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National Flood Safety Awareness Week – March 15-19

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03/12/2010 - RICHMOND, Va. — Flooding is the most common natural disaster in Virginia, and it can be costly. Just one inch of water in a home or office can cost about $8,000 for cleanup, according to state health and safety officials.

Flooding cleanup can include replacing drywalls, baseboards, floor coverings, furniture and appliances, various other personal belongings and some utilities and heating equipment.

Homeowners and business insurance policies typically do not cover flooding. As spring flooding season approaches, Virginians should talk now with their agents about flood insurance because there is normally a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins. Flood insurance is also available to renters.

"Historically, Virginia has experienced more than $400 million in flood damage each decade since the 1950s," said Michael Cline, state coordinator for the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM). "Having flood insurance is an important way to protect yourself from major, unexpected losses."

Virginians don't have to live in high risk areas to be at risk. Even a very small stream or dry creek bed can overflow and create flooding. About 25 percent of insurance claims for flooding happen outside of special flood hazard areas, yet just 4.3 percent of Virginia households in low- to moderate-risk areas are covered with flood insurance protection, according to Cline.

Flood insurance pays benefits even if a federal disaster is not declared. Federal disaster assistance is available only if the president declares a disaster, and more than 90 percent of all U.S. disasters are not presidentially declared.

Here are some reasons why it will benefit contacting insurance agents now to talk about the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Talking to an agent will also provide answers as to what flood insurance does and does not cover:

  • Spring flooding is almost here
  • There is a usually a 30-day waiting period before coverage begins
  • Coverage is relatively inexpensive
  • Renters can buy flood insurance and/or contents coverage for personal belongings or business inventory; landlords are only responsible for insurance on buildings
  • Basement coverage includes cleanup expense and repair or replacement of items, such as furnaces, water heaters, washers, dryers, air conditioners, freezers and pumps
  • You do not have to repay flood insurance benefits as you do with disaster-related assistance loans
  • You can receive payments for flood-related losses even if no disaster was declared
  • New flood insurance rate maps are being updated and will be available soon too more accurately reflect flood risks in communities
  • If you are not in a high hazard area now but close to one, it may be worthwhile to get flood insurance now at a lower rate in case your risk changes
  • Buying flood insurance is the best thing you can do to protect your home, business and your family's financial security from a flood

Craney Island receives Virginia Department of Environmental Quality permit

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03/15/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, and the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) received a permit approval March 11 from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) for the Craney Island Eastward Expansion.

The Virginia water protection permit, valid for 15 years from the date of issuance, authorizes construction of the expansion and the mitigation plan components. One such piece is the creation of two new dredged material disposal cells to extend the life of the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area beyond 2025. This will ultimately lay the groundwork for construction of a new port facility for Hampton Roads.

Speaking about the permit approval, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell stated the permit approval is critical to the success and completion of Craney Island and future growth for the Port of Virginia.

"The economic impact of this permit approval goes beyond Craney Island. This project will generate thousands of jobs and millions of dollars in revenue for the Hampton Roads area as well as the state," said McDonnell.

According to McDonnell, construction of the Craney Island Eastward Expansion is anticipated to generate 1,176 jobs with annual wages of $36 million. "Over time the project will generate over 54,000 jobs with wages of $1.7 billion and state and local tax revenues of $155 million; the project will generate $5 billion in economic impacts for the Commonwealth annually," he added.

Pending funding from the VPA and Corps, the first phase of the marine terminal is planned to be operational by 2017.

Deployed personnel continue to receive support from district

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03/17/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — Employees from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, have a long-standing history of supporting fellow team members who volunteer for deployments in overseas contingency operations.

Nearly five years ago, Jerri Wehrle, district computer engineer, started the family support group – a team of volunteers who provide support and guidance to civilian employees and their loved ones, many of which have never experienced the challenges that deployments bring.

Since starting the initiative, Wehrle and the support group have packaged dozens of boxes destined for Iraq and Afghanistan, exchanged countless E-mails, coordinated numerous video-teleconferences, placed countless phone calls and provided resources to family members spanning from administrative and financial to legal matters. The group also tracks and sends birthday cards, gift cards and even flowers on special occasions, such as Mother's Day and anniversaries.

In response to the holiday care package he received last December, district construction representative Johnnie Saunders expressed his gratitude to district employees and partners who made it possible. In the past, donations have been provided by district employees as well as people from the Abingdon regulatory office, Fort Lee, Great Bridge, Target, private architectural and engineering firms, and a large host of individuals.

"This was such a blessing, and so generous of everyone to send such a big box of goodies, which gives me the opportunity to share these gifts with my friends here in Kabul," said Saunders.

While deployed, district employees in Kabul and other areas fulfill important functions as resident engineers, program managers, construction representatives, architects, real estate specialists, economists and geographers.

"Some of my friends did not even receive a gift from their family, so your kindness and generosity is being felt by many others here. Thank you so much for that," Saunders added.

Newly appointed Family Support Group Coordinator Lois Wilkins plans to continue sending care packages destined for district employees thousands of miles away from their co-workers and loved ones. "We would like to let our folks know we are thinking of them by sending care packages quarterly," said Wilkins.

The Family Support Group is scheduled to box goods March 30 for currently deployed employees and those scheduled to deploy in support Operation New Dawn in Iraq and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. To help with shipping costs, the Fort Norfolk employee's welfare council provided a $200 donation to the support group.

