4th Edition of Tagline 2022

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FOURTH EDITION 2022: JOB UPDATES

Open Enrollment Is Here!

There are many values that come to mind when I think of Crowder as it relates to our people, our history and our founders. Honesty and integrity live at the forefront as we work to do the right thing in all of our decisions. Valuing Family is also at the top of the list as it makes us who we are and drives many of our decisions and actions.

We have and will continue to support our employees and their families. We are proud to announce that the health plans will continue into 2023 at the same premium rates that you experience today with no change in rates or plan benefits. We encourage everyone to do the right things that keep you healthy not only for you, but also for your family. That includes taking advantage of your 100% paid annual wellness visits for medical and dental and making good choices for your personal health.

Coming off the challenging times we have lived through since 2020 and working through supply chain issues and escalating costs in our economy, another word jumps to the top of the list—Resilience. We remain strong as a company financially, and it is the result of the collective strength of our people leading the way through tough times that makes Crowder successful. Let’s stay strong and healthy as we start another year!

The Open Enrollment period will run October 31st, 2022 - November 15th, 2022 for the plan year beginning 1/1/2023.

SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE

Safety Updates on pages 3, 11,16, and 20

OUR CLIENTS

All pages with job news

OUR EMPLOYEES pages 21-22

If something is bothering you, if you have a question, if you feel you or another employee are being harassed, or if you believe that you have not been treated fairly, WE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT IT. Please go to your bulletin board and use our Employee Concern and Complaint Procedure (or call 1-800-849-2966 and ask for Employee Services) to get your question answered, your concern addressed or your problem resolved.

Lynn Hansen,

Recognition for Your Safety Efforts

by Scott Allen, Corporate Safety Director

Crowder has recently accepted multiple safety awards related to our world-class safety performance and innovative practices. This recognition is well deserved by all our project personnel and is worthy of resharing.

Regarding our safety performance over the past year along with our ongoing health, safety and environmental practices, Crowder has recently been issued multiple safety awards from various organizations and government entities. These achievements are a direct result of our employees being proactive with their task planning, hazard recognition/mitigation and their focus on desired behaviors by all project personnel. Congratulations to all our employees and a special THANK YOU to our talented craft workforce! The referenced awards include the following (in order of date received):

Organization or Government Facility Award Received

National Associated General Contractors

Construction Safety Excellence Award

North Carolina Department of Labor Safety Achievement

Carolinas Associated General Contractors Safety Achievement

Associated Builders and Contractors

STEP Diamond

South Carolina Department of Labor Licensing & Regulation Palmetto Shining Star

As I attend local meetings and conferences with colleagues and clients throughout the Southeast, I do so with a sense of pride. Crowder’s name recognition has always been aligned with quality, dependability, trust, and family. More importantly, our company name is intertwined with safety excellence. We should all be proud to be associated with a company that truly cares about our well-being, a company where we are all known by name and not just a number, a company that wholeheartedly believes that we are only successful when every employee is FOCUSED to ACHIEVE SAFETY EXCELLENCE. Your individual efforts are much appreciated!

Neuse River Resource Recovery Facility Bioenergy Recovery Project

The HVAC ductwork is being installed and screws for the conveyers are being set. The screw pumps below the conveyers have been installed. The THP (thermal hydrolysis process) system is set, and the electrical work is currently being conducted, and the instrumentation installation for digester electrical work and control building is steadily ending. The SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) system for the final dewatering building was installed, the boilers for the building have been set and the piping for steam system is being installed.

The duct bank for conduit routing is progressing and coming together quickly and we have completed the ceiling for the digester electrical building. We have faced some challenges in working out conflicts in routing for piping, conduit and HVAC. Next, we will be working towards the completion of electrical work for the THP Cambi System and the digester electrical building. We will also continue ductwork, piping, and conduit routing for corresponding buildings.

GUC Water Treatment Plant Phase 1 Improvements

The Greenville project has been coming to life in the recent months with the completion of the rapid mix and super pulsator structures. Greenville was fortunate and proud to take home both the Safety Excellence Award and the Cash Management Award in the 75th annual meeting.

