Don't miss the excellent array of speakers and sessions planned for the 2010 Highway and Utility Contractors Issues Meeting scheduled for November 11-13, 2010 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. This popular resort facility is tightly booked in November and AGC's room block may not be available after the October 19, 2010 deadline. Make your hotel reservations today by calling 1-800-950-0086 or 602-955-6600 and request the Associated General Contractors of America room rate of $189/night, plus taxes (NO RESORT FEE). Register for the meeting by following this link.

The meeting schedule is:

Thursday November 11, 2010
12:30- 5:00 PM Ritchie Brothers Golf Tournament
5:30- 7:00 PM Golf Tournament Reception

Friday November 12, 2010
7:00 AM - 4:30 PM Highway and Utilities Contractor Issues Meeting Session I
6:00- 7:00 PM Issues Meeting Reception

Saturday November 13, 2010
7:00 AM - Noon Highway and Utilities Contractor Issues Meeting Session II

Speakers will address the following:

• Election 2010: How Will the Midterm Election Results Impact Your Market, Taxes And Business Operations
• Using Social Media to Sell Your Company or Your Project
• CM at Risk- Panel Discussion on Owner and Contractor Perspectives
• Outreach and Mentoring with DBE Subcontractors
• Overcoming Impediments to Sharing Electronic Data for Automated Machine Guidance
• Implementing FHWA's Every Day Counts Initiative
• Update on CARB Rule
• State of the Water/Wastewater Industry
• Federal Regulation of State Damage Prevention Programs - Proposed Rule from PHMSA
• Increasing Efficiency in Joint Highway and Utilities Projects
• Case studies Using BIM on Transportation and Utility Projects
• New OSHA Regulations on Cranes and Derricks

Don't delay. Make the call today.

EPA has drafted a model rule on anti-idling for non-road diesel equipment.  Several Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states are reported to be actively considering adopting it once it becomes final, and it could eventually be adopted in other locations.  As drafted, the model rule would limit idling of construction equipment to no more than three (3) consecutive minutes, with limited exceptions.

AGC will submit comments on this draft rule in advance of the SEPTEMBER 30 DEADLINE.  Please email Leah Pilconis at pilconisl@agc.org this week with your thoughts and concerns regarding the Model Rule.

The draft model rule was written by the Ozone Transport Commission (OTC) Mobile Source Committee, which includes representatives for the OTC states, EPA Regional Offices and EPA headquarters.  The OTC is a multi-state organization created under the Clean Air Act that is responsible for advising EPA on transport issues and for developing and implementing regional solutions to the ground-level ozone problem in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.  Approximately 15 states and dozens of local counties already have laws that restrict the amount of time that vehicles/equipment can idle their main engines (see current list of state and local laws).

AGC has received reports that members have received a letter from the U.S. EPA directing them to complete a mandatory survey on construction stormwater management practices within 60 days – or face significant fines and penalties of up to $37,500 per day, per violation. 

While EPA claims to have not directed this survey to general contractors, several have received it. If you have received a survey, it is imperative that it be completed and returned before the 60-day deadline to avoid steep penalties. However, most contractors need not continue beyond question A5, the first page of the survey. Unless a contractor has an ownership interest in the properties it builds on, it is unnecessary to complete the detailed financial and technical portions of the survey. For details, visit the definitions page and scroll down to owner/developer questionnaires. 

The survey is part of EPA’s national rulemaking to reduce stormwater discharges from new development and redevelopment and to strengthen its stormwater program (a.k.a., “post-construction” stormwater rule).  To collect information from entities believed to be owners/developers of residential, non-residential, industrial and commercial sites, EPA mailed out letters (click here for an example) last week to approximately 3,000 companies.

For more information on AGC’s efforts and the new “post-construction” stormwater runoff rule that EPA is working on, click here.

Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez has released his "Every Day Counts" initiative that identifies steps that can be undertaken to shorten the amount of time it typically takes to deliver highway construction projects from conception to completion. The steps include improvements in the planning, permitting and construction phases as well as technology deployment to decrease project delivery time. FHWA has scheduled a series of 10 summits around the country for October to garner the support of the DOTs and construction industry for this initiative. (more…)

AGC wrote to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) this week expressing opposition to the use of government mandated Project Labor Agreements (PLAs). The letter was instigated by guidance sent by FHWA to state DOTs pointing out that PLAs would be approved on federal-aid highway projects if states meet certain conditions which were spelled out in the document. FHWA took this action in response to President Obama's Executive Order directing Federal agencies to look at using PLAs on federally funded construction projects. FHWA reported that it has approved PLAs on six projects thus far, 5 in Illinois and 1 in New York. (more…)

Since President Obama's surprise announcement on Labor Day calling for $50 billion in transportation investment AGC has been attempting to get further details. In meetings this week with top DOT officials and discussions with key Congressional staff there remains a great deal of uncertainty. Congress will be returning from its summer recess next week and will presumably meet with Administration officials to decide if the time to move forward is now or later. AGC will continue to meet with key senators and representatives to discuss this proposal and to press the need to move forward now with a six year bill. (more…)

At a Labor Day event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, President Obama announced his plan to request $50 billion in immediate stimulus investment for transportation infrastructure. Below is the fact sheet that was provided to AGC by the Federal Highway Administration about the proposal. At this point there are few specific details. Some key points worth mentioning are as follows:

• A significant portion of the $50 billion will apparently be available in the first year for investments in highways, transit, airports and rail. It appears these funds are supplemental to funds that would already have been provided for these programs in FY 2011 (beginning October 1, 2010) but this is unclear. The amount allocated to each program is also not specified.
• The President indicated that this increased funding will be paired with the Administration's vision for reforming existing transportation programs over the next six years. It appears that the proposal will include the long awaited "principles" for reauthorization of SAFETEA-LU the Administration has been expected to deliver.

As further details become available AGC will provide them to you.

(more…)

The 2010 Highway and Utilities Contractors Issues Meeting is scheduled for November 11-14, 2010 at the Arizona Biltmore hotel in Phoenix. Named one of the top 50 US Hotels by Conde Nast Traveler, the legendary Arizona Biltmore is considered the "Jewel of the Desert," with Frank Lloyd Wright-influenced architecture and endless flowering gardens. 

This year's Issues Meeting will again address all of the top issues that impact contractors working in the highway, transportation and utilities market. Among the Issues that will be addressed:

-           Election 2010: How will the midterm election results impact your market, taxes and business operations.

-           Outlook for transportation reauthorization legislation.

-           Transportation and water funding initiatives.

-           Selling your company or your project by using social media.

-           New OSHA Regulations on Cranes and Derricks.

-           Case Studies Using BIM on Transportation and Utility Projects.

-           CM at Risk- Transportation Agencies are Starting to use this Alternative Project Delivery System- Learn What works and What Doesn't.  

-           Increasing efficiency in joint highway and utilities projects.

-           Open Mike Sessions to Dialogue with Your Fellow Contractors.

-          Separate tracks are scheduled address Issues unique to these two market sectors.

Back by popular demand the Ritchie Brothers Issues Meeting Golf Tournament.

Meeting Schedule:

Thursday November 11, 2010

 12:30- 5:00 PM      Ritchie Brothers Golf Tournament

5:30- 7:00 PM        Golf Tournament Reception

Friday November 12, 2010

7:00 AM - 4:30 PM Highway and Utilities Contractor Issues Meeting Session I

6:00- 7:00 PM Issues Meeting Reception

Saturday November 13, 2010

 7:00 AM - Noon  Highway and Utilities Contractor Issues Meeting Session II

 Online registration, hotel information and other meeting details are available at the attached site.

This week the California Air Resources Board (CARB) abandoned the original estimates of off-road diesel emissions that it used to establish goals for emissions reduction from off-road construction equipment. In doing so CARB essentially conceded that the "off-road rule" is not needed to meet these ambitious goals.  According to new estimates that the agency staff developed over the summer, off road fleets of diesel equipment will be far under the state's emission goals for many years to come.  CARB's action was taken in direct response to AGC's questioning of the data used in establishing the goals. If AGC gets the rule stopped in California, other states won't be able to adopt it locally.