JGM Valve Corporation 1155 Welch Rd Suite DCommerce, MI 48390

(248) 926-6200

Gathering In Field Data

NOTE: The RED negative numbers indicate the sock added the parameter to the water instead of removing it!

Analyte

TEST

Big Switch® Overall

Percent Removal

Mulch Overall

Percent Removal

Suspended

Solids

67% -1050%

Phosphate 57% -5483%

Nitrite 21% -269%

Nitrate 18% -28%

(January 17, 2017) — BEG Group LLC announced today that it has earned the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Biobased Product label. The product, Big Switch ® Filtration & Erosion Control Medium, is now able to display a unique USDA label that highlights its percentage of biobased content. (Big Switch ® has a biobased content of 100%) Third-party verification for a product's biobased content is administered through the USDA BioPreferred Program, an initiative created by the 2002 Farm Bill (and most recently expanded by the 2014 Farm Bill). One of the goals of the BioPreferred Program is to increase the development, purchase and use of biobased products. The USDA Certified Biobased Product label displays a product's biobased content, which is the portion of a product that comes from a renewable source, such as plant, animal, marine, or forestry feedstocks. Biobased products are cost-comparative, readily available, and perform as well as or better than their conventional counterparts.

Beta Analytic, Inc - Biobased and Biogenic Carbon Testing LaboratoryISO/IEC 17025:2005 Accredited

Summary of Results - % Biobased Carbon Content ASTM D6866-18 Method B (AMS)

• RESULT: 100 % Biobased Carbon Content (as a fraction of total organic carbon) Certificate Number: 38805350193993812

Pa Department of Environmental ProtectionAlternative Erosion & Sediment And Post Construction Stormwater Management Best Management PracticesRevised, March 29, 2017Version 1.1ABACT (HQ/EV) – Antidegradation Best Available Combination of Technologies. For stormwater discharges in watersheds classified as High Quality (HQ) or Exceptional Value (EV) under Chapter 93, ABACT must be used if non-discharge alternatives are not available. The table identifies whether the listed alternative BMP qualifies as ABACT in HQ and EV watersheds (“Yes” or “No”). NOTICE: This is not the full Revision and specific to BEG Group Listed Products Only!

Alternative BMP Comments ABACT-HQ

ABACT-EV

Example

Use of Wood Chips in compost sock

Tests show wood chips areas effective as compost for filtering sediment

Yes No N/A

Use of Big Switch in compost sock

Tests show Big Switch is as effective as compost for filtering sediment. This is a direct replacement for compost sock and should follow the same standards.

Yes Yes Big Switch Sock

Big Switch ® Environment Grows Right To It & Thru It!

March 31, 2017PennDOT has issued a Letter (Determination Report) to BEG Group LLC stating that Big Switch® is approved for use as an alternate to compost under Section 867-Compost Filter Sock. Big Switch® must be used with a filter sock that meets the specification criteria listed in Section 867. This letter can be attached to Form CS-4171LA as proof that Big Switch™ is an approved alternate to compost for this use.

Hunter Station Bridge Project

PennDOT Retention Projects

May 31, 2017Congratulations on BEG Group’s Phalanx Bio Switch® Biopreferred Erosion/Filtration Medium winning a 2017 Environmental Protection New Product of the Year award. The Environmental Protection New Product of the Year Award honors the outstanding achievements of industry manufacturers whose products are considered particularly noteworthy for making environmental professionals’ jobs a little easier.

Proof Of Concept• 1/2/2018

• I would like to verify we have switch grass silt sock "the Big Switch" provided by the BEG Group installed, stored outside and stored inside on our PennDOT project in Kittanning, Pa. We have sock in various sizes from 8" to 24" throughout the project that has been installed for going on 10 month's now. It has been inspected regularly by PennDOT and the Armstrong Conservation District and has never shown any breakdown or weakness after snow, rain and extreme temperatures in both directions. Nor has it ever not passed inspection or shown any signs of failing due to longevity. As far as the pallets stored outside, we have had them onsite for 8 months and use sock from the stockpile on a regular basis and we have no reason to feel uncomfortable installing for the fact it looks just like it did when it came off the truck months ago. That also goes for the pallets stored in the storage containers supplied by BEG Group to help save time on shipping and availability on both ends.

• Tony Smith, Supervisor - Pittsburgh Office - Independence Excavating, Inc.

• Recognized Five Consecutive Years as a Top Workplace by Cleveland Plain Dealer

• Big Switch has been working onsite at Independence Excavating’s

Rt 422 Kittanning, Pa project since March, 2017.