The project team has been putting the finishing touches on all structures including architectural, masonry, site grading and more. Yard piping was completed in early August and the mechanical team is wrapping up ductile iron pipe in the interior of the filter

building, which will complete all ductile iron for the project.

The concrete team recently shipped out the last truck of formwork and shoring which marks the completion of concrete for the project. Superintendents along with site Foremen are working cohesively with both the Construction Manager (TA Loving) and their subcontractors (Pitt Electric, Manning Masonry, Freedom Industries and more) to drive project schedules and finish early.

Current goals for the project include wrapping up the installation of all miscellaneous metals, bolt up the interior

ductile iron pipe in the filter building, install underdrains, place filter media, and have live power connected to the filter building by the end of this year with the goal of commissioning the plant additions by early 2023.

The leadership team has been doing a fantastic job working through issues that arise in the field with the Hazen Inspector and while keeping the field personnel focused on the end goal. The GUC team looks forward to continued success with TA Loving, Hazen, and Greenville Utilities to deliver quality work in a timely manner while doing so safely.

Employees are finishing the replacement of an existing 10,000-gallon aluminum sulfate storage tank with a new 10,000-gallon sodium hypochlorite storage tank.

The new sodium hypochlorite tank has been fitted with new Sch 80 PVC pipe, valves, and a chemical transfer pump to allow the owner to rotate material as needed.

Sludge Cooling Heat Exchangers THP System

Covered Digester Tanks With Digester Control Building Between

Finishing Sulfate Storage Tank Replacement

North Durham Water Reclamation Facility Process Improvements Phase 2

As of August of 2022, the North and South Durham Phase II project is around 30% complete. This project has a duration of two and a half years. The Project includes the construction of a lift station, two odor control facilities, a hypochlorite storage facility, extension and improvements of a flood wall, conversions of clarifiers to EQ (equalization) tanks, tertiary filter media and valve replacements, various other mechanical and electrical improvements in multiple structures.

The Camden Ave. Lift Station has been backfilled and the slab-on-grade is set to be poured in the next couple of weeks. The first of many duct banks in this area have poured in preparation for gear and startup. The filter media replacement at the Tertiary Filters structure has been completed, and the valve replacements in the pipe gallery will be complete by the end of the year.

Winding Pine Pump Station

Work has begun on the new Winding Pine Pump Station in Cary, NC. This job has a contract duration of just under 2 years and will involve building a new pump station, odor control, and chemical feed for the Town of Cary. The clearing and grubbing, site balancing, and blasting have already been completed, with a deep excavation and rock anchors to follow. The Winding Pine team is anticipating the bottom slabs of the pump station to be placed by year’s end.

Overall Project View

Camden Ave. Lift Station

Tertiary Filters Pipe Gallery

Project Prior to Site Clearing

Temp. Access Road Leading to Site

Hampton Boulevard Water Storage Tank

The 2MG pre-stressed concrete water storage tank construction is complete, and we are preparing to hydrostatic test and disinfect the tank. The pump station masonry is complete, and the roofing system is in progress. The project team is gearing up for startup of the three (3) horizontal split-case pumps by installing all electrical service and mechanical piping. Our sights are set on completing a variety of insertion valves and the water main utility work in the Hampton Blvd. right-of-way to integrate our new facility to the City of Norfolk’s potable water service. With the uptick of personnel on site, safety remains on the forefront for all crews as we reach the substantial completion finish line!

Mayfield and Chickahominy Pump Station Upgrades

Despite “supply-chain” challenges affecting major equipment deliveries, the project team at the Henrico County Mayfield & Chickahominy PS Upgrades project has managed to continue getting work in place. Work at the Mayfield and Broadwater pump stations is now complete. The electrical rough-in for the two buildings on site is nearly complete and preparations for the pump station bypass system are now underway at the Chickahominy pump station. Remaining work includes the installation of the new underground piping, a screenings vault, comminutor, wet well mixer, two sewage pumps, miscellaneous site improvements, as well as upgrades to the PLC/SCADA system.