"Because there is not funding for this effort, we will continue to rely on donations for the care packages," said Wilkins.

Individuals interested in joining the Family Support Group, donating goods or providing monetary donations for shipping costs are encouraged to contact Lois Wilkins in the emergency management office for more information.

Currently deployed team members:

  • DebbiSu Cassady, Ft. Eustis area office – Afghanistan
  • Chuck Copeland, logistics - Iraq
  • Travis Davidson, planning, programs and project management division - Afghanistan
  • David Linn: operations division - Afghanistan
  • CPT Chris Pelton, Ft. Lee Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) office - Afghanistan
  • Johnnie Saunders, logistics - Afghanistan
  • Glenn Seay, logistics - Iraq
  • Jerry Swean, hydraulics and hydrology - Afghanistan
  • Herman Wine, planning, programs and project management division - Afghanistan

Team members scheduled to deploy:

  • John Bernard, Ft. Lee BRAC office - Afghanistan
  • Walter Kloth, technical services division - Afghanistan
  • Rob Marshall, real estate – Afghanistan
  • John Rowland, Langley resident office - Afghanistan
  • Debbie Santiago, programs and project management division - Afghanistan

New Army Training Support Center under construction

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03/17/2010 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — The U.S. Army broke ground March 16 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis for a new $13.6 million Army Training Support Center, or ATSC, headquarters.

"This is truly an historic day for the Soldiers, civilians and contractors of ATSC, who have waited patiently since the project's original planning in 1981," said Col. Mark G. Edgren, ATSC's commander.

The 56,700 square-foot military construction project is managed by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the 733rd Mission Support Group's Civil Engineer Division. The project contractor is Homeland Contracting, Inc., a woman-owned minority small business, based in Virginia Beach, Va.

The new ATSC headquarters, set for completion in spring 2011, includes administrative offices, special work areas, classrooms, conference rooms, storage areas, mailroom, and video and telecommunication spaces.

The central headquarters brings ATSC employees together on a site where 17 World War II-era wooden buildings previously stood. The four separate locations that housed ATSC personnel and their equipment had begun to deteriorate and created unsafe working conditions.

ATSC delivers integrated products, services and infrastructure to enable education and full-spectrum training of today's soldier.

Project funding was provided by Congress through a military construction appropriation for fiscal year 2009, said Jonathan Jones, Corps project manager. "This project will provide a high-tech, energy-efficient facility that will greatly improve employee morale and allow ATSC to safely continue its important Army mission," added Jones.

Dredged material facility reopens to recreational visitors

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03/19/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — The Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area is scheduled to reopen for recreational visitors April 2 on a limited basis. After being closed to visitors due to pipeline construction, seeding operations and road work, visitors will be able to visit the facility from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Fridays.

Once named Craney Point by the early English settlers who thought cranes inhabited the island, Craney Island was actually inhabited by white and blue herons. Craney is an attractive staging and feeding area for migratory shore birds and waterfowl. Before Craney was built, only straight shoreline existed; the area now offers 2,500 acres of prime waterfront property for birds, less disturbed than a public beach where the breeding birds normally rest. Thousands of birds migrating up and down the East Coast stop at Craney Island choose to nest on the island and raise their young.

Due to the vibrant wildlife, Craney Island has formed its own ecosystem, with a community of feral cats, wild dogs and red foxes that have, in some instances, destroyed nesting birds.

According to Sam McGee, chief of the Craney Island project office, "Nearly ninety nine percent of wildlife activity goes on transparent to our daily operations."

In the past, the Norfolk District has received recognition for the creation, protection and preservation of a critical bird habitat. Although Craney Island is not a recreational facility and does not have the resources of a traditional recreational facility, it is open for recreational use. Visitor logs are maintained by staff members to track the number of recreational fishermen, crabbers, Audubon Society members and birdwatchers that enjoy the ever-changing and dynamic site.

Because of its proximity to the Hampton Roads waterways, Craney Island offers a low-cost method to dispose materials that have been pulled up during harbor deepening and maintenance dredging projects. In addition to providing a cost-effective alternative for dredged material, Craney Island stimulates ideal breeding conditions for bird species that are endangered, threatened or of special concern.

Individuals interested in visiting Craney Island are encouraged to call the facility project office at (757) 484-1021 to confirm that the facility is open.

2010 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers budget: Facts and Figures

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03/23/2010 - Washington — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, is one of 11 Army direct reporting units and is the world's largest public engineering, design and construction agency. Under the office of the chief of engineers in Washington, D.C., its 35,000 employees comprise a worldwide network of eight divisions, 40 subordinate districts, two laboratories and one engineer research and development center providing quality, responsive engineering service.

USACE receives funding from many different sources in order to provide vital public engineering services to strengthen the nation, energize the economy, and reduce risk from disasters. The stewardship of these funds is predominately executed through USACE's Civil Works (CW) and Military Programs (MP) activities.

