Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Storm Regen Center Stage Of Waterworld Magazine December 2014 Edition

Storm Regen® is December's Featured Product Focus Is WaterWorld Magazine 

WaterWorld Magazine and its sister publications, Industrial WaterWorld and Water and Wastewater International are news and technology sources serving engineers, managers, and consultants in the Water/Wastewater Industry Worldwide.

The Product Focus is a special featured article providing an in-depth look at a
specific piece of equipment or technology. These articles objectively discuss the technology, operation and application of the product.

This months focus is on EBS's Storm Regen®. a first-of-a-kind mobile remediation solution. Approved in March of 2013, Storm Regen is living up to the goals agreed upon in the NPDES permit application. A patent pending new technology, Storm Regen is changing the way Stormwater is removed and processed.

WaterWorld Magazine is dedicated to delivering up-to-date information on technology, products and trends in the water and wastewater industry. The online resource provides daily international business and industry-related news, current issue articles, and access to years of searchable editorial archives. 

The most recently published Storm Regen article follows last months presentation at AWRA conference in downtown Portland. EBS Founder and Inventor Jim Hinkley discussed how the Storm Regen technology is addressing StormWater Best Management Practices (BMP) more efficiently than earlier StormWater solutions could manage. Showcasing the Storm Regen features and long-term benefits the presentation was well received.

The print version of Waterworld Magazine will be out soon however if you can't wait you can find the article online by following the link below. 

Product Focus - Renewing Rainwater: Mobile Stormwater Solution
Helps Municipalities Preserve Storm Drains, Water Resources

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Media Alert - Jim Hinkley To Speak At AWRA Annual Conference Today

Media Alert - AWRA Annual Conference Announcement


Jim Hinkley, Founder and President of EBS, Inc. is presenting an approach to "New Technologies For Recycling StormWater: Exceeding BMPs today and a strategy to keep it that way" at the AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference.tomorrow at 3:30pm. 
Portland (I-Newswire) November 4, 2013 - *Media Alert: Event Announcement Tomorrow 3:30pm Portland, Or.

Who: EBS, Inc. President and Founder Jim Hinkley, STORM REGEN® Technology Developer

What:  Mr. Hinkley is presenting an approach to "New Technologies For Recycling StormWater: Exceeding BMPs today and a strategy to keep it that way" at the AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference.

Where:  SESSION 42: Stormwater Management at the AWRA Annual Water Resources Conference, in Portland, Or.at the Red Lion Hotel - River Jantzen Beach

When:  Tuesday, November 5, at 3:30 p.m. Mr. Hinkley will lead off the Stormwater Management Session 42.

Why:  The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) approved this patent?pending technology earlier this year for the first ever Mobile NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit). A critical Best Management Practice (BMP) for stormwater pollution control. It is expected to provide stormwater system cleaning services more efficiently than current practices. 

About Jim Hinkley: I have spent the last 20 years of my life developing new and creative "Best Management Practice" methods for addressing the treatment and reuse of traditional non-hazardous materials. I established Environmental Business Solutions (EBS Inc.) in 1999 with the vision of becoming an innovator of storm water treatment and service. Since that time EBS has become one of the leaders in the Northwest for storm water maintenance services and the only company to develop the specialized proprietary process of REGEN Technology.

EBS has been committed to a culture that promotes opportunities for company ownership and professional career advancement from within. Doing so builds pride in our work, commitment to our clients, and most importantly a sense of self-worth and value. We all share the belief at EBS Inc. that "Actions Define You". We commit ourselves to positive actions every day.

About EBS Corp: Storm Regen Technology is utilizing the latest advancements in sustainable practices for resolving, reducing and/or reclaiming industrial wastewater. The patent-pending process expertly manages collection, treatment, disposal and recycling of stormwater runoff. This new solution is pioneering the way to more effective, Eco friendly stormwater solutions and proving advantageous when compared to traditional single-phase methods (i.e. Vactor Truck combining liquid and solids).

Storm Regen and the Storm Regen logo are registered trademarks of Environmental Business Solutions. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. 

