2022 EBJ Business Achievement Awards: EBC Members

Congratulations to the many EBC Member companies awarded for their innovation, social contributions, and industry leadership by EBI. Below are all the EBC Member companies being honored this year.

San Diego, CA – Environmental Business International Inc. (EBI), is a publishing and research company that generates strategic market intelligence on emerging opportunities in the Environmental Industry and the Climate Change Industry.

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP: Infrastructure

AECOM for bringing ESG principles to Chinese road construction. Guizhou Zhengxi Expressway Project invested and constructed by China State Construction International Holdings Limited integrated ESG principles into the whole process of planning, design, construction and operation. The project adopted holistic mitigation measures to minimize impact to the vulnerable local environment and biodiversity, including 64% of bridge & tunnel ratio, environmentally-sensitive route selection, building 14 flyovers and 45 biological corridors, 100% reuse of construction waste topsoil and afforestation activities to offset GHG emissions. The project realized massive social benefits by local employment, poverty-eradication, and risk management, which shortened the original travel distance from 10 hours to only 1.5 hours and created 20,000 job opportunities for the local community, greatly stimulating local economic growth. Moreover, the project achieved zero fatality during construction by adopting ESG risks management mechanisms. AECOM innovatively expanded the ESG service scope from corporate level to project level and compiled the world’s first ESG report published by an expressway construction project. The Project became a real asset for the road industry, leading the way in innovation and sustainability. With the above mentioned work, the project was recognized by the International Road Federation and won the environmental mitigation category of the 2022 Global Road Achievement Awards.”

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP: PFAS

AECOM for funding PFAS innovation and collaboration. AECOM performed a voluntary PFAS evaluation of municipal wastewater influent, effluent, and biosolids with nationwide US participation. Study results were compared against a statewide study we previously performed in Michigan, and a California study. AECOM publicly shared compiled results: measurable PFAS typically increase during treatment (precursors are oxidized), and effluent has higher short chain concentrations and biosolids higher long chain concentrations. Future biosolids treatments remain uncertain, but our focus is on the continued beneficial reuse for agriculture or energy. AECOM self-funded a study of PFAS uptake in plants pursuant to understanding PFAS behavior in plants and soil. We started with controlled siEgle-species growth, finding PFAS accumulation on leaf surfaces and within tissues. Results were shared at the 2022 Battelle conference; additional studies are planned. Research by Peter Jaffe observed that Feammox bacteria, which are naturally occurring in some seeps and soils, can cleave the C-F bond. AECOM sampled PFAS-containing seeps along the banks of a river to characterize the microbial populations and other Feammox indicators. Results will be shared at Battelle 2023.”

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

TECHNOLOGY MERIT: Algae Biomass

AECOM for demonstrating the successful transformation of deadly harmful algal blooms into viable, clean carbon-neutral sweet crude oil in under 90 minutes. AECOM combined three innovative technologies at Lake Harsha, Ohio to prove the process simultaneously restores nutrient-impacted waterways while creating sustainable biocrude almost identical to fossil oil. First, AECOM’s patent-pending Hydronucleation Flotation Technology physically removes cellular algae from waterbodies; this biomass slurry contains carbon and nutrients used to create renewable products. Second, dewatering technology presses the slurry into a feedstock for clean-energy processes. Remaining water is cleaned and returned to enhance submerged-aquatic vegetation renewal, making a no-waste closed-loop mitigation system. Third, patented hydrothermal liquefaction technology uses heat and pressure to transform algae into clean, carbon-neutral liquid biocrude. Phosphorus is removed and any PFAS destroyed, providing a game-changing process to be used with other wet-waste comprised of biosolids and manure. The remaining water is sterilized and reused, providing an almost perfect zero-waste system. Projections indicate algae-to-biocrude can reduce U.S.-produced aviation fuel by 23% yearly. Moreover, the process prevents methane release from untreated, decomposing algae.

PROJECT MERIT: Wetland Restoration

AECOM for being part of a team advancing a critical wetland mitigation project in San Dieguito Lagoon. The restoration project will convert former agricultural fields to saltwater wetlands and enhance and maintain the natural flood control channel. AECOM has worked with San Diego Assn. of Governments (SANDAG), Caltrans and the San Dieguito River Park JPA to make this project a reality. Under construction now, it will provide wetland and transitional habitat in coastal San Diego, as well as additional public recreational access. The project will create a sustainable ecosystem prepared for sea-level rise and anticipated flood conditions. It will provide for carbon sequestration in this enhanced coastal wetland, also known as Blue Carbon, which is increasingly recognized as a key ecosystem for removing/storing carbon. The project also improves community access, with improved trails and a trail connecting to JPA’s signature Coast to Crest trail. This trail will eventually link the San Diego coast to Volcan Mountain near Julian, Calif. AECOM has supported the project through preliminary design, environmental review and permitting, and construction.

EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., PBC for growing its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) program substantially in 2022. An employee-led committee oversees a comprehensive program to create a welcoming and inclusive culture. With many initiatives in process, a primary focus of the program is engagement through awareness and education. Since 2020, nearly all EA employees have attended mandatory DEI Foundations training, a 4-hour interactive course. These sessions continue quarterly for all new hires. Separately, EA’s most senior managers completed one-on-one DEI-focused training with an outside consultant. Optional events, called Open Hours, are held every other month as a forum to learn about and discuss specific DEI topics. Subjects have included unconscious bias, ally-ship, microaggressions, inclusive leadership, intergenerational challenges, homophily, and DEI in fieldwork. More than half of the EA team has attended at least one Open Hour each year, with regular participation ranging from 15% to 25% of total staff. The committee also launched Reflections, a companywide email campaign through which employees share what are often very personal DEI stories.

TECHNOLOGY MERIT: PFAS Monitoring

Eurofins Environment US for a leap forward in PFAS monitoring through blood testing. Under the direction of Technical Director Andrew Patterson, Eurofins Environment US has developed a self-administered test kit, PFAS Exposure™. To date, testing for PFAS in blood has required a blood draw by a healthcare practitioner, and the scope of testing has been limited to just a few PFAS compounds. PFAS Exposure uses a simple finger prick and is the first test of its kind, according to Eurofins. Measuring PFAS levels in blood can help users understand their PFAS exposure—whether it’s related to occupation, such as first responders, or food, drinking water, indoor air, and consumer products. For proper assessment, it is important for the target list of compounds not only to represent legacy PFAS but also next-generation PFAS that have replaced their longer chain counterparts. Eurofins’ PFAS Exposure kits allow participants to self-collect samples at home or work and submit them directly to the laboratory to obtain data for over 40 PFAS compounds.

TECHNOLOGY MERIT: Wastewater Health Monitoring

Eurofins Pandemic Services (EPS – Eurofins Scientific) for wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) by drop digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) and narcotics/cannabinoid analysis by LC-MS/MS of wastewater samples for community health monitoring. Proposed 20 years ago but infrequently applied, WBE uses wastewater (sewage/solids) sample analyses as sources of anonymized community health data. COVID-19 revived interest in WBE, since SARS-CoV2 virus is measurable in wastewater and infections are detectable in advance of clinical signs or hospital visits by up to two weeks. Thus WBE can help direct public health actions to mitigate the spread of infections. In 2022, EPS established commercially viable ddPCR (alongside RT-qPCR) capability to support community monitoring and actionable data to respond to COVID outbreaks, including rapid development of tests for evolving variants/sub-variants of concern, monkeypox, etc. According to Eurofins, ownership and use of IP related to WBE samples and data (community or facility) and their interpretation and application have significant potential and implications for the environmental lab and consulting industry. Tracking/mitigating other pathogens or narcotics and cannabinoid use by LCMS/MS are possible, depending on WBE methodology. ddPCR offers particular pathogen sensitivity and specificity in wastewater samples.

PROJECT MERIT: Sustainable Water Supply

The 2018 Camp Fire in Paradise, Calif. caused the Paradise Irrigation District (PID) to lose approximately 90% of its water service connections. The California State Legislature mandated PID to perform an Options Study to evaluate opportunities to ensure long-term sustainability. EBJ recognizes GEI Consultants,Inc., in partnership with PID, the State Water Resources Control Board, Sacramento State Office of Water Programs, and the Town of Paradise, for preparing this innovative study, which strategically combined 15 options to formulate six portfolios with the goal of providing water supply sustainability. These portfolios were evaluated for technical, economic, financial, regulatory, legal, environmental, stakeholder acceptance, and implementation criteria. Stakeholder engagement and outreach was a significant component: A stakeholder group comprised of 12 agencies representing the public interest met monthly, and public meetings were also held to solicit stakeholder feedback. Based on stakeholder partnership, engagement and an innovative process of evaluating options and portfolios, the Financial Claim Portfolio had the highest portfolio score, which was accepted by PID and the State Water Resources Control Board in March 2022.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

