stormwater

January 29, 2024

Join SCS Engineers professionals, including our National Landfill Expert, Betsy Powers, for the Solid Waste Landfill Design Course, April 1-3 at the Pyle Center in Madison, WI.

During the course you will have the opportunity to learn about the critical factors of solid waste landfill design, operations, evolving industry issues, and economics. Learn from expert and diverse course faculty (top-flight researchers, owners at the cutting edge of evolving practice, industry experts). Get a firm grasp of the background and design specifics to compete in this industry, including industry-leading information on the principles and practices of solid waste landfill development, design, construction, operations, and management. Understand practical emerging technologies including:

• Financial Management of Solid Waste Systems and Airspace Management
• Polymer-Based Bentonite Composites in Geosynthetic Clay Liners
• Landfill Gas Containment and Management for Emission Control and Regulatory Drivers
• Value-Added Design of Gas-to-Energy and Gas-to-Fuel Projects
• Waste Relocation and Expansion
• Evolving Issues with “Hot” Landfills
• The Latest in Geosynthetic Products for Geoenvironmental Engineering
• Performance-Based and Life Cycle-Based Design 

Senior Project Manager/Civil Engineer, Betsy Powers will be presenting on Landfill Drainage and Runoff Control including, runoff amounts,
open channel flow and culverts, and sedimentation/detention basins

This course will guide you through the development process of a successful solid waste landfill, from cradle to grave. Industry experts will share critical factors and insights. Interactive discussion and idea exchange will be emphasized. Click to learn more and enroll today.

October 11, 2023

In response to a significant decrease in salmonid fish populations in urban streams, including several listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), several West Coast organizations conducted studies to evaluate the cause. In 2020, a culprit was identified – a breakdown compound commonly found in tires: 6PPD.

6PPD (N-(1,3-Dimethylbutyl)-N’-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine; C₁₈H₂₄N₂ CAS 793-24-8) is an additive in the manufacturing of both natural rubber and common synthetic rubbers such as butyl rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber. It is a highly effective anti-oxidant. In layman’s terms, it helps tires resist degradation caused by exposure to oxygen, ozone, and fluctuating temperatures. According to the US Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA), all USTMA members use it (USTMA website, 15 Aug 2023).

Recent studies have shown that the reaction of 6PPD in rubber tires with the oxygen and ozone in the air generates transformation products, including storm (6PPD-q; 2-((4-Methylpentan-2-yl) amino)-5-(phenylamino) cyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione; C₁₈H₂₂N₂O₂; CAS 2754428-18-5).

As tires wear, tire wear particles (TWP) and fragments containing 6PPD-q can be carried by stormwater runoff from roadways and parking lots to aquatic environments, such as salmonid spawning streams.

For instance, recent studies indicate that 6PPD-q present in such waters may be acutely toxic to coho salmon, including juveniles. A study by Tian and others indicates that 6PPD-q toxicity to coho salmon ranks among the most toxic chemicals for which the US Environmental Protection Agency has established aquatic life criteria.

Subsequent studies indicate that 6PPD-q exhibits large differences in species sensitivity, with reduced toxicity to steelhead trout, Chinook salmon, rainbow trout, and brook trout. No mortality was observed with sockeye salmon, chum salmon, Atlantic salmon, brown trout arctic char, and white sturgeon. Regardless, the impacts on coho salmon and other species may be significant.

Many questions remain unanswered before we better understand the environmental and toxicological impacts of 6PPD-q and develop potential solutions. Ongoing efforts include the following:

• USTMA is working with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Tire Industry Panel (TIP), and others to lead research efforts to fill data gaps. USTMA also works with EPA and state regulatory agencies in California, Alaska, Oregon, and Washington State.
• The Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC) developed a new Tire Anti-Degradants Team in 2023.
• US EPA is considering 6PPD-q for the sixth Candidate Contaminant List (CCL). The CCL is a list of contaminants currently not subject to any proposed or promulgated national primary drinking water regulations that are known or anticipated to occur in public water systems and may require regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
• The Puget Sound Federal Task Force Action Plan, 2022-2026, includes a series of goals related to 6PPD and 6PPD-q, including the development and standardization of analytical methods and additional aquatic toxicity research.