About AWRA: We expect about 500 multidisciplinary water resources professionals to descend upon our fair city to partake in discussions of science, engineering, Pinot noirs, policy, management, fish, economics, ales vs. lagers, ASR, and other great liquid issues of the day. .
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ContactPress Contact: Ellen Partal, Media Relations at 503.662.2236 or Jim Hinkley, President and Founder at 503.969.3900

Monday, October 21, 2013

Clackamas County Selects EBS As 2013 SCAP Vendor

Portland (I-Newswire) October 22, 2013EBS selected to service the Storm Drain Cleaning Assistance Program (SCAP) in the Milwaukie, Happy Valley and urban Clackamas County area. 

After receiving proposals from multiple vendors, WES found Environmental Business Solutions to have the best bid for the second year in a row!

SCAP is a voluntary program for businesses and property owners within the Clackamas County Service District (CCSD#1) service area. The annual program begins in October just prior to the rainy season and provides substantial cost savings for local businesses by offering a flat fee per catch basin cleaned. Property owners are responsible for cleaning privately owned storm drains to reduce flooding into city streets creating road hazards and public nuisance. Businesses that sign up for the program pay just $39 per stormdrain realizing a savings of $100 or more.

SCAP uses economics of scale to clean catch basins at a flat fee per catch basin basis. The significantly discounted rate addresses the desire to keep costs reasonable for local customers and still maintain compliance with environmental regulatory agencies. Property owners are responsible for cleaning privately owned storm drains to prevent dirt and debris that carry pollution from entering the public stormwater systems. They must be inspected and maintained annually and then results reported to the District. SCAP fulfills this requirement and increases compliance by offering a cost savings and simplicity of participation.

The intent of this program is to clean participating businesses' catch basins between October 1 and November 30. The actual number of days required to complete cleaning of all participating businesses will depend upon the total number of catch basins to be cleaned and the vendor's daily limit. The $39.00 cleaning shall consist of debris removal from a catch basin. This does not include any line cleaning or repair unless other arrangements are made between the vendor and the property owner. Businesses and property owners that want to participate in the program shall contact WES by September 20, 2013 to participate in this program.

The SCAP program has received praise from the local business community and environmental agencies for their continued commitment to water quality.In 2011, between October and December, 46 customers participated in the program with a total of 162 catch basins cleaned. "Participation doubled in 2012 and we look forward to even greater participation this year" said John Nagy, Manager, Commercial Storm Drain Cleaning Assistance Program. 

Bids from vendors providing storm water cleaning service were solicited by Clackamas County Water Environment Services (WES) on behalf of Clackamas County Service District No. 1 (CCSD#1) earlier this year. After receiving multiple proposals from local vendors, WES followed up on last years selection and awarded the contract to Environmental Business Solutions, Inc (EBS). 
"We are thrilled to be a part of this community program that highlights the importance of regularly scheduled stormwater maintenance to prevent potential flooding requiring expensive emergency service and further protect our water sources,' said Jim Hinkley, Owner EBS Storm Regen.
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About Environmental Business Solutions: EBS specializes in innovative answers and design solutions by applying "Regen" technologies for stormwater and industrial wastewater applications. EBS has built its reputation by successfully exceeding the environmental needs of Private, Federal, State, and Local clients. Dedicated to safety and a standard of excellence. EBS has been a leader in designing systems for resolving, reducing, and/or reclaiming waste by-products
About Clackamas County Service District No. 1 (CCSD #1): collects and cleans more than 3 billion gallons of wastewater annually before releasing it to local rivers. CCSD #1 also annually recycles over 21 million gallons of biosolids from the four wastewater treatment facilities, and monitors over 30 permitted industrial users to test and monitor their discharge.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

EPA Proposes A New Rule to Modernize Clean Water Act Reporting.

*EPA estimates a savings of approximately $29 million each year as a result of switching from paper to electronic reporting.

The proposed e-reporting rule would make facility-specific information, such as inspection and enforcement history, pollutant monitoring results, and other data required by permits accessible to the public through EPA’s website. 

