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Polarconsult Alaska, Inc.
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS
FOR
ENGINEER CONSULTANT SERVICES
polarconsult alaska, inc.
1503 West 33rd Avenue, Suite 310
Anchorage, Alaska 99503
Phone: (907) 258-2420 Fax (907) 258-2419
INTRODUCTION
1
olarconsult Alaska, Inc., is pleased to
submit our qualifications for civil
engineering consulting, permitting,
environmental consulting, regulatory
compliance, remediation, and data management
services in Alaska. PPOOLLAARRCCOONNSSUULLTT is committed
to providing our Alaska clients with services
tailored to their specific needs, based upon our
working knowledge of the unique conditions of
life and business in Alaska. Whether you are
involved in mining, oil & gas production,
commercial development, fishing, the
institutional management of federal or state
properties, or other industry, we can honor this
commitment to you by:
¾ Providing a local staff of highly qualified
personnel who are experienced in Alaska
projects and who are engaged in the
economic, cultural, social, and business
climate of the Last Frontier.
¾ Developing and maintaining our knowledge
of project requirements encompassing
Alaska’s diverse geographic and
geomorphic regions, including remote
project site requirements.
¾ Identifying your unique service needs and
continually expanding our staffing with
experienced personnel to meet those needs.
¾ Understanding and being involved in the
issues, organizations, regulatory programs,
and trade groups that affect our Alaskan
clients.
¾ Developing working relationships and
positions of trust with regulators within
state and federal agencies.
¾ Working closely with Alaska Native
Corporations and similar entities to
maximize the amount of work performed in
Alaska by Alaskans.
PPOOLLAARRCCOONNSSUULLTT has been involved with Alaskan
engineering projects for more than 25 years. Our
work has included project scoping, design and
management throughout the state, and our
projects have ranged from involvement in multi-
million dollar commercial facilities to residential
properties. Through this experience,
PPOOLLAARRCCOONNSSUULLTT has developed a strong
understanding of both the regulatory and
physical requirements and restrictions in Alaska
related to engineering projects.
PPOOLLAARRCCOONNSSUULLTT has built a reputation for quality
consulting and excellent customer service. Since
our establishment in 1979, we have developed
solution-oriented, cost-effective approaches to
engineering issues for federal agencies such as
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Federal
Aviation Administration, Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, and U.S. Department of
Commerce; for state and municipal agencies
such as the Department of Natural Resources
and Alaska Industrial Development and Export
Authority; and for local commercial clients such
as ARCO, Alaska Village Electric Cooperative,
Williams Petroleum, and many of Alaska’s rural
governments. By maximizing the hiring of
qualified local personnel to manage, direct, and
perform those projects, PPOOLLAARRCCOONNSSUULLTT has
assured our clients of a product responsive to the
local conditions and cultures of Alaska. The
figure on the next page shows locations of our
Alaska projects.
PPOOLLAARRCCOONNSSUULLTT provides our clients with the
resources of a full service engineering firm and
the responsiveness of a local consulting
company. We can assist in all phases of project
development and performance from initial
feasibility assessment through construction
management and operations.
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INTRODUCTION
2
POLARCONSULT ALASKA PROJECT SITES
CORPORATE OVERVIEW
3
olarconsult Alaska, Inc., headquartered in
Anchorage, Alaska, has provided a wide
variety of engineering services throughout
rural Alaska. Through our licensed professionals
and specialty consultants, Polarconsult provides
civil, electrical, mechanical, environmental,
energy, and other engineering consulting
services.
PPOOLLAARRCCOONNSSUULLTT has demonstrated a commitment
to deliver service excellence by providing
quality, responsive engineering services as the
keystone of our business culture.
Polarconsult’s commitment to Alaska is
demonstrated by our professional staff, all of
whom are licensed Alaskan engineers. Many of
our staff were born in Alaska, and all have
experience managing projects in this state.
Currently, Polarconsult employs or has active
consulting agreements with 10 licensed
engineering professionals. Since our formation,
we have completed approximately 700 projects.
