Newly elected Â鶹´«Ã½ of America Vice President Kris Young, President and CEO of Miller the Driller located in Des Moines, Iowa was recently interviewed by NPR during the Â鶹´«Ã½ Convention.Newly elected Â鶹´«Ã½ of America Vice President Kris Young, President and CEO of Miller the Driller located in Des Moines, Iowa was recently interviewed by NPR during the Â鶹´«Ã½ Convention. We are extremely proud that the first female National Â鶹´«Ã½ Officer hails from the M&U Division. Kris served as the Chair of Â鶹´«Ã½ of America’s Municipal Utilities Division in (2002-2003), Chaired the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trenchless Technology (1997-2000); and President of Â鶹´«Ã½ of Iowa 1995. Click Here to listen to the interview! http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101547870
On March 17-20, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) held a series of public hearings on Crane and Derricks in Construction. Several Â鶹´«Ã½ members provided testimony on March 19, including Art Daniel (AR Daniel Construction Services, Inc.), Mitch White (Manson Construction), Randy Rogers (Williams Brothers Construction) , and Richard Voorhees (Weeks Marine, Inc.).For more information on the history of the Crane and Derricks in Construction proposed rule and Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s comments during the C-DAC process or the SBREFA panel, click here. Also, visit Â鶹´«Ã½ Advocacy to review regulations and comments submitted by Â鶹´«Ã½ on Safety and Health regulations throughout the year. Previous Â鶹´«Ã½ Safety and Health Newsletter articles related to the same topic:Â鶹´«Ã½ Comments and Requests Public Hearings on Proposed Crane and Derricks StandardOSHA Grants Extension for Public Comments on Crane and DerricksOSHA Publishes Crane and Derricks Proposal For more information, please contact Jeff Shoaf at (202) 547-3350 or shoafj@agc.org
The U.S. EPA released two memorandums in March to the EPA Regional Managers regarding how the EPA will manage stimulus funds including what types of projects qualify, how new Davis Bacon requirements will impact programs and other administrative issues. This information and more can be accessed on http://www.epa.gov/recovery/. Files can also be directly accessed with the following links: Guidance for Award of Water Quality Management Planning Grants with Recovery Act Funds (604(b) Guidance) (PDF) (32 pp., 633K, About PDF) Guidance for Award of Recovery Act Funding to State Revolving Funds (PDF) (49 pp, 661K, About PDF) For more information contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org
On March 18, 2009 the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on how municipalities can combat Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO), the viability of "Green Infrastructure" to address stormwater runoff, and current approaches and developing technologies to combat CSO's.Click on the link below to view a summary of content and video from the hearing including testimony from the National Research Council; the United States Environmental Protection Agency; Dallas, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; WIN Coaltion partner the National Association of Clean Water Agencies; the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies; and the Natural Resources Defense Council.http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingDetail.aspx?NewsID=833
On March 12, 2009, The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill to reauthorize two federal programs that provide financing for wastewater infrastructure upgrades, repair and reconstruction. The vote was 317 to 101 in support of H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009. The bill would provide a total of $19.4 billion over five years in authorization of appropriations for wastewater infrastructure projects, including $13.8 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program. These funds provide low-interest loans and additional loan subsidizations to communities for wastewater infrastructure. Funds are distributed to states based on a statutory formula and are made available through the annual appropriations process. For a state-by-state breakdown of funding that is authorized, click here. The bill also includes $2.5 billion for the sewer overflow control grants program. This program provides grants to communities to control combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), which are overflows of untreated waste that can occur during wet weather events. Â鶹´«Ã½Â remains concerned about the inclusion of Buy American provisions included in HR 1262 which are similar to language in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.The Senate Environment and Public Works Commitee is expected to introduce companion legislation in the coming weeks.For more information contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org
On March 11, 2009 President Obama quietly signed into law the $410 billion Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY 2009, officially completing work on last year’s budget process. The Senate approved the bill late Tuesday, after delaying the vote on final passage for several days due to concerns over whether there were sufficient votes in the Senate to pass the bill and forcing Congress to enact a short-term resolution to fund the government through mid-week. An Â鶹´«Ã½ analysis of the omnibus appropriations bill shows that Congress would increase funding for federal construction programs by 5.5 percent above the FY 2008 level. Â鶹´«Ã½ found that Congress provided $115.6 billion for federal construction programs in FY 2008. The omnibus would provide $121.9 billion for the same accounts. To view a chart comparing the amounts in the omnibus with the levels Congress enacted in FY 2008 and those President Bush recommended in his FY 2009 budget request to Congress, click here. For more information, contact Karen Lapsevic at (202) 547-4733 or lapsevick@agc.org.
