The multi-million dollar Navy Channel Deepening project deepened portions of the Elizabeth River from Lambert's Point in Norfolk, Va., to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va.

The dredging reduced the risk of the Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers damaging their ballast water intakes, as well as grounding and possible hull damage, said Raad Humadi, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic project manager. Those carriers and other naval ships are located at the largest naval complex in the world: Naval Station Norfolk, which is located in the Sewell's Point area of Norfolk.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers designed and managed the dredging project. The two-phase project deepened the river from 40 to 50 feet, at a 600-foot-wide portion of the federal navigation channel from Lambert's Point to the Navy Deperming Station. Another 4.5-mile, 600-foot-wide portion of the channel from the deperming station to the naval shipyard was deepened from 40 to 47 feet.

The Deperming station performs a procedure called degaussing, which erases the permanent magnetism from ships and submarines to camouflage them against magnetic detection vessels and enemy marine mines.

"This project completion allows us to meet the current requirements for ships entering and exiting the Lambert's Point Deperming Station," Humadi said. "The other reach of the project allows carriers safe transit to and from Norfolk Naval Shipyard for repairs and overhauls."

The genesis of this project began in 2006, when the commanders of Navy Region Mid-Atlantic and Norfolk District met to discuss the feasibility of the Navy Channel Deepening project. Later that year, Norfolk District became a cooperating agency with the Navy on a required environmental impact statement and explored authority to resource and maintain the dredging project upon its completion.

In 2008, Norfolk District agreed to provide project design and construction management support. After approving the district's project management plan in July, the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic provided funding and project design began. Construction began on April 15, 2011. The Corps' contractor, Norfolk Dredging Company from Chesapeake, Va., completed the project. The approximately three million cubic yards of dredged material was pumped into the district's Craney Island Dredge Material Management Area in Portsmouth.

Robert N. Pretlow Jr., district project manager for the Navy Channel Deepening project, is no stranger to managing important dredging operations. In April 2003, Pretlow managed the deepening of the inbound element of the Federal Navigation Channel into Norfolk Harbor – it proved crucial for the Port of Virginia to maintain competitive advantage and meet the needs of the growing fleet of super container ships calling at the port.

"The Navy Channel Deepening project provided an excellent opportunity for the district to once again demonstrate its expertise and experience in designing and implementing navigation projects of major importance to our customer, the local port community, the Commonwealth and the nation," Pretlow said. "Our success was the direct result of teamwork and cooperation – both essential characteristics of a highly professional and dedicated project delivery team; a motivated and cooperative Navy customer; and a very diligent and responsive contractor."

The final cost of the project was $25 million and was completed Dec. 31, 2011.

The sand, trucked in from Smithfield, Va., will keep a 50-foot-wide beach design berm at 6.5 feet above sea level and protect homes and public infrastructure from receiving significant damage from flooding during coastal storms.

"The project was set up to be a storm damage reduction project, and as such, is an integral part of floodplain management for the Buckroe Beach area," said Gayle Hicks, a senior civil engineer with the City of Hampton.

Tom Lochen, the Norfolk District's project manager, said this round of nourishment also marks the final time the Corps will be financially participating in a beach nourishment project for Buckroe as part of the project.

"There is a federal spending limit of $3 million which will be achieved during this cycle," Lochen said. "After this, the City of Hampton will have sole responsibility for handling the costs and maintenance of the project into the future."

The federal limit includes the initial study, design, construction and maintenance renourishment of the beach, which was initially completed in 2005.

The project was renourished last year with 15,000 cubic yards of sand during an emergency replenishment after a powerful Nor'easter blew through the area, ripping up the shoreline. The emergency nourishment received 100 percent federal funding through Public Law 84-99, Rehabilitation Assistance for Hurricane/Shore Protection Projects and did not count against the $3 million cap set by congress.

The city has also worked to increase the amount of time between needed replenishments for Buckroe.

"The city has funded and constructed three near shore stone breakwaters to stabilize the beach," Hicks said. "Monitoring will continue on a yearly basis, and the Corps will continue to receive that data."

The breakwaters help slow wave action and allows sand to settle out with a goal of adding to the amount of sand on the beach helping to offset beach erosion.

The construction contract cost for the current round of nourishment is $920,000, which is split 50-50 between the City of Hampton and the federal government.

Dump trucks are operating in the area from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. and using a route determined by the City of Hampton.

Construction at the site is expected to last until mid-January.

The dredge is on its way to Oregon Inlet N.C. from Philadelphia, Pa., and will remove dangerous shoals from the channel.

"We were receiving reports from the fishing community in Chincoteague that they could only get in and out during high tide," said Kristen Mazur, the Norfolk District project manager overseeing Chincoteague federal navigation channel project. "The fishermen were reporting that the conditions of the channel were becoming worse and they were even having some trouble getting through at high tide."

Armed with that information, Mazur called on the crew of the Currituck, who were wrapping up with some work for Philadelphia District, to see if they could spare a couple of days to dredge some of the more critical areas of the inlet.

"They are scheduled to dredge a larger portion of the channel in January, but we wanted to see if they could hit some areas that were of particular concern for the watermen," Mazur said.

The Chincoteague inlet federal navigation project is an operations and maintenance project, which supports the largest commercial port on the Eastern Shore handling more than 3,000 vessels a year. The project provides the primary access from the Atlantic Ocean to a critical harbor of refuge at Chincoteague and other Federal Navigation projects in area. U.S. Coast Guard Station and U.S. Coast Guard Group Eastern Shore are also located on the project.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• James River beachfront sediment sampling
• TCC Lake consensus statement
• Geophysics date update
• Background study update

The quarterly Restoration Advisory Board, or RAB, meetings serve as a public forum for discussing US Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the former Tidewater Community College Portsmouth campus. At the meetings FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Community members are also encouraged to attend and ask questions during the meeting.

In 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, placed FNOD on its National Priorities List. In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input to project team members of USACE on cleanup plans and efforts at the site. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including members of the community, local businesses, local and state officials, Tidewater Community College, TCC Real Estate Foundation, Inc., and FNOD interagency project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

All FNOD quarterly meetings and applications for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District projects branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Sher Zaman of the USACE Baltimore District provides overall project and funding oversight and can be reached at (410) 962-3134, or by email: Sher.Zaman@usace.army.mil. Daily FNOD activities are managed by Jeff Zoeckler of the USACE Norfolk District. He can be reached at (757) 201-7726.

Fort Hamilton opened its doors of the new Holiday Inn Express, formerly the Hamilton Inn, during a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 16. It's part of an ongoing partnership with Lend Lease and IHG to manage and privatize lodges and hotels Army-wide under the Army's Privatization of Army Lodging program. The lease for which is administered by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' real estate office.

Ownership and management of the hotel actually began Aug. 12 when employees are no longer working for the Army but now IHG under PAL. With the ceremony, Fort Hamilton has the distinction of being the first installation to open a branded Holiday Inn Express hotel within three months of being under the PAL program.

"It's really a project of sustainability to return and reinvest money back into the installation so that you'll always have a hotel that will look like this 20 years from now or longer," said Arthur Holst, IHG Army hotels vice president of operations.

"In addition to that," added Gretchen Turpen, Lend Lease development manager, "it's important to know that it is a long-term, 50-year commitment under the PAL program to ensure prompt upgrades, maintenance and ongoing sustainment of the hotel facility. This is a financial responsibility the Army no longer has to be concerned about."

All 46 rooms have been upgraded and the hotel now boasts two distinguished visitor quarters. The one-bedroom suites have full kitchenettes and all rooms received new bedroom sets, linens and flat screen televisions, among other enhancements. In addition to the hotel's free, hot daily breakfast and weekly barbeque socials, the hotel added a 24-hour convenience mart, business center, a courtesy shuttle, on-line reservations system, safety improvements and more.

"The entire guest experience is focused on good customer service," Holst noted. "We can build great looking hotels, but that's not the right way to get satisfaction. Service and product are two sides of the same coin where there can't be one without the other. So as far as branding is concerned, when customers arrive at Fort Hamilton, with the Holiday Inn Express, they expect a Holiday Inn Express experience with the same, consistent level of service they would receive anywhere else in New York City."

"For Soldiers on official duty, statements of non-availability are no longer needed," said Denise Sutton, the hotel manager. "We have to earn their trust, because we are now competing with hotels in the city for their business."

The hotel charges 75 percent of the per diem rate or less for official travelers, which Holst said is still a discounted rate and, on the average, cheaper than their competitors beyond the gate.

"However," he added, "we still must deliver great service and earn their trust to keep them as customers, because Soldiers and their families are still our priority."

Even though Irene pushed water up to the seawall, it never went over, keeping the most damaging part of a hurricane, the storm surge, from reaching the buildings.

The project stretches six miles along the oceanfront and includes a minimum 100-foot wide, 8.5 foot high beach berm that gentle slopes to the water. It also includes a four-mile long concrete seas wall and a two-mile long sand dune system to protect the infrastructure located behind them.

Jennifer Armstrong, the Norfolk District's project manager for the protection system, says the recent amount of savings reinforces the need for a big beach.

"Since the project has been in place, the system has continually saved the tax payers of Virginia Beach millions of dollars in rebuilding costs from damages that would have occurred if the project wasn't in place," Armstrong said.

Using a formula that takes into account the height of the water during the storm and determines how far inland the water would surge if no project was in place, economists can determine damage amounts in terms of costs to the community.

Later this year, the Corps and the city are planning to begin a five-month, $12 million beach renourishment project to bring the level of protection back to its prescribed levels.

"Over the past decade the beach sand, designed to act as a sacrificial buffer, has slightly eroded away, so we want to go back and put sand back in place to keep the area protected," Armstrong said. "If you look at the initial $140 million to construct the system nearly a decade ago, the project has more than paid for itself."

The replenishment is scheduled to begin in December and last throughout the winter to minimize the potential for dredging work to harm sea turtles.

When complete, the beach will be back at its full protection levels for the next coastal storm event.

BRAC was borne from the more than $2.3 billion congressional authorization that tasked Norfolk District to manage the design and construction of 43 military projects throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia – and all in just four years. Norfolk District's "village" response was an "all hands on deck" team strategy that embraced the professional talents and communication skills of project customers, key stakeholders and district assets to ensure each project's success.

"Our success is a testament to the outstanding partnership we've enjoyed at every level of this massive and complex multi-year mission," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander. "Well-deserved congratulations go out to all of our customers, the district's executive leadership, BRAC program managers, project managers and engineers, quality assurance representatives, contracting, real estate and other vital administrative support teammates -- and all the design and construction contractors, large and small."

The Defense Department introduced BRAC in 1988 to reorganize base structure to effectively support the armed forces, increase operational readiness and support new ways of doing business to meet future security needs and global threats.

Norfolk District's BRAC mission was born in October 2007, when the North Atlantic Division headquarters received $7.5 billion in Army BRAC program funds. Of that amount, Norfolk District received the second largest in the division.

The challenge for the Norfolk District was to complete all the projects using an accelerated construction timeline to meet the congressionally-mandated Sept. 15, 2011 deadline.

To deliver their BRAC bundle of joy, Norfolk District began by hiring more than 100 short-term contractors – project managers, quality assurance inspectors, project engineers, and administrative support staff – to augment its permanent staff and help deliver the BRAC projects.

Norfolk District then established a BRAC area office at Fort Lee, Va., to exclusively manage the majority of its BRAC mission: 35 projects valued at $1.14 billion. At Fort Belvoir, Va., Norfolk District teamed with the Fort Belvoir BRAC Integration office to manage the design and construction of the $1.03 billion Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. And at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. (formerly Fort Eustis), a district project team managed seven BRAC projects totaling $135.4 million, including the new $104 million Army Training and Doctrine Command headquarters. The new headquarters was made necessary by the BRAC decision to close Fort Monroe, Va., on Sept. 15.

Just as a child multiplies responsibilities for a parent, Norfolk District experienced a threefold increase in its workload during the four-year mission.

To meet the BRAC deadline, the district's contracting office administered BRAC contracts using two innovative contract award processes. First, the district made one qualified contractor responsible for the design and construction of each project within the BRAC program. Second, it used Integrated/Design/Bid/Build procurement, contracting with different companies for the design and for the construction of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. This process provided increased project constructability, accurate cost/schedule impacts of design decisions and improved design coordination.

According to Fort Lee BRAC officials, the mission there is equated to a 25-year construction program executed in just four years. And the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital was constructed in only four years, using an evidence-based design process to make decisions based on the best available research. It takes 10 years to construct the average military hospital, Fort Belvoir hospital officials said.

"It was so rewarding to get all the projects awarded within the accelerated BRAC timeline and to meet our Sept. 15, 2011 mission deadline," said Debora Gray, contracting chief for Norfolk District's military branch. "Wow, what a journey! It was at times very challenging, but full of fun and satisfaction just knowing that our deserving service members and their families would enjoy first-class military facilities for decades to come."

The Norfolk District family wanted their products to be more than a "chip off the old block" – they wanted to leave a legacy.

"There are numerous ways to measure the return on this (BRAC) investment, but the most important is the quality of training provided the sons and daughters who serve their country," said Maj. Gen. James L. Hodge, Fort Lee's Combined Arms Support Command and Sustainment Center of Excellence commanding general."

The Norfolk District "BRAC child" had an environment-friendly posture instilled in it: the finest state-of-the-art construction technology, such as reflective paving and roofing materials that reflect the sun and decrease heat build-up and energy use. And the latest in sustainable green initiatives, like collecting rainwater and storing it in underground cisterns to provide 91 percent of water for landscaping.

All BRAC projects were constructed to meet the Defense Department's Leadership in Energy Design standards. Many projects achieved or are pursuing the U.S. Green Building Council's silver rating standards or better.

The $7.38 million Air Force/Navy Dining Facility at Fort Lee achieved LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Green Building Certification Institute. To date, the multi-service dining facility is the only DoD military construction project completed by a service disabled veteran small business to attain a LEED Gold certification.

The Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, which opened Aug. 31 and had its first arrival as Bethany Beauchan was born at 4:33 p.m., achieved LEED Silver certification. With the wealth of innovative green initiatives adopted during the design and construction of the hospital, like patient-controlled environments and natural lighting and views of nature to reduce stress, hospital officials are eagerly pursuing LEED Gold certification.

The Norfolk District also earned several national accolades for excellence in design-build construction and project management, and the district's Small Business program secured $152 million in BRAC small business contracts over the last four years. This achievement allowed the district to annually exceed and lead sister districts in Corps-mandated small business goals.

Brig. Gen. Gwen Bingham, former Fort Lee garrison commander from 2005-2008, likened the community approach to nurturing every BRAC project from inception to completion as a "journey" not a "destination."

"In almost every forum I spoke," she said, "I would say that BRAC is not a destination; it's a journey and we're building relationships along the way. Our community leaders and partners have continually been an integral part of this journey in every way — all along the way. Truly, all of the men and women who planned for and executed the thousands of actions required to bring about BRAC success deserve our profound debt of gratitude in building the brick and mortar required to train warriors and grow leaders…for generations to come."

It took all of Norfolk District – a 500-plus employee-village – to raise their BRAC "child" by the Sept. 15, 2011 deadline. BRAC was on time and on target – and will continue to grow as a positive benefit to America and its service members for generations to come.

The test pulse, conducted by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in cooperation with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, will begin at approximately 6 a.m. and peak at 3,500 cubic feet per second.

The agencies advise people to be aware of the river fluctuations that will be caused by the test pulse. The pulse is expected to raise the water level downstream in the Jackson River by up to five feet in some sections and up to three feet in the upper James River, but will remain several feet below flood stage. In some areas, the rate of the river rise may exceed two feet per hour.

The river is normally at a constant height and flow during this time of year.

Gathright Dam will gradually increase water releases from 240 cfs to a maximum of 3,500 cfs by 9 a.m. The maximum surge will last two hours, and at 11 a.m. releases will begin to gradually decrease, and return to 240 cfs by 2 p.m.

The controlled release will test whether the pulses effectively remove algae and improve water quality by simulating natural storm events that occur during the late summer and early fall. This natural variability is reduced by the operation of Gathright Dam.

A 3,000-cfs test pulse in August 2010 showed that the pulse raised dissolved oxygen levels in the river, scoured excess oxygen-consuming algae and "slightly improved" aquatic habitat of the Jackson River below Covington.

The pulses are part of a continuing Army Corps of Engineers feasibility study at the dam. The study will determine whether a change to current low-flow augmentation operations at the dam can improve the overall water quality and ecological resources in the lower Jackson River without affecting the existing fisheries in Lake Moomaw and the trout fishery below the dam.

High water and debris damaged the swing arm of the structure during Hurricane Irene, causing the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use a limited locking scheduled.

Repairs, which began on Monday, took several days to complete and involved removing pieces of the lock gate arms that have been in place since the mid-1930's.

The locks at Great Bridge resume their normal operational schedule of on demand 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

The Dismal Swamp Canal remains closed to vessel traffic due to trees knocked down during Hurricane Irene blocking the waterway.

For information about the status of the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal as well as the Dismal Swamp Canal, call (757) 201-7500 and select option 3. Information is also available online at www.nao.usace.army.mil or on the District's Facebook and Twitter sites www.facebook.com/NAOonFB or www.twitter.com/norfolkdistrict.

Boaters underway can reach bridge and lock operators on marine radio channel 13.

The Virginia Beach Hurricane Protection Project Completed in 2002has protected Virginia Beach's oceanfront from coastal storms including hurricanes and countless nor'easters, including Hurricane Isabelle in 2003, when it saved the city an estimated $82 million in damage repairs.

Jerry Swean, a geologist with the Norfolk District, kept a watchful eye on the project during the storm, and said you can see the differences between pre-protection project and post protection project.

"In 1998 we had a nor'easter come through that had a similarly high tide as Irene. The story back then was much different then today: homes were damaged and water was washing across the roadways," Swean said.

The Corps and the City of Virginia Beach are getting ready to replenish the beaches along the City's 11 miles of coastline to ensure the protection level is where it needs to be.

Jennifer Armstrong, a project manager who oversees the oceanfront project for the Corps, in order for the system to be successful, it needs to have both a large beach and seawall/dune system in place.

"The higher and wider beach works in tandem with the concrete seawall and dune system by acting as a sacrificial erosion buffer and dissipating the wave energy," said Armstrong. "Erosion of the beach sand during storm events like Irene is not only expected, but is a critical feature of the system."

According to Phil Roehrs, a coastal engineer with the City of Virginia Beach, keeping the protection project at a high level of readiness saves taxpayer money.

"If you look at the aspect of lowering the payouts the federal government would make as the underwriter of the National Flood Insurance Program the project has more than paid for itself in savings to taxpayers," Roehrs said. "The other thing you don't see is a huge cadre of Federal Emergency Management Agency employees, or other emergency workers streaming into the area because the oceanfront wasn't heavily damaged. The need for that level of response isn't needed, thanks in part to having the protection system."

The oceanfront project received some erosion during Hurricane Irene, but Armstrong says the upcoming work has already accounted for it and no additional costs to taxpayers will occur as a result.

"The project is designed to require periodic re-nourishment to replace the natural and storm-event erosion and to take into account the possibility of such storms during each cycle," Armstrong said. "Plans to re-nourish the six-mile stretch of Virginia Beach oceanfront were underway prior to Irene and are scheduled for construction later this year."

With continued construction occurring to the beaches along Virginia Beach's coastline, the city says it highlights how a good relationship between federal and local officials benefits its local citizens.

"We can't be more ecstatic about our relationship with the Corps of Engineers when it comes to providing coastal protection for our citizens," Roehrs said. "The proof is in the pudding: just look at how well our projects have stood up to the storms over the past decade."

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 250 acres at CIDMMA and 50 acres of wetlands in Portsmouth Wednesday, August 31, weather permitting.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located in north Churchland over Federal and city property.

The treatment consists of a granular mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying August 31, the inclement weather date is Thursday, September 1.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

Crews are repairing the lock with a spare arm and expect to have the structure operational by Wednesday.

It's the first time the structure has been damaged during a storm event said Joel Scussel, Norfolk District project manager for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

"The gate has been there during Hurricanes Floyd and Isabelle and has never sustained this type of damage. The only thing we have had was some water get into the electrical systems during a nor'easter but nothing mechanical like this," said Scussel

With the Dismal Swamp Canal originally closed due to the wildfires, boaters traveling the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway will have to wait it out until the necessary repairs can be made.

"This is a priority, we need to get this up and operational to get boat traffic flowing again," said Scussel

The district performed one locking prior to shutting the lock down for repairs, allowing Corps debris removal vessels and NOAA research vessels that sought shelter upstream to move into the Elizabeth River to assist in port cleanup efforts.

For information about the status of the Albemarle and Chesapeake as well as the Dismal Swamp Canal, call (757) 201-7500 and select option 3. Information is also available online at www.nao.usace.army.mil or on the District's Facebook and Twitter sites www.facebook.com/NAOonFB or www.twitter.com/norfolkdistrict.

This RAB public meeting serves as the main forum for public discussion of Corps remediation progress at the 975-acre former ordnance depot. FNOD was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List in 1999.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• Site update
• James River beach sediment sampling
• Geophysics data update
• Completed area of concern site inspection reports

The FNOD RAB was established in 1997, as the main forum for community citizens to directly provide input on the cleanup effort at the formerly used defense site. Project team members available at each RAB meeting include: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the EPA.

The restoration advisory board is also comprised of community members, local business representatives, local and state officials, and the Tidewater Community College Real Estate Foundation, Inc.

Additional project information: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/FNOD/

The results of the August 2010 surge, or test pulse, recently released by the DEQ, indicate the pulse raised dissolved oxygen levels in the river, scoured excess oxygen-consuming algae and "slightly improved" the aquatic habitat Jackson River below Covington.

"We are monitoring the Jackson River before and during test pulses to establish current baseline water quality conditions," said Jason Hill, an environmental scientist with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. "We will be using this baseline data to track any environmental changes that result from these simulated storm events."

The Department of Environmental Quality requested the test pulse from Norfolk District, which owns and operates the Gathright Dam. The dam, located on the Jackson River, creates Lake Moomaw.

The eight-hour test pulse peaked at 3,000 cubic feet per second for two hours.

"The dam operators did a great job mimicking a natural storm event," said Larry Ives, Norfolk District civil engineer.

The results of the test pulse are being used in an ongoing feasibility study at the dam. The study will determine whether a change to current low-flow augmentation operations at the dam can improve the overall water quality and ecological resources in the lower Jackson River without affecting the existing fisheries in Lake Moomaw and the trout fishery below the dam.

Another pulse is scheduled for late September. The feasibility report will be completed in 2012.

The closure, which is temporary, allows firefighters to have continuous unimpeded access into the fire zone from route 17.

"We received a request from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service along with the North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation to see if we could close the canal so firefighters wouldn't have to wait for potential bridge openings near the fire, we didn't see any major issues with the request so we went ahead and closed the canal to assist them in any way we could," said Joel Scussel, the Dismal Swamp Canal project manager.

The restriction will be lifted when the fire is contained and smoke levels diminish for safe navigation.

Boaters are advised to use the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal which remains open and operational. Addition information about the canal closure can be obtained by calling 757 201-7500 and pressing option 3.

Spraying will be conducted over the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, adjacent city properties and the Churchland area here.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C., will conduct low-flying operations spraying for adult mosquitoes in areas north of Route 164 from 4 to 9 p.m. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to planes used for crop dusting.

Beekeepers are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations and anyone with known allergic reactions is advised to stay indoors.

If adverse conditions don't allow spraying on Thursday, the spraying will be rescheduled for Friday.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

According to the National Wildlife Service, lightning sparked a wildfire on August 4, which has been increasing in size and is moving towards the reservation.

"Though no structures or personnel are in immediate danger we felt it prudent to close the area to visitors as a just in case," said Joel Scussel, the Dismal Swamp Canal project manager.

The area will remain closed until the threat of fire has passed.

The reservation contains buildings and control structures for the weirs utilized to control water flow from Lake Drummond to the Dismal Swamp Canal. It offers citizens an opportunity to experience primitive camping, picnicking as well transfer small watercraft from the canal to Lake Drummond via a trolley system.

More information about the fire and closures throughout the Dismal Swamp can be found at www.fws.gov/northeast/greatdismalswamp. Individuals seeking more information about the reservation closure can contact the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at (757) 201-7606 or by email at cenao-pa@usace.army.mil

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will conduct low-flying operations as it sprays for adult mosquitoes in areas north of Rte-164 from 4 to 9 p.m. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

Beekeepers are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations in their particular area and anyone with known allergic reactions is advised to stay indoors.

If conditions don't allow spraying Tuesday, the inclement weather date is Wednesday.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

And, like all of the Corps employees here from around the country, she volunteered for the work.

It's been unlike anything she's ever experienced.

When Ange arrived, almost a month after the deadly May 22 storm, she was awed by the destruction left in its wake - more than 6,900 homes destroyed and another 875 damaged, about 500 commercial properties, a hospital and most of the city schools left in shambles.

"I was kinda like the gawking bystander; I just wanted to take it all in," Ange said.

But Ange had no time to gawk.

That week, the Corps ramped up its efforts to remove an estimated 1.87 million cubic yards of debris from the streets and residential properties of Joplin. Signs posted around the Corps' Recovery Field Office reminded employees of the monumental task ahead of them: just a million cubic yards of debris could cover the Kansas City Chiefs' home field at nearby Arrowhead Stadium - to a height of 510 feet.

The Corps set a goal of having the job done in 67 days. Ange arrived on day 21.

"The first day was hectic," she said. "I was running around between crews and trying to learn everything, trying to learn where streets were because there were no street signs or landmarks except the debris piles, which were always changing. There was still a lot of work out there."

After a week serving as a quality assurance specialist - ensuring contractors removed debris properly and safely - supervisors gave her a new assignment: assessing private properties before debris crews arrive. She took to it immediately, said Garrett Wickham, a volunteer from the Corps' Portland District and team lead for the assessments.

The assessments begin when a property owner or, in some cases, city officials sign a Right of Entry, or ROE, a document allowing the Corps to enter the property and remove debris. Then, Corps teams locate the property, mark the property lines and address, sketch and photograph the property, and note and flag debris types and piles, utilities and hazards. With this documentation done, Corps quality assurance specialists and contractors can locate and clear the property quickly and safely.

Ange enjoys the work - it's not that different from the day-to-day work she does in Virginia for the Corps' Norfolk District. As an environmental scientist in the district's regulatory branch, the Old Dominion University graduate is often outdoors gathering information for pending permit applications or for the enforcement of actions taken without a permit. It's work she described with a smile as "like crime scene investigation - for the environment."

The assessment work requires a lot of movement throughout the 6-mile-long, one-mile-wide debris area, requires a lot of responsibility, a lot of independence, Wickham explained.

Ange was a natural for the work.

"You're on your own out there and given enough responsibility to make decisions," Wickham said. "I don't have to worry about her. I can send her off with a stack of ROEs [assessments] and instructions to call if there are any issues."

The work Ange and others do for the assessments is a critical element of the Corps' debris removal process, said Ron McDonald, a volunteer from the Portland District who serves as a quality assurance supervisor.

"Without an accurate assessment, we'd have teams going out there that are really unprepared for what's on the property, McDonald said. "It's actually a very good process."

The importance of the process isn't lost on Ange, who identified the need for and developed a step-by-step assessment checklist for new Corps volunteers to use after the current team departs. While she was completing that task, she also developed job aids for incoming quality assurance specialists and took on the job of training new arrivals chosen for assessment work. Wickham said he loves her reliability.

"The great thing about Nikki is that you can tell sometimes that she's not excited about doing something, but she never complains," he said. "She just smiles and does it."

That kind of positive attitude is crucial for mission success, said Traci Davis, a volunteer from the Corps' Kansas City District who serves as a quality assurance supervisor.

"The whole operation feeds off of attitude," she said. "If we have a positive attitude, the contractors and the people we encounter will have a positive attitude. We'll get things done."

And the Corps is getting things done. Just two days before Ange's scheduled return home to Chesapeake, Va., Col. Dan Patton, the Joplin Recovery Field Office commander, reported to city and federal officials that 65.1 percent of the debris had been removed from city streets and properties.

"It's definitely changed a lot since I got here," Ange said. "There was a lot more debris along the right of ways and tons of houses were still standing - not completely intact, but standing. Now they are leveled out and lots are cleared."

Ange has also changed. Walking through the debris and seeing the items lost by people and families - important documents, valuables, children's toys - has given her a new perspective. "It's motivated me to be more prepared for something like this," she said. "It's going to be one of my priorities when I get home."

After the wedding.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located on federal property in the Churchland area of Portsmouth.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 500 acres at with a liquid mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals.

The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying Monday, the inclement weather date is Tuesday, June 14.

Clean the Bay Day is a statewide initiative organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in conjunction with municipalities, businesses and government agencies working together to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. Every year since 1989, thousands of citizens throughout the Commonwealth have dedicated their time to clear litter from waterways.

This year, more than 6,200 volunteers statewide removed approximately 200,000 pounds of debris from 500 miles of streams and shorelines along the bay, according to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Last year, 7,430 volunteers removed 217,641 pounds of debris at 245 sites along 419 miles of the Chesapeake Bay.

Norfolk District employees volunteered three hours of their time Saturday morning to remove debris from the shorelines of the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, or CIDMMA, which is operated and maintained by the district. CIDMMA is a 2,500-acre confined dredged material disposal site on the north side of Portsmouth, Va. It serves as an economical and environmentally sustainable repository for material dredged within the federal waterways of the Hampton Roads harbor.

"We had a fantastic turn-out, and it says a lot when people travel from as far as their home in Williamsburg to participate," said Kristen Donofrio, biological scientist here and zone captain for the district's team of volunteers.

Although Clean the Bay Day is regionally managed by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the event organization for the local area is done by Keep Norfolk Beautiful. "I think it's great for the Norfolk District that we have the opportunity to work with KNB since it helps promote our volunteer efforts and work in general throughout the community," Donofrio said.

This year, the Corps partnered with volunteers from the Society of American Military Engineers of Hampton Roads.

According to data collection sheets provided to Donofrio, more than 3,800 pounds of trash was removed from CIDMMA's shorelines, a majority of which included plastic bottles and Styrofoam from buoys, cups, or other containers and nautical debris.

Some unusual items found by district employees included a chair, life jacket, My Little Pony toy, lip gloss, cooler tops, plastic parts from syringes, mini-fridge, six-foot snake skin, pair of pants, remote control from a crane lift and a pair of sneakers.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will conduct aerial spraying between 4 and 8 p.m. Monday, June 6, weather permitting.

Aerial spraying will occur in areas north of Rte-164.

The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft to spray Trumpet EC, a formulation of Dibrom to target flying adult mosquitoes. The plane will be conducting low-flying spray operations in the area.

People with known allergic reactions are advised to stay indoors. Beekeepers who reside in the spray area are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations.

If conditions don't allow spraying June 6, the inclement weather date is Tuesday, June 7.

For more information about the spraying operations, call the Portsmouth Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666.

This RAB public meeting serves as the main forum for public discussion of Corps remediation progress at the 975-acre former ordnance depot. FNOD was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List in 1999.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• Review of Land Use Control Interim Plans
• Project Management Website/GIS initiatives
• Discussion on perchlorate, radiological information and munitions that have been discovered at FNOD
• Track G Magazine Line (Area of Concern 10) analytical report
• Public Affairs Working Group update

The FNOD RAB was established in 1997, as the main forum for community citizens to directly provide input on the cleanup effort at the formerly used defense site. Project team members available at each RAB meeting include: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the EPA.

