November/December Olsson Update

OLSSON UPDATE November/December 2020

IN THIS ISSUE: Making a Grand Statement in Texas

Corporate Holiday Giving

by Region

New employees: November 2020

Olsson Helps Critical Mineral Mine Obtain Critical-path Permits

By Joe Duggan, Communications

Superalloy metals are considered so vital to our national and economic security that the United States has designated 35 of their component materials as critical minerals.

This group of superalloy materials can be used in steel manufacturing, aerospace components, electrical turbines, solid-state fuel cells, and critical infrastructure. Yet the U.S. relies heavily, or entirely, on imports for many of the listed materials, including niobium, scandium, and titanium. NioCorp Developments Ltd. (NioCorp), is working to construct the only continued on page 3

CONTENTS PROJECT SPOTLIGHT Olsson Helps Critical Mineral Mine Obtain Critical-path Permits...........1 Making a Grand Statement in Texas.......................................................... 5

EMPLOYEES WITH A PURPOSE Corporate Giving by Region......................................................................... 8 December 2020 Graduates...................................................................... 11

WELCOME TO OLSSON New Employees: November 2020.............................................................12

2

CRITICAL MINERAL MINE

continued from page 1

mine in North America that will commercially produce all three metals at a state-of-the-art facility near Elk Creek, Nebraska.

Since 2014, the engineering experts at Olsson have made themselves an essential partner of NioCorp by providing civil engineering, geotechnical services, wastewater management design, and environmental permitting and compliance support to assist with the mine’s development.

Some of Olsson’s most valuable contributions to the project have involved helping NioCorp navigate U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permitting programs (Sections 404 and 408) and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permitting.

More recently, Olsson led the effort to obtain a crucial air quality construction permit from the Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy (NDEE), which ensures ground can be broken as soon as final financing is secured.

Our efforts to help obtain the NDEE permit included GIS support, air dispersion modeling, and air quality regulatory and permitting analysis.

In addition to analyzing data and running calculations, we helped our client with risk

assessment and strategic planning.

“This is a huge milestone for the company and another major de-risking of the Elk Creek Project,” NioCorp CEO Mark Smith said after the permit was issued. “Both the State of Nebraska and NioCorp take air quality, and environmental performance of this project, very seriously.”

Reaching the ultimate milestone of extracting and refining critical minerals embedded more than 1,000 feet below the earth’s surface would be impossible without first obtaining air quality permits. Mining and mineral processing operations use an assortment of mobile and stationary equipment, which is the source of air emissions.

Rendering of production facility at the Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project.

Initially, the project appeared to need a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) major source permit, the largest and most complex air permit required by federal regulation. As part of the PSD evaluation and application process, Olsson performed a Best Available Control Technology (BACT) analysis to evaluate the emission rates continued on page 4

3

CRITICAL MINERAL MINE

continued from page 3

likely achievable using a range of emission control technologies. Through that process, we worked with NioCorp and other project partners to determine that emissions could be held below PSD thresholds.

This included identifying opportunities to recycle process heat, which reduced fossil fuel combustion capacity and overall emissions.

At that point, we helped guide NioCorp through the rigorous state permitting process.

Olsson provided technical assistance and technical review to analyze ambient air quality monitoring data collected at the mine site. Our quality assurance/quality control procedures revealed that some of the data had been affected by smoke from prescribed grassland burns in neighboring Kansas. Regulators for the state and the Environmental Protection Agency agreed with our analysis, which resulted in greater operational flexibility for NioCorp.

Our relationships with officials at the state and federal levels allowed us to identify and negotiate permit language that met the needs of NioCorp while fulfilling the responsibilities of the regulatory agencies. Our efforts identified a format and approach that clearly spells out permit requirements, including emission limits, operational limits, testing and monitoring, and record keeping.

Both parties agreed the format will serve them well, according to Nick Steinke, an engineering technical leader with Olsson’s Environmental team.