Funding sources

USACE receives federal funds through a number of different appropriations and trust funds. These funding sources include:

  • Annual Civil Works appropriation
  • Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund
  • Inland Waterways Trust Fund
  • American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
  • Defense Department Appropriations Act
  • Coastal Wetlands Restoration Trust Fund
  • Permanent Appropriations
  • Rivers and Harbors Contributed Funds
  • Disaster Relief and Recovery Supplemental Appropriations
  • Special Recreation User Fees
  • Reimbursable Programs

Fiscal Year 2010 (FY10, Oct. 1, 2009-Sept. 30, 2010) funding

In FY10, USACE has funds totaling $48.1 billion available to execute its CW and MP activities. This total includes funds that remain from the $6.6 billion CW FY09 supplemental appropriation and other appropriations that have been carried over from previous years. Broken down by program area, this includes:

  • Civil Works -- $7.3 billion
  • CW ARRA -- $2.4 billion
  • Supplemental and carry-over -- $10.2 billion
  • Total CW -- $19.9 billion

  • Military Programs -- $25.8 billion
  • MP ARRA -- $2.4 billion
  • Total MP -- $28.2 billion

Facts and figures

  • USACE will execute a CW and MP budget totaling $48.1 billion in FY10.
  • The FY09 appropriated $6.6 billion CW supplemental funding of which $1.6 billion has been obligated as of January 2010. In FY09, $1.3 billion was obligated.
  • Total USACE spending was more than $41 billion in FY09, including ARRA, CW supplemental, MP and CW funds.
  • USACE's total budget was $12 billion in 2003. The increase indicates the confidence the American people have placed in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to perform critical services on behalf of the nation.

District employees to celebrate Earth Day

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03/30/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is poised to host the second annual Earth Day Symposium at the Waterfield Building Wednesday, April 21.

Christy Morton, an energy conservation specialist for Virginia Natural Gas, will be on hand to provide district employees information about "going green" at home. This year's event is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Based in Norfolk, Virginia Natural Gas provides natural gas service to more than 264,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Southeastern Virginia. The conservation tips, programmable thermostats, weatherization kits and energySMART initiatives offered by the company align with the Army's Earth Day theme: "Sustaining the Environment for a Secure Future."

More than 50 district employees attended last year's symposium, which featured experts from Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse providing information about energy efficiency at home, including lighting options, fireplace dampers and doors, insulation, air filters, weather-stripping and energy efficient appliances. Stephen Decker and Nancy Hankins of Norfolk District's regulatory office also participated in last year's encouraging co-workers to implement eco-friendly office practices such as sharing large electronic files, such as regulations and manuals.

Each year, Earth Day is celebrated throughout the month of April, with traditional observances scheduled April 22.

In spring 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day in response to the lack of legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect the environment such as the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. In December of the same year, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues - the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Shortly thereafter, President Richard Nixon and Congress established the EPA in response to the growing public demand for cleaner water, air and land.

Engineer returns to alma mater to highlight Corps projects using Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design

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03/31/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — Gary Szymanski, chief of cost engineering for the technical services division for the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will return to his alma mater Tuesday, April 13 for the second annual Engineering Unplugged conference.

Szymanski, a 1987 graduate of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, will be a guest speaker at the "all green, all technology" conference which provides a one-day opportunity for environmental leaders to share real-world applications yielding measurable returns on investments in three areas: green buildings, energy conservation/alternative energy and greenhouse gases.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, better known as LEED, success stories at the Norfolk District will be the topic of discussion during Szymanski's panel discussion at ODU's Ted Constant Convocation Center.

Many of the projects Szymanski has been involved with have achieved LEED Silver ratings by the U.S. Green Building Council. As a civil engineer, Szymanski is an integral part of the Base Realignment Commission, or BRAC, support team involved in the planning and design of many BRAC projects at military installations such as the Logistics University, Tactical Support Equipment Department facility and dining facility at Fort Lee, Va.

Szymanski said he plans to discuss two Norfolk District projects: The completed Sustainment Center of Excellence at Fort Lee and the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, which is still under construction. "Both projects will shed light on sustainable site practices implemented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers," Szymanski said.

"I am looking forward to the opportunity to highlight an exceptional building that we have constructed as CASCOM's Sustainment Center of Excellence, or SCOE, and the advancement in our implementation of LEED," he added.

The $50 million SCOE facility is a four-story 218,579 square-foot structure situated on 11 acres. Some of its many LEED features include a white roof that reflects the sun and helps maintain lower temperatures within the building, lighting controlled by central software and infrared motion sensors to help conserve energy. There will also be two dry ponds that contain thousands of garden ground cover plants and grasses to retain and utilize rainwater runoff.

Fort Belvoir's 1.3-million-square-foot joint military hospital was also engineered to minimize impact on the outside environment and will receive silver status through the international green building rating system. Of its many eco-friendly features, the hospital has swooped-shaped roofs to collect rainwater into an irrigation system for the healing garden patients to view from all waiting rooms. Once completed, the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital will become part of an integrated health care network providing world-class medical services to the nation's wounded warriors and their families.

"Sustainable site practices have helped reduce the impacts that our facilities have on the natural and manmade environment, including protection of habitat and natural resources, water use efficiency, light pollution, heat effects from pavements, community connectivity and reductions in construction waste," said Szymanski, who has 25 years experience in sustainable site engineering.

A state-wide initiative, Engineering Unplugged is presented by the Virginia Applied Technology and Professional Development Center of ODU. Attendees will earn continuing education credits while learning the latest about environmental issues facing manufacturing, architecture/design, transportation, engineering, military construction and facilities management. For the first time, ODU will offer live and on-demand video streaming of the conference for attendees unable to travel to Norfolk.


Final resting place for pilot whale is at district facility

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04/08/2010 - PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Norfolk District's dredged material management area serves many uses, which now includes a final resting place for a stranded pilot whale that was euthanized last week.

