In Office | Topics and Trends for Municipal Leaders | Southeast Issue No. 2

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ISSUE NO. 2

Topics and Trends for Municipal Leaders

Meeting minutes

Opportunity Zones Beyond 2021

Cemeteries or Parks?

Why not both? LaBella recently completed a cemetery master planning effort for the City of Charlotte that prompted exploration in the perceptions and use of our community cemeteries.

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Managing 1,4-Dioxane in Groundwater

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Jack and Tunnel Method: Installation Option for Major Thoroughfares

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Bringing Cemeteries to Life: How a Masterplan Explored Revival

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Issue No. 2

The Park-n-Workshop Project on the westside of Charlotte is one of the first OZ projects in the City to break ground. LaBella is providing architecture and MEP services.

Feature

Opportunity Zones Will Continue to be Catalysts for Development in 2021 and Beyond In earlier discussions with the USEPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), LaBella has been engaged in shaping regulations to make Opportunity Zone programs work for brownfields, in addition to actively designing and constructing projects in these areas. What is the state of the marketplace now?

What are Opportunity Zones?

Under a new provision created in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, Opportunity Zones (OZ) have been designated in virtually every community where distressed areas of high poverty and low income exist. The overall goal of the OZ program is to encourage long-term private capital investment in low-income urban and rural communities.

Investments can be in businesses as well as real estate located in Opportunity Zones.

Private investors in Opportunity Zones can secure tax deferrals on capital gains that are invested in Opportunity Zones and tax exclusion on new capital gains achieved from Opportunity

Zone investments. Investors will be allowed to exclude 10% of invested capital gains from taxation if held for a 5-year period in an Opportunity Zone investment and a 15% exclusion with a 7-year Opportunity Zone investment. Any gains resulting from a Qualifying Opportunity Zone (QOZ) investment held at least 10 years are excluded from taxation. Investors must invest in a Qualifying Opportunity Zone Fund (QOF) to take advantage of these benefits.

Evaluating the Treasury Department and IRS proposed Opportunity Zone regulations and guidance On April 17, 2019 the IRS and Treasury released the second

Recently Completed

CBJ Panel Discussion on Balancing Investor and Community Needs in Opportunity Zones Mecklenburg County has 17 Opportunity Zones, more than any other county in the state of North Carolina. LaBella’s Tim O’Brien was one of five panelists alongside Congresswoman Alma Adams and Councilman Malcom Graham discussing the impact of

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set of proposed OZ regulations.

The second set of regulations clarify some important issues within the OZ program, and appear to address some of the barriers that have prevented financial investment in distressed communities.

For those interested in brownfield redevelopment, the April 17th guidance and proposed regulations have clarified some key issues: Land can qualify as QOZ business property if it is used in the trade or business of the QOZ business or QOF. This clarification may allow costs to remediate soil and groundwater conditions to be included in the substantial improvement basis test for QOZ businesses and QOF’s that use the land in the course of operating their business.

The proposed regulations provide rules relating to the OZ “original use” requirement that should benefit tax payers and investors in OZ. If property has been unused or vacant for at least five years, the “original use” in the OZ starts when the property is initially used or placed in service

opportunity zone development within Charlotte’s West Side.

New development in areas long ignored creates the risk of gentrification that drives out longtime residents. LaBella’s design professionals are engaged in the community and have a deep understanding of infrastructure that’s already there and what’s planned for the future. We are currently designing projects in two opportunity zones in North Carolina.

in the OZ. Some commenters had requested that the vacancy test be just one year but the IRS indicated that some may abuse a one year test by shutting down for a year to gain the OZ tax benefits.

Also related to brownfield redevelopment, the IRS and Treasury have asked for comments about whether antiabuse rules are needed to prevent “land banking” activities

by Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds or Opportunity Zone Businesses, and on possible approaches to prevent such abuse.

Previously, on October 29, 2018, the IRS and Treasury Department published the first proposed rules related to the new Opportunity Zone program. In November 2018, LaBella Associates was invited by the USEPA’s Office of Brownfields and Land Revitalization (OBLR) to participate in discussions with experts from several fields regarding how brownfields’ revitalization may be supported by investments in Opportunity Zones. Specifically OBLR wanted to explore how Qualified Opportunity Funds

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can encourage investment in typical brownfield redevelopment scenarios and, conversely, if the IRS proposed rules raised uncertainties or other barriers to brownfield investments in Opportunity Zones. The discussions held by OBLR helped identify how such uncertainties or barriers could be addressed through potential modifications to the proposed rules or additional guidance.