PPOOLLAARRCCOONNSSUULLTT provides comprehensive
consulting engineering services with an
emphasis on:
¾ Civil design and project management
¾ Structural analysis
¾ Permitting assistance
¾ Environmental characterization, monitoring,
and remediation
¾ Regulatory compliance
¾ Energy analysis and evaluation
¾ Hydroelectric power plant design
¾ Waste heat analysis
¾ Land surveying, Global Information Systems
(GIS), and terrain modeling
¾ Data management and analysis
The firm has provided these services for clients
along the rail belt and across the state including
Southeastern, Western, and Interior Alaska.
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SERVICES
4
OOLLAARRCCOONNSSUULLTT offers a wide range of
comprehensive engineering and planning
services to our clients. Although many
firms can provide design services, few offer
innovative solutions that are suitable for remote
projects and reduce construction costs. Fewer
still actually build their own projects.
PPOOLLAARRCCOONNSSUULLTT’’SS design professionals
constructed and operate a hydroelectric plant in
south central Alaska. Our technical managers
can work with your organization to select the
precise mix of services that will best achieve
your goals. We offer expertise in:
¾ Civil and Structural Engineering
¾ Building Design and Construction
Management
¾ Environmental Engineering
¾ Coastal Zone Permitting
¾ Air Quality Permitting
¾ Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Permitting (FERC)
¾ Diesel-Electric Power Plant Design
¾ Hydroelectric Power Plant Design and
Construction
¾ Cogeneration System Design
¾ Water and Sewer Utility Design
¾ Electrical Transmission Design
¾ Spill Prevention, Containment, and
Contingency Plans (SPCC)
¾ API 653 Inspection for Above Ground
Petroleum Storage Tanks.
¾ Underground and Above Ground Storage
Tank Design and Inspection.
¾ Environmental Characterization of Soil and
Groundwater.
¾ Water Resources, Hydrogeology and
Geology Investigations
¾ Site-Specific Risk Assessment Evaluation
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REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS - HYDROELECTRIC
1
RECENT POLARCONSULT PROJECTS & PROJECT REFERENCES
Polarconsult has extensive experience working on all aspects of hydroelectric development.
From reconnaissance, feasibility, permitting, design, construction, inspection, operation,
maintenance, monitoring, and retrofitting, Polarconsult’s professional staff understands all
aspects of hydroelectric projects. Engineering budgets for past and current projects range from
under $10,000 to over $1,000,000.
Polarconsult principals designed, built, own and operate the McRobert’s Creek Hydro, located
near Palmer, Alaska, and the Southfork Hydro Project, located near Eagle River, Alaska. The
many lessons learned from permitting, designing, building, owning and operating our own
hydroelectric project translates into valuable experience and lessons learned that directly
benefit our clients. One example is our experiences designing a cost effective and reliable
unmanned intake system at the McRoberts Creek project. After several design iterations, this
intake system handles bed load and in-stream debris, allowing the project to operate virtually
maintenance free even when subjected to the onslaught of debris brought about by floods and
seasonal changes.
Another successful project, located in Pelican, Alaska, involved designing a steel support system
for an aging timber crib dam. Limited by helicopter access and narrow construction windows,
the location required a design that not only withstood the large forces of floods but needed to
be light enough and simple enough to be airlifted and quickly put into permanent place.
Accurate surveying, 3-D design, and close coordination with the project owner all resulted in a
unique and successful solution without an extravagant budget.
The experience and knowledge that Polarconsult’s professionals bring to a project are
exemplified by our work on the Kasidaya Creek hydroelectric project near Skagway. Brought in
by Alaska Power and Telephone, Inc. due to excessive cost estimates on a tunnel and intake for
a project that was in the midst of construction, Polarconsult spent half a day in the field at the
project site and provided valuable insight and advice that changed the course of the
construction to reduce project costs and maintenance. Polarconsult’s recommendations to
provide an access route up the creek to the intake site were ultimately adopted into the now
completed project.
All of Polarconsult’s core professionals have been involved in the numerous engineering
challenges surrounding Alaska hydroelectric projects for many years. Any one of our
professional engineers is more than capable of successfully identifying all the issues in a
hydroelectric project and using our comprehensive background and knowledge to forge
solutions that aren’t narrowly focused or short sighted.
