December 2013, Vol. 68 No. 12

Construction of the Keystone Gulf Coast Pipeline (KGCP) has advanced considerably, according to Genscape’s most recent flyovers on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6. Genscape uses proprietary monitoring technology and aerial photography to monitor market moving pipeline flow disruptions and infrastructure projects to offer market participants a real-time look at the factors driving the U.S. and Canadian oil markets.

The Department of Justice, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) announced a proposed settlement with the city of Columbia, SC, to resolve violations of the Clean Water Act (CWA), including unauthorized overflows of untreated raw sewage, according to a press release.

With the National Energy Board continuing its hearings on Enbridge's proposal to reverse the flow of Line 9B, TDT Crews Ltd. is urging Ontarians to support the project because of the economic benefits and job opportunities Line 9B would bring to Ontario workers.

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently announced a significant new stormwater initiative for the Windy City during the annual Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC) held Oct. 7-9.

Williams Partners LP, a Tulsa, OK-based company, announced recently that it has filed a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission application to expand its Transco natural gas pipeline for growing markets in northern Pennsylvania and along its main line from New Jersey through Alabama.

In mid-September, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers drafted a proposed rule to clarify which bodies of water fall under the Clean Water Act (CWA) – a question that had been contested for years, with debate hinging on whether waters connecting to “navigable waters” fell under the agencies’ authority.

FMI, a leading provider of management consulting and investment banking to the engineering and construction industry, announces the release of its 2014 U.S. Markets Construction Overview. With construction put in place at the end of 2013 expected to be at $909.6 billion, researchers at FMI predict CPIP growth rates to be slightly ahead of the GDP in 2014.

Felling Trailers has released another option on its drop deck trailers, including its IT-I series.

Intelligent Leads is a unique new way to view construction project activity across the United States from Reed Construction. Combining Reed’s trusted database of construction projects with RSMeans’ predictive cost models; Intelligent Leads offers unmatched visibility into project opportunities.

Condux International recently unveiled the APS75 Hydraulic Underground Cable Puller. The APS75 provides up to 7,500 pounds of continuous pulling power to tackle a comprehensive range of pulling applications.

Designed for use with excavators ranging in size from 8 to 75 tons, Geith heavy duty buckets are ideal for general construction site work as well as more demanding excavation applications involving soil, dirt and gravel.

Manufactured in the United States from the toughest wear-resistant tungsten carbide, U.S. Drilling Products’ new Directional Underground Boring Bit is gaining attention for its rock-busting capabilities.

To help support the use of John Deere equipment around the world, the Construction & Forestry Division is bringing to market a retrofit kit that will enable John Deere Interim Tier 4 (IT4) machines to be sold in countries where ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel is not available.

On Sept. 27, Herrenknecht received the “IPLOCA New Technologies Award” for the newly developed semi-trenchless Pipe Express method in Washington, DC. Near-surface pipelines can be laid economically and in an environmentally-friendly manner with the Pipe Express method.

Advertisers from the print edition of Underground Construction, December 2013, Vol. 68 No. 12.

CASE Construction Equipment has partnered with award-winning author and infrastructure expert Dan McNichol to tour the United States and bring awareness to the challenges facing the nation’s aging infrastructure.

Atlas Copco announced Joe Kallis, rental consultant at Wagner Rents in Silverthorne, CO, as the first winner of its XAS 185 Hardhat portable air compressor contest.

Vibratory plows from Ditch Witch, Toro and Vermeer.

Rubber tire trenchers from Vermeer, Ditch Witch, MidAmerica Trenchers and Toro.

The question invariably is asked after severe weather or other disasters knocks out electrical power and communications services: “Why don’t they put those overhead lines underground where they’re protected?” That question has been asked many times in many places over the past few years as heavy winter storms, tornadoes and hurricanes have affected much of the country, knocking out power, communications and other vital services.

Visitors to the 2014 RehabZone can expect it to be the same as it’s always been – but different. As it has since 2002, the RehabZone will be a “show within a show” on the exhibit floor of the 2014 Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Jan. 28-30.

Established in 2004 by a small group of directional drilling contractors as a regional association, the Northeast Trenchless Association (NTA) has not only served the underground industry in New England – an area not known for conditions conducive to directional drilling – but has established a strong national presence, as well. The group has expanded to encompass all methods of trenchless construction and rehabilitation.

When USD 233 – more commonly known as the Olathe, KS, Public School District – was formed in 1965 by consolidating five smaller districts, enrollment totaled 3,687 students. Since then, it has grown every year and is now the second largest of all the school districts in Kansas. The 2013 school year began with more than 29,000 students attending classes at the four high schools, nine middle schools and 35 elementary school buildings that compose the district.

Interactive Pipe Inspection (IPI) is building an impressive record of complex inspections of pipe submerged under water. Last year, Underground Construction magazine reported on projects for King County, WA, in which IPI inspected more than 50,000 feet of sanitary sewer lines beneath two lakes.

Reacting to the changing needs of the evolving horizontal directional drilling industry, UCT has launched an educational program and interactive display at this year’s event.

The power supply for Virginia's densely populated Middle Peninsula Area, on the Chesapeake Bay, is currently adequate but somewhat fragile; a single 115 kV line extends southward from the Harmony Village Substation of Dominion Virginia Power (DVP). The non-redundant power supply was at risk for long interruptions and local demand threatened to outstrip supply.

Did you know I’m an expert thespian? Well it’s true, at least by today’s standards of Hollywood, the Internet, reality television shows and social media. I am fully qualified to be a respected, believable media star worthy to influence the mindless minions who blindly rely upon mass media madness to influence, even guide, their decisions.

The federal pipeline safety agency is opening up a new front in its efforts to improve gas and oil pipeline safety. The Integrity Verification Process (IVP) previewed this summer by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) would be an "add-on," and a very costly one at that, to the existing Integrity Management (IM) program which obligates pipelines to test segments in "high consequence areas (HCAs)." There are 18,000 miles of pipeline in HCAs.