Business
San Diego to Host WESTT No-Dig
The 11th Western Regional No-Dig Conference & Exhibition will be hosted by the Western Society for Trenchless Technology (WESTT), along with media partner Underground Construction magazine, from Oct. 26-27 at The Declan Suites San Diego in San Diego, CA. Attendees can join with contractors, enginee..
KorTerra To Integrate One Call
There are more than 20 million miles of underground utilities in the United States, reports the Common Ground Alliance (CGA), an organization committed to preventing damage to buried utilities. The number increases every day. In spite of the efforts of CGA, owners and operators of utility services,..
NASSCO Standard Bearers – Bill Shook
<em><strong>EDITOR’S NOTE:</strong> In 2016, NASSCO will celebrate its 40th year of setting standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As we look forward, we also look back to those who have made significant contributions and have impacted the continued acceptance and use of trenchless technologies. This is the eighth installment in a series of articles exploring the history of NASSCO through the eyes of industry leaders. In 2016 NASSCO will celebrate its 40th year of setting standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As we look forward, we also look back to those who have made significant contributions and impacted the continued acceptance and growth of trenchless technologies. This month we have the honor of highlighting Bill Shook, president and founder of APM PERMAFORM, and his contributions to our industry. Bill served on the NASSCO Board for many years, including serving as NASSCO’s President in 2006. In 2011 Bill was awarded the NASSCO Select Society of Sanitary Sewer Sleuths Award which is a high honor as each member is chosen by peers in the industry. We are grateful for Bill’s generous past and ongoing contributions to help NASSCO set standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure and to ensure the continued acceptance and growth of trenchless technologies.</em>
Halderman Welcomed Into NASTT Hall of Fame
In front of 350 people, including his family, friends and peers, Ron Halderman accepted his induction into the National American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) Hall of Fame, Class of 2015.
DCA Creates Position Paper On Cross Bore Mitigation
<em><strong><em>EDITOR’S NOTE:</strong> The Distribution Contractors Association has taken the initiative to address cross bore issues as they relate to the underground construction community. The DCA Government Relations Committee, co-chaired by Greg Dahl of ARB and Dave Wizniewski of Vermeer, led the effort to create a position paper on this safety issue of critical importance not only to the gas distribution industry, but all aspects of underground work.</em></em>
NASSCO Standard Bearers – Joan Stone
<em>EDITOR’S NOTE: In 2016, NASSCO will celebrate its 40th year of setting standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As we look forward, we also look back to those who have made significant contributions and have impacted the continued acceptance and use of trenchless technologies. This installment in the series features Joan Stone. It is the sixth installment in a series of articles exploring the history of NASSCO through the eyes of industry leaders.</em>
Derek Potvin Leads NASTT In The Right Direction
NASTT (North American Society for Trenchless Technology) continues to keep its commitment to grow the trenchless industry by remaining true to the society’s core values of education and training all the while establishing new initiatives to lead the society forward as it prepares for the future.
PLCA Partners With Unions To Address Industry Needs
A primary responsibility of the Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA) is negotiating labor agreements and administering collective bargaining labor contracts with the international unions representing crafts whose members are active in pipeline construction and maintenance activities.
INGAA President Lauds House Approval Of Pipeline Permitting Bill
Don Santa, president and CEO of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, today lauded the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of Representative Mike Pompeo’s legislation (H.R. 161) to improve the natural gas transmission pipeline permitting process:
PACP 7.0 Includes Many Updates In User-Friendly Format
Over a decade ago, the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) established a standardized data collection protocol for closed-circuit television (CCTV) pipeline inspection called the Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP).
NASSCO Standard Bearers – Jim Raulston
<em><em>EDITOR’S NOTE: In 2016, NASSCO will celebrate its 40th year of setting standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As we look forward, we also look back to those who have made significant contributions and have impacted the continued acceptance and use of trenchless technologies.</em>
Stuart Tillery Guides NASSCO Through Another Active Year
NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Companies) continues to have a positive impact on the nation’s sanitary sewer systems by establishing and improving standards for the assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure.
2014 Year of ‘Firsts’ For Distribution Contractors Association
Members of the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) will gather in New Orleans from Feb. 7-12, for the association’s 54th Annual Convention.
NASSCO Standard Bearers
<em>EDITOR’S NOTE: In 2016, NASSCO will celebrate its 40th year of setting standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As we look forward, we also look back to those who have made significant contributions and have impacted the continued acceptance and use of trenchless technologies.
