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Phytoremediation is being extensively used to treat contaminated soil and ground water. Degradation of toxic organic chemicals is done using certain plants. These plants, such as elodea and duck weed, contain some enzymes which help clean hazardous wastes. But it is not a solution to all waste treatment problems. Interest in this method is mainly due to its low cost and eco-friendly nature. Research in this field is in its initial stages and it is yet to be tried on a large scale.

Review of the 17 runners-up show the tough time the six-member jury for the Outstanding Civil Engineering Awards of 1995 must have faced in deciding the most outstanding project and the recipient of the award of merit. Projects considered include the Miami Metromover extensions project, Minnesota road research project, Santa Fe railway intermodal hub and rail complex, Florida's on-site sewage-disposal system research project, Burlington, Vt water-pollution abatement project, the Rock Island district emergency program and other projects Details of the technical aspects and applications of the projects are discussed.

The large-scale damage caused to property in Kobe, Japan, in the Jan 1995, high-intensity earthquake reflects the need for densely populated, industrial centers to implement enhanced safety measures to withstand the effects of high-intensity earthquakes. Among other things, sophisticated retrofitting efforts and better lifeline protection are much-needed to limit potential earthquake-inflicted damages.