The restoration advisory board is also comprised of community members, local business representatives, local and state officials and the Tidewater Community College Real Estate Foundation, Inc.

Additional project information: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/FNOD/

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will conduct aerial spraying between the hours of 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday May 26th, weather permitting. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft to spray Trumpet EC, a formulation of Dibrom to target flying adult mosquitoes. The plane will be conducting low-flying spray operations in the area.

Beekeepers are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations in their particular area and anyone with known allergic reactions is advised to stay indoors.

If conditions don't allow spraying on May 26, the inclement weather date is Friday, May 27th.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

Their mission became easier May 5, thanks to the design and construction management expertise of Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Col. Clark W. LeMasters, Army chief of Ordnance and commandant of the Ordnance School at Fort Lee, Va., used a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony to praise the completion of five new high-tech buildings, all part of the new Army Ordnance Center campus at Fort Lee.

The five new buildings were also memorialized during the ceremony in honor of five distinguished Ordnance Corps veterans. The building's names and functions are: Miley Hall, fire control department; Porter Hall, advance track department; Cohen Hall, armament and electronics maintenance department; Hatcher Hall, turret department; and Dickson Hall, advance wheel department.

Fort Lee will complete about $1.2 billion in construction projects later this year, totaling 56 new buildings, as part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure authorization. Under BRAC, the Army Ordnance Center and School relocated from Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland to Fort Lee.

The new state-of-the-art buildings are a marked improvement from those at the U.S. Army Aberdeen Proving Ground, LeMasters said.

Norman Malbon, a civil engineer and member of the Norfolk District Engineering Branch, represented the district during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Malbon's team at Fort Lee developed the request for proposals that defined the general design-build requirements for constructing these facilities. He took the opportunity to tour the buildings prior to the ceremony.

"I was very impressed by the size, quality and functionality of the buildings," Malbon said. "All of the facilities were in operation and looked great, including the 400-person auditorium, the shooting range, the welding booths, the M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank repair high bay areas and the classrooms."

The $800 million, five-building complex, is the latest edition to the Ordnance Center campus and instructors and students praise the complex for its hands-on, high-tech features. It includes multiple new audio visual capabilities and high-tech, energy-efficient and interactive training equipment, specific to each building's specialty.

"Each building's advanced automation, larger footprint and safer environment is tailor-made for enhanced and successful training," said Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Blucher, advanced wheel instructor for warrant officers. "When students arrive here, they soon realize they are definitely getting world-class training instruction."

The five-building complex also met the Army's Leadership in Energy Environmental Design, achieving a silver certification. Some of the building's notable "green initiatives" include:

• Stormwater design that reduces particulate pollution and erosion
• Reflective paving and roofing materials that reflect sun and decrease heat build-up and energy use
• Non-emergency interior lights that automatically turn off during non-business hours and exterior lighting that reduces light pollution
• Drought-resistant landscaping that eliminates the need for irrigation
• Low-flow fixtures that reduce overall water consumption
• Refrigerants for mechanical systems that reduce damage to the ozone layer and don't contribute to global warming
• All appliances are ENERGY STAR® rated

According to LeMasters, after six years of planning, these buildings "are the future of the Army Ordnance Corps to pass through for years to come."

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will conduct aerial spraying between the hours of 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, May 7, weather permitting.

Aerial spraying will occur in areas north of Route-164.

The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft to spray Trumpet EC, a formulation of Dibrom to target flying adult mosquitoes. The plane will be conducting low-flying spray operations in the area.

Beekeepers are asked to keep their bees covered during the spraying operations in their particular area and individuals with known allergic reactions are advised to stay indoors.

If conditions do not allow for spraying on May 7, the inclement weather date is Monday, May 9.

Updates for the aerial mosquito spraying will be available on the Portsmouth Mosquito Control Hotline after 11 a.m. Friday, May 6. The hotline is available at 393-8666, extension 7324.

So, what better place to celebrate the spirit of America's Great Outdoors then at the nation's oldest continually operating canal?

That's exactly what Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy will do when she joins more than 300 people to participate in the City of Chesapeake's 8th Annual Paddle for the Border on the Dismal Swamp Canal Saturday.

Paddlers will launch from the Dismal Swamp State Park in South Mills, N.C., paddle 7.5 miles and end with a picnic at the Dismal Swamp boat ramp on Ballahack Road.

Though the canal will be full of canoes and kayakers, motorized boaters will still be able to access the waterway, but they may experience some delays while navigating the canal from 8:00 a.m. until approximately 1:00 p.m.

Law enforcement and public safety officials from North Carolina and Virginia will be on site during the event—both on the water and observing from the shore— to assist with any emergency situations that may arise.

Paddle for the Border is sponsored by the Dismal Swamp State Park, Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center, Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, and City of Chesapeake Parks and Recreation Department.

President Obama's AGO initiative seeks to reinvigorate the nation's approach to reconnect Americans, especially young people, with the lands and waters that are used for farming, hunting, fishing and other recreational activities. It spreads the messages of conservation, protection, reconnection and stewardship of the outdoors.

This famous Native American proverb speaks volumes about the current state of our nation's complex environmental problems, which if left unresolved, threaten the future ability of our children to enjoy the wondrous natural beauty too often taken for granted.

That's why more than 50 environmental scientists and other staff of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, attended the 22nd Annual Environment Virginia Symposium, held April 5-7 on the campus of the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va.

With the symposium theme, "Sustainable Solutions for Uncertain Times," the Norfolk District team joined representatives of the private and public sectors as well as non-governmental organizations to exchange information, technology and ideas that will contribute to a prosperous economic and environmentally sustainable future.

"The symposium was a superb venue for our regulatory staff to meet one of its focus areas this year of increased transparency," said Michael Darrow, chief of Norfolk District's Water Resources Division. "Everyone took the opportunity to explain our Corps mission, capabilities and support to the Commonwealth of Virginia to our public and private counterparts, as well as to environmental consultants and interested public citizens."

The Environment Virginia Symposium is the brainchild of Ron Erchul, a former VMI professor and retired U.S. Navy captain, who, nearly a quarter century ago, received a grant from the Virginia Environmental Endowment to conduct research on groundwater contamination in the Shenandoah Valley. As part of that grant, VMI held a conference to report the results of his research and to encourage others to join in the quest for solutions to complex environmental issues. Today's symposium is a continuation of partnering efforts for economic and environmental success in Virginia over the past 22 years.

Mark Mansfield, chief of Planning and Policy for the WRD, served on the symposium program development committee and, using the concepts of the project management business process, developed a project management plan that integrated the contributions of several district members into this year's conference agenda.

Col. Andrew Backus, district commander, led a plenary session entitled "Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load and the Watershed Implementation Plan"; Hal Wiggins, regulatory branch, provided a presentation, "Low Impact Development and Section 404 Clean Water Act Permitting"; and Jeanne Richardson, regulatory branch, moderated sessions on "In-Lieu Fee Mitigation: New Initiatives and Frameworks" and "Case Studies of Mitigation Banking."

In his published message to symposium attendees, retired Army Gen. J. H. Binford Peay III, VMI superintendent, acknowledged their daily efforts and leadership on behalf of environmental sustainability, and cited a recent tragedy of global importance that make their cause more urgent.

"Fortunate to live in this beautiful Commonwealth, we are surrounded by abundant natural resources. Human ingenuity has allowed us to use these resources to advance the human condition, but we are mindful of the limits imposed by the forces of nature," Peay said. "As we meet, the people of Japan are coping with an environmental and human crisis that defies description. The world community has united to provide assistance. It is one of the greatest struggles ever witnessed between man and his environment. We pause to reflect on their situation, grateful for this opportunity to come together in search of meaningful and lasting solutions."

John Evans, environmental scientist and longtime district employee, attended the symposium for the first time with many of his regulatory colleagues. He said he was extremely impressed with the intense two-day symposium and that it was well organized and presented a diverse and informative environmental update.

"We really got the big picture on pollution and nutrient reduction efforts for the Chesapeake Bay," Evans said. "We explored other opportunities for low impact development with regards to stormwater management and met with other environmental firms to discuss the Corps' permit process."

The regulatory team talked with several small business firms and directed them to the district's small business office for contract opportunities. They also networked with other environmental agency staff, including the Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"We were all interested in learning about some of the products and services available to make data collection less costly and more efficient; future energy sources; wetland and stream mitigation updates; and new perspectives on global warming, climate change and future population growth predictions," Evans said.

This year's symposium also featured a special session on social media that provided an overview of the tools available and how global corporations, like Coca Cola, Inc., as well as smaller Virginia organizations are communicating effectively in today's world.

Mark Haviland, public affairs chief for Norfolk District, presented, "What's Possible in the World of Social Media," to an overflow breakout session. His presentation covered social-media startup; using Norfolk District's award-winning social media sites as a model; online tools, such as blogs, Facebook, Twitter, video and photo sharing; basic web research and internal investigation; and communication rules.

"Feedback has been nothing but positive, and we plan to continue this as an annual event," Darrow said.

After examining the labels, she'll roll open a drawer marked, "James River 1800-1887." Inside is a cache of delicate, yellowed, hand-drawn linen maps dotted with precision script and labeled with the graceful lines of flawless cursive and around the penned river banks, bushes and trees.

Killam, the lone Norfolk District librarian, said she couldn't narrow it down to one favorite as she pulled several maps from drawer and laid them out with the care of a conservator handling the Mona Lisa.

"These are fascinating," Killam said. "They're almost works of art." These maps – a fraction of the thousands dormant in their metal berth – are just an entry in the index of the tens of thousands of goods the library's got.

This library, however, is a library with a theme. The latest New York Times bestseller probably won't make an appearance here among the maps, nautical charts, engineering reports and the thousands of books: books on math, hydrology, bridge building and even a dog-eared copy of "Killer Angels."

The Army Corps of Engineers specificity lends itself to a trove of long-forgotten treasure, as author Earl Swift found.

"It's great to go trolling in there – you can find fascinating things that will lead to more," he said. "You'll stumble on veins of forgotten history – it's pretty cool."

Swift, a Virginia-based journalist, used the library to research stories he wrote for newspapers and his book, Journey on the James: Three Weeks Through the Heart of Virginia.

"There are weird little documents there that you can't find anywhere else," he said. Those kinds of documents helped Swift relocate prisoner-of-war camps where Nazis were held in southeast Virginia during World War II. He was able to get his bearings with landmarks that still existed.

"Thanks to the library, we had layouts," he said. "There were plans for guard towers … I was not expecting to find that and was completely floored to come across it."

Closer to home, Norfolk District employees find little gems that make their job easier.

George Janek frequently checks out the most recent issues wildlife periodicals, which have articles on stream restoration, threatened and endangered species, and wetland functions and values – the kind of information pertinent to an environmental scientist at Norfolk District. He's also used the library's topographic maps from the 1940s to determine jurisdiction over streams and wetlands.

Killam said that's the kind of primary-source material that is rarely found at other libraries.

Bo Taran, a supervisory civil engineer, uses the library as a starting point for new projects.

" … We can get a bird's eye view of how the new projects will impact the existing sightscapes and in many instances future development sightscapes," he said. He also uses the library to find natural changes to waterways, streams, rivers and tributaries by comparing maps over a certain span of time.

The library is also furnished with materials for test-takers, professional development courses for ladder climbers, annual engineering reports dating back to 1867 for the history buffs and little things, like a slang dictionary for those who aren't hip to the lingo.

Even with all the tangible finds in the library, Killam said there's more to find online through the USACE online library.

But for some, the library is a place to embrace peace and quiet or to use as a place to meet. Killam says she's got something for everyone at the library and if you don't believe her, she'll help you find it – something she loves after working libraries for more than 35 years.

"My favorite part is helping people," she said. "I'm always trying to draw new people in."

In a one-person position, she whips up bibliographies, dashes off citations, arranges inter-library loans, takes suggestions, and answers questions – all in a day's work.

"It's just amazing what you can find in here," she said. "That's one thing about the library – when you need it, you need it." The library is available to the public. If you are interested in visiting the Norfolk District USACE library, call 757-201-7562 to make an appointment.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is overseeing the approximately $20 million project that will allow the Navy's nuclear powered aircraft carriers the ability to traverse from Norfolk Naval Station to the Norfolk Naval Shipyard safely at all times of the day.

"The dredging is necessary to eliminate the risk of the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers damaging their ballast water intakes, as well as grounding and possible hull damage." said Raad Humadi, project manager with Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic For three tenths of a mile, from Lamberts Point to the Navy Deperming Station, a 600-foot-wide portion of the federal navigation channel will be deepened from 40 feet to 50 feet. Another four-and-half-mile, 600-foot-wide portion of the channel from the deperming station to the naval shipyard will be deepened from 40 feet to 47 feet.

"This will allow us to meet the current requirements for ships entering and exiting into the Lambert's Point Deperming Station, allowing the carriers safe transit into and out of the Deperming Facility," said Humadi. "The other reach of the project allows the carrier safe transit to and from Norfolk Naval Shipyard for repairs and overhauls."

The Corps' contractor, Norfolk Dredging Company from Chesapeake, Va., will start dredging operations at Lamberts Point and work their way to the naval shipyard over the next 18 months, removing approximately 3 million cubic yards of material. The dredged material will be pumped into the district's Craney Island Dredge Material Management Area in Portsmouth, Va.

Over the course of the next two weeks Norfolk District survey vessels will use SONAR to get a detailed look at the navigation channel to ensure the sandbars forming on the bottom have been removed.

"We have a pretty good idea that the Currituck got the problem areas removed, but we use the survey vessels as a confirmation; as well as we can determine exactly how much sand was removed and how deep the channel is after dredging ," said Gregg Williams, Norfolk District dredging project manager.

Depending on funding, the inlet portion of the channel is scheduled to be dredged again next year, ensuring the Chincoteague Inlet federal navigation channel will remain safe and open for commercial and recreational watercraft.

The Chincoteague Inlet is the gateway to the largest commercial port on the Eastern Shore, handling more than 3,000 vessels a year, including U.S. Coast Guard vessels. The annual project was approved in 1972 by the chief of engineers under the authority of Section 107 of the River and Harbor act of July 14, 1960.

The fort, erected in 1834 at Old Point Comfort in Hampton, Va., will be transferred to the Commonwealth of Virginia on Sept. 15, under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure legislation. Before then, Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has work to complete that will benefit the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Norfolk District is partnering with the Commonwealth's Fort Monroe Authority to design and construct back flow preventers or flap gates for approximately 30 storm drain outfalls located throughout the property. Installation of these tidal check valves will prevent tidal intrusion onto the property and reduce pollutants and nutrients from entering the Chesapeake Bay.

The Water Resources Development Act lays the groundwork for the project and partnership.

"Protection is a big priority at Fort Monroe," said Bill Armbruster, executive director of the FMA. "Parts of Fort Monroe were substantially damaged by floodwaters from Hurricane Isabel in 2003. The Army Corps of Engineers built a new seawall at the post. The completion of this project has a high value to the future success of Fort Monroe at Old Point Comfort."

Fort Monroe is surrounded almost entirely by tidally-influenced waters of the Chesapeake Bay to the east, Hampton Roads harbor to the south, and Mill Creek to the west. Due to its low elevation, the fort is highly susceptible to flooding.

After Hurricane Isabel unfurled its fury on the fort in 2003, Norfolk District proposed the Fort Monroe Flood Proofing project in 2005, as part of a larger flood study of the fort.

Jennifer Armstrong, project manager and biologist at Norfolk District, is leading the flood proofing project. Armstrong recently returned to Norfolk District after serving more than two years with the New Orleans Hurricane Protection Office, where she managed the completion of several key post-Katrina flood protection projects.

"The study found that flooding events on Fort Monroe bring about two significant problems for the Chesapeake Bay," Armstrong said. "First, flood waters infiltrate the sanitary sewer system causing untreated sewage to be discharged into the Chesapeake Bay. The untreated materials contain large quantities of nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen), suspended solids and fecal bacteria. Second, storm events result in the flooding of basements located on the fort, which can cause a myriad of problems. In the past, this water has been pumped directly into the Chesapeake Bay without treatment. This flood-proofing phase of the project will provide additional defense towards reducing flooding on the fort for up to a 40- to 50-year storm level."

This project alone will not eliminate the threat of flooding caused by tidal surge and tropical storms, Armbruster said, but the Corps also identified additional seawall and breakwater protection projects in their 2005 study which have yet to be implemented.

A $20 million Fort Monroe Seawall Repair and Improvement Project had already begun in the winter of 2003, but it was suspended by the U.S. Army in July 2005, after Fort Monroe appeared on the BRAC list for closure. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld reauthorized the project in November 2006, and the Norfolk District resumed construction of the seawall repair in March 2007.

Now completed, the new 9.5 foot seawall stands in front of the existing structure, which averaged 7.5 feet in elevation. The seawall project repaired deficiencies and improved flood protection for Fort Monroe from a 5-year level – a storm that has a 20 percent chance of occurring in any given year – to an approximate 25-year level, a storm with a four percent annual occurrence rate. The project included breakwaters and beach replenishment along the lower parts of the shoreline facing the Chesapeake Bay.

Over the years, Norfolk District has partnered with agencies like the Fort Monroe Authority to seek solutions and implement programs for restoring the health of the nation's largest estuary – the Chesapeake Bay.

Stretching across more than 64,000 square miles, the Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses parts of six states along the U.S. East Coast. With its many tributaries, the Chesapeake Bay watershed endures an array of assaults from the air, water and land. Chemical contaminants, air pollution, landscape changes, erosion and over-harvesting of fish and shellfish also stress the Bay and its wildlife. The watershed's worst problem is nutrient pollution, which fuels the growth of algae blooms that degrade water quality and negatively impact aquatic life.

The Norfolk District has used the Section 510 Program of the Water Resources Development Act to enhance the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay through the reduction of sediment and dissolved nutrients and improvement of wastewater treatment facilities.

Essentially, women were erased from history.

In the 1970's, that began to change as a movement to celebrate women's history gained momentum – a momentum we still feel each March, during National Women's History Month.

Regina Malveaux, J.D., newly appointed executive director of the YWCA South Hampton Roads, will join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, on March 17 at 1:30 p.m., in the multipurpose room of Waterfield Building to celebrate Women's History Month and the economic, political and social achievements of American women – past, present and future.

"Each year that we recognize and participate in National Women's History Month, we pay tribute to the millions of women who sacrificed so much to help create a better society and world," said Gregory E. Headen, chief of Norfolk District's Equal Employment Office. "Their achievements serve as an enormous inspiration and road map for future generations."

"Our History is Our Strength," is the 2011 March National Women's History Month theme. Knowing women's stories provides essential role models for everyone, according to the National Women's History Project, and role models are genuinely needed to face the extraordinary changes and unrelenting challenges of the 21st century.

Malveaux, who resides in Norfolk, Va., has compiled a resume of career achievements, all while raising two college-age children, that would easily transform her from "ordinary" to "extraordinary."

Prior to taking the helm of the YWCA South Hampton Roads, Malveaux served as founding director of the Women's Legal Center in San Diego, Calif., and legal advocate for the YWCA San Diego.

Malveaux holds an undergraduate degree in Social Policy from San Diego State University and a law degree from Howard University School of Law. During law school, Malveaux served as both a White House and Congressional intern, for then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, then chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Malveaux has served on a number of boards aimed at advancing racial justice and economic empowerment, including the San Diego NAACP, Dress for Success and Second Chance. She is nationally recognized as a tenacious advocate for women, youth and children, and has received numerous national accolades, including "Emerging Leader" by the Children's Defense Fund and one of 10 National Head Start Policy Fellows during the Clinton administration.

President Barack Obama, in his 2011 proclamation honoring National Women's History Month, also praised the extraordinary accomplishments of women in shaping the course of our nation's history, and issued a challenge:

"Today, women have reached heights their mothers and grandmothers might only have imagined. Women now comprise nearly half of our workforce and the majority of students in our colleges and universities," he said. "They scale the skies as astronauts, expand our economy as entrepreneurs and business leaders, and serve our country at the highest levels of government and our Armed Forces. In honor of the pioneering women who came before us, and in recognition of those who will come after us, this month, we recommit to erasing the remaining inequities facing women in our day."

His office might indicate something like that: neatly arranged awards and shiny plaques that line his office walls praise his work with small businesses in tall, etched letters. Another decoration for his efforts, a ceremonial sword, guards the front of his desk. He keeps three smooth black stones that say "respect," "trust" and "integrity" on a table in his office – they're a few basic tenets of how Beecher does business. The Web will tell you his expert testimony was shared with Congress and he's spoken at or attended more small business conferences than a contractor could throw a brick at.

As the chief of the Small Business Program Office, is he the best at what he does? Maybe. Kaney O'Neill thinks so.

O'Neill was a Navy airman apprentice when she fell and became a quadriplegic more than a decade ago. As a service-disabled veteran, she owns a general contracting company in Washington, and she met Norfolk District's Beecher at a small business conference. Since then, Beecher has become an advocate for her, like he is for all service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

"When you're in a business like mine, it's difficult," O'Neill said. "Jack has been somebody who actively supports my business, and done everything in his power to help make me and my business successful."

Beecher is the magic man of opportunity for small businesses. At Norfolk District, his small business section connects work opportunities, mostly contracting, with small women-owned businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, and small businesses in historically underutilized zones, among others. But Beecher is making waves in his efforts to help service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.

From beaches to business

Fresh out of the jungles of Pleiku, Vietnam, Beecher joined Norfolk District in 1970 as a surveying aid and four years later he became a general clerk in the contracting division, and he's since worked his way through the ranks.

Beecher said he's come a long way.

A beach-bum at heart, a young Beecher was content to surf the crisp Atlantic waves when he wasn't stocking shelves, sacking groceries or crashing at his parents' Portsmouth home. He was doing just that when an official-looking letter, signed by the president, found its way to Beecher in 1968: "You are hereby ordered to report for and submit to induction into the Armed Forces of the United States …"

"To be honest with you, at the time, I didn't care to be in the Army," Beecher said.

But Beecher now uses the connection he feels from his two years in the Army to help service-disabled veterans: Beecher is also an SDV, something he found out after his prostate cancer was linked to his exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

"As a service disabled veteran, I have a personal perspective on trying to help those companies," he said. "Not a day goes by that I'm not dealing with a SDV."

Small business, big success

Beecher became the District's small business chief in 1998 and the program manager for the SDVOSB category about four years ago. As program manager, he said he had a valuable tool at his fingertips - an executive order directing federal agencies to award 3 percent of their contract budget to SDVOSB.

"The order was a really great incubator for vets who were interested in starting small businesses and working with the federal government," said David Spanka, president of the Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business Council. However, Spanka said this order was weakened by its wording.

"The order simply established an agency goal," Spanka said. "A lot of government agencies don't meet that goal, but pat themselves on the back when the achieve 1 percent."

Spanka said agencies like the Veteran's Administration and Norfolk District have done well in meeting or exceeding the 3 percent mark. The District lands that recognition in part to the small business section's efforts: in Beecher's first year as program manager, the Corps increased its SDV awards from $217 million to $543 million as the small business section put SDVOSB in front of contract officers and decision makers at Norfolk District. Beecher says the successes are a reflection of Corps employees and leadership – and each played a role in ensuring that every fiscal year since 2008, Norfolk District has exceeded the 3 percent goal. In fiscal year 2010, 15 percent of the contracting budget went to SDVOSBs.

While some SDVOSBs come to Beecher, others are found by Beecher. He looks for SDVOSB construction companies, and helps them navigate the federal marketplace as they seek opportunities to do business with Uncle Sam. He's found dozens of companies at conferences, in meetings, through databases and watched the businesses ride their success to become something larger.

"I've actually seen some small businesses go from having companies that do $100,000 a year to well above $4 or $5 million a year," he said. The Corps awarded more than $2.2 billion dollars in contracts to SDVOSB over the last three years.

John Karafa's construction business was one such company. The company's maiden project was the Fort Lee dining facility in 2008. It was also the seed project for the fledgling company, Leebcor.

"We had a lot to lose or a lot to gain," Karafa said. "They say you're only as good as your last project and we wanted to put our best foot forward – and this wasn't an easy building."

The dining facility, which was a $6.8 million contract award, earned a LEED Gold rating in 2010 based on the company's work. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is a certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

"That project enabled us to launch a credible, quality-focused business," Karafa said. "I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the [small business] program. I had this opportunity because of Jack."

Norfolk District has since awarded Karafa's company with a handful of multi-million dollar projects under the SDV set-aside.

The small business section also helped cast Jim Hart's construction business, Arriba Corporation, as another company that handles million-dollar contracts. Arriba started in 1998 with two employees and one contract. But that was before Jack Beecher and a contract for a job at Fort Eustis.

"Jack provided a lot of support," Hart said. "He's incredibly committed to small businesses."

Hart credits Beecher with strengthening SDVOSBs by advocating for them and getting companies in front of decision-makers.

"His voice was pretty loud," Hart said. "He rallied a lot of people to say, 'look, this makes sense.'"

In the meantime, Beecher continues to support SDVOSB, finding new businesses and keeping in touch with companies, like O'Neill's, that he's helped along the way.

"He's never stopped helping me," O'Neill said. "It says a lot about what kind of man he is and about his work effort – it's a beautiful thing."

The Norfolk District plays a vital role rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure through overseas contingency operations, or OCO. Employees from Norfolk District, ranging from engineers, analysts, project managers, architects and support staff volunteer for deployments for six- and 12-month periods. They are improving ports, repairing more than 35 bridges, dredging, providing electricity, building the first-ever water treatment facility, rebuilding airports, police stations and housing throughout the country. It's just a handful of the more than 4,800 reconstruction projects the Gulf Region District has completed.

Walter Kloth, a 23-year-old geographic information system technician and youngest Norfolk District volunteer to deploy, spent six months in Iraq last year.

"Before leaving, I thought I would be surrounded by miles of desert, ducking into buildings to avoid the random sand storm … (I was) mentally preparing myself to work ten-plus-hour days, seven days a week," Kloth said. "It was nothing like I had envisioned."

The Virginia Beach native worked in the northern province of Kabul – a higher elevated region - grass, trees, terrain with goat herders and lots of rose bushes, he said. Kloth, along with the other volunteers, lived in a prefabricated metal container - roughly the size of an 8x36 box with air conditioning. In his spare time he played cards and watched movies on his personal laptop - an essential travel item that broke up the "Groundhog Day" feeling, he said.

His daily routine consisted of using GIS as integrated hardware, software, and data for capturing, managing, analyzing, and displaying all forms of geographically referenced information.

"Simply put, GIS gives you a birds-eye view of the terrain to support construction, installation of pipes and other infrastructure elements. It provides an intricate part of the framework for planning," Kloth said.

Kloth is just one of many who have helped breathe life into a damaged and disintegrating infrastructure. Upgraded warehouses, silos, and other facilities have been built and are re-employing more than 3,500 workers at Umm Qasr, Iraqi's main port. Other projects include dredging the port 33 feet deeper and removing unexploded ordnance and other sunken obstacles. By early June 2009, the channel was deep enough to allow ships carrying 15,000 metric tons of food to unload.

"It's important and satisfying to know we are making a difference in the lives of people … and that goes far beyond building infrastructure to sharing knowledge of engineering, construction management, and business practices. The Corps team continues to make a lasting impact," said Maj. David A. Fedroff, Norfolk District deputy commander and the district's OCO program manager.

To date, more than 100 Norfolk District employees have deployed to Iraq and/or Afghanistan since 2004.

Norfolk District has a little more than400 people, and about two percent of the team deploys at any given time to support overseas contingency operations, said Jan VanHouten, an emergency management specialist and the coordinator for OCO.

"The Corps is one of the few organizations that have the capability to design and build the infrastructure of a country, and it started when we provided humanitarian assistance by building tent cities in the Balkans in the late nineties" VanHouten said."Our mission has definitely evolved and our successes and contribution in Iraq and Afghanistan are evidence of our ongoing efforts."

It's also an organization where employees like Kloth are committed to the mission.

"Most people ask me, 'Why would you want to go there and do what you do?' and I ask them, 'Why not?'" Kloth said.

The Gulf Region District team has completed $7.8 billion in reconstruction projects. In addition to the more than 4,800 reconstruction projects completed, 261 projects are in progress and 27 projects are being planned, according to a 2009 GAO report.

"The Coast Guard requested the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Dredge Currituck remove severely shoaled portions of Oregon Inlet in North Carolina so they could execute their rescue missions before it moved on to its next job at Chincoteague, Va.," said Christopher Frabotta, dredging project manager with the Corps' Wilmington District.

Annual scheduled maintenance dredging of the Chincoteague Inlet federal navigation channel will remove about 100,000 cubic yards of beach quality sand keeping it open and safe for commercial and recreational watercraft.

The dredge should not interfere with boaters navigating the channel. The Currituck, scheduled to be onsite for 21 days, will work around-the-clock to remove the potential hazards from the channel.

The sand the dredge collects from the project will be placed just offshore of NASA's Wallops Island facility.

The Chincoteague Inlet is the gateway to the largest commercial port on the Eastern Shore, handling more than 3,000 vessels a year, including U.S. Coast Guard vessels. The annual project was approved in 1972 by the chief of engineers under the authority of Section 107 of the River and Harbor act of July 14, 1960.

Over the years and behind the scenes, the National Park Service has teamed with Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to complete a variety of environmental repair and restoration projects to conserve Colonial's scenic beauty and natural and historic objects for the enjoyment and education of future generations.

Now they're teaming up to assemble a project delivery team through an interagency agreement to design and construct a combination of shoreline structures and marsh protection in four sections of the York River at the Colonial National Historical Park. It's where Mother Nature continues to exact a heavy toll on the bluffs and shoreline of the venerable York River.

"The National Park Service, including Colonial National Historical Park, has benefited from the expertise of the Norfolk District for many years," said Lilly Hardin, project manager for NPS' Denver Service Center. "Their level of support and understanding has ensured that the park's cultural and archeological resources will be protected for future generations. This latest project will ensure that the scenic beauty of the York River and the historic culture of Colonial Parkway will both be preserved."

Design and construction funding for the York River Shoreline Stabilization project totals $6.2 million, which includes $738,000 to perform specified emergency construction. For the remaining project, the team will initially complete a 30 percent design of the entire 4.1 mile shoreline repair, and then a 100 percent design for the emergency repair portions of the project.

Norfolk District will provide construction contracting and management for the emergency construction under the current agreement.

Cara Sydnor, project manager and biologist at Norfolk District, is leading the restoration and repair project. The Omaha, Neb. native has served seven years with Norfolk District and said she feels uniquely qualified to lead this restoration and repair project, which will begin later this year, because of her background in biology and love for the natural environment.

"My work in wetlands preservation, riverbank restoration and waterway management has helped me really understand the forces – artificial and natural – that degrade our nation's amazing natural beauty. Preserving a portion of that natural beauty, especially at Colonial National Historical Park, is a dream project for any biologist," Sydnor said.

The NPS has managed Colonial National Historical Park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, since the early 1930s. The park covers about 15 square miles and is centered on a peninsula between the York and James rivers, in southeastern Virginia. The park offers pilgrims a scenic 23-mile Colonial Parkway that meanders through the three points of Virginia's Historic Triangle: Jamestown, Yorktown Battlefield and the historic district of Colonial Williamsburg.

Norfolk District has completed a variety of preservation and restoration projects at the park. Some of those projects have included the stabilization of key sections of the Jamestown Island shoreline; the rehabilitation of the centuries-old Wormley Pond Dam in Yorktown; and completed in 2007, the Emergency York River Shoreline Repair and Protection Project.

