Week of May 29, 2023
California Water Agencies Propose $3.2B Plan for Central Valley Flood Prevention Initiatives
California officials are advocating for a $3.2B investment to protect the Central Valley — 18,000 square miles of flat land in the center of the state — which houses some of the populations most vulnerable to flooding in the nation, along the San Joaquin River.
The California Dept. of Water Resources and the Central Valley Flood Protection Board are requesting a joint investment of $25-$30 billion from local, state, and federal levels, including preventative investments over the next 30 years, as outlined by the Central Valley Flood Protection Plan (CVFPP) 2022 Update.
Updated every 5 years, the current CVFPP calls for the repair and rehabilitation of over 480 miles of urban and non-urban levees, new collaborations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and a particular focus on flood prevention in the San Joaquin River region.
Regional flood priorities, safety plans, evacuation plans, training, and supplies made accessible by the CVFPP are crucial for rural and agricultural communities in California.
Past multi-level governmental collaboration – such as the one proposed – has proven beneficial for cities like Sacramento, which has seen significant investments in flood control infrastructure.
Debt Ceiling Deal Advances Pipeline and Tweaks Environmental Rules
Despite weeks of negotiations, the White House and House Republicans were unable to reach a comprehensive agreement to overhaul environmental regulations and streamline federal permitting as part of their debt ceiling deal, instead settling for limited changes that could simplify and expedite some project reviews.
The legislation, approved late Wednesday, includes provisions to speed up infrastructure projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) designating one federal agency to develop and schedule environmental reviews for each project and shorten the time frame for assessments.
Agencies would be given one year to complete most reviews, and projects deemed to have complex impacts on the environment must be reviewed within two years. The White House described the legislation as making improvements to the permitting process while leaving core protections intact.
While some opponents argue that the agreement weakens environmental reviews and limits public input on fossil fuel projects, administration officials warn that the yearslong process of awarding permits for infrastructure projects needs to be streamlined if the country is going to build enough transmission lines and clean energy projects to reach ambitious targets for slashing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
May 30, 2023
SilverEdge Government Solutions (SilverEdge), Maryland-based cybersecurity, software, and intelligence solutions platform serving the U.S. Defense and Intelligence Communities and a platform company of Godspeed Capital (Godspeed), has acquired Gardetto Engineering, LLC (Gardetto), a Maryland-based engineering services company specializing in digital design, hardware design, and systems engineering. The acquisition of Gardetto will expand SilverEdge’s ability to offer more capabilities and services, such as digital design capabilities and engineering services, to the Defense and Intelligence communities.
May 30, 2023
Deltek, a Virginia-based company specializing in enterprise software for project-based businesses, has acquired Replicon, a Canada-based provider of knowledge workforce management solutions. The acquisition of Replicon will strengthen Deltek’s portfolio of enterprise software and information solutions for project-based organizations in the coming weeks, pending regulatory approval. The move will combine Deltek’s software, advisory, and maintenance solutions and services to accounting, consulting, engineering, and technology firms, as well as government contractors with Replicon’s project time tracking, knowledge workforce management, and PSA solution suite.
May 30, 2023
Altus Fire and Life Safety (Altus), a New York-based full-service fire and life safety platform owned by AE Industrial Partners, LP (AEI), has acquired Crime Intervention Alarm (CIA), a Pennsylvania-based provider of installation, monitoring, inspection, and service for security and surveillance systems, access control and fire systems. The acquisition of CIA will strengthen Altus’ services portfolio with a diverse range of critical security and life safety solutions while also expanding its presence into Pennsylvania and deeper into the mid-Atlantic region.
May 30, 2023
SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA), an Arizona-based environmental consulting firm, has acquired ALO Advisors LLC (ALO Advisors), an international management consulting firm focused on sustainability advisory services for clients across industries. The acquisition of ALO Advisors will strengthen SWCA’s position as a strategic advisor and expand its presence globally by providing end-to-end support to clients from strategy to science to implementation within services such as planning, natural and cultural resources management, permitting, regulatory compliance, water resources, ecological restoration, and disaster and resilience.
June 1, 2023
The Kleinfelder Group, Inc. (Kleinfelder), a California-based engineering, design, construction management, construction materials inspection and testing, and environmental professional services firm and portfolio company of Wind Point Partners, has acquired Doucet & Associates, Inc. (Doucet), a Texas-based provider of civil engineering, environmental permitting, surveying, and construction management services. The acquisition of Doucet will enhance Kleinfelder’s strategic growth and service offerings in Texas.
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