Revitalizing the Chicago Area Water System

Over 100 miles of rivers and canals make up the Chicago Area Waterway System (CAWS), which connects Lake Michigan with the Mississippi River and includes the Chicago River, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, the Cal-Sag Channel, and the Calumet Rivers. This complex water system has a long history of industrialization,...

Six ways to prevent the spread of invasive plant species

Insights from an environmental practitioner

As environmental practitioners, we have respect for ecological communities and feel a responsibility to protect them. By implementing some basic best management practices into our daily work routines, we can make big changes in our environment and stop the spread of non-native invasive species. Environmental practitioners visit a multitude of...

FET Environment 2018 Conference & Exhibition

OBG recently took part in the Federation of Environmental Technologists, Inc. (FET) Environment 2018 Conference and Exhibition on October 23-25 in Pewaukee, Wisconsin. The annual conference brings together a diverse mix of industries, consultants, regulators, service providers, educators, and students to focus on educating and developing excellence in environmental professionals. During...

Annual Georgia Environmental Conference 2018

OBG recently sponsored and took part in the 2018 Georgia Environmental Conference (GEC) on August 22-24, 2018 in Jekyll Island, Georgia. This annual event brings together environmental professionals to share knowledge and ideas to solve environmental challenges in Georgia and across the Southeast.  During the conference,&...

Protecting New York lakes from harmful algal blooms

Over the last decade, harmful algal blooms have been increasing in prevalence across New York State and continue to threaten drinking water quality and recreational activities nationwide. In New York, more than 150 water bodies experienced HABs in 2017, resulting in more than 100 beach closures. The Threat A harmful algal bloom, often...

Pilot-testing an air sparge system for arsenic removal

A long-term cleanup of the former Vineland Chemical Company has undergone additional work over the last two years to address a re-contaminated watershed area. Since the early 1990s, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked to remove arsenic-contaminated groundwater, soil, and sediment from the south-central New Jersey site....

International Conference on Coastal Engineering 2018

OBG recently took part in the 36th International Conference on Coastal Engineering 2018 (ICCE 2018) on July 30-August 3, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. During the conference, OBG’s team of experts shared how OBG’s multi-disciplinary engineering and project delivery solutions are addressing resiliency, vulnerability, and other unique challenges presented by highly comp...

NCMA Environmental, Energy, Health & Safety School 2018

A proud business partner of the North Carolina Manufacturers Alliance (NCMA), OBG recently took part in the NCMA’s Environmental, Energy, Health & Safety (EEHS) School on August 6-7, 2018 in Raleigh, North Carolina. During the conference, OBG’s Bob Bell, PE, a water infrastructure expert, delivered a presentation on industrial wast...

OBG's 2017 Year in Review

Growth & Performance

The 2017 Annual Report is overwhelmingly positive and provides a window into OBG’s strong culture, talented leadership and people, and tremendous drive for results. Within this report, you will see examples of meaningful engagement shared by our people and our clients, as well as highlights of thought leadership, innovative and in...

PFAS regulations develop for Michigan drinking water and fish consumption

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic compounds considered as emerging contaminants. PFAS are manufactured for use in many applications, from firefighting foam to food packaging and many other consumer and industrial products. PFAS are ubiquitous in the environment, and there currently is a lack of scientific...