Once the final piece of electrical equipment arrives, a temporary bypass system will be installed to allow for the remainder of work to be completed. This includes installation of new underground piping, screenings vault, comminutor, wet well mixer, two sewage pumps, and misc. site improvements. The project is approximately 66% complete with estimated final completion in January 2023nearly ten months ahead of contract schedule.

Pumps to be Installed

Roofing System

After Setting the New 175kw Backup Generator

RVSS Equipment for the Chickahominy Sewage Pumps in Place

Electrical Rough-in Work in the Existing Pump Station Electrical Room

Yard Piping Installation for the New Chickahominy Meter Vault

Above Ground Fuel Storage Tank for the Generator System

Beginning Generator Building Rough-in Work

James River Treatment Plant Emergency Conversion Project

The James River Treatment Plant Emergency Conversion project is a T&M (time and materials) project that consists of upgrading 7 of 9 aeration basins that will integrate with the new SWIFT systems that are currently under construction.

As of August, the project was roughly 80% complete. The team is currently installing new media containment walls, mixers and sluice gates in the basins. The next steps in the project are to complete the final two aeration basin modifications and turn the tanks back over to HRSD. We also are planning to move into additional T&M work at the plant to install new water lines from an existing manhole to all 9 basins.

Roanoke Rapids Sanitation District Water Treatment Plant - Rapid Mix Improvements

At the Roanoke Rapids job site, we have recently completed the pour of the main rapid mix concrete slab – setting the crew up for a successful installation of the ductile iron pipe and process equipment. Additionally, the installation of the chemical vault is complete. With these tasks finished, the team has progressed in the installation of the underground chemical/tepid lines and duct banks. Looking towards the future, the crew will begin the installation of underground and exposed ductile iron pipe. Our team is planning to tie-in to the existing 24” raw water main to feed our soon-to-be installed rapid mix system.

Installed Influent Screens

Rapid Mix Slab Pour

24 Inch Water Main Tie-In

Mallard Creek WWTP Reliability & Ultraviolet Improvements Project - Phase I Construction

Currently we are in checkout phase of the RUVI project. We have completed the dry checks of the UV and are rerouting some wires before we start the wet checks. Clarifier #3 and pump station #2 are in their 30-acceptance test phase. Yard piping and electrical work continues on the reclaimed water. Punch list has begun on the cascades. Crowder has a positive working relationship with Charlotte Water and Black and Veatch. This project is on track to finish sometime in early 2023.

Yadkin River WTP & Electrical

The Yadkin project is progressing quickly towards the startup of this brand new Water Treatment Facility in Monroe, NC. In the Fall, our crews will complete the installation of the main process equipment, including all the mixers, plate settlers and sludge collection and the filter underdrain systems.

Our electrical crews are following closely behind, pulling in wire and terming the main electrical building, while also roughing in and pulling wire at the filter gallery and the chemical building. Startup of the new facility is slated to begin in December and last into the summer of 2023.

Stowe Regional Water Resource Recovery Facility – Preconstruction

Design and preconstruction efforts continue on this progressive design-build project for the City of Charlotte (CLT Water). A construction contract for early procurement of long lead time process equipment has been issued and work has begun to procure and coordinate design around the chosen equipment. The project team is looking forward to the start of construction later this fall.

Cornish Creek WTP and Water Supply Facilities Improvements

Construction is complete on the residuals portion of the project. The dewatering facility is currently in operation by Newton County.

We have completed startup of the new sodium hypochlorite storage and feed facility and switched over to the new system mid-September. The new floating pump station was delivered in early October.

