Associations
INGAA, CEPA Boards Vote To Certify Pipeline Inspectors By 2018
The board of directors for the Interstate Natural Gas Association of American (INGAA) and INGAA Foundation, along with the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA) and the CEPA Foundation, voted to endorse a program tailored to certify pipeline inspectors conducting work for their member companie..
John Nelson Played Significant Role in Establishing NASSCO Vision and Objectives
NASSCO Standard Bearers: John Nelson EDITOR’S NOTE: NASSCO just completed its 40th anniversary and continues to set standards for the assessment and rehabilitation of underground infrastructure. As the association continues its phenomenal growth, this series profiles those who have made significant..
NASSCO Celebrates 40th Anniversary Hawaiian Style
The National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) celebrated its 40th anniversary in style by holding their annual convention at the Sheraton Resort in Maui, HI. A record crowd of more than 200 attended the convention, enjoying warm weather, blue skies, sandy beaches and clear ocean water..
$3.2 million Approved for California Water Audit Validation
In an action approved by the California State Water Resources Control Board earlier this year, the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association (CA-NV AWWA) will receive $3.2 million over the next two years to assist California’s water agencies in producing validated system wate..
DCA Has Near Record Attendance in Naples
Coming off a strong year for construction, the Distribution Contractors Association attracted a near record attendance of 460 people to it’s annual convention in Naples, Florida. The five day meeting was filled with social events, networking opportunities, committee meetings (including the HDD, Gov..
INGAA Board Reiterates Commitments, Supports Adoption Of Industry Standards
The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) board of directors voted to reaffirm the organization’s commitment to underground natural gas storage integrity and accelerate implementation of industry storage standards in February. In addition, the board voted to support the Pipeline and..
NASSCO: 40 Years Of Trenchless Rehab Leadership
by Robert Carpenter, Editor-In-Chief In 1976, a fledgling association was born to serve the rehabilitation sewer market. From those humble days, through many ups and downs, the National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) has grown into the leading trenchless rehabilitation organization..
PLCA President Expects Strong Near-Term Construction Market
By Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor It was business as usual in 2015 for the Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA) and its contractor members, said the association’s president, Frank Welch. “However, we believe that’s going to change,” said Welch. “We’re expecting a boom in 2016, and most members ar..
Momentum For NASSCO Initiatives Continues
by Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor It seems like every year is an eventful time for National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO), the national organization dedicated to improving standards relating to the assessment, maintenance and rehabilitation of underground wastewater infrastructure. ..
Vactor Announces AEM Participation
Vactor Manufacturing, a provider of vacuum excavators for utility, oil and gas, telecommunication and industrial water system applications, announced its participation in the Association of Equipment Manufacturers’ (AEM) Vacuum Excavator Leadership Group – a group formed to develop essential marketi..
New Year, Big Changes For UCTA
By Chantel Green, Associate Editor UCTA Training, Education From its inception in May 1992, the Underground Construction Technology Association (UCTA) has been committed to educating and training its members on the use of traditional, trenchless and rehabilitation technologies, and promoting the u..
NASSCO Standard Bearers: Harold Kosova
This month, NASSCO honors Harold Kosova and his many contributions to the rehabilitation industry. Kosova was born in 1935 in Chicago and graduated from DeVry Technical Institute. His career began at National Power Rodding Corp. in 1960 and continued until he retired as president in mid-2014. Nation..
AEM Launches Competition to Address $3.6 Trillion Infrastructure Problem in America
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) today announced the Infrastructure Vision 2050 Challenge— a three-phased, crowd-sourced competition to award a total of $150,000 in prizes for innovative ideas to overhaul the crumbling infrastructure that Americans rely upon to move people, materials..
DCA Continues To Expand Influence
Members of the Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) will gather in Naples, FL, Feb. 15 – 20 for the association’s 55th Annual Convention. DCA Chief Executive Officer Rob Darden expects more than 400 members and spouses will attend the annual convention at the Naples Grande Beach Resort situate..
Earn CEUs/PDHs at UCT!
Earn CEUs/PDHs at UCT by attending the UCT primary education program as well as seminars and workshops hosted by industry partners, Monday, Feb. 1 through Tuesday, Feb. 2. These programs will be held at the Westin Peachtree Plaza Hotel. Advance registration is necessary as seating is limited. Take ..