Representatives from the Virginia Aquarium and Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries came to the aid of an ailing pilot whale last weekend when it was stranded in shallow waters off the Elizabeth River near Craney Island in Portsmouth.

"After examining the whale's condition it was evident the whale was very sick. Members of the aquarium's stranding team euthanized the male pilot whale to relieve its suffering," said Trish Bargo, stranding team technician for the aquarium.

Bargo noted several setbacks in relocating the pilot whale Monday to bring it ashore at the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, or CIDMMA. One setback was marking the whale with a buoy during low tide when it was visible and strategically planning to tow the 2,000 pound mammal using high powered motorcraft during high tide.

With the help of Sea Tow, the Virginia Aquarium stranding team successfully towed the pilot whale to the east side of Craney Island Tuesday afternoon during high tide. Three Craney Island staff members, including facility manager Sam McGee, were on-site to provide assistance bringing the nearly 16-foot whale on shore at CIDMMA.

The team used a heavy-equipment excavator to place the pilot whale north of the bulkhead, just a few hundred yards where another stranded whale was buried in 2007 after it was found floating in the Hampton Roads harbor.

March 26, 2007 marks the date that Craney staff and the aquarium's stranding team buried a 60-foot, 20-ton female fin whale at CIDMMA. Seen floating in the waters near Lamberts Point in Norfolk, Va., the fin whale's cause of death was "direct contact with a large shipping vessel," according to aquarium officials.

"It's sad to see what happened to these mammals but we are here to help however we can," said B.J. Jackson, engineering equipment operator at Craney.

Jackson provided support to the marine biologists examining the pilot whale by lifting and shifting it so that the stranding team could assess the whale's condition.

Sarah Mallette, stranding technician for the aquarium, spent a great deal of time Tuesday afternoon measuring the pilot whale's lacerations, taking photographs of the mammal from various angles and documenting it's condition.

"The more we can document, the more we can learn," said Mallette, one of the aquarium staff members who performs mammal necropsies before burial at CIDMMA.

Like a human autopsy, the necropsy will provide clues to why the whale died. A necropsy will also include a full examination and dissection of the pilot whale to get blood and urine samples as well as the removal of vital organs to support research of pilot whales.

Since the stranding response program's inception more than 17 years ago, dedicated team members have responded to helping more than 1,500 marine mammals and 2,200 sea turtles. Averaging more than 200 per year, stranded animals have included harbor and harp seals, harbor porpoises, bottlenose dolphins, humpback whales, and loggerhead and Kemp's ridley sea turtles.

Joint Base Langley-Eustis breaks ground on new child development center

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04/14/2010 - JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. — To honor the Month of the Military Child, the U.S. Army will break ground for a new $9.6 million child development center (CDC) April 16 at 10 a.m., at Joint Base Langley-Eustis.

The 26,000 square-foot CDC facility, using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA funding, is designed to accommodate 232 children, ages six weeks to five-years-old.

The design-build military construction project is managed by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the 733rd Mission Support Group's Civil Engineer Division. The project contractor is Homeland Contracting, Inc., a woman-owned minority small business, based in Virginia Beach, Va.

The new CDC, set for completion in April 2011, features indoor and outdoor activity areas, a commercial kitchen, laundry, storage and supply rooms, fire protection and alarm systems and administrative offices. The project is designed and constructed to meet the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), achieving a silver certification.

Virginia governor praises Norfolk District's environmental stewardship

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04/14/2010 - RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia Governor Robert F. McDonnell recently awarded Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the 2010 Governor's Environmental Excellence Award for its demonstrated commitment to land stewardship in Virginia through the protection of Crow's Nest peninsula.

In honoring Norfolk District, McDonnell cited Article XI of the Constitution of Virginia, which states, "It shall be the Commonwealth's policy to protect its atmosphere, lands and waters from pollution, impairment or destruction, for the benefit, enjoyment and general welfare of the people of the Commonwealth."

Last September, federal, state and local officials, community members and environmental agencies gathered to celebrate decades of efforts to transform most of the five-mile long Crow's Nest peninsula into a state natural area preserve. The Crow's Nest peninsula is in Stafford County, Va.

"It's nothing less than miraculous, in my opinion," said Virginia Senator Richard Stuart. "Three-thousand acres; 750 acres of that are wetlands…to those of us who care about their natural beauty and water, it's so, so incredibly important."

"This recognition and award is extremely gratifying," said Hal Wiggins, an environmental scientist in the Norfolk District's regulatory branch. "It took many years and many hands to make this happen. Our successful partnership with local, state and federal government agencies and organizations was critical to ensure that such a biological gem as the Crow's Nest was preserved."

The Crow's Nest is Virginia's 54th natural area preserve. Named for the big, black schooner, "The Crow," the vessel was used for trans-Atlantic trade in the early 1800s. The peninsula has been virtually uninhabited since Union forces ended their occupation of south Stafford in the 1860s.

Today, Crow's Nest is home to 60 Neotropical migratory bird species and more than 700 acres of wetlands, some of which contain the oldest unfragmented mature tree hardwood stands in the Commonwealth. Crow's Nest is also home to a globally threatened plant community, rare plants and early woodland Native Indian, colonial and Civil War-era history.

The Norfolk District regulatory office, led by Project Manager Nick Konchuba, served as one of several key agencies involved in the review, funding, acquisition and founding of the preserve.