GEI Consultants, Inc. for adding “Equity” to its Diversity, Equity + Inclusion (DE+I) Committee in 2022. Since 2021, GEI’s DE+I Committee has focused on four areas: Educate, Speak Up! Take Action, and Engage Allies, with voluntary attendance reaching approximately 50% of the staff through at least one DE+I education/engagement event. The Committee provided staff with education and resources throughout 2022, in addition to expanding GEI’s partnership with the National Society of Black Engineers, establishing a new partnership with Thrive Scholars to help support the STEM student pipeline, and launching GEI’s first company-wide employee resource group, GEI X2, to support women staff. GEI’s initiatives in 2023 include expanding supply chain diversity and developing a more diverse pool for the recruitment of entry-level employees. GEI believes the entire AEC industry needs to work together to achieve DE+I goals.

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP: Mental Health

Jacobs for continued leadership in mental health. Mental health remains one of the leading causes of death and disability across the world, however as a society we often fail to address it or invest in preventing it. To help end this global pandemic and change our societal approach to mental health, Jacobs, in collaboration with mental health professionals, launched One Million Lives (OML), a free web-based mental health check-in tool to help users assess their current state of mind and provide proactive strategies for mental health growth. Open to everyone, the tool is multilingual, digitally accessible and 100% confidential. The goal of OML is to create a ripple effect across the globe, where over one million people are inspired to complete a mental health check-in, reducing the stigma, raising awareness, and leading to lasting global action on mental health. On October 10, which is World Mental Health Day, Jacobs led a global coalition of over 40 industry-leading companies in the “World’s Biggest Mental Health Check-In,” a day of action for positive mental health resulting in 17,600 mental health check-ins. To date, the OML campaign has provided over 36,500 check-ins, with one in three users from outside of Jacobs, and generated over 12 million impressions on social media.

TECHNOLOGY MERIT : Wastewater Management

Jacobs for introducing Aqua DNA, an intelligent digital platform that collects live data to improve wastewater network performance using smart sensors and AI-powered predictive analytics. Aqua DNA represents new standard for wastewater network management, allowing utility providers to understand system performance in real time, alerting operators to emerging incidents and avoiding damaging spills, floods, blockages and discharges. Previous case studies have shown deploying Aqua DNA in wastewater networks is expected to reduce external flooding by 14%, sewer flooding by 20%, pollution events by 20% and blockages by 13%. “Working with Jacobs, we are the first in the world to be implementing this platform at this scale and with artificial intelligence being applied for full network system learning, we believe the work we’re doing is truly transformational and will deliver a step change in wastewater performance,” said Chief Executive of United Utilities Steve Mogford. “By the end of 2022, we have detected and resolved over 1,600 operational issues, rolled out the remainder of the 20,000 sensors and enhanced telemetry at over 3,000 sites.”

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT: Small Firms

Consulting firm Mabbett & Associates Inc. for starting and transitioning, and Mabbett & Associates Ltd for building and operating one of the largest environmental planning, design and development practices in Scotland. The UK-based firm grew its staff from 44 to 115 in around 18 months – a 160% increase – and grew revenues from £3,570,000 ($4,284,000) in 2000 to £7,900,000 ($9,480,000) in 2022 – a 220% increase. Mabbett specializes in planning, design, environment, engineering and safety services for private and public sector clients. During the pandemic, Mabbett protected its staff from the economic rollercoaster, resulting in significant growth in 2022 combining organic growth with the acquisition of three specialist environmental firms. The UK-based team works on environmental projects in Uruguay, USA, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Wales, Norway, Portugal, Poland and Gibraltar, and plays a leading role in the Scottish, UK and Irish Government’s net zero carbon targets. Separately, founder Arthur Mabbett sold his controlling stock interest in Mabbett & Associates to GEG Capital Ltd in a deal announced in September 2022. Mabbett commented that the Mabbett & Associates history offers a “good case study of entrepreneurship (starting an overseas company in the UK from scratch), strategic growth and expansion, and then successfully transitioning the firm to a new owner that allows the firm to grow further due to access to enhanced capital.”