“We laid the groundwork for NioCorp and we met regulatory officials where they were at, and they were able to work through the permit process pretty quickly,” Nick said. “For a project this big, this new, and this technically complex to move through the permitting process as smoothly as it did is very successful. And it aligns with a goal of the NDEE director to provide more clarity for his staff and the regulated community regarding permitting and compliance.”

The air permit is just one aspect of the overall project Olsson has worked on. We also delivered these other services: evaluating the feasibility of bringing rail service to the site, completing geotechnical investigations, and helping navigate

4

the permitting process to dispose of and store waste product (tailings) in on-site impoundments similar to a landfill.

Additionally, Olsson worked with NioCorp to design a facility that avoids all federally jurisdictional wetlands and streams on-site, eliminating the need for an individual Clean Water Act Section 404 permit.

Olsson also evaluated the feasibility of constructing a waterline to the Missouri River to dewater the deep, confined subsurface geologic formation that would be mined. We coordinated with NDEE and prepared a mixing zone study to determine if discharges to the Missouri River would meet water quality requirements. We also coordinated with the USACE to minimize impacts to civil works projects (for example, Missouri Riverbank stabilization) under the Section 408 program.

Ultimately, NioCorp minimized its environmental footprint, avoiding the need to dewater the geologic formation and build a waterline to the Missouri River.

Scott Honan, chief operating officer for NioCorp, said the company has adopted a system that will capture up to 99-percent of emissions. In a statement, he praised the leadership at the NDEE and thanked the consultants at Olsson.

“I am very proud of how our team at NioCorp designed this facility in a manner that seeks to limit air emissions and mitigate environmental impacts,” he said. “Olsson has been an excellent partner on our project to this point, and we look forward to continuing our work with them as the project moves through financing to construction and commercial operation.”

Meanwhile, the project has already won its own accolades. In October, the Elk Creek Superalloy Materials Project was named an infrastructure project of the year by CG/LA Infrastructure, a global infrastructure strategy and project development firm.

Developing a reliable domestic source of these critical minerals clearly is essential to the nation’s interests. And so is protecting clean air.

PROJECT SPOTLIGHT

Making a Grand Statement in Texas

By Mark Derowitsch, Communications

When you work in the state of Texas, you either go big or go home.

Engineers and landscape architects at Olsson went big – on a very grand scale.

Olsson is involved with the development of Grandscape, a massive, one-of-a-kind, mixed-use development project located in the Dallas suburb of The Colony, Texas. To call Grandscape a shopping center would be a gross misrepresentation of reality.

the project in 2016 and, as of the fall 2020, only about 30 percent of the project is completed and open to the public.

Grandscape spans more than 400 acres and includes nearly 4 million square feet of retail, entertainment, residential, and dining space and attractions. It includes unique dining experiences, residential housing, and an outdoor lawn and stage area for live concerts and events.

Talk about grand.

“This is really a destination,” said Wyatt Popp, a civil engineering leader at Olsson and the firm’s project manager for Grandscape. “This is more than a place to shop and be entertained. This is a destination that will draw in people from a huge radius.”

Anchoring Grandscape are two mega retail stores: Nebraska Furniture Mart (with nearly 1.9 million square feet of space and the main developer) and a Scheel’s store that covers more than 331,000 square feet. In between is something for everyone.

Grandscape is a destination that includes retail stores, entertainment, and beautiful landscapes.

Grandscape includes Galaxy Theatres, a luxury movie experience with state-of-the-art audio, power recliners, and a full-service bar; and Andretti Indoor Karting & Games, which includes a full arcade, laser tag, bowling, dining, and virtual reality experiences in addition to racing.

In other words, Grandscape isn’t just a clever name based on wishful thinking. We started working on

5

A GRAND STATEMENT

continued from page 5

At the core of Grandscape is a 90-acre lifestyle and entertainment center that includes multiple levels of shops, public and private entertainment spaces, and many one-of-a-kind restaurants. This area also includes The Grotto, a subterrain pedestrian area that contains eateries, shops, gardens, and walkways. The main interior courtyard opens to a large green space.