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS - HYDROELECTRIC
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SELECTED PROJECT PROFILES
Project: Pelican Dam Reinforcement and Penstock Design
Client: Pelican Seafoods
Reference Contact: Tom Whitmarsh, Pelican Seafoods, 907-735-2204
Engineering Budget: $175,000
Description
The Pelican Hydroelectric Power Plant was first constructed around 1946 to supply water and
power to the Pelican Seafoods Cannery constructed around the same time. A Dam Safety
Review determined that there was potential for failure of the existing timber crib dam during
flood stages. A field investigation was conducted to prepare an as-built of the existing timber
crib dam, intake structure, timber flume, wood stave penstock, and power plant. A unique
design was arrived at to shore up the existing dam to be stable under flood stages, and upgrade
the existing intake to cut down head losses.
Additionally, Polarconsult recently completed a design for replacement of the original flume,
surge tank, and elevated penstock. The design includes a new surge tank, new penstock, and
modifications to the intake and dam wing walls.
Project: Indian River Hydroelectric Project Design and Permitting
Client: City of Tenakee Springs, Alaska
Reference Contact: Art Bloom, City Councilman, 907-736-2222
Project Budget: $200,000
Description
Performed final design and permitting for a 180 kW run-of-river hydroelectric project on Indian
River near Tenakee Springs, Alaska. The project included securing all government permits for
the project and completing final engineering plans for construction. The project intake is co-
located with an existing fish pass built by the US Forest Service. Design and permitting includes
close coordination with the Forest Service and other agencies to maintain function of the fish
pass. Polarconsult previously completed feasibility studies for the project in 1993 and 2009.
Project: Atka Hydro
Client: Alaska Energy Authority and CRW Engineering Group, LLC.
Reference Contact: Julie Dirks, City of Atka, 907-581-6226
Engineering Budget: $125,000
Description
Performed engineering inspection services for the Chuniisax Creek Hydro Project in Atka, Alaska.
The Chuniisax Creek project is a 270 kW storage project that will meet nearly all of the
community’s electricity demand. The project, scheduled for completion in the fall of 2012,
includes the following:
1,060 feet of 30-inch diameter High Density Polyethylene Pipe (HDPE) penstock
An underground 7.2/12.4 kV power cable connecting to the existing distribution system
Design of the powerhouse with a cross-flow turbine and synchronous generator
10-foot-high impoundment dam
Polarconsult previously performed feasibility studies for the project, secured all permits for the
project, and completed permitting and design of a major culvert replacement on Atka as part of
a mitigation effort to improve fish passage and habitat in Dancing Creek near the village.
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS - HYDROELECTRIC
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Project: Fishhook Hydroelectric Project
Client: Fishhook Renewable Energy, LLC
Engineering Budget: $125,000
Description
Currently in the permitting phase, this project includes completion of a feasibility study,
permitting, and design of 2 MW run-of-river hydroelectric plant located on Fishhook Creek in
Hatcher Pass, Alaska. Performed surveying utilizing RTK GPS equipment and developed cost
estimates and a feasibility study by the fall of 2006.
Project: Kasidaya Creek Intake
Client: Alaska Power & Telephone Company
Reference Contact: Vern Neitzer, AP&T, 907-983-2202
Engineering Budget: $15,000
Description
Site Inspection and project review. Provided a brief letter report to assist AP&T in seeking a
lower cost alternative for the intake and penstock tunnel that were in the original design.
Project was well into construction at the time. Made recommendations on an alternative for a
dam, intake configurations, access routes, and permitting actions. AP&T ultimately reconfigured
the original design based on our recommendations.
Project: Lace Hydro
Client: Lace River Hydro
Reference Contact: Bob Grimm, AP&T, 360-531-0320
Engineering Budget: $800,000
Description
Currently in the FERC licensing phase, this project involves feasibility investigation, FERC
permitting, and design of a 5 MW hydroplant in southeast Alaska. The Project intake is located
at an unnamed lake that would be used for storage. The lake has a surface area of
approximately 384 acres. The dam intake is located at an elevation of 3,180 feet. From the
intake, there would be 7,600 feet of 21-inch diameter steel pipe leading to the powerhouse.
