Los Angeles was an oil town

Los Angeles Oil Drills Give Way to Skyline Views

(from Urbanize.LA)

One can also say that LA oil drills gave way to new skyline views as well as the birth of environmental engineering.

Long before becoming the epicenter for the film industry, Los Angeles was an oil town. Though few remnants remain today, a large oil field once cut a broad swath through the heart of Los Angeles, running from just south of present-day Dodger Stadium to Vermont Avenue in what is now Koreatown.  It began large-scale operations in the early 1890s, before peaking at the turn of the 20th century and falling into decline as development encroached into its territory over ensuing decades.

The photo (above) from the USC Digital Archive was taken near the intersection of Edgeware Road and Court Street in the first decade of the 1900s.  It depicts oil production in the Westlake area near the era’s peak.  Note the small home at 1274 Court Street at the terminus of Edgeware.  The after image below, taken in 2018 by Laurie Avocado, shows this same view in a modern context.  Gone are the abundance of oil drills, replaced by the skyscrapers of Downtown Los Angeles.  The lone remnant of the century-old image is that same house at 1274 Court Street.

Terra-Petra leades Underground Storage Tank removal

Terra-Petra leads another successful underground storage tank (UST) removal

Terra-Petra was recently contracted to consult and remove 5 underground storage tanks (UST) and one hydraulic lift on a site in Lynwood, California.  These tanks have been left dormant for many years on an old gas station that is not currently operating.  Each tank contained a limited amount of liquid, which requires special permitting, special pumping treatment, and special handing and distribution.  The tanks are a variety of sizes, ranging from 100 gallons to 500 gallons, and located a depths ranging from 10 feet below surface to 20 feet below surface.

Underground storage tanks (USTs) are considered abandoned when regulated substances are no longer stored within those USTs and/or when monitoring requirements of the Operating Permit, Title 23 of California Code or Regulations, and California Health and Safety Code 25298 are not being implemented. Various risks can arise from abandoned USTs when they are not properly closed in place such as the possibility of leaked hazardous substances and contamination to the environment. Therefore it is important that sites with (possible) presence of abandoned USTs be addressed in order to avoid the consequences.

The permitting process through LAFD went very smoothly and efficiently (Terra-Petra has a great relationship with the agency).  The process, from start to finish, took approximately 5-working days, including the required onsite soil testing as the tanks are physically removed.

Check out the photos taken on the jobsite here:

erra-Petra Silver Sponsor IVCIA

Terra-Petra Supports IVCLA as a “Silver Sponsor”

Last week, the IVCLA gathered to get to know Global Ties U.S.‘ new President, Katherine Brown, at its Citizen Diplomacy Celebration. As a IVCLA Silver Sponsor, Terra-Petra is (once again) looking forward to continuing to support the IVCLA as its partners as they continue working on Citizen Diplomacy in Los Angeles. Follow on Facebook and Twitter: #CelebrateCitizenDiplomacy

Terra-Petra attends ICSC RECon once again—with 2018 highlights

Retail real estate professionals and developers remained upbeat at RECon 2018, as most (if not all) felt that the “doom and gloom” of previous years is now a thing of the past. Most retailers, owners and developers, it seemed from our own reaching out to attendees on the Expo floor, are continuing to move forward.  This year’s conference fell over the Jewish holiday Shavuot, which may have potentially impacted attendance levels, but ICSC said that ReCon attendance was on par with previous years.

Read about some of highlights that real estate professionals shared during the second day on the showroom floor on www.nreionline.com.

Terra-Petra’s senior executive team was excited to be at ICSC RECon at the Las Vegas Convention Center –once again!

Former NFL player Michael Strahan gave the opening keynote at this year’s RECon event.  The Football Hall of Famer, Two-time Emmy winner and Super Bowl Champion spoke at the Westgate Hotel on Sunday, May 20. Other speakers included Daymond John, CEO & Founder of FUBU and Star of ABC’s Shark Tank, and Jennifer Fleiss, CEO & Co-Founder of Code Eight and Co-Founder of Rent the Runway.  A number of conference sessions, professional development workshops, covered everything from “How to Attract E-Commerce Brands” to “Vacant Storefront to Lessons Learned From the 2017 Hurricane Season.” Read about more ICSC RECon 2018.