Our focus is the lifestyle center. We helped modify the master plan (along with HTH Architects out of Los Angeles) to make it more functional for shoppers. We provided the civil engineering work and the landscape architecture design for the center.

“We helped provide the vision for the outdoor components of the center,” Wyatt said. “We helped design a space where people gather and connect with one another.”

Everywhere you look around Grandscape you’ll see the handiwork of landscape architects from Ochsner Hare & Hare, the Olsson Studio. We developed the placemaking for the parking lots and the 6

project’s perimeter, the Grotto, the lifestyle center, and Scheel’s.

Grandscape's landscape includes large, mature trees brought in from another site.

One of the unique aspects of Grandscape is the mature trees planted throughout the development.

Korey Schulz of the Olsson Studio explained that the goal was to incorporate large trees to deliver an instant canopy to areas of Grandscape.

We found an unlikely provider of large trees – the worldwide headquarters of retail giant J.C. Penney, which is located about two miles from Grandscape.

“They were redeveloping the J.C. Penney site and selling off large trees, so we worked with a tree broker and bought trees at a fair, reasonable cost,” Korey said. “We started tagging trees at the site, and we initially purchased about 20 trees and later added another 12.”

We had the trees transported to the site, where a makeshift nursery was built to house the trees until they were moved to a permanent location.

“When we tagged the trees, we identified spots for each one and started to place them on the design,” Korey said. “A contractor started placing trees when the timing was right. Typically, planting trees is one of the last things you do in a development project.

In this project, we planted some before the buildings were constructed.”

Building around large, mature trees is one feature that makes Grandscape unique.

Grandscape includes a large greenspace for people in the community to use and enjoy.

“In working with Olsson, the idea to save those trees and move them to our project became a reality,” said Katie Wedekind, spokesperson for Grandscape.

“Our vision from the beginning has always been to have a place that provides shade and beauty and is an oasis within a city. We wanted it to appear as though we found a beautiful park and decided to build buildings around it and these trees were crucial to getting that right.”

Work on Grandscape is ongoing, but nearly 40 businesses have already opened. Grandscape was supposed to hold a grand opening in April 2020, but the global pandemic forced the development to press pause. However, 13 more businesses are under construction and slated to open by early 2021, including the development’s 344-unit residential tower.

It’s expected to take another five years to finish Grandscape. However, the community is already embracing this grand new space.

“From the beginning, we wanted to create a space that was world-class, a place where people from all over the DFW [Dallas/Fort Worth] metro area would want to come explore, experience, and enjoy,” Katie said. “By bringing in many first-tomarket businesses, utilizing technology in unique experiential ways, and creating a physical space that is lush, inviting, beautiful, and relaxing, we feel as though we have begun to achieve this goal. We believe this will be the premier development in the DFW area, if not the U.S.”

7

EMPLOYEES WITH A PURPOSE

Corporate Holiday Giving by Region

By Alicia Krieger, Communications

Since 2018, the Olsson Foundation has celebrated the holidays by gifting multiyear financial commitments to certain organizations.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Engineering Foundation

Each regional leader determined what organization would receive the gifts. Ultimately the organizations selected were:

We have a three-year commitment of $5,000 per year to each of these groups to ensure we're able to make a difference in each organization. In 2021, new organizations will be selected.

Kansas/Iowa/Missouri/Arkansas – KC STEM Alliance Nebraska – Girls Inc.

Western – MindSpark Learning

As we're in our third of the three years of funding for these particular organizations, we'd like to share details about these groups and about how our dollars were spent.