Whether 6PPD-q contamination will become a significant issue outside spawning regions of coho salmon and other ESA-listed fish species remains to be seen. Bioaccumulation in higher-order animals may also be an issue; more research is underway.

About the Authors:

Jeff Marshall, PE in five states, is a vice president and the practice leader for the Environmental Services Practice for SCS offices on the eastern seaboard. He also serves as the SCS National Partner for Innovative Technologies and Emerging Contaminants. He has a diversified background in project engineering and management, with emphasis on the environmental chemistry and human health aspects of hazardous materials/waste management, site investigations, waste treatment, risk-based remediation and redevelopment, and environmental compliance/permitting issues.

Dr. Shane Latimer, CSE, is an SCS vice president. He is an environmental planner, ecologist, and toxicologist with three decades of experience in environmental assessment, planning, permitting, and implementation. His specialty is developing projects that challenge the interface between the built and natural environment, such as solid waste facilities, oil and gas infrastructure, mines, sewage treatment facilities, and similar developments. Solutions for these projects often require careful assessments of alternatives, impacts, and opportunities to successfully navigate the applicable public regulatory processes (e.g., NEPA, local land use, etc.) and ensure environmental integrity.

September 14, 2023

On August 17, 2023, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the first of twelve datasets (representing approximately 7% of the total data that it plans to collect) on 29 polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and lithium (an alkali metal) in our nation’s drinking water. This sampling will continue through 2026, and is the latest action delivering on the EPA PFAS Strategic Roadmap, which dictates that PFAS (an emerging contaminant pending regulations under CERCLA) requires a multi-agency approach and specific actionable steps to assess risks to human and environmental health better, hold polluters accountable, and identify the extent of the problem.

Monitoring PFAS and lithium is currently under the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5). The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) requires that the EPA issue a list of unregulated but potentially harmful contaminants every five years and devise a protocol for monitoring those contaminants in public water systems (PWSs).

The current UCMR 5 regulatory framework allows for collecting PFAS and lithium data throughout the United States. It aims to create science-based decision-making regarding how to address these chemicals best. Results, which will get quarterly updates, can be reviewed by the public on the EPA’s National Contaminant Occurrence Database.

While there is not currently a final drinking water standard in place for PFAS, EPA has already issued health advisories for four PFAS compounds, and two of them – perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) – have also been proposed for entry as hazardous substances under CERCLA, as of March 2023. The timeline for the final rule on PFAS CERCLA designation is now February 2024. Landfills and other passive receivers are seeking relief from CERCLA contribution litigation prior to designating PFAS as hazardous substances, as they have no control over the use and disposal of hundreds of thousands of products containing PFOA and PFOS.

This first set of data does appear to raise some red flags, though it is not uniformly indicative of widespread contamination. In Missouri, for example, 1,923 distinct water samples were obtained from 22 different PWSs (from a mix of wells and treatment plants) in communities throughout the state. Of these samples, 23 are scattered between 11 facilities containing lithium at concentrations in excess of the laboratory Method Reporting Limit (MRL) of 9 micrograms per liter (µg/L), some by many orders of magnitude. Only two PFAS compounds (PFOS and PFHxS) are above their MRLs (0.004 µg/L and 0.003 µg/L, respectively), both from the North Rodeo Well of the Camdenton PWS.

This data will ultimately be immensely useful for public sector officials trying to make policy decisions regarding PFAS and lithium management, fine-tuning community engagement/education efforts, and for private sector industries seeking to get a handle on potential liabilities. SCS Engineers and other qualified environmental firms are poised to be essential partners to national leaders in identifying and remedying emerging contaminants such as PFAS. Many technologies proven to work on a large scale are available, with more promising technologies on the horizon.

Find additional regulatory information using the links below:

• EPA Releases Initial Nationwide Monitoring Data on 29 PFAS and Lithium | US EPA
• National Contaminant Occurrence Database (NCOD) | US EPA
• Proposed Designation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS) as CERCLA Hazardous Substances | US EPA

Impacts on Sectors and Treatments:

• Industrial PFAS Management and Treatment
• Managing Industrial Liquids
• Will EPA’s Proposed Designation of PFOA and PFOS Impact Real Estate?
• Biosolids and PFAS – What’s in my Fertilizer?
• State industry sectors are updating site-specific Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) to comply with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permits. State of IL in this example.