Highlights from the ReCon 2018 Expo floor and Terra-Petra booth N1418….

Business card in the bowl for a chance to win!

Terra-Petra booth at ICSC ReCon 2018

ICSC ReCon 2018 – Expo floor was packed!

 

 

 

Terra-Petra makes Top 20 once again in 2018 – on LA Business Journal’s Top Environmental Engineering and Consulting Firms List

Los Angeles Business Journal ranks Terra-Petra as the #18 Environmental Engineering and Consulting Firm in Los Angeles County for 2018.

Terra-Petra, one of the “newer firms” on the LABJ List, has been in the environmental engineering industry for just over 20 years, with many successful projects to lean on. The company started its operations focusing on the Los Angeles market to address the local “methane concerns” that quickly became a big issue. Its in-house experts were a big part of the team that developed the local Los Angeles Methane Code.

Terra-Petra’s expertise has always involved the ability to provide exceptional solutions for methane related issues, including soil gas investigations to determine level of risk. We are adept at recommending the right mitigation strategy and designing the right mitigation system to fit the client’s needs as well as providing the necessary inspections to ensure compliance and system integrity. Over the last ten years in particular, Terra-Petra has become to be recognized as the leading expert in methane and soil gas arena. As methane experts, we’ve also become experts at below grade waterproofing and drainage, having launched our sister-company Building Waterproofing Experts in 2010.

Terra-Petra’s Management Philosophy approach is simple, says President Kevin Buchanan,  “Make every client’s life easier.” The City of Los Angeles has written a very complex Methane Code. We have found that most of our clients, as well as the members of the design and construction teams, have no experience dealing with a property affected by this code–which impacts every aspect of the project. For this reason, we take the position of being a Methane Educator as well as Methane Problem Solver.

Terra-Petra is headquartered in Downtown Los Angeles and operates satelite offices in the cities of San Francisco, Tacoma, Denver, and New York City to serve clients throughout the nation and globally.

Los Angeles Business Journal rankings are based on number of employees in L.A. County among environmental engineering and consulting firms.

The Terra-Petra Leadership Spotlight

Daniel Valdez, Director of Field Operations for Terra-Petra.

As Terra-Petra’s Director of Field Operations, Dan Valdez oversees and coordinates all field inspections for both the Environmental and Waterproofing Divisions.

To date, Valdez has trained all of the inspectors at Terra-Petra and has been sent out-of-state on several occasions to consult and train agencies on how to conduct methane mitigation and waterproofing inspections.

With more than 12 consecutive years working for Terra-Petra, Valdez knows that the construction world is always changing and evolving.

As such, he believes in setting his inspectors up for success to adapt to any condition through comprehensive training and diligent preparation.

A registered Deputy Methane Barrier Inspector (DMBI) for the City of Los Angeles himself, Valdez holds certifications from multiple methane and waterproofing manufacturer’s and is trained to conduct inspections in various governing agencies throughout California.

He is also certified and trained to conduct inspections at various oil refineries and is trained for Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (Hazwoper).

Having completed the Dale Carnegie “Leadership Training for Managers” program, Daniel Valdez understands the importance of inspiring others to do great work.

Terra-Petra Environmental Engineering and Building Waterproofing Teams Celebrate a successful year.

Winding down a triumphant l 2017 and looking forward to, what will likely be, another highly-successful new year, the Terra-Petra celebrated in style at the company’s annual end-of year/holiday party. Once again, Maso Malo, in downtown Los Angeles, was the appointed venue where 90% of the team (members of both the environmental engineering and building waterproofing divisions) came together to eat, drink and be merry. The group included wifes, husbands and significant others — who all look forward to visiting and re-connecting year-after year!

Terra-Petra continues its quest to become the #1 environmental engineering and building waterproofing company in the nation. Each year, this annual holiday event is truly a cause for celebrating a goal that will soon become a reality!

