April 2012, Vol. 67 No. 4

To easily switch the mounting position to help maintain the speed and effectiveness of weld cleaning brushes, Weiler has manufactured a line of stringer-bead wheels.

Long in use throughout Europe by trenchless technology professionals, Adeunis-NA is now introducing the Vokkero system in North America.

Nansulate EPX insulation, corrosion prevention, chemical and flame resistant coating insulates pipes, tanks and equipment to reduce energy costs and can stand up to harsh environments.

Zonar’s new ZTrak is an easy, affordable solution for companies wanting to track construction equipment, shipping containers, hazmat trailers, rental equipment, high security items and more.

SRM-10.4 Series Sunlight Readable LCD Monitors produce clear, sharp images even with direct, bright sunlight on the face of the screen.

The LP series vibratory trench compactor (LP8504), or trench roller, is suitable for the compaction of cohesive and granular soils in trenches and confined areas.

Holland Pump's PT8TPB-1104.44T 8-inch Prime 3 Trash Pump model, ideal for many sewer bypass applications, is a SuperSilent Prime Assisted Suction Pump featuring indefinite dry run capabilities.

The Vacuworx RC line of vacuum-lifting machine — RC10, RC12, RC16 and RC20 — operate with specially optimized vacuum pads that can lift and transport all diameters of coated and non-coated pipe.

The Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has announced the launch of a North American industry collaborative to drive the deployment of energy-efficient emerging technologies and solutions.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a new permit, in accordance with the Clean Water Act, that will provide streamlined permitting to thousands of construction operators, while protecting our nation's waterways from discharges of polluted storm water from construction sites.

Cross River Fiber, a New Jersey-based, boutique dark fiber optic and telecommunications solutions provider, announces the completion of the shortest commercially available fiber network route between 1400 Federal Boulevard in Carteret and 165 Halsey Street in Newark, NJ.

The cost of repairing and expanding U.S. drinking water infrastructure will top $1 trillion in the next 25 years, an expense that likely will be met primarily through higher water bills and local fees, a groundbreaking study by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) shows.

Investment to expand and construct midstream infrastructure – mainline pipelines, laterals, processing plants, gathering lines, compression and storage – to bring natural gas, natural gas liquids and crude oil supplies to markets will support an average of over 125,000 jobs each year from 2012 through 2035, generate nearly $57 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue, and add more than $511 billion in total economic output, a new study finds.

Several contractors have initiated steps to form an association to better represent the pipeline and utility trenching industry.

Inliner Technologies is expanding its presence in Canada through an agreement with Ontario-based Clean Water Works to use the Inliner method of cured-in-place pipe to renew deteriorating municipal and industrial wastewater piping infrastructure.

The National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) has released the “Introduction to Sewer Cleaning with Jetting Equipment” video to further their mission to set industry standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground pipelines, while assuring the continued acceptance and growth of trenchless technologies.

URS Corporation and Flint Energy Services Ltd. announced a definitive agreement under which URS will acquire Flint for $1.25 billion.

Owen MacIntyre, a longtime veteran of the metalworking industry, including the last 16 years as southwest regional manager of PFERD Inc., was recently honored by the company to mark his official retirement effective Feb. 29.

Advertisers from the print edition of Underground Construction, April 2012, Vol. 67 No. 4.

Excavators from John Deere, Hitachi, Volvo, Case, Caterpillar, New Holland Construction, Bobcat, Kobelco, Ditch Witch, Kubota, Doosan and Komatsu America.

Trench shoring products from Efficiency Production, PRO-TEC Equipment, American Shoring, Quik-Shor, Speed Shore Corp. and Kundel Industries.

The International Pipe Bursting Association (IPBA) has ambitious plans for 2012 and got the year off to a good start in January with the introduction of new pipe bursting guidelines at the Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) in San Antonio, TX.

Chris Leines, outgoing president of the Pipe Line Contractors Association and president of Minnesota Limited LLC, welcomed about 550 delegates to the Park Hyatt Aviara on Feb. 21 to 25, in Carlsbad, CA. It was another large turnout for the association’s 64th annual meeting.

TT Technologies has introduced two new small-diameter pneumatic pipe splitting tools designed to meet the needs of the gas industry.

It was another busy year of growth and accomplishment for NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies), as membership reached an all-time high of nearly 450, plus the more than 150 delegates at the annual convention also set a record.

Another record registration of 209 attendees marked the American Pipeline Contractors Association’s 41st Annual Convention at The Cloister Resort & Spa in Sea Island, GA. Speakers included Greg Guidry, of the Onebane Law Firm, who spoke to regular members on the legislative environment in Washington, especially on the labor front. Other speakers included Mark Bridgers of the Continuum Advisory Group, Jim Spigener, of Behavioral Science Technology Inc. and Sid McAnnally with Energen Corporation in Birmingham, AL.

May will mark the fifth anniversary of the introduction of 811, the national one-call number to request buried pipes and cables be located and marked prior to excavation or any other earth-disturbing activity.

SunWorx is a web-based work management system providing asset tracking and field force automation that is growing in popularity with construction companies and offers several benefits to pipeline and utility contractors, said Paul Heino, president of Sundex, Inc., developer of SunWorx.

Pressurized force mains represent a relatively small percentage of the nation’s wastewater collection infrastructure, but are essential in many systems to move waste where gravity isn’t sufficient to sustain flow. Failure in a force main segment can cause major disruptions in service with costly operational and environmental consequences.

As crossbores continue to cause concern and controversy across the United States, the city of Palo Alto, CA, is taking a pro-active approach to find gas lines that have penetrated sewer laterals during installation by horizontal directional drilling (HDD), and to correct the problem before a costly and dangerous accident can occur.

DiPaolo Construction, of Calumet City, IL, recently completed a $14 million underground utility project to install personnel access manhole structures over an existing combined storm/sanitary sewer line in the South Chicago community of Hegewisch.

Community-owned Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) provides electric, natural gas, water and wastewater services to 645,000 residential and commercial customers in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado.

A notable, five-year anniversary was reached recently for a benchmark industry damage prevention program. And while it received some publicity, perhaps the program didn’t get as much attention as it deserved, especially when one considers the benefits – including health and safety – that have been credited to a simple three digit number: 811.

Obama administration budget requests for fiscal 2013 for key pipeline regulatory and construction programs are working their way through congressional appropriation committees. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) would receive new funding for additional inspectors, allowing the agency to do more intensive inspections of pipeline safety.