Picking Up The Pieces - Brownfields in a Post-RDA Califonria

In Feb 2012, the California state legislature won the legal battle to dismantle community redevelopment agencies (CRAs), reallocating roughly $1.7 billion in local property taxes away from brownfield cleanup towards the state’s budget deficit. In the midst of a recession, proponents argued that funds would be better spent on education and public safety, but the move was highly controversial and resulted in significant public outcry (and litigation).

Why? Because, at the time, only redevelopment agencies held certain powers to assess and clean up properties with environmental contamination. With authority granted in the Polanco Redevelopment Act, CRAs could identify blighted properties in specific redevelopment areas, coordinate a remedial action plan with the Department of Toxic Substance Control (DTSC) and State Water Board, and sue responsible parties for the cost of cleanup.

One of the most important features of the Polanco Act, however, was the provision for immunity from liability. If site cleanup was conducted in accordance with an approved remedial action plan, then the agency was immune from liabilities associated with previous environmental contamination. This immunity extended to those who entered into agreements with the CRA after the acceptance of the remedial action plan (subsequent purchasers, developers, lenders, etc.), thereby encouraging investment in high-risk properties.

Assembly Bill 440 (Gatto), signed by Gov. Brown in October 2013, was designed to reinvigorate brownfield cleanup by granting the power once held by redevelopment agencies to cities, counties, and housing authorities. Under the new bill, municipalities and successor agencies are re-tooled with the authority to initiate site cleanup and recoup costs from responsible parties with added provisions, such as:

Wider jurisdiction. Cities, counties, and housing authorities can use the AB 440 powers anywhere within their jurisdiction, not just areas designated for redevelopment.

Expanded rights. Agencies now have the right to order a property owner to provide a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA). This means a city has the right to see any existing Phase I documents and/or can force the owner to prepare one if needed, at their own expense.

Liability Protections. Similar to the Polanco Act, AB 440 offers agencies immunity from liability for release(s) addressed in the clean-up plan, transferable to future purchasers of the property and financiers. It is important to note that protections do not apply to those responsible for release of contaminants and associated parties prior to the clean-up plan, to those responsible for hazardous substances not identified in the plan, or those who obtain approval of the clean-up plan through fraud, nondisclosure, etc.

Owners and municipalities should be aware of this opportunity as it may lead to more infill projects.

 

For more information regarding AB 440 and related topics, contact Norman Eke at neke@converseconsultants.com

Converse Consultants is an industry leader in geotechnical engineering, and environmental, groundwater and materials sciences. We are celebrating our 70th year of service.
For more information about Converse please contact Beth George at bgeorge@converseconsultants.com

 

Harnessing The Wind - Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project

California became the first state to develop large wind farms in the early 1980s and the unique geography of the Tehachapi area makes it one of the world’s leading wind energy centers. Prevailing northwesterly winds blow through the passes in the Tehachapi Mountains that connect the San Joaquin Valley with the Mojave Desert.

The Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP) provides the electrical facilities necessary to interconnect new wind turbine-based electrical generation in excess of 700 megawatts (MW), and up to approximately 4,500 MW, from the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area (TWRA).

SCE Graphic

 

The project consists of over 250 miles of new and upgraded high-voltage transmission facilities extending from Eastern Kern County to the city of Ontario. Much of the work was completed in existing SCE rights-of-way to reduce environmental impacts.

 

The Tehachapi project helps California expand its renewable energy capabilities.  Converse Consultants provided geotechnical monitoring services for the transmission lines, including pile installation and sound walls.  We have worked with Southern California Edison for many years, and are proud of our involvement in this major project.

For more information about the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project contact SCE at TehachapiRenewableTransmission@sce.com

 

Converse Consultants is an industry leader in geotechnical, environmental, groundwater and materials sciences. We are celebrating our 70th year of service.
For more information about Converse please contact Beth George at bgeorge@converseconsultants.com

 

The Las Vegas Veterans Memorial-Honoring Those Who Serve

The Las Vegas Veterans Memorial project is a community effort to recognize and honor our veterans and their service to the country. The sacrifice made by those who serve in our nation's military affect not just those in Las Vegas, or the United States, but many parts of the world.

The public recognition of the importance of this sacrifice is what led the Las Vegas Veterans Memorial Board of Directors to move forward with the monument.  Their motto is "To show appreciation and bring recognition to the commitment and sacrifices our Veteran’s and their Families have endured throughout our country’s history by establishing a Veterans Memorial".

 After an intense competition the Board selected Douwe Blumberg from a field of 200 artists to create the Memorial.  Blumberg has completed more than 200 projects, including the “America’s Response” Special Operations Monument placed by Ground Zero in New York City. Within the last 18 months alone, he has installed five large outdoor pieces for cities across the country.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held in November, 2015. The memorial is on a two-acre park setting on the grounds of the Grant Sawyer State Building and will  feature 18 statues, each around 7-8 feet tall, surrounded by granite memorial walls with explanatory narrative.  The pathways in the park include commemorative bricks honoring a veteran by name, branch and dates of service.

Three soldiers rescuing an injured warrior and a family group will face the soldier vignette. This is the central focus of the Memorial. Ten historical background figures represent veterans of America’s past wars.

Dedication for the Memorial is scheduled for May 27, 2016.  This world-class Memorial will inspire many generations in the Las Vegas area and honor those who put their lives on the line to gain and preserve our freedom.

Converse Consultants is proud to be part of this important project.  We donated the geotechnical design reports for the memorial and park.  Converse actively seeks out ways to honor our veteran and active duty military personnel.

