Containment facility paper wins IADC Young Author Award
An IADC Best Paper Award for a Young Author was presented to Kaitlin McCormick of EA Engineering, Science and Technology, Inc. of Maryland USA at the Western Dredging Association (WEDA) 30th Technical Conference and the 41st Texas A&M Seminar.
Ms. McCormick is an environmental scientist with experience preparing technical reports, environmental impact statements (EIS) and environmental assessments, endangered species consultations, essential fish habitat assessments, and documents to support permit applications. Her responsibilities include coordination and participation in field activities and in community and public meetings, consultation with regulatory and resource agencies, and the preparation of NEPA and permit documentation to support proposed port and harbour development and dredged material management initiatives.
Her award winning paper entitled, Masonville Dredged Material Containment Facility: Environmental Planning, Compliance and Compensatory Mitigation, was prepared as part of a large project at the Baltimore Harbour, Maryland, to accommodate dredged material which is statutorily required to be placed in a confined disposal facility.
Limited options for placement facilities in Baltimore Harbour led the Maryland Port Administration (MPA) to develop an in-water facility that required the fill of 141 acres, including 130 acres of tidal open water, 10 acres of upland within the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area, and one acre of wetlands.
The project required permits or licenses from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, a variety of state and federal agencies and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Despite the many regulatory challenges, the approvals and permits necessary to begin construction were obtained within 28 months of public scoping as a result of the Port’s collaborative decision making process which incorporated numerous stakeholders and regulatory agencies.
Each year at selected conferences, the International Association of Dredging Companies grants awards for the best papers written by authors younger than 35 years of age. In each case the Conference Paper Committee is asked to recommend a prize winner whose paper makes a significant contribution to the literature on dredging and related fields. The purpose of the IADC Award is ‘to stimulate the promotion of new ideas and encourage younger men and women in the dredging industry. The winner of an IADC Award receives €1000 and a certificate of recognition and the paper may then be published in Terra et Aqua.