Filter Underdrain System Ready for Concrete Slab Pour

Plate Settler Installation for Treatment Train #2

Installation of Cable Tray in Main Electric Building

Installation of Cable Tray in Filter Pipe Gallery

New Sodium Hypochlorite Storage and Feed Facility Plant Overall View

Rocky River WWTP Phase 3 Upgrades

Crowder formally began construction for Phase 3 of the Rocky River Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades on 6/1/2022. This is a fast-paced Design-Build project for our client, the Water and Sewer Authority of Cabarrus County, that is scheduled to finish in April of 2024. Crowder, along with our design partners at Brown and Caldwell, is working to make decisions to react to uncertainty in the supply chain, while delivering a quality product on a schedule that carries unique urgency. An example of this is the substitution of HDPE (high density polyethylene) for under slab piping on our critical path structure, and slab-on-grade structural redesigns to expedite the detailing, fabrication, and installation of the rebar.

Crowder is currently through buyout and well along our way excavating and placing slabs at various structures. The next steps are to continue slab-on-grade placement at AB6 and begin the walls, replace the walls at the influent meter vault, excavate EQ tank, excavate effluent meter vault, and install shoring for box 101.

SCADA Conversion

Gwinnett On-Call

T&M Project

32 of the 34 PLCs (programmable logic controllers) on the project have been installed at this site. The conversion from old DCS (distributed control system) to new PLCs is currently underway in the solids treatment area and equalization pump station.

Mallard Phase 1A WRF Expansion

There has been a lot going on at the site of the Mallard Creek Phase 1A Blower Building Project. The roof and downspouts have been installed, blowers have been set, the stainless steel piping has been installed and the overhead crane has been installed. All the conduit and instrumentation has been installed at the aeration basins. Site work has finished, and the asphalt driveways have been paved. Crowder has a great working relationship with Charlotte Water and Brown and Caldwell. The project is on track to be completed by the end of 2022.

Crowder is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. It is the policy of Crowder to provide equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, age, genetic information, national origin, veteran status, mental or physical disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity.

Visit

Slab-on-Grade at EQ Influent Meter Vault

Excavation Working Towards Completion at Aeration Basin No. 6

Placement of Slab-on-Grade #1 at Aeration Basin No. 6

New PLC in the North Chemical Building

Fitzgerald Creek Water Pollution Control Plant - Expansion to 11.75 MGD (million gallons per day)

Progress on the Fitzgerald Creek Project continues as work is being performed in multiple facilities at the same time. The structural concrete work, the masonry, and the leak testing in FEBs (flow equalization basins) 3 & 4 are complete at the biotreatment facility. The leak testing at SBR (sequencing batch reactor) 7 and the rough-in of electrical and process mechanical are underway. Our concrete sub Tafolla deserves a big shout out for their excellent performance. The start-up in plate settler basins 1 & 2 is complete, with work in settler basin 3 currently underway at the tertiary facility. Work on the tertiary facility is scheduled to be complete in October 2022, as well as the installation of the filter media and filter start-up.

Underground and concrete work is complete, and blowers are set at the digester blower facility. The header piping and aeration drops are complete in digesters 1 and 2. The interior tanks have been blasted and primed, with start-up scheduled for early January 2023. The concrete and masonry are also complete at dewatering facility 2, and the filter press is set, with process work underway. At the solids electrical building, concrete and masonry work are complete, the switch gear and MCCs (motor control centers) are set, and wire terminations are underway. We are scheduled to at energize at the solids electrical building in late December 2022. This project is around 54% complete.

Eastern Regional Infrastructure Pump Station (Rowen)

The wet well slab and the concrete placement for the walls are complete in the first stage of the pump station. The grinder chamber slab is complete with walls being 80% complete. The placement of slab is complete at the emergency storage tank, with the walls and columns being 50% complete. The hollow core planks are scheduled for delivery and installation in November.

For the second stage of the pump station, the slab-on-grade is complete, and the erection of the pre-engineered building began in early September. There were challenges with the material fabrication and delivery, but the electrical equipment, valves and ductile iron pipe are creating the greatest challenge in delivering this project on time. We are discussing alternate materials and options with the owner to resolve.