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT: Mergers & Acquisitions

Mabbett & Associates Ltd., a Scottish headquartered consulting firm specializing in planning, design, environment, engineering and safety services, for implementing an aggressive acquisition strategy across the UK and acquiring three firms in 2022 to diversify and expand geographically. Specialist consultancy GH Johnston added more planning and architectural services to Mabbett’s portfolio and a new local office in Forres, Scotland to support the distilling and space sectors. Nevis Environmental, a specialist ecology and environmental management firm, also based in Scotland, added technical depth and geographical reach to Mabbett’s renewables services business. In acquiring Nevis, Mabbett opened a new office in Carlisle to serve the north of England. GEP Environmental, a UK environmental and energy consultancy, continue to grow Mabbett’s environmental compliance, training, carbon and decarbonization services in England. This acquisition led to a new office in Winchester to service the south of England and Wales. The three acquisitions together added 45 employees and around $4 million of new revenue to Mabbett, resulting in the firm doubling in size during the year.

SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION

Mabbett & Associates Ltd, a Scottish headquartered consulting firm specializing in planning, design, environment, engineering and safety services, for launching the See a Difference, Make a Difference pledge in January 2022. Echoing Mabbett’s See a Difference tagline, the new pledge aims to make positive and lasting contributions to the communities it serves. Recognizing the importance of engaging with local communities, the pledge provides all staff with a full day of paid volunteer leave every year to allow them to Make a Difference in their own communities. Mabbett’s Make a Difference initiatives in 2022 included: Beach Clean at Muirshiel Country Park, supporting a small community food growing project, guest lecturing at university, celebrating International Women in Engineering Day, Business Fives Corporate Charity Competition, and many others.

EBJ Lifetime Business Achievement Awards

Arthur N. Mabbett, PE, QEP, RS, CSP, CHCM, DAAS, Chairman & CEO, Mabbett & Associates, Inc., Medford, MA

Arthur is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mabbett & Associates, Inc. with direct responsibility for overall company management, strategic planning, financial and general administration. Mabbett was established in Massachusetts in 1980. Mabbett has four offices along the eastern seaboard as a recognized small business and award-winning provider of environmental consulting, health and safety, and architectural/engineering design services to Federal, state and local agencies, and private commercial, institutional and industrial clients. Arthur also serves as a Senior Project Manager and project team member for EH&S technical input, as required. As an Environmental Scientist and Engineer, Arthur has over 50 years of experience in the fields of environmental auditing and permitting, industrial waste management, site assessment and restoration, pollution prevention, environmental pollution control, and occupational safety and health. Prior to establishing his own firm in 1980, he was an Associate and founded the Health and Environment Group of a Cambridge based architectural-engineering firm, and also served as an Environmental Sciences Officer/Consultant at the US Army Environmental Hygiene Agency, the US Army Academy of Health Sciences and the US Army Hawaii/Tripler Army Medical Center. As a Major in the US Army Reserve, Arthur served as a Special Assistant for Occupational and Environmental Health in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC. Mabbett founded a UK firm Mabbett & Associates Ltd. that grew to a staff of 115 and revenues to £7,900,000 in 2022 and sold his stake in Mabbett & Associates Ltd. to a private equity firm in 2022.

SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION

Pace for supporting its mission of “working together to protect our environment and improve our health” through a long-standing partnership with Water Missions International (WMI). This non-profit engineering organization develops, implements, and maintains sustainable technologies to provide safe drinking water systems, sanitation, and hygiene solutions to developing nations and disaster areas. To further support WMI, Pace and its employees have participated in the organization’s Walk for Water campaign every year since 2016 to raise funds – and awareness – for its mission. Since then, Pace employees have raised over $1 million.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Stantec for signing the Declaration of Amsterdam for LGBTIQ+ Inclusion at Work, a document developed by Workplace Pride, a non-profit organization with corporate advisors dedicated to LGBTIQ+ inclusion in the workplace through awareness, measurement, research, training, and network building. Stantec is the 39th international organization to sign the Declaration of Amsterdam, joining IBM, PwC, Shell, Microsoft, and others to commit to a safe and inclusive corporate culture. The Declaration of Amsterdam encourages: Inclusive corporate culture, working environments for LGBTIQ+ people that go beyond minimum legal requirements of equality; leadership from heterosexual allies and LGBTIQ+ role models who visibly support LGBTIQ+ inclusive workplaces; and dedicated, declared, and active collaboration between employers and LGBTIQ+ employees to realize mutually beneficial improvements. In addition, Stantec formalized a Global Pride Committee, a new addition to the company’s Inclusion and Diversity Council.

INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP: Ecosystem Restoration

Stantec for being named a partner in the United Nations (UN) Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which runs from 2021 through 2030. This global compact, signed by 70-plus countries, aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems around the world and also plays a critical role in achieving the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Stantec is the first design and engineering firm to be named an “actor” partner by the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration team. Actor partners are private sector entities that develop restoration programs and advise, support or facilitate restoration activities on the ground. Stantec’s ecosystem restoration team works with clients to reduce their carbon footprint by restoring forests and wetlands that sequester carbon, improve coastal resiliency through the restoration of estuaries and coastal wetlands, meet corporate sustainability goals through nature-based solutions, restore prairies and forests to create pollinator habitat, and meet mitigation needs and improve water quality and aquatic environments by restoring streams and wetlands.

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT: GOLD MEDAL AWARD: Large Firms $100 Million+

SWCA for a record-breaking year in 2022, surpassing $235 million in sales and shattering sales goals. Revenue was up 27% compared to 2021, which the firm attributed to being at the forefront of the environmental industry while expanding its nationwide presence, service offerings, and people-focused programs. Renewable energy boomed nationally, reflected in SWCA’s year-over-year (YOY) solar and wind energy sales growth of 50%, specifically increasing sales of offshore wind services by 435%. SWCA also saw 80% YOY gains in cultural resources work and climate-driven services. The firm established a Philadelphia office and hired a team of spill response, environmental economics, and NRDA experts. Central-East region operations were redefined to support rapid growth in the southeast. Key hires and promotions propelled data acquisition, visual resources, environmental engineering, geoarchaeology, and hydropower service offerings and helped formalize the firm’s ESG consulting practice. SWCA reached 40 offices with over 1,450 employees nationwide, adding over 230 employees in 2022. As a 100% employee-owned firm, SWCA furthered its sustainability commitment by ending single-use plastic purchasing and continued growing SWCA Gives Back with a record number of employee volunteer hours and donations.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

In April 2022, SWCA launched a companywide Future of Work workforce model that emphasizes flexibility, adaptability, and equitable support and development for all employees. We offered flexible workplace arrangements for years, but the pandemic emboldened us to formalize the model. As a 100% employee-owned firm, SWCA is committed to our vision of being the best workplace, fostering community through people-focused programs. Our workforce model provides employees with clear choices, defined expectations, and ongoing support around four established work categories: distributed, hybrid, hub, and mobile. SWCA’s multidisciplinary Future of Work task force brought the perspectives of leaders and employees together by gathering input through listening, exploratory conversations, and employee surveys. The team also developed a comprehensive intranet section packed with resources (many built in-house) in an easy-to-use format for a smooth transition and long-term success. SWCA’s spring 2022 engagement survey reported that 93% of employees were satisfied with the approach to the Future of Work model. A check-in questionnaire six months after the model launched yielded an overall 4.27 out of 5 employee satisfaction score. Formalizing our flexible workforce model enables SWCA to hire the best people, regardless of location, and do our best work while growing the company’s nationwide presence.

NEW PRACTICE: Response Management

SWCA for opening a Philadelphia, Pa. office to support clients across the country with new services in Natural Resource Damage Assessments (NRDAs), natural resource economics, and strategic environmental spill response management. SWCA’s Philadelphia office achieved over $4.2 million in sales, contributing to SWCA’s record-breaking growth in 2022. SWCA hired an established group of nine environmental consulting professionals with over 200 years of combined experience working together to plan for, respond to, and assess the environmental impacts of human-made and natural disasters. Alongside a core group in Philadelphia, staff members are distributed throughout the Eastern, Southern, and Midwestern United States, bringing expertise that aligns with SWCA’s work in environmental regulation, risk assessment, and natural resources. These new services and geographic expansion complement SWCA’s core services, allowing for smooth integration and growth within existing services, as well as nationwide collaboration on response services. This group hire allowed SWCA to build a national response team, bringing together response experts and employees specializing in natural and cultural resources, data acquisition, geospatial sciences, and more.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Project Delivery

Terracon for Terracon Compass, a real-time/on-time project delivery tool that enables clients to quickly find and view specific data to make timely, informed decisions about their projects. Advantages of Terracon Compass include tracking project milestones, viewing project site data and findings in an interactive GIS viewer, access to uploaded development and construction plans, access to hundreds of publicly available GIS data layers to visualize conditions at a project site, Terracon and client project team collaboration, and preliminary and final deliverable access, viewing and download. Clients can access all project data in one place, geo-located, with intuitive filters to find what they need. In collaboration with Terracon, clients can build a library of past projects curated online through a secured login and even years after completion can readily find a final signed deliverable.

SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION

Terracon Foundation for awarding over $3.6 million to support education, the built and natural environment, and equity since 2012. The year 2022 was the firm’s most charitable to date, with over $480,000 awarded in grants, matching gifts, and scholarships—all championed by Terracon’s employee-owners. Terracon awarded 73 community and university grants, including over $25,000 in equity grants for organizations building leadership in underrepresented communities. Funds will support causes such as amplifying BIPOC history (Putnam Museum and Science Center, Davenport, Iowa) and making STEM education more accessible to girls from underserved populations (The North Museum, Lancaster, Pa.). Terracon also funded three endowments with university partners, leaving a lasting impact for STEM students at the University of Arizona, Alamo Colleges, and University of Texas at San Antonio, complementing existing endowments at Iowa State University, Texas A&M, and University of Cincinnati. The Terracon Foundation matches employee donations through an ongoing matching gift program and during companywide giving campaigns. Matching gifts and campaigns supported Earth Day, Hurricane Ian relief, hunger relief, a school supply drive, and other causes dear to employee-owners’ hearts, yielding $35,000 in matching grants.”

PROJECT MERIT: Remediation

TerraTherm, a Cascade Company was contracted to remove free-phase non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) and reduce organic (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene [BTEX] and naphthalene) manufacturing gas plant (MGP) related impacts to below the industrial/commercial remediation objectives to the extent practicable at a confidential former MGP site in the Midwest. TerraTherm implemented the project in two phases. The company first treated a 10,789 cubic yard volume around a former MGP gas-holder then continued treatment in the adjacent 24,676 cubic yard volume. The second phase of treatment was successfully implemented around a large 8-ft diameter active sewer that ran through the treatment zone. Subsurface temperatures were monitored around the sewer throughout operations. Power input to the heaters was adjusted during treatment as needed to ensure safe temperature limits were not exceeded and the sewer was not damaged. TerraTherm’s approach combined thermal conduction heating with multi-phase extraction (MPE) to achieve diminishing returns and removed an estimated 41,000 lbs of contaminant mass from the subsurface, with an estimated additional 48,957 to 125,171 lbs of contaminant mass destroyed in situ. Final project reporting was completed in 2022.

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT: Mergers & Acquisitions

Tetra Tech, Inc. for acquiring RPS Group, a leading UK-based environmental consulting and project management firm, in a deal valued at approximately £636 million. Founded in 1970, RPS Group employs 5,000 employees in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia Pacific, and North America, delivering consulting and engineering solutions for complex projects across key service areas in energy transformation, water, program management, and data analytics. The acquisition advances Tetra Tech’s market-leading positions in water, renewable energy, and sustainable infrastructure enhanced by a combined suite of differentiated data analytics and digital technologies. “The addition of RPS aligns with our strategy to be the premier global high-end consulting and engineering firm focused on water, environment, and sustainable infrastructure; and allows us to offer our combined staff even greater professional opportunities,” said Dan Batrack, Tetra Tech chairman and CEO. Prior to the deal closing, RPS Group’s shares traded on the London Stock Exchange.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY : Ocean Monitoring

Tetra Tech for designing open-source software to support the management, accessibility, and visualization of ocean data. The Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), funded by the National Science Foundation, delivers real-time data from sensors in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to address critical questions regarding the world’s oceans. Axiom Data Science, A Tetra Tech Company, worked with the OOI cyberinfrastructure team to develop both front-end and back-end systems for data management and visualization of OOI data feeds. Axiom Data Science played a foundational role in designing and operationalizing the Data Explorer, the primary gateway for discovering, visualizing, and accessing OOI data. The Data Explorer makes it possible to search across data points, download full datasets, and compare datasets across regions and disciplines for more than 800 instruments in near real-time. In 2022, Axiom Data Science upgraded the OOI cyberinfrastructure to improve the OOI’s ability to serve ultra-high resolution data streams from next generation ocean instrumentation that span the ocean floor to the sea surface.

TECHNOLOGY MERIT: Dam Safety

Tetra Tech, in partnership with the Institute of Mine Seismology, for developing an innovative technology for monitoring tailings dams in Brazil and addressing the dangers of dam failures and improving safety in the mining industry. Tetra Tech uses an advanced application of geophones to integrate two approaches: passive seismic monitoring and ambient noise interferometry, which allows the continuous monitoring of vibrations and internal changes in a geotechnical structure based on ground motion measurements and differences in seismic wave propagation velocity. To date, Tetra Tech has commissioned more than 20 seismic systems and installed more than 180 geophones connected to 50 seismic stations. These systems continuously process collected data to support geotechnical engineers monitoring a dam’s safety conditions. The monitoring system provides a range of information that contributes to the understanding of variations in the physical properties of the structure, allowing the geotechnicians responsible for the dams to proactively manage the operational safety of the structures.

