January 2013, Vol. 68, No. 1
Features
NASSCO Celebrates Successful Year
NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) closed out an eventful and successful 2012 marked by continued growth in membership and impressive advances in the organization’s educational programs.
“It (2012) was a very successful year on many fronts,” said NASSCO President John Nelson, whose term will end in February at the 2013 annual meeting.
“We have an outstanding staff and solid core of volunteer members who accept suggestions from the membership and then develop and implement effective educational programs which are available to members and industry professionals,” said Nelson. “We are implementing the association’s strategic plan developed in 2011 which identifies priorities for establishing standards for assessing and rehabilitating the nation’s utility infrastructure.”
Nelson said 2012 was an exceptional year for training with nearly 4,000 industry members completing NASSCO courses.
The fastest growing segment of association membership, he continued, is in representatives of municipalities. This is a result, he believes, of the increasing acceptance of NASSCO’s Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) and Inspector Training Certification Program (ITCP) classes for cured-in-place pipe.
Summarizing 2012 major events, Nelson said the year began with NASSCO’S participation in January at the annual UCT (Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition) and sponsorship of the RehabZone, the “no-selling” show within a show that has become an integral part of UCT.
Next was the 2012 annual meeting in February, and Nelson praised Ted DeBoda, NASSCO executive vice president, Heather Myers, operations manager, Gerry Muenchmeyer, technical director, and the entire staff for planning and executing another outstanding event.
Later in the year, NASSCO participated in the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International and NASTT’s No-Dig show. Technical papers were presented at WEFTEC, the Water Environment Federation’s annual technical conference and exhibition; California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Tri-Con; and the Instituto Colombiano de Tecnologias de Infraestrutura Subterranea (Latin America).
NASSCO continued to support investments in water infrastructure throughout the year.
Highlights
Nelson said other significant accomplishments during 2012 were:
• PACP Version 7.0 Revision, the first major revision in over 10 years encompasses a thorough manual review and upgrading of all training materials. There will be updates to all portions of the programs including manuals and the software database. Before finalization of the revision, numerous PACP forums will be held to gain user input prior to finalizing this revision;
• CIPP User Recertification Updating — Approximately 2,000 certificate holders recertified their credentials during the year. A Trainer Certification Board was established and new training materials provided to trainers;
• PACP Trainer Recertification Updating continued to increase the quality of training by establishing a Trainer Certification Review Board and introducing new training materials;
• Latin American Initiatives include translation of the PACP manual and tutorials in Spanish. The first Latin American PACP class was held in October in Columbia;
• PACP 6.0.1 translation to French was initiated to support CERIU (Centre for Expertise and Research on Infrastructures in Urban Areas);
• Manhole Rehab ITCP (Inspection Training and Certification Program) was completed and the first beta class held. Trainers are being appointed and trained, and a Trainer Certification Review Board has been established; and
• Committee Leadership responsibilities have been updated, restructured and a biannual leadership transition system has been established.
Throughout the year, Nelson said NASSCO has monitored the status of the lawsuit filed in June 2011 by the Styrene Information and Research Center (SIRC) challenging the classification of styrene as a “reasonably anticipated carcinogen” by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program Report on Carcinogens. Styrene is a primary ingredient used to manufacture the thermoset resins used in CIPP sewer rehabilitation. The suit seeks to remove styrene from that classification.
Looking ahead, Nelson said future association projects include developing a Pipe Bursting ITCP, updating specifications guidelines and developing standard specifications for television inspection of pipes and for pipe cleaning.
Nelson is vice president of sales for Visu-Sewer, and his term as NASSCO president ends in February at the 2013 annual meeting when Joan Stone, president of PipeLogix, will take over as president. Nelson noted that he is the third Visu-Sewer representative to serve as NASSCO president. The others are Keith Alexander in 2004 and Ernie Alexander in 1985.
NASSCO is a national association composed of several hundred members representing sewer and rehabilitation industry manufacturers and suppliers, municipalities and utility districts, engineers and contracting firms dedicated to establishing and implementing standards for rehabilitation of underground utilities. NASSCO offices are in Owings Mills, MD.
NASSCO Annual Convention
Feb. 13-16
Hawks Cay Island Resort
Duck Key, FL
FOR MORE INFO:
NASSCO, (410) 486-3500, (www.nassco.org)
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