February 2014, Vol. 69 No. 2

Margaret H. “Maggie” Kull, 78, wife of Ed Kull (former executive director of the American Pipeline Contractors Association), passed away Dec. 15, 2013 in Odessa, TX.

According to the Associated Press, Vectren Corp. has proposed replacing more than 1,000 miles of aging, underground natural gas lines across much of Indiana in a project costing some $865 million.

On Nov. 19, 2013, the Gas Technology Institute (GTI) held its annual meeting of members and the fall meeting of the board of directors.

On Sept. 12, 2013, energy experts, lawmakers and leading industry figures met at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in a bold effort to determine the cost that misguided regulation imposes on growth.

The Oklahoman reports Devon Energy Corp. is building an extensive system of pipelines to aid in the development of its acreage in central Oklahoma’s Woodford oil shale.

Felling Trailers’ first online auction of one of its most popular trailers to bring awareness to the early detection of breast cancer raised $2,650.

Kinder Morgan Crude and Condensate LLC (KMCC) and Double Eagle Pipeline LLC, a 50/50 joint venture between Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. and Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. (KMP), announced that they have entered into a long-term agreement with Anadarko Petroleum Corporation (APC) to transport Eagle Ford Shale production from Gardendale, TX, in LaSalle County, to the Houston Ship Channel via the KMCC Pipeline.

HD Supply Waterworks hired Paul Dreher to lead its fusible piping systems strategy and drive the company’s growth in fusible piping with overall responsibility for its national market presence.

Perma-Liner Industries LLC recently announced the issuance of the U.S Patent No 8,590,575 by the U.S. Patent Office for the company’s scrim-enforced pipe liner.

Park Water Company announced its board of directors approved a $23.5 million capital investment program for Park Water and its subsidiaries in California.

The Transportation Department says help is on the way for the massive tunneling machine Bertha that became stuck on Dec. 3 while boring a tunnel under downtown Seattle, WA.

On Jan. 10, a proposed 22-mile natural gas pipeline through the ecologically fragile New Jersey Pinelands region was rejected. The proposal failed on a 7-7 vote by the New Jersey Pinelands Commission. Eight votes are needed for the commission to take any action. New Jersey Sierra Club director Jeff Tittel called the decision “a great victory for the Pinelands and the environment of the region.” He added, “The commissioners did their job to protect the Pinelands region, its water supply and its unique ecosystem from a polluting fossil fuel pipeline.”

In a move that will improve the company’s penetration in the core earthmoving segment and extend its presence in light mining, Volvo Construction Equipment has agreed to acquire the off-highway hauler manufacturer Terex Equipment Ltd. of the Terex Corporation for a purchase consideration of approximately $160 million on a cash and debt free basis.

Vermeer Texas-Louisiana, a market leader in environmental and construction equipment with 12 locations across Texas and south Louisiana, celebrated the grand opening of a new branch in Midland, TX, on Nov. 1, 2013.

Starting Jan. 1, residents of Colorado are allowed to purchase up to one ounce of marijuana for recreational use, and visitor are limited to a quarter of an ounce.

Pipe and joint fusion equipment by McElroy Mfg., Integrity Fusion Products, GF Piping Systems, Ritmo America and IPEX.

Keyhole technology from Utilicor Technologies, Buzzi Unicem USA, Footage Tools and SIMCO Drilling Equipment.

Mini Excavators by Kobelco Construction Machinery USA, Volvo, John Deere, Bobcat Company, Case, Hitachi, Hyundai Construction, Caterpillar, New Holland, Kubota and Doosan.

Backhoe loaders by Case, Caterpillar, John Deere, Volvo and New Holland Construction.

Two separate challenges have been made to the FERC's Order 787 issued last November. It allowed interstate pipelines and electric utilities to share non-public, operational information with each other for the purpose of promoting reliable service or operational planning on either the public utility or pipeline system.

Advertisers from the print edition of Underground Construction, February 2014, Vol. 69 No. 2.

The cost of installing and maintaining underground utilities continues to increase.

How do you replace two regional water delivery pipelines that run directly underneath a major interstate freeway and lay across an active earthquake fault?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been one of the sleepiest federal regulatory agencies for the past decade, under both Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

66th Annual PLCA Convention, Feb.18-22, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa, Bonita Springs, FL.

For NASSCO (the National Association of Sewer Service Companies), 2013 was a year of continuing accomplishments in its 35-year mission to establish industry standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of the sewer pipelines and promote continued acceptance and growth of trenchless technologies in the sewer industry.

Despite Continuing Funding Concerns, Budgets Expected To Rise

Local distribution companies (LDC) remain the backbone of the nation’s natural gas distribution network. Natural gas utilities serve more than 71 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across the nation. Gas is delivered through a 2.4-million mile underground delivery system with an outstanding safety record. The distribution network also includes measurement and pressure regulators, corrosion control equipment and valves and meters, all of which must be operated, maintained and upgraded by the local natural gas utility.

Establishment of new educational programs, creation of a task force to address the growing shortage of labor, successful annual and midyear meetings and membership growth were among highlights of 2013 for the Power & Communication Contractors Association (PCCA).

The American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) and its members had a busy and productive 2013, reported Nick Bruno, association president. [inline:2012-banner-top1.png]

ConExpo-Con/Agg is a massive event. With an expected 130,000 people attending the show and thousands of exhibitors, it is easy for the underground construction niche to be overlooked and overwhelmed within the show’s principal areas of road building, bridges, asphalt, cement, site prep, cranes, etc. products and personnel.

ICON Equipment offers aluminum trench boxes in 2-sided, 3-sided and 4-sided configurations.

John Deere’s newest additions to the E-Series line of skid steer loaders and compact track loaders (CTLs) feature design and performance enhancements based on customer feedback.

TT Technologies recently unveiled a new winch boom specially designed to aid in reversible pipe bursting operations.

Based on the success and acceptance of the round PRO-RING Manhole Grade Adjustment System, Cretex now offers square and rectangular PRO-RINGs.

The RT80 Quad heavy-duty ride-on trencher and vibratory plow is a machine contractors can rely on to do it all: any type of utility installation, short or long drops, on either tight or wide-open jobsites.

The WMS-1B wireless monitoring system, also referred to as the Yellow Box, has proven to reduce the costs that accompany unwanted utility hits.

Kobelco Construction Machinery USA, a global leader in the manufacture of crawler excavators, brings their new and improved SK210LC model to market.

February is always a landmark issue of Underground Construction. We always print plenty of extra copies, yet we always run out. We’re bombarded by requests as to when the issue will be posted online and/or can they get a PDF of a particular article.