MWRD Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of : January 23, 2018 TARP mastermind Bing Chee Chin recognized for major engineering contributions

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Press Release

Allison Fore

Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Officer [e-mail]

100 East Erie Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611

For immediate release January 23, 2018

TARP mastermind Bing Chee Chin recognized for major engineering contributions

Acclaimed engineer Bing Chee Chin was honored for his 36 years of work with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by the MWRD Board of Com-missioners. Despite retiring in 1998, the influence of his work is still felt today for his efforts to develop major infrastructure projects that protected the region from flooding and improved local water quality.

A critical member of the engineering team that launched the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's (MWRD's) famed Tunnel and Reservoir Plan (TARP) and other major infrastructure improvements was recently honored by the MWRD Board of Commissioners.

On the observance of his 80th birthday, Bing Chee Chin received a resolution from Vice President Barbara Mc-Gowan and Chairman of Finance Frank Avila, who also studied engineering with Chin at the University of Illinois.

"We wish Bing a happy birthday and thank him for his valuable engineering contributions to the water environ-ment of our region," said Commissioner Avila. "Bing is such an influential engineer that his picture can still be found on the wall at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Great Lakes and Ohio River Division Office Gallery of Distinguished Employees."

Mr. Chin, who was accompanied by his son-in-law Jeffrey Moy and granddaughter Ashley Moy, representing a third generation of engineers in the family, spent 36 years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), working his way to become chief of the USACE Chicago District's Programs Management Office. While there, Mr. Chin was

Bing Chee Chin (second from left), with his granddaughter Ashley Moy, was presented a resolution for his engineering accomplishments by Chair-man of Finance Frank Avila and Vice President Barbara McGowan.

instrumental in developing long-term engineering and construction programs and working with Congress to ap-propriate funds to implement these vital projects.

"e lasting impression of Bing's work can be viewed across our region and in the work we do today at the MWRD to protect our waterways and our streets and basements from flooding," said Vice President McGowan.

Chin was born January 1, 1938 in Kung Yick City, Tai Shan District, Kwang-Tung Province (Guangdong), Chi-na, having spent his first eight years of childhood helping his grandmothers around their simple homes that had dirt floors and lacked electricity and running water. Forced to leave his home country because of World War II, Chin im-migrated to the U.S. with his father and cousin aboard a military vessel in 1947. Following the 17-day journey to the U.S., his family settled in Chicago where he attended LeM-oyne Elementary School and Lake View High School.

Chin worked two part-time jobs in between his studies, overcoming battles with motion sickness on public trans-portation as he completed his assignments during the only time he had for homework. He was accepted into the University of Illinois at Navy Pier and later (continued)

TARP mastermind Bing Chee Chin recognized (continued)

transferred to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Cham-paign to study engineering. After graduating with a Bach-elor of Science in Civil Engineering, Chin began working at the USACE Chicago District's Peoria Project Office, Operations Division. In 1967, he was promoted to USACE Program Development Office and named chief of the Pro-gram Development Office in 1973, just as the TARP pro-gram was emerging during a pivotal time at the MWRD.

As development spread through the Chicago area in the early 20th century, paved surfaces directed increasing amounts of stormwater runoff into the combined sewer system. By the 1960s, Chicago area sewers were overflow-ing to the river more than 100 days a year and flooding had become a persistent issue. In 1967, officials of the MWRD, the state of Illinois, Cook County and the city of Chicago formed the Flood Control Coordinating Committee to find a solution to the region's flooding and water pollution problems. e committee considered 50 alternatives and selected TARP as the most cost-effective approach to pro-viding maximum benefits with minimal negative impacts. e most obvious solution, replacing combined sewers with separate storm and sanitary pipes, was determined to be too costly, disruptive to communities, and unable to provide

flood relief.

e MWRD and the USACE officially adopted TARP as the area's plan to comply with federal and state water qual-ity standards in 1972. TARP's elaborate tunnel system and massive reservoirs today provide an outlet for floodwaters to reduce street and basement flooding, protect Lake Michi-gan and improve the water in local rivers and streams to a quality once never imagined. e MWRD and USACE re-cently completed Stage I of the McCook Reservoir, which holds 3.5 billion gallons of water. Stage I of McCook is estimated to provide $114 million per year in flood reduc-tion benefits to 3.1 million people living in Chicago and 36 suburban communities.

For his efforts, Chin was selected as an Outstanding Pro-fessional Federal Employee in 1976 and inducted into the Army Corps of Engineers Hall of Fame. Married for 57 years to his wife Sue, the Chins raised son Michael and daughters Doreen, Charlene, and Marlene and have wel-comed many grandchildren into their lives.

"We thank Bing for his commitment to our water resources and the knowledge he shared with us for so many years to create a resilient Chicago area," said MWRD Board Presi-dent Mariyana Spyropoulos.

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Recovering Resources, Transforming Water

Established in 1889, the MWRD (www.mwrd.org) is an award winning, special purpose government agency responsible for used water treatment and stormwater management in Cook County, Illinois.