The net hydraulic head is 3,000 feet. The project flow is estimated to be approximately 27 cfs.
The total estimated energy production of this project is 34,164,000 Kilowatt hours.
Project: Chignik Relicense
Client: Trident Seafoods
Reference Contact: Clyde Pedersen, Trident Seafoods, 206-617-6612
Engineering Budget: $150,000
Description
Included in a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) License are significant efforts and
coordination relating to the development of the Environmental Assessment. Activities include:
National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) scoping meetings
Stream Gauging and Fish Surveys
Geomorphological surveys of Indian River including fish habitat analysis
Dissemination of all data and correspondence through the development of a Project
web page and through traditional hard copy to over 50 particpants
The entire relicensing process was completed under the “applicant prepared EA” process in less
than 2 years (typically licensing time is 3 to 5 years).
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS - HYDROELECTRIC
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Project: McRobert's Creek Hydroelectric Project
Client: Earle Ausman, Enerdyne
Engineering Budget: $60,000
Description
McRobert's Creek Hydroelectric Plant is an excellent example of how cost effective a small
hydroelectric plant in Alaska can be. McRobert's Creek is located three miles to the east of
Palmer and is fed by the rock glaciers that lay below Matanuska Peak. The mountainous and
rugged terrain required PCA to use non-conventional construction techniques to complete the
project. Due to the terrain it was not feasible or environmentally desirable to build a road to the
power plant. The project was completed in an environmentally sound and aesthetically pleasing
manner. Hikers and horseback riders now use the trail for access to Matanuska Peak. The "run
of the river" facility consists of a rock gabion diversion to funnel the water into a 4,200-foot,
twelve-inch-diameter polyethylene pipeline. A 7,000-gallon storage tank is used to regulate the
system so that a large dam and associated reservoir are not necessary. Other physical features
include 8,800 feet of phone line, 4,600 feet of 7,200 kVA power cable, 8,600 feet of access trail,
and a 12-foot by 12-foot concrete block powerhouse. The plant operates at 445 feet of gross
head and runs year round delivering 100 kW to the Matanuska Electric Authority grid. The
plant was designed and built by Polarconsult at a cost of $2,000 per kW. Polarconsult President
Earle Ausman is the owner of the facility.
Project: Southfork Hydro Plant
Client: South Fork Construction
Reference Contact: Phyllis Janke, South Fork Construction, 694-4351
Engineering Budget: $80,000
Description
Currently under construction, this project involves feasibility, design, and permitting of a 1.2
MW hydroplant on the south fork of Eagle River.
The South Fork Hydro project is a run-of-river plant with a capacity of 1,200 kW.
Scheduled to be completed in fall 2012, the project will use water from the South Fork
of Eagle River which drains a 26-square-mile area. The project will divert 53 cfs from the
South Fork. The elevation of the intake pool is 1,180 feet and the elevation of the draft
tube pool where the turbines discharge is 803 feet for a gross head of 377 feet. The
pipe will be 30-inch high density polyethylene pipe transition to steel pipe near the
powerhouse. The powerhouse will feature two single jet turgo turbines and two
induction generations.
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS - HYDROELECTRIC
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SELECTED PROJECT LIST
In addition to the projects listed under Selected Project Profiles, Polarconsult has completed
numerous reconnaissance studies, feasibility studies, project designs, and project permitting for
hydro projects throughout Alaska. These past projects are listed below.