Check out our 7th Annual Terra-Petra Holiday photo highlights…

Terra-Petra Environmental Engineering John Conaway PE Vietnam Vet

In Honor of our Veterans: Terra-Petra Team Members Who’ve Served

On this Veteran’s Day 2017, Terra-Petra would like to honor our own brave Veterans, John Conaway – U.S. Marine Corps,  Anthony Avina – U.S Marine Corps, 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, H&S company, and Eduardo Rangel – U.S. Army, 2 time Afghanistan Veteran.

We would like to thank John, Anthony and Eduardo along with all of those who have served —and those who continue to serve— for your valiant service to defend this amazing country of ours. We truly appreciate all of your hard work and dedication.

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” –John Fitzgerald Kennedy

John Conaway, PE

Terra-Petra’s Professional Engineer (PE Civil) and Vietnam Veteran, John R. Conaway has over 40 years of experience in project supervision, development, evaluation, training, and safety. His impressive and expansive career track started when John received a draft notice in late 1965, when the military presence started to increase in Vietnam.

On July 28, 1965, during a noontime press conference, President Johnson announced that he would send 44 additional combat battalions to Vietnam increasing the U.S. military presence to 125,000 men. Monthly draft calls were doubled from 17,000 to 35,000. “I have asked the commanding general, General Westmoreland, what more he needs to meet this mounting aggression,” Johnson said. “We will meet his needs. We cannot be defeated by force of arms. We will stand in Vietnam.”  He further commented, “I do not find it easy to send the flower of our youth, our finest young men, into battle. I have spoken to you today of the divisions and the forces and the battalions and the units, but I know them all, every one. I have seen them in a thousand streets, of a hundred towns, in every state in this union-working and laughing and building, and filled with hope and life. I think I know, too, how their mothers weep and how their families sorrow.”

Instead of going into the army, as he had expected, John went into the US Marine Corps, and served from January 1966 to January 1968. He received his training at Camp Pendleton, California, and was later transferred to Camp Lejeune, NC. One of the highlights of his service was being selected to run the supply department on a 3-month “Caribbean cruise.” During the cruise, his ship broke down, allowing him to spend several weeks in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The photo,of John above was taken after during war games in November 1966 on the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. He achieved the rank of sergeant in 18 months, which was a record time for getting to the rank of E-5.  Although he came close several times, John was able to avoid being sent to fight on the front lines in Vietnam, although he is still considered a Vietnam-era Vet.

John Conaway, PE, Terra-Petra Environmental Enginner

John earned a reputation for his expertise in design and inspection of methane mitigation systems and waterproofing for commercial and residential structures. John has worked with solid waste disposal, environmental engineering, managing road and facility maintenance and construction, permitting, project engineering and design in California, Nevada, and North Carolina.

Read more about John Conaway.

 

 

 

 

 

Anthony Avina, Deputy Methane Inspector

Anthony B. Avina served in the United States Marine Corps for 8 ½ years (2005-2013) with the 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, H&S company. While serving in the Marine Corps, he received training as an Electro-Optical Ordinance Repairman which taught him how to repair and maintain night sights, thermal sights, missile systems, fire control systems and optical sights.

During his service he went on numerous training exercises across the United States from Yakima, WA, Boise, ID and, Fort Knox, Kentucky. He deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan in 2009-2010 for a tour of service overseas where he conducted internal/external base security and his job as an Electro-Optical Ordinance Repairman conducting preventive maintenance and repairs on the battalions’ vehicles.

Anthony Avina, Terra-Petra Deputy Methane Inspector

Sergeant Anthony Avina, US Marine Corps

By the end of his service he attained the rank of Sergeant and was running the day-to-day operations for the Instrument and Optics shop, and was responsible for the training and welfare of eight Marines.

Within his term of service, he received the following awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Selected Marine Corps Reserve Ribbon 2nd Award, National Defense Ribbon, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terror Ribbon, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal and, NATO ISAF Medal.

