January 2025 Vol. 80 No. 1

As 2025 begins, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act remains a focal point, with officials vying for credit. Editor-in-Chief Robert Carpenter reflects on the act's impact, bipartisan origins, and the immense work still needed to rebuild America’s infrastructure.

Trump’s regulatory changes could impact pipeline approvals, with shifts in key environmental laws. Expected revisions to NEPA, the Clean Water Act, and methane regulations could accelerate or delay projects, depending on the new administration’s stance.

Artificial Intelligence is all the rage. Nearly all of the discussion is how efficiently it can perform repetitive tasks, forecasting, etc. There are fears, as well, that AI will displace humans and their jobs.

The Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT), a joint university-industry consortium, is not only focused on performing highly challenging research, but also communicating and educating the leaders from various large counties, cities, transportation departments, construction and oil industries, and engineers and university students, with the new innovative technologies, models.

Winter delivers a multitude of challenges for sewer cleaner operators, and protecting essential equipment from the ravages of freezing temperatures is among the top priorities. For owners of combination sewer cleaners, the potential for costly damage due to frozen water is a significant worry.

We are gearing up for Underground Infrastructure magazine’s 30th Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC), March 4-6 in Houston. Attend UIC and be part of a transformative event designed to inspire, educate, and connect infrastructure professions across the industry. From groundbreaking sessions to exclusive networking opportunities, this year’s conference promises an unforgettable experience for everyone involved.

Daniel Shumate, Managing Director, FMI Capital Advisors Inc.  A cold October morning, looking down-range through the lenses of my pristine binoculars resulted in an image that could be described as mud. My grandfather leaned over and turned the focusing knob and told me to just keep looking through ..

When the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) held its 2024 annual meeting in Anaheim, Calif., in November, it extended operations for an ongoing task force studying ways to better integrate regulations for natural gas and electricity delivery systems.

David Fink was active for more than 20 years in the Plastics Pipe Institute (PPI) before becoming president of the Dallas-based organization in January 2020. Fink saw a bright future for the plastics pipe industry and a growing role for its products across an expanding range of underground applications. He now works diligently to make that vision come true.

Many municipalities invest heavily in CCTV inspections for sewer condition assessment and face challenges throughout the collection process that can be traced back to avoidable issues in contract administration. Efficient administration is crucial for successful CCTV inspection contracts, yet the essentials are often learned through trial and error.

OSHA cites Maine contractor in fatal trench collapse; Phillips 66 to acquire $2.2 billion EPIC NGL pipeline assets; Texas contractor penalized for repeated trench safety violations; Duke Energy undergrounds 48% of Florida power lines, plans expansion; and more in the latest issue of Underground Infrastructure's Newsline!

In the latest New Products column, Underground Infrastructure highlights CASE Construction Equipment's limited edition 580 Super N Construction King backhoe loader and Caterpillar's new advanced Cat D8 dozer, showcasing the latest advancements designed to enhance jobsite performance and sustainability.

Primoris  Glen Hartwig has joined Primoris Services Corporation (Primoris), as president of its Utilities Segment. A seasoned industry executive with 30 years of experience in utility construction and finance, he has overseen the delivery of major transmissio..

McElroy  McElroy, the global leader in the design and manufacture of thermoplastic fusion equipment, has launched three new micro-websites dedicated to distributors and customers in Mexico, Peru and Chile.  "The pipe fusion market in these areas has experienced rapid growth in recent years," said Mc..

Vortex Companies LLC has acquired Tri-State Utilities (Tri-State) and Pipe Vision from National Underground Group, Inc., a portfolio company of ORIX Capital Partners, the private equity arm of ORIX Corporation USA.