About the Author: Rachel McShane, LEP, has over 15 years of experience in environmental due diligence projects (Phase I, II and III Environmental Site Assessments) as well as Brownfields redevelopment, risk-based corrective action, and remediation projects. She is familiar with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessments, vapor investigations and mitigation, radon, asbestos, lead-based paint surveys, and leachate monitoring/solid waste management. Reach Ms. McShane at  or via LinkedIn.

August 11, 2023

On July 1, 2023, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) posted and updated General NPDES Permit No. ILR00 for Industrial Storm Water Discharges (2023 General Permit). The 2023 General Permit is effective July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2028.

Multiple industry sectors must now update their site-specific Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to comply with the 2023 General Permit. Three key updates in the 2023 General Permit are:

1-Permittees are required to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) for renewal no later than 150 days after the 2023 General Permit is issued (i.e., by November 28, 2023).

2-Permittees must place a sign of permit coverage (except in instances where other laws or local ordinances prohibit such signage) in a safe, publicly accessible location in close proximity to the facility and include the following:

• • • The NPDES ID Number;
    • Information about how the public can request the facility’s SWPPP; and
    • How to contact the facility and IEPA if stormwater pollution is observed.

3-Benchmark sampling requirement updates, varying based on the industry sector’s Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code classification:

• • • Certain SIC Code groups will be required to re-evaluate existing benchmark sampling constituent thresholds (See the list of these SIC Code groups below, titled List 1); and
    • Certain SIC Code groups will have new reporting requirements associated with constituents for which a benchmark threshold has not been established (See the list of these SIC Code groups below, titled List 2).

List 1 – SIC Code Groups with Updated Benchmark Sampling Constituents

Subsector C1 & C2

• Agricultural Chemicals (SIC Code 2873-2879)
• Industrial Inorganic Chemicals (SIC Code 2812-2819)

Subsector E1 & E2

• Clay Product Manufacturers (SIC Code 3251-3259; 3261-3269)
• Concrete and Gypsum Product Manufacturers (SIC Code 3271-3275)

Subsector F1 & F2

• Steel Works, Blast Furnaces, and Rolling and Finishing Mills (SIC Code 3312-3317)
• Iron and Steel Foundries (SIC Code 3321-3325)

Subsector H1

• Coal Mines and Related Areas (SIC Code 1221-1241)

Subsector L1

• All Landfills, Land Application Sites, and Open Dumps (Industrial Activity Code “LF”)

Subsector M1

• Automobile Salvage Yards (SIC Code 5015)

Subsector Q1

• Water Transportation Facilities (SIC Code 4412-4499)

Subsector AA1

• Fabricated Metal Products, except Coating (SIC Code 3411-3499; 3911-3915)

List 2 – SIC Code Groups with New Benchmark Sampling Requirements for Reporting Purposes Only

Subsector B2

• Pulp Mills (SIC Code 2611); Paper Mills (SIC Code 2621); Paperboard Containers and Boxes (SIC Code 2652-2657); Converted Paper and Paperboard Products, Except Containers and Boxes (SIC Code 2671-2679)

Subsector C5

• Medicinal Chemicals and Botanical Products; Pharmaceutical Preparations; in vitro and in vivo Diagnostic Substances; and Biological Products, Except Diagnostic Substances (SIC Code 2833-2836); Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels, and Allied Products (SIC Code 2851); Industrial Organic Chemicals (SIC  Code 2861-2869); Miscellaneous Chemical  Products (SIC Code 2891-2899); Inks and Paints, Including China Painting Enamels,  India Ink, Drawing Ink, Platinum Paints for  Burnt Wood or Leather Work, Paints for  China Painting, Artist’s Paints and Artist’s Watercolors (SIC Code 3952 (limited to list of inks and paints)); Petroleum Refining (SIC Code 2911)

Subsector D2

• Miscellaneous Products of Petroleum and Coal (SIC Code 2992, 2999)