Working closely with The Nature Conservancy, which manages the Virginia Aquatic Resources Trust Fund, Konchuba's team helped with approving partial funding that allowed the Trust to generate $4.4 million of the $33.2 million needed to purchase the 2,870-acre preserve.

In December 2008, Stafford County and the Virginia Department of Conservation, using county, state and federal funding, purchased the preserve land in two phases.

Wiggins has long worked with the Stafford County government and state and federal agencies to identify Crow's Nest peninsula as an ecologically sensitive area.

In 1997, then project manager for the Stafford Regional Airport project, Wiggins facilitated a Corps permit that included a 70-acre wetland/stream mitigation site at Crow's Nest.

Today, this site is one of the largest great blue heron colonies in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

"The significance of the Crow's Nest natural preserve is that it establishes a model for ecologically-based mitigation and environmental protection in support of sustainability," said Konchuba. "It is also a model for interagency cooperation at all levels of government."

Corps projects highlighted at annual Engineering Unplugged Conference

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04/15/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — More than 250 professionals received continuing education credits by attending the Second Annual Engineering Unplugged Conference Tuesday in Norfolk. The conference was hosted by Old Dominion University and held in their Ted Constant Convocation Center.

For Gary Szymanski, a civil engineer and chief of the cost engineering section at the Norfolk District, the conference afforded him the opportunity to talk about and demonstrate how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. military are embracing "green" building standards.

"I think we had the opportunity to tell our story on a couple of really good projects," said Szymanski.

Topics relating to various "green" building procedures, techniques and lessons learned was the conference focus, bringing greater awareness to those in the building profession about what it takes to be more environmentally-friendly when constructing new or renovating facilities.

Szymanski discussed the Army's Sustainment Center of Excellence (SCOE) Headquarters building at Fort Lee, Va., and the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in northern Virginia. Both projects spotlight how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approaches designing and constructing buildings to Leadership in Energy and Environmentally Design, or LEED, certified standards.

The buildings integrate water conservation features as well as incorporate designs to reduce energy usage, not only making them environmentally-friendly, but more economical to operate over time. According to event organizers, this is the main goal for "green" construction.

"It's just not about saying we have a LEED silver building, it's about energy conservation and eventually a significant return on investment," said Clair Dorsey, director of professional development at the College of Engineering, Old Dominion University.

Dorsey hopes the conference will fuel innovation and drive people to look beyond today's standards and see what can be done for the future.

"These people who are here today will change the way we do business tomorrow…as far as green goes, the way we build buildings, the way we construct our cars, and the way we sail ships," said Dorsey.

With more than 11.5 million square feet of LEED-certified building space in Hampton Roads alone, Dorsey believes that change is well underway.

"There are many people around in the (green building) business, so it's not just a fad, it's here to stay. Our government is encouraging it, and it is the right thing to do," stressed Dorsey.

Increased traffic expected along Dismal Swamp Canal May 1

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04/26/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — Increased vessel traffic is expected along the Dismal Swamp Canal May 1 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Delays may be experienced by motorized boats navigating on the Dismal Swamp Canal as more than 300 paddlers participate in the 7th Annual Paddle for the Border event.

The annual event, sponsored by the Dismal Swamp State Park, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge and City of Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department, gives participants an opportunity to paddle 7.5 miles from the Dismal Swamp State Park in North Carolina to the Great Dismal Swamp Boat Ramp in Chesapeake, Va.

"We are pleased at the overwhelming response to Paddle for the Border each year," said Gail Bradshaw, special programs coordinator for the City of Chesapeake Parks & Recreation department.

Paddlers will be traveling from several states, as well as localities throughout North Carolina and Virginia to participate in the event.

"This year, we have about 30 more participants than last year. It is important that everyone be mindful of the increased water traffic so it is an enjoyable, safe and hazard- free experience," continued Bradshaw.

Paddlers have been advised to move to the side of the Canal when a motorized boat approaches. However, motorized boats are advised to proceed slowly and with extreme caution.

Park Rangers from three different jurisdictions will provide on-water boat operations in support of the event while the Chesapeake fire department community emergency response team unit plans to provide on-bank observations and emergency medical services.

Did you know?

The Dismal Swamp Canal was inspired by George Washington, who as a surveyor of rural lands, made his first visit to the Great Dismal Swamp in May 1763. Washington, along with other prominent Virginians and North Carolinians, suggested draining the swamp and digging a north-south canal through it to connect the waters of Chesapeake Bay in Virginia and Albemarle Sound in North Carolina. In 1805, after 12 years of back-breaking construction, the 22 mile long Dismal Swamp Canal was finally completed. Since 1929, the Corps' Norfolk District has held the responsibility for maintaining and operating the Dismal Swamp Canal, which has the distinction as the oldest continually operating man-made canal in the United States.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Innovative mathematics professor to speak with Norfolk District employees

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04/27/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — Throughout May, Americans will reflect on and honor the richly diverse and historical accomplishments made by fellow citizens, Asian and Pacific Islanders, who have shaped our country's history.

This year, Norfolk District employees can reflect on those accomplishments with Dr. Arun Verma, a native of India, and professor of mathematics at Hampton University, Hampton, Va., during a presentation 1:30 p.m., May 19, in the multipurpose room of the Waterfield Building.

