June 2013, Vol. 68, No. 6

The following are comments regarding articles from the April edition of <em>Underground Construction</em>:

William Leslie “Bill” Unsworth, of Ontario, Canada passed away suddenly on May 3 at his residence at the age of 56.

Donald Dean “Dandy Don” French, 85, passed away on April 6. He was born on Feb. 3, 1928 to Cecil and Jeanette French in Drumright, OK.

On May 5, California regulators recommended that Pacific Gas & Electric Company pay a record $2.25 billion fine for decades of negligence that led to a deadly gas pipeline explosion that leveled a San Francisco Bay area neighborhood.

Kinder Morgan Energy Partners L.P. announced it has entered into a long-term contract to support the expansion of its Sweeny Lateral pipeline that the company is building from the Kinder Morgan Crude Condensate (KMCC) pipeline to Phillip 66’s Sweeny Refinery in Brazoria County, TX.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a final rule, effective May 23 that applies the requirements of the August 2010 cranes and derricks in construction standard to demolition work and underground construction. Application of this rule will protect workers from hazards associated with hoisting equipment used during construction activities.

In April, nearly 200 water leaders from the private and public sector joined together in Washington, DC, as part of the Water Matters! Fly In, sponsored by the American Water Works Association and the Water Environment Federation urging Congress to vote for legislation that addresses the nation’s water infrastructure and confronts mounting affordability concerns.

Logiball is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Since 1983, the company has been providing test and seal packers, reinforced multi-size plugs, carrier packers for sectional liners, lateral cleaning equipment and specialized tools for the rehabilitation and maintenance of collections systems.

With the advent of new construction technologies comes the need for proven field tests to advance their use. Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) using ductile iron pipe, first introduced in 1994, is a method of installing the pipe underground without digging a trench.

Inland Pipe Rehabilitation (IPR), the nation’s largest privately owned trenchless infrastructure solutions provider, recently installed cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) to renew more than 1,600 feet of water lines serving a North Dallas suburb water treatment plant. IPR installed its pressure pipe renewal system provided by RS Technik using Dow custom formulated resins.

Global demand for plastic pipe is projected to rise 8.5 percent annually through 2017 to 11.2 billion meters, improving significantly from growth posted between 2007 and 2012. Advances will come in large part from increased construction spending in all global regions, since plastic pipe is most heavily utilized in construction applications.

Mark, Dickey and Steve Laney, well-known for their many years as road boring and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractors, are rebranding and expanding their business.

Advertisers from the print edition of <em>Underground Construction</em>, June 2013, Vol. 68, No. 6.

MTI Equipment, a global leader in pre-owned underground construction equipment sales, has appointed Kevin Smith as general manager of the company’s Englewood, FL-based facility. MTI joined The Charles Machine Works Inc. family of companies in December 2012.

Construction estimating software developer HCSS has released findings from its 2013 Heavy Civil/Infrastructure Estimating Survey offering insights to issues affecting the heavy/highway industry. HCSS received survey responses from 442 companies across the U.S. and Canada.

<em>Underground Construction</em>'s 2013 Pipe Selection Chart is your guide to which manufacturer produces what pipe: lengths, diameters, types and coatings, plus manufacturer specialties and contact information.

All the specs you need on the equipment and tools you use to get the job done, from auger boring to wheel loaders, from dozens of brands and manufacturers. Compare apples to apples on multiple models with the relevant info for each machine.

American Augers has introduced a new mid-sized horizontal directional drill, the model DD-155T.

The oil and gas industry is strictly regulated, especially given the safety, environmental and economic impact of a pipeline leak.

The new crawler excavator R260LC-9A includes a certified Interim Tier 4 engine upgrade, improved hydraulics, increased operator comfort and more durability.

Industrial Matting composite mats come textured with different patterns and materials to provide excellent traction for all types of vehicle and foot traffic; and have proven to be one of the best solutions for long-term use under some of the most unruly site conditions and usages.

The Tundra Package is designed to enhance engine starting capability and generator operation of mobile generators in extremely cold climates; including temperatures to -40 degrees C/F.

PFERD offers a new time-saving mounting system for simple and fast change-ups of hole saws.

The RTX250 is a rubber-tracked, steerable pedestrian trencher that is designed for the needs of rental businesses and utility contractors.

Atlas Copco has launched the FlexiROC T30 R radio remote control tophammer drill rig equipped with either a COP 1240 or COP 1640 drill for 2- to 3.5-inch holes.

Super Products has expanded its line of Supersucker industrial vacuum loaders with the addition of a new model that can provide long-lasting, effective hydro excavation performance.

To further meet customers’ needs Hobas Pipe USA recent investments include expansion of capacity as well as upgrades to equipment improving both process and product.

It’s hard to imagine a more sensitive site for a lift station reconstruction: 25 feet under the sands of a popular five-star southern California beach in the heart of a famous artist colony. The Laguna Beach Lift Station reconstruction site shares the beach with a crowded boardwalk, volleyball and basketball courts, a playground and a historic lifeguard tower. A coveted marine preserve sits offshore.

<em>Pipeline & Gas Journal</em>, in partnership with the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA), held its 9th annual Pipeline Opportunities Conference on March 26, at the JW Houston Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Houston.

Pinnacle Construction & Directional Boring is one of the busiest underground utility construction contractors working in and around the scenic coastal city of Charleston, SC.

Despite pockets of negativity, the majority of horizontal directional drilling contractors continue to enjoy a robust business atmosphere for 2013, and most expect that environment to continue for the foreseeable future.

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) continues to solve problems for utility owners and operators by completing difficult installations of underground infrastructure that many times can be addressed by no other method of construction.

Few machines have had more impact in construction and earthmoving operations than a heavy excavator. In the past five years, over 84 percent of heavy excavator sales to end users have been in these applications.

The EPA says it has some fairly significant problems with the State Department's draft environmental impact statement on the Keystone XL Pipeline. The State Department draft supplemental EIS (DSEIS) was based on assessment of a new alternative route proposed by TransCanada.

Headlining this issue of <em>Underground Construction</em> is our industry-exclusive horizontal directional drilling survey (published online on June 17). This marks 15 years of research into the amazing HDD market that has evolved at an incredible rate, evolving from a utility and pipeline construction novelty to a necessity in a relatively short period of time.