Subsector E3

• Flat Glass (SIC Code 3211); Glass and Glassware, Pressed or Blown (SIC Code 3221, 3229); Glass Products Made of Purchased Glass (SIC Code 3231); Hydraulic Cement (SIC Code 3241); Cut Stone and Stone Products (SIC Code 3281); Abrasive, Asbestos, and Miscellaneous Nonmetallic Mineral Products (SIC Code 3291-3299) Miscellaneous Products of Petroleum and Coal (SIC Code 2992, 2999)

Subsector F5

• Primary Smelting and Refining of Nonferrous Metals (SIC Code 3331-3339); Secondary Smelting and Refining of Nonferrous Metals (SIC Code 3341); Miscellaneous Primary Metal Products (SIC Code 3398, 3399)

Subsector I

• Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas (SIC Code 1311); Natural Gas Liquids (Sic Code 1321); Oil and Gas Field Services (SIC Code 1381-1389)

Subsector J3

• Clay, Ceramic, and Refractory Materials (SIC Code 1455,1459); Chemical and Fertilizer Mineral Mining (SIC Code 1474-1479)

Subsector L2

• All Landfills, Land Application Sites, and Open Dumps, except Municipal Solid Waste Landfill (MSWLF) areas closed in accordance with 40 CFR 258.60 (Activity Code LF)

Subsector N2

• Source-separated Recycling Facility (SIC Code 5093)

Subsector O1

• Steam Electric Generating Facilities, including coal handling sites (SIC Code SE)

Subsector P1

• Railroad Transportation (SIC Code 4011, 4013); Local and Highway Passenger Transportation (SIC Code 41114173); Motor Freight Transportation and Warehousing (SIC Code 4212-4231); United States Postal Service (SIC Code 4311); Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals (SIC Code 5171) Steam Electric Generating Facilities, including coal handling sites (SIC Code SE)

Subsector R1

• Ship and Boat Building or Repairing Yards (SIC Code 3731, 3732)

Subsector T1

• Treatment Works treating domestic sewage or any other sewage sludge or wastewater treatment device or system, used in the storage, treatment, recycling, and reclamation of municipal or domestic sewage, including land dedicated to the disposal of sewage sludge that is located within the confines of the facility, with a design flow of 1.0 mgd or more, or required to have an approved pretreatment program under 40 CFR Part 403. Not included are farmlands, domestic gardens, or lands used for sludge management where sludge is beneficially reused and which are not physically located in the confines of the facility, or areas that are in compliance with section 405 of the CWA (Activity Code TW)

Subsector U3

• Meat Products (SIC Code 2011-2015); Dairy Products (SIC Code 2021-2026); Canned, Frozen, and Preserved Fruits, Vegetables, and Food Specialties (SIC Code 2032-2038); Bakery Products (SIC Code 2051-2053); Sugar and Confectionery Products (SIC Code 2061-2068); Beverages (SIC Code 20822087); Miscellaneous Food Preparations and Kindred Products (SIC Code 2091- 2099); Tobacco Products (SIC Code 2111-2141)

Subsector V1

• Textile Mill Products (SIC Code 2211-2299); Apparel and Other Finished Products Made from Fabrics and Similar Materials (SIC Code 2311-2399); Leather and Leather Products (note: see Sector Z1 for Leather Tanning and Finishing) (SIC Code 3131-3199)

Subsector W1

• Wood Kitchen Cabinets (SIC Code 2434); Furniture and Fixtures (Sic Code 2511-2599)

Subsector X1

• Printing, Publishing, and Allied Industries (SIC Code 2711-2796)

Subsector Y2

• Miscellaneous Plastics Products (SIC Code 3081-3089); Musical Instruments (SIC Code 3931); Dolls, Toys, Games, and Sporting and Athletic Goods (SIC Code 3942-3949); Pens, Pencils, and Other Artists’ Materials (SIC Code 3951-3955 (except 3952 – see Sector C)); Costume Jewelry, Costume Novelties, Buttons, and Miscellaneous Notions, Except Precious Metal (SIC Code 3961, 3965); Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries (SIC Code 3991-3999)

Subsector Z1

• Leather Tanning and Finishing (SIC Code 3111)