Industry Coalition Addresses Workforce Challenges
The Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) is forming a multi-industry alliance to recognize and assess problems in relation to workforce capacity challenges faced by the energy construction sector, where instability is expected to strain the financial resources, leadership and personnel within ..
NASSCO Standard Bearers: Michael Burkhard
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 trenchle..
Contractor Workforce Standardized Training
Training Contractor Workforce Top Priority At the first-of-its-kind Distribution Contractors Association/American Gas Association (DCA/AGA) Utility Contractor Workshop in Chicago, presenters and attendees were single-minded in their focus on one goal: to ensure the growing contractor workforce has ..
Sheehan Construction’s Riess elected INGAA Foundation chairman
The Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) Foundation’s board of directors elected Robert A. Riess, Sr., president and chief executive officer of Sheehan Pipe Line Construction Company, as its new chairman. Riess will serve a one-year term which began on November 7, 2015. In 2004, Ri..
Senate Hears About Inadequacy Of Gas Transmission Proposal
Don Santa showed increasing frustration with the Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s (PHMSA) continued failure to move forward with important pipeline safety regulations. At Senate hearings on Sept. 29, the INGAA chief said that gas transmission pipelines are hesitant to make e..
INGAA launches America’s Energy Link campaign
In response to the heavy natural gas pipeline development across the U.S., the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America (INGAA) and the INGAA Foundation, its research sector, have launched a campaign focused on educating American consumers on the benefits of natural gas and natural gas pipeline..
Gas Technology Institute
Gas Technology Institute (GTI) has announced that Dr. Ganesan (Subbu) Subbaraman has joined GTI as the first member of the newly launched Fellowship Program. Subbu comes to GTI from Aerojet Rocketdyne (AR), where he spent almost 15 years managing programs for commercializing new products and servic..
CIGMAT Report
by C. Vipulanadan, PhD, P.E., professor and director, Center for Innovative Grouting Materials and Technology (CIGMAT) and Texas Hurricane Center for Innovative Technology (THC-IT), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Houston The focus of CIGMAT research is on ener..
October 2015 News Shorts
OSHA Approves Maine As Newest State Plan Protecting State And Local Workers Maine has recently been approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as the newest State Plan responsible for protecting the safety and health of state and local government employees. The Maine State..
NASSCO Standard Bearer: Gerhard “Gerry” Muenchmeyer
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 trenchles..
Rehab News for September 2015
AWWA reports water infrastructure renewal still biggest concern The Clean Water Council provided a summation of the AWWA 2015 State of the Water Industry Report quite succinctly in their online newsletter, Clean Water Weekly. The state of water and wastewater infrastructure and how to finance crit..
News shorts September 2015
AEM releases new Underground Utility Awareness video “Everyone has a part to play” to help ensure underground utility safety and damage prevention. That’s the message of a new video and related online and print resource from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). “Contractors, manufactu..
Study finds methane emissions lower than EPA estimates
As reported by Don Santa, INGAA president and CEO, the Environmental Science & Technology journal has released a report finding that methane emissions from the natural gas transmission and storage sector are 27 percent lower than the federal government’s estimate, based on the average estimate from ..
ASCE to Recognize Dr. Tom Iseley as Distinguished Member
In October, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) will recognize David Thomas (Tom) Iseley, Ph.D., P.E., Dist.M.ASCE for his contributions to the trenchless technology industry at ASCE’s 2015 Distinguished Member Induction Ceremony held during their Annual Convention, Oct. 11-14, in New Yo..
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..
- OSHA issues 16 citations following fatal sewer confined space incident
- 27 pipeline safety violations tied to deadly Pa. chocolate factory explosion
- Contractor gas line strike triggers home explosion in Missouri
- LA recovery reports call for $650 million power line burial, major utility upgrades in Pacific Palisades
- Comprehensive microtrenching FAQ: Key insights on the Vermeer MTR516 microtrencher
- T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband infrastructure footprint with $4.9 billion Metronet acquisition
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility
- Cityside launches $100 million fiber build in Corona, Calif.
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion