Press Releases
December 16, 2011
Our Own Mike Ollivant Selected to Serve on PNCWA Board
In his role as Vice President, Mike will help guide the association forward in the years ahead.
Mike's industry experience comes from participation in a variety of projects and roles at Parametrix over the last 32 years including, sanitary sewer collection design, wastewater treatment rehabilitation, water transmission systems and water source design. Mike served as Conference Chair for the 75th PNCWA Annual Conference in 2008 in Kennewick.
For more info on PNCWA go to http://www.pncwa.org/
December 12, 2011
November 7, 2011
King County Officially Opens Redmond Stretch of East Lake Sammamish Trail
A great opportunity to preview the East Lake Sammamish Trail, and see how this important regional trail system will benefit communities. The project was designed by Parametrix and constructed by Tri-State Construction.
Click here for more information on the King County website
November 1, 2011
Parametrix Selects Familiar Face to Lead the Firm's New Mexico Operations
Parametrix has selected Jim Good as Principal to lead the firm's New Mexico operations which are located in Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Good has been involved in the growth and leadership of the New Mexico offices since the firm originally established its southwest presence in 2002. Today, the Albuquerque and Las Cruces offices have over 40 staff combined providing natural and cultural resources, community building, planning, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) services to a wide variety of clientele including cities, counties, industries, tribes, and pueblos.
Good is an experienced natural resources project manager, with technical expertise in water quality and watershed management. Good has filled several roles at the firm for 23 years including office division manager, principal, natural resources program manager, director, and currently serves on the Parametrix Board of Trustees. Over the years he has had the opportunity to work with southwest clients such as Village of Ruidoso, City of Ruidoso Downs, Pueblo de Cochiti, Pueblo of Santa Ana, Taos Pueblo and federal agencies including the US Forest Service and Army Corp of Engineers. Good's tenure at Parametrix, combined with his knowledge of our southwest operations and clients, and technical skills and leadership, will enable Good to lead and grow the firm's New Mexico operations while ensuring ongoing client satisfaction.
October 26, 2011
Redmond segment of East Lake Sammamish Trail to open ahead of schedule, under budget
Congratulations to our project team on a job well done!
See the full press release here.
October 14, 2011
Portland Milwaukie Light Rail Project Honored for Environmental Documentation
The Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail project received the FTA’s Outstanding Achievement Award for Excellence in Environmental Document Preparation in the EIS category. The award recognizes environmental documents that exemplify best practices for a well-managed environmental documentation process, comply with prevailing requirements and expectations, and achieve the objective of paperwork reduction. Parametix managed the fast-track EIS for the 7.3 miles of new rail that will connect Portland State University in downtown Portland, inner Southeast Portland, Milwaukie, and north Clackamas County, expanding rail access to an additional 22,000 households and 85,000 employees.
For the last 7 years Parametrix has served on the Portland to Milwaukie Light Rail project team providing transportation planning, design, and environmental services for the supplemental draft EIS and the final EIS. The project includes a new transit-only bridge across the Willamette River that will provide for light rail, streetcar, and bus use, as well as a regional trail connection. This required ESA, U.S. Coast Guard, and US Army Corps of Engineers approvals. Design of the project includes 11 stations, with 2 waterfront area stations, 3 major park-and-rides, and heavy freight and passenger rail corridor crossings.
This project has provided Parametrix employee-owners from five offices the opportunity to work on a highly visible project that will benefit communities we call home.
Click here to view the full Metro Magazine article: www.metro-magazine.com
October 7, 2011
Parametrix Ranks on ZweigWhite's 2011 Hot Firm List
Parametrix was recently ranked #148 in ZweigWhite's 2011 Hot Firm list.
In its 12th year, the Hot Firm List has become the benchmark for success in the A/E/P and environmental consulting industry - with participating firms that demonstrate the highest percentage growth over a three-year period earning top placing.
September 26, 2011
The Columbia River Crossing Project Reached a Significant Milestone
On September 23, 2011, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) was released by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration(FTA), Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), and local agency sponsors, including TriMet, C-TRAN, Southwest Regional Transportation Council, and Metro. Parametrix served as the lead environmental consultants on the project, which, in spite of substantial complexity and controversy, was completed in an unprecedented 6 years, substantially faster than the national average for transportation mega projects.
CRC is a multi-modal, bi-state transportation project focused on improving safety, reducing congestion, and increasing mobility of motorists, freight traffic, transit riders, bicyclists, and pedestrians along a 5-mile section of the I-5 corridor connecting Vancouver, WA to Portland, OR over the Columbia River. The Draft EIS compared 5 alternatives—no build, replacement bridge with bus rapid transit, replacement bridge with light rail, supplemental bridge with bus rapid transit, and supplemental bridge with light rail. The FEIS builds on that analysis and includes environmental impacts of the alternatives and mitigation measures for adverse impacts, a financial analysis with several funding scenarios, and responses to more than 1,600 Draft EIS comments from the public and other stakeholders.
The preferred alternative identified in the FEIS will rebuild about 5 miles of I-5, including replacing 7 interchanges and replacing the aging I-5 bridges over the Columbia River with two parallel replacement structures. It will extend light rail across the river into Vancouver, add a toll to the highway to raise revenue and manage congestion, and provide significant bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
Parametrix led the EIS process, including built environment issues, natural environment issues and historic resources; as well as Endangered Species Act approvals, other permitting, and reader-friendly documentation to assist in public outreach. To facilitate regulatory coordination and decision making, Parametrix led the development and implementation of an Interstate Collaborative Environmental Process Agreement, critical to achieving effective and timely regulatory approvals through collaboration with 12 federal and state agencies from both states.
September 8, 2011
Parametrix Presents at 2nd Annual Pacific Northwest Climate Science Conference
Ann Radil of Parametrix will be presenting “An Ecosystem Services-Based Approach to Evaluating Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability” at the 2nd Annual Pacific Northwest Climate Science Conference in Seattle, Washington on September 13, 2011. The conference, supported by Pacific Northwest research institutions and federal and state agencies, aims to stimulate a place-based exchange of information about emerging climate, climate impacts, and climate adaptation science.
August 16, 2011
Parametrix Achieves Climate Registered Status
Measuring their carbon footprint is one component of a holistic strategy to improve sustainable business operations.
Climate Registered™ status was awarded to Parametrix for successfully measuring its carbon footprint. According to The Climate Registry’s best-in-class program and a third party verification of the data on The Registry’s website, Parametrix joins other leading organizations across North America in adopting a sustainable approach to doing business.
Parametrix is the largest locally headquartered engineering and planning firm in the Puget Sound region. Parametrix has offices across the western United States and nearly 500 professionals committed to understanding how civil infrastructure can be developed, managed, and maintained in a manner that increases the resilience and productivity of ecosystems. The company has a proven track record integrating sustainable principles into the region’s largest public infrastructure projects and assists some of the world’s leading institutions seeking to holistically measure and mitigate their environmental impact.
“Parametrix is committed to building vibrant, sustainable communities and restoring the health of the planet for future generations. Our continued efforts applying transparent standards to calculate, verify, and publicly report our climate impact is evidence of that commitment,” said Jeff Peacock, President and CEO of Parametrix.
“Climate Registered organizations understand that there are both environmental and economic benefits to understanding and managing your carbon footprint,” said Denise Sheehan, Executive Director of The Climate Registry. “Parametrix has become part of a powerful community of Climate Registered organizations, with substantive data guiding and supporting its sustainable activities.”
About The Climate Registry
The Climate Registry is a non-profit organization that operates the only carbon footprint registry in North America supported by states, provinces, territories, and tribes. The Climate Registry helps hundreds of public and private organizations measure, report, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions with integrity.
For more information, please visit www.theclimateregistry.org.
August 8, 2011
More Than a Decade of Environmental Work by Parametrix Culminates in Major Milestones for SR 520 and Alaskan Way Viaduct Projects
Parametrix is excited to recognize major milestones for both the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct replacement project and the SR 520: I-5 to Medina Bridge Replacement and HOV projects, two of the largest transportation improvement projects underway on the West Coast. Parametrix has served as the lead environmental consultant for both projects, also providing an array of supporting transportation and traffic planning, stormwater planning, and natural resource assessment services.
On July 7, 2011 the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the SR 99 Alaskan Way Viaduct project was released by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), and the City of Seattle. The final EIS examines the potential environmental effects of viaduct replacement alternatives, including a bored tunnel, and builds on the analysis included in the 2004 draft EIS, the 2006 supplemental draft EIS and the 2010 supplemental draft EIS. The document compares the effects of three build alternatives (bored tunnel, cut-and-cover tunnel, and an elevated structure) and explains why a bored tunnel is the preferred alternative. A Record of Decision is expected in August 2011 with construction to follow. The final EIS is available on WSDOT's project site.