Kansas/Iowa/Missouri/Arkansas – KC STEM Alliance This past year, with the help of Olsson's donation, the KC STEM Alliance strategic support reached 97,000 students across the region who were enrolled in Project Lead the Way (PLTW) engineering, biomedical sciences, and computer science classes. More than 4,300 students were engaged in FIRST robotics competing locally before the COVID-19 pandemic cancelled the final two events. Through the advancement of the STEM Learning Ecosystem in Kansas City, STEM Connect-KC. Eighty-nine STEM providers are listed on the STEM Connect-KC directory, contribute to the calendar of STEM events, and convene regularly to discuss family engagement, reaching all students and developing STEM measurement tools.

The pandemic forced a quick pivot to remote celebrations for the senior capstone students and entrepreneurial workshop. The organization capped off the year in June by hosting a five-part series on Closing the Gender Gap in STEM.

8

Nebraska – Girls Inc.

Girls, Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska has been able to accomplish quite a bit with the gift from Olsson, including building out many programs.

Operation SMART: The STEM program that is a collaboration between Girls Inc. of Omaha and College of Saint Mary continues. Operation SMART develops girls’ enthusiasm for and skills in science, technology, engineering, and math.

Lego League: Girls in grades 4-6 were able to engage in robotics afterschool activities at Girls Inc. They learned about robotic programming, engineering, and coding concepts while sharpening their math skills, developing their teamwork skills, and showing off their grit.

Bees: Younger girls were introduced to the work of the bees. The 2nd grade group learned about the importance of bees and pollination. They added some hands-on art about bees. Older girls with parental permission were able to suit up and learn how to water and check on beehives.

Building Club: Girls participated in building very cool structures from LEGO blocks, recycled materials, and blocks. They built robots that moved on their own. Other girls built playhouses, underground houses, and pizza machines.

Eureka!: This program continues to support young women who are college-bound and have thoughts about potential careers in STEM by providing education and experiences necessary to help make college and career dreams a reality through externships.

Gardening and cooking classes: Working with program partners, girls learned to grow vegetables, weed gardens, and play in the dirt. They used their produce to make salsa, salads, and other recipes. Four-H facilitated multiple cooking sessions with the girls using all their produce.

Aquaponics: Girls had fun learning how to grow fish and vegetables at the same time via aquaponics. Girls fed the fish and the fish fed their plants through fish waste. Their aquaponics techniques meant they used less water for their crops, which is good for the environment. continued on page 10

9

CORPORATE GIVING

continued from page 9

Western – MindSpark Learning MindSpark is working on getting the Southern Colorado Education Accelerator (EA) initiated. The original plan was to start in August 2020, but this got delayed because of COVID-19. Currently, MindSpark works to empower educators with industry-oriented professional learning experiences, resulting in more students being prepared for the modern workforce. While delayed due to COVID, MindSpark is working to initiate its Southern Colorado Education Accelerator (EA) for a winter 2021 start. In addition to our donation, Olsson employees will serve as resources to classroom teachers.

EA is a leadership program that supports district and school leaders, as well as the next generation of leaders by giving them the blueprint to identify and solve their biggest problem of practice. The EA program transforms districts and schools for the future through the development of innovative cultures capable of empowering teachers and maximizing student engagement.

Oklahoma – Oklahoma Engineering Foundation (OEF) Oklahoma Engineering Foundation (OEF) has had two primary fundraising campaigns recently.

The capital campaign is targeted to raise $30,000 in the fundraising season so they can ensure programs like MathCounts, Engineering Fair, and OEF Scholarships continue to provide opportunities for youth to stay involved with STEM. These funds will go directly to the capital budget and provide staff and materials that will be directly involved with planning, organizing, and executing programs.

The program campaign is targeted to raise $20,000 in the fundraising season so they can start a new program in STEM during the Engineering Fair that is relevant to today’s technology in STEM. Two growing STEM trends are drones and artificial intelligence. With the money from the program campaign, these new activities can be promoted, awarded, and planned for for the upcoming program year.

10

DECEMBER 2020 GRADUATES

Congratulations to our December Graduates!