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT: Mergers & Acquisitions

TRC Companies Inc. for achieving strong organic growth and completing five strategic acquisitions following investment by Warburg Pincus in 2021. Warburg Pincus invested in partnership with TRC’s management team to accelerate TRC’s growth initiatives, including scaling the company’s compliance-focused engineering and consulting services as part of its broader ESG advisory and decarbonization efforts. Acquisitions by TRC in 2022 included: United Sciences Testing, Inc. (USTI) in air emissions; ESS Group in power and renewable energy, coastal engineering, and water resources; consulting & engineering firm Draper Aden; Blue Oak Energy in PV engineering and solar energy storage; and MagikMinds in enterprise GIS. TRC provides “environmentally focused and technology enabled” consulting, engineering and project management services for clients in mission-critical government, utility and infrastructure end-markets. TRC was formed in 1969 and maintains a staff of almost 7,000 team members across 140 offices worldwide.

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

TRC Companies Inc. for expanding its Student Training and Enrichment Program (STEP) in 2022. TRC’s college and diversity recruiting efforts have established relationships with over 25 colleges and universities determined by academic rigor, diversity and location. The purpose of STEP is to equip students with hands-on projects to practice their academic knowledge. The internship program not only gives students exposure in the field but also supports networking opportunities and invests in those students as they begin their careers. As part of TRC’s efforts to cultivate young talent, in fiscal year 2022 the company hired 368 interns, exceeding its hiring goal of 300, of which 63% were diverse. Following their internships, the company hired 107 full-time employees, exceeding TRC’s goal of 75. TRC’s goal in 2023 is 400 interns. Since 2021, TRC has conducted 48 TRC Tech Talks, information sessions sharing the vision and culture of TRC in which panelists throughout the company discuss their academic and career journey with students. According to TRC, interns allow the company to evaluate talent in anticipation of full-time hiring, learn from fresh perspectives of a younger generation, and increase employee engagement.

50 YEAR: TRC

TRC for expanding to nearly 7,000 employees across 140 offices worldwide and generating more than $1 billion in revenue in 2022. Incorporated in Connecticut in 1969, TRC has spent half a century providing cutting edge professional services in the engineering and consulting realm. From humble beginnings as The Research Corporation of New England, a meteorological and air quality analysis firm, TRC quickly expanded into the power and infrastructure markets and serves as an environmentally focused and digitally powered consulting firm focused on #ProjectsWithPurpose and making the world a better place. While growing organically, TRC has also acquired brands to expand its environmental offerings including RMT, The Payne Firm and Lockheed Martin’s Distributed Energy Solutions Business division. For more than 50 years, we have set the bar for clients who require consulting, construction, engineering, and management services, combining science with the latest technology to devise solutions that stand the test of time. Landmark projects include managing the monitoring program at the Love Canal and designing and engineering the Pentagon Solar Farm.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: Analytics

Weston Solutions, Inc. and its Enterprise Visualization and Analytics team for developing an automated, dynamic way to create, manage, and place informative environmental analytical callout boxes showing exceedances of multiple regulatory criteria. The confidential project involved displaying analytical results from thousands of samples of environmental media. The callout box contained analytical results; any combination of associated sample information such as depth, date, and analytical flag; and criteria exceedance indicators or exceedance factors. This automation was used to streamline the generation of more than 100 figures that previously took as many as seven geographic information system (GIS) analysts a full week to complete. By creating complex callout labels directly from a central database, Weston’s innovation allowed GIS analysts to create and re-create labels rapidly and consistently for use in any software that can read Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) GIS file formats. This innovation improves the quality of information presented, relieves GIS analysts from the tedious work of generating and placing labels, and greatly reduces the effort required to make complex analytical result maps.

PROJECT MERIT: PFAS

Weston Solutions, Inc. for completing Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) removal actions at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Shaw Air Force Base for former PFAS source areas caused by aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) releases that are impacting local drinking water aquifers. Weston has developed a comprehensive strategy using novel applications of traditional water and wastewater treatment systems adapted to treat PFAS in soil, surface water, and groundwater. To capture and concentrate PFAS from these media, Weston is using technologies such as soil washing with wash water treatment and recycling; 45-foot-deep, one-pass groundwater extraction and reinjection trenches; biologically active wetland filters for nutrient removal; and passive gravity flow organoclay basins for PFAS removal from groundwater and surface water. The basin application at Wright-Patterson AFB (the first of its kind, according to Weston) resulted in client savings of more than $7 million compared to conventional pressure vessel systems. Site characterization and remediation system designs were completed in 2022, and construction has begun at both facilities.

