Engineering and environmental firm S&ME expands via assets purchase of BBCM

Raleigh, NC— S&ME, Inc. has taken its first steps in expanding beyond its traditional Southeastern footprint by acquiring Ohio-based BBC&M Engineering, Inc.

The deal, effective October 3, results from S&ME’s purchase of the assets of BBCM.

About 75 former BBCM employees joined S&ME, increasing the company’s employment to nearly 1,100. This staff will work from 27 offices in North Carolina, Ohio, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

Though concentrated heavily in the Southeast, S&ME has completed projects throughout much of the U.S. and in the Caribbean. The addition of BBCM is a continuation of S&ME’s strategic growth plan.

Announcement of the acquisition was made in Raleigh by S&ME President Randy Neuhaus, PE. “Clients will benefit through enhanced services, as well as, access to a deeper pool of expert talent to help them solve project challenges,” Neuhaus said. “We’re excited to bring on BBCM’s expertise in geodesign services and experience with mine reclamation and earthen structures including dams, landfills and upground reservoirs.”

Since 1957 BBCM, a civil engineering firm specializing in geotechnical engineering, geodesign, environmental, materials testing and construction observation, has provided services to clients throughout the Midwest.

S&ME was founded in Raleigh in 1973. Its major service lines include geotechnical engineering; construction materials engineering and testing; environmental services, occupational health and safety; water resources and solid waste engineering; and natural and cultural resources.

Market segments served include energy, transportation, industrial, federal, state and municipal government, solid waste, ports and terminals, healthcare, education, and petroleum retailing.

Contact: Randy Neuhaus, President / CEO
(919) 872-2660
email Randy Neuhaus

New York—Leapfrogging 13 places in the rankings, S&ME, Inc., moved up to number 154 nationally on ENR’s 2011 Top 200 Environmental Firms List.

The annual listing is based on gross revenues of the firm’s reporting.  Though records are not complete, this is likely the highest ranking S&ME has achieved on the Top 200 Environmental list.  The listing shows S&ME gross revenue in environmental services at $35.7 million and reports that figure as 32% of the firm’s entire revenue for the previous year.

This ranking among the nation’s top environmental firms comes on the heels of the company’s ranking of 97^th among ENR’s 2011 Top 500 Design Firms list, which was released in April.  That ranking was 41 places higher than in 2010.

ENR (Engineering News-Record) Magazine is a construction, building and engineering magazine published by McGraw-Hill, headquartered in Rockefeller Center, New York City.

S&ME gained an Honors Award as lead engineer for Bristol Motor Speedway for natural resource permitting and stream mitigation design at the race track in Bristol.  S&ME performed stream morphological and habitat assessments, prepared a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, gained a “no-rise” certification, coordinated with regulatory agencies, and designed 2,900 feet of onsite stream enhancement that integrated stormwater management components.

The project reach of Beaver Creek at the Speedway had several exposed sewer line crossings and severely eroded banks. In-stream structures and a cellular confinement retaining wall were used to improve the stream within the limited construction corridor that accommodated existing Speedway infrastructure. The goal of the restoration was to stabilize the banks and address the geomorphologic imbalances to encourage a self-sustaining system, in contrast to the self-degrading system previously in place. The vegetated swales were designed so that they would not have to be managed differently than the surrounding area, making them easier to maintain over time. They also allowed the Speedway to continue using the grassed areas for parking during high-attendance events.

S&ME has given our client excellent, comprehensive assistance to meet its regulatory requirements and improve Beaver Creek, while fully supporting its strong sensitivity to ecological values and onsite operations. This project, providing socioeconomic benefits and overcoming sustainability challenges, is a long-term benefit to the community and to the Speedway.

Project Description

S&ME worked with client PDC Consultants to overcome difficult problems in permitting and stream location at the site of the new Cleveland, Tennessee Municipal Airport.  The team gained a Tennessee Department of Environmental and Conversation Individual Construction Stormwater Permit, one of the first in Tennessee requiring monitoring of Stormwater discharges.

S&ME performed natural resource permitting and mitigation design, including a half-mile of stream relocation for Little Chatata Creek that integrated with the site plan and met Federal Aviation Administration requirements.  S&ME also conceived a stormwater monitoring approach using automated in-stream monitors for turbidity and stage, allowing the permit’s required continuous monitoring with minimal personnel intervention.