This RAB public meeting serves as the main forum for public discussion of Corps remediation progress at the 975-acre former ordnance depot. FNOD was placed on the EPA's National Priorities List in 1999.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• Project update
• Technical team update
• Public affairs community outreach

The FNOD RAB was established in 1997, as the main forum for community citizens to directly provide input on the cleanup effort at the formerly used defense site. Project team members available at each RAB meeting include: the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the EPA.

The restoration advisory board is also comprised of community members, local business representatives, local and state officials and the Tidewater Community College Real Estate Foundation, Inc.

Additional project information: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/FNOD/

The Corps Dredge Currituck will remove about 100,000 cubic yards of beach quality sand that's creating shoals in the channel and could present a hazard to local commercial and recreational boaters.

The dredge should not interfere with boaters navigating the channel. The Currituck, scheduled to be onsite for 21 days, will work around-the-clock to remove the potential hazards from the channel.

"We work very closely with the local boating community to ensure our operations have little to no impact on their abilities to transit through the channel; however, boaters do need to be especially aware around the dredge and remain clear while they are working," said Gregg Williams, the Norfolk District project manager for the dredging.

The sand the dredge collects from the project will be placed just offshore of NASA's Wallops Island facility.

The Chincoteague Inlet is the gateway to the largest commercial port on the Eastern Shore, handling more than 3,000 vessels a year, including U.S. Coast Guard vessels. The annual project was approved in 1972 by the chief of engineers under the authority of Section 107 of the River and Harbor act of July 14, 1960.

The more than 200-year-old fort stymied the British during the War of 1812 when it prevented a war fleet from capturing the USS Constellation. During the Civil War, the fort loaded the Confederate's ironclad, the CSS Virginia, with munitions before it rumbled with the Monitor. Over time, wind pushed on its tired wall, water bullied the bricks and portions of the wall's outer layer – the veneer – were starting to lean like the Tower of Pisa.

In short, Fort Norfolk's wall was showing its age.

And for the last standing harbor-front fort authorized by President George Washington, that means a facelift.

So on a recent February day, contractors put in the last few rows of bricks as the wind whipped off the Elizabeth River. Workers iced each red brick with mortar before carefully tapping them level on the wall as 400-pound white capstones lay a few yards away in the grass – as the originals, they would be replaced when the work was done.

Craig Jones, a project manager at Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is a liaison to the Norfolk Historical Society. He helped coordinate the repairs, as the district is responsible for keeping the fort, which is on its federal property, from crumbling into obscurity.

"We're trying to maintain the integrity of the wall," Jones said.

That's an uphill battle for a wall as old as Fort Norfolk's. The first bulwark was earthen with wooden supports. It wasn't until 1810, when war with England became inevitable, that it got the masonry-upgrade. Even then, the wall was a "dry stack:" bricks were laid without cement, without anything to bond the bricks together. It was a tactical advantage when it came to cannon-ball blasts against the wall: bricks in the wall would shift to absorb the impact. A previous repair from 30 years ago had fixed the aging veneer, but hadn't tied it to the existing brick.

Contractor Mike Gianizero and his crew demolished part of the failing outer veneer before putting down a layer of modern brick that matched the look of the older masonry. He thinks that water was trapped behind the brick, and as the water froze and expanded over the years, it pushed the brick out.

That's one hypothesis.

Leonard Mule, structural section supervisor at Norfolk District, said it's possible that suction along the wall may have contributed to its failure, especially if there was already a weakness in the bulwark. The law of physics says when wind blows along a surface, it causes suction. It's the same high-pressure principle that keeps airplanes aloft.

No one will know for sure unless the historical society sends out an archeologist to oversee a renovation of the wall – an excavation that would lead to a full-blown archeological dig. But the wall repairs aren't that, so the major source of the wall's suffering remains a mystery for now.

What does a facelift like that cost these days? About $43,000, according to Christian Brumm, a civil engineer supervisor at Norfolk District. That price tag is about five times the cost of a real facelift, but it's a real deal in terms of the square footage operated on: more than 600 square feet of veneer was replaced. That included soil anchors, a welded-wire mesh system for lateral stability and a whitewash. The Corps footed the bill for the work, and had the blessing of the Norfolk Historical Society.

The repairs are on time for next year's 200^th anniversary of the War of 1812.

"It's critically important that we take care of [the wall] so that the rest of the country gets the benefit of this historic gem," said Louis Guy, former president of the Norfolk Historical Society and an expert on Fort Norfolk. "It's a vital element to the celebration next year."

This wasn't the first and it won't be the last time the wall – or the fort – goes under the hammer for work. Because of its age, repairs like this are normal, Jones said.

She's amassed a collection of "cradle to grave" design and construction projects over the course of a 26-plus year career as a project and resident engineer with Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her repertoire includes soldier and airmen barracks, dining facilities, hospitals, dental clinics, gyms, family housing, child development centers, commissaries, indoor and outdoor training facilities and much more.

Despite her stockpile of experience, Michener admits she was nervous when the call came for her to join the staff of the Fort Lee Base Realignment and Closure Area Office, which was established to handle more than one billion dollars in new construction projects.

When President George W. Bush signed the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Act in 2005, he set into motion a military construction transformation that would totally change the landscape of Fort Lee. By fall 2011, the Army installation near Richmond, Va., will have completed 35 BRAC infrastructure projects to accommodate more than 22,000 troops, installation employees and family members – nearly double its 2005 military population.

It wasn't the number of construction projects Michener and her team had to manage that gave her pause, but the swift pace of work involved in fulfilling the BRAC process by fall 2011, said Michener.

"We began BRAC 05 construction in fall 2007, using an accelerated construction timeline," Michener said. "To meet this timeline, our team has had to stay focused and disciplined every day – on each project – to ensure we successfully complete our BRAC mission by 2011."

To meet the looming 2011 deadline, Norfolk District used an innovative contract award process that sped up project delivery time by making one qualified contractor responsible for the project's design and construction, said Debora Gray, chief of Contracting Office's Military Branch.

Michener has completed five BRAC 05 military construction projects and is currently working her last three, with one being a consolidated troop medical/dental clinic, one of only a handful in the Army inventory. It's part of the BRAC Ordnance Center and School, which sits on 380 acres and resembles a college campus. Known as Fort Lee North, the campus is comprised of five barracks, 10 training bays and one of the largest dining facilities in the Army, and 4,500 advanced individual training students and their instructors. The state-of-the-art troop medical/dental facility is set for completion in May.

"This is really a neat project. It combines a wide variety of medical and dental services, including in-house medical laboratories and a dental fabrication unit, so the students can receive timely medical and dental treatment at just one medical facility," Michener said.

Greg Hegge, chief of Norfolk District's Fort Lee Projects Branch, had nothing but praise for the work accomplished by the Fort Lee BRAC Area team.

"So many factors contribute to the success of each construction project here, but it's the men and women in the field who are the true heroes of the battle," said Hegge. "Each day they work tirelessly, even through holidays, to administer these construction contracts. It is only through their dedicated efforts that we deliver these quality projects on time, within budget and environmentally sound and safe for soldiers and their families."

Michener came to Norfolk District after serving with the Corps' Huntington District for two-plus years, and as a resident engineer here, she supervises the project construction staff. Michener, a West Milford, W.Va. native, is also the go-to for technical advice regarding the project's design, construction, contract administration, and issuing of contract modifications.

Michener's recipe for project success is admittedly "old school," but she stressed the importance of always keeping it simple and never losing sight of the big picture.

"Take extra effort that the roof doesn't leak and the mechanical systems heat and cool properly, and that all the special systems the customer needs to operate and train are functional," Michener said. "Get that done on time and you should have a successful project."

Doug Garman 202-761-1807
Doug.M.Garman@usace.army.mil

Pamela K. Spaugy 757-201-7059
Pamela.K.Spaugy@usace.army.mil

02/14/2011 - Washington — The President's Budget for fiscal year 2012 (FY12) includes $4.631 billion in gross discretionary funding for the Civil Works program of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, offset in part by a proposal to cancel $57 million of prior year funding, of which $35 million was provided through an emergency supplemental appropriation.

The Honorable Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, said, "This year's Civil Works budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reflects the Administration's priorities through targeted investments in the nation's infrastructure that help restore the environment and revitalize the economy, while also reflecting the need to make the tough choices necessary to put the country on a fiscally sustainable path.

"This is a performance-based budget that funds the construction of projects that reduce risk to public safety, provide significant environmental restoration benefits, or provide significant economic returns on the nation's investment," said Darcy.

The Army Civil Works program additionally contributes to the protection of the nation's waters and wetlands; the restoration of certain sites contaminated as a result of the nation's early atomic weapons development program; and emergency preparedness and training to respond to natural disasters.

This budget includes $51,373,000 for the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of Norfolk District projects in the three main civil works mission areas: commercial navigation, flood and coastal storm damage reduction and aquatic ecosystem restoration.

Norfolk District projects include:

• The Atlantic Coastal Waterway (operations, $1,742.000)
• The Atlantic Coastal Waterway (operation of the Dismal Swamp Canal, $1,156,000)
• Chincoteague Inlet (maintenance, $600,000)
• Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw (operations, $2,253,000)
• Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Newport News Harbors/drift removal (maintenance, $1,048,000)
• Hampton Roads/prevention of obstructive deposits (operations, $75,000)
• Inspection of completed works (operations, $230,000)
• James River Channel (operations, $175,000; maintenance, $4,188,000)
• Chowan River ($124,000, reconnaissance)
• Lynnhaven River Basin (preconstruction engineering and design, $300,000)
• Norfolk Harbor and Channels, Craney Island (construction, $27,400,000)
• Norfolk Harbor (operations, $526,000; maintenance, $10,524,000)
• Project Condition Surveys (operations, $832,000)
• Upper Rappahannock River Basin Comprehensive (feasibility, $200,000)

New federal funding in the Corps' Civil Works budget consists of $3.753 billion from the general fund, $758 million from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund, $77 million from the Inland Waterways Trust Fund, and $43 million from Special Recreation User Fees.

The FY12 funding will be distributed among the appropriation accounts as follows:

• $2.314 billion for Operation and Maintenance
• $1.48 billion for Construction
• $210 million for Mississippi River and Tributaries
• $196 million for the Regulatory Program
• $185 million for Expenses
• $109 million for the Formerly Utilized Sites Remedial Action Program
• $104 million for Investigations
• $27 million for Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies
• $6 million for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works

Non-federal partners are expected to make approximately $540 million in cost-sharing contributions to the Rivers and Harbors Contributed Funds in FY12. Additionally, $15 million in Federal Permanent Appropriations will be available to USACE in FY12, and $85 million will be available from the Coastal Wetlands Restoration Trust Fund for the work of several of the Federal agencies including the Corps, overseen by an interagency Federal-State task force led by the Corps.

The FY12 Budget funds capital investments in the inland waterways based on the estimated revenues to the Inland Waterways Trust Fund. Among coastal navigation projects, the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) program gives priority to the harbors and channels with the most commercial traffic. The Budget also funds maintenance work at harbors that support significant commercial fishing, subsistence, or public transportation benefits, although at a lower total level than in prior years.

In connection with the FY12 Budget, the Administration proposes changes in the way federal navigation activities are funded. The Administration will work with Congress to reform the laws governing the Inland Waterways Trust Fund to support increased investments in safe, reliable, highly cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable inland waterways, while ensuring that commercial navigation users meet their share of the costs of activities financed from this trust fund. The Budget proposes to increase revenues paid by commercial navigation users sufficiently to meet their share of the costs of activities financed from this trust fund in future years. In addition, legislation will be proposed to expand the authorized uses of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund so that its receipts are available to finance the federal share of efforts carried out by several agencies in support of commercial navigation through the nation's ports.

The FY12 O&M program is funded at $2.445 billion, including $131 million in the Mississippi River and Tributaries (MR&T) account. The Budget emphasizes performance of existing projects by focusing on the maintenance of key commercial navigation, flood and storm damage reduction, and other facilities.

The FY12 construction program is funded at $1.558 billion, including $78 million in the MR&T account. The construction program uses objective, performance-based guidelines to allocate funding toward the highest performing economic, environmental, and public safety investments. The priorities of the Corps' aquatic ecosystem restoration program are coordinated with, and informed by, interagency collaboration to restore nationally significant ecosystems including the California Bay Delta, Chesapeake Bay, the Everglades, the Great Lakes, and the Gulf Coast.

The Budget funds 92 construction projects, consisting of 10 dam safety assurance, seepage control, and static instability correction projects (includes one project completion); 20 projects ranked on the basis of life-saving benefits; two additional project completions; two new starts; and 58 other continuing projects.

By program area, the 92 funded construction projects consist of 55 Flood and Storm Damage Reduction projects (three budgeted for completion), 16 Commercial Navigation projects (including five continuing mitigation items and four dredged material placement areas), 19 Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration projects (including three projects to meet Biological Opinions), and mitigation associated with two Hydropower projects.

Among the ongoing construction projects in the FY12 Budget are: the South Florida ecosystem restoration program, which includes the Everglades ($163 million); Olmsted Locks and Dam, IL & KY ($150 million); Wolf Creek Dam, Lake Cumberland, KY, seepage control ($132 million); Columbia River Fish Mitigation, WA, OR & ID ($128 million); Herbert Hoover Dike, FL, seepage control ($85 million); Center Hill Lake, TN ($79 million); Missouri River Fish and Wildlife Recovery, IA, KS, MO, MT, NE, ND & SD ($73 million); Bluestone Lake, WV ($70 million); and New York and New Jersey Harbor, NY & NJ ($65 million) . The three construction projects funded for completion in the FY12 Budget are: Crookston, MN ($1.25 million), Dover Dam, OH ($5 million), and Santa Paula Creek, CA ($2.1 million).

The FY12 construction program includes two high-priority new construction starts: Hamilton City, CA ($8 million), and Raritan to Sandy Hook (Port Monmouth), NJ ($3 million).

The FY12 Budget includes funding for both initial construction of projects to reduce storm damage along the coast and periodic renourishment of such projects. The FY12 program supports 10 such projects, of which three are initial construction and seven are periodic renourishment.

The Budget funds activities for large-scale ecosystems including the California Bay Delta, Chesapeake Bay, Columbia River, Everglades, Great Lakes, Louisiana Coast, Missouri River, and Upper Mississippi River. The Corps will continue to work with other federal, state and local agencies, using the best available science and adaptive management, to protect and restore these ecosystems. Environmental sustainability of these ecosystems also helps to support positive economic growth in the surrounding communities.

The FY12 Budget provides $50 million ($46 million in O&M account and $4 million in Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (FCCE)) for a comprehensive levee safety initiative to help ensure that federal levees are safe and to assist non-federal parties to address safety issues with their levees. The initiative includes funding for ongoing work on the National Levee Inventory Program as well as for the Silver Jackets interagency teams.

The FY12 Regulatory Program is funded at $196 million. With these funds, USACE will continue to protect the nation's waters and wetlands, improve compliance with and enforcement of wetlands regulations, and improve permitting processes.

The FY12 FUSRAP program is funded at $109 million to continue remedial activities at 22 sites.

The FY12 Investigations account is funded at $104 million. The Budget includes four new studies: Englebright and Daguerre Point Dams (Yuba River) Fish Passage, CA; Cano Martin Pena, PR; the Chesapeake Bay Comprehensive Plan; and the Louisiana Coastal Area Comprehensive Study. Funding is also included for the Water Resources Priorities Study, a high-priority evaluation of the nation's vulnerability to inland and coastal flooding and of the effectiveness, efficiency, and accountability of existing programs and strategies.

Emergency Management is funded at $34 million in FY12, with $27 million in the FCCE account for preparedness and training to respond to floods, hurricanes, and other natural disasters, and $7 million in the O&M account. The FCCE funding includes Corps participation in an expansion of Silver Jackets interagency teams to every state to provide unified federal assistance in implementing flood risk management solutions.

Recreation is funded at $259 million in FY12, with $247 million in the O&M account and $12 million in the MR&T account. USACE is the nation's largest provider of federal recreation opportunities, and its recreation areas contribute to the success of the Administration's Great Outdoors Initiative.

But those first employees were not alone.

Urban feral cats roamed the 19th century stronghold, one of the best preserved War of 1812-era military fortresses in the United States. And while no one knows their exact number, stories passed down by employees over the years put the numbers of feral cats as high as 100.

A few employees would volunteer their time and resources to feed and look out for the cats; some cats were adopted by employees. But there was no formal program to manage and control their population.

That changed in 1992 when the district formed an all-volunteer Feral Cat Management Program. At that time there were 62 feral cats, including a few strays.

The FCMP is a trap/neuter/return program (TNR). Each cat is caught in a humane trap and taken to a veterinarian to be examined, neutered, inoculated and given any necessary treatment. The veterinarian clips or notches the cat's ear tip to indicate that the cat has been altered. The cat is then returned to Fort Norfolk to live its feral life.

The FCMP provides food, water and shelter as well as veterinary care, which includes all necessary vaccinations and testing and treatment for feline diseases. Norfolk District's program is modeled after Alley Cat Allies' TNR Program, a nonprofit national network that links caretakers and helps educate the public on the humane management of feral cat populations.

The FCMP is funded through the district's Corps Cat Fund, which consists solely of volunteer donations. The program has all but eliminated the conception and birth of new kittens and over time has significantly reduced the cat population. The eight cats that remain in the program live in a safe, healthy environment.

"The cats here are an integral part of the urban wildlife scene at Fort Norfolk, and they are beneficial to the environment," said Lane Killam, one of the original Norfolk District FCMP caretakers. "Fort Norfolk is located on the Elizabeth River, and the feral cats help control the rodent population. They are generally leery of humans and non-aggressive."

The eight feral cats at Fort Norfolk, with names like Yoda, Mackie, M.J., Mr. Blackie, Maxie, Honey, Bear and Prissy, have become somewhat social with their FCMP caretakers.

"I grew up on a farm with cats in a very cat-loving family," said Betty Waring, who has fed the ferals here since the 1980s. "It has been one of my greatest pleasures to take care of these wonderful animals over the years. When I arrive at work each morning, the cats run to greet me with their tails up high. Their love is unconditional, which matches that of our great group of caretakers here."

Each feral cat has its own unique personality and some are real characters, Killam said.

In 2001, Mackie won the Alley Cat Allies' Photo Contest, and her likeness was featured on a syndicated cartoon strip. And Bubba, who recently died, had a video posted on YouTube, "It's All About Bubba," which was produced by FCMP caretaker John H. Newton.

Sometimes stray or abandoned cats show up at Fort Norfolk, like one that the FCMP group found and named Jimmy Kat. Longtime caretaker Anita Bradshaw said caretakers bring cats like Jimmy Kat to the veterinarian for a health check, and then find them a loving home.

The Norfolk District caregivers found a new home for Jimmy Kat a few weeks before Christmas.

"I love each of these cats as though they were my own, and when we lose one, it hurts just as much," Bradshaw said. "I'm a true believer in our program. If a feral cat colony is managed correctly, the population can be controlled in a humane way."

During the hot and humid summer months when sun bathers line the white sandy beaches and stroll along the Virginia Beach boardwalk, built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers more than 20 years ago, Schulte douses himself with sunscreen, puts on his trademark straw hat, white cotton tank shirt and shorts, and spends the day going from oyster sanctuary to oyster sanctuary, measuring the size of oysters and gathering underwater imagery of the reefs built since 2004. In the winter, as swirling winds and temperatures dip to 30-degrees, the Midland, Pa. native is bundled up and on the water checking the reefs and thinking of innovative ways to naturally enhance the population of oysters.

Schulte, a marine biologist at the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, is turning a barren portion of the Great Wicomico and Lynnhaven Rivers into blossoming oyster reefs, teeming with healthy oysters.

But the shuck doesn't stop there: he has set his sights on the Painkatank River and its potential to become the next Wicomico.

The oyster population in the Chesapeake is estimated to be less than one percent of its size during the 19th century, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Over time, overfishing, pollution, destruction of habitat and, most recently, disease ravaged the oyster population.

Oysters are a key species for the bay's health because they act as a filter, improving water quality. Chesapeake's historic oyster population could filter the Bay's volume every three or four days. Today's oyster population would take more than a year to filter the same amount of water, according to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.

The filtration process is significant to the water and aquatic life – it consumes algae, clarifies the water, helps bay grasses thrive and reduces shoreline loss. Fish and crabs hide in the small crevices and holes created by the oysters and shells that make up the reef.

The Norfolk District became involved with native oyster restoration in 1999. The first two projects, in the lower Rappahannock River and the Tangier Sound, were designed to help the commercial oyster fishery. The project's mediocre success required the Corps to go back to the drawing board. The Corps' new strategy became geared toward ecological restoration: developing self-sustaining oyster populations on restored reefs.

With that in mind, Schulte and the U.S. Army Corps Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration Project Team set out restore the reefs and built them to mimic the historical high reef structure from the 1800's, Schulte said.

The vertical design worked, Schulte said. Previous reef construction required a thin shell layer a few inches thick on the bottom. The new blueprint called for a minimum reef height of 12 inches, simulating historic oyster reefs. The goal was to populate tributaries leading to the Chesapeake Bay with protected reefs. The hope then was for a process called recruitment.

During recruitment, oyster adults spawn on the reefs and release tiny larvae into the water. The larvae drift in the water for up to three weeks, looking for a new home. With the primitive eye and foot they develop near the end of their larval phase, they're looking for prime real estate: a hard object, preferably another oyster, to settle on.

"Once they 'set' the baby oyster loses its foot and eye, never to move again, transforming into a tiny version of what we see on our plates when we order oysters on the half-shell," Schulte said.

Creating larger oyster populations for water purification increases fishery stocks for watermen, which means more revenue for the approximately 1,800 full-time watermen left standing after the bay's decline.

Ken Smith, president of the Virginia Waterman's Association, said deterioration of the Chesapeake Bay's health took its toll on watermen. About 5,000 watermen used to work the bay, but when the tides changed, they were forced to find other work, said Smith.

"It was good living when I started, and in the mid 80's, that changed," he said. "I make half of what I used to bring home and the decline is a direct reflection of the health of the Chesapeake Bay … We stopped having fish in those areas; they were dead zones."

The Corps partnered with the VMRC and Virginia Institute of Marine Science to revive the fading oyster population and increase recruitment in Chesapeake Bay tributaries, and constructed the first Wicomico River reefs in 2004. Starting with the Wicomico reef habitat, Schulte and his team decided to focus on a tributary-by-tributary fashion, starting with small, tidally retentive systems most likely to provide oyster recruits for restored reef habitat. One of the goals of the Great Wicomico River oyster restoration project was to increase local recruitment, and thus, the population.

In just a few years, the team's efforts paid off. The adult oyster population on remnant habitats – former reef bases that were dormant and covered with silt and algae – were now home to baby oysters from protected reefs, and the oyster population had increased from 630,000 to 13.80 million by 2008. The adult oyster population on the restored habitat was 119.20 million in 2007 and was about the same in 2008 – in 2004, there was not a single mollusk on the habitat.

Schulte said the team was successful, and the Virginia Marine Resources Commission moved some of the Great Wicomico recruits, or "seed" oysters, to areas for later harvest, while leaving the sanctuaries alone to produce still more recruits in the future.

"The restored reefs are now performing better than we could have hoped," Schulte said. "The tides have changed – both for watermen and the recruitment of oysters,"

Smith, the 40-year waterman who has worked the northern neck of the Wicomico, Potomac and Rappahannock Rivers and tributaries, believed that if the bay was clean, nature would take care of the rest. For Smith, seeing is believing.

"Now there is grass growing there that we haven't seen in years …" Smith said about Glee Point at the northern neck of the Wicomico. "Oysters are piling up on the rip-rap, pilings, rocks along the shoreline – I attribute it to the recruitment from the Corps' reefs."

During a recent trip to the Lynnhaven, Schulte measured oysters six- to eight-inches long on protected reefs. The average oyster ranges from three- to-four inches. Oysters on the restored reefs in the Great Wicomico are measuring up to six-inches and longer after six years of reef growth, Schulte said. Disease killed some of the oysters, but many survived and new baby oysters, called "spat," have recruited to the reefs in large numbers. This should allow the reefs to continue to be a home for many millions of oysters, Schulte said.

"That's amazing and it shows us that it is only going to get better," he said.

The Corps protects thousands of oysters with aquaculture netting, which is part of an anti-predator experiment. These oysters and larger shell reefs built in 2007 and 2008 are thriving at several sites in the river. Early monitoring is showing some of the restored reefs are on a track similar to the older Great Wicomico high-relief reefs.

The findings from Wicomico, which have been published recently in the journal Science, indicate that the restoration project resulted in a 57-fold increase in the Great Wicomico oyster population and is currently the largest restored oyster reef network in the world. Adult oyster densities are averaging about 700 per square meter of reef, with about 300 young oysters, called "spat," adding up to about 1,000 oysters per square meter of high relief reefs. These densities have never before recorded in the modern-day Chesapeake Bay. The oysters are all from wild recruitment, not planted "spat-on-shell."

"This is the first time the Chesapeake Bay Program goal of a 10-fold increase in native oysters has been met in any location, and we exceeded it by almost six times," said Col. Andy Backus, commander of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which manages the project for the federal government.

"I have seen first-hand the positive ecological impact this project has had. We hope to increase the existing Lynnhaven River from fifty to sixty acres of reefs to one hundred acres and do additional plantings of spat-on-shell baby oysters on some of the restored reefs," Backus said.

The Corps, Lynnhaven River Now and the City of Virginia Beach, with the endorsement of the Commonwealth of Virginia, were instrumental in overlooking and continuing the efforts once the U.S. Army Corps Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration Project started, Schulte said.

Schulte and the U.S. Army Corps Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration Project Team received the Coastal America Partnership Award in 2009 for their innovative and successful ongoing efforts to restore and protect the coastal environment, specifically, the Native American Oyster, in the Lynnhaven River.

But this doesn't mean Schulte will spend a lot of time sitting idle - he can usually be found on the waters of the Great Wicomico, Lynnhaven and canvassing the Painkatank River as a potential site as research and solutions continue.

Did you know?

• The Chesapeake Bay watershed is approximately 64,000 square miles. The Lynnhaven basin is about 64 square miles and in many ways is a microcosm of the Chesapeake Bay. The watershed is heavily urbanized, and much of the original forested areas and a sizeable portion of the wetlands, which once lined the river, is now lost. In the 1890's, James Baylor, who surveyed all of Virginia's oyster grounds, called Baylor Grounds, delineated 986 acres of public oyster grounds in the Lynnhaven River, specifically in Broad Bay, Linkhorn Bay, Crystal Lake and Lynnhaven Bay.
• By the mid-1970s the natural oyster reefs in the Lynnhaven River were essentially gone except for a few scattered patches, less than one acre in size.
• All of the Lynnhaven River's waters were closed to shellfish harvest of any sort due to high bacteria levels in the water. However, the Corps considered the river a good candidate site based on several factors: the history of high oyster recruitment in the river, its once-extensive oyster beds and the high-density remnant oyster population where the Corps found more than 1,000 oysters per square meter of stone rip-rap along shorelines. The Corps estimated there were 10 million to 20 million oysters, scattered mostly on rip-rap and along marsh edges throughout the Lynnhaven River system, prior to the proposed Corps reefs. Some of the adults were observed at 5 to 7 inches in length, which indicated the wild Lynnhaven oyster had significant resistance to the diseases MSX and Dermo. Both diseases typically kill native oysters when they are 1 to 2.5 inches in length.
• The Corps first proposed the Lynnhaven River as a potential restoration site in 2003 and planning began in 2004. Several small reefs were built in the river prior to the planning, but due to their design and placement, had not done well. By consulting with physical oceanographers and using a hydrodynamic model, the Corps determined that the design of the prior reefs caused them to trap excessive amounts of sediment and their locations were not ideal for receiving or providing oyster larvae.
• The Corps used the hydrodynamic model to help place the Corps-built reefs in better locations. The Corps also found and used historic information about Baylor Grounds in the Lynnhaven River. The information was lost for many years after the Commonwealth of Virginia removed all Baylor, or public, oyster grounds managed by the state and surrendered them to private industry.
• The reefs were built in two stages during 2007 and 2008. The City of Virginia Beach provided funding for spat on shell: a hatchery bred wild Lynnhaven strain oysters, "set" the resulting larvae on shells in the hatchery and then planted on several Corps-built reefs identified as being "source reefs." These reefs, once mature oysters are on them, will provide oyster larvae to most areas throughout the Lynnhaven River system. This spat on shell amounted to more than 5,000 bushels of baby oysters, numbering more than 10 million planted oysters on the corps "source" reefs.
• Currently, 60 million to 90 million oysters live on Corps reefs. Many of these survived disease and grew to a large size, especially the City of Virginia Beach spat on shell, some of which are up to 6 inches long now. The Corps plans to construct more reefs and plant more spat on shell, increasing oyster recruitment throughout the river. The Corps is in the process of building about 40 more acres of reefs over the next few years and hopes to exceed 200 million oysters in the Lynnhaven River.

As water spills off roofs and impermeable pavement, what water doesn't seep into the exposed ground ends up in storm drains, and that can add up quickly: an inch of rain on Richmond is roughly 973 million gallons of water, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Effectively managing stormwater in a large, urban area such as the city of Richmond is a large-scale effort, and Norfolk District is partnering with Richmond to design and construct major improvements to one of its vital stormwater management systems – the Joseph Bryan Park Stormwater Management Project.

According to project officials in Richmond, and based on a 2009 Jordan Branch Watershed Study, sediments had entered and filled the ponds, reducing their hydraulic capacity and water quality benefits.

Managers must address numerous factors including the control of flooding and erosion; management of hazardous materials to prevent release of pollutants into the environment; and construction and maintenance of stormwater systems to remove contaminants before they pollute surface waters and groundwater resources. The Joseph Bryan Park Stormwater Management Project plays a role in this overarching effort.

"We are pleased to be working with the Norfolk District to utilize their extensive experience in flood control and water quality projects," Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones said. "This project will provide a benefit to city residents, park users and the Chesapeake Bay by improving the health of our water environment."

Joseph Bryan Park is a 262-acre public park located on the north side of Richmond. Three tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay watershed enter the park and empty into a series of two in-line stormwater management ponds. Jordan's Branch and Upham Brook creeks empty into Upper Young's Pond, while Princeton Creek runs into Lower Young's Pond. The system leads directly to Chickahominy River, which is a branch of the James River, one of the largest tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Section 510 Program of the Water Resources Development Act, addresses this problem and authorizes the Corps to work with Richmond.

The project design calls for dredging about 100,870 cubic yards of sediment from the ponds to increase their capacity. Additionally, the Corps will modify the lower outlet structure and construct three sediment forebays, one at each tributary, to collect trash and sediment before it enters the main lake.

According to Janet Cote, project team member and marine biologist with Norfolk District, the primary environmental benefit gained from this project is the "removal of dissolved nutrients and total suspended solids from stormwater before these materials enter the Chesapeake Bay watershed."

"The Chesapeake Bay's nonpoint source control program emphasizes reductions of controllable nonpoint sources, including runoff from urban and suburban lawns, roadways, and other developed areas. These runoffs account for about 60 percent of the harmful nitrogen entering the Chesapeake Bay," Cote said.

Project planners said that dredging the existing in-line pond system to expand the capacity of the permanent pool will also increase the efficiency of the settling treatment provided by the facility. Once improvements are completed, planners estimate that the stormwater management lakes will remove approximately 1,900 pounds of phosphorous and 5,500 pounds of nitrogen annually. In addition to the environmental benefits, the project will greatly improve long-term operations of the stormwater facility.

Over the years, Norfolk District has partnered with cities like Richmond, state and federal environmental agencies, and ecosystem-friendly civic groups to seek solutions and implement programs for restoring the health of the nation's largest estuary – the Chesapeake Bay.