NASSCO Standard Bearers
<em>EDITOR’S NOTE: In 2016, NASSCO will celebrate its 40th year of setting standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As we look forward, we also look back to those who have made significant contributions and have impacted the continued acceptance and use of trenchless technologies. This month’s story features Mike Hogan, president of Duke’s Root Control. He has been a dedicated NASSCO member since 1988, working tirelessly for the trenchless industry. He served for many years on NASSCO’S Board of Directors, and as NASSCO’s President in 2002. He has also served on the Board of Directors for NASTT, has chaired a variety of NASSCO Committees (including scholarships and awards, as well as industry standards) and was inducted into NASSCO’s Sanitary Sewer Sleuth Society in 2009. This is the third installment in a series of articles exploring the history of NASSCO through the eyes of industry leaders:</em>
DCA Sets Attendance, Auction Records in Cancun
Attendance set a record as over 420 delegates attended the Distribution Contractors Association 53rd Annual Convention at the Ritz Carlton in Cancun, Mexico. Many of those delegates were attending their first ever DCA convention. The convention was presided over by outgoing president Tim Bell of Midwestern Contractors, Elburn, IL.
INGAA President Lauds House Approval Of Pipeline Permitting Bill
Don Santa, president and CEO of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, praised the U.S. House of Representatives’ passage of Representative Mike Pompeo’s legislation to improve the natural gas transmission pipeline permitting process. The bill was approved 252 to 165: “We applaud the House for approving this legislation, which will improve the permitting process for interstate natural gas pipelines. Pipelines are the key to America’s natural gas revolution because they are the indispensable link from the supply source to the ultimate gas consumer.
Industry Pioneer Jerry Shaw To Be Honored As UCTA’s Most Valuable Professional
Jerry Shaw, president of SAK Construction, has been named the 2014 Most Valuable Professional (MVP) by award sponsors Underground Construction Technology Association (UCTA) and Underground Construction magazine. The MVP Award is bestowed annually to an individual for outstanding contributions to the underground infrastructure industry.
CIGMAT Report 2013
The main focus of the Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT) research is on infrastructure maintenances and developing new smart materials for construction, maintenance and repair applications.
Hydrogen Sulfide In A Collection System: What We Should Know And Do To Prevent Human Injury And Sewer Asset Deterioration.
Imagine this: • A sewer worker enters a manhole for one more look late in the day, just to check one final thing. He does this without an entry permit, a harness and tri-pod or a safety person on the surface. His co-workers, not knowing what he is doing, miss him. They look in the manhole and he is not there. He is found an hour or so later, dead at the sewage treatment plant.
Pipeline Approval Reform Bill Hits Headwinds
The pipeline approval "speed up" bill hit a couple of speed bumps on July 9. At hearings in a House subcommittee, the unofficial "pipeline" commissioner at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) pointed out some potential unintended consequences that might come about if the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act (H.R. 1900) as initially written becomes law.
In Memoriam: John H. Williams
John H. Williams, 94, of Tulsa, OK, died on May 1. Williams was the president of the Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA) in 1959, and elected Honorary Member in 1998. Williams was a 1940 graduate of Yale University with a degree in Civil Engineering. He served as president and CEO of The Williams Companies (formerly known as Williams Brothers Company) from 1949 to 1971, and chairman and CEO from 1971 to 1979, when he retired. He served on the William’s board of directors until 1993.
Sewer Inspector Training Comes Of Age
More than eight years ago, representatives of municipalities and consulting engineers were asking that industry neutral training be made available, particularly applicable to the inspection of pipeline rehabilitation projects.
NASSCO’s Industry Initiatives Reflected At Convention
NASSCO (National Association of Sewer Service Contractors) continued its strong growth cycle with another successful annual convention boasting record attendance numbers.
RehabZone A Home Run For UCT Attendees
New faces, familiar faces, all with smiles and a thumbs-up thank you. That’s how Daniel Magill describes the 2013 RehabZone at the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT) held in Houston the last week of January.
DCA Hosts Big Turnout In Miami, Raises $538,000 in Annual Auction
Attendance was up by almost 100 people as the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) attracted 415 delegates to its 52nd annual convention at the Lowes Hotel in Miami Beach, FL. One in four of those delegates were attending their first ever DCA convention. Fourteen past presidents also attended – a record – and Dave Nelson of Pilchuck Contractors was inducted as an Honorary Member.
PLCA’s 65th Annual Convention Draws 628 Delegates
Dan Murphy, outgoing president of the Pipe Line Contractors Association and president of Precision Pipeline LLC, welcomed 628 delegates to the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch in Scottsdale, AZ. This represented a significant attendance increase over the 2012 convention.
DCA Boosts Industry Leadership Role
The Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) closed out a strong 2012 with an impressive growth in membership, record attendance at association meetings, active educational programs and an energetic government relations program.
DCA Holds Fall Meeting, Contractor’s Reception, 2nd PDC
The Distribution Contractors Association annual fall meeting was held Nov. 13-14 at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, TX. It was organized in conjunction with the DCA’s 2nd Annual Professional Development Conference (PDC) on Nov. 14-16.
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.
- OSHA cites Florida contractors for trench safety violations at sewer and excavation sites
- Biden-Harris administration invests $849 million in aging water infrastructure, drought resilience
- Texas contractor penalized by OSHA for repeated trench safety violations
- West Virginia approves $67 million for water, sewer projects
- Mark Boyer named 2025 MVP of underground infrastructure industry