Summary Proposal:  EPA is proposing a regulation that would require electronic reporting for current paper-based NPDES reports. This action will save time and resources for permittees, states, tribes, territories, and EPA while improving compliance and providing better protection of the Nation's waters. The proposed Clean Water Act regulation would require permittees and regulators to use existing, available information technology to electronically report information and data related to the NPDES permit program in lieu of filing written reports. The proposal will also allow better allocation and use of limited program resources and enhance transparency and public accountability by providing regulatory agencies and the public with more timely, complete, accurate, and nationally-consistent sets of data about the NPDES program and potential sources of water pollution. The benefits of this proposed rulemaking should allow NPDES-authorized programs in states, tribes, and territories to shift precious resources from data management activities to those more targeted to solving water quality and noncompliance issues. This in turn may contribute to increased compliance, improved water quality, and a level playing field for the regulated community.
Given the large scope of this proposal, EPA commits to offer an additional opportunity for transparency and engagement by publishing a supplemental notice should we receive comments on the proposed rule that require significant changes. States, tribes, territories, permittees, and other stakeholders can review and comment on the supplemental notice. EPA plans to publish the supplemental notice within 180 days after the public comment period for this proposed rule has closed.
Follow the link to see the full proposal

*(Refers collectively to those authorized to administer NPDES in the US) 

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Information from the EPA


EPA focusing on industrial stormwater compliance, targeting a serious threat to Puget Sound water quality

08/26/2013

As part of ongoing federal and state efforts to restore Puget Sound, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is announcing enforcement actions against four Seattle-area companies for discharging industrial stormwater in violation of the Clean Water Act.
“By focusing our efforts on industrial stormwater compliance, EPA and the Washington Department of Ecology are tackling one of the top environmental threats to Puget Sound,” said Ed Kowalski, director of EPA’s enforcement program in Seattle. “These focused actions help bring us closer to restoring the health of Puget Sound.”

Follow this link to see the full article in the Seattle Herald
http://www.westseattleherald.com/2013/08/26/news/epa-focusing-industrial-stormwater-compliance-tar

Monday, August 19, 2013

Do you know where your Stormwater goes?

Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink. 

The Blue Planet There are more than 326 million trillion gallons of water on Earth. Less than 3% of all this water is fresh water and of that amount, more than two-thirds is locked up in ice caps and glaciers. Despite all of this, water is still not self-generating and one day we may not have enough. By 2025, it is predicted that most of Africa and West Asia will face severe water scarcity as a result of their increasing population and demands for water.
Freshwater supply is shaped by rainfall, snow melt  runoff and infiltration. There is growing concern regarding the quantity and quality of our water supplyDirty water is the world's biggest health risk, and continues to threaten both quality of life and public health in the United States according to the National Resources Defense Council.

Showcased below are examples of Portland's awareness of their enviroment.
Sophisticated Northwest Portland lifestyles includes an expectation environmental sustainability. With the paint barely dry on the walls  The Franklin Ide is already 24% leased. Touted as a low-environmental-impact apartment building it is LEED Gold certified and only a few points short of  a Platinum certification. The 6-story complex includes stormwater treatment planters and low-flow toilets among other Eco-friendly additions.

Portland has some of the highest combined water/sewer rates in the nation.  On The Brightside:  As other U.S. cities struggle to implement expensive stormwater controls we are ahead of the country in water quality now that the $1.4 billion project designed to keep stormwater out of the Willamette is complete.


Do you know where your stormwater run-off goes?  Green streets vs. underground combined stormwater and sewage systems as explained by the City of Portland's Kate Hibschman. Kate works for the Sustainable Stormwater Division.
Some easy ways to control your own stormwater. This last video is less about Portland and more about what you can do to control your own stormwater. I hope you enjoyed these glimpses into water a natural resource and ways to not waste it.

Thursday, May 23, 2013

EBS, Inc. Unveils Their Patent-Pending STORM REGEN® Technology

EBS Founder, Jim Hinkley presented the patent-pending STORM REGEN® Technology to local facility and maintenance management teams attending the 37th Annual Water Environment School sponsored by Oregon Water Education Foundation (ORWEF).