LaBella submitted formal Comments on the initial October 2018 Proposed Regulations and Guidance

In December 2018, LaBella submitted suggested changes to the proposed regulations that would incentivize environmental cleanup and site redevelopment within Opportunity Zones by clarifying that the costs of environmental cleanup and infrastructure improvements will count toward required investments in physical improvements to OZ properties.

These suggested changes would benefit municipalities trying to

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encourage OZ investment and revitalization, owners of OZ property with environmental impairments, and businesses and developers looking to acquire, cleanup, and redevelop OZ property. LaBella also suggested that additional time should be allowed for improvements to impaired OZ properties in order to allow necessary site preparation work, including environmental cleanup and infrastructure improvement, to be completed.

IRS Extends Deadlines for Qualified Opportunity Zone Funds due to COVID-19 Notice 2021‐10 provides relief by extending the following deadlines:

1. 180‐ day Investment Period: A taxpayer with eligible capital gain whose 180‐ day deadline to invest falls on or after April 1, 2020 now has until March 31, 2021 to invest 2. 90% Asset Test Compliance: A QOF whose testing dates to meet the requirement that it hold at least 90% of its assets in “qualified opportunity zone property” fall between April 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 will be deemed to have reasonable cause for failing to meet the requirement

Construction Observation & Administration

Town of McAdenville SouthFork River Greenway LaBella partnered with the Town of McAdenville located within Gaston County to provide construction administration and construction observation services

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and that period will be disregarded for determining whether the QOF satisfies the requirement for any taxable year.

3. Substantial Improvement Period: The 30‐ month period in which the QOF must substantially improve original use property is tolled during the period beginning on April 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021.

4. Working Capital Safe Harbor: All OZ businesses holding working capital assets covered by the working capital safe harbor before June 30, 2021 have an additional 24 months to expend the working capital assets.

5. QOF Reinvestment Period: If a QOF’s 12 ‐month reinvestment period to reinvest any “qualified Opportunity Zone property” sold or distributed to the QOF includes June 20, 2020, then the QOF has up to an additional 12 months to reinvest in other “qualified Opportunity Zone property” in the manner intended before the pandemic. This includes any relief provided

for approximately 5,500 linear feet of a new 10’ wide concrete trail along the South Fork River.

In addition, LaBella provided review of Duke Energy FERC permit requirements and assisted with final project inspection and closeout.

The project is part of the Carolina Thread Trail, a regional network of connected greenways, trails, and

under Notice 2020‐39, for a maximum reinvestment period of not more than the 24 months total.

Current State of the Opportunity Zone Marketplace Since final regulations were communicated in December 2019, Opportunity Zones have moved beyond hypotheticals and into reality.

The real estate market is actively working to discern where this powerful development finance initiative fits in the broader marketplace. As more deals finalize, best practices get established, and innovative use cases are replicated, more findings will appear. LaBella is currently working in two Opportunity Zones in Charlotte, NC and we have found that many of the same development rules apply. Projects considered for opportunity zones must already be viable projects wanted by the community. The opportunity zone program won’t ensure success for an ill-conceived project.

The early results are promising but also suggest that further tweaks to the policy will be necessary for it to fulfill its promise.

blueways that reach 15 counties, 2 states, and 2.9 million people.

The South Fork River Greenway of the Carolina Thread Trail offers an escape for runners, walkers, and cyclists starting near the charming downtown area of McAdenville and ending near the cul-de-sac of a residential neighborhood.

As part of the Carolina Thread Trail, the Southfork River Greenway provides much needed recreation and greenspace for residents of McAdenville.

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Southeast Expansion

LaBella Expands Presence into Tennessee with Chazen Partnership LaBella is proud to announce the acquisition of The Chazen Companies, a multidisciplinary consulting firm headquartered in Poughkeepsie, NY. The deal adds expanded presence in New York. Additionally, Chazen’s established offices in Nashville and Chattanooga, TN will complement LaBella’s teams in the Southeast.

Founded more than 70 years ago, The Chazen Companies provide civil engineering, land surveying, planning, environmental consulting, building code & life safety services, landscape architecture, construction services, geology, transportation planning and traffic engineering to clients in the private and public sectors.

