“We’ve got a lot of work to do and we’re getting ready to do it,” Governor Joe Manchin told CAWV members and legislators Thursday. The governor was the keynote speaker at a March 12 legislative reception sponsored by the Contractors Association of West Virginia and WV American Water Company. Nearly 100 legislators, governmental officials and CAWV members attended the function held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston.“We’ve got almost $300 million in water and sewer projects that are backlogged,” the governor stated. “If these jobs are ready, we will put them out to bid. I want your contractors to go to work building these projects, which are vital to West Virginia’s quality of life and future economic development.” The governor said the stimulus funds will give West Virginia the chance to better transition the state for future economic development. He said that West Virginia is beginning to feel the impact of the national recession, but investing in infrastructure will help the state rebound more quickly. Governor Manchin outlined the federal stimulus dollars that will be available for water and sewer construction. “We have established a link on my homepage at www.wvgov.org. All the Recovery Act funding will be on the website for everyone to see. The site will show what money is available for programs and how the money is being spent.” The governor noted that the website will provide complete transparency in the spending of the Recovery Act funds. Attendees also viewed an overview of the 90-minute documentary Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure, and joined WV Water Development Authority Executive Director Chris Jarrett, WVDEP Water and Waste Management Division Director Mike Johnson, Steptoe & Johnson Attorney John Stump and WV American Water Executive Director Wayne Morgan for a lively discussion. Panelists explored the value and cost of water and wastewater services, the unique requirements presented by West Virginia’s terrain, and the amount of unserved state residents. “Water and sewer systems cost a lot of money to operate – especially considering the costs of everything else are going up, such as the electricity that is used to treat the water and the fuel costs associated with hauling materials – yet treated water only costs about a penny per gallon,” Morgan explained. “Nationwide, only about one to two percent of household income is spent on tap water, making it one of our lower utility bills.” Jarrett and Johnson discussed the funding mechanisms in place for water infrastructure and told attendees about the vast the gap that exists between what is needed and the amount of money available. Panelists also discussed the needs in our state for adequate water and sewer services and the cost to provide them to everyone. They then explored the impact the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will have on utility construction in the state. For more information on how your company or 鶹ƵChapter can use Liquid Assets to raise awareness about water infrastructure visit www.agc.org/liquidassets.
Carolina's 鶹Ƶand UNC TV create public awareness about North Carolinas water infrastructure with new documentary with the help 鶹Ƶmembers and a grant from Penn State Public Broadcasting.Liquid Assets in North Carolina explores the many issues surrounding the maintainence of these water management systems. Alongside a panel of experts in rural development, public policy, construction, and public utilities administration, UNC-TV's senior producer of public affairs Eszter Vajda moderates this in-depth discussion of the many types of water infrastructure in place to manage North Carolina's storm, drinking, and waste water, the condition of those systems, and what concerned individuals and organizations are doing to ensure the maintenance and improvement of that infrastructure. This expert panel also examines economic and public health implications surrounding water conservation and funding.Click here for more information and view the documentary online
Newly elected 鶹Ƶof America Vice President Kris Young, President and CEO of Miller the Driller located in Des Moines, Iowa was recently interviewed by NPR during the 鶹ƵConvention.Newly elected 鶹Ƶof America Vice President Kris Young, President and CEO of Miller the Driller located in Des Moines, Iowa was recently interviewed by NPR during the 鶹ƵConvention. We are extremely proud that the first female National 鶹ƵOfficer hails from the M&U Division. Kris served as the Chair of 鶹Ƶof America’s Municipal Utilities Division in (2002-2003), Chaired the 鶹ƵTrenchless Technology (1997-2000); and President of 鶹Ƶof 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 鶹Ƶmembers 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 AGC’s comments during the C-DAC process or the SBREFA panel, click here. Also, visit 鶹ƵAdvocacy to review regulations and comments submitted by 鶹Ƶon Safety and Health regulations throughout the year. Previous 鶹ƵSafety and Health Newsletter articles related to the same topic:鶹ƵComments 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. AGC 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 鶹Ƶanalysis of the omnibus appropriations bill shows that Congress would increase funding for federal construction programs by 5.5 percent above the FY 2008 level. 鶹Ƶfound 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 鶹Ƶmembers. Throughout the year we have surveyed our members and conducted outreach to assess goals and identify member needs. We are pleased to report that 鶹Ƶis pleased to announce that on March 10, 2009 the M&U Division approved a new structure for the Division at the 鶹ƵAnnual 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 鶹Ƶmembers 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 鶹Ƶmembers. A primary vehicle for information sharing and issue identification will be through electronic forums. Issues requiring 鶹Ƶaction 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 鶹Ƶof Texas, 鶹Ƶof Texas Water and Wastewater Committee, 鶹Ƶof Texas-ACEC Joint Committee, 鶹Ƶof Texas-TxDOT Joint Committee, 鶹Ƶof Texas Trenchless Technology Committee (past Chair), Past Municipal & Utilities Division Chairman 1997-1998 & 2001-2002, and Past Dallas Area Chair of the 鶹Ƶof Texas. Mr. Daniel currently serves on several 鶹Ƶof America Committees and recently as Vice Chair of the Municipal and Utilities Division of 鶹Ƶof America and as a member of the Board of Directors of 鶹Ƶof 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 AGCA 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 AGC, 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 AGC’s long time activists in the Common Ground Alliance. Brad is an active participant in the 鶹ƵEducation 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 鶹ƵMunicipal & Utilities Division hosted Steven Allbee from the EPA Office of Water at AGC’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 AGC-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 鶹Ƶfor 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 AGC’s top legislative priorities in the 111th Congress and 鶹Ƶanticipates 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