Stretching across more than 64,000 square miles, the Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses parts of six states along the U.S. East Coast. With its many tributaries, the Chesapeake Bay watershed endures an array of assaults from the air, water and land. Chemical contaminants, air pollution, landscape changes, erosion and over-harvesting of fish and shellfish also stress the Bay and its wildlife. The watershed's worst problem is nutrient pollution, which fuels the growth of algae blooms that degrade water quality and negatively impact aquatic life.

Norfolk District has used the Section 510 Program of the Water Resources Development Act to implement a native oyster restoration project in the lower Rappahannock River. Currently, the Corps is pursuing a number of the other projects under the same program to enhance the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay through the reduction of sediment and dissolved nutrients and improvement of wastewater treatment facilities.

Watson will join the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, on Feb. 10 at 1:30 p.m., in the multipurpose room of Waterfield Building to celebrate Black History Month and the legacy and contributions to our nation by African Americans.

"African Americans and the Civil War" is the 2011 National Black History Month theme designated by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. The theme honors the efforts of people of African descent to destroy slavery and inaugurate universal freedom in the United States.

"Each year, as we recognize and participate in African American History Month and other national cultural observances, we increase our awareness of special groups in our society and foster mutual respect and understanding of our rich cultural diversity," said Gregory E. Headen, chief of Norfolk District's Equal Employment Office. "These observances also allow us to take a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a nation, and what challenges remain."

Watson is considered by many scholars as an authority on the African Diaspora, the willing and unwilling migration of millions of indigenous people from the African continent. He has served on several national advisory boards that focused on the complete interpretation of African American history.

According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, as the United States prepared for war in 1861, African-American slaves knew that a battle between the Union and Confederacy might bring freedom.

More than 200,000 free and enslaved blacks joined the effort to bring the Confederacy to its knees – they served as soldiers, nurses, spies and cooks, enduring inferior pay and treatment compared to their white counterparts.

Frederick Douglass, the famous abolitionist, drove efforts to allow black men to enlist in the Union forces.

"Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letters, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button, and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pockets, and there is no power on earth which can deny that he has earned the right to citizenship in the United States," Douglass said.

President Barack Obama paid homage to Douglass in his 2011 proclamation honoring African American History Month: "The great abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass once told us, 'If there is no struggle, there is no progress.' Progress in America has not come easily, but has resulted from the collective efforts of generations.

"…African Americans have strengthened our Nation by leading reforms, overcoming obstacles, and breaking down barriers," Obama wrote. "During National African American History Month, we celebrate the vast contributions of African Americans to our Nation's history and identity."

"I'm extremely proud of every employee at the district and of the work they perform daily," Col. Andrew Backus, district commander, said. "Each one provides exceptional service to the Commonwealth of Virginia and our nation."

The survey and award program identifies, recognizes and honors the best places of employment in Virginia, benefiting the state's economy, its work force and businesses. The Best Places to Work in Virginia is a list of 50 companies in three size categories. The Norfolk District ranked 14th in the large business category.

"Having recently won the distinction as Inside Business' Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads, I believe each and every employee should also take great pride in earning this recognition on a state-wide level," Backus said. "An additional noteworthy distinction associated with this announcement is that Norfolk District is the only federal government agency of the 50 companies identified as the best places to work in Virginia."

Companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements to be considered:

• Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity;
• Be a publicly or privately held business;
• Have a facility in the state of Virginia;
• Have at least 15 employees working in Virginia;
• Must be in business a minimum of one year.

"I've been here only a year, but I feel this is a warm, friendly environment where people genuinely love what they do and want each other to succeed," Danit Carrier-Tal, a management analyst for the Norfolk District, said. "I feel the projects I work on make a difference and are important to the community and the nation."

District employees are involved in more than 400 projects throughout Virginia. The projects range from the historic military construction effort at Fort Lee to flood risk management projects and environmental restoration efforts..

Carrier-Tal said district managers want people to believe in their work and that makes all the difference.

"A significant number of employees have worked here more than 30 years, even through better economic times" she said. "You can tell they're happy, too."

Organizations from across the state entered the two-part survey process for the Best Places to Work in Virginia. The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience. The combined scores determined the top organizations and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration, survey and analysis process and determined the final rankings.

"I know that the Norfolk District is the best place to work, not only for the missions we execute and our beautiful facilities, but mostly because of our employees – they are the best," Backus said. "They make the district the professional and friendly place that it is, and it is their passion, diversity and teamwork that make this district exceptional."

For more information on the Best Places to Work in Virginia program, visit www.BestPlacesToWorkVA.com

A waste water treatment plant in one of its towns, Dillwyn, required expansion, so county officials approached the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District with a request: help us complete the design and construction of the expansion.

Norfolk District, which provides assistance with water-related environmental infrastructure projects, responded with a project delivery team to meet the goals of the Dillwyn WWTP expansion: improve the quality of treated material released from the facility and provide additional storage capacity. The extra storage would contain the large volume of waste water produced during significant rain storms – peak flows as high as 150,000 gallons per day – eliminating instances when untreated sewage is released into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

"One significant way to restore the living resources of the Chesapeake Bay, such as oysters, blue crabs and submerged aquatic vegetation, is to improve water quality through the reduction of dissolved nutrients entering the watershed," said Janet Cote, team member and marine biologist with Norfolk District. "Expanding the WWTP will result in improved water quality of the James River by removing dissolved nutrients and sediment, which will ultimately improve the health of the Chesapeake Bay."

The Dillwyn WWTP serves the local town, the areas near the intersection of Routes 15 and 20, the industrial park, the high school and the middle school. The Dillwyn WWTP is currently permitted for 100,000 gallons per day and discharges a monthly average between 60,000 and 65,000 GPD. During rain, the plant has experienced peak flows as high as 150,000 gallons per day. After waste water is treated, the material is released into an unnamed tributary of Whispering Creek in the James River Basin, according to Buckingham County officials.

"Monitoring has shown that progress has been made in reducing the amount of phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay from nonpoint and municipal point sources, but work still needs to be done to reduce the amount of nitrogen and sediment loading released into the watershed," Cote said.

Overflows from combined sewers pose a serious threat to the James River, project planners said. During high water events, storm water creates high flows that are too great to be processed by the WWTP and excess flows run untreated into the river, carrying large quantities of raw sewage. During large rainfall events, some WWTPs contribute more fecal bacteria than from all other combined sources on the river. These large storm overflows also force the closure of oyster beds in the lower estuary segments to prevent fecal contamination.

Currently, nine tributaries to the James River, located in Albemarle and Buckingham counties, have impaired waters due to bacteriological contamination. If left unchecked, said district planners, these waters will fail to meet the minimum required Total Maximum Daily Load to sustain water quality, as prescribed by the nation's Clean Water Act. The expansion project will also help to achieve sustainable nutrient reduction goals.

Buckingham County sponsored the study, finalized in December 2009, which evaluated the expansion and upgrade of the Dillwyn WWTP. The upgrades recommended in the study included several retrofits, construction of structures and implementation of new technologies.

District project planners said the expansion will include the installation of sequencing batch reactors with tertiary filtration and an ultraviolet disinfection upgrade. The existing head works will be demolished and replaced with a new structure fitted with new grinding and screening equipment to protect downstream equipment and improve the quality of treated material. A second equalization tank will be constructed to meet the capacity requirements for the 200,000 gallons per day facility. Additionally, a new influent flow meter, in-plant pump station, automated solids dewatering system, fuel storage tank, and electrical control building will be built.

The improvements will provide nutrient removal capabilities necessary to meet new permit conditions, and provide an added barrier of regulatory compliance.

Over the years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, has partnered with counties like Buckingham, state and federal environmental agencies, and ecosystem-friendly civic groups to seek solutions and implement programs for restoring the health of the nation's largest estuary – the Chesapeake Bay.

Stretching across more than 64,000 square miles, the Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses parts of six states along the U.S. East Coast. With its many tributaries, the Chesapeake Bay watershed endures an array of assaults from the air, water and land. Chemical contaminants, air pollution, landscape changes, erosion and over-harvesting of fish and shellfish also stress the Bay and its wildlife. The watershed's worst problem is nutrient pollution, which fuels the growth of algae blooms that degrade water quality and negatively impact aquatic life.

Under Section 510 of the Water Resources Development Act, Norfolk District is addressing the bay's habitat protection and restoration, sediment pollution cleanup, restoration of tidal and non-tidal wetlands and native oyster restoration. Dillwyn's water-related environmental infrastructure project fell within the scope of the WRDA.

The needed repairs were identified in November 2010 during an annual inspection of the facilities at which time it was determined that the items could be addressed during the off-peak usage season.

"This will have little to no impact on the majority of boaters because typically February is one of our slowest months" said Joel Scussel, the Norfolk District's Dismal Swamp Canal project manager.

Four sections of steel, measuring four-feet-long each will be replaced during the shutdown. The steel supports, some of which have been in place since 1941, hold the gate motors in place and have deteriorated over time due to exposure to the elements.

"The steel is located under the control houses of each lock gate, very near the water so deterioration is to be expected," said Scussel.

Mariners traversing the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway during the shutdown will still be able to use the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal to reach their destinations to points north or south. Boaters can call the Great Bridge Lock at 757-547-3311 to check the current status of the canals.

Construction on the Dismal Swamp Canal, which was dug by hand, began in 1793 and was completed in 1802, according to the Dismal Swamp Canal Welcome Center. Today, the canal is a Historical Landmark in the National Register of Historic Places. Visit http://www.dismalswamp.com/ for more information on the Dismal Swamp Canal.

Local police said Batten did everything right — from keeping people from moving the victim's neck to positioning her car behind the accident. She even turned her tires to force her car away from the accident, in the event it was hit by an approaching car.

The incident planted an indelible seed in Batten's mind — one that grew into her deep desire to join the auxiliary police unit of Chesapeake, Va.

Batten wanted to see if she would enjoy the work, so she attended the Chesapeake Citizens' Police Academy. The academy teaches citizens about the police department and how it operates. Citizens ride along with officers during patrols, learn about specialty units like K-9 and SWAT, and are given the opportunity to fire a police-issued Heckler & Koch .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Batten made the big leap in 2008, when she enrolled in the auxiliary police academy. It's community service; there isn't some alternative motive, such as money or hidden incentives, she said. She does it for the pure joy of it, and unlike a full-time police officer, is unpaid.

The auxiliary units are a great asset to their cities, said local police. Through this unit's volunteer service, police departments are able to increase their manpower, while also cutting costs.

"I love it when I help someone, no matter what is going on in their life," said Batten. "I have to maintain my professional police demeanor while I'm in uniform, but when I get to talk about it, I get to grin knowing I've done a good job."

To become an auxiliary police officer, one must complete the same training as regular officers: defensive tactic training, which includes being pepper sprayed; weapons qualification; and offensive and defensive driving. The academy has the highest expectations for their cadets; they must score 100 percent on all tests. This is important because while enforcing the law decisions must be made confidently.

During her 26 weeks of academy training, Batten would pull her regular eight-hour shift at the Norfolk District, and then go to the academy at night for another seven hours of training. Even now, Batten has to juggle the stress that comes with patrolling the city.

"I see her getting tired after working , but she loves both jobs so much that I couldn't see her stopping anytime soon," said daughter Stormie Batten, who works here as a contracting file keeper. "My dad is a cop, too, and my mom was in the U.S. Navy, so it wasn't out of the blue when she decided to become an auxiliary police officer. Her personality fits the profile."

Batten's academy training has also benefitted her job at the Corps. In 2009, just after completing the academy, she deployed to Iraq for 10 months, working in Program Support. Her duties included: ensuring Iraqi engineers received on-post access; processing biometrics, which included retinal scanning and issuing ID cards; time keeping; and updating accident hazardous analysis. Her knowledge of security procedures proved invaluable.

Batten is required to work a minimum of 24 shift assignments annually, but she enjoys her work so much that she works about four shifts a month.

Auxiliary police officers like Batten come from all walks of life. They are professional engineers, retired police officers, naval commanders -- some even own companies. Batten is originally from Oakdale, N.Y., and Vancouver, Canada. After reenlisting in the Navy twice in the Aviation Electronics career field, she settled down in Chesapeake, Va., with husband Jessy Batten, Chesapeake police officer. They have three children: Shelby, Stormie and Josh.

Auxiliary police officers said they are driven by the spirit of volunteerism.

"It's volunteering, and it has given me opportunities that most college professors couldn't have had, like diving for evidence," said Ben Dobrin, auxiliary police officer and professor at Virginia Wesleyan College in Norfolk, Va. Dobrin and Batten attended the Chesapeake academy and have worked several shifts together.

Auxiliary police officers have the same authority, rights and responsibilities as their full-time counterparts. During her last shift, Batten accompanied her partner on domestic calls, traffic violations and an attempted suicide.

"We hardly ever get a 'thank you,' " said Batten. "When you do get that citizen affirmation for resolving a domestic violence issue or for providing someone directions, it's so heartfelt. It's really awesome!"

Batten said she never wants to face danger, but through her training and preparation, she is equipped with the skills necessary to enforce the law and protect society.

It's all about helping others for Batten, as she frequently recalls that day on the interstate in Long Island, N.Y. She could've kept driving past, but she didn't. She didn't expect anything in return and now as an auxiliary police officer of Chesapeake, Va., she still doesn't.

After clocking out from the Corps, Batten dons her police uniform, gear belt and bullet-proof vest. She is a volunteer police officer and very proud of it.

"I'm doing something to better the world we live in," Batten said. "That's my reward."

• If there is a severe storm, then power outages could occur. If you have a loss of power, it is recommended you stay in a place that has power and heat, such as a friend's home, hotel or local warming shelter.
• If you must stay home during power outages, plan now how you will stay warm. Choose a room that can be closed off and heated safely by something other than electricity.
• If you plan to use a fireplace or wood stove for heat, have a professional check it, especially if it has been a long time since the last cleaning. Residue can build up and cause fires.
• Portable generators and kerosene and propane heaters should be inspected and cleaned by professionals so they work safely. Proper ventilation is essential. Follow the manufacturer's directions when using.
• During power outages, don't use candles for light. Flashlights are much safer. Be sure to have extra batteries on hand. If you plan to use a candle until a flashlight can be found and used, be sure to place the candle on a plate or non-flammable surface. Keep candles away from flammable material and never leave a candle unattended and be sure to extinguish the flame before going to bed or leaving the room.
• Plug space heaters into wall outlets, not extension cords. Keep space heaters at least three feet from other objects. Never leave a space heater unattended, and turn it off before going to bed.
• Keep your automobile gas tank full during the winter. It's always best to stay off roads during winter storms. Most accidents occur within the first two hours after a storm starts. If you must drive, know the road conditions before you go. Call 511 or go to www.511Virginia.org for around-the-clock travel information. Also, if you are going to drive in a winter storm, be sure to tell someone your destination and the routes you are going to take to get there.

It's essential that you and your family have a winter emergency plan. Here's why: If your family can't return home because of severe weather or closed roads, you need to decide ahead of time on meeting places away from your neighborhood. You also need an out-of-town relative or friend to be your family's point of contact for emergency communications.

Learn more about making a plan for winter weather and all emergencies at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.

On Dec. 22, 2010, the state-led team, co-chaired by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, signed the Virginia charter during a ceremony in Richmond, Va.

"I am very excited about the signing of the Virginia Silver Jackets charter," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander. "The collaborative approach among federal, state and local agencies will better prepare us all for floods and other potential disasters. This is what good government looks like -- agencies working closely together toward the common purpose of serving the public."

Signatories present included members from Norfolk District, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service and U.S. Geological Survey. After the signing ceremony, the charter was forwarded for signatures from members of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Region III, and Corps district commanders in Baltimore, Md., Wilmington, N.C., Nashville Tenn., and Huntington, West Va.

The name Silver Jackets is symbolic. During an emergency response, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, team members are clad in red and FEMA representatives don blue, allowing each agency to be easily identified. Silver, however, represents a neutral color, not associated with an agency, but rather a goal: a unified federal response to flood risk management.

"A charter is helpful in formulating team focus," said Michelle Hamor, Silver Jackets co-chairperson and certified floodplain manager here. "The charter also provides a wonderful opportunity for each represented agency to show their commitment. A team is only successful if the agencies truly support it. I continue to be humbled by the passion and support of the team members and their representative agencies," she added.

While a charter can help a team focus and build team identity, it is not absolutely necessary to achieve the goals of Silver Jackets. Prior to the signing of the Virginia charter, for example, the Virginia Silver Jackets team has been active holding regular meetings. At the 2010 Flood Risk Management Workshop in St. Paul, Minn., the team also held its first small-group meeting. The meeting included representatives from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, all five USACE districts with jurisdiction within the Commonwealth of Virginia, and FEMA, Region III.

The team also developed an action plan, hosted an Invitational Kick-Off WebEx for potential core team members and other interested parties, established an active team within Virginia, hosted a face-to-face meeting, published articles in the Virginia Management Association and Virginia Department of Emergency Management newsletters, and conducted a field visit to Giles County, Va., to discuss the county's recent flash-flooding issues.

Giles County was one of two counties greatly impacted by a rain event in southeast West Virginia and western Virginia in mid-March 2010. The area experienced a near-record snowpack which, thanks to the warmer temperatures, began to melt and saturate the ground. Beginning on the evening of March 12 and continuing through the morning hours the next day, a storm system contributed two- to three inches of rain to the already saturated ground. The precipitation could only run-off the hilly terrain, quickly overwhelming creeks and rivers, causing flash flooding. One such creek, Wolf Creek, which begins in Bland County and winds through Giles County until its confluence with the New River at the town of Narrows had significant flooding. The flooding measured its third highest discharge, nearing one-percent annual chance flood levels, according to the National Weather Service, Weather Forecast Office in Blacksburg, Va.

In April 2010, the Giles County administrator requested assistance from the Commonwealth of Virginia to install additional rain and stream gauges on three creeks, including Wolf Creek. While Wolf Creek is currently gauged, the gauge is located near the town of Narrows, and provides more information for water flowing into the New River than warning for the town. A new stream gauge has been proposed further upstream to provide additional warning time and capture as much of the flow as possible, allowing the town to respond accordingly.

The Virginia Silver Jackets team also met with Chris McKlarney, Giles County administrator, and toured impacted areas. The Silver Jackets discussed alternatives and developed a draft action plan using available programs. The goal of the plan is to address the needs of the community and to explore other mitigation opportunities to reduce flooding risk. The Virginia Silver Jackets are currently in the process of providing a response to Giles County.

You know her best for her roles as Harriet DeLong on the television drama, "In the Heat of the Night," opposite the late Carroll O'Connor, and as Liz McIntyre on the ground-breaking series from the 70's "Room 222". Ms. Nicholas has guest starred on numerous other television shows and appeared in films with comedian and author Bill Cosby and academy award-winning actor Sidney Poitier before pursuing her dream of being a writer. Along the way, she received two Golden Globe nominations, two Los Angeles Emmy Awards, three NAACP Image Awards, and has been honored by Morgan State University and Harvard University, where she has performed.

Her first novel, "Freshwater Road", is the coming-of-age story of Celeste Tyree, set against the sprawling backdrop of America's civil rights movement, specifically "Freedom Summer" in Mississippi. The novel draws heavily on Nicholas' personal experiences during the civil rights movement.

Dr. King's perpetual national holiday theme, in keeping with his enduring legacy of American non-violent activism, is "Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!"

On Nov. 3, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill establishing the third Monday of every January as the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. National Holiday, which began in 1986. However, the effort to make Dr. King's birthday a federal holiday began 15 years earlier, four days after his assassination.

Those events are full of intrigue. Read "The Making of the King Holiday: A Chronology" at Related Links for a detailed historic account.

The IRS is taking this step because of the continued growth in electronic filing and the availability of free options to taxpayers, as well as to help reduce costs.

The IRS mailed postcards to individuals who filed paper returns last year and did not use a tax preparer or tax software. The postcard provides information on how to get the tax forms and instructions they need for filing their tax year 2010 return.

Through the years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District has participated in the IRS Tax Forms Outlet Program, or TFOP, making forms and instruction material available for employees here through its library services.

The district library will continue to provide:

• Publication 1132 (Reproducible Copies of Federal Tax Forms and Instructions)
• 1040s
• Schedules A, B, C and D (Itemized Deductions, Capital Gains and Losses, etc.)

In addition, there are numerous options available for employees to obtain tax products as well as free tax preparation and assistance in filing their tax returns:

• Download forms and instructions online at: <http://www.irs.gov/app/picklist/list/formsInstructions.html>.
• Visit an IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center at: <http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/index.html>, participating libraries and U. S. post offices.
• Individuals making $49,000 or less can use the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance <http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html> program for tax-free preparation and, in many cases, free electronic filing.
• Individuals aged 60 and older can take advantage of free tax counseling and basic income tax preparation through Tax Counseling for the Elderly at: <http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=107626,00.html>.
• IRS Free File provides options for free brand-name tax software or online fillable forms, plus free electronic filing. For more information, visit IRS Free File at: <http://www.irs.gov/efile/article/0,,id=118986,00.html>.

February filing for many taxpayers

In related news, following last month's tax law changes the Internal Revenue Service announced that the upcoming tax season will start on time for most people, but taxpayers affected by three recently reinstated deductions need to wait until mid- to late February to file their individual tax returns.

The agency said that it would not be ready to process returns carrying itemized deductions, because it has to reprogram its processing systems following the passage of the big tax bill at the end of 2010.

Tax filing deadline extension

The Internal Revenue Service also announced Jan. 4, that taxpayers will have until April 18, 2011, to file their 2010 returns and pay their tax bills because of a holiday on April 15.

April 15 is Emancipation Day, a holiday observed in the District of Columbia. Taxpayers who file extensions will have until Oct. 17, 2011, to file their 2010 tax returns.

For more information on the district tax forms program, stop by the district library. For more information on the 2010 tax year preparation, visit: www.irs.gov.

• Who is our emergency point of contact? Choose an out-of-town friend or relative to be your contact. During emergencies, it's often easier to make long distance calls. An out-of-town person can help communicate among separated family members.
• Where are our meeting places? In case you can't return home, choose a place to meet in your neighborhood and another place outside your neighborhood if you can't get there. Your neighborhood meeting place may be a friend's house on the next street. A meeting place outside your neighborhood may be a nearby church, store or another friend's home.
• Do our schools have emergency plans? If you are a parent, ask your school and daycare provider about their emergency plans. Find out how they will communicate with families during a crisis. Ask if they are prepared to stay in school, if necessary, and where they plan to go if they must leave.

Winter has barely begun, but it has brought frigid temperatures to Virginia. Here's what you should know about staying safe and about being prepared for winter emergencies:

• If power goes out and you have no heat: You'll need blankets or sleeping bags for warmth in as few as four hours after power is out, depending on your home's insulation. Dress in several layers of loose-fitting, lightweight clothing, and wear a hat and mittens.
• If you use kerosene or propane heaters: These should be used with much caution. The room must be ventilated by opening a window. Keep heaters at least three feet away from flammable objects such as curtains, blankets and furniture. Place heaters on a hard surface, not on carpet. Refuel them outdoors after they have cooled.
• If there is a power outage and you need information: Be sure you have a battery-powered radio with extra batteries. Get one with a weather radio band so you can hear reports from the National Weather Service and your local radio stations. Find these at electronics and sporting goods stores, department stores, from catalogs and on-line.
• If you can't get out, you'll need supplies: Stock at least a three-day supply of food that doesn't need refrigeration or electricity to prepare. You may also need water – three gallons per person will last three days. Be sure to have flashlights and extra batteries on hand. Don't use candles during power outages.
• If you must drive during a winter storm: Most traffic crashes happen within two hours after a storm starts. Try to stay off the road to give snowplows time and space to work. Wait until daylight to drive so sunlight can warm the roads. Get road conditions by calling 511 or go to www.511Virginia.org . Buckle up every time you drive – it's the law.

For more information about preparing for winter weather and other emergencies, go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov .

The Achievement Award recognizes the accomplishments of women who have been successful in their businesses and careers, who have made a significant impact in the business community, and who serve as an inspiration to others.

Benson, one of eight members on the district's executive/corporate board, is profiled in a special issue of Inside Business, along with the other community honorees.

"I'm honored to have been selected for such an award," said Benson. "I believe in being a mentor and an example for women in the workforce. Working hard to be successful and also helping others achieve success in their businesses and careers, is critical. To be recognized and awarded for it is very humbling."

"Benson has made a significant impact to our organization as our first mission support division chief," said Col. Andrew W. Backus, Norfolk District commander. "In this capacity, Ava is responsible for the overall support to the district's 450-employee workforce as it executes its primary missions of engineering, construction and water resources management for the nation and the Commonwealth of Virginia."

Benson's duties include human resources support to the district's workforce, management of both historic and working facilities here that recently underwent a $7.1 million renovation, and all contracting, information technology, logistics and security management support.

"Because Ava's position is new, she has had to innovate and devise processes that provide both support to the district and synergy among several departments. She has hired employees and has begun to mentor and develop them to shape her division. Additionally, she assumed a chair on the district's board of directors and has been a compelling voice in the corporate governance of the organization. She is clearly a role model for all of our employees," Backus added.

Benson has served the federal government for nearly 30 years of combined service with the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Army Corps of Engineers. Before her current assignment as mission support manager, Benson served as chief, resource analysis branch in the district's resource management office. She has served as the Norfolk District manpower officer and a program/project manager in various district and regional special assignments, including the Defense Department's Competitive Sourcing Program.

Mark Camsky, chief of the district's resource management office, served as Benson's supervisor prior to her promotion. Her leadership and influence on the district is best exemplified by her tremendous work ethic, willingness to mentor subordinates and her ability to get the absolute best from her staff, he said.

"Benson is the regional 'go to person' for management, manpower, budget and internal control issues, and is also a recognized national Corps asset," said Camsky. "She is often called upon to train others in her leadership techniques and was recruited as an instructor for the Corps-wide budget training Prospect course. Benson is a take-charge leader who makes positive things happen, regardless of the assignment."

Alicia Farrow, a civil engineering-local intern in the district's operations branch, has been mentored by Benson since 2008. She credits Benson for helping her to understand Corps operations and for displaying a sincere interest in her professional career and personal life.

"Mrs. Benson has always been there for me, always interested in hearing my plans for the future, and always encouraging me to strive for nothing but the best," said Farrow. "During many of our conversations, I learned that she, too, started as a Corps intern. So I knew she could really relate to me. She's a great role model. Just think: She has gone from an intern to a division chief and a member of the district's executive/corporate board."

A graduate of Norfolk State University, Benson has completed the Department of Army Intern program and the USDA Leadership Development Graduate School. She is also a member of the American Society of Military Comptrollers, Federally Employed Women, Parent Teachers Association and a lay leader in her church ministry.

Benson's advice to women in the workforce: "Strive to become invaluable to whatever organization you work in. Maintain your integrity, learn and grow, assume tough assignments, and help someone else along the way."

"I grew into a very handsome young kitty, if I may say so myself. Life was good. I was loved and I was very happy. In return, I tried my very best to be a good feline; I always tried to use my litter box, I ate all my food, I only played with my own toys and I never sharpened my claws on the furniture.

"One day, something happened that made me very sad. My beloved people stopped loving me. Apparently, they decided that I was too much of a bother to care for anymore, so they put me in a box with a door on it and drove me far away from home. Eventually they stopped the car and took the box out. Boy was I scared! My heart raced out of control and I guess I started to cry, at least as much as a cat can.

"The door on that unbearable box suddenly opened and I was dumped out onto the street. I was so frightened, I just ran away from them and that mean box. "I ran and ran, nearly out of my mind, until I found myself at the entrance to Fort Norfolk, home of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District. "To my joy and amazement, Fort Norfolk was also home to other cats. I said to myself, 'Jimmy, you've hit the cat lottery!'

"Gradually, I began to realize that I was all alone. The other cats were feral, and they didn't take a liking to me.

"I decided I had to try and find my own way here in this new place. Other humans, nice people who work here, put food out every day for the other cats. They also fed me. Over time, we gained each other's confidence and became good friends. They touched me gently and rubbed me just like "my people" used to do. I finally began to trust people again and longed for the day when I had another home and new people to love.

"My Christmas wish came true not too long ago, as the kind cat caregivers here found me a new home and new people to love and care for me.

Thanks to all the great people here at Fort Norfolk, who have fed me, cared for me and offered up the occasional head rub. I will miss all of you, but I now have a new home, with my very own people -- just in time for Christmas. Meow!"

This is a true success story for the Norfolk District Feral Cat Management Program, or FCMP. If a cat is abandoned and found on the premises it is taken to a veterinarian for a health check. The next step is to find a loving home for the cat.

The district's FCMP has been in operation since 1996, and is led by Lane Killam, district librarian. We operate exclusively from monetary donations to feed and care for the cats. Similar programs nationwide have demonstrated the ability to reduce the number of unwanted cats, while maintaining the existing cats in a safe, humane and healthy environment.

Employees interested in participating in the program can contact Betty Grey Waring, Lane Killam, Anita Bradshaw, Sherri Jefferies or Elizabeth Morton.

The Corpsaleers, the district's chorus, where featured, and Col. Andrew W. Backus, Norfolk District commander, was on hand to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season.

The 7-foot high Christmas tree, adorned with more than 100 angel tree tags is the centerpiece of the lobby in the Waterfield Building. The angel tree tags are for Norfolk's Saint Mary's Home for Disabled Children. Contributors remove one or more tags from the tree and purchase gifts for the child described on each tag.

The Corpsaleers, along with the district commander, Santa Paul and other Corps employees, will deliver the Angel Tree gifts Dec. 21. The Corpsaleers will also perform a medley of holiday songs for the children.

The deadline for donating a gift is Dec. 17. For more information, contact Ashley Reynolds, Norfolk District welfare council president, at 201- 7838 or email at Ashley.R.Reynolds@usace.army.mil.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• CERCLA (superfund) process
• Risk management
• Public affairs update

The quarterly Restoration Advisory Board, or RAB, meetings serve as a public forum for discussing US Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the former Tidewater Community College Portsmouth campus. At the meetings FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Community members are also encouraged to attend and ask questions during the meeting.

In 1999, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, placed FNOD on its National Priorities List. In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input to project team members of USACE on cleanup plans and efforts at the site. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including members of the community, local businesses, local and state officials, Tidewater Community College, TCC Real Estate Foundation, Inc., and FNOD interagency project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

All FNOD quarterly meetings and applications for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District projects branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Sher Zaman of the USACE Baltimore District provides overall project and funding oversight and can be reached at (410) 962-3134, or by email: Sher.Zaman@usace.army.mil. Daily FNOD activities are managed by Jeff Zoeckler of the USACE Norfolk District. He can be reached at (757) 201-7726.

More than 130 entries were received nationwide for the 2010 Project Achievement Award program, and the final 15 winners were announced during the Association's Industry Recognition Banquet Oct. 5 at the National Conference and Trade Show in San Diego, Calif.

"This award is a testament to the outstanding partnership enjoyed at all levels of this massive and complex program. Well-deserved congratulations to all of our customers, the Corps' program manager, project managers, resident engineers, quality assurance representatives, administrative support team, and all the design and construction contractors, large and small," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander.

Since 1999 these awards have been presented to projects that exemplify the contributions of professional construction and program management to the successful completion of a challenging project or program. The Project Achievement awards are grouped into buildings and infrastructure, new construction and renovation across several budget-size ranges, as well as program management honors for buildings and infrastructure and an international award.