S&ME was lead engineer for all natural-resource permitting and design for stream and wetland mitigation.  Our natural-resource services included a biological assessment, natural-resource evaluation, permitting of stream and wetland impacts. The creek had been impacted by past agricultural practices including cattle intrusion. S&ME also provided and executed a plan to continuously monitor construction stormwater leaving the site, as well as the instream monitoring stations in the creek. The project shows how unique requirements, such as limitations on tree height and wildlife attraction, can be incorporated into stream realignment while still returning adequate ecological uplift for regulatory approval.

Project Description

Through a subcontract with PDC Consultants, S&ME was responsible for stream and wetland permitting and mitigation design for the new municipal airport in Cleveland, Tennessee.  S&ME provided natural resource services including a biological assessment, natural resource evaluation, Rosgen survey, No-Rise Certification, permitting of stream and wetland impacts, and design of a half-mile of stream relocation for Little Chatata Creek that integrated with the site plan and met Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations.

Extensive regulatory coordination has been performed with multiple agencies, including the three lead permitting agencies, the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Tennessee Valley Authority.  The project has also involved S&ME as the technical lead for the public meeting held by the permitting agency as part of the permitting public notice process.  The stream relocation plan utilized natural channel design techniques modified to address FAA design standards for water resources and vegetative canopy.  Extensive modeling of the proposed stream relocation was performed by S&ME using USACE Hydrologic Engineering Center – River Analysis System (HEC-RAS) to calculate flood elevations in the planned stream corridor and demonstrate a no-rise condition.  The modeling included a new 700 ft. long box culvert that allows the new runway to cross the realigned stream.

S&ME also provided and executed a plan to continuously monitor construction stormwater.  An Individual Construction Stormwater Permit issued by TDEC is one of the first in Tennessee requiring monitoring of stormwater discharges.  S&ME devised an innovative approach using automated in-stream monitors for turbidity and stage (converted to discharge using a rating curve) that allowed the permit’s required continuous monitoring with minimal personnel intervention.

Our client has expressed satisfaction and appreciation for our efforts in overcoming challenges to meet and exceed the project’s rigid needs and schedule.  We worked closely with the client’s and owner’s representatives to complete tasks on schedule and within budget.

S&ME was lead engineer for Bristol Motor Speedway (Speedway) for natural resource permitting and stream restoration design and implementation at the Speedway in Bristol, Tennessee.  S&ME provided natural resource services including a stream morphological and habitat assessment, a “no-rise” certification, Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) preparation, coordination with regulatory agencies, and design of 3,200 feet of onsite stream enhancement that integrated stormwater management components.

S&ME worked to enhance and restore stream hydraulic and habitat functions along an existing stream corridor, in a highly developed urban setting with adjacent infrastructure encroaching on the channel.

S&ME’s design of the Beaver Creek in-stream structures:

• stabilized adjacent banks
• hid sewer crossings from view
• protected crossings from debris
• improved the pool habitat within the stream channel

Where feasible, S&ME maintained existing mature trees to preserve aesthetics of the stream, reduce the effect of thermal pollution on the stream following construction, and reduce the cost of replanting.  Our establishment of vegetative swales and the inlet retrofit provide pretreatment of stormwater runoff, improving water quality.

The Speedway was grateful for the technical solutions we brought to bear on the project.  We worked closely with the owner to complete tasks on schedule and within budget.  Our client has expressed satisfaction and appreciation for S&ME’s achievements in overcoming challenges to meet and exceed the project’s rigid needs and schedule.  Speedway Vice President of Operations & Development Scott Hatcher said, “BMS is well pleased with the project.  The aesthetics and overall appearance have been enhanced with the structures in the stream as well as bank stabilization.  We had a lot of positive comments during our August race”.

Broker Breeze
Wilmington, NC

Recently, WRAR selected S&ME, Inc. to provide the Special Inspections and Testing Services on the new WRAR building on Sir Tyler Drive.

S&ME also offers free consultations to REALTORS® with questions regarding particular sites or a project. Typical questions involve environmental issues such as: CAMA Permits, Wetlands, Septic Tank Permits, Underground Storage Tanks, Contaminated Soils, etc.