“Like LaBella, Chazen has been successful because of long-term client partnerships, fostered by employee-owners,” said Jeff Roloson, AIA, President, LaBella Associates.

Gastonia’s water treatment plant expansion was the largest project the City of Gastonia had ever undertaken. The plant remained operational during the project.

Water Treatment

Gastonia a Finalist for Water Innovation Award If your expertise is in municipal water/wastewater, you may have seen LaBella’s work featured as a finalist for the Research Triangle Cleantech Innovation Awards!

The project is generating attention for LaBella’s work to introduce ultrafiltration membranes to North Carolina - the first in the state. The project has paved the way for other municipalities in North Carolina to utilize the technology.

LaBella’s work with the City of Gastonia’s plant began with a study in 2009. Our team of engineers delivered a modernization and expansion that was completed while remaining fully operational.

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Environmental & Waste

Managing 1,4-Dioxane in Groundwater In general, the most effective treatments for 1,4-dioxane require the impacted groundwater to be removed from the subsurface, treated above ground, and then discharged.

1,4-dioxane, an emerging contaminant, has graced the headlines of national newspapers, been the subject of high-profile lawsuits, and seen new state regulations across the United States. It’s no surprise that manmade and natural chemicals can threaten our health or the environment. Some we have been aware of for years, and have amassed information, technology, and experience to help deal with them. Others, like 1,4-dioxane, have only recently been recognized as a threat, so our understanding of them is limited.

As our scientific understanding of this emerging contaminant grows, so must public policy and efforts from concerned citizens to push for better regulations and standards.

What is 1,4-dioxane?

In the 1970s-1990s, 1,4-dioxane was used primarily as a stabilizer for chlorinated solvents, especially methyl chloroform.

Methyl chloroform is associated with chlorinated solvent releases from industrial facilities, dry cleaners, landfills, and other sources. Until recently, the chemical often went undetected because it was not a required analyte at these kinds of facilities, and so it was often not considered when assessing release incidents.

The use of 1,4-dioxane as a solvent stabilizer has decreased since methyl chloroform was

phased out by the Montreal Protocol in 1996, which aimed to reduce the production of CFCs that depleted the ozone layer.

We also see 1,4-dioxane in many manufacturing applications, from paints and varnishes to pharmaceuticals.

Addtionally, it is a by-product of the manufacturing process in the plastic used in most drinking water bottles. While 1,4-dioxane is not intentionally added into consumer products in the U.S., it has been found as a by-product or contaminant in many everyday household products, including cosmetics, deodorants, detergents, shampoos, and other cleaning products (ATSDR, 2012). It has even been found in some food products from packaging residues or from pesticides used in food production.

What are the health risks associated with 1,4-dioxane?

There is very little data available on the human toxicity of 1,4-dioxane, and most of what we know has been extrapolated from toxicity studies on mice and rats. However, the data we have presents strong evidence that 1,4-dioxane is a probable human carcinogen, and exposure may damage the liver, kidneys, and possibly the central nervous system (NTP, 2016; USEPA, 2013). Routes of potentially harmful interaction

So far in North Carolina, there have been no exceedances found in groundwater or surface water at any modern, lined landfills; however, 1,4-dioxane was found in the leachate.

While 1,4-dioxane is not intentionally added into consumer products in the U.S. it has been found as a by-product or contaminant in many everyday household products.

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Unfortunately, these standards vary widely and lack of consistent standard adds to public confusion and complicates the process of assessment and clean-up of 1,4-dioxane in the environment.

1,4-dioxane in our groundwater and water supplies The most common source of 1,4-dioxane in groundwater has been from spills or leaks of chlorinated solvents, either from industrial activities, manufacturing processes, or dry cleaning facilities. Unlined solid waste landfills have also been found to be sources of 1,4-dioxane in groundwater. 1,4-dioxane has been identified in at least 34 of the 1,689 USEPA National Priorities List (NPL) hazardous waste sites (USEPA 2016b); however, the number of those sites that remain unevaluated for 1,4-dioxane is not known.

include ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption (ATSDR 2012).

At this point, the EPA does not have enough data to establish a legally enforceable federal drinking water standard for 1,4-dioxane. Instead, it has established a drinking water screening level of 0.46 micrograms per liter (µg/L, or parts per billion). It has also set a drinking water advisory concentration of 0.35 μg/L (USEPA, 2017). With the lack of a federal standard, the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) offers each state the opportunity to set their own drinking water standards for 1,4-dioxane, and 18 states have done so.