Fort Lee's Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, Phase 1 construction included 11 projects and 22 new facilities. Work included the demolition and clearing of 330 acres with construction of roads, gas lines and a flyover bridge. New facilities included the multifunctional Sustainment Center of Excellence headquarters building, the Army Logistics University, equipped to train 40,000 students annually, five new high-bay facilities for hands-on training, dining facility, three new barracks that house up to 2,700 Soldiers, and 12 other administrative, education and training facilities.

As cited in the nomination packet: In completing this large government program, there was great potential for serious delays, cost overruns and claims. Yet there were none. This extraordinarily complex and accelerated program finished on time, $5 million under the $667 million budget, with no litigation. It is a marvelous example of technical innovation and collaboration among the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, and two private sector program and construction management companies – MOCA Systems and URS Corp.

"Congratulations to our standout projects. The number and quality of projects that were submitted this year sets the bar very high for what is expected to yield a successful project," concurred Judges Mark Ballard, PE, and Brian Koches, CCM.

CMAA is North America's only organization dedicated exclusively to the interests of the professional construction and program management industry. On behalf of its 27 regional chapters and more than 6,300 public and private organizations and individuals throughout the nation, CMAA promotes professionalism in the Construction Management industry and provides resources, advocacy, professional development, certification, and business opportunities to its members. CMAA's national headquarters is located in McLean, Va. The Association's Web site is www.cmaanet.org.

Chief Lynette Allston, a wife and mother of two sons, a business woman and the elected chief of the Nottoway Indian Tribe of Southampton County, Va., will discuss her tribe's origin and display artifacts representing its rich cultural heritage here in the multipurpose room of the Waterfield Building.

Throughout November, National Native American Heritage Month, with its theme: "Life is Sacred – Celebrate Healthy Native Communities," encourages all Americans to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of this country's original inhabitants, explorers and settlers.

"For millennia before Europeans settled in North America, the indigenous peoples of this continent flourished with vibrant cultures and were the original stewards of the land. From generation to generation, they handed down invaluable cultural knowledge and rich traditions, which continue to thrive in Native American communities across our country today. During National Native American Heritage Month, we honor and celebrate their importance to our great nation and our world." -- Excerpt of National Native American Heritage Month Proclamation by President Barack Obama

National Native American Heritage Month began at the turn of the century as an effort to gain a day of recognition for the significant contributions the first Americans made to the establishment and growth of the United States.

One of the very proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y.

He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the "First Americans," and for three years they adopted such a day.

In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kan., formally approved a plan and directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation Sept. 28, 1915, declaring the second Saturday of each May, as an American Indian Day, and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.

On the second Saturday in May 1916, the governor of New York declared the first American Indian Day. Several states followed with a celebration on the fourth Friday in September. Other states designated Columbus Day as Native American Day.

In 1990, President George H. W. Bush Sr. approved a congressional joint resolution designating November as "National Native American Heritage Month."

American presidents have issued similar proclamations each year since 1994.

Millions of us suffered through power outages. Snowplow drivers worked around the clock to get roads open. School systems shut down for days. Sadly, 14 Virginians lost their lives due to last winter's storms.

Many communities set records for the number of days with at least one inch of snow on the ground. And it could happen again this year.

Winter Preparedness Week – set for Dec. 5-11 – is the time to get ready for possible bad weather. All it takes is one heavy snow that sticks around for several days or an ice storm that knocks out power to remind us that being prepared ahead of time just makes sense.

• Make a plan. Decide on a meeting place outside of your neighborhood if your family is separated and cannot return home because of closed roads. Choose an out-of-town relative or friend to be your family's point of contact for emergency communications. With your family, write down your emergency plan – get a free worksheet at www.ReadyVirginia.gov.
  
• Get a kit. Here are basic supplies for winter weather: three days' food; three days' water (a gallon per person per day); a battery-powered and/or hand-crank radio with extra batteries; and your written family emergency plan. After you have these essential supplies, add a first aid kit, medications if needed, blankets and warm clothing, supplies for special member of your household, and pet items.
  
• Stay informed. Before, during and after a winter storm, you should listen to local media for information and instructions from emergency officials. Be aware of winter storm watches and warnings and road conditions. You can get road condition information 24-hours-a-day by calling 511 or checking www.511Virginia.org.
  

The Norfolk District launched its new employee automated notification system May 20, that's aimed at improving employee communications during hazardous weather and emergency situations affecting the district. To date employees here have overwhelmingly approved of the new employee emergency notification system.

If you haven't signed up to receive your employee automated emergency notification, log onto http://naointra.usace.army.mil/sites/EmployeeNotificationForm/default.aspx.

Finally, go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov and print out an emergency supply checklist and a family emergency plan. It's time to get ready for winter weather – now!

Aerial spraying will occur in areas north of state Route 164.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. of Mechanicsville, Va. will conduct aerial spraying between the hours of 4 and 7 p.m. Oct. 19, weather permitting.

The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft to spray Trumpet EC, a formulation of Dibrom to target flying adult mosquitoes. The plane will conduct low-flying spray operations in the area.

Beekeepers in the affected areas should keep bees covered during the spraying operations and people with known allergic reactions should stay indoors.

If conditions don't allow spraying Oct. 19, the inclement weather date is Oct. 20.

Updates for the aerial mosquito spraying will be available on the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline, 393-8666, after 11 a.m. Oct. 18.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 500 acres at CIDMMA and 50 acres of wetlands in Portsmouth Monday, October 4, weather permitting.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located in north Churchland over Federal and city property.

The treatment consists of a granular mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying October 4, the inclement weather date is Tuesday, October 5.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 500 acres at CIDMMA and 50 acres of wetlands in Portsmouth Friday, Oct. 1, weather permitting.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located in north Churchland over Federal and city property.

The treatment consists of a granular mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying Oct. 1, the inclement weather date is Saturday, Oct. 2.

Call the Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spraying operations.

This marks the second year the district participated in the university's military appreciation day.

"It brings attention to the Norfolk District and helps us recruit perspective employees," said Gregg Headen, the district's equal employment opportunity manager. "We are utilizing our partnership with the university to bring in new talent at the district."

Kimberly Robinson, a secretary in the district's contracting office, agrees with Headen and volunteered to give up a portion of her Saturday to help promote the district, which is also this year's winner by Inside Business as "The Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads."

"We need to work towards getting more diversity, we need young smart people to come to the Army Corps of Engineers, and that's why we are here," said Robinson.

Having an organization like the Norfolk District attend pre-game events is considered mutually beneficial to Hampton University organizers.

"It makes it easier for students to speak with and interact on a face to face basis so having the Norfolk District here presents a wonderful opportunity for our students," said Evelyn Oakley, the assistant vice president for development at Hampton University.

For Headen, the event is a good launching point for the district to expand and go after additional minority talent in the area.

"We are trying to extend into Norfolk State University and develop partnerships with Fort Lee and Fort Eustis in the future to help us reach our goals in hiring minorities," said Headen.

A family of barn owls -- mom, dad and three babies -- has taken up residence inside hollow steel tubing, causing construction workers to work around and modify their construction plans.

When the owls first appeared on the construction site, project managers looked into possibly moving them, allowing the work to continue as planned.

The birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; therefore, you need a permit to move a bird away from its natural setting, especially during the nesting season, said Thomas Olexa, a wildlife biologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Armed with that knowledge and seeing that the location of the nest would not pose an issue for construction workers, the Corps contractor Blue Ridge General came up with an alternative plan.

The project manager with the contractor said, "Hey, it is not going to interfere with our work, we will go ahead and work around them until they fledge and leave the nesting site," said Olexa.

According to Olexa, the average nesting period lasts five to eight weeks, and even though work has continued, those overseeing the project site believe the visitors will pack their bags soon and vacate their lodging quarters.

"We are about five weeks into (the nesting season) now so we are hoping that in two- to three- weeks they will be gone," said Kim Wilhelm, a construction representative for the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who is managing the military construction project.

Once the owls have vacated the building, contractors will finish the work in the area the birds took up residence.

"We'll have to go back and remobilize to fill in the hole, but Blue Ridge General has been very careful to work around the situation," said Wilhelm.

Biologists say this type work is a testament to how man and nature can work together.

"It's a great success story; this is a good example of being a steward of the environment," said Olexa.

Those working on the project say they are going to be gracious hosts in another way as well.

"We're not going to make them pay a bill," said a smiling Wilhelm.

Since 1854, Virginia's State Fair has featured the finest exhibits and shows, toe-tapping music, fine arts and crafts, animals and agriculture, blue-ribbon competitions and more.

With the fair's theme, "Green Space," Norfolk District's exhibit will include its updated command display featuring a visual composite of the district's diverse missions. The district exhibit will also feature banners depicting the Corps' regulatory, civil and military jurisdiction boundaries within the Commonwealth of Virginia, along with a new, visually-appealing recruiting banner and Social Media poster. Handouts include district project brochures, school-age, eco-friendly coloring books and various district branding items displaying the Corps logo, website and Facebook addresses.

According to fair organizers, due to significant coverage regarding environmental issues in the media and in our school educational programs, the public is even more interested in seeing what business, industry and non-profit organizations are researching, developing, or implementing to improve the quality of our environment.

District experts will also be available each day to answer questions and explain the Corps' mission, as well as offer environmental solutions to protect our natural resources.

Norfolk District has a unique opportunity to educate up to 600,000 area citizens on its goals, functions and missions, especially those programs and initiatives that protect and restore the Commonwealth's environment as well as advance our nation's economy, said officials here.

Luis A. Rivera, an educator and former TV news reporter, is the featured guest speaker.

Hispanic American Heritage Month, Sept. 15 through Oct. 15, with its theme, "Heritage, Diversity, Integrity and Honor," recognizes the contributions of Hispanic Americans to the United States, as well as a celebration of Hispanic heritage and culture.

The observation started as Hispanic Heritage Week in 1968, under President Lyndon B. Johnson. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the celebration to cover a 30-day period.

September 15 is the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Each country declared its independence in 1821. In addition, Mexico, Chile and Belize celebrate their independence on Sept. 16, 18 and 21, respectively.

The term Hispanic, as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, refers to Spanish-speaking people in the United States of any race. The estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2009, was 48.4 million, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or race minority. Hispanics constituted 16 percent of the nation's total population. In addition, there are approximately 4 million residents of Puerto Rico, a Caribbean U.S. territory.

The lock operating hours are being reduced from four per day to two per day due to limited rainfall and subsequent low water levels in Lake Drummond and the Dismal Swamp. Currently, the DSC controlling depth is six feet.

This action is being taken in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to conserve the available water supply in the Great Dismal Swamp Wildlife Refuge. The restriction is expected to be temporary until sufficient rain falls in the Lake Drummond watershed to replenish the swamp.

Vessels unable to comply with the reduced schedule can transit the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, through the Great Bridge Lock in Chesapeake. This canal is open 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Lock operators will monitor Channel 13.

Speaking about the declaration, Governor McDonnell noted, "The current forecast has Hurricane Earl passing east of Virginia later this week. However, a change in the storm's path could bring hazardous weather conditions to eastern Virginia. This declaration is a precautionary move which will allow state agencies to be ready just in case resources are needed."

In declaring a state of emergency, the governor authorizes state agencies to identify and position resources and manpower for quick response anywhere they are needed in Virginia. In anticipation of this weather system:

• The Virginia Emergency Operations Center is coordinating the state's preparation for the storm at Increased Readiness condition with increased staffing.
• The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is holding conference calls with the National Weather Service, local governments and state agencies.
• The Virginia Department of Transportation is making sure storm drains are clear in the Hampton Roads region.
• The Virginia National Guard is preparing for possible post-storm response in the Hampton Roads region and the Adjutant General is now authorized to call up those resources he thinks are necessary to ensure it can fulfill its mission in the event the storm impacts Virginia.
• The Virginia Department of Social Services and Virginia Department of Health are on standby and prepared to open state-managed shelters if those are necessary.

Virginians, especially those in Hampton Roads or travelling to the coast, should pay close attention to local weather forecasts. Also, they should have an emergency plan in case the storm changes its forecasted path. A slight westward movement in the track of the storm will increase the risk of dangerous weather in eastern Virginia. We ask Virginians to remain vigilant. In order to be prepared, all citizens should ensure that they stock up on supplies.

More information about hurricane preparedness is available at www.ReadyVirginia.gov and www.ListoVirginia.gov . Online videos that explain storm surge, lane reversal and evacuation routes are at http://www.youtube.com/vaemergency (captions are available)

Thanks to a partnership between the Norfolk District and the City of Chesapeake, and funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, nearly one-acre parcel of land has returned to its natural, historical state.

"Ultimately, what we are trying to accomplish is taking a piece at a time and restoring this river shoreline system to some level of what it was in the historical past," said Craig Seltzer, the Norfolk District's technical team leader for the project.

Since World War II, development along the Elizabeth River has taken a toll on wetlands, as natural sites became dumping grounds for construction debris, were paved over or replaced by retaining walls.

"Before there were a lot of environmental regulations and laws in place regulating activities in wetlands a lot of dumping activity occurred in most of the river basins throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed," said Seltzer.

Now, a concerted effort is underway to restore small pockets of wetlands such as the siteat Scuffletown Creek to help bring back a healthy, thriving river basin.

"Every pocket that can be brought back to this urban environment is really critical," said Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, executive director of the Elizabeth River Project, a non-profit organization focused on restoring the environmental quality of the Elizabeth River. "If you look around at the shoreline you pretty much see a hardened shore, so an acre is a big area to restore for wetlands,"

As the restored wetlands mature, they'll provide a natural habitat in an otherwise urban environment.

"They provide nursery areas for a lot of our shellfish and finfish, Seltzer said. "These nurseries provide refuge and food – an environment where the animals can develop defense mechanisms and become reproducing adults," said Seltzer

Though the long term impacts of the restored wetlands won't be noticed for a couple of years, citizens frequenting the area will notice an immediate change.

"Instead of rebar and a bunch of concrete exposed on the shoreline and perhaps the unsightliness of invasive scrub vegetation growing there before, citizens will see a naturalized shoreline instead of something that looks industrial or commercial," said David Mergen, an environmental scientist with the City of Chesapeake's Public Works Department.

Aesthetics aside, the Scuffletown Creek project marks the completion of the first of several environmental restoration initiatives in the Elizabeth River Basin by the Norfolk District in partnership with the Commonwealth of Virginia and the Cities of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Virginia Beach.

With this project complete focus shifts to the other environmental restoration initiatives that comprehensively will help to bring back one of the Chesapeake Bay's most polluted waterways.

"Anywhere you can find the landowners, the funders, the scientists and the engineers getting together to bring back healthy wetlands is a significant achievement and that's so much better for the health of the river," said Jackson.

Since hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast five years ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has made significant progress on New Orleans' Hurricane and Storm Damage Risk Reduction System, or HSDRRS. In collaboration with the State of Louisiana, levee authorities, local governments, academia, industry and the public, the work continues at a rapid pace and the Corps remains committed to providing 100-year perimeter protection to the greater New Orleans area by June 1, 2011. Over 276 contracts have been awarded and over $9 billion obligated for the program. Current obligations include over $2 billion directly to small and disadvantaged businesses, representing close to 30 percent of all contract obligations.

Norfolk District support

Immediately following the terrible tragedy that devastated the Gulf Coast region, employees of Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lined up at the district's emergency management office to volunteer to assist in the Corps' recovery efforts.

Since 2005, more than 70 district employees have voluntarily deployed to the Gulf Coast region in support of the Corps' recovery efforts and ongoing hurricane and storm damage risk reduction work.

Jan Van Houten, district emergency management specialist, was the first Norfolk employee to deploy to the emergency operations center at Mississippi Valley Division. Her primary job there was to coordinate civilian and military movement of personnel and resources to Mississippi and Louisiana, as well as coordinate FEMA missions for the region. Tracking boots on the ground, as well as Corps resources, was a major task, she said.

"Our employees really stepped up to help citizens affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita," said Van Houten. "Many of our volunteers extended their initial 30-day deployment, some for up to one year, and many more redeployed multiple times. One employee was so drawn to the work and people in New Orleans, that she took a permanent position working on the levee restoration project."

"I marvel every day at the unbelievable spirit of volunteerism and service our people here demonstrate," said Col. Andrew Backus, Norfolk District commander. "Whatever the volunteer mission, our people step up and ask, 'What can I do?' 'How can I help?' The district is very fortunate to have employees that continually are willing to make personal sacrifices in order to assist victims of disaster events. I couldn't be more proud of them."

The HSDRRS is now more than one-third complete: 65 of 69 100-year contracts in the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity project have been awarded; 36 of 39 100-year contracts in the West Bank and Vicinity projects have been awarded; and 12 of 35 contracts have been awarded for Southeast Louisiana work.

HSDRRS major project status

• The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Surge Barrier at Lake Borgne, the Corps' largest design/build civil works project, is 74 percent complete. The 1.8-mile surge barrier wall is virtually complete while work continues on the three gated structures. This project will work in tandem with the Seabrook Floodgate Complex, which will begin construction soon.
• Construction started this year on the West Closure Complex, a $1-plus billion project to include a 225-foot floodgate, levees, floodwalls, and the world's largest drainage pump station. This huge project is already 38 percent complete, and work continues around the clock.
• Other major work includes: erecting surge protection barriers for the Harvey and Algiers Canals, adding scour protection, replacing deficient I-walls with stronger T-walls, repair of existing pump stations, storm-proofing pump stations, improving interior drainage, and restoring and completing components of the Lake Pontchartrain and Vicinity and West Bank and Vicinity projects.

Public involvement, public safety

• The Corps has welcomed public participation throughout the decision process, hosting more than 300 public meetings throughout the greater New Orleans area to listen to stakeholders and to obtain public comment on the HSDRRS.
• The Greater New Orleans area already has better than ever before perimeter defense against hurricane storm surge.

Facts and figures

• HSDRRS is fully funded at nearly $14.5 billion.
• HSDRRS is the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' number one domestic priority.
• The Corps is building the HSDRRS with new and more stringent design criteria. Extensive modeling, lessons learned and risk-informed processes have enhanced the Corps' design criteria and on-the-ground construction.
• Additional information is available at: www.mvn.usace.army.mil/

Citizens are invited to drive through a designated area of the Kempsville Middle School parking lot from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. as city officials simulate the mass distribution of water in the event the city's water supply is ever compromised. The middle school is at the intersection of 860 Churchill Drive and Kempsville Road in Virginia Beach.

"This is an opportunity to test emergency relief plans before a catastrophic event occurs so when the time does come, we'll be well equipped to serve the community," said Thomas Leahy, public utilities director.

During the exercise citizens will drive up to the distribution area, pick up a free case of bottled water and a reusable shopping bag containing a Virginia hurricane evacuation guide along with giveaways provided by area organizations such as Lynnhaven River Now.

According to Katie Rider, media and communications coordinator for the city of Virginia Beach, "citizens should be in-and-out in about 10 minutes without having to step foot outside of their vehicles."

Also participating in the exercise will be volunteer members of the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' commodities team - a specialized Corps team that helps the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, and other state officials coordinate the purchase, transportation and distribution of water and ice during times of federal emergencies.

"Exercises such as the one organized by the city of Virginia Beach are essential components of a proactive approach to emergency preparedness before a disaster," said Jan VanHouten, emergency management specialist.

The exercise also provides Norfolk District's commodities team members with a great opportunity to foster interagency teamwork, continued VanHouten.

Although the commissaries may carry some of the brands such as Hillandale and Sunshine that were mentioned in the Aug. 13 recall action, the cartons of eggs sold in military stores are not part of those linked to salmonella contamination, officials said.

Commissary customers can check the status of their eggs at home by looking for the Julian date and plant code stamped on the end of each egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter P, followed by a number. The Julian date follows the plant number. Example: P-1946 223.

The initial Wright County Egg recall announcement involved more than 228 million shell eggs. On Aug. 18, the recall expanded to more than 380 million eggs sold in cartons of six, 12 or 18 eggs.

The Aug. 13 recall applied to the following brand names, plant codes and Julian dates:

-- Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Hillandale, Trafficanda, Farm Fresh, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms and Kemps; plant numbers 1026, 1413 and 1946; Julian dates of 136 to 225.

The Aug. 18 recall of cartons of six, 12 and 18 eggs applied to the following brand names, plant codes and Julian dates:

-- Albertson's, Mountain Dairy, Glenview, Ralph's, Boomsma's, Sunshine, Pacific Coast, Farm Fresh, Lund and Kemps; plant numbers 1720 and 1942; Julian dates of 136 to 229.

To date, the recalled eggs are known to have been distributed to stores nationwide, according to the Food and Drug Administration's recall alert sent Aug. 13. Illnesses relating to the shell eggs have been confirmed, and trace back investigations are ongoing, the FDA statement said.

The salmonella organism can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy people infected with salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis or arthritis.

Crabbe Aviation L.L.C. will treat 400 acres at CIDMMA and 50 acres of wetlands in Portsmouth Saturday, Aug. 21, weather permitting.

All areas scheduled for treatment are located in north Churchland over Federal and city property.

The treatment consists of a granular mosquito larvicide product that specifically targets developing mosquito larvae. The larvicide poses no threat to humans or animals. The contractor will use an Air Tractor, a fixed-wing aircraft similar to aircraft used for crop dusting.

If conditions don't allow spraying Aug. 21, the inclement weather date is Sunday, Aug. 22.

Call Portsmouth's Mosquito Hotline at 393-8666 for more details about the spray operations.

"Tenacity, Mike is very tenacious, he wants to stick with a given task until it gets done," said Steven Powell, civil engineer and fellow colleague. "As a very positive and professional district leader, he is a perfect example of the Army's value of selfless service."

Brig. Gen. Peter A. DeLuca, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, North Atlantic Division commander, recently identified Anderson as Norfolk District's participant in the division's Executive Leadership Development Program, or ELDP.

ELDP provides civilian employees an opportunity to experience a regional perspective on leadership and participate in senior-level Corps activities within the division's geographical area of responsibility: Norfolk, Europe, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New England and New York districts.

Anderson was selected from among five highly qualified Norfolk District leaders. The program consists of week-long training at the University of Maryland's National Leadership Institute, a four-day USACE Capitol Hill workshop "shadowing" several senior executives, attending executive level meetings, managing a team project involving fellow associates, and a four-month leadership development assignment.

"I'm very excited and believe the ELDP will provide me with an excellent opportunity to build on my leadership skills," said Anderson. "I've received nothing but positive encouragement from my family, fellow colleagues and leadership here. It's very gratifying."

Anderson attributes his strong work ethic to his parents, stepdad and former U.S. Marine, Howard Perry, and mother, Sarah Hall, a district retiree.

As a 14-year-old, Anderson lived with his parents on a U.S. Marine base on Okinawa, Japan, along with his two sisters, Cindy and Deanna. There he remembered playing with the other American children in competitive baseball games against other Japanese youth. It was there where he had his first job painting fire hydrants, curbs and gutters and where he learned how to scuba dive and sail.

Born in Alexandria, Va., Anderson spent most of his childhood in Virginia Beach, Va. Receiving a hand-me-down 1975 AMC Gremlin from his oldest sister, Anderson traveled to and from work at the local "Soup and Such" restaurant. The husband of the restaurant owner was an entertainment lawyer and would often bring his high-profile clients in for lunch, and that is where he met America's famed heavyweight boxing champion, Muhammad Ali.

The 1985 graduate of Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach went on to join the U.S. Army. Fresh out of airborne school, he married his high school sweetheart Amy Harris. He was subsequently stationed in Alaska, where he and Amy began their family, daughter, Melissa, 21, and son, Chris, 19. In 1992, Anderson returned to school, graduating from Old Dominion University in 1996 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.

College life for Anderson was balancing his school work and focusing on his family and work.

"It was very difficult to feed and raise a family while going to school," recalled Anderson. "I can't put enough emphasis on how important college is, but you have to be motivated and remain focused and seek out opportunities."

After graduation, he applied for and enrolled into the Civilian Career Intern Program sponsored by the U.S. Army and was assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District. The intern program allowed Anderson to rotate throughout different civil engineering offices, learning the organization's structure and gaining increased experience in civil engineering. In 2002, the Anderson family returned to Hampton Roads, when he transferred to the Norfolk District.

"Things haven't always been easy, but my family has always taken priority," said Anderson. "I appreciate my wife and children's patience; they have always been very supportive of my professional career."

Always self-evaluating, Anderson constantly asks himself, "What can I do better today, and how can I have a positive effect on someone else's life?"

The $7.9 million project is being completed in two phases. The first 12-month phase will be the construction of the Large Vehicle Inspection Station, or LVIS. The second phase, expected to take approximately nine months, is making improvements to the LaSalle gate.

The LVIS will be built along Armistead Avenue near the installation's west gate, allowing up to three large trucks at a time to be inspected under a 5,200 square-foot canopy and away from the regular gate.

"Our security personnel are literally inspecting large vehicles in one lane of traffic outside of the La Salle gate. Once we construct this new large vehicle inspection station all commercial and large military trucks will come off of La Salle and come to a 21st century facility for inspections," said Lt. Col. Jeff Ullmann, commander of the 633rd Civil Engineers Squadron. "It will also be a great place for the drivers to wait while their vehicles are being inspected, as well as an area for our military working dogs to get out of the heat or cold in between inspections."

Project architects designed the LVIS facility to meet environmental standards.

"Most of the area is wetlands and there is an endangered species of rattlesnake here so we had to work hard to put the road in - in a manner that would minimize impact to the environment," said Patty Vaught, project manager who is overseeing the project. Vaught works with the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Vaught also points out that that the LVIS facility is near the end of the runway and construction crews will need to coordinate with airfield traffic management so construction does not impede on flight operations. Crews will also work closely with the city of Hampton to rework the intersection of Armistead Avenue where it intersects with the new facility roadway and Sweeney Boulevard.

Phase two of the project encompasses reconstructing the LaSalle gate and includes building a new 568-square foot gate house, a new 5,200 square-foot visitor center, as well as the addition of a third lane for inbound traffic to improve traffic flow.

During four months of phase two construction at the LaSalle gate, the area will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians while contractors from W.M. Jordan Versar, JV work to get the facility completed. A temporary pass and ID/visitors center will be opened at the west gate while the LaSalle gate is closed.

"The flexibility of the new design and its ability to meet the DOD anti-terrorism force protection standards make it better suited to accommodate random anti-terrorism measures for sustained operations," said Col. Donald Kirkland, the 633rd Air Base Wing commander. "This is apparent in the road design, the traffic geometry, as well as the overall site design."

"This is truly an important day for the Defense Intelligence Agency [DIA] as we celebrate the completion of this beautiful building. This facility will guide a new era of defense intelligence analysis capability that will greatly enhance our senior policy commander's ability to successfully perform their missions," said Lt. Gen. Ronald L. Burgess Jr., DIA director.

JUIAF, a $61 million design-build military construction project, was completed under the leadership of Gary Tysor, project manager; and Terry Deglanden, resident engineer, Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Corps' contractor was Archer Western Contractors of Chicago, Ill., and the project's designer was Michael Baker Jr., Inc. of Alexandria, Va.

The 170,500 square-foot facility, a 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, authorization merges intelligence operations -- approximately 800 people from DIA and 200 from the Army National Ground Intelligence Center, which is adjacent to the JUIAF on the Rivanna Station campus. This collaboration will provide enhanced command and control, promote acquisition, assimilation and analysis of real-time intelligence, and enhance organizational productivity, inter-agency connectivity and inter-operability, said DIA officials.

Colonel Lisa Price, commander of NGIC, said her organization will work in tandem with JUIAF to solve military-related problems through information-sharing and joint-intelligence analysis.

According to Ann H. Mallek, chairman, Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, the JUIAF is also boosting the local economy with an increase of government and defense contractor workforces.

The JUIAF features a low-building profile that is sculptured into the site's topography to take advantage of views of the natural forested area, a pond and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The project provides a new access control point for Rivanna Station, meeting current Army security standards. JUIAF will also receive Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council that meets the Army's Leadership in Energy Design, or LEED, standards.

The pulse release, a controlled release of water which simulates storm events, is expected to raise water levels downstream in the Jackson River by up to four feet and up to two feet in the upper James River.

Water levels will remain several feet below flood stage.

In some areas, the rate of the river rise may exceed 1 foot per hour and people who live near or recreate on the rivers are cautioned to be alert to changing conditions.

The pulse release will begin at about 6 a.m., with dam operators gradually increasing outflow of water from 280 to 3,000 cubic feet per second by 9 a.m.

Dam operators will maintain the 3,000 cubic feet per second release for two hours and gradually decrease the water flow from the dam at 11 a.m. By 2 p.m., water flow from Gathright Dam will return to a normal seasonal outflow.

The controlled release of water is being done to test whether or not pulses are effective at removing algae and improving water quality by simulating late-summer and early-fall storm events, a natural variability that's been reduced by the operation of Gathright Dam. This test is part of a study authorized under Section 216 of the Rivers and Harbors and Flood Control Act of 1970.

The Corps' Gathright Dam and Lake Moomaw project, located on the Jackson River, 43.4 miles upstream of its confluence with the Cowpasture River, is a multipurpose project authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1946, and is regulated to reduce flood damage at downstream locations, to increase low flows for improvement of downstream water quality, and to provide water-based recreation opportunities.

Babyface – with local opening act, Slapwater, – will perform at 5 p.m. in a concert Aug. 21 at Walker Airfield.

The concert is free and open to the public; fireworks will follow.

"Babyface is a fabulous entertainer and what he's done in his career is just staggering," said Maria Jackson, event coordinator. "So many entertainers from all music genres have partnered with him to harness his creativity," she added. Edmunds has produced and written music for many artists such as Prince, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Pink, Fall Out Boy and Phil Collins, to name a few.

"His music appeals to all generations and I can tell you that we've already had a tremendous response from the community when they heard he was coming to Fort Monroe. This concert is going to be big and a great community event," said Jackson.

Edmonds' career took off in 1989 with the top 10 hit "It's No Crime" from his double platinum album "Tender Lover." Babyface continued to score with four more platinum albums, including "Grown and Sexy" in 2005. His latest album, "I Need a Love Song," was released in December 2008.

"If you were to closely examine the annals of modern pop music history, few creative forces have been more seminal or have impacted the contemporary pop/urban genres as much as Kenny Babyface Edmonds," according to his website, www.babyfacemusic.com. "He has reached icon status as a poignant tunesmith, prolific hit maker/producer, superstar recording artist and revolutionary label owner."

Gates to the concert area open at 5 p.m., with Slapwater starting at about 5:30 p.m., followed by Babyface at around 8 p.m. A spectacular fireworks display will round out the evening at approximately 9:30 p.m.

No pets, coolers, backpacks, outside food or beverages may be brought into the concert area. Food and drinks will be available for purchase on site. Guests are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets for comfortable seating. Weapons are not allowed on post.

Visitors are offered the following traffic and installation access information to make arrival and departure run smoothly.

• Access to the installation for anyone 18 years and older requires a valid picture ID. All three installation gates will be open at 4 p.m. for the evening's activities; however, the Ingalls Road entrance is restricted to vehicles with a DoD decal or VIP invitation. McNair and Stilwell Roads will be accessible for the general public. All vehicles are subject to searches and all traffic will be directed by law enforcement personnel to parking areas.
• Those that live on Fort Monroe and plan to have non-DoD visitors at their living quarters should have them arrive prior to 4 p.m. Non-DoD visitors arriving after that time will not be permitted to turn off designated routes (Fenwick and Stilwell Roads) unless they are escorted by a military ID-card holder.
• The Mercury Boulevard bridge will be closed to inbound and outbound traffic at 8:50 p.m. The route will reopen at the conclusion of the fireworks display, as soon as the Hampton Police Department has cleared the bridge, at about 10:30 p.m. Initial departure from the post will be over the Mugler Bridge to Phoebus.
• Long lines of traffic at the end of the evening are to be anticipated. Motorists are asked to be patient and be very observant of pedestrians crossing streets and parking lots on the way to their vehicles.