For more information about the Las Vegas Veterans Memorial visit their website at http://lasvegasveteransmemorial.org/.

Converse Consultants is an industry leader in geotechnical, environmental, groundwater and materials sciences. We are celebrating our 70th year of service.
For more information about Converse please contact Beth George at bgeorge@converseconsultants.com

Reviving History - Los Angeles County Hall of Justice

The 1994 Northridge, California, earthquake caused extensive damage to many buildings in the Los Angeles area, including the historic Hall of Justice.

Built in 1924, the HOJ contained the County courts, Sheriff department, Coroner, District Attorney, and the County jail. The building famously housed Charles Manson while he was waiting trial; and was the site of the Marilyn Monroe and Robert F. Kennedy autopsies.

The $245 million repair and renovation project, begun in August of 2011, brought this Beaux Arts building back to its original beauty.  Clark Construction Company, the design builder, and AC Martin achieved a LEED Gold certification. At the time of its completion in August, 2014, it was the largest project ever delivered by the County Department of Public Works, Architect and Engineering Division.

The renovation called for converting the structure from a mixed use (office, court, and jail) to an office for the Sheriff’s Department and District Attorney and upgrading the structural seismic resistance to comply with current building codes. 

The project includes the structural demolition of the existing 11^th and 13^th floors, retrofit of structural and non-structural elements to meet current seismic performance requirements, and tenant improvements throughout the building. The project also includes a 10-story parking garage with five levels of subterranean parking.

As part of the historic restoration, each of the 1,600 windows were taken apart so that the lead-base paint could be removed before replacement. This was included in the original construction schedule.

The 14-story structure was constructed with a steel frame encased in concrete, concrete floor slabs, granite exterior veneer and hollow clay tile interior partition walls. While workers were performing seismic upgrades to the structural support members they discovered the steel beams were coated in lead-based paint before encasement in concrete. This led to thousands of hours of additional work and a $6 million change order to the project.

Converse Consultants provided geotechnical and environmental services to the County of Los Angeles, Department of Public Works during the preliminary design Hall of Justice Repair and Reuse project. During construction we conducted additional hazardous materials surveys and prepared remediation plans, and provided materials testing and inspection.

Converse is proud to have worked with the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works for 60 years.  Future Quick Conversations posts will spotlight some of the amazing projects we've been privileged to be part of.

For more information, please contact Beth George at bgeorge@converseconsultants.com.

 

Engineers are Real-World Heroes

One day last month my oldest grandson announced that he wanted to be a hero when he grows up. When asked what kind of hero, he said that he wants to "go to poor places and build pipes that bring them clean water. And I want to give them TV." He's 9, and that's his vision of heroism.

Aside from bursting with pride, I was intrigued with the concept that this boy had decided that helping others is heroic. And helping others in a concrete manner; building pipelines in poor areas to bring them clean water. Then it occurred to me that this is what engineers do every day.

It's not much of a leap to see engineers as heroes. They use math to design amazing things that make people's lives better. Whether it be a roadway surface that lasts longer, thereby saving tax dollars, to gamechanging water treatment plants in 'poor' places, engineers dream. And dream big.

The dreams are realized at the university level, where a team of students at UCR recently developed a reusable debris filter to make storm drains more effective.

Firms are designing water desalination plants to make better use of existing resources. Bridge engineers are designing safer structures that can withstand earthquakes. European and Asian engineers have just about perfected high-speed rail, and are bringing their expertise to our shores.

There is a straight line from my grandson with a dream to Elon Musk, who makes his dreams happen.
Engineers are, indeed, heroes.

Celebrating 70 Years



In 1946, Professor Frederick J. Converse established Converse Consultants (Converse) in Pasadena, California to provide the construction industry with soils mechanics. Converse is an employee-owned corporation, with 9 offices and 100 employees throughout the United States – California (Monrovia, Redlands, Costa Mesa and Palm Desert), Nevada (Las Vegas, Reno, and Elko), Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.




St. Louis Arch

We provide professional services in the fields of geotechnical engineering, engineering geology, groundwater sciences, environmental sciences, and soils and materials testing and inspection. Our mission is to work together with our clients to provide them with responsive and quality services, resulting in the development of long-term relationships.



BART Transbay Tube

 Over the last 70 years we've had the privilege of working on some outstanding projects. These include foundation recommendations for the BART Transbay Tube, the St. Louis Arch and the Castaic Forebay Dam and Powerplant. 

Other projects of note are the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge (concrete testing), Jersey Gardens Mall (foundation settlement design) and environmental studies for 125-miles of transportation corridor in Southern California.



Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge

Looking at our history is great fun and quite inspiring.  Peering into our future, however, is even more exciting!  We see opportunities for responsible growth, and the opening of new markets, all while maintaining our steadfast attention on providing quality service.



Castaic Powerplant

We'll be announcing some fun events to celebrate our 70th anniversary soon.  Until then, follow us on social media to keep up to date with our amazing company!



For more information about Converse Consultants please contact Beth George at bgeorge@converseconsultants.com

 

We're All Over The Place!

Converse is thrilled to announce some new digs! Our Costa Mesa office has relocated across the street to 3176 Pullman Street, Ste. 108 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714-444-9660 Office Manager: Laura Tanaka And we have finally found the right spot for our Palm Desert office! 42280 Beacon Hill Ste. D-9 Palm Desert, CA 92211 760-610-2617 Office Manager: Hashmi Quazi