PROJECT MERIT: Remediation

Weston Solutions, Inc. and SkyTEM for providing environmental remediation services at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, former Atlas “E” Missile Site 11, Nunn, Colo., to delineate and remediate trichloroethene (TCE) groundwater impacts from historical site operations. An adjacent property was also suspected of having groundwater contamination, but traditional methods of groundwater delineation were ruled out due to access issues and the size of the contaminated groundwater plume. To overcome these obstacles, Weston and its subcontractor SkyTEM performed an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) geophysical investigation to confirm subsurface bedrock topography, which controls the distribution of TCE impacts. This innovative approach to assessment differs greatly from standard direct-push or well drilling. Results guided the selection of groundwater monitoring well locations to aid with TCE plume delineation and resulted in a greatly reduced number of groundwater wells to confirm the extent of groundwater contamination. Using the AEM approach gave the adjacent property owner the confidence to allow the Weston team access for focused well placement. This innovative application of technology provided the client substantial cost savings and fostered stronger stakeholder relationships.

BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT: Mergers & Acquisitions

WSP for continuing the rapid expansion of its global Earth & Environment (E&E) business with the acquisition of the Environment & Infrastructure business (E&I) of John Wood Group plc for a $1.81 billion. Aligned with WSP’s 2022-2024 Global Strategic Action Plan, the acquisition has significant implications for the firm and its market position. Notably, it added 6,000 personnel globally, increasing E&E staff to roughly 20,000, and greatly enhances WSP’s presence in the United States, Canada and the UK. In the United States specifically, the acquisition more than doubles the size of WSP’s E&E business to approximately 5,000 experts, creates nationwide leadership and scale, and further builds WSP’s capabilities in the water sector. The integration of E&I enriches WSP’s growing suite of services, building on the firm’s portfolio in environmental engineering, remediation consulting, environmental permitting, inspection and monitoring, and environmental management services to government, industrial, infrastructure, oil and gas, power and water. Additionally, the combined expertise of WSP and E&I in providing ESG-centered consulting further positions WSP to help clients across all sectors reduce their environmental impact and build more resilient organizations and infrastructure.

NEW PRACTICE: Equity Center of Excellence

Communities of color and underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by poor urban planning and infrastructure that can worsen public health, environmental quality and economic opportunity. WSP is recognized for establishing the Equity Center of Excellence (ECE) to address these challenges via innovative work with companies, governments, academia and other institutions. The new practice collaborates across WSP’s business to promote high standards of inclusion in its projects via equity analyses, inclusive community engagement, accessible and participatory design, and a focus on equitable outcomes. Considering indicators like race, income and pollution, the ECE is advancing work such as groundbreaking research into the disproportionate impacts of highway tolling on low-income and minority motorists; equitable transit initiatives from Raleigh to Phoenix; and a memorial acknowledging the historical use of enslaved labor to build the University of Virginia campus. Driving even broader impact, the ECE works to establish equity as an industry-wide measure of progress on policy and practice.

PROJECT MERIT: Flood Resilience

After Superstorm Sandy devastated the East Coast, the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery mobilized to protect New York’s residents and natural resources. With increased severity and frequency of flood events, Smith Pond and the adjacent Village of Rockville Centre in coastal Long Island, N.Y. became vulnerable to flooding. WSP is recognized for integrating flood resilience into the community while enhancing ecosystem function and augmenting public access to the waterway. WSP’s design addresses riverine flooding and natural resource protection up to the 100-year flood event. Protective and restorative features of the project include: Invasive plant species removal and native species planting; Design and construction of a fish ladder to reintroduce the migration of American eel and herring, including public viewing areas; Improved public connectivity with upgraded overlook areas and a 6-foot-wide ADA-accessible lighted, porous paved greenway; Upgraded parking lots with porous pavement to reduce stormwater runoff. Separately, WSP was selected by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation to design an ecological enhancement project in the Niagara River in Buckhorn Island State Park.

About the 2022 EBJ Business Achievement Awards: In October-December 2022, Environmental Business Journal solicited nominations for the EBJ Business Achievement Awards. Nominations were accepted in 200-word essays in specific categories. Final awards were determined by a committee of EBJ staff, EBJ editorial advisory board members and regular contributors. (Disclaimer: Company audits were not conducted to verify information or claims submitted with nominations).

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