May 2011, Vol. 66 No. 5

Pipe bursting, like many technologies today, has its own set of lingo or jargon which often times makes it difficult to understand for someone new to the industry or without a lot of direct experience with the technology.

Members of the NASSCO Lateral Committee continue to refine a document to provide a comprehensive overview of lateral and main-lateral connection repair and sealing technologies.

The recent American Pipe Line Contractors Association annual convention held recently at the scenic Grand Del Mar in San Diego, CA, drew another near-record attendance.

In the warm confines of Key Largo, FL, the Power & Communication Contractors Association recently held a highly successful 2011 annual convention.

Three Point Construction Inc., Mechanicsville, MD, has successfully completed the first front steer microtunneling project in the United States using a Bohrtec BM400L machine from Icon Tunnel Systems.

Organizations in the cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) industry are seriously concerned about a recommendation before the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to designate styrene as a “reasonably anticipated carcinogen,” implying that it could be a cause of cancer in humans.

Preventing damage to underground utility infrastructure is a priority for utility operators and contractors who excavate, drill and bore in areas where there are existing utilities. Even so, accidental strikes of underground utility lines continue to interrupt essential services, cause millions of dollars in damage every year, result in serious injuries and sometimes loss of life.

Directional drilling installations that a dozen years ago would have been considered impossible are routinely performed today. Projects in difficult conditions that made industry news then are commonplace now.

Even on the flattest terrain, infrastructure development projects present challenges. But put crews to work on an installation high in the Rocky Mountains, and the degree of difficulty increases with every 1,000 feet above sea level they climb. On these alpine jobsites, rock, weather and environmentally-protected boundaries rule the day, turning plans -- sometimes literally -- upside down.

The city of Omaha, NE, is set to begin a $200 million project to install new infrastructure that will replace old sewer lines, which could mean as much as 2,000 jobs.

New Mexico One Call Inc. (NMOC), the statewide “Call Before You Dig” organization, has become the first 8-1-1 call center in the United States to receive ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001:2008 certification for quality management.

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), through the Endowment for Innovation in Applied Water Quality Research, is offering $100,000 to encourage researchers working in wastewater, water reuse, biosolids, stormwater, watersheds and other areas to pursue groundbreaking research.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announces that a team of students from Miami Valley Career Technology Center in Clayton, OH, has won the 2011 AEM Construction Challenge presented by Volvo Construction Equipment.

The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) announces that a team of students from Miami Valley Career Technology Center in Clayton, OH, has won the 2011 AEM Construction Challenge presented by Volvo Construction Equipment.

The Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), through the Endowment for Innovation in Applied Water Quality Research, is offering $100,000 to encourage researchers working in wastewater, water reuse, biosolids, stormwater, watersheds and other areas to pursue groundbreaking research.

New Mexico One Call Inc. (NMOC), the statewide “Call Before You Dig” organization, has become the first 8-1-1 call center in the United States to receive ISO (International Organization for Standardization) 9001:2008 certification for quality management.

The city of Omaha, NE, is set to begin a $200 million project to install new infrastructure that will replace old sewer lines, which could mean as much as 2,000 jobs.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Justice Department, California Water Boards and San Francisco Baykeeper have announced a stipulated order that will settle a Clean Water Act enforcement action against seven municipalities in the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD).

Most Consent Decrees addressing combined sewer overflow (CSO) related violations have been approved by the federal courts. However, the Northern District of Ohio U.S. District Court rejected a recent CSO decree proposed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) involving the city of Akron, OH.

The Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT) and the University of Houston’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering held its 16th annual conference and exhibition in Houston, TX, at the University Hilton, University of Houston campus on March 4.

Vectren Corporation acquired Minnesota Limited Inc. in late March in a strategic move to grow Vectren's infrastructure services business segment. Minnesota Limited will join wholly owned subsidiary Miller Pipeline in Vectren's infrastructure services group.

Rock construction equipment from Vermeer, Melfred Borzall, INROCK, American Augers, Sharewell, Kennametal, Caterpillar, Ditch Witch, Ballantine, Underground Tools Inc., Bor-It Mfg., Doosan, Kenco and Barbco.