Sediment Retention Project

Installed On Shell’s Franklin Cracker Plant

2018 NE U.S. Oil & Gas Award Winner

• February 22, 2018

BEG Group was honored to win the Excellence in Environmental Stewardship Award for the NE U.S. Oil & Gas industry.

• Judges Comments

• “The product shows clear advantages when compared to the alternatives. I also like that BEG Group went out and got detailed, credible testimonials from significant companies.”

• “From personal experience I know that both Bechtel & Jacobs are using the product on the Franklin Cracker Plant project and think very highly of it, which is also confirmed in the entry.”

PBS Switch Chinking Wins National Award

• April 24, 2018

BEG Group’s PBS Switch Chinking sock wins the national environmental protection award in the groundwater & soil category!

PBS Switch Chinking is the solution for your jobsite should it require an all-natural nontoxic bio-degradable chinking. This product will decompose into elements found in nature in a reasonable short period of time. No need to ever go back to remove this product because it completely decomposes into nature!

BEG Group’s PBS Switch Chinking Socknow a PA DEP Alternate BMP

• Department of Environmental Protection | Bureau of Clean Water

• 9/28/2018: The chinking sock is to be on the next update of the PA DEP alternative Best Management Practice list. You may use the chinking sock using the detail BEG Group provides, if there are questions you can send PA DEP site specific information and there will be a reply if there are any questions on its use. The 4" chinking sock with cotton or better fabric is acceptable for use in place of the blown in material for filter socks. Filter socks include compost filter socks, switchgrass socks and wood chip socks.

Pa Department of Environmental ProtectionAlternative Erosion & Sediment And Post Construction Stormwater Management Best Management PracticesRevised, December 13, 2018 ABACT (HQ/EV) – Antidegradation Best Available Combination of Technologies. NOTICE: The following info is specific to BEG Group Listed Products Only! There are additional products on the actual revision.

Alternative BMP Comments ABACT-HQ

ABACT-EV

Example

Chinking Sock or Toe Sock

A 4” filter sock, compost or switchgrass, used in place of the blown in material for sock placement. Cotton or other material listed on the fabric specifications for a sock may be used.

PBS Switch Chinking Sock

Use of Big Switch sock

Tests show Big Switch is as effective as compost for filtering sediment. This is a direct replacement for compost sock and should follow the same standards.

Yes Yes Big Switch Sock

PBS Switch Chinking in Action

PBS Switch Chinking Is A Replacement For Wood Compost Chinking

References

• We have been using the Big Switch primarily from its conception and I have nothing negative to say. We have installed all sizes on PennDOT projects, in many different applications, and have had nothing but great results. Tony Smith Supervisor- Pittsburgh branch Independence Excavating Inc.

• We had Mascaro General Services install The Big Switch on the Shell Cracker Plant in Monaca, Pa. It was easy to make field adjustments and promoted grass growth. Typically, the weight of the conventional compost sock would kill any grass under it and burn the ground with organic acids from the wood chips. We spent a couple months inspecting Big Switch to see how it performed after rain events and it worked

just as well as the compost sock. Riaz R. Khan | JACOBS | EIT, CPESC Buildings & Infrastructure

• Otis Eastern Services is currently constructing the Sunoco ME-II project in Chester and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania. This is a very difficult and challenging 35-mile dual 16" and 20" project. Over 40% of this project is HDD's consisting of Drill Pads in residential and commercial areas. The environmental inspectors on our new project have concluded that your Big Switch product will be the wave of the future. Less footprint, easier installation and effective retainage of silt on the Permitted LOD is favorable. Sincerely, Jimmy Joyce Project Manager-Otis Eastern Services (51 years of experience in the Pipeline industry).

Independence Excavating PennDOT ProjectRt 422 Kittanning, Pa.

Sheet Flow Retention

Bechtel Gas, Oil & Chemical10-15-2018

BEG Group is honored to announce that we won another RFQ for our Big Switch Erosion/Filtration Medium from Bechtel Gas, Oil & Chemical for use on Shell's Franklin Cracker Plant in Monaca, Pa.

We want to thank everyone, end users, engineers, industry associations and contractors, for your support as our USDA nationally certified 100% biobased/biopreferred nontoxic products gain private, local, state and federal acceptance as a highly qualified-exceptionally valued alternative for wood based sock.

Otis Eastern Services Erosion Slip RepairNOTE: Reference to the 100% eco-friendly natural product concerns the switchgrass as filler material only!

Partial End User List

• TransCanada – Mountaineer Xpress

• EQT – Rough Creek Lateral

• Williams Transco – Atlantic Sunrise

• Energy Transfer – Sunoco Logistics & Rover Pipeline

• Royal Dutch Shell – Franklin Cracker Plant

• MarkWest – various projects in Pa. & Ohio

• ODOT Habitat Pollinator Initiative

• PennDOT – Maintenance Projects

BEG Group’s Big Switch® as Alternative BMP in Ohio• May 11, 2018

• BEG Group has approval to suggest to clients working erosion/sediment control projects in Ohio, other than ODOT projects, that we have been given the verbal understanding that since Big Switch® is officially called out in Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's Alternative Best Management Practice revision from March 29th, 2017 we have the approval from John Mathews, Ohio DEP Manager of Stormwater Technical Assistance at the Division of Surface Water, towards use of Big Switch® on said projects until his office can address this in Ohio's Best Management Practice interests more directly.

• If clients need further verification to this end they can call on John Mathews for confirmation on the above at (614) 265-6685 or John.Mathews@epa.ohio.gov .

• It is BEG Group's desire to be the best partner we can be in representing the environmental interests throughout the United States of America and especially within the State of Ohio where we all have the responsibility to oversee protocol that assists developers, contractors, designers with controlling the negative impacts associated with new and existing development, including increased runoff, polluted storm water, stream erosion, algae bloom issues and loss of floodplain services.

Into The Future!Participating Organizations:

ODOT, The Wilds, Zane State College & BEG Group

Start of ODOT Pollinator Project

>

• Milkweed supercharged Phalanx Bio Switch™ socks can be an effective method of introducing milkweed into disturbed sites. This increases habitat for Monarch butterflies as well as adding native plants to the landscape. Given the proven benefit of milkweed, the only host plants acceptable for monarch caterpillars, this could be a way to improve roadside habitat for Monarch, a species which has been experiencing declines. To maximize the benefits, a 5’ buffer below the Phalanx Bio Switch™ switchgrass sock should not be mowed, this will avoid mowing over the milkweed.

Reclamation Ecologist Rebecca Swab, Ph.D. of The Wilds, a Columbus Zoo Property 9/24/2018

As of 2/13/2019 BEG Group is now working on the potential of our third PA Statewide Alternative BMP

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a national problem, but one-third of waters impacted by that problem are located in Pennsylvania.

BEG Group has been given site specific authorization by Pa DEP, on a case by case basis, to install our Big Switch® Erosion/Filtration Medium supercharged with lime pellets along such sites to determine how well the product performs regarding runoff reduction using Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) data within streams and rivers in the state.

Waterbars:

• Installed on pipelines, skid trails, and utility line right-of-ways to control storm water runoff.

• Purpose: Direct runoff to well-vegetated areas or sediment removal facilities.

Specifications:- At least 18” high- Must be well vegetated

and compacted - Can be left in place

permanently- Must be restored to

original dimensions within 24 hours of faulty inspection

Compost sock diversions in lieu of waterbars

• Only to be used for installation of surface utilities

Silt Sock/Compost Filter Sock:

• Installed on steep slopes or along roadways.

• Purpose: To slow runoff from project site and remove sediment from runoff.

• E&S BMP Manual must be consulted on diameter of socks used

Specifications:- Placed at existing level grade

with ends turned up slope at 45 degrees to main sock alignment

- 2”x2” stakes every ten feet- Minimum 12” diameter for

commercial projects- Sediment should be removed

when it reaches ½ the above ground height of the sock

Proper Installation/Maintenance: Improper Installation/Maintenance:

Alternatives to compost in socks

• Can use wood chips• Alternative fill used in regular compost filter sock

• Approved ABACT for HQ, but not EV

• Can use switchgrass• Alternative product to compost filter sock

• Approved ABACT for HQ and EV

Curled Wood Sediment Logs

• Approved ABACT for HQ but not EV

• Used in place of silt sock, inlet protection

Silt Fence:

• Installed as perimeter controls usually on relatively level ground.

• Purpose: To control runoff from small disturbed areas.

• Reinforced Silt Fence: • Reinforced with wire tie downs or straw bales

Specifications:- 2”x2”x36” stakes should be driven

18” into the ground spaced every 8’- Should be installed at existing level

grade and both ends of fence should extend up slope 8’ by at 45º angles

- Remove sediment when it reaches half the above ground height of the fence

Proper Installation/Maintenance: Improper Installation/Maintenance:

Concrete Washouts:

• Included for any project using concrete

• Filter sock allows water to leach out while sediment particles are retained

• Sediment should be cleaned out and

disposed of according to E&S plan

QUESTIONS?

Joe Greco

President

(248) 926-6200