There has been a great deal of introspection this year about what the M&U Division needs to do in order to grow, be more responsive and provide more value for Â鶹´«Ã½ members. Throughout the year we have surveyed our members and conducted outreach to assess goals and identify member needs. We are pleased to report that Â鶹´«Ã½ is pleased to announce that on March 10, 2009 the M&U Division approved a new structure for the Division at the Â鶹´«Ã½ Annual Convention and we have elected our new Division Officers for 2009-2010. The M&U Division will be adopting new Emphasis Area Networks which will consist of members focused on special construction emphasis areas including: Market Development, Legal and Regulatory Issues, Liaison with Owners and Engineers, and Damage Prevention.  The Utility Market Network, Utility Regulation Network, and Utility Liaison Network will allow Â鶹´«Ã½ members to share information and identify issues that should be addressed by the M&U Division.   Membership in the Networks will generally be open to all interested Â鶹´«Ã½ members. A primary vehicle for information sharing and issue identification will be through electronic forums. Issues requiring Â鶹´«Ã½ action will be referred from these networks to the Steering Committee for appropriate action through Task Forces. Leading the Division in this bold new approach will be newly elected Chairman Mr. Art Daniel, the Chief Operating Officer of AR Daniel Construction Services, Inc. located in Cedar Hill, Texas. Mr. Daniel has been in involved in the utility construction industry for over thirty years.  Mr. Daniel’s industry involvement includes President 2004 of Â鶹´«Ã½ of Texas, Â鶹´«Ã½ of Texas Water and Wastewater Committee, Â鶹´«Ã½ of Texas-ACEC Joint Committee, Â鶹´«Ã½ of Texas-TxDOT Joint Committee, Â鶹´«Ã½ of Texas Trenchless Technology Committee (past Chair), Past Municipal & Utilities Division Chairman 1997-1998 & 2001-2002, and Past Dallas Area Chair of the Â鶹´«Ã½ of Texas.  Mr. Daniel currently serves on several Â鶹´«Ã½ of America Committees and recently as Vice Chair of the Municipal and Utilities Division of Â鶹´«Ã½ of America and as a member of the Board of Directors of Â鶹´«Ã½ of America. He is also a member of North American Society for Trenchless Technology and the Gulf Coast Trenchless Society. Newly elected M&U Vice Chairman Mr. Gene Shull is the Owner and President of A. E. Shull & Company an underground utilities and road construction company located in Tyler, Texas which was organized in 1973. In addition to serving as President of the Associated General Contractors of Texas in 1990, Mr. Shull previously chaired the M&U Division at Â鶹´«Ã½A in 1991. Mr. Shull is, and has been, active in numerous state, local, and civic groups including the Tyler Rotary Club, Tyler Chamber of Commerce, Governor’s Underground Storage Tank Advisory Committee , the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse , the Texas General Services Commission – Appointed by Governor George W. Bush in 1997, and most recently as a Trustee for the Tyler Independent School Board. We would also like to thank outgoing Chairman, Mr. L. Bradford Barringer of B.R.S. Inc located in Richfield, North Carolina. A member of Carolinas Â鶹´«Ã½, Brad’s persistence and dedication to the M&U Division and the construction industry is unmatched. We appreciate his leadership of the Division throughout the last year. Mr. Barringer is a tireless and dedicated advocate for shared responsibility in underground utility damage prevention and is one of Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s long time activists in the Common Ground Alliance. Brad is an active participant in the Â鶹´«Ã½ Education and Research Foundation which recently awarded $177,000 in scholarships for students in 2009. Brad also currently serves as the Region 2 CGA Coordinator which consists of the North Carolina Regional CGA, Tennessee Damage Prevention Committee, Utility Service Protection Center, Delmarva, Virginia Utility Protection Service, Inc., Kentucky Regional CGA For more information on these developments and how you can get involved with the M&U Division contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org
The Â鶹´«Ã½ Municipal & Utilities Division hosted Steven Allbee from the EPA Office of Water at Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s 90th Annual Convention in San Diego. Albee is a 30-year veteran of the EPA, serving as the primary author of the EPA Clean and Drinking Water Gap Analysis and one of the leaders in establishing the State Revolving Fund Program. He is widely regarded as one of the leading national experts on water infrastructure needs and advanced asset management approaches. Allbee was featured in the Â鶹´«Ã½-funded documentary Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure. Allbee addressed the significant challenges facing our aging water infrastructure and the critical role that contractors play in ensuring public health