, it will also incorporate recommendations from an ‘Innovation Council’ of mobility experts to ensure that emerging autonomous and connected vehicle technologies are considered—and proactively planned for—during design.  In a recent article for Driven, Macomb County Department of Roads planning director John Crumm explained, "The overall goal of the project is to access the technologies that are there right now, that are low-hanging, but planning flexibly enough and far enough ahead that when we get to fully autonomous vehicles, that corridor can be converted over at minimal cost."

Mound Road currently carries more than 70,000 vehicles daily including more than 47,000 commuting employees as well as trucks supplying ‘just-in-time’ freight deliveries to manufacturing plants.  NTH is serving on behalf of the Macomb County Department of Roads preliminary engineering team to collect and depict subsurface utility information along this very busy route.  NTH’s investigative capabilities include state-of-the-art geophysical prospecting and non-destructive vacuum excavation techniques.  The data will be used to reduce areas of potential utility conflict in advance of the final design, ultimately reducing costs as well as construction impacts to local businesses and residents.

Visit Innovate Mound for more about this project, and learn more about NTH’s Transportation market and Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) services on our website.

Thank you to everyone who attended our latest PFAS Webinar. There were several questions that were asked during the webinar - some that were answered and some that we were not able to get to. Rick Burns, one of our speakers, has answered these questions that you will find below. 
​

1. Has the discussion with MPART about treatment and testing of PFAS chemicals discussed financial considerations since neither WRRFs nor landfills are generators? Is there thought about alternative funding for treatment or linking sources or generators to treatment costs?
   Answer: This is an excellent question.  The short answer is no.  So far, our discussions with MPART/EGLE have focused on source reduction. Treatment funding sources is a planned discussion topic for future meetings.
   
   
2. Any efforts underway to better understand air emissions in landfill gas, potential gas to energy plant emissions and leachate evaporators?
   Answer: As of now, based on my knowledge  of recent developments, the impact of PFAS emissions from LFG WTE and evaporators is at the beginning stages. I am not directly involved with these discussions, which are likely to expand with MPART/EGLE/MWRA soon.  
   
   
3. You stated that the Rule 57 numbers are drinking water standards, but they are not. 
   Answer: Correct. Rule 57 PFAS HMCV are applicable to surface waters used as a source of drinking water or not.
   
   
4. Do we know how much PFAS is in the WRRF residuals?
   Answer: Biosolids PFAS concentrations vary  at individual WRRFs statewide, ranging from ppt to ppb values, depending if influent is "industrially-impacted".  MPART, working with AECOM, published a summary biosolids report a few weeks ago. Here is the link: https://www.michigan.gov/documents/egle/wrd-pfas-initiatives_691391_7.pdf. 
   
   
5. Much of Michigan is rural and the homes use septic systems.  Have you heard if EGLE is considering investigating private septic fields? 
   Answer: To my knowledge, MPART has not yet initiated a study regarding PFAS septic field discharge, which is needed to fully understand the overall mass balance and fate-and-transport of these compounds in the environment.  The results of such an investigation would be both interesting and useful.
   
   
6. You said that WRRFs do not create PFAS, they only receive them, but earlier you said that more go out than come in, due to conversions occurring in the treatment process.  Is there an understanding of how those conversions occur and how to potentially prevent them? 
   Answer: As discussed, the total WRRF PFAS mass balance is under-studied and not fully-understood.  In cases where effluent PFAS concentrations exceed influent concentrations, current evidence suggest transformation of PFAS cogeners and precursor compounds to PFOA and PFOS, both "terminal" products, within the WRRF system.   Another explanation is residual PFAS concentrations with the WRRF piping/equipment that is released randomly or a result of changes in the treatment system that allows desoption of PFAS from these infrastructure components and/or biosolds.
   
   
7. What are landfills doing to look at their upgradient sources?
   Answer:  If you are referring to refuse accepted for disposal, each landfill is implementing source reduction procedures that include PFAS waste isolation, load rejection, including biosolids and plating sludge wastes that have elevated PFAS concentrations.
   
   
8. Seems to me reduction of PFOS and PFOA at the source would be money better spent.
   Answer:  I agree with you; however, except for industries that use PFAS in manufacturing processes (e.g., platers and AFFF producers) who are able to replace our substitute componds, it is very difficult to remove all impacted materials from the waste stream (landfills and WRRFs).   Also, PFAS removal systems create concentrated residues, exacerbating the problem.  PFOA and PFOS are two of nearly 5,000 PFAS compounds with a plethora of other emerging contaminants on the regulatory horizon that may be best managed economically  using existing, centralized treatment systems as opposed to individual systems that will require upgrades to handle future demands.

Below are the slides from our presentation for download.