This year's theme, released by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council, is "Diverse Leadership for a Diverse Workforce."

The Federal Asian Pacific American Council, or FAPAC, was founded in 1985 as a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization representing the civilian and military Asian Pacific American employees in the federal and District of Columbia governments. The primary purpose of FAPAC is to serve as an interagency association, providing a focus for more than 30 ethnically distinct groups originating from Asian and Pacific regions as recognized by the U.S. Bureau of the Census.

In researching this year's FAPAC national theme, Peter Hemmer, an illustrator with the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute, Patrick A.F.B., Fl., said his inspiration for the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month poster was very simple.

"I went with something purely decorative using the colors of the American flag, a modern looking typeface for the header and a script typeface for the theme," explained Hemmer. "The circle is an enso, often used in Japanese calligraphy. It symbolizes enlightenment, strength and elegance and represents the diversity of all of the individual Asian cultures uniting into a single, yet diverse workforce. The stars in and around the enso refer back to the flag reference and signify individual people and cultures, but with a common goal," Hemmer added.

Much like Black History Month and Women's History Month celebrations, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month originated in a congressional bill.

In June 1977, Representatives Frank Norton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution that called upon the president to proclaim the first 10 days of May as Asian/Pacific Heritage Week. The following month, Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced a similar bill in the Senate. Both bills passed Oct. 5, 1978. President Jimmy Carter signed a Joint Resolution designating the annual celebration.

In May 1990, the holiday expanded when President George H.W. Bush designated May to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. May commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated with community festivals, government-sponsored programs, such as the district's annual observance, and educational activities for students at all grade levels.

USACE transitions from National Security Personnel System to General Schedule May 23

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05/10/2010 - WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Defense Authorization Act of 2010, signed Oct. 28, 2009, by President Barack Obama, repeals the National Security Personnel System (NSPS) and requires all employees under that system to transition into another performance management system no later than Jan. 1, 2012.

The Defense Department (DoD), the Army and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are committed to managing the transition with minimal disruption to our extremely valuable civilian workforce and the critical missions we carry out around the globe, said DoD leadership.

The Army will transition most of its NSPS employees to the General Schedule (GS) during fiscal year 2010, which ends Sept. 30. USACE will transition to the GS system May 23, 2010.

"I am committed to an open, strategic and smooth transition from NSPS, and want to thank all of the employees and managers who have worked so hard to write clear objectives…and to promote and sustain a high performance culture in a fair and equitable manner while meeting the needs of our organization," said Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, USACE commanding general.

Legislative mandates

To achieve successful transition into the GS performance management system, Section 1113 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 mandated that:

  • No employee will suffer loss of pay upon conversion. For example, if an employee's pay falls between two steps, the employee will go to the higher step. Those whose pay falls above step 10 of their GS position will be on retained pay and will receive 50 percent of the January General Pay Increase until the GS pay system catches up with their retained pay.
  • The Secretary of Defense must plan an enterprise performance management system and present it to Congress by Jan. 2012.
  • The workforce must be trained. DoD and the Army have posted on-line information to help educate supervisors and employees about GS pay system rules and regulations (Chapter 53 of Title 5 of the United States Code) on classification, hiring and pay setting procedures (e.g., Time in Grade; short-term and temporary appointments; ‘rule of three' when hiring non-Government employees) and collective bargaining obligations. These resources include: Classifying Positions under GS: A Primer for Supervisors; GS 101; Guidance Governing NSPS Transition Period – Prior to Termination; NSPS to GS Transition Guide (Chapters 1 to 4); NSPS Transition Simulator; Performance Management: A Tool to Achieve Results; and Chapter 6: Frequently Asked Questions.

Effects on 2010 performance management plans

In general, USACE NSPS performance objectives were an improvement — they were SMART (specific; measurable; aligned with mission; realistic; and timed), and they helped employees identify how their duties and responsibilities help the Corps accomplish its mission and relate to the USACE Campaign Plan, said USACE officials, who added:

  • We will continue to use NSPS performance objectives in the Total Army Performance Evaluation System (TAPES).
  • As a result, all objectives must be approved in the NSPS Performance Appraisal Application (PAA) by May 22, 2010; otherwise employees will not have access to their performance information maintained in the PAA after conversion.
  • All interim reviews should be communicated to the employee, then documented and returned to the employee via the PAA.
  • For those transitioning out of NSPS, the current performance year consists of NSPS time (Oct. 1, 2009 – May 22, 2010) and GS/TAPES time (May 23, 2010 – Oct. 31, 2010) for a single performance year of Oct. 1, 2009 – Oct. 31, 2010.

Facts and figures

  • Prior to conversion, there were 226,000 NSPS employees in DoD; 82,000 in the Army; and 17,500 USACE employees.
  • More than 75 percent of the Army's NSPS employees will transition during FY10; USACE will transition May 23, 2010
  • USACE exceptions include: Task Force Hope/Hurricane Protection Office; deployed employees; any organization approved for transition to the Acquisition Personnel System or the Science and Technology Reinvention Lab Demo Project.
  • Additional information is available at:
    1. www.cpol.army.mil/library/general/nsps/
    2. www.cpms.osd.mil/nsps/faqs.html

USACE North Atlantic Division commander promoted to flag officer

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05/12/2010 - BALTIMORE — Army Col. Peter A. DeLuca, commander and division engineer of the North Atlantic Division (NAD), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), was promoted to the rank of brigadier general May 11. The promotion ceremony was held at the home of Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, chief of engineers and commander of USACE, located at Fort McNair in Washington, D.C.