Subsector AB1

• Industrial and Commercial Machinery, Except Computer and Office Equipment (see Sector AC) (SIC Code 3511-3599 (except 3571-3579)); Transportation Equipment except for Ship and Boat Building and Repairing (see Sector R) (SIC Code 3711-3799 (except 3731, 3732))

Subsector AC1

• Computer and Office Equipment (SIC Code 3571-3579); Measuring, Analyzing, and Controlling Instruments; Photographic and Optical Goods, Watches, and Clocks (SIC Code 3812-3873); Electronic and Electrical Equipment and Components, Except Computer Equipment (SIC Code 3612-3699)

Our authors are available to answer questions about the Illinois stormwater regulations. You will find state professionals for updates or filing requirements local to your operation here.  

Spencer LaBelle serves as a Senior Project Engineer for our Upper Midwest Team. Spencer has prepared SWPPPs for multiple, diverse industries and operations throughout Illinois and assisted clients with SWPPP inspections from the Illinois EPA. He has diverse experience in civil/environmental consulting for stormwater and erosion control management systems, site development, and regulatory compliance.

Betsy Powers serves as a Vice President/Senior Project Manager for our Upper Midwest Team. She has over 25 years of experience in civil/environmental consulting, including erosion control and stormwater management, site development, regulatory compliance, landfill design and permitting, landfill construction, material recovery facility design, and compost facility design and permitting.

Additional NPDES and Stormwater Resources:

• Illinois NPDES
• Stormwater Management
• CERCLA Update – PFAS

January 31, 2023

On December 24, 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) published the renewed NPDES General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater Associated with Industrial Activity (PAG-03). This permit covers stormwater discharges from industrial facilities such as manufacturing facilities, landfills, scrap yards, and bus terminals.

Facilities with an existing General Permit must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) to be covered under the reissued General Permit by March 23, 2023. Stormwater Discharges.

The new permit term will cover operations from March 24, 2023 (effective date) to March 23, 2028 (expiration date). If PADEP receives an NOI by March 23, 2023, an existing PAG-03 permittee can continue to discharge under the reissued PAG-03. The application forms and instructions are available from the PADEP eLibrary.

Beginning in 2024, the due date of the Annual Report and NOI fee annual installment payment will be by March 23 each year. For existing permittees, the due date for the NOI fee installment in 2023 and the annual report covering 2022 will be May 1, 2023.

Analytical requirements for monitoring stormwater discharges are established in an appendix to the General Permit for each industrial sector. A monitoring requirement for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorous was added to each Appendix. Other changes made are to monitoring and Benchmark Value parameters for individual sectors. Target Quantitation Limits (TQLs) are established for analytical parameters, and permittees must use labs that can meet the TQLs to comply.

The new permit increases response levels for continual exceedances of Benchmark Values, concentrations of pollutants that serve as a threshold for evaluating whether site Best Management Practices effectively control stormwater pollution. Two or more consecutive monitoring period exceedances of Benchmark Values trigger the requirement to develop and submit a corrective action plan, implement additional controls, or apply for an individual permit if notified by PADEP.

Monitoring under the renewed permit commences with the July 1 – December 31, 2023 monitoring period. Until July 1, 2023, permittees should continue monitoring for parameters in their existing General Permit.

These are not the only changes made to the General Permit. Please contact for updates in other states or commonwealths and Denise Wessels at (610) 382-3050 if you need help preparing the NOI to reapply for the permit or to maintain compliance with permit terms in Pennsylvania.

January 26, 2023

Attachment 1 of the NPDES Permit No. ILR00 Newly Published

On January 11, 2023, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency posted the General NPDES Permit for Industrial Storm Water Discharges (NPDES Permit No. ILR00) for public review and comment.

Please note that numerous modifications and additions are proposed for Attachment 1 of the NPDES Permit No. ILR00. The Attachment was just made public by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. We are preparing a summary of the changes associated with each subsector.

