Sukut Construction Opens New Line of Landfill Services

SANTA ANA – Nov. 23, 2009 --Sukut Construction Inc., California’s largest landfill contractor, announced a new line of environmental technology services to help the company’s landfill clients meet ever-tightening state and federal regulations on greenhouse gas emissions.

Sukut has developed in-house expertise for the installation of landfill gas systems to complement the company’s extensive landfill construction and landfill closing business. The demand for gas systems for new, existing and closed landfills is growing nationally and, particularly, in California where state air quality standards lead the nation.

“This new technological service is an example of how Sukut strives to meet our clients’ changing needs. Landfill operators who already rely on Sukut’s extensive experience in landfill construction now can expect the same high level performance for the installation or expansion of gas control systems,” said Dave Gratten, president, Sukut Environmental Division.

Sukut Environmental Division is taking on projects to vent landfill gas through collection wells to treatment or control systems, including flare systems. Sukut also is considering offering, beginning at a future date, construction services for landfill gas-to-energy projects. These environmental technology systems could become a new annual $30 million line of business for Sukut based on the need.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates there are 2,300 operating or recently closed municipal landfills nationwide, which are governed by air quality regulations. Of those, 450 currently include gas-to-energy installations while another 520 are candidates for the systems.

The California Air Resources Board estimates that 218 of the state’s 367 landfills may require additional emission controls. The state’s Global Warming Solutions Act requires a 25 percent reduction in greenhouse gasses by the year 2020.

Landfill gas is composed primarily of carbon dioxide and methane, considered a powerful greenhouse gas and major contributor to global climate change. The gas occurs naturally as solid waste decomposes. Other emissions contribute to smog and human health problems.

Sukut Construction is California’s largest mass excavation and grading contractor and has moved over a billion cubic yards of earth. It is ranked within the top 500 largest contractors in the nation. Its projects range from highway construction to residential grading to wastewater management systems. Projects include the construction of four, 60-acre wastewater treatment ponds holding more than 1 billion gallons for the Los Angeles Sanitation District and a seismic retrofit of the San Pablo Dam for the East Bay Municipal Water District. It is also charged with site development for a section of the U.S.-Mexico border fence and is widening a 1.3-mile segment of State Route 76 in Fallbrook and straightening its alignment.

Sukut, which turned 40 this year, is headquartered in Santa Ana, California, with offices in Oceanside, Los Angeles, and Riverside, California. For more information call 888 785-8801 or www.sukut.com.