According to the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB, May 2019), 194 active and standby public water wells out of 1,539 sampled had at least one detection of 1,4-dioxane well above the EPA advisory number.

Results of a 2006 U.S. Geological Survey study of 1,208 domestic wells detected the presence of potential 1,4-dioxane cocontaminants in as many as 102 wells (Zogorski et al., 2006).

In North Carolina, the solid waste section of the NCDEQ began requiring sampling of groundwater and surface water at all landfill sites in the state in July 2018. After one round of semiannual sampling events, 1,4-dioxane was found in exceedance of the state groundwater protection standard at 125 landfills (NCDEQ-SWS, personal communication, July 2019). All of the landfills with

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exceedances were old, unlined landfills, and included municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, construction and demolition (C&D) landfills, and industrial landfills. So far in North Carolina, there have been no exceedances found in groundwater or surface water at any modern, lined (Subtitle D) landfills; however, 1,4-dioxane was found in the leachate from some Subtitle D landfills.

What happens to 1,4-dioxane once it gets into the groundwater?

1,4-dioxane is considered a persistent and recalcitrant compound; it completely dissolves in water, it does not easily sorb onto soil or other particulates, and it does not readily biodegrade in the environment. As a result, it is very mobile in groundwater and can travel great distances with little change in its concentration.

Most chlorinated solvents, like 1,4-dioxane, readily degrade under anaerobic conditions, so natural attenuation will often reduce the size and concentrations in a chlorinated solvent plume over time.

However, since 1,4-dioxane does not degrade, not only can the 1,4-dioxane plume extend much farther than the solvent plume, but it is often left behind, even decades after a release.

Due to its physical and chemical properties, 1,4-dioxane is very hard to treat in groundwater.

Although 1,4-dioxane is classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC), most of the conventional methods for treating other VOCs, do not work well on 1,4-dioxane.

(Myers et al., 2018 and Chiang, 2016)

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Company News The Joyce

Training Program is now Online!

To better serve our clients during COVID, we are pleased to offer online courses to keep you certified in these uncertain times. You can search and register for our online course offerings in the same way you would our in-person courses; on the joycetrainingprogram.com website.

With the benefit of more than 30 years of experience in this field, we are uniquely

How can we clean 1,4-dioxane-contaminated groundwater?

In general, the most effective treatments require the impacted groundwater to be removed from the subsurface, treated above ground, and then discharged.

However, there are some potentially effective technologies that do not require the removal of groundwater from the subsurface.

The challenge with most of these effective or potentially effective technologies is that they are costly. Most plumes associated with unlined landfills have low-level concentrations of contaminants that are not large.

Implementing these expensive technologies is cost-prohibitive for these types of plumes. They are more feasible to apply to a large superfund site.

An even bigger challenge is treating residential supply wells that are found to be impacted by 1,4-dioxane. Most commercial home water filters do not remove 1,4-dioxane effectively. The most practical solution may be to install a two-stage GAC (Granular

Activated Carbon) filter system on the home, sample it frequently (at least quarterly) and then replace the first filter as soon as there is break-through. Break-through will happen much more quickly for 1,4-dioxane than for most other VOCs, so the filters will need to be changed often. Eventually, it may be necessary to replace the well with a new one farther from the 1,4-dioxane source; however, that is not always possible, especially given how far 1,4-dioxane can travel.

What is needed now?

Researchers are continuing to study the human toxicology of 1,4-dioxane to give the EPA the data they need to establish consistent standards and policies. Federal, state, and local regulatory agencies are requiring more testing of groundwater, surface, water, and drinking water supplies for 1,4-dioxane at many facilities and release sites.

In addition, many industries and manufacturers are removing 1,4-dioxane from their processes and products, as well as developing better management

qualified to instruct as we not only teach landfill operations courses throughout the southeast, but serve as consultants to the solid waste industry every day.

Our courses cover everything from permits to equipment to regulatory compliance, giving our attendees real-world experience that will help you increase safety, protect the environment, and be fiscally savvy. Responding to demand, we have developed programs to meet the immediate needs of our clients.

Contact us at inoffice@labellapc. com for more information.

practices to prevent its release to the environment. Moreover, new treatment technologies and approaches are being developed and tested to help clean up 1,4-dioxane contamination sites.