Biotreatment Facility Concrete and Masonry Work Complete

Digester Blowers Are Set, and Process Air Piping Begins

1st Stage PS Walls and Backfill Storage Tank Slab, Walls, and Columns

2nd Stage Pump Station Slab-on-Grade With DIP Installation and Electrical Rough-In

Calls Creek Water Reclamation Facility Upgrades

The notice to proceed has been awarded for the Calls Creek WRF Upgrade project in Watkinsville, GA. The treatment plant expansion to 3.0 MGD includes installation of a diesel bypass pump with associated piping for influent flow, bubble diffuser aeration equipment for the 133 ft biological treatment tank with associated air piping, baffle walls & mixers, tertiary filter unit, a UV system, dewatering screw press system, and two (2) multistage centrifugal blowers.

The construction also includes modifications to existing structures for installation of new RAS (recirculating aquaculture systems) & influent pumps with associated VFDs (variable frequency drives), associated electrical gear and instrumentation & controls. This is an instrumental CMAR project with a repeat client for our Georgia team. The engineer on the project is Ardurra and the owner is Oconee County (Oconee County Board of Commissioners). The project duration is 18 months with an expected onsite mobilization date of January 2023.

Fort Mill WPCP - Expansion to 4.5 MGD

Project reached Final Completion on 8/19/2022 after finalizing additional owner requested work.

Turning Heads Toward the Future

C&E Division Safety Update

Regardless of our tenure in the construction industry, and which generation we fit into, we are witness to a long list of innovations and technological improvements when it comes to worker personal protective equipment (PPE). Not long ago, there was a clear distinction between a pair of sunglasses compared to the big Uvex ‘windshield’ safety glasses that were popular. Today’s safety glasses are stylish and comfortable enough to wear everywhere. Up until 1998, a simple ‘body belt’ was the personal fall protection standard when working at height. Today’s ‘full body harness’ is layered with technological advances to the point where comparing one side by side to a body belt is absolutely staggering. Knowing what you know now, can you imagine if someone asked you to put your trust in a body belt while trying to protect yourself from the leading cause of fatalities in our industry?

Speaking of falls, there is an important tie-in when it comes to protecting the head. Most head injuries occur as a result from slips, trips, and falls (S/T/F). However, the traditional hard hats that have been the standard for over a century were designed to protect against dropped objects and flying debris, primarily protecting the top of the head. Our C&E division experienced a S/T/F incident in early May 2022 where we asked if different head protection may have prevented medical treatment. Our analysis and discussions following the incident led to interest in a trial of PPE offering improved head protection. Positive feedback coupled with enhanced protection factors continues to spark interest and current plans include outfitting our team at the Stowe Regional WRRF Project with Type II top and side impact helmets. As our industry continues to see the value in protecting our most valuable assets (the workers), more and more are adopting this next evolution of head protection.

Site Aerial Blower Building Interior

Influent Pump Station

Site Aerial1

Site Aerial 2

Charlotte Gateway Station

The Charlotte Gateway Station project was a multi-staged progressive project to move the intercity passenger rail station from the current undersized, flood-prone, and poorly-connected location in the Norfolk Southern general classification freight yard,

which is currently located on Tryon Street north of the square. The new location is in Uptown Charlotte, closer to Charlotte’s employment center and within blocks of the City’s major sporting facilities. This project is now complete!

CLT Douglas Airport Taxiway Bridge

The bridge columns & caps are completed at this project. The Mechanically Stabilized Earth (MSE) walls are also complete. Now, we are finishing the fill behind the MSE walls.

5th to Trade StMoved Out and Cleaned Up

Gate Close Up

Gates Installed Around Egress Tunnels and Baggage Ramp View 1

Gates Installed Around Egress Tunnels and Baggage Ramp View 2

Tunnel View

Installing Fill Phase 2 Work On Old Access Tunnel Road MSE Wall Work

Richland County Greene Street Improvements Phase 2

French Broad River Intake & Pump Station

Work is just beginning on French Broad River Intake & Pump Station.

Work is continuing at the Allison Creek Access project. We are currently working on the ranger station, the RV park, the playground area, and the 3+ mile walking trail that extends around the RV park and all of the amenities.

The final paving, pavement markings, and landscaping has finished up at the Greene Street project, which is now complete.