Fort Monroe is committed to ensuring all events are accessible to people with disabilities. Contact the Fort Monroe EEO Office at 757-788-3500 if special accommodations are necessary to attend this event.

This Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation-hosted concert begins at 2 p.m. in Williams Stadium on the corner of Lee and Mahone avenues.

Admission is free and open to the public.

The event headliners include the pop/southern rock band Junior from Gladewater, Texas. Music fans are raving about the young group's sound that has drawn comparisons to legendary stage acts like Green Day, Lynyrd Skynyrd and even The Doors.

Junior has played and toured with some of the biggest bands in the business – The All American Rejects, Lifehouse, Joan Jett, Brett Michaels, .38 Special and many more. They also placed second out of 800 bands in the Grammy Demo Review category of the Vans Warped Tour.

The band's studio work includes a 2001 single-track demo release titled "Starving Artists of the Year," an extended play recording titled "Redneck, White and Blue" in 2003, and a full-length album, "Y'all Ready To Rock?" in 2005. The band signed with Toucan Cove/Universal Records in 2007 and released "Are We Famous Yet?" The new album includes the song "She's So Amazing," with a guest vocal by Jaret Reddick of Bowling For Soup.

Also performing at the Aug. 14 concert is Lisa Palleschi, a singer-songwriter from Long Island, N.Y.

Writing, singing and performing on the piano and guitar since an early age, Palleschi is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass. Her music has been featured on several sports-related programs – to include the season-opener videos for the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds – and live venues like NFL stadiums and NASCAR events. Her heavy-rock sound is reflected in her production work for famous groups and individuals like 3 Doors Down, Gasoline Heart, Jennifer Paige, Celine Dion and Jennifer Lopez.

Palleschi will release a new album titled "All the Way" in August. Her earlier recordings include a five-song demo (2003) that caught the attention of Richie Cannata of Billy Joel's band and led to even more studio work. Her 2006 album "Released" included the singles "This Is Me" and "I Wanna See You Cry," and it set the stage for the young songwriter's future as a recording artist.

Additional information and music samples from each of the featured performers can be found at www.juniorrocks.com or www.lisapalleschi.com.

Concert-goers are reminded that personal pyrotechnics, glass bottles and pets are not permitted. Coolers may be no larger than 6 x 6 x 12 inches.

Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Gate guards and roadside signs will direct drivers to parking areas. All non-DoD visitors, age 18 or older, must present a driver's license or government-issued picture ID to access the installation.

For more event details, visit www.leemwr.com or call 804-765-3176.

"I really believe our team's energy and presence was equally as impactful as our enthusiasm for our jobs -- the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and STEM,"said Kristen Donofrio, a biological scientist and one of the STEM speakers. "Knowing we are giving students a passion for science, a glimpse of future technology and explaining what the Corps does as it relates to high school classes available, is a fabulous feeling,"she said.

The four Norfolk District employees participating in last week's class included: Kristen Donofrio, Danit Carrier Tal, Alicia Farrow, Erika Fields and Rachel Jones.

The main goal of the Corps' high school outreach program is to "connect with today's youth and promote careers that fall under STEM, hopefully, by planting a seed at a young age so students are more prepared for high school and college,"said Jones, who is a project planner with the district's plans and policy division.

While the outreach program is still in the developmental stage, teacher intentions include providing an overview of STEM and teaching students which jobs are available under the STEM initiative and how each is a valuable asset to the Corps' mission. For Ryan Matthew, recent graduate of William E. Waters Middle School and rising 9th grader at Wilson High School, this experience has been eye-opening.

"I really like it, I learned everything I needed to know, and now I know that I would like to go into architecture or computer science,"said Matthew.

The purpose of the Beazley Nauticus Ocean Quest camp is to encourage the STEM initiative. The students enrolled in the program have an interest in science and are selected through an application process, which includes teacher recommendations and an essay.

Over the next several weeks, the members of the outreach program will contact the principals and guidance counselors of local schools to arrange other presentations during assemblies, classroom visits and lunch blocks to inform students about the opportunities that exist in STEM careers.

"Many of the children have not experienced the larger world outside of Portsmouth,"said Patricia Gorton-Jackson, camp counselor. "The goal is to make them aware of the importance of our national waterways and channels and open their minds to careers involved within these fields."

Contractors came to Portsmouth from as far away as Florida, Massachusetts, Illinois, Georgia, Colorado, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Maryland, South Carolina, Oklahoma, North Carolina and the District of Columbia to attend the event.

Hosted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, and the Virginia Port Authority, or VPA, the open house provided attendees a unique and effective opportunity to network and learn about bid package information for upcoming contracting opportunities slated to be a part of the 522-acre Craney Island Eastward Expansion project.

A project of dual purpose, the eastward expansion will extend the life of Craney Island as a dredged material management area and provide land for construction of a new marine terminal.

Norfolk District Commander Col. Andrew Backus provided opening remarks during the event, citing the strong partnership with 50/50 cost-sharing partner VPA to construct the new marine terminal using innovative and cutting-edge technologies.

The multi-million dollar marine eastward expansion construction project calls for the expertise of firms specializing in dredging, earthwork, port construction, in addition to resources provided by aggregate suppliers of rock and sand.

Jeffrey Florin, VPA's deputy executive director for operations and chief operating officer, provided information about significant milestones for the project, including the Nov. 2007 approval of the Water Resources Development Act and the Sept. 2009 Congressional appropriation of $100,000 for dike construction.

VPA and Craney Island Design Partner representatives Ira Brotman and Andy Kondysar provided project updates, including an overview of the selected design, material quantities, permits and project schedule.

The initial construction contract, which includes construction of the containment cell cross dikes, will be advertised this summer and is expected to be awarded in the early fall.

Additional contracts expected for bid this year include the first environmental mitigation project and naval pipeline relocation. The mitigation project includes the creation of 10 acres of wetlands from an upland area along Paradise Creek in Portsmouth. The Navy fuel and oil waste pipeline relocation calls for the installation of approximately 10,000 linear feet of an eight- and 10-inch steel pipeline, 800 linear feet of which require underwater construction.

VPA and NAO previously hosted a contractor open house Feb. 21, 2008 to provide firms with information about the eastward expansion project.

Presentations and materials from the July 22 contractor open house are available online for viewing and download at http://craneyisland.info/Contractors.html.

While conducting a post-storm inspection at 8 a.m., July 21, following an overnight storm that struck the Chesapeake, Va. and South Mills, N.C. border area, the crew of the Corps vessel Elizabeth discovered an enormous tree blocking the width of the DSC.

When Hurricane Isabel battered the DSC seven years ago, a 22-mile stretch of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, and seven miles outward to the Pasquotank River in N.C., Corps volunteers and its contractor, U.S. Facilities, worked 12-hour days for nearly three weeks to clear about 1,000 downed trees. Fortunately, it took U.S. Facilities and the Elizabeth crew a little more than eight hours to clear the canal July 21.

"The temporary obstruction was the largest single tree they have ever removed from the canal. One tree limb weighed over 6,000 pounds and the trunk weighed more than 26,000 pounds," said Dennis Barnes, crane operator onboard the Elizabeth.

Due to the Corps' fast response, only four recreational vessels were delayed on the canal during the removal and cleanup.

They're part of a little-known group of employees from the Norfolk district office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers who go abroad to support missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. (read more)

To help educate Corps employees who have expressed an interest in deployment, the Corps' North Atlantic Division held a video teleconference, or VTC, July 7, to explain overseas contingency operations and the Corps' family readiness program.

The VTC was presented by Kirsten Smyth, deployment coordination administrator and Connie Morinello, regional community support coordinator.

"I believe family support is a very important aspect in educating and encouraging Corps employees to deploy," said Smyth.

Jan Van Houten, a Norfolk District emergency management specialist, also serves as a deployment coordinator. Her responsibilities include recruiting volunteers and submitting resumes, processing pre-deployment paperwork and medical evaluations, arranging transportation for deployees to the Corps Deployment Center in Winchester, Va., supervising the family readiness support program, processing awards and helping with post-deployment support.

Lois Wilkins, who is the district's family readiness coordinator, provides families with a point of contact within the Corps and regularly communicates with deployees and their families by email and social media sites like Facebook.

During the pre-deployment stage, Wilkins ensures that wills, powers of attorney and passports for family members are processed. She also adds that personal touch by coordinating and sending care packages to district deployees and organizing farewell ceremonies.

"Thanks to Jerri Wehrle, who recently turned over the district program to me, the district has a great family readiness program," Wilkins added. "I enjoy working with our deployees and their families before, during and after deployment, and try to make this transition in their lives as comfortable as possible."

Finding employees who are willing to deploy for six months to a year can be difficult at times. Paula Van Antwerp, wife of Lt. Gen. Robert Van Antwerp, chief of engineers for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the first family readiness coordinator, believes "if we can win the hearts of the families during the recruiting stage, then the decision process will be much easier."

She knows firsthand the hardships of having a loved one deploy overseas and uses her experiences to help other families.

"When my husband and I thought about family support, we didn't want it to be a burden," said Mrs. Van Antwerp. "We needed to have people available who have the training and resources to provide families with answers. This program does that."

To date, more than 25 Norfolk District employees have deployed to support overseas contingencies since July 2003.

For more information about deployment opportunities, contact Jan Van Houten in Emergency Management and visit: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/OverseasDeployment.asp.

And it has.

Today, the 6-foot-1 Chesapeake, Va. native works at the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has been with the Corps for 29 years and has been the chief of planning and policy since March 2001. Prior to working for the Corps, he worked for the Department of Labor as a regional economist in Washington.

First impressions may be a bit intimidating due to his serious approach, but he is quick to make you feel comfortable. He has a natural talent of elaborating, painting the picture, sort-of- speak, so a person understands. Mansfield contributes his success to the high standards he sets for himself.

What may appear as a lifetime ago is a vivid memory to Mansfield as he describes growing up and working hard to earn a dollar. It's as if he was telling a story about something that happened moments ago. That's what you can expect when you meet him, work with him. He is someone who takes the time to show you how a process works. He does not cut corners and if it takes two hours instead of 30 minutes, expect to spend two hours learning how to do it right.

I guess if you had to describe Mansfield in one sentence, it would be: He is articulate, a perfectionist as well as passionate about his family and the people he works with at the Corps.

"Mark has always been a team-oriented person," said Bob Oswald, Norfolk District attorney. "He will go the extra mile to provide the right answer for our customers, stakeholders and coworkers. He is also really good at making himself available if you need to contact him. We have worked with each other on many projects over the past two decades."

His commitment to the Corps surpass the regular 40-hour week. Dedicating much of his time to the civil works program, Mansfield is constantly on the road meeting with Corps' partners, customers, and stakeholders, focusing on customer service and building relationships.

Taking on the role of the district's congressional liaison, Mansfield ensures there is one voice communicating the district's capabilities to Congress. As chief of the programs and planning branch, he is responsible for a long list of mission areas, including all civil works projects that fall under the navigation, flood risk management and environmental restoration business line.

"The jobs I had as a young man taught me quickly that pursuing a college education is what I needed to reach my full potential," Mansfield said. About 20 percent of Mansfield's graduating class attended college; the rest went on to blue collar trades, such as employment at local shipyards in Hampton Roads or working for Dominion Power.

The 1973 graduate of Indian River High School in Chesapeake, Mansfield earned his Bachelor's degree in Economics from Old Dominion University in 1977. He went on to earn his certificate of Professional Financial Planning from ODU in 1985. He also attended the Chamber of Commerce Leadership Hampton Roads course in 1989, which is a professional developmental course focusing on water resource issues in Hampton Roads.

"The course gave me the opportunity to see the challenges of water resource management from the military, city, county and elected leader's perspective," Mansfield said.

Mansfield is known for being personal with his colleagues, sharing stories about his family and making it an effort to learn about theirs. This attribute gives him the ability to build strong relationships, which goes a long way in civil works projects.

"He is one of the hardest working individuals I have known," said Tom Lochen, supervisory oceanographer. "He is extremely dedicated to mission execution, to our customers and to our district."

Mansfield opted to join the Corps team in Norfolk because of the water resource work. His interest with water traces back to his childhood when he was an active surfer. Although he does not surf anymore, he still enjoys the water, whether it is boating, walking the shoreline that overlooks the Norfolk harbor, or spending the weekend at his beach house in North Carolina.

"The water has a special place in my heart, so much that my favorite food has always been seafood," Mansfield admits. His passion for water has had a direct influence on his career path as well. The Corps' current oyster restoration projects in the Lynnhaven and Great Wicomico Rivers is dear to Mansfield's heart. He was the project manager of the non-native oyster Environmental Impact Statement project.

Being a team player, Mansfield would like the oyster restoration project to be a collaborative effort, bringing together experts from the Baltimore and Norfolk Districts, and other federal, state and regional agencies. "I believe each member of the team can offer a different expertise to the project," he said.

Oysters are essential to the restoration of the Chesapeake Bay. The reefs act as a hard substrate providing a habitat for all species and filtration for the bay.

"Mark and I completed the Environmental Impact Statement together, our relationship with the Norfolk District continues to grow, sharing information and coordinating efforts," said Tom O'Connell, Maryland's director of department of natural resources fisheries services. "He is a great listener who ensures every viewpoint is heard."

Aside from his passion for water, he also enjoys woodworking, using hand tools, a trade he picked up from his father. The meticulous nature of this craft and the amount of patience needed exemplifies Mansfield's approach to work.

"It's kind of relaxing and I get instant gratification when I am working on home projects," Mansfield said. He often compares woodworking to the meticulous planning process of a multi-million dollar civil works project that may take years to complete based on the complexity, scope and funding availability.

"I was fortunate enough to have really good mentors who taught me so much when I was getting started at the Corps. The road traveled to reach that place, where you are truly happy in life -- what you are doing both personally and professionally -- may take time, but once you are there it is rewarding … very self-rewarding," Mansfield said.

More than 50 companies competed in three categories (small-, medium-, and large-business). A panel of judges named the Norfolk District Best Place to Work in the large business category as well as the overall Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads.

Colonel Andrew Backus, district commander, and several district employees attended the awards luncheon and accepted the honor on behalf of "Team Norfolk".

"The Norfolk District is the kind of organization we are proud to recognize," said Carol Lichti, editor of Inside Business. "We are in a recession and this is a good way to show our community the value of what businesses are doing to keep the economy moving. The Corps is leading by example and very engaged with the community and the well-being of their employees. That is what this award is all about," Lichti added.

This is the eighth year Inside Business has honored companies in Hampton Roads. How a company treats its most valuable asset – its employees – is a key element in the judging process. Employee survey input is another.

"Norfolk is a great district, mainly because of the people here. Our team members are dedicated, enthusiastic and talented people who stay actively engaged to support the Corps' mission -- not only in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but overseas well," Backus said.

The Norfolk District is responsible for military and civil construction projects, maintaining navigable waterways, protecting the environment such as coastlines, storm damage reduction, environmental restoration, hurricane and beach erosion protection, and infrastructure design and build in overseas locations such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Along with a spectacular view of the Norfolk harbor, employees who work at 803 Front Street in Norfolk also find time after work to get together for field trips, camping, canoeing, cookouts and seafood roasts.

"This is a great place to work because of the people. We are a family and care about each other. I believe that is the key ingredient to any winning team," said Danit Carrier Tal, management analyst. Carrier Tal was an intern for four years before joining the Corps team fulltime a year ago.

Of the 404 employees, many have worked with the Corps for 25, 30 and 35 years. There are husbands and wives, parents and their children who work here.

"This is one of the best family-environment organizations I have had the pleasure of working at in my 22 years in the U.S. Army," said Backus. "I'm happy to come to work every day. It's unique to have such a diversified group of professionals -- their can-do attitudes, creativity and mix of seasoned and fresh-out-of-college employees is why we are successful. Knowing we are helping our community is very rewarding," he added.

The district opened its doors for business for the first time in Hampton Roads in 1879. Now headquartered in downtown Norfolk and Fort Norfolk – one of the last remaining harbor forts and recent site of the reenactment of the War of 1812 -- the Norfolk District has 22 field offices, including Fort Belvoir, Va., Fort Lee, Va., Joint Langley-Eustis, Va., and Great Bridge Reservation in Chesapeake, Va.

Written, shot and edited by Patrick Bloodgood, a Norfolk District public affairs specialist, "Full Potential" was produced for the Hampton Roads Navigation Summit to raise awareness about the initiatives that will keep the Port of Hampton Roads viable and economically competitive in the future.

"Most people do not know that one out of every 10 jobs in Virginia is tied to the Port," said David White, vice president of the Virginia Maritime Association. "This video does a very good job of telling the story of how the Port of Hampton Roads can contribute even more to the regional and national economies and what will be needed to achieve our full potential."

The Accolade Competition is an international video award competition honoring those who demonstrate exceptional achievement in craft and creativity and recognizes those who produce "standout entertainment or contribute to profound social change."

"The Accolade is not an easy award to win, entries are received from around the world," said Thomas Baker, Ph.D., who chairs The Accolade Competition. "The goal of 'The Accolade' is to help winners achieve the recognition they deserve."

Film and television industry professionals judged "Full Potential," which competed against other videos from around the world.

According to Bloodgood, the entire production was done using in-house equipment and workforce, and used volunteer voice talent as well as subject matter experts in the compilation of the video.

"It is a big honor to know something I created won on an international competition level," said Bloodgood. Bloodgood also praised U.S. Navy Cmdr. Cornelius Reed, who performed the voice over work for the project.

"Commander Reed was great; his voice fit perfectly with the project, and I can't say enough how appreciative I am that he came in voluntarily to help us out," said Bloodgood.

The video can be viewed on both the Norfolk District's YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-wmsiVEm60 or on the Vimeo Channel at http://www.vimeo.com/10578804.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineer's high school outreach program is designed to educate students about the benefits of pursuing STEM-related academic studies, including research opportunities, jobs, internships and higher education.

The program is a comprehensive effort cultivating high school students to STEM and providing guidance from the perspective of district interns who have already completed the program, said Danit Carrier Tal, project manager for the new initiative.

Along with a team of a dozen up-and-coming district leaders, Carrier Tal has worked the past few months to lay the groundwork for the program under the direction of seasoned leaders at the district. One of which is Keith Lockwood, chief of the technical support section, who launched an integrated internship program in January 2008 to recruit student interns at the professional, graduate and under-graduate levels.

"I am thrilled at the opportunity to help the team of interns launch their high school outreach program. These young leaders, who all started off as a part of the integrated internship program, are definitely taking the district to new heights when it comes to growing our connection to younger generations," said Lockwood.

Expanding the recruitment and hiring processes of the integrated internship program, the newly developed high school outreach program is a means of exposing local high school students to STEM. A tri-fold brochure created by the team outlines high school level science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses to help prepare students for college-level courses or the workforce.

The goal of the high school outreach program, unlike the internship program, is to increase the number of high school students with interest and competencies in STEM, which may ultimately increase the number of college graduates and professionals with the technical competencies that comprise the Corps of Engineers' workforce.

Carrier Tal is a prime example of a success from the district's internship program. Since joining the Corps of Engineers', Carrier Tal led a successful initiative that resulted in Norfolk District being chosen by Inside Business as the 2010 Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads award. A similar initiative led by Carrier Tal, who works as a management analyst with the engineering branch, led to two environmental sustainability awards for the district from the City of Norfolk.

Another district success story who notes the importance of STEM class offerings in high school settings is Drew Johnson.

"I went to Cox High School in Virginia Beach and they offered basic technical drawing, which led to my enrollment in an architecture class as well as an engineering class. It was in these classes when I realized I wanted to be a structural engineer. Here I am now, working in the structural section at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers," said Johnson.

To get the new outreach initiative started, Johnson and his fellow team members are scheduled to make a presentation at Nauticus, a maritime-themed science center and museum in Norfolk July 13. Area students attending the museum's water scholars oceanography camp will receive a 90 minute presentation by district interns working in diverse STEM-related jobs, including staff accountant, environmental scientist, program analyst and engineer-in-training.

In August, team members will follow up with area high school principals and guidance counselors to arrange similar presentations for students attending Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News and York County schools. Each team member serves as a point of contact for specific school districts.

"We are enthusiastic about the opportunity to provide guidance and mentorship to students at a very critical time in their lives as they make decisions about joining the workforce or going to college," said Carrier Tal.

Engineer-in-training and fellow team member Alicia Farrow echoes Carrier Tal's sentiments. "Knowledge about STEM programs is extremely important because it not only informs students about science, math, engineering and technology, but the program also keeps those students who already have a passion in one or more of those fields a career choice and opens the door for career opportunities."

Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers are encouraged to attend the event to learn details about the 522-acre Craney Island Eastward Expansion project and the bidding process.

A project of dual purpose, the eastward expansion will extend the life of Craney Island as a dredged material management area and provide land for construction of a new marine terminal. The multi-million dollar marine construction project calls for the expertise of firms specializing in dredging, earthwork, port construction, in addition to resources provided by aggregate suppliers of rock and sand.

During the contractor open house, representatives from NAO and VPA will provide project updates, including an overview of the selected design, material quantities, permits and project schedule.

The initial construction contract, which includes construction of the containment cell cross dikes, will be advertised this summer and is expected to be awarded early fall.

Additional contracts expected for bid this year include the first environmental mitigation project and naval pipeline relocation. The mitigation project includes the creation of 10 acres of wetlands from an upland area along Paradise Creek in Portsmouth, Va. The Navy fuel and oil waste pipeline relocation calls for the installation of approximately 10,000 linear feet of an eight- and 10-inch steel pipeline, 800 linear feet of which require underwater construction.

Contractors, subcontractors and suppliers interested in learning about immediate and long-term contracting opportunities are required to register for the open house individually at this link.

The archaeologists, led by Dr. Michael Hargrave from the Engineer Research Development Center's Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, focused their attention on several anomalies identified by ground-penetrating radar during a site survey in February.

Hargrave and his team, Dr. Jarrod Burks, director of geophysical survey, and Jeff Dilyard, staff archaeologist, both with Ohio Valley Archaeology, Inc., focused their efforts on determining if graves, human remains and artifacts were present in five trenches that included several anomalies – discolored areas in the ground that the team believed had the highest potential of being graves.

The effort is part of the Army's responsibility under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, said Paul Presenza, a cultural resource specialist with the fort's Department of Public Works. As the Army works to close Fort Monroe, officials must work with consulting parties to evaluate the potential effects of the closure on historic properties and define steps to avoid, reduce or mitigate harmful effects.

Thirty-two consulting parties, including the Contraband Historical Society, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and Preservation Virginia worked with the Army to determine what actions can be taken regarding Fort Monroe's historic properties – such as the geophysical and archaeological search for a possible contraband cemetery.

As the Corps conducted archival research, the focus narrowed to a field adjacent to the post's airfield, now a place where Soldiers and their families practice their golf swing and walk their dogs. The area served as the post cemetery until the late 1890s and, once graves were removed to cemeteries in nearby Hampton, Va., later served as living and operations areas during World War I and II, Presenza said.

Throughout the week, Hargrave, Burks and Presenza watched for signs of artifacts as Addam Weatherly, a deckhand with the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' navigation support team, excavated the upper layers of the trenches – modern-day dredged sand fill -- inch by inch.

As Weatherly's excavation work neared the World War I habitation layer, a visible dark line about 36 inches below the modern surface, scientists moved in with shovels and trowels and explored the trench floors by removing layers a centimeter at a time until they hit the water table. Then they sifted through bucket after bucket of material at sorting tables erected near the trenches.

"Archaeology is often long periods of boredom punctuated by a few exciting moments … followed by more boredom," Burks often said as the scientists clustered around a potential find only to return to the routine moments later.

One by one, each of the anomalies revealed themselves as something other than graves – mostly pits of discarded building material, such as wood, bricks and the occasional piece of glass. Two spent .45 caliber bullet casings were the only signs that the dig occurred on a historic military installation.

Hargrave will submit a report detailing the geophysical and archaeological findings of the contraband cemetery investigation to officials at Fort Monroe in August.

In an effort to promote safety and accident prevention, while also accommodating landing zones used during military flight operations, CIDMMA will accept requests for authorized visitation.

CIDMMA, operated and managed by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, reopened to visitors on a limited basis April 2.

Authorized visitation of Craney Island includes educational activities arranged by public or private academic institutions, environmental and natural resource organizations, birdwatching clubs and other groups established to study nature.

Because of its proximity to the Hampton Roads federal waterways, Craney Island offers a low-cost method to dispose of materials dredged during harbor deepening and maintenance dredging projects. In addition to providing a cost-effective alternative for dredged material, Craney Island stimulates ideal breeding conditions for bird species that are endangered, threatened or of special concern.

Requests for authorized visitation should be submitted to the chief of the Craney Island project office at least two weeks prior to the date of the intended visit. The date and times available for authorized visitation will be determined based on site conditions, construction activity and other operational factors. In most cases, authorized visits will be arranged for weekends to avoid conflict with daily construction operations.

School groups, organizations, associations and clubs interested in visiting Craney Island are encouraged to call CIDMMA's project office at (757) 484-1021 to arrange a visit.

The kickoff event Monday, June 14 featured a presentation from Edwina Forrest and Valerie Lewis, both registered dieticians employed by the Office of Food Services for Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Forrest supervises 21 of the city's 82 food service operations and Lewis acts as nutrition and training coordinator. During the kickoff event, attendees learned how to read ingredient labels to make nutritious food choices and they also had the opportunity to sample healthier foods such as trail mix and baked snacks.

Following Monday's kick-off presentation, employees were invited to donate blood aboard the American Red Cross mobile. Safety Week Committee member Nora Batten reports that the employees exceeded the goal of collecting 25 pints, as 28 pints were collected.

In tune with the focus on nutrition and exercise, district commander Col. Andrew Backus led a half-hour lunch time walk along the Atlantic City Elizabeth River Trail Tuesday, June 15.

Also on June 15, Herb Maher, City of Virginia Beach safety specialist, provided two four-hour long first aid classes. Family members and friends of the district were also invited to attend the classes to learn first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator procedures.

"Always remember it's better to do something than nothing," Maher stressed to a roomful of inquisitive and attentive participants who were very active during the hands-on portion of the class.

Each participant received a card, valid for two years, certifying their completion of the National Safety Council CPR course.

Wednesday's events included a health fair hosted by the Fort Norfolk Chapter of Federally Employed Women (FEW). Medical professionals from Ghent Chiropractic, Optima Health and Sentara Healthcare were on hand June 17 to provide free health screenings and counseling related to blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes risk, body mass index, tobacco cessation and chiropractic therapy.

"Every time FEW hosts a health fair, we attract a larger and larger number of employees that take advantage of the opportunity to speak to health care professionals and get confidential screenings. We are definitely happy that people are recognizing the importance of their health," said Melinda Worrell, president of the Fort Norfolk Chapter of FEW.

In a memorandum to the district, Col. Backus asked all employees to take the time to closely reflect on how they can improve personal safety and health within their offices, work environments, homes and leisure activities.

"Safety is everyone's responsibility. We have to live safety, we have to think safety, we have to practice safety, and we have to keep safety on our minds day in and day out," said Backus.

The day began with a retiree breakfast hosted by Norfolk District Commander Col. Andrew Backus. More than 25 retirees -- who collectively had more than 700 years of service to the Corps -- attended.

"I'm here to see the people I used to work with and they look good for being old geezers," Jim Walsh said with a laugh. Walsh served with the Corps for 34 years and retired as deputy chief of engineering.

Following the breakfast, district employees began to arrive, and most of the retirees stayed for the duration of the event to talk about Corps projects they had worked on and meet the project managers who are overseeing those projects today. Colonel Backus, who has been with the district since June 2009, mentioned that last year's Engineer's Day was the first district event he attended. He then continued by congratulating everyone for a great year of hard work.

"It's right around the time of the Army and Engineer's birth, it's a time to reflect on our heritage and the past year," Backus said.

General George Washington appointed Col. Richard Gridley as the first chief of engineers on June 16, 1775. On March 16, 1802, the U.S. Army officially established the Army Corps of Engineers.

The district's welfare council organized the annual fete, and funding to pay for the food, beverages, DJ and door prizes was raised through bake sales and parking spot raffles. Welfare council members balance their responsibilities at work with volunteer welfare council activities.

"There was a lot of work to make this happen, but we have a great team," said Jennifer Heuer, president of the welfare council. "The staff at US Facility (Great Bridge Reservation) was also a great help, along with logistics," she added.

A great atmosphere was created at the park as music of every genre was played by DJ and district employee, Carlton Lillard. Lunch was catered by Alfs Café, and included fried chicken, hot dogs, pulled pork barbecue, green beans, hush puppies and macaroni and cheese. The desert table was overflowing with brownies, cupcakes, pudding, cookies and more. After lunch, people teamed up to play volleyball, horseshoes and kickball.

"It's great to take a break from our normal day of work; this event also gives me and other employees the opportunity to meet people who are new to the district," said Keith Lockwood. "I also enjoyed beating the interns in kickball."

There has been a competitive kickball game between the summer interns and full-time employees for several years. Although the full-time employees have always won, the interns were able to put up a great fight with a final score of 6-4. There was also a competitive volleyball game with the executive staff winning by two points in the third game.

This year's Engineer's Day proved to be a great way to kick-start the summer. At every corner of the park, people were seen smiling and laughing as they socialized, reflected and participated in summer activities.

The cafeteria opens up to several lines serving a variety of foods including pizza, salad and desert. This new dining facility will accommodate for the increase of airmen and sailors scheduled to train at Fort Lee. Funding for the new facility fell under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC.

According to Headquarters of the Department of the Army, "BRAC is a means by which the Department of Defense (DoD) reconfigures its infrastructure into one where operational capacity is optimized for both warfighting capability and efficiency, and joint activity opportunities are aggressively pursued."

The work taking place at Fort Lee is part of DoD's efforts to reconfigure its infrastructure and to pursue joint activities. The dining facility, which has been open since June 1, is equipped to feed 800 service members per meal every 90 minutes. Food is served buffet-style, similar to a college cafeteria. It is also intended to be a gathering place for group activities.

"This is probably going to be one of the first dining facilities in the Army that will have all the services together working under the same roof and eating in the same facility," said Johnnie Durant, installation food program manager, Fort Lee.

Fred Stokes, former National Football League defensive end, was the guest speaker during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

"This is a great facility, when the military has someone who is a possible recruit they should bring them to this dining facility; showing them where they will be spending 20 to 30 minutes per meal every day." said Stokes. "It's an honor to be here today. I'm always very grateful to the men and women who proudly serve. When I travel I like to always thank them for doing what they do." ]]> David Kidd, Norfolk District Public Affairs News Fri, 18 Jun 2010 11:05:00 -0400 http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/News/20100618_FtLee_Dining_Facility.asp 06/18/2010 - WASHINGTON — William (Bill) Sorrentino Jr., deputy district engineer of Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award in April, at the 2010 Career Program 18 (Engineers & Scientist – Construction) Annual Training workshop held in San Antonio, Texas.

Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, commanding general, USACE, presented the award to Sorrentino at the annual training workshop, held March 30 through April 1. The workshop brought a wide diversity of leaders and practitioners within the career program together to learn, share best business practices and "chart the path to greatness," according to Van Antwerp.

As USACE functional chief of CP-18, the chief of engineers may choose each year to confer an award in a special category of service. These discretionary awards are not competed and are based on involvement in the career program goals and objectives, impact on the workforce and enduring contributions.