If you’ve visited your favorite Great Lakes beach, shoreline fishing location or a local marina lately, you may have noticed some changes.  Lake levels never saw their typical decline last fall, setting the stage for record high water levels this spring.  Despite record outflows into the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Great Lakes remain more than full.
According to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers data for Belle Isle, water levels in southeast Michigan reached their peak just before Memorial Day. The current forecast for Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River is for a gradual decline over the summer months.  Lakefront communities on the west side of the state will continue to experience high water through the summer, peaking around July.

The impacts are not only recreational; an abundance of critical infrastructure—public and private—resides along the Great Lakes.  These include power plants, drinking water intakes, and municipal sewage systems as well as privately owned industrial sites and marine terminals.  Even when inland flooding and erosion do not threaten occupied structures, they can expose underground utilities, wash out pavements, and cause sinkholes and slope failures. After the recent shoreline failure at Detroit Bulk Storage in late November 2019, the City of Detroit stepped up inspections the shoreline within the City including existing docks and seawalls and initiated enforcement of the maintenance requirements in city code.  Citations and fines have been issued as a result.

Because natural shorelines undergo a dynamic process of erosion and deposition, resilient designs are needed to adapt to these changes.  Appropriate solutions can help private owners and municipalities alike adapt to the changing lake levels, avoid property damage, and reduce maintenance and repair costs. NTH has extensive experience with shoreline projects on the Great Lakes and Detroit River.  We have ongoing relationships with divers and seawall contractors and can assist with evaluation of current conditions and rehabilitation of existing structures.

​Even though the current levels have broken records, they may not be an anomaly.  Although lake levels were low several years ago, water levels have significantly exceeded the historical averages for the last three years due to increasingly intense storms and rainfall.  Shoreline protection has never been more important, and investments made now – both private and public -- will protect valuable recreational, commercial and industrial assets into the future.

James joined the military in August 2004. There were several things that motivated him to join but one in particular, he was always fascinated by his family’s history of those that have served which included his Grandpa (served 22 years) and his Dad (served 26 years). James said he has so many memories from bootcamp/training but one that stands out the most was “the night our bus pulled into Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois.  After we were separated into our assigned division and barracks I remember someone started laughing out of nowhere, I don't think we ever found out who it was but our RDC heard it. Our Recruit Division Commander stormed in and started yelling and asking who was laughing, off course all of us didn't know how to respond to the question. So, our RDC ended up having us do the famous 8 counts body builders for about 2 hours or at least it felt like two hours. On top of that, we had to run up and down the stairs in our barracks for I don't know how long.”

James served in the U.S. Navy as an Information Systems Technician. He served for 8 years, stationed on the USS Abraham Lincoln CVN72 located In Everett, WA and Naval Ocean Processing Facility located at Oak Harbor, WA. James said the proudest moment for him was getting all his qualifications completed and finally being able to start training the new sailors out of A school.  He received 3 Navy Achievement Medals, 2 Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Sea Service Deployment ribbon and My Surface Warfare Specialist Insignia. James’ Military Training along with rate training taught him discipline, responsibility, and to adjust and handle difficult situations. ​

​Sarah Gamache joined the military in March 2003 after completing a semester of Community College. She knew she wanted something different and wanted to travel. Sarah was part of a special division boot camp. They trained as regular recruits but also drilled as a performance division. They got to travel for parades during Memorial Day and performed in other boot camp gradations ceremonies. Sarah was in the Navy and worked as a CTM, which stands for Cryptologic Technician Maintenance. She worked on satcom equipment and set up networks, antennas, and receivers. Her first duty station was a NSGD Suslak, in Seoul, Korea.


Next she went to the USS Bataan(LHD 5), then to USS McFaul (DDC 74) both out of Norfolk, Va. Lastly, she worked for WHCA out of Washington, DC. Sarah’s proudest achievement was making E-6 because she worked and studied really hard. Sarah says the military requires you to grow up quickly and have responsibility for expensive equipment, and to be in charge of people, even before you’re ready for it. This helped her grow up always ready and preparing for anything, which also helped prepare for her current position at NTH.

May is National Military Appreciation Month, so this week, NTH would like to show appreciation for our staff who have served in the military and for the sacrifices that they and their families have made. Our next Military Appreciation post is for Brett Schwenke whose one year anniversary at NTH is today!

Brett joined the military on May 12, 1982. He joined to serve his country, grow up a bit, and earn some money for college. He thought he was ready for bootcamp and in great physical shape - he said he was so wrong! But he was in heaven spending days on rifle ranges.

Brett Served in the US Army, then Michigan Nation Guard, and US Army Active Reserve. He served at Ft. Knox, Ft. Leonard Wood (boot camp), Ft. Riley, and was deployed twice overseas to Europe. Brett’s proudest achievement was competing on a battalion rifle team in division competition at Ft. Riley - he was 7th on post out of 52,000 soldiers competing!