On August 4, 2011, the FHWA signed the Record of Decision for WSDOT's SR 520 project. This environmental decision document completes the environmental documentation process for the $4.65 billion program to improve SR 520 from I-5 in Seattle to SR 202 in Redmond, Washington. The program will replace the floating bridge and highway with six lanes, including two general-purpose lanes and one new transit/HOV lane in each direction. Parametrix led the development of the draft and final EISs for the I-5 to Medina project. Construction of that segment is scheduled to begin in 2012 after selection of a design-build contractor. More information on the SR 520 project is provided on WSDOT's project site.
August 5, 2011
Parametrix Ranks on the ENR Top Environmental Firms List
Parametrix was recently ranked #151 in Engineering News Record's Top 200 Environmental Firms list. Rankings are based on 2010 revenues and includes firms worldwide. Parametrix has been included in the list since 1998.
August 3, 2011
Parametrix Contributes to the Business Community
in the Puyallup Region
See the full article in the Puyallup Herald
August 1, 2011
EcoMetrix Invited to BSR Decision Support Roundtable
EcoMetrix participates in comparative study of emerging ecosystem services decision-making aids.
In 2006, Parametrix formed an internal research and development business unit charged with advancing ecosystem services science and developing strategies for integrating ecosystem services principles into program- and project-level applications. We have focused on creating the methods, metrics, tools, and infrastructure needed to support development of sustainability and risk reduction programs, improve business and regulatory processes, and facilitate exchanges in an ecosystem services marketplace.
Our progress was acknowledged through an invitation to participate in the Business for Social Responsibility's (BSR) emerging ecosystem services tools comparative study involving seven different tool developers. EcoMetrix is the only site-level tool, capable of measuring impacts and offsets at a site level, included in the study. Participating in this study provided us the unique opportunity to showcase EcoMetrix, position ourselves as a leader in the market, and to establish relationships with multinational corporations seeking to implement sustainability programs.
BSR is a nonprofit organization, supported by a global network of more than 250 member companies, which helps corporations develop and implement sustainable business strategies and solutions. A few corporate members of this progressive group include BP, Dell, DuPont, ExxonMobil, General Electric Company, Merck, Rio Tinto, Shell, Chevron and the Walt Disney Company.
In May 2011, BSR published a report on the findings of the comparative study, titled New Business Decision-Making Aids in an Era of Complexity, Scrutiny, and Uncertainty. It includes a description of the study and summarizes the outcomes; helps clarify how the various tools (which fall into three basic categories - landscape scale analysis, site-level analysis, and economic valuation) relate to each other; and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of each.
July 25, 2011
Parametrix Presents at American Water Works Association Training Event
Howard Woodward of Parametrix presented at a Water System Maintenance training event put on by the South Sound Subsection of the American Water Works Association. Howard discussed "Chlorination and Water Utilization Efficiency Source Reports Generated from Your SCADA System". Water operators who participated in the training event earned continuing education credits (CEU).
Click here to view the presentation (PDF)
July 1, 2011
Parametrix 5th Largest Engineering Firm in Puget Sound
Parametrix continues to rank as one of the largest engineering firms in the Puget Sound area. This year we were the 5th largest engineering firm ranked by 2010 gross revenue for area offices by the Puget Sound Business Journal. The largest four firms were TetraTech, HDR Engineering, URS Corporation, and HNTB.
Parametrix was also ranked the 79th largest private company headquartered in Washington. REI, Darigold, and Trident Seafoods are the three largest private companies headquartered in Washington.
June 21, 2011
Sustainablility at Parametrix
Parametrix supports sustainability in our offices and on projects in our communities, here is a short video highlighting just a few of our everyday practices.
May 31, 2011
Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest - Powering the Next Generation of Flight
Parametrix brought its expertise and understanding of the environmental permitting and compliance process to this project.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest (SAFN) is the nation’s first regional stakeholder effort to explore the opportunities and challenges surrounding the production of sustainable aviation fuels.
Click here to learn more: www.safnw.com
May 26, 2011
The Puyallup Office of Parametrix Featured in the Puyallup Hearold
See the full article
May 06, 2011
Greg Graham Joins the Portland Office of Parametrix
Parametrix hired Greg Graham as a senior environmental planner in the firm's Portland office. Graham has more than 30 years of experience in water resource planning. In his new position, Graham will leverage his extensive experience to further develop relationships with regulatory agencies. Graham's experience in flood control, environmental restoration, fish migration, and hydropower production will complement our growing tribal and energy markets company wide.