"A general officer should have vision, leadership and character. DeLuca is an incredible leader in that capacity," said Van Antwerp during his opening remarks. "I want to continue to build our future and we are taking a giant step in that direction with this ceremony today."

During the ceremony, the promotion order was read, the old rank was removed and the new rank was placed on DeLuca's Army combat uniform by his family members, Tracy and Nicholas.

"This opportunity is being offered to me because of the sacrifice of American Soldiers and their families. That sacrifice is huge," said DeLuca. "I accept this on behalf of all the great people I have served with."

DeLuca became commander and division engineer of NAD on April 17, 2009. As commander, DeLuca oversees the planning, design and construction of projects to support the military, protect America's water resources and restore and enhance the environment within an 180,000-square-mile area along the Atlantic coast. This includes more than $7 billion in work to support the Base Realignment and Closure 2005 authorization. He is also responsible for a variety of division engineering and construction activities for international, federal, state and local governments and agencies in the United States and overseas, including in Europe and Africa.

USACE is one of 11 Army direct reporting units and is the world's largest public engineering, design and construction agency. Under the office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington, D.C., USACE is a worldwide network of eight divisions, 41 subordinate districts, two laboratories and one engineer research and development center providing quality, responsive engineering service. North Atlantic Division, headquartered at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., is comprised of six districts – Norfolk, Baltimore, Europe, New England, New York and Philadelphia.

District hurricane exercise hones preparedness skills

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05/13/2010 - RICHMOND — More than 40 employees from the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted a two-day hurricane preparedness exercise May 12-13 in Richmond, Va.

"The goal of this exercise is to build relationships, identify roles and responsibilities, and talk about the lessons learned from past events and how to move forward," said Lt. Col. Michael Darrow, Norfolk District's deputy commander.

"The world has changed since 9-11 and after Hurricanes Floyd, Isabel and Katrina, our citizens expect the Corps to be ready to respond in a time of crisis," said Darrow, who participated as the exercise commander.

In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel, which at one point was rated as a Category 5 hurricane, ravaged America's East Coast from North Carolina up to Pennsylvania. It left more than two dozen people dead, caused billions of dollars of damage, shut down electrical power to over a million customers, affected drinking water in parts of Virginia, brought the federal government to a halt for two days, and closed schools, businesses and public transportation.

Hurricane Isabel was the strongest Atlantic storm system to strike the East Coast of the United States since Hurricane Floyd in 1999. That storm, which was similar to Isabel in size and strength, killed more than 50 people and caused more than $4 billion in damage.

The disaster response and preparedness exercise allowed the Corps and state participants the ability to discuss planning and collaborate on ways to carry out domestic operations in conjunction with state agencies and local first responders, said Jan Van Houten, an emergency management specialist who has been with the Corps for more than 20 years. This particular exercise simulated a Level 2 hurricane striking the shoreline of Virginia's eastern shore.

The exercise began with the hurricane making landfall, which led to simulated recovery operations after the storm, followed closely with coordinated efforts between the Corps and local and state agencies to capture key lessons learned for future discussion and evaluation.

"Even though this training scenario is based on a hurricane response, the lessons we learn here would apply to any kind of mission we might receive," said exercise participant Tom Friberg, who is the district chief of operations, support section.

Friberg, a civil engineer with the Corps for more than 30 years, cited completed civil works flood reduction projects like the Virginia Beach Hurricane Protection and Richmond Floodwall Protection projects that require continued assessment and monitoring of their effectiveness.

The exercise also tested procedures the Corps and state agencies use to respond to requests for assistance from local municipalities that are funneled through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, or VDEM, into the Corps' operations center.

"The only way we can be properly prepared to respond effectively in times of crises, is to plan, train and then exercise our procedures in coordination with our state partner agencies. This exercise is an important part of that preparation," stressed Van Houten.

Governor McDonnell urges Virginians to 'get ready for hurricane season'

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05/18/2010 - RICHMOND — Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell has recognized May 23-29 as Hurricane and Flooding Preparedness Week to emphasize the importance of emergency preparation. He is encouraging every Virginia family to take action now to get ready for hurricane and flood season.

"It is critical that every Virginian treat hurricane season seriously and understand how they could be affected by flooding, high winds and tornadoes during this time of year," said Governor McDonnell. "Those who live along coastal areas also need to learn if they are in a storm surge zone and determine where they would go if they have to evacuate. Everyone should take steps now to help keep their families safe."

We are partnering with Virginia retailers to get the word out to families about saving money while getting ready for emergencies, McDonnell continued. "Hurricane season is also flood season. Just because you don't live on the coastline, don't think you aren't affected. Past years have brought us heavy rains and slow-moving tropical systems that have caused extensive damage and loss of life," he said.

Individuals and families should have a family emergency plan and put together a kit of essential supplies including at least a three-day supply of bottled water and non-perishable food, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to hear emergency information and extra batteries.

Make a family emergency plan

If you had to leave, know in advance where you would go and where you could take your pets. Identify several places you could stay in an emergency – perhaps a friends' home in another town, a hotel or public shelter if necessary.

Choose an out-of-town friend or relative as a family point of contact, and be sure every family member has that person's phone number. Go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov for family plan worksheets. Click on Make a plan.

