Perteet adds environmental services arm

By John Wolcott

Herald Business Journal

Perteet Engineering has added an environmental services division, attracting a longtime environmental engineering expert, James Jordan, to manage the new venture.

The Everett firm’s expanded emphasis on environmental issues is in response to client requests, as well as the impact of new salmon protection standards on construction projects.

Company founder and president Rich Perteet said his firm has dealt with environmental concerns for years, but such issues as controlling storm-water runoff, preserving wetlands and protecting salmon spawning streams have intensified the need for a staff person who could contribute environmental expertise.

Jordan, with more than 25 years of experience in environmental and strategic project planning, is noted locally for his preparation of the environmental impact statement for the Navy’s Everett home port for the carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and its support ships and master planning for the Port of Everett.

He’s responsible for management and preparation of environmental documentation for projects, including impact statements, permitting and resource management plans. He will participate in clients’ projects from conception to completion.

He will also aggressively seek new business for the company, Perteet said, an effort that is already showing results.

Jordan recently landed a role for Perteet in working on a community impact study for the Tri-Cities area, helping to evaluate how residents will be affected by major new government contracts for encapsulating the Hanford Reservation’s radioactive tank wastes in glass. He will help the communities adjust to an influx of contractors and laborers.

"The biggest issue there is rapid population growth and how we need to manage resources, such as water supplies," Jordan said.

His new role at Perteet was an easy one to move into, Jordan said.

"I’ve known some of the people at Perteet for a long time," Jordan said.

Traditionally, the company has provided civil and transportation engineering services to public and private clients, including city, county and state governments, ports, utilities and corporations, with Perteet often leading a multidisciplinary team of consultants.

Projects have included work on the Everett Memorial Stadium, the Highway 528 widening in Marysville, the 1,000-space Ash Street Park &Ride in Lynnwood, Everett’s downtown transit service routing plan and a freight mobility study for Everett and the Port of Everett.

Another expansion strategy for Perteet has been its heightened emphasis this year on its growing transportation role, with Michael Stringam as senior associate for transportation planning.

"Instead of winning a segment of a project, we have begun to work on corridor studies, such as 41st Street north to Smith Island along I-5, an area targeted for access improvements that would include an overpass extending 41st Street past I-5 toward the Snohomish River (a link to future riverfront development)," Stringam said.

To broaden the company’s transportation planning staff, Perteet recently hired Dennis Bloom, former transportation systems manager for Everett Transit, and David Browne, a nationally recognized transportation engineer from Bellevue.

Today there are more than 80 people at the firm’s Everett headquarters and its branch offices in Pierce County’s Lakewood community and Snoqualmie.