Modifications and added parts or sections are summarized below:

1. Modification to Part F.1 – Storm Water Controls for permittees to consider stormwater control measure enhancements for major storm events (storm surges).
2. Indicator monitoring (measuring and reporting with no benchmark threshold) for pH, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) has been modified in many subsectors for benchmark monitoring, as described in Attachment 1.
3. Indicator monitoring (measuring and reporting with no benchmark threshold) for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been added for certain subsectors, as described in Attachment 1. This pertains to areas within a property where storm water is exposed to surfaces initially sealed or re-sealed with coal-tar sealcoat.

4. Benchmark threshold values have been updated for aluminum, copper, selenium, cadmium, magnesium, and iron in Attachment 1.
5. The benchmark monitoring schedule has been updated for many subsectors, as shown in Attachment 1. We anticipate that the IEPA will require benchmark monitoring to occur in the permit’s first and fourth years of coverage.

6. Additional implementation measures have been revised for some of the subsectors in Attachment 1.
7. A sign of permit coverage (except in instances where other laws or local ordinances prohibit such signage) must be placed in a safe, publicly accessible location in close proximity to the facility and include the following:

• • The NPDES ID Number
  • Information about how the public can request the facility’s SWPPP
  • And how they contact the facility and IEPA if stormwater pollution is observed.

8. Submit an updated Notice of Intent (NOI) within 150-days of the permit renewal date (to be determined)

All comments on the draft permit and requests for a public hearing must be received by the IEPA no later than February 11, 2023.

Our team of Storm Water professionals in Illinois includes Spencer LaBelle and Scott Knoepke, who are ready to answer your NPDES Permit questions and discuss how the proposed modifications to the permit may impact your operation.

January 23, 2023

On January 11, 2023, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency posted the General NPDES Permit for Industrial Storm Water Discharges (NPDES Permit No. ILR00) for public review and comment.

Please note that numerous modifications and additions are proposed for Attachment 1 of the NPDES Permit No. ILR00. At the time of authoring this blog, Attachment 1 has not been made public by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Once this document is made available, a follow-up post will be prepared to summarize the changes associated with each subsector.

Modifications and added parts or sections are summarized below:

1. Modification to Part F.1 – Storm Water Controls for permittees to consider stormwater control measure enhancements for major storm events (storm surges).
2. Indicator monitoring (measuring and reporting with no benchmark threshold) for pH, Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) has been modified in many subsectors for benchmark monitoring, as described in Attachment 1.
3. Indicator monitoring (measuring and reporting with no benchmark threshold) for polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been added for certain subsectors, as described in Attachment 1. This pertains to areas within a property where storm water is exposed to surfaces initially sealed or re-sealed with coal-tar sealcoat.

4. Benchmark threshold values have been updated for aluminum, copper, selenium, cadmium, magnesium, and iron in Attachment 1.
5. The benchmark monitoring schedule has been updated for many subsectors, as shown in Attachment 1. We anticipate that the IEPA will require benchmark monitoring to occur in the permit’s first and fourth years of coverage.

6. Additional implementation measures have been revised for some of the subsectors in Attachment 1.
7. A sign of permit coverage (except in instances where other laws or local ordinances prohibit such signage) must be placed in a safe, publicly accessible location in close proximity to the facility and include the following:

• • The NPDES ID Number
  • Information about how the public can request the facility’s SWPPP
  • And how they contact the facility and IEPA if stormwater pollution is observed.

8. Submit an updated Notice of Intent (NOI) within 150-days of the permit renewal date (to be determined)

All comments on the draft permit and requests for a public hearing must be received by the IEPA no later than February 11, 2023.

Our team of Storm Water professionals in Illinois includes Spencer LaBelle and Scott Knoepke, who are ready to answer your NPDES Permit questions and discuss how the proposed modifications to the permit may impact your operation.

January 3, 2023

SCS Engineers is a sponsor of the 2023 Food and Beverage Environmental Conference taking place March 26-29, 2023, at the Hyatt Regency Incline Village in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.

FBEC is the premier and most comprehensive environmental event for the food and beverage industry in the United States. It brings together industry, academia, non-government organizations, and suppliers in a casual atmosphere that allows for the free flow of information and ideas. The conference includes a single program of sessions, information exchange, poster sessions, and socializing and networking events, all of which uncover the latest trends and innovations affecting water reuse, supply chain challenges, air quality and many more.