Allison Creek Access

Final Paving & Pavement Markings

Final Paving & Landscaping

Site Aerial Section of Walking Trail

Earth Work

Site Aerial

NCDOT I-40 Wade Ave to US1

This past month, we mobilized out to the project and setup the laydown yard. Work Zone signs are installed. Field measuring completed this past week. We will begin night work on East bound I-40 in early August.

Crabtree Creek West Greenway

In August and September, we poured all of the bridge decks for the prefabricated bridges and started pouring the tower columns at the suspension bridge. We will continue the grading operation and we are scheduled to complete the grading this month.

Formed Approach Slab

Removing Existing Concrete Slab

Tower Column Forms at Bridge S4

Drill & Epoxy Dowels Earth Work

Completed Grading at Bridge 3

Cowans Ford

Crowder Heavy Civil crews completed the final pieces to the Cowans Ford Floating Bulkhead Project. The 80K pound bulkhead was loaded on the carts, the electric winch was tested and we are currently completing the final phase of the project.

Upper McAlpine Creek

The pipe on the Upper McAlpine project is about 78% complete. The crew there is continuing to lay mainline pipe and installing the manholes while performing testing on the pipe runs as they go.

SCDOT I-77 Emergency Repair Bridges

Work has just begun on the SCDOT I-77 Emergency Repair Bridges.

Site Aerial

Pile Painting and Cleaning

Fine Graded and Seeded Portion of the Project

Knocking Down Brush

Electric Winch

Bulkhead Ramp Floating Bulkhead

Technology At Work

by Denis Logie, Heavy Civil Division Safety Director

The construction industry is characterized by its dynamic nature and constant state of flux. Change is typically a good thing, especially as it relates to project completion and overall improvements. Another area where change is prevalent and typically accepted are the safety technologies made available to employees. Starting with the “hard hat,” this ubiquitous piece of protective equipment we associate construction work with today was not always as common nor accepted in industry. Back in 1919, the “Hard Boiled Hat” as it was named (due to the process in which it was manufactured) was first introduced to protect miners against falling objects. As the hard hat gained acceptance, in the 1930’s the “Golden Gate Bridge” project became the first “designated hard hat” under the guidance of bridge engineer Joseph B. Strauss. These two significant, and precedent-setting events paved the way for various safety technologies we see and use today.

Fast forward to 2022, and you can continue to see innovation, and how far protective technologies have come since their humble beginnings. To address the issue of low work visibility in temporary work zones, the “Illumagear Halo” system was designed to provide a personal, wearable lighting system to increase the visibility of roadway workers. As seen below, Heavy Civil roadway workers on the I-40 Wake County project are testing out the new Halo lighting system while performing cleanup tasks adjacent to I-40 in the traffic closure. Acceptance, and implementation of emerging technologies like the setup seen with these I-40 roadway workers, demonstrate the progression safety protective technologies have come, and continued dedication to worker safety by project leadership teams. The I-40 project leadership team availed themselves of the opportunity to embrace new equipment to keep their worker’s safe and seen.

Work is Complete at the Fort Bragg Pedestrian Bridge, and it is now open to foot traffic.

Fort Bragg Pedestrian Bridge

Alternate Bridge View Bridge Opening to Soldier Traffic

Finished Ramps and Bridge

Cowans Ford Elevator Modernization

Crowder Industrial was awarded a contract at the Cowans Ford Hydro Facility to replace the existing elevator in Stanley, NC. The project is a complete modernization of the existing elevator to replace all equipment and rails. Crowder has been working with Southern Elevator as their main subcontractor to replace the major equipment and rails. The scope of work consists of replacing the main elevator car, rails, hoist cables, elevator controller and machine hoist. Additional scopes aslo needed were to install a new shaft ladder, new lighting and upgrade of the electrical power feeding the new elevator controller and hoist motor. This project began in early January of 2022 and is scheduled to be completed by end of October 2022.