Caleb Anderson Mechanical Electrical | AAS in design and drafting from Southeast Community College Caleb has accepted our offer to join the Lincoln Mechanical/Electrical team full-time as an assistant technician.

Jackson Dettmer Mechanical Electrical | Nebraska-Lincoln

B.S. in mechanical engineering from University of

Jackson has accepted our offer to join the Lincoln Mechanical/Electrical team full-time as an assistant engineer.

Guliana Hernandez Power Delivery | AAS in computer graphic technology from University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Guliana has accepted our offer to join the Fayetteville Power Delivery team full-time as an assistant technician.

Jen Maness Applied Technology | B.S. in geography from Park University Jen has accepted our offer to join the Applied Technology team full-time as an applied technology assistant.

Robert Neely General Civil | B.S. in civil engineering from University of Nebraska Omaha Robert has accepted our offer to join the Omaha General Civil team full-time as an assistant engineer.

11

NEW EMPLOYEES | NOVEMBER 2020

WELCOME TO OLSSON Chesterfield, MO

North Kansas City, MO

Rebecca RIley joined the Marketing Operations team as a marketing specialist.

Quincy Lowrey joined the General Civil team as an assistant technician.

Denver, CO

Shannon Taylor joined the Power Delivery team as a project engineer.

Jonathan Daniel joined the General Civil team as an assistant engineer.

Christiaan Jansen van Rensburg joined the Power Delivery team as an assistant engineer.

David Sydnor joined the Field Operations team as an assistant engineer.

Matthew Warriner joined the Computer Aided Design team as an applied technology specialist.

Regan French joined the Field Operations team as a CMT assistant technician.

Des Moines, IA

Joey Smith joined the Corporate Compliance team as the director of environment, health, and safety.

Tyler Anderson joined the General Civil team as a project engineer.

Paul Clayborn joined the Field Operations team as a project construction manager.

Dustin Lillie joined the Field Operations team as an assistant technician.

Clay Hirt joined the Field Operations team as a railroad construction manager.

Fayetteville, AR

La Vista, NE

Shihao Pang joined the Road/Bridge team as an assistant engineer.

Jon Rydberg joined the NDT team as an associate technician.

Fort Worth, TX

Lincoln, NE

Courtney Colomo joined the Fort Worth team as a team coordinator.

Cassidy Koenig joined the Traffic/Technology team as an associate technician.

Joplin, MO

Anthony Meusch joined the Water/Wastewater team as an assistant engineer.

Kent Wise joined the Power Delivery team as an associate technician.

12

John McClannahan joined the Water/Wastewater team as a senior engineer.

Montgomery, AL - Remote

Phoenix, AZ

Seth Lange joined the General Civil team as a project engineer.

Josh Elledge joined the General Civil team as a technical leader.

Oklahoma City, OK

Devon McDonough joined the General Civil team as a technical leader.

Kristin Moore joined the Water and Environment team as an assistant engineer.

Carlos Gonzales joined the General Civil team as an assistant engineer.

Olathe, KS

Sarpy/La Vista, NE

Audrey Carol joined the Field Operations team as an assistant engineer.

Timothy "Tim" Blume joined the Field Operations team as a CMT associate technician.

Bradly Pointer joined the Field Operations team as an assistant CMT technician.

James Nohalty joined the Field Operations team as an assistant CMT technician.

Lucas Baird joined the NDT team as a senior NDT technician.

Overland Park, KS Chris Tronicek joined the Power Delivery team as an assistant engineer.

Springfield, MO Corey Duffy joined the Field Operations team as a CMT assistant technician.

INTERNS Frank Montanez joined the Rail/Bridge team in the Omaha office.

Alex Uhlig joined the Field Operations team in the Sarpy/La Vista office.

We are Olsson, a nationally recognized, employee-owned engineering and design firm with a rich history of success. Our most important asset is our people—you—and we are dedicated to providing an environment where you can continue to learn, grow, and thrive.

13