Padding and spoils handling equipment from Felco Industries, ALLU Group, Ozzie’s Pipeline Padder, CRC-Evans Pipeline/Laurini and Worldwide Machinery.

ASTEC Underground and Ring-O-Matic have agreed to market the Ring-O-Matic line of vacuum excavators under the Astec name and through the Astec Underground network of dealers.

Track trenchers and rock saws from Vermeer, Trencor/Astec, Ditch Witch, Tesmec USA, Trench-Tech, RIVARD, Mastenbroek and Mid America Trenchers.

Construction software developer HCSS recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of the company’s founding at the annual HCSS user’s group meetings in Houston. More than 750 HCSS customers and the company’s 115 employees noted the milestone during the meetings at the Hilton Americas Hotel in downtown Houston.

In January, Michels Corp. hosted a pipe coating research and development demonstration at the company’s headquarters in Brownsville, WI. Michels invited three pipe-coating companies to demonstrate and test the difference and quality between fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE) and liquid polymer.

Sanford “Sandy” Brown, 77, passed away at his home in Giddings on Feb. 26. He was a registered Professional Engineer and worked for Dow Chemical, El Paso Products and Flint Engineering and Construction.

Advertisers from the print edition of <em>Underground Construction</em>, May 2011, Vol. 66 No. 5.

InfraMetrix LLC has announced a new buried infrastructure diagnostic service that utilizes Broadband Electromagnetic (BEM) eddy current technology.

HOBAS Pipe USA has obtained ISO 14001 certification, the international standard for environmental management.

New Holland Construction has upgraded six B Series loader backhoes – models B90B, B95B, B95B TC, B95B LR, B110B and B115B.

Lincoln Electric has introduced the new SAE-300 engine-driven welder designed for pipeline welding as well as construction and maintenance applications.

A new enclosed cab option is now available on Kubota Tractor’s compact track loader models, the SVL75 and the SVL90.

The new Cat 336E hydraulic excavator replaces Caterpillar’s 336D and features a more powerful engine that drives increased productivity and meets Tier 4 Interim emissions standards.

The T750 joins the Bobcat M-Series loader line, which includes the T630, T650, T770 and T870 compact track loaders.

Case Construction Equipment expands its compact excavator product line into a new class segment with the introduction of the Case CX55B minimum tail swing model.

A new line of Hitachi Dash-5 Excavators will roll out this year – the ZX250LC-5, ZX290LC-5 and ZX350LC-5 will be the first to arrive at dealers.

Featuring new engines and driveline systems for improved productivity, lower emissions, greater smoothness, serviceability and operator comfort, the new G-Series is the latest generation of wheel loaders from Volvo Construction Equipment.

When considering the condition of America’s underground sewer and water infrastructure, there are several constants. For those in the know, the word ‘failing’ tops the list, closely followed by a perpetual dearth of funding.

The EPA sewer and drinking water construction budgets for the current fiscal 2011 year dropped precipitously in the final budget passed by Congress. Fiscal 2011 actually started last Oct. 1 but Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate had been unable to agree on a budget.

Interflow Pty Limited, a company with some 75 years experience in the pipeline industry, has since 1991 been a leading provider in Australia and New Zealand of repair, rehabilitation and renewal services for deteriorated underground non-pressure pipelines.

SpectraShield Liner Systems announced that Liqui-Force Services located in Kingsville, Ontario will be the exclusive licensee and installer for the SpectraShield system in Canada.

Aries Industries has added Nick Kroll as president/CEO in the interest of leading the organization toward continued growth domestically and globally.

Insituform Technologies recently announced that it has been awarded its first stormwater pipeline rehabilitation contract from the Board of County Commissioners, Orange County, FL.

Pipeline rehabilitation and tunneling services contractor SAK Construction has been named a contract partner by Choice Facility Partners, a Houston-based cooperative purchasing organization available to government entities nationwide.

President Bill Shook of AP/M PERMAFORM, a provider of trenchless renewal technologies, announced that Robin Wolf has joined the AP/M Permaform team as East Coast Regional Manager.