Job Name Client Year
Hunter Creek Hydro Reconnaissance Study Eklutna, Inc. 2011-12
Jack River Hydro Reconnaissance Study Native Tribe of Cantwell 2011-12
Knutson Creek Hydro Feasibility Study Pedro Bay Tribal Council 2010-12
Packer’s Creek Hydro Final Design and Permitting Chignik Lagoon Power Utility 2009-12
Chuniisax Creek Hydro Construction Inspection City of Atka 2010-12
Chuniisax Creek Hydro Excess Energy System Design City of Atka 2011-12
Burro Creek Hydro Study Burro Creek Holdings, LLC 2009-11
Old Harbor FERC Licensing Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc. 2009-10
Indian River Hydro Feasibility Study, Conceptual Design,
Final Design and Permitting City of Tenakee Springs 2009-12
Elfin Cove Reconnaissance and Feasibility Study Community of Elfin Cove 2009-11
Pedro Bay Reconnaissance Study Pedro Bay Tribal Council 2009
Pelican Hydroelectric Upgrade Design Alaska Energy & Engineering, Inc. 2008-10
Fourth of July Creek Reconnaissance Study Independence Power, LLC 2008
Glacier Fork Hydro Reconnaissance Study Glacier Fork Hydro, LLC 2008
Pelican Hydroelectric Retrofit Alaska Energy Authority 2007
Archangel Creek Hydro Jill Reese Investments & Brokerage 2007
O'Brien Creek Reconnaissance Survey Alaska Energy Authority 2007
Fishhook Hydroelectric Project Fishhook Renewable Energy, LLC 2007
Allison Lake Hydro Project Green Power Development, LLC 2007
Atka Hydro Cost Estimate Alaska Energy Authority 2007
Chignik FERC Compliance Trident Seafoods, Inc. 2006-12
Chitina Conceptual Design Alaska Energy Authority 2006
Kasidaya (Otter) Creek Intake Alaska Power & Telephone Company 2006
Larsen Bay Alaska Energy Authority 2006
Chuniisax Hydro Phase 3 Alaska Energy Authority 2006
Chignik Bay Scoping Field Trip Alaska Energy Authority 2005
Atka Hydro Design Changes and Inspection Alaska Energy Authority 2005
Larsen Bay Turbine Repair City of Larsen Bay 2005
Old Harbor Archiving Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc. 2005
Chignik Dam Inspection Norquest Seafoods Inc. 2004
Larsen Bay Hydroelectric Upgrade Alaska Energy Authority 2004
Chignik Stream Gauge Installation Alaska Energy Authority 2004
Atka Revisions Alaska Energy Authority 2004
Chignik Relicense Trident Seafoods 2003
Atka Hydro Design City of Atka 2003
Old Harbor Project Review Alaska Energy Authority 2002
Atka Hydro F&G City of Atka 2002
Scammon Stream Gauging Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc. 2002
Old Harbor - Alternate Powerhouse Location Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc. 2002
REPRESENTATIVE PROJECTS - HYDROELECTRIC
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Job Name Client Year
Old Harbor Project Comparison Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc. 2001
Pelican Penstock Design Pelican Seafoods 2001
Old Harbor Hydro Project - Design Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc. 2000
Old Harbor Hydro Project - FERC Licensing Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc. 1999
Chignik Dam Survey Norquest Seafoods Inc 1999
Southfork Hydro Plant South Fork Construction, LLC 1998
Lace Hydro Lace River Hydro, LLC 1997
Atka Hydro Investigation City of Atka 1996
Chignik Lagoon Hydro Study Chignik Lagoon 1995
Old Harbor Hydropower Feasibility Study Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, Inc. 1995
Terror Lake desander Tango Construction Co 1994
Tenakee Springs/Indian River Hydro City of Tenakee Springs 1993
Pelican Seafoods Hydroelectric Renovation Pelican Seafoods 1993
Angoon Hydroelectric Investigation Alaska Energy Authority 1992
Humpback Creek Hydroelectric Cordova Electric 1992
Snyder Falls Hydroelectric Study Earl Ellis & Associates 1990
McRobert’s Creek Hydroelectric Project Earle Ausman 1990
Larsen Bay Hydroelectric Plant City of Larsen Bay 1990
Snettisham Hydroelectric Project US Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District 1989
Chitina Micro Hydro Project Chitina Village Council 1989
Burnett Inlet Hydroelectric Plant Design Alaska Aquaculture 1988
Ouzinkie Hydroelectric Plant City of Ouzinkie 1986
In addition, Polarconsult’s project team has extensive experience with design and force account
construction of many types of rural projects in addition to hydro. These include utility design
and construction management of water, sewer, and electrical projects. Much of this work was
performed for the City of St. Paul, and our experience extends to many other communities
throughout Alaska as well. It is important to emphasize that most of the work is performed by
force account using local labor and other resources.