and water quality. Allbee noted that the level of attention and funding for water and wastewater was unprecedented and lauded Â鶹´«Ã½ for its support in raising awareness in Congress and throughout the nation with Liquid Assets. Albee commented that he had thought that a Trust Fund for Clean Water would never materialize, but was extremely optimistic given recent developments in water infrastructure. These include the $7.4 billion contained in the stimulus for clean and drinking water, the recent passage of $19.4 billion over five years in authorization of appropriations for wastewater infrastructure projects, and the President’s 2010 Budget which called for $3.9 billion for the Safe Drinking and Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Programs. Establishment of a Clean Water Trust Fund is one of Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s top legislative priorities in the 111th Congress and Â鶹´«Ã½ anticipates the introduction of legislation in the coming months. Click here for a copy of Allbee’s presentation For more information or a copy of Allbee’s presentation, contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org
The Â鶹´«Ã½ Municipal & Utilities Division hosted Mr. Steven Allbee from the EPA Office of Water at Â鶹´«Ã½'s 90th Annual Convention in San Diego. Albee a 30-year veteran of the EPA, serving as the primary author of the EPA Clean and Drinking Water Gap Analysis and one of the leaders in establishing the State Revolving Fund Program. He is widely regarded as one of the leading national experts on water infrastructure needs and advanced asset management approaches. Allbee was featured in the Â鶹´«Ã½ funded documentary Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure.Allbee gave a compelling presentation about the significant challenges facing our aging water infrastructure and the critical role that contractors play in ensuring public health and water quality. His thorough and entertaining presentation was well received by the audience of fifty-plus contractors. Allbee noted that the level of attention and funding for water and wastewater was unprecedented and lauded Â鶹´«Ã½ for its support in raising awareness in Congress and throughout the nation with Liquid Assets.Albee commented that he thought that a Trust Fund for Clean Water would never happen, but was extremely optimistic given recent developments in water infrastructure, including the $7.4 billion contained in the stimulus for clean and drinking water, the recent passage of H.R. 1262, which contains $19.4 billion over five years in authorization of appropriations for wastewater infrastructure projects including $13.8 billion program for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and the President's 2010 Budget which called for $3.9 billion for the Safe Drinking and Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Programs. Establishment of a of Clean Water Trust Fund is one of Â鶹´«Ã½'s top legislative priorities in the 111th Congress and Â鶹´«Ã½ anticipates the introduction of legislation in the coming months.For more information or a copy of Mr. Allbee's presentation, contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-1983 or fowlerp@agc.org.
This year's Municipal & Utilities Division session on Friday March 6 will feature Mr. Steve Allbee with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Mr. Allbee has been with the EPA for 28 years and is currently the Project Director and principal author of The Clean Water and Drinking Water Gap Analysis.  The "Gap Analysis" is a comprehensive national-level assesment of published by the EPA and is often cited as the primary source documenting the challenges ahead for America's water and wastewater systems. Mr. Allbee will make a presetnaion on the challenges that face our national water infrastrcure. EPA's 2002 Gap Analysis  outlined needs between $450-600 billion over the next twenty years.The M&U Division session will take place at the San Diego Convention Center on March 6 at 10:00 AM in room 28 A. The M&U Division hopes that you will join us at Convention.   Please click here for a list of sessions at the 2009 Convention of particular interest for Municipal & Utility Contractors.If you haven't already registered, there's still time. Visit our convention website and register today!If you've already registered, the we've got something special for you - this year, we're making it even easier for you to plan your trip, organize your agenda and make the most out of your time.Need help planning what sessions to attend? Create your own convention calendar that you can download to your PC and sync with your Blackberry, iPhone or other mobile device.Bringing the family? Looking for more to do? Check out our guide to local restaurants and attractions.Bringing your camera to the Convention? Upload and share your Convention Photos.See you in San Diego!For addtional information please contact Perry L. Fowler at fowlerp@agc.org