Bear Creek Hydro Station Turbine Inlet Valve (TIV) Installation

Crowder was awarded this project to install a New TIV- Butterfly valve in the existing penstock at the Bear Creek Hydro Station. This valve will allow the client to LOTO (Lockout Tagout) the unit to do regular maintenance as scheduled. The installation of this valve will include removing a portion of the existing penstock located inside the powerhouse along with concrete modification to the existing foundation to be able to add two new pedestals for the new valve to anchor to. The owner also requested that ultrasonic testing on the existing penstock to be performed to verify wall thickness on the penstock at the location where the new valve will be located to verify any deficiencies in the metal.

This project was planned to start September 19th, the original dates were pushed due to the delivery of the TIV valve. TB Hydro, the manufacturer of the valve, is located in Poland and it has been a challenge getting the valve to the ports in the United States. The project is slated for completion December 31st.

Tallulah Falls Freight Car

We are currently working on installing the material cart rail storage system at the Tallulah Falls project. We are also working on a request to remove lead paint in the winch building, and we are installing electrical conduits and disconnect panels for the electrical portion of this work at this site.

Jocassee Hydro StationFall Outage Support

Crowder Industrial is finishing up installing the grating and handrails at the Jocassee Hydro Station. These will be the final activities for this project, which is around 90% complete.

New Shaft Ladder

Elevator Hoist Motor

Existing Piping

Butterfly Valve

New Sheaves

MAS Energy (RNG) Renewable Natural Gas Landfills Projects

Crowder Industrial Construction is in the process of designing and constructing RNG facilities at four landfills in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Illinois and Wisconsin. The RNG facilities are made up of several stages of compression, dehydration, and treatment to upgrade the landfill gas to pipeline quality natural gas. MAS Energy made the major upgrading equipment selections early in the design process and purchased the equipment from the manufacturers. Crowder selected I.C. Thomasson Associates as our design partner to incorporate and coordinate the MAS equipment vendors into the overall design of the facilities.

Outagamie County Landfill RNG Facility (Wisconsin)

Crowder began construction of the Outagamie County Landfill RNG Facility in Appleton, Wisconsin in the Fall of 2021. The site has been pushing forward with equipment setting, pipe installation and electrical. The team continues to do a great job at this project!

Countryside Landfill RNG Facility (Illinois)

Crowder began construction activities early in 2022. Most of the civil work has been completed and process equipment is being set along with exposed mechanical and electrical work.

Everyone has been working hard to maintain the schedule on this site.

Crisp County Power Commission Turbine Replacement

We mobilized on this project in August 2022. We are currently installing the foundation and underground electrical work. This project is about 20% complete so far.

Outside Completed Metal Structure Equipment Setting and Piping

New Equipment Set

Underground Electrical View Foundation Work

Exposed Mechanical and Electrical

Plant Scherer Ash Pond Dewatering

We have mobilized on the site for this project. We performed survey/layout for all equipment locations and began receiving equipment and setting on locations as it arrives. Major milestone is receiving and setting four RapiSand units weighing 47,000lb each. All four units are onsite with two of them currently set on location. The CIC Fabrication shop is working on fabricating the structural pipe supports and the HDPE (high density polyethylene) pipe.

Take-offs and material procurement have begun for electrical materials, as well as field-routed pipe materials. Valves and instruments have arrived and we are continuing to install major equipment items as they are received. We have been receiving pipe supports, prefabricated HDPE, pipe spools, cable tray, unistrut and conduit. We will soon begin installation of raceways, pipe and in-line valves and instruments. We will also form, reinforce, and pour the electrical equipment concrete pad and begin excavation of energy dissipation vaults and effluent discharge pipe.

First 47,000lb RapiSand being Rigged and Hoisted Off of Transport

Laydown Yard Being Developed with Main Plant in the Background

Clearwell Tanks After Being Set

by Steve Fortson, CIC Division Safety Director & Ben Hesley, CIC Project Manager

ASAP – a term we have seen and heard countless times throughout our everyday life, a term we’ve (probably) all used more recently than we would like to admit. Originating in 1955, people quickly took hold of the term and ran with it; today it is in the top 10% of most used words and phrases. It’s so popular that you can use it in Italy, Spain, France, and Japan and you don’t even have to translate! The problem with the frequent use of the term “ASAP” is that we all know what it means and how to use it, but is it always the “right” term?