The 2023 Conference will explore the following topics and more!

• Renewable Natural Gas
• Air quality
• Regulatory Updates
• Enforcement & Compliance
• Compliance Best Practices
• Sustainability
• Stormwater
• Food Waste
• Hazardous & Regulated Waste
• Water Reuse
• Wastewater
• Ad-hoc sessions exploring topics like Air 202, Wastewater 202, Sustainability (Climate Change Impacts, SEC Compliance, Cost of Carbon, etc.) and more.

Participants and attendees include craft breweries and distilleries, pet food makers, grocery stores, nutritionists, farmers, and food and beverage processors, as well as those involved in transportation, distribution, preparation, supply chain management, EHS, sustainability and wastewater solutions.

The call for Presentations & Posters is currently open – click for more information, conference details as they take shape, and registration

September 29, 2021

New Chicago office location at 40 Shuman Boulevard, Suite 216, Naperville, IL 60563

SCS Engineers continues expanding its environmental team in its Chicago, Illinois office to meet environmental engineering and consulting needs focusing on waste management and the needs of the electric utilities. Driving demands are industries and municipalities seeking to reduce their environmental footprint while providing essential services and products.

Leading the Chicagoland team, Professional Engineer and Professional Geologist Scott Knoepke. Knoepke serves clients needing remediation and site redevelopment. This includes commercial dry cleaners, retail petroleum sites, and heavy industries such as steel, rail, coal, mining, manufacturing, metal cutting, and plating.

Meet the Crew!

Richard Southorn, PE, PG, with 20 years of experience, joins Knoepke supporting solid waste and electric utility sectors. Southorn began his career in the field performing CQA oversight, environmental monitoring, and soil core/rock core logging at landfill sites. He moved into landfill design and modeling, primarily to support landfill expansion projects. Richard has extensive experience with site layouts, geotechnical stability, stormwater management, and leachate generation analyses.

Brett Miller is a Senior Designer with over 20 years of experience and proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D and Maya. Brett is capable of any production drafting and is highly skilled in understanding 3D space. This helps him support designs that fit into site-specific, real-world environments. Brett also creates 3D models and animations that illustrate the benefits of a design to our clients.

Niko Villanueva, PE, joins SCS with eight years of experience. Niko provides engineering and drafting support and is experienced in designing various landfill systems such as stormwater management, leachate and gas control, and foundation analysis. He has also prepared cost estimates and construction bid quantities for various projects and construction quality assurance services at multiple facilities.

Meet Spencer LaBelle, with six years of experience. Spencer provides solutions for stormwater-related projects, including stormwater management system design, permitting, and compliance. He provides a diverse portfolio of clients and industries with stormwater-related services and environmental compliance.

Zack Christ, PE, comes to SCS with 15 years of experience in solid waste and CCR landfill sectors. Zack has experience performing CQA oversight and CQA management of landfill final cover, base liner, and GCCS; environmental monitoring; and logging soil borings. He also has extensive landfill design and CAD experience in developing landfill siting and permitting application projects. Zack’s areas of expertise include geotechnical analyses, stormwater management, leachate management design, GCCS design, and cost estimating.

September 13, 2021

Jonathan Meronek specializes in comprehensive stormwater management programs. He has conducted BMP and Pollutant Source Assessments (PSAs), written Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs), performed Training and Education classes and implemented Monitoring Implementation Plans (MIPs) for hundreds of facilities in the United States. His accreditations include IGP-TOR, QISP, ENV-SP, CPESC, QSP/D, with over eighteen years of supporting clients at SCS Engineers.  As a State of California Industrial General Permit (IGP) Qualified Industrial Storm Water Practitioner (QISP) and QISP Trainer-of-Record (ToR), he finds stormwater solutions for a multitude of industrial clients.

When Endeavor Media (Stormwater Magazine, Wastewater Mag, and Water World) decided to launch their new education platform called “Stormwater University,” they reached out to Jonathan. He now has the good fortune of being one of twelve people to sit on Endeavor’s National Technical Advisory Board.

Jonathan is excited and looks forward to supporting his colleagues in stormwater management. He has promised not to add another post-nominal after his name.

Congratulations, Jonathan!