Anthony Avina,

 

Eduardo Rangel, Deputy Methane Inspector

In 2007, SPC Eduardo Rangel received a wartime award for valor and heroism from the US Army for “exceptional veterans day spotlight terra-petrameritorious service while deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. SPC Rangel’s personal courage and commitment to mission accomplishment in a combat zone, under the most extreme circumstances, greatly contributed to the success of Operation Enduring Freedom. SPC Rangel’s performance reflects great credit upon him, combined task force fury, combined Joint Task Force-82 and the United States Central Command.”

Eduard’s superiors highlighted the fact that he exhibited “courage under fire” in Shavak Afghanistan, and in the Paktia, Poli-alarm, and Logar provinces of Afghanistan while conducting combat patrols. He laid down heavy suppressive fire for his platoon members engaging the enemy. As the enemy attacked several times via well-organized ambushes, SPC Rangel remained calm while taking commands and calling out enemy distance and description. He participated in over 100 combat mounted and dismounted patrol missions in these Paktia, Poli-alarm, and Logar provinces of Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom VIII. His tireless efforts, knowledge, and willingness to give resulted in accomplishment of all of his assigned missions covering thousands of miles of rugged terrain throughout all three provinces.

The second citation was awarded to Eduardo in 2010 for “meritorious service as a combat engineer while assigned to Eduardo Rangel - Terra-Petra Deputy Methane Barrier InspectorAlpha Company, 508th Special Troops Battalion from 04 March 2006 to 01, November 2010.” The citation goes on to state: “SPC Rangel’s technical and tactical competence, combined with his dedication to duty set the example for others to follow. His attention to detail and selfless service inspired every paratrooper to achieve success.  His performance reflects great credit upon himself, Alpha Company, 508th Special Troops Battalion, The 82nd Airborne Division, and the United States Army.

One of the achievements highlighted in the award document outlines how Specialist Rangel was deployed to West Point NY where he was assisted in the training of over 120 Cadets in Demolitions and Urban Breaching Techniques. He was also a part of two deployments to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, LA. During the JRTC deployment, he was key to his Platoon’s ability to conduct Route Clearance and Sanitation Operations. He mentored and instructed the Platoon on numerous techniques, tactics and procedures–often citing personal experiences.

 

Eduardo Rangel, U.S. Army, 2 time Afghanistan Veteran

Terra-Petra Sponsors Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite®

Terra-Petra’s Executive Team taking in the the beauty of Yosemite

The Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite®, presented and held annually by the State Bar of California, is nationally recognized as the largest and most prestigious gathering in California of leaders in environmental, land use, and natural resources law. Terra-Petra has been proud to sponsor the Yosemite conference for the last five years.

Many of the nation’s top environmental officials, lawyers, and other professionals in the spectacular setting of Yosemite, Thursday-Sunday, October 19-22, 2017  at Tenaya Lodge, Fish Camp, California (“The Gateway to Yosemite”).

As an organization of environmental professionals, this annual event strives to conserve natural resources and to support their sustainable use. Attendees were asked to reduce carbon footprints by forming carpools or driving in energy efficient vehicles upon traveling to Yosemite. In addition, attendees were asked to sign the State Bar Eco Pledge, and review the Model Law Office Sustainability Guidelines.

The 2017 Yosemite Conference Planning Committee Co-Chairs include:

  • Cara Horowitz, Los Angeles
  • Ryan Waterman, San Diego
  • Alisha Winterswyk, Irvine

Active Executive Committee Members on the Yosemite Planning Committee:

  • Eric Adair, Valencia
  • Rebecca Akroyd, Sacramento
  • Ellison Folk, San Francisco
  • Leah Goldberg, San Jose
  • Nicole Gordon, Los Angeles
  • Michael Leslie, Los Angeles
  • Christian Marsh, San Francisco
  • Osha Meserve, Sacramento
  • Jennifer Novak, Rolling Hills
  • Peter Nyquist, Los Angeles
  • Allison Smith, Sacramento
  • Julia Stein, Los Angeles
  • Chelsea Tu, San Francisco
  • Jon Welner, San Francisco

Additional and generous help from Environmental Law Section Advisors.

The State Bar of California is an approved MCLE Providers. 

 

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