Portland (I-Newswire) May 22, 2013
The 37th Annual Water Environment School was 3 days of continuing education seminars, workshops, and an Exhibitor Display showcasing solutions for stormwater and wastewater management, permitting, processing, and demonstrations on-site as well as off-site field trip opportunities. While the school does not endorse any specific product or service, it encourages industry vendors and manufacturers to participate and provide presentations on what is available. Representatives from DEQ, ODOT and most of the local city and county agencies attended as well as facilities and maintenance management teams. Each had their own areas of specific interest but all were happy to have the opportunity to hear from others in the increasingly complex requirements of modern waste management and its growing impact on our environment. Sponsored by the Oregon Water Education Foundation (ORWEF), 11 session tracks were run simultaneously covering the gamut of management, operations and treatment. A reoccurring theme of the sessions was the emerging new technologies in wastewater treatment and the increasing documentation and reporting requirements by state and federal agencies. 
 EBS Corp. founder and Storm Regen Inventor
Jim Hinkley, EBS Founder


The event provided the perfect venue for EBS, Inc. to unveil their patent-pending STORM REGEN® Technology. Jim Hinkley, founder of Environmental Business Solutions presented an overview of this 
revolutionary approach to Stormwater regeneration to a room full of questioning looks that slowly turned to understanding during the hour long session. Hinkley described the Storm Regen two-phase separation (liquids and solids) process of stormwater or light industrial wastewater. Following separation the Storm Regen liquid filtration and liquid "regeneration' process occurs and the previously contaminated water is recycled and reused. These regenerated original liquids are then returned back to the original vessel. The remaining contaminated wastewater is disposed of at a significantly reduced cost and liability than current traditional vac-truck stormwater solutions allow. This process raised the question of how this was different than "Decanting back into the catch basin". Hinkley explained that, up until now, once liquid is removed from a catch basin it becomes wastewater and you cannot legally put it back. Instead it has to be hauled away and disposed of in an approved manner. Storm Regen separation and recycling technology now provides the opportunity to put treated water back into the catch basin. 
Hinkley went on to explain that Storm Regen was designed as a maintenance program for industrial facilities with multiple storm drains and/or catch basins that discharge stormwater and not meant to act as a blanket replacement of traditional methods that still offer a viable solution for some operations such as single catch basin treatments or emergency pumping services.
The Storm Regen 3-Step Program involves an Initial Comprehensive Job Site Evaluation that includes: Site Logistics, Obstacles or Availability and determining Supply, Replacement or Repair Needs. Step 2: Storm Regen facilitated. Step 3 The EBS "Post Packet Document" (PPD) exceeding all Storm Water Pollution Control Program (SWPCP) minimums. 

The presentation was met with many questions regarding the mobile unit (see attached slide show) and the DEQ approval status for this innovative process. As the questions were answered the Storm Regen solution and the resulting benefits, including increased efficiency and sustainability, became apparent as did the cost savings and reporting benefits. The presentation wrapped up with final thoughts from a couple of Water School Committee members.
Luke Bushman, Stormwater Management Coordinator brought up the question of EBS field technicians and their training/ certifications including the ability of EBS to issue compliance certifications. Hinkley was clearly proud to offer that all EBS project managers and field technicians are licensed, bonded and maintain current certifications in 40 Hr HAZWOPER, Confined Space Entry and Rescue, Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC), and Class A Endorsements. This dedication to safety and Best Management Practices is reflected in their Experience Modification Rating (EMR) of 0.95, zero lost time and zero incidents in over 200,000 labor hours.
John Nagy, Surface Water Technician, brought the question and answer portion of the presentation to a close by offering to the group the takeaway as he saw it: “Transportation of liquids off-site equals expensive downtime and increased transportation liability. A catch basin cleaning and liquid recycling system is price efficient due to providing more time on-site rather than shuttling water back and forth.”


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EBS Storm Regen® technology is utilizing the latest advancements in sustainable practices for resolving, reducing and/or reclaiming industrial wastewater to expertly manage collection, treatment, disposal, and recycling of stormwater runoff. This new solution is pioneering the way to more effective, Eco-friendly stormwater solutions and proving advantageous when compared to traditional single-phase methods (i.e. Vactor Truck combining liquid and solids).