"For 15 years, Sorrentino has worked steadfastly to improve intern programs and training, and continues to be a proactive contributor to the overall success of the career program," said Van Antwerp. "He is without a doubt one of the most respected spokespersons for our program and serves as a model for other leaders within CP-18."

According to the chief of engineers, more than 220 senior leaders, training coordinators, activity career program managers, supervisors, interns, human resource personnel and workforce development specialists attended what is considered one of the most successful CP-18 workshops to date.

"I was especially pleased to note that we had several attendees from Installation Management Command, the Army Network Enterprise Technology Command, the Army Medical Command, the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management and representatives from career programs 16 (Engineers & Scientists – Non Construction) and 34 (Information Mission Area) join us this year," said Van Antwerp. "Often we get so involved in the mission that we overlook taking the time to have conversations, ask questions and learn from each other."

"I am honored to receive this prestigious award," said Sorrentino. "My time serving on the CP-18 Career Planning Board has been both personally and professionally fulfilling. Spending time with other dedicated leaders on the Board, all focused on growing our employees, is a highlight in my career. We all need to get involved and make a difference!"

NWP 21 is used to authorize discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States for surface coal mining activities. The suspension is effective immediately and applies to the Appalachian region of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

NWP 21 continues to be available in other regions of the country.

The suspension in Appalachia will remain in effect until the Corps takes further action on NWP 21 or until NWP 21 expires on March 18, 2012. While the suspension is in effect, individuals who propose surface coal mining projects that involve discharges of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States will have to obtain Department of the Army authorization under the Clean Water Act, through the Individual Permit process. The individual permit evaluation procedure provides increased public involvement in the permit evaluation process, including an opportunity for public comment on individual projects.

On June 11, 2009, the U.S. Department of the Army, U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency signed a Memorandum of Understanding with each agency agreeing to work together to reduce the adverse environmental impacts of surface coal mining activities in the Appalachian region. As a part of the MOU, the Corps agreed to issue a public notice to seek comment on the proposed action to modify NWP 21 to preclude its use in the Appalachian region.

On July 15, 2009, a Federal Register notice was published soliciting public comment on the Corps' proposal to modify NWP 21. The notice also proposed to suspend NWP 21 in order to provide more immediate environmental protection while the longer-term process of modification is fully evaluated. The comment period was extended in response to many requests, and public hearings were conducted in October 2009 in each of the six affected states. Approximately 6,000 individuals attended the public hearings and about 400 individuals provided oral testimony. The Corps received approximately 23,000 comments during the comment period that concluded on October 26, 2009, of which 1,750 were substantive comments that were nearly evenly divided for and against the proposed modification and suspension actions.

The Corps determined after a thorough review and consideration of comments that continuing use of NWP 21 in this region may result in more than minimal impacts to aquatic resources. Activities that result in more than minimal impacts to the aquatic environment must be evaluated in accordance with individual permit procedures. Therefore, NWP 21 has been suspended in this region and coal mining activities impacting waters of the U.S. in this region will be evaluated in accordance with individual permit procedures.

NWP 21 verifications provided in writing by the Corps to mining companies before today's suspension will continue to be valid until the NWP expires on March 18, 2012. Modification of NWP 21 will continue to be evaluated and a decision on this proposal will be made before NWP 21 expires.

Five pending NWP 21 requests are currently being processed in the Appalachian region affected by suspension of NWP 21. Corps districts will contact these applicants to discuss the process to submit individual permit applications for these activities. If applicants submit individual permit requests for these activities, the Corps districts will prioritize the evaluation of these applications. The Corps will work with the applicants and other interested parties to address and resolve substantive concerns and make final permit decisions as expeditiously as possible.

The Corps' decision will be published in the June 18, 2010, edition of the Federal Register. A copy of the notice, FAQs and the decision document will be posted on the Corps' Web site at http://www.usace.army.mil/CECW/Pages/nnpi.aspx.

Militia re-enactors, local historians, naval exhibits and children's activities are included in the program, scheduled to take place at the Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, land that figured prominently in the 1813 battle that raged 137 years ago.

On hand for the day will be re-enactors from the 2nd Virginia Regiment Militia and the 20th U.S. Infantry. Both will demonstrate musket firing and will talk with visitors about the life of Virginia soldiers during the War of 1812. Local historians will address the context of the battle and relate it to other battles waged during what many describe as the "the second American Revolution." The Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum will also exhibit displays and maps, and will engage children in interactive crafts of the period.

Boy Scout Troop 219 will provide the honor guard during opening and closing ceremonies during the event, which happens to fall on Father's Day.

"We think a trip to Hoffler Creek will make a great Fathers Day gift," says Randi Strutton, executive director of the non-profit foundation. "It's a chance to enjoy the outdoors, to learn a little history and to exercise the imagination — all for free! What dad wouldn't love that?"

Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve is a site on the National Park Service's Star-Spangled Banner Geo-Caching Trail and in line to join the National Star-Spangled Banner Trail, now limited to sites only in Maryland. A state historical marker at the gate of the preserve commemorates the Battle of Craney Island in the war that inspired The National Anthem and that secured America's independence from England.

Visitors planning to attend the free event at the 142-acre wildlife preserve are advised to wear shoes and socks, a hat, sunscreen and insect repellent.

For more information about Hoffler Creek programs and kayak rentals, contact the foundation at 757-686-8684, E-mail at hofflercreek@hofflercreek.org, or go online by visiting www.hofflercreek.org.

Outfitted with sunscreen, bug spray and work gloves, 41 district employees braved a heat index of more than 100 degrees to keep Virginia waterways clean by participating in the 22nd Annual Clean the Bay Day June 5.

Clean the Bay Day is a statewide initiative organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in conjunction with municipalities, businesses and government agencies working together to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. Every year since 1989, thousands of citizens throughout the Commonwealth have dedicated their time to clear litter from waterways.

Norfolk District employees volunteered three hours of their time Saturday morning to remove debris from the shorelines of the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, or CIDMMA, which is operated and maintained by the district. CIDMMA is a 2,500-acre confined dredged material disposal site on the north side of Portsmouth, Va. It serves as an economical and environmentally sustainable repository for material dredged within the federal waterways of the Hampton Roads harbor.

"I'm excited that we had a record number of employees come out to Craney Island to participate and spruce up the site this year," said Kristen Donofrio, biological scientist here and zone captain for the district's team of volunteers.

According to data collection sheets provided to Donofrio, 9,320 pounds of trash was removed from CIDMMA's shoreline, a majority of which included plastic and Styrofoam items, such as bottles, bags, wrappers, crab pot buoys and miscellaneous nautical debris.

Along with employees on-site at CIDMMA, members of the district's survey and navigation support teams patrolled area waterways using a small skiff and the district's patrol boat HARRELL. These vessels picked up floating debris that could potentially damage vessels in addition to collecting 450 pounds of trash.

Some unusual items found by district employees included a decoy duck, a bra, pizza delivery carrier, expired military identification, credit cards, portable toilet door, bowling ball and a periscope.

The nearly 10,000 pounds of trash collected by Norfolk District is part of the 177,577 pounds collected by 6,100 Virginia volunteers, who were dispersed between 242 sites with one common goal in mind – a cleaner, more wholesome Chesapeake Bay.

"Chesapeake Bay Foundation truly values the great partnership we have with the Corps for Clean the Bay Day," said Christy Everett, director of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation office in Hampton Roads. "By cleaning the huge Craney Island site, Army Corps of Engineers staff are doing a tremendous service for the community, while improving the health and appearance of our waterways."

Stepping through Fort Norfolk's arched entryway, visitors will be transported to another era as they have the opportunity to see military demonstrations of musket and artillery firing, marching and drilling.

The fort's four-acre site overlooks the Elizabeth River and includes earthwork embankments, ramparts, a dungeon, officers' quarters, powder magazine, barracks, and guardhouse with most structures dating back to 1810.

Originally built of earthen walls with wooden and some brick supports, Fort Norfolk is the last remaining of 19 harbor-front forts authorized in 1794 by President George Washington.

The fort helped protect Norfolk during the War of 1812. In the Civil War, Confederate forces seized the fort and used its magazine to supply the CSS Virginia (Merrimack) during its battle with the USS Monitor. In 1862 the fort was recaptured by the Union Army and used as a prison. Later it was an ordnance depot for the Navy. In 1923 the fort was occupied by the Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which still owns Fort Norfolk. The Norfolk Historical Society began making restorations to the fort in 1991.

Members of the public are invited to attend the June 19 encampment, hosted by the Norfolk Historical Society. The encampment will provide attendees with the opportunity to take a step back in time and learn about the victory at the Battle of Craney Island on June 22, 1813 in addition to the extensive history of Fort Norfolk. Self-guided tours of Fort Norfolk are available during the week.

NOTE TO VISITORS AND PARTICIPANTS: Attendees are permitted to park in the lot adjacent to Norfolk District's guard house and gate, located in the Ghent section of Norfolk at 803 Front Street. Visitors parking in Norfolk District's lot will sign in at the guard house and receive a Fort Norfolk tri-fold brochure.

For the past five months, Byrne has been serving as the interim division chief.

Byrne, originally from Lynn, Mass., graduated from Lowell Technological Institute, Lowell Mass., with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. In 1998, he completed his Masters of Engineering in Civil Engineering at Old Dominion University in Norfolk. He is a graduate of the Army Management Staff College and is a registered professional engineer in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Byrne's passion is spending time with his family and friends. While not at work, he enjoys woodworking, a craft he became interested in from watching the TV show "This Old House." Most of his work entails making furniture for his wife, Beth, who retired from the Corps two years ago. This meticulous skill set is also present in his other hobby, water color painting. He and Beth live in Virginia Beach. Their son, Jonathan, is a 2010 graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk.

"These are historic times for Norfolk District," said Byrne. "Our employees, at every level in the organization, have consistently stepped up to the plate to deliver quality service to our customers. I can't tell you how proud I am of them and to be part of this great team."

Byrne moved to Hampton Roads and began working at Norfolk District shortly after graduating from Lowell Technological Institute. Although the Corps was his first job out of college, he admits he never planned to live this far south. "My plan was to work in Norfolk until I got another job offer in New England, but the area and the job grew on me," he said.

Byrne was first hired as a cost engineer. Six months later he transferred to become a geotechnical engineer in the geo-environmental section. Byrne worked his way up to chief of geo-environmental section, chief of operations branch and, in 2006, he was promoted to deputy chief of technical services division, or TSD.

"The important thing in a career is to plan it," said Byrne. "If you want to stay purely technical take advantage of training opportunities…improve yourself every day…and become the best you can be in your chosen field. If you want to explore other areas, you need to take full advantage of developmental assignments to expand your knowledge and experience base and successfully position yourself for future opportunities."

His first career goal, earning his professional engineering license, was accomplished in 1983, which required an eight-hour written exam and at least four years of engineering experience. Byrne's second goal was reached last month with his promotion to chief of engineering and construction division.

The job search was open to both internal and external candidates on a national level. Byrne's experience throughout the different branches of TSD made him highly competitive within the selection process.

"The transition has been good, I was deputy chief for four years and acting chief since November, and now I'm officially chief," said Byrne.

As chief of TSD, Byrne's primary responsibility is to ensure the Corps meets its commitments in regard to cost, schedule and quality of the products and services they provide to their customers. His leadership philosophy is to equip his division team with the resources they need to perform their mission, and then empower them to work at a high level.

"Matt Byrne is an exceptional leader and a very detailed-oriented professional," says 17-year Corps veteran and co-worker Cheryl Fromme. "I think those traits, along with his wonderful sense of humor and Bostonian accent will serve him well as the new chief."

Byrne's career has been highlighted with many memories, promotions, opportunities and projects, but the one thing that has kept him at the Corps for 32 years are the people.

"I thank our employees here for being consummate public servants, for giving back to the citizens of Virginia, and for serving the nation and the U.S. Army," said Byrne.

Following tradition, the Harborfest Parade of Sail will salute thousands of onlookers around noon on Friday, June 11. While many onlookers will be stationed at vantage points along the Elizabeth River, the larger portion of the crowd is expected to be viewing from Town Point Park, where the vessels will dock. Visitors will be able to play "pirate for a day," climb aboard and tour authentic tall ships, look at the wares of local artists, and listen to live musical acts.

Harborfest began more than a quarter century ago when the Norwegian Tall Ship Christian Radich came to Norfolk, a waterfront community that had no city-owned property or docking facility. The ship was docked three blocks from Town Point at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 13,000 people crossed her gangway in just one and a half days. Over the next two years, City planners and leaders created berthing to accommodate more ships, and a waterfront public park was planned. Norfolk Harborfest was born.

Today, tall ships from all over the world frequently call on the city of Norfolk and nearly half-a-million visitors gather near the waterfront each year for this annual celebration of one of Hampton Roads' nautical heritage events.

"We were thrilled that Norfolk District was invited by Norfolk Festevents in March to have one of our vessels participate in Harborfest", said Billy Simmons, captain of the ADAMS II vessel.

"The ADAMS does a lot of work in the Hampton Roads harbor so it is a perfect fit," continued Simmons.

Norfolk District's ADAMS II vessel, equipped with state-of-the-art underwater surveying equipment, is used to survey water depths and locate obstructions that could potentially cause extensive damage to watercraft transiting federal navigation channels in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

"This is a great opportunity for the public to see an important aspect of the district's navigation mission," said Eric Legaspi, chief of the district's navigation support and survey section.

During Harborfest, ADAMS II is scheduled to dock at the Otter Berth, where the Spirit of Norfolk cruise ship docks. Members of the public are invited to visit June 11 (Friday) from 2-6 p.m. and June 12-13 (Saturday and Sunday) from noon until 6 p.m.

This meeting, which is always open to the public, will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn, 5921 Harbour View Boulevard in Suffolk.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• USACE Planning Process for Civil Works Projects
• Site Management Plan Update
• Munitions Response Update and Path Forward
• Public Involvement Plan (PIP)

The quarterly RAB meetings serve as the main public forum for discussing USACE remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the former Tidewater Community College Portsmouth Campus. In 1999, EPA placed FNOD on its National Priorities List.

In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input on the cleanup plans and efforts at the site directly to project team members of USACE, VDEQ and the EPA. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including community members, local business representatives, local and state officials, a Tidewater Community College (TCC) representative, TCC Real Estate Foundation, Inc., other property owners and FNOD interagency project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

The meetings and application for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District Projects Branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Sher Zaman, Baltimore District, is the FNOD project manager, (410) 962-3134; Sher.Zaman@usace.army.mil.

Additional project information is located at: http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/FNOD/.

Work on the project is slated to begin on June 2.

"We've been working on this project since 1998 so it's great to get this project going," said Robert Pretlow, project manager with the Norfolk District.

The project is the Corps' first comprehensive effort to restore wetlands lost along the Elizabeth River Basin since the end of World War II, will have several positive impacts on the creek, the Elizabeth River, and ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

"This is not a huge restoration project on the ground, but it is huge nevertheless because it is the first of (hopefully) many similar projects to come, said Craig Seltzer, technical team leader on the project. " This project will transform a highly impacted site to valuable Elizabeth River fish and wildlife habitat and will provide the impetus to continue moving in a positive direction."

The former wetlands area being restored were covered with three to seven feet of construction debris located adjacent to the city's boat ramp off Poindexter Street.

The project also includes the clearing and excavation of 3,300 cubic yards of fill material, importing 950 cubic yards of sand, constructing three 56-foot stone and sand containment structures, and planting more than 8,900 plants best suited to survive in a wetlands habitat.

"We believe that this project will compliment the ongoing shoreline restoration work within the Elizabeth River watershed and restore needed shoreline wetland resources," said David Mergen, an environmental scientist with the City of Chesapeake. "The ecological functions this project will restore to these impaired waters are critical to achieving our clean-up goals for the Chesapeake Bay."

The project was first authorized in 1996 as part of the Water Resources Development Act for the same year and the final studies were completed in 2000, which at that time federal funding was not available to bring the project to completion. It wasn't until the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that funds to complete the project were made available.

More information about the Scuffletown Creek Wetlands Restoration Project can be found on the Norfolk District's Website at www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/ScuffletownCrkWtlnd_Restoration/.

Hurricane season formally begins June 1, and the Virginia General Assembly created the sales tax holiday to ease the cost of creating an emergency supply kit. Tomorrow through May 31, the purchase of certain items is exempt from sales tax. Some retailers also are discounting items that are exempt from sales tax for additional savings. Customers can use manufacturer's coupons to lower the price of an item even more.

Among the items exempt from sales tax are: bottled water of all sizes and types, flashlights, battery-powered radios, batteries and first aid kits. Frequently asked questions about the tax holiday, a media kit and links to the Virginia Department of Taxation's complete list of tax-exempt items are available at http://www.readyvirginia.gov/stayinformed/sales_tax_holiday.cfm .

Dr. Verma, an endowed university professor of mathematics at Hampton University, Hampton, Va., is a first generation Asian-American of Indian descent, who has lived in the United States for the past 21 years.

In his presentation, "Diverse Leadership for a Diverse Workforce," Dr. Verma discussed with district employees the many reasons for celebrating Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, elaborating on how people of Asian and Pacific Island descent have greatly contributed to American society. He also revealed that among the nearly 30 different ethnicities represented by Asian-Pacific Americans, each group offers unique cultures, heritages and religions.

In 1977, Congress reserved the first 10 days of May to celebrate Asian-Pacific American heritage. Congress recognized that people of Asian and Pacific Island descent should be commemorated for their important contributions in shaping the history of the United States. In 1990, the celebration was expanded to a month-long observance in May.

Following his presentation, Dr. Verma conducted an audience quiz using the Personal Response System. PRS is a computer program that uses clickers to answer questions. He quizzed the audience on his presentation as well as their knowledge of significant Asian-Pacific Americans.

At the program's conclusion, district employees were treated to a food-tasting of Philippine cuisine, featuring pancit and ensemada.

Clean the Bay Day is an annual statewide event organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, in conjunction with municipalities, businesses and government agencies working together to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its rivers and streams. Every year since 1989, citizens throughout the Commonwealth have dedicated their time to clear debris from Virginia waterways. In 2009 alone, 7,022 volunteers removed 102 tons of debris from 475 miles of waterways.

Norfolk District employees are slated to clean up debris from the Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, or CIDMMA, which is operated and maintained by the district. CIDMMA is a 2,500-acre confined dredged material disposal site on the north side of Portsmouth, Va. It serves as an economical and environmentally sustainable repository for material dredged within the Hampton Roads harbor.

To date, 24 district employees have volunteered to pick up shoreline litter and collect debris from along the perimeter of CIDMMA, said Kristen Donofrio, biological scientist and district zone captain for the district's team of volunteers. In addition to the team of volunteers on-site at CIDMMA, members of the district's debris removal team are scheduled to patrol area waterways to pick up debris that could potentially damage vessels.

Following Clean the Bay Day clean-up, volunteers are permitted to stay on-site until 3:30 p.m. to take advantage of the many recreational uses of Craney, including fishing, crabbing, bird watching and hiking.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages the project's construction phase, which is on an accelerated timeline as mandated by the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure, or BRAC, authorization. Once completed, the Joint Task Force National Capital Region (medical) will staff and equip the facility.

To meet the accelerated construction timelines dictated by BRAC, the project is being constructed through an Integrated/Design/Bid/Build, or IDBB procurement. This innovative process uses a construction contractor well before traditional processes would have allowed to increase constructability, provide accurate cost/schedule impacts of design decision, and help improve coordination resulting in fewer design omissions and errors.

The hospital was designed by a joint venture team of HDR, Alexandria and Dewberry of Fairfax, Va. Both are AE design firms. It is being constructed by the joint venture comprised of Turner Construction of Arlington, Va., and Gilbane Building Company, based in Providence, RI.

Turner Construction is engaged in many types of construction projects, including office buildings, high-tech facilities, hospitals and healthcare facilities, hotels, retail, educational and cultural buildings. The Gilbane Building Company worked on such notable projects as the Baltimore Convention Center, the Baltimore Center for Innovative Technology, Union Station and The National Air and Space Museum.

The 1.275,000 sq. ft. military construction project features a six-level community hospital, including medical administration areas. The design includes 120 in-patient beds, a 10-bed intensive care unit, a 10-bed behavioral health inpatient unit, a cancer center, an emergency department, pharmacy, operative services center with 10 operating rooms, diagnostic centers such as pathology and radiology, and modular clinic space dedicated to outpatient services. Additional space is planned for future outpatient expansion. In addition to the square footage of the facility itself, the project includes two parking garages and surface parking for 3,500 parking spaces, a helipad, ambulance shelter and dedicated central utility plant.

The Fort Belvoir Community Hospital will become part of an integrated health care network providing world-class medical services to the nation's wounded Soldiers and their families. The hospital is one piece of a realignment designed to increase hospital and outpatient care to all service members and veterans under BRAC 2005. Other elements of the health care network include the realignment of Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Naval National Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

The new facilities will be jointly staffed rather than single service billets with a mix of military medical professionals from the Army, Navy and Air Force. This unprecedented and transformational decision ushers in a new model for health care delivery in the National Capital Region. While military hospitals have traditionally provided care to beneficiaries from all services, military treatment facilities were never staffed with a representative mix of medical personnel from the service medical departments.

"It is critical that every Virginian treat hurricane season seriously and understand how they could be affected by flooding, high winds and tornadoes during this time of year," said Governor McDonnell. "Those who live along coastal areas also need to learn if they are in a storm surge zone and determine where they would go if they have to evacuate. Everyone should take steps now to help keep their families safe."

We are partnering with Virginia retailers to get the word out to families about saving money while getting ready for emergencies, McDonnell continued. "Hurricane season is also flood season. Just because you don't live on the coastline, don't think you aren't affected. Past years have brought us heavy rains and slow-moving tropical systems that have caused extensive damage and loss of life," he said.

Individuals and families should have a family emergency plan and put together a kit of essential supplies including at least a three-day supply of bottled water and non-perishable food, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to hear emergency information and extra batteries.

Make a family emergency plan

If you had to leave, know in advance where you would go and where you could take your pets. Identify several places you could stay in an emergency – perhaps a friends' home in another town, a hotel or public shelter if necessary.

Choose an out-of-town friend or relative as a family point of contact, and be sure every family member has that person's phone number. Go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov for family plan worksheets. Click on Make a plan.

Get essential emergency supplies

Start with at least a three-day supply of bottled water and packaged and canned food. Add a manual can opener, flashlights and extra batteries, first aid kit and medications. Store in waterproof containers that have wheels or that you can lift easily. Get an emergency supply checklist at www.ReadyVirginia.gov. Click on Get a kit.

Listen to emergency information from officials

In case there is no power, you will need a battery-powered radio and extra batteries. Listen to local media for the best information about your area. Consider purchasing a battery-powered or hand-crank radio with a weather band so you can get information directly from the National Weather Service.

Also, be aware that flooding is the most common disaster in Virginia, and it is costly. Just an inch or two of water in a home or business adds up to about $8,000 in repairs. Homeowners' insurance policies don't cover flooding, so talk to your agent now about flood insurance. It usually takes about 30 days for a new flood policy to go into effect. See www.floodsmart.gov or call 1-800-427-2419.

Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

To help Virginians get supplies for hurricane and flood season, retailers are stocking up for the Commonwealth's Hurricane Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which runs May 25-31.

During those days, no sales tax will be charged on the purchase of many items that can be used to prepare homes and businesses for hurricane and flood season and to fill emergency supply kits. All retailers participate, according to Virginia law.

Batteries, flashlights, bottled water of all types and sizes, cell phone batteries, coolers, portable generators and many other useful items can be purchased with no sales tax added during the week. Many retailers will post signs listing all the allowable items so that Virginians can get ready for hurricane season, which begins June 1. For a complete list, go to www.ReadyVirginia.gov.

"The goal of this exercise is to build relationships, identify roles and responsibilities, and talk about the lessons learned from past events and how to move forward," said Lt. Col. Michael Darrow, Norfolk District's deputy commander.

"The world has changed since 9-11 and after Hurricanes Floyd, Isabel and Katrina, our citizens expect the Corps to be ready to respond in a time of crisis," said Darrow, who participated as the exercise commander.

In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel, which at one point was rated as a Category 5 hurricane, ravaged America's East Coast from North Carolina up to Pennsylvania. It left more than two dozen people dead, caused billions of dollars of damage, shut down electrical power to over a million customers, affected drinking water in parts of Virginia, brought the federal government to a halt for two days, and closed schools, businesses and public transportation.

Hurricane Isabel was the strongest Atlantic storm system to strike the East Coast of the United States since Hurricane Floyd in 1999. That storm, which was similar to Isabel in size and strength, killed more than 50 people and caused more than $4 billion in damage.

The disaster response and preparedness exercise allowed the Corps and state participants the ability to discuss planning and collaborate on ways to carry out domestic operations in conjunction with state agencies and local first responders, said Jan Van Houten, an emergency management specialist who has been with the Corps for more than 20 years. This particular exercise simulated a Level 2 hurricane striking the shoreline of Virginia's eastern shore.

The exercise began with the hurricane making landfall, which led to simulated recovery operations after the storm, followed closely with coordinated efforts between the Corps and local and state agencies to capture key lessons learned for future discussion and evaluation.

"Even though this training scenario is based on a hurricane response, the lessons we learn here would apply to any kind of mission we might receive," said exercise participant Tom Friberg, who is the district chief of operations, support section.

Friberg, a civil engineer with the Corps for more than 30 years, cited completed civil works flood reduction projects like the Virginia Beach Hurricane Protection and Richmond Floodwall Protection projects that require continued assessment and monitoring of their effectiveness.

The exercise also tested procedures the Corps and state agencies use to respond to requests for assistance from local municipalities that are funneled through the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, or VDEM, into the Corps' operations center.

"The only way we can be properly prepared to respond effectively in times of crises, is to plan, train and then exercise our procedures in coordination with our state partner agencies. This exercise is an important part of that preparation," stressed Van Houten.

"A general officer should have vision, leadership and character. DeLuca is an incredible leader in that capacity," said Van Antwerp during his opening remarks. "I want to continue to build our future and we are taking a giant step in that direction with this ceremony today."

During the ceremony, the promotion order was read, the old rank was removed and the new rank was placed on DeLuca's Army combat uniform by his family members, Tracy and Nicholas.

"This opportunity is being offered to me because of the sacrifice of American Soldiers and their families. That sacrifice is huge," said DeLuca. "I accept this on behalf of all the great people I have served with."

DeLuca became commander and division engineer of NAD on April 17, 2009. As commander, DeLuca oversees the planning, design and construction of projects to support the military, protect America's water resources and restore and enhance the environment within an 180,000-square-mile area along the Atlantic coast. This includes more than $7 billion in work to support the Base Realignment and Closure 2005 authorization. He is also responsible for a variety of division engineering and construction activities for international, federal, state and local governments and agencies in the United States and overseas, including in Europe and Africa.

USACE is one of 11 Army direct reporting units and is the world's largest public engineering, design and construction agency. Under the office of the Chief of Engineers in Washington, D.C., USACE is a worldwide network of eight divisions, 41 subordinate districts, two laboratories and one engineer research and development center providing quality, responsive engineering service. North Atlantic Division, headquartered at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., is comprised of six districts – Norfolk, Baltimore, Europe, New England, New York and Philadelphia.

The Defense Department (DoD), the Army and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are committed to managing the transition with minimal disruption to our extremely valuable civilian workforce and the critical missions we carry out around the globe, said DoD leadership.

The Army will transition most of its NSPS employees to the General Schedule (GS) during fiscal year 2010, which ends Sept. 30. USACE will transition to the GS system May 23, 2010.

"I am committed to an open, strategic and smooth transition from NSPS, and want to thank all of the employees and managers who have worked so hard to write clear objectives…and to promote and sustain a high performance culture in a fair and equitable manner while meeting the needs of our organization," said Lt. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, USACE commanding general.

Legislative mandates

To achieve successful transition into the GS performance management system, Section 1113 of the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 mandated that:

• No employee will suffer loss of pay upon conversion. For example, if an employee's pay falls between two steps, the employee will go to the higher step. Those whose pay falls above step 10 of their GS position will be on retained pay and will receive 50 percent of the January General Pay Increase until the GS pay system catches up with their retained pay.
• The Secretary of Defense must plan an enterprise performance management system and present it to Congress by Jan. 2012.
• The workforce must be trained. DoD and the Army have posted on-line information to help educate supervisors and employees about GS pay system rules and regulations (Chapter 53 of Title 5 of the United States Code) on classification, hiring and pay setting procedures (e.g., Time in Grade; short-term and temporary appointments; ‘rule of three' when hiring non-Government employees) and collective bargaining obligations. These resources include: Classifying Positions under GS: A Primer for Supervisors; GS 101; Guidance Governing NSPS Transition Period – Prior to Termination; NSPS to GS Transition Guide (Chapters 1 to 4); NSPS Transition Simulator; Performance Management: A Tool to Achieve Results; and Chapter 6: Frequently Asked Questions.

Effects on 2010 performance management plans

In general, USACE NSPS performance objectives were an improvement — they were SMART (specific; measurable; aligned with mission; realistic; and timed), and they helped employees identify how their duties and responsibilities help the Corps accomplish its mission and relate to the USACE Campaign Plan, said USACE officials, who added:

• We will continue to use NSPS performance objectives in the Total Army Performance Evaluation System (TAPES).
• As a result, all objectives must be approved in the NSPS Performance Appraisal Application (PAA) by May 22, 2010; otherwise employees will not have access to their performance information maintained in the PAA after conversion.
• All interim reviews should be communicated to the employee, then documented and returned to the employee via the PAA.
• For those transitioning out of NSPS, the current performance year consists of NSPS time (Oct. 1, 2009 – May 22, 2010) and GS/TAPES time (May 23, 2010 – Oct. 31, 2010) for a single performance year of Oct. 1, 2009 – Oct. 31, 2010.

Facts and figures

• Prior to conversion, there were 226,000 NSPS employees in DoD; 82,000 in the Army; and 17,500 USACE employees.
• More than 75 percent of the Army's NSPS employees will transition during FY10; USACE will transition May 23, 2010
• USACE exceptions include: Task Force Hope/Hurricane Protection Office; deployed employees; any organization approved for transition to the Acquisition Personnel System or the Science and Technology Reinvention Lab Demo Project.
• Additional information is available at:
  1. www.cpol.army.mil/library/general/nsps/
  2. www.cpms.osd.mil/nsps/faqs.html

Many everyday items are exempt. Shop for items on this list that have a price of $60 or less:

• Artificial ice, blue ice, ice packs, reusable ice
• Batteries, excluding car or boat batteries
• Battery-powered light sources, including flashlights and lanterns
• First aid kits
• Cell phone chargers
• Weather Band radios and NOAA Weather Radios
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radios, including radio with electrical power option
• Bottled water of any size, including flavored, carbonated and vitamin water
• Two-way radios
• Manual can openers
• Tarps, plastic sheeting, plastic drop cloths
• Bungee cords and rope
• Ground anchor systems or tie down kits
• Ratchet straps
• Duct tape
• Carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, fire extinguishers
• Empty gas, propane or diesel fuel tanks or containers
• Water storage containers such as buckets, barrels, canteens, coolers
• Storm shutter devices made for the prevention of storm damage (not plywood)

Shop for items on this list that have a sales price of $1,000 or less:

• Portable generators and generator power cords
• Inverters and inverter power cables.