Polarconsult believes it is important when possible to have people build their own projects so
they can understand, operate and repair them. It is also important to make these projects
economical and sustainable, in order to keep the maximum amount of money in the
community and ensure the project has a long useful life.
KEY HYDROELECTRIC PERSONNEL
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KEY POLARCONSULT PERSONNEL
The proposed project staff is presented below. Each member of the project staff has the
capability of working on all phases of the project including pre-design, design, and construction.
In addition, each the project staff has hands-on construction experience that is valuable during
the design and construction phases of a hydroelectric facility.
All project staff are professionally licensed in Alaska and reside in Anchorage.
Joel D. Groves, P.E., Civil Engineer, CE-10944. Mr. Groves will act as the project manager and
primary point of contact for this project. The responsibilities for this position include having a
broad understanding of all activities conducted under this contract; coordinating the project
and reporting activities directly with the client; assigning team members to complete the work
items; managing the project budget and accounting; and working directly on all phases required
to complete the project. Mr. Groves will also manage any subcontractors associated with this
contract.
Mr. Groves has 13 years of experience in civil engineering, and has worked as a civil engineer
for Polarconsult for over 10 years. Raised in Anchorage, Mr. Groves started with Polarconsult
as an engineering technician in 1995. Mr. Groves has worked on a variety of civil projects in
rural Alaska, including scoping, permitting, design and construction engineering for a variety of
stormwater, wastewater, water supply, hydroelectric, and other civil infrastructure projects.
He is familiar with the logistics and unique considerations of construction projects in rural
Alaska.
Mr. Groves has experience on the following hydroelectric projects in Alaska:
Indian River Hydro, Tenakee Springs: Feasibility Study, Conceptual Design, Final Design,
and Permitting.
Roy’s Creek, Crooked Creek, and Jim’s Lake, Elfin Cove: Reconnaissance and Feasibility
Studies.
Knutson Creek, Pedro Bay: Reconnaissance and Feasibility Studies.
Burro Creek, Skagway: Feasibility Study.
Indian Creek Hydro, Chignik: FERC licensing, inspections, and stream gauging.
Pelican Hydro, Pelican: Inspection, design.
McRoberts Creek Hydro, Palmer: Inspection, design, maintenance and operations.
O'Brien Creek Hydro, Chitina: Feasibility.
Allison Lake Hydro, Valdez: Scoping, reconnaissance, feasibility, FERC licensing, state
and federal agency coordination.
Fishhook Creek Hydro, Palmer: Scoping, reconnaissance, feasibility, cost estimating,
local and state permitting.
Lake 3160, Juneau: Scoping, FERC licensing.
Mr. Groves also has experience in commercial and residential design and construction,
including structural, mechanical systems, and energy efficiency analysis. Mr. Groves has a
master's degree in engineering from Harvey Mudd College.
KEY HYDROELECTRIC PERSONNEL
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References:
Jan Wrentmore, Owner, Burro Creek Holdings, LLC (907) 612-0707
Art Bloom, City Councilman, Former Mayor, City of Tenakee Springs (907) 736-2222
Linda Snow, City Manager, City of Saint Paul (907) 546-3113
Earle V. Ausman, P.E., R.L.S., Civil Engineer, CE-1393 & LS-3320. Mr. Ausman will act as a senior
technical advisor and design engineer on this contract. The responsibilities of Mr. Ausman’s
advisory position include the initial project scoping, pre-design planning, economic analysis,
evaluation of the technical and regulatory approach, and recommendations regarding
operational considerations. Mr. Ausman’s design responsibilities include assistance with a wide
variety of technical design issues with which he is familiar.
Mr. Ausman has studied, worked on and investigated more Alaskan hydroplants than any other
engineer in Alaska. Mr. Ausman has worked on and designed large and small pipelines for
water, oil and gas. He has also designed canals, tunnels, lake taps, dams and intakes, and large
and small hydroplants. He has visited over 50 small hydroelectric plants and a number of very
large ones, including the world’s largest. In addition to being a civil engineer, he has also
worked as an electrical engineer both for interior, NEC, and transmission systems. This has
included both AC and DC systems, and conductors that are elevated, buried and submarine. He
will use this knowledge to determine the most favorable means and configurations for the
those projects to be designed and constructed under this term contract. He also has
operational experience and has acquired knowledge over the decades about unique Alaskan
conditions and hydro operations. Mr. Ausman’s experience in visiting and talking to operators
of many different hydroelectric plants has provided him a great insight into what is possible and
practical. This is especially important for plants of the size that AEA will be interested in. Mr.