One thing consumers can do to protect themselves is to pay attention to the products they use. 1,4-dioxane is not intentionally added to any products, so it will not be listed on product labels. However, if you see any of the following chemicals listed there is a good chance there may also be small amounts of 1,4-dioxane in the product: • PEG; • Polyethylene; • Polyethylene glycol; • Polyoxythylene; • Polyoxynolethylene; • Chemical names ending with “–eth” (such as myreth, oleth, laureth, or ceteareth); • Chemical names with “– oxynol”

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Managing 1,4-dioxane in the environment is not just a scientific or technical problem, it is also a public policy and public education problem. Whether we are politicians, regulators, manufacturers, or consumers, we all need to make informed decisions based on reliable data and sound science. Emerging contaminants like 1,4-dioxane

LaBella recently completed design of a box culvert for the City of Charlotte at Lyon Court.

The Jack and Tunnel Method was used to allow flow of traffic throughout construction.

The Jack and Tunnel Method: Reducing your Constituents’ Commute Time

Luckily, some construction methods are more commuter friendly than others. If minimizing road closures is a priority for your project, you might want to consider a jack and tunnel approach instead of the more traditional/common jack and bore method.

The jack and bore method (a method of trenchless installation for circular pipes and casings) is what comes first to many people’s minds when thinking about stormwater infrastructure installation While efficient, it causes surface disruption if you are replacing a culvert under a major thoroughfare. This could lead to road closures in busy intersections, which may not

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are a challenge because of the relative sparsity of data and the nascent state of the science; however, our knowledge is growing and it is important that we act on what we know now to the best of our ability. We all have choices to make, whether in the grocery store, in our jobs, or in the voting booth, and those choices make a difference.

Infrastructure

All of us have felt the frustration of construction impacts on our commute home at one time or another. With many cities experiencing unprecedented growth, and therefore increased traffic volumes, road closures caused by replacing storm drainage infrastructure can cause commuting headaches!

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be an option due to commuter volume.

The jack and tunnel method is also a trenchless method to install a box culvert. While this approach is rare, growing municipalities that need an efficient way to install a box culvert with minimal disruption to traffic flow could benefit from considering it. The technical process is as follows: •

The reinforced concrete box culvert must be designed to withstand the forces from a hydraulic jacking system in addition to ultimate service loads.

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A launching pit is constructed similar to a traditional bore pit with the exception of the thrust restraint for the hydraulic jacking process which may be more substantial,,depending on the size of the culvert.

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A tunnel shield is fabricated from steel plates that are attached to the leading edge of the culvert. The culvert itself provides the work

area for the tunnel crew to excavate and transport soil material from the tunnel face.

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Bentonite slurry is injected through grout ports in the box culvert to do two things: 1. Fill any voids around the culvert created by overcut or soil sloughing; and 2. Lubricate the culvert to help avoid it “seizing up” during the jacking process.

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Once the culvert is in its final position, grout is injected to fully displace the bentonite slurry and eliminate any voids around the culvert.

Although the installation of a box culvert by jack and tunnel is more expensive than a traditional open cut method, it can be extremely beneficial for replacing aging infrastructure while also minimizing commuter disruption.

We have successfully used the jack and tunnel method to install box culverts under railroads and major thoroughfares in many growing communities and would welcome the opportunity to help assess which approach may be better for you.

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Civil Engineering

Bringing Cemeteries to Life: How a Masterplan Explored Revival As cultural norms and burial practices shift, many public cemeteries lack the funding and support for necessary upkeep. Our masterplan for the City of Charlotte’s public cemeteries evaluated innovative strategies for changing public perception, use of cemeteries, and expansion opportunities.

Cemeteries have primarily been used as space for somber reflection to remember our dead, but can cemeteries also be for the living? Historically, the answer is yes. Cemeteries were some of the first public parks in America and even served as inspiration for New York City’s Central Park.

As parks arose, the recreational use of graveyards fell off. But today, some cities have hundreds of acres of public and private cemetery grounds that sit idle.

Old Settlers’ Cemetary, the first municipal burial ground in Charlotte, was established in 1776 and is the final resting place for many of the city’s founders.

As one of many historic sites in Charlotte, Old Settlers’ provides visitors with a serene park setting in the middle of Charlotte’s Central Business District.