The construction industry prides itself on the use of three-way communication to ensure clear and concise division of responsibility and expectations, but using the term “ASAP” (more often than not) introduces an entire playing field full of gray areas. “ASAP” almost always induces some form of time pressure which leads to skipped steps regarding safety and other costly mistakes.

On a recent project, Crowder was responsible for installing two intake pump skids in an active ash basin, approximately 450 feet away from land. Even with the minimal weight of the skids, the shear distance between the lifting and setting locations would require the equivalent of a 650 ton crane. During countless meetings which stretched over four and a half months, we continued to feel more and more time pressure to get these skids in the basin. The client was contractually obligated to meet a federal regulatory date and these tiny skids were the only thing standing in the way and they needed this completed “ASAP.”

During the investigative process we concluded that the safest and most efficient way to perform this scope of work was to utilize a helicopter to set the skids in the basin in order to eliminate the need for a crane. The only drawback to this method was that no one involved in the project was familiar with the requirements and we received immediate push back from the client (more time pressure). After rigorous reviews and vetting of potential contractors, we were ultimately allowed to perform the helicopter lift. On a beautiful Saturday morning the helicopter arrived on site, we performed our pre-lift meeting and check lists, the helicopter took off, set both skids, and departed. Success within 30 minutes.

We were faced with internal, client-driven and self-induced time pressures to complete the task “ASAP,” however we held firm to our culture and completed the task as safely as possible. Read that again, we completed the task As Safely As Possible (ASAP) as our company and our safety culture demands.

It is important that we remind ourselves that everything in today’s construction is “expedited,” requested “ASAP,” rush ordered, back ordered, etc. and these all induce some level of unnecessary time pressure. From this day forward, the only acceptable Crowder translation for the term “ASAP” is As Safely As Possible. No matter the time pressure of the task at hand, you will always have full Crowder support to complete the task with safety being the priority.

Welcome Co-Ops

Andrew Mandic NC State Cristian Castro University of Akron

Devin Carr Intern

Evan Rimer UNCC

Jon Flores University of Cincinnati

Matthew Bildstein University of Akron

Theo Miller University of Cincinnati

Michael Henze Clemson University

What Can the EAP Do ForYou?

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a FREE benefit to you and any immediate family member in your household to speak with a counselor receiving up to 6 free sessions per calendar year.The EAP can help with financial planning, mental health, anxiety, grief and loss, legal aid, home buying, and more. You can call 24/7 to talk to a clinician at 800.633.3353. You can also click on Employee to read about the many ways you can get help. Finally, access the Work-Life site for helpful resources by following the link to the login screen here: https://www.mygroup.com/

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Open Enrollment Is About To Start!

The Open Enrollment period will run October 31st, 2022 - November 15th, 2022 for the plan year beginning 1/1/2023.

Full-time employees are eligible for ALL of the benefit plans offered. You may also choose to enroll your eligible dependents in any of our health benefits.

This will be your time to ELECT, DECLINE, or CHANGE your Medical, Dental, Vision, Short-Term Disability coverage, Voluntary Life Insurance, and/or ENROLL in or CHANGE your election in a tax-advantaged Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

After Open Enrollment, you can ONLY change your coverage or add/remove dependents if you have a Qualifying Life Event (marriage, birth or adoption, change in employment status, divorce, death, gain or loss of other coverage, new student status).

SmartBen NOW is our online enrollment tool. The site is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Download the SmartBen Now app or visit SmartBen by clicking here .

Username: Crowder + 5-digit Employee

ID Number (Crowder12345)

Password: DOB (MMDDYYYY)

Descargue la aplicación SmartBen Now o visite SmartBen haciendo clic aquí

Nombre de usuario: Crowder + Número de identificación de empleado de 5 dígitos (Crowder12345)

Contraseña: DOB (MMDDYYYY)