Ausman has observed that large hydro thinking and experience applied to small hydro results in
overly costly systems. He has observed closely the reasons why BC Hydro and the Corps of
Engineers no longer design and build small plants as the result of the large project methods
being far too costly. Mr. Ausman keeps his skill current by regularly attending international
hydroelectric conferences and reading trade publications.
References: Lenny Landis, Ex Project Manager Alaska Energy Authority, 269-4684
Bob Grimm, Alaska Power and Telephone, 800-982-0136
Brent Petrie, Alaska Village Electrical Cooperative, 561-1818
Michael Dahl, P.E., Civil Engineer, CE-8480. Mr. Dahl will act as the senior construction
specialist and design engineer. The responsibilities of Mr. Dahl’s position include construction
cost evaluation; construction methodology; for preliminary phases and civil and structural
design during construction phase work.
Mr. Dahl has over 20 years of design and construction experience on a wide variety of projects
in Alaska and has been licensed in the State of Alaska as a professional engineer for the past 14
years. He has a diverse and comprehensive engineering background with technical and
KEY HYDROELECTRIC PERSONNEL
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practical experience in hydroelectric power plant design, civil site design, subdivision
development, water and sewer utility design, building and foundation design, surveying,
electric distribution and building construction, facility operations, and project management.
His recent relevant experience includes design of the Pelican Hydroelectric Facility upgrade that
included a new intake, penstock, surge tank, access road and dam upgrade; Inspection and
review of Kasidaya Creek Hydro intake for AP&T with recommendations for revisions to design
and location for better operation and constructability; Design engineer for expansion of the 39
acre National Cemetery at Fort Richardson Alaska including 1 mile of new roads, facility
irrigation system and water well, new distribution and services and new committal shelter;
Design and project management for ocean outfalls and pumping systems for new fish
processing plants in False Pass and Nelson Lagoon; and Design of Pelican Hydroelectric timber
crib dam structural upgrade to meet State Office of Dam Safety factor-of-safety requirements.
Mr. Dahl was the project manager and engineer in charge of the above noted projects, which
were all successfully completed. He provided cost estimating, construction methodology and
design on these projects.
Mr. Dahl has worked at Polarconsult Alaska, Inc. since 1986 and has been a resident of Alaska
since 1960.
References: Linda Snow, City Manager, City of Saint Paul, 907-546-3113.
Darlene Dorough, President, Yellowknife Construction, 677-7944
Everette Anderson, APICDA, (206) 369-5952
David Ausman, P.E., Civil Engineer, CE-8843.
Mr. Ausman has been working with Polarconsult for 20 years and has a broad range of
experience in the construction, environmental, and project management fields of engineering.
For the past several years, Mr. Ausman has managed energy projects associated with the AIDEA
/AEA term contracts with CRW and LCMF. His relevant hydroelectric experience includes
scoping of numerous projects throughout Alaska, design of structures and control systems,
construction management, environmental permitting, agency coordination, power plant
operation, and regulatory compliance.
For over 20 years, Mr. Ausman has operated and maintained the McRoberts Creek
Hydroelectric Plant. As a result, he is familiar with the design considerations required for
successful long-term operation of these facilities. Mr. Ausman performed as construction
manager on this project. Other projects that Mr. Ausman has been involved with include
O’Brien Creek, Snyder Falls, Allison Creek, Lake 3160, Archangel Creek, Fishhook Creek, Old
Harbor, Larson Bay, Chuniisax Creek, Ouzinkie, Pelican, Kasidaya Creek, and Akutan.
Mr. Ausman also holds an API 653 Certification for inspection of large fuel systems.
