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Next Meeting Presentation
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Thursday, April 19
Streamlining the
NPDES Storm Water Permitting
Process Using Web-based Applications
Jason P. Sprague, P.E.
SEH Inc
Presentation Synopsis:
Today’s engineering professionals are faced with the
challenges of managing multiple permits from several different
county, state, federal, and other non-governmental permitting
agencies. Preparation of these permit applications, and the
subsequent tracking and reporting typically required by the permit,
will often force engineers to stretch limited resources and
already-strained budgets.
As engineers, we have witnessed a dramatic increase
in the use of spreadsheet and database applications, which has
allowed for more organized and efficient data entry and storage.
Meanwhile, the propagation of the internet has allowed them to
coordinate the various activities of their staff as they complete
this data entry, regardless of location. In addition,
web-based access allows for the quick and easy dissemination of
valuable information to all interested parties.
As an example, the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System (NPDES) permit program, controls water pollution
by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of
the United States. Presently, cities, counties, and other
entities in 45 of the 50 states are required to apply for, and
monitor, a NPDES permit for storm water runoff.
This permit requires the various different permittees
to abide by at least six Minimum Control Measures (MCMs), as well as
goals and activities associated with additional Best Management
Practices (BMPs), to ensure improved water quality from storm water
runoff within their respective jurisdictions. Compliance with
these permits requires staff to complete activities throughout the
calendar year to comply with pre-set goals identified within the
permit.
Additionally, the permittee is required to submit an
annual report outlining the successful implementation of the MCMs.
With some permittees, this may necessitate the coordination of
countless staff, in multiple departments, in different locations,
into a report that can be in excess of 100 pages long.
This presentation will hope to show the attendees how
they can leverage existing web-based technology to successfully
fulfill their permit obligations with the efficient use of existing
resources and fewer budget dollars.
Presenter Bio:
Jason P. Sprague, P.E., is the Director of Web Portal
Services for SEH, Inc., a multi-disciplined consulting firm of
engineers, architects, planners, and scientists. He holds a
B.A. in Physics from Bethel University and a B.S. in Civil
Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 1992. He has
over 17 years experience in the civil/municipal engineering field in
both the public and private sector, and has recently concentrated
his efforts on leading the development of several web-based
applications designed to help streamline the NPDES storm water
permitting processes.
Meeting Location:
Meeting Agenda:
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Please make a reservation by Monday, April 16th |
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11:30 AM |
Social Time |
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NOON
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Lunch Menu:
Minnesota Chicken:
Chicken Breast with Wild
Rice & Swiss Cheese Stuffing
and Chablis Sauce
Garlic Mashed Potatoes,
Vegetable of the Day
Coffee
or Milk
Cost: $15.00
or $10.00 for MSP Post Young
Members [those less
than 36 years old]
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Either
leave a voice mail message with
Jim Mosner at
651-290-5512,
or click the RSVP button in the
left-hand column,
or send an email message to
james.b.mosner@usace.army.mil
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12:40 PM |
Meeting Announcements |
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12:45 PM |
Program PDH's:
1/2-PDH |
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1:30 PM |
Adjourn |
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 Andrew
Ditter (l) receives the Post's Presenter's Mug in
appreciation of the interesting and informative
presentation he gave at the March meeting.
Andrew talked about his first-hand
experiences as a Seabees combat engineer performing
repairs to roadways, bridges, and airfields in Iraq
during the summer of 2006. Planning and
executing repair work while being protected by
security teams, being always on the lookout for
roads side hazards, and during searing heat and
occasional sand storms isn't the ideal way of
getting reconstruction done; but they managed to
achieve quite a number of significant
accomplishments during their tour. |
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If you know someone who may be deserving
of a scholarship, please urge the young person to apply for one the
Post’s $1100 scholarships. Applicants are rated in a number of
areas including academics, school activities, and community
activities. There are two categories of scholarships described
as follows:
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Category I - High school
seniors and college students who are children, grandchildren, or
siblings of members of the Minneapolis-St. Paul Post and who will
be registered as full time college students in the fall of the
year of selection.
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Category II –
SAME Student
Members who belong to a Post or a SAME Student Chapter.
Typically three scholarships are
awarded annually. If there are worthy applicants in both
categories, two scholarships will be awarded in Category I and one
scholarship will be awarded in Category II. Under Category I,
students pursuing any college discipline are welcome to apply.
Under Category II, a student must be an undergraduate student who is
pursuing engineering or science related courses or a student who is
duly enrolled as a member of the ROTC program in secondary schools,
colleges, and universities; and must be either a student member of
our Post or a member of a duly sponsored SAME Student Chapter.
Applicants who do not receive a scholarship may reapply the
following year.
A committee of
Post members evaluate the applications. All applications
are kept confidential, and only the winners are announced. For
additional information, please contact
Ben
Tustison at 763-205-2651.
Scholarship Application Packages can be downloaded from the Post’s website at:
http://www.same-msp.org/PDF/Scholarship_App&Inst_2007.doc or
http://www.same-msp.org/PDF/Scholarship_App&Inst_2007.pdf
Application packages should
be mailed to Paul at the following address:
Tustison Engineering
ATTN: Ben Tustison, P.E.
Chairperson, SAME Scholarship Committee
16610 26th Ave. N.
Plymouth, MN 55447
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SAME
offers high school freshman, sophomores, and juniors the opportunity to attend a one
week camp. They learn leadership, engineering
and construction skills, and have fun with students
from all over the world.
The Minneapolis-Saint Paul Post would like to
sponsor a high school student to attend either one of the
following summer camp opportunities. The Post will pay
the Registration Fee and and 1/2 of
the Airfare; the student's family is responsible for the
remainder of the airfare..
High school students
that are interested in this opportunity should:
1) review the camp website(s) and the links
to eligibility requirements and application forms so that
all requirements are clearly understood, and
2) contact
Ben Tustison
at 763-205-2651 or
ben@tustisonengineering.com to submit your name as being
interested in this opportunity.
The MSP Post
deadline for responding to Ben Tustison regarding
your interest in being considered for this opportunity is 18
April 2007.
From the qualified respondees, the Post will
select one attendee and one alternate; the alternate
may be able to attendee if the primary selectee is unable to
attend or if additional space becomes available at the
camps. Once the Post
has selected an attendee and an alternate, the selectees
will be given additional instructions for submitting the
required applications. Selections will be made by 30
March 2007, which will the selectees adequate time to
complete the required applications.
Click on the names of the camps below to
hyperlink to the National SAME web pages that have
additional details about the camps along with detailed
registration information.
SAME / US
Air Force Academy Camp
US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO
July 5-11,
2007
SAME / US Navy Seabees Camp
Port Heuneme, California
July 29-Aug 4, 2007
SAME / US Army Camp
Vicksburg, Mississippi
June 10-16, 2006
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Since the May meeting will be a joint
meeting with another society, we will be postponing the
election of new Post Officers to the June meeting.
If you are interested in helping the Post continue
its excellent track record for providing meaningful activities and
value for its members, we would be interested in hearing from you if
you would like to serve in one of the two Director positions that we
need volunteers for, or if you would like to help on one of the
operating committees.
If you are interested in any of these
opportunities, please contact Post President Bill Forsmark at
wforsmark@barr.com
or 952-832-2600 prior to the June meeting.
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