Participating retail outlets will have information about the upcoming Virginia tax holiday. For more information, go to www.tax.virginia.gov/salestaxholiday. For information about getting ready for hurricane and flooding season in Virginia, visit www.ReadyVirginia.gov ]]> By Virginia Department of Emergency Management News Tue, 04 May 2010 11:30:00 -0400 http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/News/20100427_AsianPacificAmericanHeritageMonth.asp 04/27/2010 - NORFOLK, Va. — Throughout May, Americans will reflect on and honor the richly diverse and historical accomplishments made by fellow citizens, Asian and Pacific Islanders, who have shaped our country's history.

This year, Norfolk District employees can reflect on those accomplishments with Dr. Arun Verma, a native of India, and professor of mathematics at Hampton University, Hampton, Va., during a presentation 1:30 p.m., May 19, in the multipurpose room of the Waterfield Building.

For the second consecutive year, district specialists earned first-place recognition for their efforts using social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube to advance employee and public communication efforts.

The district also earned a first-place unit award for "Outstanding Command Blog" and employee Patrick Bloodgood captured an individual award in the television news report category. The second-place award recognized the district's Web-based Weekly Update.

In a message to Corps employees Feb. 24, Lt. Gen. Robert L. "Van" Van Antwerp, U.S. Army chief of engineers and commanding general of the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, announced the contest results and praised public affairs professionals for "raising the bar as we go from 'good to great' in communication."

During the annual contest, judges scored 212 entries in 30 categories, including print journalism, photography and broadcast products, for technical quality and value to Corps and U.S. Army communications.

"I'm thrilled with the contest results and am very proud of the team," said Mark Haviland, the district's public affairs chief. "Not only did the team work hard to establish a reputation as skilled communicators, but they also made a concerted effort to share their knowledge throughout the Corps and with other government agencies."

The Norfolk District's first-place entries, along with other Kassner contest winners, will now compete alongside first-place winners of other major Army commands in the Department of the Army's 2009 Major Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs Communication Competition.

The Dwight and Dorothy Humphrey Memorial Scholarship is one of several scholarships administered by the Portsmouth Community Foundation, a nonprofit community corporation created by and for the people of Hampton Roads.

Dwight Humphrey was the founder of the Fort Norfolk Credit Union and a former Norfolk District employee. Upon their passing the philanthropic Humphreys, who had no children, donated their entire estate to charities.

The Portsmouth Community Foundation, established in 1965, helps donors make a positive impact on the Hampton Roads community by making giving easy, flexible and effective. The Foundation's professional staff has an in-depth understanding of the issues, opportunities and resources available that shape the Hampton Roads community, and invests long-term to bring people and organizations together to address local issues and opportunities.

Corps family members seeking the Dwight and Dorothy Humphrey Memorial Scholarship must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

To apply for a scholarship, visit the Portsmouth Community Foundation, online at www.thepcf.org.

No part of Virginia is immune from tornadoes. They can hit at any time of the year and at any time of the day. There are two things that every family, business and organization should do to get ready:

• Get a NOAA weather radio with SAME alerts.
• Participate in the statewide tornado drill Tuesday, March 16, at 9:45 a.m.

"NOAA weather radios are the best way of getting tornado warnings," said Bill Sammler, National Weather Service (NWS) warning coordination meteorologist. "A network of radio stations broadcasts weather data from the nearest NWS office. When a tornado warning is issued, the weather radio sounds an alarm followed by information on where the storm is, which way it's moving, while telling people in its path to take cover, added Sammler."

SAME alerts stands for Specific Area Message Encoding, a feature that lets you program your radio for your area. NOAA weather radios are available at electronics and sporting goods stores, department stores, boating stores and via the internet. They come in battery-powered models and many also have AM/FM band. Some have strobe lights for the hearing impaired. Prices start at about $30.

Everyone should practice taking cover from tornadoes, stressed state officials. During the statewide tornado drill, which is a joint VDEM and NWS effort, schools, businesses, organizations and families are encouraged to participate.

At 9:45 a.m., the NWS will send a "test" tornado warning on NOAA weather radio. This will prompt radio and television stations to broadcast a test message. Some NOAA weather radios will not automatically turn on when receiving a "test" signal, so participants should turn on their radios approximately five minutes before the start of the drill.

"Emergency preparedness is everyone's responsibility," said Michael Cline, VDEM state coordinator. "Make it part of your family emergency plan to have a tornado drill at least once a year. The more you practice, the better able you will be to respond to an emergency."

To learn more about conducting a tornado drill, and to register your participation in the March 16 statewide drill, visit www.vaemergency.com.

This meeting, which is always open to the public, will be held at a new location — the Hilton Garden Inn, 5921 Harbour View Boulevard in Suffolk. The location change provides the RAB with more space for meetings.

Meeting topics will include status reports on the following:

• Site Management Plan Update
• Munitions Response Update and Path Forward
• Horseshoe Pond Update
• Main Burning Ground Update

The quarterly RAB meetings serve as the main public forum for discussing USACE remediation progress at the 975-acre former depot, located near the Tidewater Community College Portsmouth Campus. At these meetings, the FNOD RAB members provide input on proposed work plans and restoration efforts to an interagency project team consisting of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. Community members attending the RAB meeting are welcome to ask questions of any of the assembled team members. In 1999, EPA placed FNOD on its National Priorities List.

In 1997, the FNOD RAB was established. It is the main forum for the public to provide input on the cleanup plans and efforts at the site directly to project team members of USACE, VDEQ and the EPA. The RAB is comprised of a diverse group of stakeholders, including community members, local business representatives, local and state officials, a Tidewater Community College representative, property owners and FNOD project team members from USACE, VDEQ and the EPA.

The meetings and application for RAB membership are open to the public. Adriane James is the Norfolk District Projects Branch environmental section chief and RAB government co-chair, (757) 201-7701. Sher Zaman, Baltimore District, is the FNOD project manager, (410) 962-3134; Sher.Zaman@usace.army.mil. Additional project information is located at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/Library/Factsheets/FNOD/.

This year, Norfolk district employees can ruminate on those accomplishments with renowned international artist Ms. Rieneke Leenders of Virginia Beach. The presentation will be March 17 at 1:30 p.m., in the multipurpose room of the Waterfield Building.

The design inspiration of the Women's History Month observance poster comes from the National Women's History Project's 2010 theme, "Writing Women Back into History," said Peter Hemmer, a defense department illustrator. "The poster includes many of the names of women who have been honored by the women's history project in previous years, and the image is a sketch from a suffrage photo from the national archives," Hemmer added.

Women's history was virtually an unknown topic in the general public consciousness as recently as the 1970s, according to officials of the National Women's History Project. To address this historical oversight, added officials, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County, Calif. Commission on the Status of Women initiated a "Women's History Week" celebration for 1978.

International Women's Day, celebrated the week of March 8, was chosen as the focal point of the observance. The activities held were met with enthusiastic response, and within a few years, dozens of American schools planned special programs for Women's History Week, said project officials.

The efforts of many women paid off in 1981, as a congressional resolution declared a "National Women's History Week." Senator Orrin Hatch and Congresswoman Barbara Mikulski co-sponsored the first joint congressional resolution.

In 1987, the National Women's History Project petitioned Congress to expand the national celebration to the entire month of March. Since then, the National Women's History Month resolution has been approved with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate.

Real estate will locate and dust off several property maps to find the location of the property and will be able to answer questions, such as, "Where is the piece of property? Are we relinquishing all or part of it? Are we already leasing the property? Are there buildings on the property?"

Today, this task is made easier with Geographic Information System, or GIS, technology. The GIS can create multi-layered electronic maps, including all property information in one digital environment, saving project managers and the real estate support team considerable time and money.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, embraced GIS in 2005 to improve its real estate management program and quickly retrieve various kinds of property information and maps to help manage military projects.

The district's real estate staff has available electronic maps created with GIS technology instead of previous outdated methods such as printed and often outdated maps. The GIS method has proven to be a better tool for planning, appraising, acquiring, leasing, managing, analyzing and/or disposing properties.

The geographic information system is computer-based and capable of capturing, storing, analyzing and displaying location-based information as well as electronic maps, reports and charts.

This technology tool also takes information from various sources, such as aerial photographs or electronic data, and combines these layers of information to provide significant and more accurate analysis.

For example, Norfolk District currently takes information from various sources, such as historical printed maps, aerial photographs, wetlands data, building location information and environmental data. By taking this information and combining it with GIS data, multi-layered electronic maps are created – all together in one digital mapping environment.

Norfolk District's military properties include:

• Fee acquisitions: Property the district purchased for a fee.
• Acquired lesser interests: Property the district does not own but has the right to use, such as lease.
• Disposal: Property the district sells or transfers to another party.
• Outgrants: Government property used by others for non-government purposes, such as for road and utility easements, cell tower leases/licenses and school use.

"With GIS, the district's military projects property information can now be viewed in one digital mapping environment," said Jeff Swallow, district geographer. "This up-to-date information is easily accessed by computer and maps can be changed instantly, and we plan to expand this application to civil works projects in the future," he added.

Since GIS-created maps have multiple overlays and include varied sources of information, decision makers can see how this information affects each other.

This easy analysis was not possible in the past when printed maps were used. Printed maps had limited and sometimes outdated information, and were also a labor-intensive process to update.

"Originally, cartographers created these maps by hand, using pen and Mylar on drafting tables. They would then be stored in filing cabinets and map rooms," explained Swallow. "When these maps had to be changed it was done manually on the original Mylar map. The maps had to be located and laid out on a table to make the changes. Plus, all the information you needed was never on the same map," added Swallow.

To provide all Corps districts the benefits of GIS, Swallow is part of a USACE team that is creating a new and more "robust" Real Estate Management Information System (REMIS) that incorporates GIS. REMIS will help district's better manage real estate assets, according to Swallow.

In addition, linking REMIS with GIS will enable real estate staffs to easily access legal and financial accountability information about properties, providing a better method to track property finances for required financial reporting purposes.

In the end, each asset in REMIS will have a corresponding mapping location in the GIS as an analysis reference for the real estate community.

"These electronic maps are beneficial to the Corps' real estate staff and project managers because they are more accurate and provide current information. Corps real estate offices can now view land assets in a dynamic digital environment - think Google Earth - and make better decisions using this digital GIS technology," Swallow added.

To learn more about GIS and how to include GIS in your projects, contact the Norfolk District geospatial service section at (757) 201-7616.

An AED is a portable electronic device that automatically diagnoses potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation, or an irregular heartbeat. An AED treats patients through defibrillation -- the application of electrical therapy which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to reestablish an effective rhythm.

At approximately 11:45 a.m., Feb. 8, the superintendent of the Corps' Spillway Number 3 replacement contract work at Craney Island Dredged Material Management Area, Portsmouth, Va., called to report one of his employees had passed out. He said he had called 911 and would meet them at the Craney Island gate and lead them to the employee.

"I knew from past experience here that emergency response to our location can sometimes be confusing because of the remote location," said Carlos Quinones, a Craney Island civil engineering technician.

Quinones said he immediately grabbed the AED mounted on the wall and drove to the scene to see if he could assist. When he arrived at the scene, he saw the man lying on the ground and someone performing Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

His first aid/CPR training immediately took over.

"I approached the man and noticed that he was barely breathing. I instructed the young man, who was administering chest compressions, to stop. The young man, who was also the victim's stepson, appeared extremely distraught, but he told me he will help if needed," Quinones said.

Quinones said he tried to get the victim to speak, nod his head or even blink, but he could not respond. "His breathing was getting increasingly erratic, and after about two minutes, had stopped breathing," Quinones added.

Quinones then checked for a pulse and when there was none he unpacked the AED and instructed the stepson to lift his father's shirt so he could place the AED pads on his bare skin. Once the pads were in place, the AED scanned the victim's body and audibly informed Quinones to clear the patient and administer shock.

"After clearing the area of bystanders, I administered shock and observed a considerable convulsion of the victim's body. I then checked for signs of breathing and a pulse. The victim slowly began breathing and within 3-4 minutes, regained consciousness," said Quinones.

For the remaining 6-7 minutes before an emergency medical team arrived, Quinones kept talking to the victim to keep him conscious. Once the ambulance arrived the medical crew took over.

Quinones, an eight-year Corps veteran, who acts as a contracting officer representative and quality assurance inspector at Craney Island, said that while this incident was his first use of the AED, it is a very simple device requiring the user to follow very basic directions.

"The AED is not a panacea for all emergencies or even all cardiac incidents, but the full integration of these potentially life-saving devices into our district health and safety program is very important," stressed Quinones. "We'll use this incident as a teachable moment to inspire, motivate and continue our everyday goal of making Craney Island a safe working environment for all."

Quinones dropped by the hospital this morning to check up on his "recovering patient." Doctors anticipate a full recovery within two weeks.

Norfolk District employees were among the 2,636 thrill-seekers Feb. 6, who participated in the 18th Annual Polar Plunge despite temperatures in the 30s, snow flurries and winds gusting up to 30 mph.

"This year's polar plunge was a very challenging event to pull off considering Saturday's weather conditions, but we managed to do it in a safe fashion," said Rick Jeffrey, president of Special Olympics Virginia.

As a national annual fundraiser, polar plunge proceeds benefit children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics. Since its inception in 1993, more than 28,000 plungers have raised more than $5.5 million for Special Olympics Virginia.

The Corps team included the district commander, civil engineers, environmental scientists, construction representatives and interns who work at the Waterfield Building and field offices in Richmond, Va., Fort Eustis, Fort Monroe and Langley Air Force Base. The 17 Corps plungers raised more than $3,000 in support of Special Olympics Virginia.

Activities featured this year included the first-ever Pee Wee Plunge for youths 12 and under, live music and warm beverages, a corn-hole tournament, plunger costume contest, ice carving demonstrations and sand sculpting.

To support the event's "superhero" theme, Norfolk District's plunge team Corps donned hard hats and custom-made red capes, complete with the Army Corps of Engineers castle insignia.

This year's polar plunge marks the fourth time civil engineer Jon Reyes plunged into the icy Atlantic and his second time as team captain.

According to Reyes, the biggest challenge he faced organizing this year's district team was distance. As a resident engineer at the Fort Eustis, Va. field office, and nearly 40 miles from district headquarters in Norfolk, Reyes relied heavily on E-mail and phone communication to recruit team members.

Despite gusty winds, high waves, snow flurries and freezing rain, engineer-in-training and first-time plunger Drew Johnson was undeterred.

"During and after the plunge, I couldn't really feel anything at all. Although the water was surprisingly refreshing, the worst part was the snow-covered sand and my feet staying cold … it felt like it was 10 degrees. I didn't regain feeling in (my feet) for a few hours, but it was definitely worth it," said Johnson.

Johnson is quick to add that thousands of enthusiastic plungers were inspired by the opportunity to raise funds that benefit nearly 9,500 athletes throughout the Commonwealth.

Construction representative Robert Graham agreed, adding, "I endured the insanity for a great cause!"

The guest speaker will be Mr. Marvin Lake, president of Crispus Attucks Cultural Center, Inc., and former public editor of the Virginian-Pilot. Lake, who was known as the newspaper's arbiter of fairness, accuracy and balance, will share his thoughts and experiences in keeping with this year's theme: "History of Black Economic Empowerment."

Lake will also host a 30-minute locally-produced Public Broadcasting System (PBS) documentary, "Church Street: Harlem of the South." He will discuss the emergence of Norfolk, particularly Church Street, as the hub of economic empowerment for African Americans of Hampton Roads during the 1940s, 50s and 60s.

"In fact, Norfolk was known as the ‘Harlem of the South' and was one of the nation's standard-bearers in gauging economic wealth for African Americans," said Gregory E. Headen, the district's equal employment opportunity manager.

The award-winning film was produced by Vandora Williams, one of the district's small business historically black colleges and universities contractors from Hampton University.

Another documentary being aired nationwide during February on PBS is "For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots." The two-part documentary, produced with the Army's cooperation, tells the untold story of African Americans in the military throughout the nation's history.

Hosted by Halle Berry, narrated by Avery Brooks and introduced by retired Gen. Colin Powell, the four-hour documentary begins at the dawn of U.S. history to tell the story of African Americans who risked their lives to win and protect American freedom while striving to acquire it themselves.

In addition to film footage and photos, "For Love of Liberty" uses letters, diaries, speeches, journalistic accounts, historical text, and military records to document the accomplishments of African Americans who served in the military since the republic's earliest days. Their personal stories give a moving account of service and sacrifice, from the Revolutionary War -- whose first casualty was a black man, Crispus Attucks -- to today's war against global terrorism.

"It is a wonderful story … of a group of Americans who never lost their love of this country, never lost their faith in it or what the founding fathers had promised them," said former Secretary of State Colin Powell."

Praised by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, "For Love of Liberty" is much more than a collection of historical facts and figures. It shares the compelling personal stories of men and women who make up the fabric of an inspiring narrative. Their first-hand accounts are told by a who's who of prominent entertainers and public figures.

The entertainers include: Morgan Freeman, Mel Gibson, Susan Sarandon, Louis Gossett Jr., Ossie Davis, Robert Duvall, Danny Glover, Jeffrey Wright, Sam Elliot, and Delroy Lindo. Sound bytes are included from Walter Cronkite, Isaac Hayes, John Goodman, Jesse L. Martin, Peter Coyote, Ice-T, James Garner, Robert Townsend, Alan Rickman and Roscoe Lee Browne.

The words they deliver convey an epic saga of perseverance and triumph, which the film brings to life through rare photographs, archival materials, re-enactments, personal memorabilia, historical paintings, and posters. Also included is original footage of hundreds of monuments, battlefields, memorials, and other historic sites in more than 20 states and throughout Europe.

"Our goal is to raise public consciousness about this extraordinary and little-known aspect of our nation's history, and I'm deeply indebted to all those who've supported our commitment to get this story told," said Frank Martin, the film's director. "The theme that echoes across the centuries -- the price of liberty -- is one that is relevant to all Americans," Martin added.

Acclaimed actor Louis Gossett Jr., one of the film's executive producers, said: "‘For Love of Liberty' has the power to forever change perceptions about the vital role African Americans have played during the entire course of U.S. military history. I'm honored to be part of this important and ground-breaking film, and thankful to all my fellow actors who have helped to bring this story to life."

For more information and broadcast schedule dates, visit www.forloveofliberty.org.

The USACE project manager and contractor will coordinate the establishment of a temporary 2,500-yard exclusion zone with the U.S. Coast Guard, Langley Air Force Base and local emergency responders prior to the detonation. Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which manages the Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge, will be offshore to enforce the exclusion zone.

Additionally, the Coast Guard will publish a broadcast notice to mariners to inform the maritime community of this and future detonations. The on-scene coordinator will monitor VHF channel 16 and 13 and marine broadcasts will air every 15 minutes, one hour prior to closing an area and throughout the detonation sequence. The on-scene coordinator may also expand or reduce the overall size of the exclusion zone as conditions warrant.

This on-site detonation is part of the USACE two-year, two-phase remedial investigation and feasibility study of the former aerial bombing range.

Phase I of USACE fieldwork was conducted from January through early April 2009. The fieldwork consisted of munitions investigation in the northern portion of the refuge and along the southern shoreline using metal detecting instruments. This process helps identify areas that may require future cleanup work.

Phase II fieldwork began Jan. 4, 2010 and is focusing on the interior of the southern portion of the property. Work will continue through March, and consists of investigation of munitions and collection of soil, sediment and water samples for testing.

"The primary focus of the remedial investigation is to characterize the nature and extent of Munitions and Explosives of Concern (MEC) and Munitions Constituents, or MC, at the refuge," said George Follett, Corps project manager.

Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge is formerly known as the Plum Tree Island Range and was used for aerial bombing and gunnery practice from 1917 through the late 1950s. The former bombing range, which consisted of approximately 3,200 acres, was transferred to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1972.

With the exception of waterfowl hunting on adjacent Cow Island, which was not part of the bombing range, the refuge is closed to all public use due to the potential for encountering unexploded ordnance.

For more information on ongoing fieldwork at Plum Tree Island, visit the Norfolk District Plum Tree Island Website.

Tops In Blue will be presenting "To Dream," an action-packed performance of music and dance featuring Latin sounds, country music and pop hits, as well as songs from popular movies and Broadway shows.

Combined with lights, elaborate costumes and precise choreography, it's a concert sure to please everyone, say organizers.

Tops In Blue features the "best of the best" of military talent, with members from 15 U.S. states and several overseas military bases. Representing a wide variety of career specialties, they are an elite group of entertainers selected from active duty units throughout the Air Force.

The group will visit more than 120 locations in the U.S. and 25 foreign countries during the tour, continuing a 56-year tradition of performing at all U.S. military bases. The tour also includes entertaining deployed troops in Iraq, Qatar, Afghanistan and Kuwait.

All are welcome to enjoy a free night of entertainment. For more information, residents can visit topsinblue.com or contact the Langley Air Force Base Community Center at 764-2983.

The guest speaker will be Mr. Marvin Lake, who retired in 2007 as the public editor of the Virginian-Pilot. He was known as the newspaper's arbiter of fairness, accuracy and balance, and will share his thoughts and experiences in keeping with this year's national theme: "History of Black Economic Empowerment."

The program will also feature a 30-minute film, entitled "Church Street: Harlem of the South," showcasing black economic prosperity of downtown Norfolk, specifically Church Street.

The film was produced by Vandora Williams, who is one of the district's small business historically black colleges and universities contractors from Hampton University. Lake will talk about a time when Church Street was the black economic mecca not only for Norfolk, but Hampton Roads, and nationally known for its entertainment industry from the 40s through the 60s.

"In fact, Norfolk was the standard-bearer in gauging economic wealth for black Americans," said Gregory E. Headen, the district's equal employment opportunity manager.

In his proclamation honoring African American/Black History Month, President Barack H. Obama wrote: "In the centuries since African Americans first arrived on our shores, they have known the bitterness of slavery and oppression, the hope of progress, and the triumph of the American dream. African American history is an essential thread of the American narrative that traces our nation's enduring struggle to perfect itself.

"Each February, we recognize African American History Month as a moment to reflect upon how far we have come as a nation, and what challenges remain. This year's theme, "The History of Black Economic Empowerment," calls upon us to honor African Americans who overcame injustice and inequality to achieve financial independence and the security of self empowerment that comes with it," Obama added.

American educator and historian Dr. Carter G. Woodson (1875-1950), considered a pioneer in the study of African American history, is given much of the credit for Black History Month, and has been called the "Father of Black History." The son of former slaves, Woodson spent his childhood in New Canton, Va., working in coalmines and quarries.

He received his education during the four-month term that was customary for black schools at the time. At 19, having taught himself English fundamentals and arithmetic, Woodson entered high school, where he completed a four-year curriculum in two years.

He went on to receive his Master's degree in history from the University of Chicago, and earned a PhD from Harvard University.

Disturbed that history textbooks largely ignored America's black population, Woodson took on the challenge of writing black Americans into the nation's history. To do this, Woodson established the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History. He also founded the group's widely respected publication, the Journal of Negro History. In 1926, he developed Negro History Week.

Woodson believed that America "should emphasize not Negro history, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race, hate and religious prejudice."

Woodson chose the second week of February for the celebration because it marks the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the black American population:

• Frederick Douglass (February 14), an escaped slave who became one of the foremost black abolitionists and civil rights leaders in the nation.
• President Abraham Lincoln (February 12), who signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery in America's confederate states

In 1976, Negro History Week expanded into Black History Month. The month is also sometimes referred to as African American History Month.

During the four-month intensified surveillance/monitoring period, which began in mid-October 2009, the reservoir level was lowered while immediate and short-term risk reduction measures and studies were implemented. The lower reservoir increased available storage for rare flood events.

Significant items accomplished and documented by the Corps during the evaluation period included:

• Completion of the dam safety consultant's independent assessment of existing data and condition of the dam – It was determined there was no evidence of increasing seepage at the dam and the current pool elevation could be safely returned to the normal conservation pool elevation.
• Completion of internal review of the instrumentation data – It was determined there was no evidence of increasing seepage or unusual conditions at the dam.
• Completion of four months of increased monitoring/surveillance and data collection - No unusual or unexpected conditions were observed by the Norfolk District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
• Completion of additional remote monitoring equipment installation on project instrumentation - During the return to the normal conservation pool level, the Corps will continue the increased monitoring/surveillance and data collection.

The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (NAO) is executing the overall plan as briefed Oct. 2, 2009. The intensified surveillance/monitoring conducted to date indicate no unusual conditions and Gathright Dam is functioning as designed. NAO will issue the Jan. 2010 report on Feb. 5, 2010.

For more information about Gathright Dam and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, please visit our web site at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/

The Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, Route 1 of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, will close to vessel traffic during the Great Bridge lock closure Feb. 9. The Great Bridge lock closure is required to facilitate the changing of lock gates at the Great Bridge facility.

Boaters desiring to transit the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway during the closure may use the Dismal Swamp Canal, Route 2. The Dismal Swamp Canal and the Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal form alternative routes along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway between Chesapeake Bay and Albemarle Sound.

The Dismal Swamp Canal, maintained to a depth of 6 feet, has a normal operating schedule for openings at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. This schedule is subject to change during adverse weather conditions.

Bridge and lock operators monitor marine radio channel 13.

For additional information, call Joel Scussel, Norfolk District of the Army Corps of Engineers, at (757) 201-7642.

The bridge, located on the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, Va. borders, where Mount Pleasant Road turns into North Landing Road, closed Nov. 16, 2009. Using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, managed the project.

The two stimulus contracts were awarded in late August 2009, one to Luna Development, an 8-A contractor out of Norfolk, and one to U.S. Facilities, a minority-owned contractor based in Philadelphia.

Luna Development work included additional security and safety upgrades to the bridge house, upgrade bridge house windows, doors, roofing, AC and heat (energy efficient), and installing an onsite storage building.

US Facilities work included removal and replacement of the existing bridge surface (steel grid and concrete fill), some structural steel work, paint structural steel and bridge, repair some underwater support pilings, repair concrete abutments, and replacement of traffic control gates, lights and poles.

On Jan. 12, the concrete surface of the bridge was placed; it was delayed from the scheduled placement due to extremely cold weather this month. The concrete was heated and cured for seven days and passing test results were received Jan. 20.

The bridge has been inspected and final punch list items and adjustments are being completed. The detour will be removed Jan. 22, and the bridge opened by 2 p.m.

These are permanent sanctuaries -free from fishing - creating the second largest such network in the world. This network functions as a Marine Protected Area benefiting the ecosystem with increased oyster larval production throughout the river, improved juvenile fish habitat, and better water quality. The team will continue to collaborate between federal, state, local governments, academia and local non-profit organizations to expand the sanctuary to at least an additional 40 acres.

The ceremony, which was the highlight of the Lynnhaven River Now's annual social, was held at the Steinhilber's Restaurant in Virginia Beach.

The award is the only environmental award of its kind given by the White House, and Col. Andy Backus, commander of the Norfolk district, accepted the plaque on behalf of the Corps.

Individual plaques were also presented by Mr. Doug Lamont, assistant secretary of the Army (project planning and review) to: Mr. David Schulte, a marine biologist who has been with the Norfolk district for nine years; Mr. Clay Bernick, on behalf of the City of Virginia Beach; Mr. Jack Travelstead from the Virginia Marine Resources Commission; Mrs. Karen Forget of Lynnhaven River Now; and Mr. Rom Lipcius, a professor at the College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science.

Schulte, who is also a doctoral student at the College of William and Mary, Virginia Institute of Marine Science, has been involved in the restoration project since the Corps initiated the planning effort in 2004.

"If it wasn't for the City of Virginia Beach getting the shells we would not have been able to get started" said Schulte.

Karen Forget, executive director of Lynnhaven River Now, said, "This award will help shed light and bring awareness to the water quality of the Lynnhaven River and potentially other tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay."

The Corps and its partners, all of whom, along with endorsement of the Commonwealth of Virginia, were instrumental in starting, overlooking and continuing the efforts once the U.S. Army Corps Lynnhaven Oyster Restoration Project started. The first Corps-built reefs were constructed in 2007, the next were built in 2008.

The Norfolk District has been involved with native oyster restoration in the Chesapeake Bay since 1999. The first two projects were completed in the lower Rappahannock River and in the Tangier Sound. The projects were designed to primarily augment the commercial oyster fishery but had limited success. The team changed their strategy – one geared towards ecological restoration with hopes of developing self-sustaining oyster populations on restored reefs. Reefs were built at higher relief from the bottom to better mimic historical oyster reef structure in the hope that they would perform better than the prior designs, which are to scatter a thin shell layer a few inches thick over the bottom or to build a series of six foot tall mounds in an "upside down egg-shell crate" configuration. The team also decided to focus on a tributary-by-tributary fashion, starting with small, tidally retentive systems most likely to provide oyster recruits for restored reef habitat.

This new strategy was implemented in the Great Wicomico River in 2004. "The restored reefs are now performing better than we could have hoped," said Schulte.

"Lynnhaven reefs are following on track and we expect similar projects to be as successful in several years," said Schulte. Schulte added that based on studies and the success of the sanctuaries in the Lynnhaven and Great Wicomico Rivers, intertidal near- shore reefs are the next direction for oyster restoration in the Lynnhaven River.

For more information on the continuing collaborative efforts of oyster restoration, visit the U.S. Army Corps if Engineers, Norfolk District, website at http://www.nao.usace.army.mil/

Kidd, a Virginia Wesleyan College student studying communications with a focus on media studies and journalism, supplements his academic studies with valuable work experience at the Corps' Norfolk district.

As an intern with the emergency management office, Kidd has gained exposure to the national response framework and the role of federal agencies in preparation for emergencies.

"Before this internship, I knew nothing about emergency management, but since this past summer and winter break, my eyes have really been opened to the importance of being prepared for severe weather," said Kidd.

Last summer Kidd attended a three-day public information officer's training course in Lynchburg, Va., provided by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Additionally, Kidd participated in a Point of Distribution (POD) functional exercise organized by the City of Virginia Beach. For Kidd, the exercise was an in-depth look into the planning, operations and demobilization stages of distributing emergency supplies.

"The POD training was a great exercise to see. Actually, seeing it gave me a clear understanding of the preparations that go into emergency management," said Kidd.

In the event of an emergency, a POD site houses truckloads of water, ice, ready-to-eat meals and emergency supplies in strategic locations throughout the Commonwealth.

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency Nov. 11 due to severe flooding in the southeastern areas of the state. A coastal storm, fed by moisture from the remnants of Tropical Storm Ida resulted in the activation of the Emergency Operations Center to mobilize agencies, including the Army Corps, in preparation for severe flooding and power outages.

While severe flooding swept the Hampton Roads area, Norfolk District's Twitter and Facebook Web sites provided updates to district employees, citizens and stakeholders about accountability procedures, weather conditions and road closures.

Before returning to Virginia Wesleyan College for the spring 2010 semester, Kidd is updating the district's hurricane response plan with and emphasis on strategic communication responsibilities, which details protocols, preparations and procedures during emergencies such as the recent flooding.

Kidd's update to Norfolk District's hurricane response plan incorporates innovative and integrated methods of dealing with emergencies, including an analysis of the latest Web 2.0 tools.

Since joining the Norfolk District team in May 2009, Kidd's internship experiences with the emergency management office allowed him to fulfill Virginia Wesleyan's internship requirement.

When the spring 2010 semester starts Jan. 25, Kidd will continue his communications studies. Kidd is enrolled in media law, online journalism and advertising courses in addition to a journalism workshop for the school newspaper.

Kidd is slated to receive his bachelor's degree in communications in June 2011.

The bridge, located on the Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, Va. borders, where Mount Pleasant Road turns into North Landing Road, closed Nov. 16, 2009. Using American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, is overseeing the project.

The two stimulus contracts were awarded in late August 2009, one to Luna Development, an 8-A contractor out of Norfolk, and one to U.S. Facilities, a minority owned contractor