References: Bret Coburn, CEO, R&M Consultants, 907- 522-1707
Kendall Gee, PE, Project Manager, DOWL Engineers, 907- 522-3403
James Smith, PE, Project Manager, Clarus Technologies, 907- 529-6703
KEY HYDROELECTRIC PERSONNEL
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Proposed Subcontractors and subcontractor’s staff
Polarconsult has established long-term relationships with the following subcontractors and has
worked with them many times in the past. Each of the subcontractors holds licenses in Alaska
and resides in Anchorage.
Mark Davis, Registered Land Surveyor, S-7338, Slana Surveyors. Mr. Davis will act as the
registered project land surveyor. Mr. Davis’s responsibilities include cadastral land surveys;
specialized cadastral survey techniques and technology; construction surveying and stakeout;
site control; and other survey activities.
Mr. Davis has over 20 years of experience surveying in rural Alaska. Mr. Davis has extensive
experience with cadastral land surveys and specialized cadastral survey techniques and
technology. He also has extensive experience with construction surveying, including
subdivisions, building and utility stakeout, site control, and other survey activities.
Jim Munter, Certified Ground-Water Professional 252, JA Munter Consulting, Inc. Mr. Munter
will act as the project hydrologist and advisor. Mr. Munter’s responsibilities include review of
the hydrological findings of the team; assistance with the regulatory entities; and coordination
with the environmental permitting processes related to hydrology.
Mr. Munter has over 25 years of experience with hydrogeological investigations and
reconnaissance throughout the state of Alaska. Mr. Munter has worked on reconnaissance
studies and field evaluations for water supply systems, wastewater and stormwater disposal
systems, environmental remediation projects, construction groundwater investigations and
dewatering systems, and other activities relating to groundwater management issues
associated with utility, residential, commercial, and industrial developments. Mr. Munter has
extensive experience with regulatory entities and project environmental permitting processes.
Stan Hintze, PE, Electrical Engineer, EE-5269, Independent Consultant. Mr. Hintze will act as
the senior electrical engineer. Mr. Hintze’s responsibilities will include primary distribution,
building electrical, and power plant electrical design. Mr. Hintze has over 40 years experience
in the electrical design of primary distribution, building electrical, and power plant electrical
design throughout Alaska, Washington and Idaho. He has become an expert in remote
electrical building and distribution systems.
Robert Jernstrom, PE, Mechanical Engineer, ME-6731, Jernstrom Engineering. Mr. Jernstrom
will act as the senior mechanical engineer.
Mr. Jernstrom has over twenty-one years of consulting experience, ranging from large
commercial / industrial / institutional projects to specialized laboratory applications. He is
skilled in state-of-the-art design practices, producing bid documents, writing specifications,
contracts, and is an experienced construction manager.
Kyle Brennan, PE, Geologist , CE-11122, Shannon & Wilson Inc. Mr. Brennan will act as the
project geological engineer.
Mr. Brennan holds a masters in geological engineering and has had eight years experience
KEY HYDROELECTRIC PERSONNEL
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performing geological and geotechnical engineering related work. Mr. Brennan joined Shannon
& Wilson Inc. in May 2000 as a Geotechnical Engineer. Since joining Shannon & Wilson, his
responsibilities have included technical writing, and engineering support and project
management for geotechnical jobs including shallow and deep foundation design applied to a
variety of both on and off-shore facilities and roadway/railway construction and rehabilitation.
David Brailey, Principal Hydrologist. Brailey Hydrologic Consultants. Mr. Brailey will act as the
project hydrologist. His responsibilities will include designing and managing stream gauging
and hydrology data collection campaigns, field work including installing, calibrating, and
maintaining stream gauging stations, collecting stream flow data, performing data analysis, and
reporting. Mr. Brailey has over 25 years of hydrology experience in Alaska ranging from study
of small mountain streams to the Susitna River.
William Thompson, PE, Control Design Expert. Thomson Turbine Governors Ltd. Mr.
Thompson will act as the control engineer.
Mr. Thompson has designed Controls and Governors at hundreds of sites all over the world.
Many of these projects are in Alaska and Canada. He understands all aspects of control design
and construction. Mr. Thompson designed the schematics for a multi-role process controller,
supervised the physical implementation, and printed circuit board development. He also
provided the utility engineering required for a 170 kilovolt, 80 megawatt transmission and sub-
transmission system.