Get essential emergency supplies

Start with at least a three-day supply of bottled water and packaged and canned food. Add a manual can opener, flashlights and extra batteries, first aid kit and medications. Store in waterproof containers that have wheels or that you can lift easily. Get an emergency supply checklist at www.ReadyVirginia.gov. Click on Get a kit.

Listen to emergency information from officials

In case there is no power, you will need a battery-powered radio and extra batteries. Listen to local media for the best information about your area. Consider purchasing a battery-powered or hand-crank radio with a weather band so you can get information directly from the National Weather Service.

Also, be aware that flooding is the most common disaster in Virginia, and it is costly. Just an inch or two of water in a home or business adds up to about $8,000 in repairs. Homeowners' insurance policies don't cover flooding, so talk to your agent now about flood insurance. It usually takes about 30 days for a new flood policy to go into effect. See www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.

Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

To help Virginians get supplies for hurricane and flood season, retailers are stocking up for the Commonwealth's Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which runs May 25-31.

During those days, no sales tax will be charged on the purchase of many items that can be used to prepare homes and businesses for hurricane and flood season and to fill emergency supply kits. All retailers participate, according to Virginia law.

Batteries, flashlights, bottled water of all types and sizes, cell phone batteries, coolers, portable generators and many other useful items can be purchased with no sales tax added during the week. Many retailers will post signs listing all the allowable items so that Virginians can get ready for hurricane season, which begins June 1. For a complete list, go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov.

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital tracking well for spring 2011 opening

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05/18/2010 - FORT BELVOIR, Va — The $806.9 million Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Military Construction project, which began Nov. 8, 2007, is 60 percent complete and on schedule for completion in spring 2011, said project team members.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the project's construction phase, which is on an accelerated timeline as mandated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, authorization. Once completed, the Joint Task Force National Capital Region (medical) will staff and equip the facility.

To meet the accelerated construction timelines dictated by BRAC, the project is being constructed through an Integrated/Design/Bid/Build, or IDBB procurement. This innovative process uses a construction contractor well before traditional processes would have allowed to increase constructability, provide accurate cost/schedule impacts of design decision, and help improve coordination resulting in fewer design omissions and errors.

The hospital was designed by a joint venture team of HDR, Alexandria and Dewberry of Fairfax, Va. Both are AE design firms. It is being constructed by the joint venture comprised of Turner Construction of Arlington, Va., and Gilbane Building Company, based in Providence, RI.

Turner Construction is engaged in many types of construction projects, including office buildings, high-tech facilities, hospitals and healthcare facilities, hotels, retail, educational and cultural buildings. The Gilbane Building Company worked on such notable projects as the Baltimore Convention Center, the Baltimore Center for Innovative Technology, Union Station and The National Air and Space Museum.

The 1.275,000 sq. ft. military construction project features a six-level community hospital, including medical administration areas. The design includes 120 in-patient beds, a 10-bed intensive care unit, a 10-bed behavioral health inpatient unit, a cancer center, an emergency department, pharmacy, operative services center with 10 operating rooms, diagnostic centers such as pathology and radiology, and modular clinic space dedicated to outpatient services. Additional space is planned for future outpatient expansion. In addition to the square footage of the facility itself, the project includes two parking garages and surface parking for 3,500 parking spaces, a helipad, ambulance shelter and dedicated central utility plant.

The Fort Belvoir Community Hospital will become part of an integrated health care network providing world-class medical services to the nation's wounded Soldiers and their families. The hospital is one piece of a realignment designed to increase hospital and outpatient care to all service members and veterans under BRAC 2005. Other elements of the health care network include the realignment of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Naval National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

The new facilities will be jointly staffed rather than single service billets with a mix of military medical professionals from the Army, Navy and Air Force. This unprecedented and transformational decision ushers in a new model for health care delivery in the National Capital Region. While military hospitals have traditionally provided care to beneficiaries from all services, military treatment facilities were never staffed with a representative mix of medical personnel from the service medical departments.

District employees volunteer for day of environmental stewardship

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05/24/2010 - NORFOLK — Employees from the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are doing their part to keep Virginia waterways clean by volunteering for this year's Clean the Bay Day event, scheduled to take place June 5 from 9 a.m. until noon.

Clean the Bay Day is an annual statewide event organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in conjunction with municipalities, businesses and government agencies working together to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. Every year since 1989, citizens throughout the Commonwealth have dedicated their time to clear debris from Virginia waterways. In 2009 alone, 7,022 volunteers removed 102 tons of debris from 475 miles of waterways.

Norfolk District employees are slated to clean up debris from the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, or CIDMMA, which is operated and maintained by the district. CIDMMA is a 2,500-acre confined dredged material disposal site on the north side of Portsmouth, Va. It serves as an economical and environmentally sustainable repository for material dredged within the Hampton Roads harbor.

To date, 24 district employees have volunteered to pick up shoreline litter and collect debris from along the perimeter of CIDMMA, said Kristen Donofrio, biological scientist and district zone captain for the district's team of volunteers. In addition to the team of volunteers on-site at CIDMMA, members of the district's debris removal team are scheduled to patrol area waterways to pick up debris that could potentially damage vessels.

Following Clean the Bay Day clean-up, volunteers are permitted to stay on-site until 3:30 p.m. to take advantage of the many recreational uses of Craney, including fishing, crabbing, bird watching and hiking.

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