Storm Regen Powerpoint from ORWEF Water Environment School
Storm Regen and the Storm Regen logo are registered trademarks of Environmental Business Solutions. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. 

Disclaimer: Reference herein to any specific service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the Oregon Water Education Foundation (ORWEF). The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the ORWEF and should not be considered an endorsement by ORWEF.

ORWEF Contact:
Naomi Sether

Monday, May 6, 2013

DEQ Awards The First Mobile NPDES Permit in Oregon to Environmental Business Solutions Corp


Portland (I-Newswire) May 6, 2013 -Environmental Business Solutions Corp (EBS) a leading provider of wastewater management solutions received the first Mobile National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit (NPDES) ever issued from the Oregon Department Of Quality (DEQ). The permit authorizes the revolutionary Storm Regen® remediation units to treat contaminated industrial, surface and stormwater run-off using a proprietary recycling solution that purifies and recycles the previously contaminated water removed from the original vessel. This liquid is regenerated and returned where applicable. The remaining contaminated stormwater is disposed of off site with less cost and liability than current solutions allow.

Storm Regen is not intended to replace the current 'Vactor" truck method still relevant for some applications and it was not designed to act as a stop-gap solution between standard service intervals. The Storm Regen technology was developed to clean various commercial appurtenance on a regular basis and is a critical best management practice for stormwater pollution control. Where the Storm Regen technology will be most appreciated is in facilities with multiple stormwater applications such as municipalities or large campus facilities.

"Storm Regen is an example of what can be achieved by taking advantage of all EBS has to offer to implement, execute, and document a BMP stormwater maintenance program not previously attainable," said Matt Ellison of Lovett, Inc.

The Storm Regen process captures the liquids and pollutants and removes them for 'regeneration'. In Step Two the removed solids are vacuumed using a second pump and directed to a separate tank for disposal later off-site. The regenerated liquid is then re-purposed back into the original container (ie: catch basin). The entire process takes less than 5 minutes to complete and the holding tank of contaminated wastewater can be added to and does not need to be disposed of until the tank is full.

"We are the only company that offers a full set of tools and services to address the growing need for tighter processes and stricter documentation allowing us to meet the increasingly regulated industry standards without incurring substantial cost and often times seeing a reduction in labor cost and client liability" Jim Hinkley, founder of EBS Corp and inventor of the patent-pending Storm Regen said.

Hinley is a leader in designing systems for resolving, reducing and/or reclaiming waste by-products, for the last 20 years.Designing his first custom StormWater application in 1999, EBS has been quietly winning contracts with Tri-Met, Multnomah County, Clackamas County, and Lewis & Clark College just to name a few. EBS is dedicated to meeting the increasingly complex requirements of modern waste management and its growing impact on our environment.

Wanting to provide a full-service BMP solution EBS began implementing standardized forms years ago to assist his clients with the need to document compliance with both state and federal agencies. The EBS documentation program has consistently exceeded the environmental requirements of all our Private, Federal, State, and Local agencies.

"Using Storm Regen allows our clients to avoid incurring additional expenses, over traditional service methods, while providing a environmentally sustainable solution," said Hinkley. "After that, it was easy, to see providing the accompanying documentation process was not a luxury, but a necessity."

Based on federal regulations, the NPDES permit is required for industrial facilities that discharge Stormwater from their industrial areas to surface waters of the state, or to storm drains that discharge to surface waters. The first of it's kind, the discharge permit is mobile and may occur at locations throughout the Multnomah, Clackamas, Washington, Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties. 

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About EBS Corp: Storm Regen Technology is utilizing the latest advancements in sustainable practices for resolving, reducing and/or reclaiming industrial wastewater. The patent-pending process expertly manages collection, treatment, disposal and recycling of stormwater runoff. This new solution is pioneering the way to more effective, Eco friendly stormwater solutions and proving advantageous when compared to traditional single-phase methods (i.e. Vactor Truck combining liquid and solids).

Storm Regen and the Storm Regen logo are registered trademarks of Environmental Business Solutions. Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners. 

Link to see the release on i-newswire