Our Story
ESD Associates (ESDA) is a small, disadvantaged business enterprise holding MDOT MBE Certificate 16-355, Michael L. Gosse, Principal. In 2015 Michael Gosse expanded his already successful business, Data Speech Computer Solutions, Inc., to include d/b/a ESDA and hired Daniel J. O’Leary, P.E. as Senior Water Resources Engineer to manage and grow the civil/water resources/environmental engineering elements of the business.
ESDA has grown into a civil/water resources and environmental engineering firm that specializes in environmental permitting in Maryland. Whether it be a stormwater management and sediment control permit, a waterway construction permit, a nontidal wetlands authorization, floodplain impacts, an industrial NPDES permit or other permit through the Maryland Department of Environment or one of its delegated agencies, ESDA staff has the background, knowledge and experience to get to an appropriate “permit” the fastest way possible. Most of ESDA staff have advanced degrees and the 4 water resources engineers have over 100 years of combined experience in regulatory, design and hydrologic and hydraulic modeling.
ESDA’s primary focus is on supporting public sector project designers with stormwater management (SWM) and erosion and sediment control (ESC) permit review/expediting through Maryland Department of Environment and State Highway Administration Plan Review Divisions, and private developments through Baltimore City’s Department of Public Works. ESDA has a proven track record of providing permit reviews for highways and institutional / site developments large and small, and technical expertise in SWM, ESC, simple and complex hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, floodplain analyses and permitting, quality assurance and quality control, and project management. ESDA staff is comprised of experts in their fields and as such have testified on water resources matters in various courts, administrative hearings, and before zoning boards and various governing bodies in Maryland.
ESDA Snapshot – Purple Line Transit Project
In April 2017 ESDA was approached by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) Purple Line Transit Project’s Concessionaire and prime design contractor Atkins Engineering to assist with obtaining SWM Concept and ESC plan approvals. The largest design/build project in Maryland to-date was falling behind schedule. ESDA rose to the task, made strategic staff hires and supported the Concessionaire through a myriad of permit issues along the 16 mile mostly urban project corridor. ESDA, a 6-person firm, became a leader and go-to problem solver for large out-of-state firms represented by the Concessionaire that needed help negotiating MDE permits. ESDA, on behalf of the Concessionaire/MTA, performed dam breach analyses, floodplain studies including HEC RAS 1D and 2D modeling, analyzed floodplain scenarios for design alternatives, prepared reports, signed on as Engineer in Charge for 2 dams, presented findings to regulators as representatives of the Concessionaire/MTA, ultimately leading to permits for some of the most complex and highly regulated environmental design issues on the project. (References provided upon request).
Contact Michael L. Gosse, PhD or Daniel J. O’Leary, P.E. at (410) 807-3900 or via email at mlgosse@esd-associates.com or djoleary@esd-associates.com for more information. Also, visit www.esd-associates.com and follow on Facebook or Instagram @esdassociates.