They can advise you on the most practical and cost effective solutions. Speaking with one of their Environmental Consultants or Engineers can many times save you &/or your client a lot of time and money. S&ME encourages you to call them about issues you’re having regarding : (1) Environmental or Natural Resources Issues (2) Soil Science/Geotechnical Engineering (3) Construction Testing QA/QC or Special Inspections Services.

For more information on S&ME, Inc., please visit: http://www.smeinc.com.

Spartanburg District 6′s new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program

For a select group of students at Dorman High School’s freshman campus, the experiments, the information gathering, the team building and independent thinking are becoming routine. It’s the foundation for Spartanburg District 6′s new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program, offered for the first time this year. The program’s mission is to inspire, prepare and encourage students to pursue STEM-related college programs and careers.

An initial cohort group of 56 ninth-graders will be the program’s pilot class. Students will have the opportunity to follow a STEM track through to graduation, then carry their knowledge and experience into the college realm and job market.

Thomas Webster, District 6 director of science education, said STEM allows students to gain relevant experience, either in the classroom (both at Dorman and R.D. Anderson Applied Technology Center) or eventually through internships. The STEM program also will benefit from partnerships with Mary Black Health System, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Converse College, Spartanburg Community College, University of South Carolina Upstate, Wofford College, Duer/ Carolina Coil, S&ME, Wade Crow Engineering and Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“We want them excited and knowledgeable,” Webster said. “We want hands-on as opposed to a theoretical understanding of the material.”

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S&ME, Inc. Selected as Consultant for Construction of 31-Acre Belews Creek Steam Station Ash Landfill

SCOPE AND SIZE OF THE PROJECT: S&ME, Inc. awarded contract to assist Duke Energy to design, permit and construct a state-of-the-art facility that minimized environmental impacts to the adjacent Belews Creek and Belews Lake. The landfill site is bordered on two sides with water, raising concerns that disposal operations could pose a harmful impact to the lake and groundwater.

OTHER CONSULTANTS IN THE PROJECT: Perigon Engineering provided electrical engineering services.

The Belews Creek Steam Station Ash Landfill is a high-tech 31-acre, industrial landfill under development in Stokes County, North Carolina. The landfill, owned by Duke Energy, is located adjacent to Belews Creek, which empties into Belews Lake. The facility is being developed in three phases. S&ME was selected to work as the consultant to Duke Energy for Phase I, and our work was substantially completed and ready for use in October 2006. For Phase I, we provided permitting (including environmental), engineering design, construction administration and construction quality assurance services.

Concerns over environmental impacts to the surrounding ecology of the lake and groundwater threatened permitting delays. But S&ME developed an innovative approach to design and permit this complex project and design and oversee construction of the state-of-the-art facility for Duke Energy within schedule and budget.

S&ME’s permitting services consisted of an application for Permit to Construct and a Hydrogeological Design Report submitted to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) Solid Waste Section. In addition, numerous other agencies were involved in the permitting process at federal and state levels.

The permit application for Phase I construction entailed:

• Engineering plan
• technical specifications
• facility plan
• drawings
• calculations
• construction quality control plan
• operations plans

Engineering services for Phase I included design of the:

• landfill
• access roads
• erosion and sedimentation control
• leachate lift station
• leachate storage facilities
• geosynthetic liner systems
• stormwater management facilities
• borrow areas
  • leachate conveyance systems
  • leachate force mains
  • realignment of facility road

S&ME managed the bid process for the initial 31-acre Phase I, and prepared construction bid documents, specifications, and construction drawings. Construction involved 1.1 million cubic yards of earthwork, 4.5 million square feet of geosynthetics, approximately three miles of access roads, a 3,500 foot facility road realignment, stormwater management facilities, erosion and sedimentation control, borrow areas, leachate collection and removal system, leachate storage facilities, leachate conveyance system, leachate lift station and leachate force mains. S&ME coordinated the pre-bid meeting, contractor’s pre-qualifications, and assisted in the evaluation of bids with Duke Energy.

S&ME was responsible for construction management of the $11.6 million project starting in April 2006 and finishing in October to completion in 2006. We provided construction quality assurance; soil and geosynthetic testing services; existing observation well abandonment services; and monitoring well installation and dedicated pumps and will install dedicated pumps during the construction of the new facility. S&ME is responsible for the certification of the construction and is submitting the Application for Permit to Operate to NCDENR Solid Waste Section.

This project won an Engineering Excellence Award in 2007.