Previously, Graham was with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for more than 30 years. As the chief of the Planning Branch, he managed the planning, environmental, and fish program for the Walla Walla District. As a special assignment for the Northwestern Division office, he was the chief of the Planning, Environmental Resources, and Fish Policy Division overseeing five districts including Kansas City, Omaha, Portland, Seattle and, Walla Walla.
During his career with the Corps, he managed numerous planning and environmental projects, including an investigation of breaching the four lower Snake River hydropower dams. This study generated significant national and international interest. Graham was also instrumental in negotiating a Memorandum of Agreement with the Nez Perce Tribe to reshape the release of 200,000 acre-feet of storage in Dworshak Reservoir for flow augmentation purposes as part of the Snake River Basin adjudication settlement.
April 26, 2011
Expedited Planning and Environmental Review of Highway Projects Webinar
The Transportation Research Board will be conducting a webinar on May 4, 2011, from 2:00 p.m.-3:30 p.m. EDT that will explore a project developed by TRB's second Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP 2) about effective tools and techniques for expediting the planning and environmental review of transportation projects. Parametrix was the prime for this project and Jeff Heilman of Parametrix was the Principal Investigator. Go to the following link for more information or to register for the webinar. Participants must register at least 24 hours prior to the start of the webinar and space is limited.
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/331591561
April 25, 2011
Parametrix Employee-Owners Volunteer at Local Earth Day Event
Click here for the full Auburn Reporter article.
April 22, 2011
Parametrix Ranks on the ENR Top Design Firm List
Parametrix was ranked 143rd nationwide in Engineering News Record's Top 500 Design Firms.
April 19, 2011
Interested in Learning More About Sustainable Planning?
If so, register today for a one day course taught by Parametrix staff at the University of Oregon's Portland Campus.
Sustainable Land Use Planning: Balancing Economic, Social & Ecosystem Functions
May 20, 2011
Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
UO in Portland, White Stag Block 152
Parametrix Presenters: Jason Franklin, AICP, Kevin Halsey, Paul Manson
This one-day workshop will focus on land use decisions and their impact on achieving sustainability, examine existing planning methods, identify areas of improvement, offer alternative strategies, and review assessment and measurement approaches.
April 18, 2011
Portland Office Among Top Environmental Firms in the Area
The Portland Business Journal has ranked the Parametrix Portland office as fourth out of the top 25 environmental consulting firms. Parametrix ranked ninth on the list last year.
April 13, 2011
Join Parametrix in Supporting the Auburn Clean Sweep
We are once again participating in the Auburn Clean Sweep. Last year we had over 30 volunteers-our goal this year is to hit 40! Join us for a day of community giving. Friends and families (older children) are welcome. For more details and to sign up, visit the City of Auburn website.
April 08, 2011
Parametrix employee-owner engineers her own adventures
See the full article in the Auburn Reporter
March 18, 2011
Parametrix Presenting at 2011 ODOT Environmental Conference
Congratulations to Bill Hall, Ann Radil, Jeff Heilman, Kevin Halsey, and Mike Parton for being selected to present at this year’s ODOT Environmental Conference - which will be held in Bend in early April. Presentation topics range from “Determining Hydroacoustic Impacts to Listed Fish from CRC” to “How Lifecycle Assessment Can Be Used to Improve Transportation Planning”.
March 8, 2011
Parametrix Support HB 1559
Support HB 1559 and help protect business in Washington State. Today, more than half of the cities and counties in Washington include high risk indemnification and duty to defend contract language, which places risk on the private sector’s ability to provide professional services to the public sector. We are working hard to get this issue addressed legislatively and now the bill is about to be voted on by the Senate Judiciary Committee in Olympia.
What does indemnification and duty to defend mean?
Indemnify: The obligation or duty resting in one person to assume a specific liability for any hurt, loss, or damage another has incurred
Defend: Pay for the legal defense of a client
Public agencies first used duty to defend and indemnification clauses in construction contracts because a public agency had no control over the worksite and the contractor did. Contractors bear this risk and are able to purchase general liability insurance. These clauses worked well for construction projects so public agencies decided to use them in professional services contracts.
The professional services provided by engineers and architects are covered by professional liability insurance; these policies unlike a contractor’s general liability policy do not cover the defense of a public agency before a liability is found.
How can you help?
Email or call your local legislator today and request support for HB 1559. You can check your legislative district online at: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/Default.aspx.
February 4, 2011
Bremerton Park to Get a
Makeover For Preschoolers
See the full article in the Kitsap Sun