Nearby, Elmwood/9th Street Pinewood Cemetery existed since the 1850s, and has for years been a place for people to walk, run, and take their dogs. The two cemeteries were split when I-77 was built in the 60’s, total land was reduced, and some graves were relocated across the highway into two smaller cemeteries: North Pinewood and West Pinewood.

Across town, the 200-acre Evergreen Cemetery was established to serve the east side of Charlotte and nearby residents. About a quarter of the heavily wooded site was set aside; the rest was left natural. A significant portion of the original cemetery was dedicated as the Evergreen Nature Preserve that remains wooded. Residents in the Sheffield Park, Eastway, and Medford Acres neighborhoods used these parts of Evergreen for recreation.

In general, there are three types of cemeteries: private for-profit, private non-profit, and public. Typically, the older the cemetery, the less it is used for current burials, which means it is more likely to be publicly owned.

In the case of Charlotte’s seven publicly-owned cemeteries, only three of them have grave or non-traditional burial spaces currently available for sale. This creates a unique challenge for the city because burials (and alternative burial options) are a primary source of revenue generation to help sustain the grounds. Without revenue, these public cemeteries lack the necessary funding to support infrastructure, upkeep, and staff.

The City of Charlotte operates seven public cemeteries that boast large shady trees and much needed greenspace that the rapidly developing city could use as recreation space.

Pictured: Elmwood Cemetery

As parks arose, the recreational use of graveyards fell off.

But today, some cities have hundreds of acres of public and private cemetery grounds that sit idle.

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In addition to the lack of plots, our modernized burial practices contribute to the problem, but also create opportunities for existing cemeteries. Over time, cremation has become the preferred practice over burial because of reduced cost, lack of burial space/ecological concerns, and it allows the family more flexibility in the process rather than leaving it to a funeral home or cemetery director. By 2030, forecasters believe the cremation rate will be 70 percent. Areas that would be considered undesirable for traditional burial graves can be utilized for scattering gardens and columbarium niches for cremation memorial areas.

While initially our first phase of the cemetery master plan aimed to take inventory of the city’s cemetery infrastructure resources like roads and storm drainage, and to provide solutions for repair, we quickly realized the larger challenge facing the city and its cemeteries was revenue generation to maintain management and operations.

Charlotte has continuously been

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ranked as one of the fastest growing cities in the nation which has created a land grab and subsequent lack of park and green space.

Not only this, but recent public and political conversation in Charlotte has focused on the importance of adaptive re-use projects, Charlotte’s history and supporting development that focuses on community. Because of Charlotte’s rapid development, many historic buildings and spaces have become lost with time. The cemeteries are hidden gems, containing much historical significance, and are located within areas of the city that need parks and greenspace.

While our final masterplan includes prioritization and recommendations for maintenance and expansion within their existing budgets and revenue streams, ideally a community-driven effort to support these cemeteries being utilized as parks could be a panacea for the city’s cemetery dilemma of both funding and lack of greenspace.

LaBella News

LaBella welcomes Highland Technical Services, Inc. of Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama!

Led by owner and founder William “Billy” Cooch, PG, HTSI has developed expertise in various project types including hazardous waste; solid waste; brownfield redevelopments; stormwater; air permitting; underground storage tank management; and various types of environmental assessments and permitting. Their portfolio includes projects for institutions of higher education, municipalities, private, and industrial clients across the state of Alabama.

Known for its ability to provide cost-effective solutions to complex environmental problems, HTSI clients will now benefit from additional services under the LaBella brand, including solid waste engineering and construction services, civil engineering, renewable energy, buildings engineering, and architecture. “There is a lot of synergy between both firms’ service offerings,” says Cooch, “but we also feel that culturally we are closely aligned. Our clients will feel right at home.”

LaBella and HTSI have collaborated to serve clients in Alabama for years.

“Uniting with HTSI was a natural progression of our relationship,” says Waste and Recycling Division Director Jenny Johnson. “We have shared a successful partnership with Billy and his firm for the past several years, working side-by-side to serve clients across the state. Their knowledge of local ADEM regulations as well as technical expertise is an invaluable asset.”

Jack and Tunnel Method When an open cut is not an option, we have successfully used the jack and tunnel method to install box culverts under railroads and major thoroughfares. See case study on page 7.

LEARN MORE: visit our website for more information

ph. (877) 626-6606

www.labellapc.com/municipal

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