He earned the Army overseas service ribbon, Army achievement medal, letters of accommodation, and a Minute Man pin. Brett’s military experience helped prepare him for NTH by teaching him self discipline, personal drive, achieving his goals, and learning that nothing is impossible. 

May is National Military Appreciation Month, so this week, NTH would like to show appreciation for our staff who have served in the military and for the sacrifices that they and their families have made. Our first Military Appreciation post is for our longest term employee, Harry Price.

Harry Price joined the Military in March 1968 when he received a letter from Draft Board telling him he was to report to Fort Wayne, Building 205B, which is now a parking lot. On the day Harry was inducted, a snowstorm struck Detroit closing the airport. They had to send them by train to St. Louis and a bus from there to Ft. Leonard Wood, where he did both basic training and advanced individual training. Harry served with the 84th Engineer Company, stationed at Merril Barracks in Nuremberg, Germany from August 1968 – March 1970 and also the 84th Engineer Company, an Armored Combat Engineer Company, attached to the Second Armored Cavalry.

His proudest achievement was designing a series of wooden border observation buildings. They prefabricated the building in the Barracks gymnasium. A second crew erected the structures along the Czechoslovakia / German border. The experience Harry received in explosives and demolition has been applied to multiple projects that Harry has worked on in his 50 years at NTH. 

After celebrating Memorial Day on Monday, summer is right around the corner. For many, this month signifies the change in seasons, but May also carries significance because it is National Military Appreciation Month.

This week, NTH would like to show appreciation for our staff who serve/served in the military and for the sacrifices that they and their families have made.

Thank you to our NTHr’s Harry Price, James Madere, Brett Schwenke and Sarah Gamache. Your dedication to serving our country is honorable. NTH will be highlighting each of these individuals and their accomplishments and skills that they bring to NTH. Look out for the Military Appreciation Posts this week and be sure to show your support by sharing and thanking them for serving. 

NTH Consultants, Ltd. is now an approved vendor for Wetland Assessment services after receiving the prequalification designation from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).

With this prequalification, NTH can now conduct wetland boundary delineation as prime or subconsultant / team member for MDOT and other local and regional transportation agencies using MDOT prequalifications as a requirement for transportation consultants. The service area includes all 83 counties of Michigan.

For MDOT projects, NTH is now able to:

• Identify jurisdictional and non-jurisdictional wetlands under Part 303 of PA 451, and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA)
  
• ​Assess wetland values and functions​
• Assess the impact of a transportation project on the wetland 
  
• Identify alternatives to taking the wetlands
  
• ​Develop procedures to mitigate for any wetlands loss.

The National Association for Business Resources has named NTH Consultants, Ltd. to the Best and Brightest Companies To Work For in the Nation list. The 2019 national winning companies were assessed by an independent research firm which reviewed a number of key measures relative to other nationally recognized winners. This is NTH's second consecutive selection for the National Best and Brightest list.

The Best and Brightest Program honored 540 national winning organizations from across the country out of 5,000 nominations. Winning companies demonstrated exceptional innovative human resource practices and set high standards for all businesses in the following categories: Compensation, Benefits and Employee Solutions; Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention; Employee Education and Development; Recruitment, Selection and Orientation; Employee Achievement and Recognition; Communication and Shared Vision; Diversity and Inclusion; Work-Life Balance; Community Initiatives; and Strategic Company Performance.

With over 20 years of experience conducting the Best and Brightest competitions, the National Association for Business Resources (NABR) have identified numerous best Human Resource practices and provided benchmarking for companies that continue to be leaders in employment standards. The companies that have been selected to be recognized nationally as a Best and Brightest Company to Work For® are featured in the February online edition of Corp! Magazine.

2020 gets underway, John Kosnak, P.E., NTH Principal Engineer, begins his term as the ICRI Michigan Chapter President. The International Concrete Repair Institute is a professional organization with a mission to improve the quality of concrete restoration, repair and protection through education of, and communication among, the members and those who use their services. The organization began forming in 1988 as the International Association of Concrete Repair Specialists and changed to the International Concrete Repair Institute in 1993. 

The Michigan Chapter formed in 2007 to bring together concrete repair specialists within the State of Michigan.The Michigan Chapter membership consists of engineers, contractors, suppliers, owners and students scattered throughout the state. They host a Demo Day in the spring where vendors can show off new products or processes to interested professionals, as well as technical meetings and other informational or training meetings throughout the year. The chapter also hosts as least one social event throughout the year, typically in June or July so members can spend time together in a fun setting and build friendships.The Michigan Chapter has been awarded as an Outstanding Chapter from ICRI National every year since 2008.

NTH Consultants has had engineers involved with the group since 1988. Mr. Kosnak joined the Board of Directors in 2009 and has held positions as secretary and vice president in past years. Joining ICRI has helped Kosnak build friendships with other industry professionals, which has in turn helped advance his career as a concrete repair specialist at NTH.