Many American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funded construction projects including water treatment facilities, paving , water main and valve replacement are already being advertised on FedBizOpps.Gov the federal government's portal for contracting business opportunities.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publicly released its fourth Drinking Water needs assessment today. The purpose of the Assessment is to document the 20-year capital investment needs of public water systems that are eligible to receive Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) funding.

Texas Comptroller Susan Combs recently issued a report entitled Liquid Assets: The State of Texas' Water Resources. This comprehensive report evaluates the progress Texas is making in securing water resources for the future and information on the current status of water management strategies. According to the Texas Water Development Board demand for water will increase 27 percent by 2060 and if demand is not met it could cost businesses and workers in the state approximately $9.1 billion per year by 2010 and $98.4 billion per year by 2060.To view a copy of the report visit http://www.window.state.tx.us/specialrpt/water

“We’ve got a lot of work to do and we’re getting ready to do it,” Governor Joe Manchin told CAWV members and legislators Thursday.  The governor was the keynote speaker at a March 12 legislative reception sponsored by the Contractors Association of West Virginia and WV American Water Company.  Nearly 100 legislators, governmental officials and CAWV members attended the function held at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Charleston.“We’ve got almost $300 million in water and sewer projects that are backlogged,” the governor stated.  “If these jobs are ready, we will put them out to bid.  I want your contractors to go to work building these projects, which are vital to West Virginia’s quality of life and future economic development.”   The governor said the stimulus funds will give West Virginia the chance to better transition the state for future economic development.  He said that West Virginia is beginning to feel the impact of the national recession, but investing in infrastructure will help the state rebound more quickly. Governor Manchin outlined the federal stimulus dollars that will be available for water and sewer construction.  “We have established a link on my homepage at www.wvgov.org.  All the Recovery Act funding will be on the website for everyone to see.  The site will show what money is available for programs and how the money is being spent.”  The governor noted that the website will provide complete transparency in the spending of the Recovery Act funds. Attendees also viewed an overview of the 90-minute documentary Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure, and joined WV Water Development Authority Executive Director Chris Jarrett, WVDEP Water and Waste Management Division Director Mike Johnson, Steptoe & Johnson Attorney John Stump and WV American Water Executive Director Wayne Morgan for a lively discussion. Panelists explored the value and cost of water and wastewater services, the unique requirements presented by West Virginia’s terrain, and the amount of unserved state residents. “Water and sewer systems cost a lot of money to operate – especially considering the costs of everything else are going up, such as the electricity that is used to treat the water and the fuel costs associated with hauling materials – yet treated water only costs about a penny per gallon,” Morgan explained. “Nationwide, only about one to two percent of household income is spent on tap water, making it one of our lower utility bills.”  Jarrett and Johnson discussed the funding mechanisms in place for water infrastructure and told attendees about the vast the gap that exists between what is needed and the amount of money available.  Panelists also discussed the needs in our state for adequate water and sewer services and the cost to provide them to everyone. They then explored the impact the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will have on utility construction in the state. For more information on how your company or AGC Chapter can use Liquid Assets to raise awareness about water infrastructure visit www.agc.org/liquidassets.

Carolina's AGC and UNC TV create public awareness about North Carolinas water infrastructure with new documentary with the help AGC members and a grant from Penn State Public Broadcasting.Liquid Assets in North Carolina explores the many issues surrounding the maintainence of these water management systems. Alongside a panel of experts in rural development, public policy, construction, and public utilities administration, UNC-TV's senior producer of public affairs Eszter Vajda moderates this in-depth discussion of the many types of water infrastructure in place to manage North Carolina's storm, drinking, and waste water, the condition of those systems, and what concerned individuals and organizations are doing to ensure the maintenance and improvement of that infrastructure. This expert panel also examines economic and public health implications surrounding water conservation and funding.Click here for more information and view the documentary online

Newly elected AGC of America Vice President Kris Young, President and CEO of Miller the Driller located in Des Moines, Iowa was recently interviewed by NPR during the AGC Convention.Newly elected AGC of America Vice President Kris Young, President and CEO of Miller the Driller located in Des Moines, Iowa was recently interviewed by NPR during the AGC Convention. We are extremely proud that the first female National AGC Officer hails from the M&U Division. Kris served as the Chair of AGC of America’s Municipal Utilities Division in (2002-2003), Chaired the AGC Trenchless Technology (1997-2000); and President of AGC of Iowa 1995. Click Here to listen to the interview! http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101547870

On March 17-20, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) held a series of public hearings on Crane and Derricks in Construction. Several AGC members provided testimony on March 19, including Art Daniel (AR Daniel Construction Services, Inc.), Mitch White (Manson Construction), Randy Rogers (Williams Brothers Construction) , and Richard Voorhees (Weeks Marine, Inc.).For more information on the history of the Crane and Derricks in Construction proposed rule and AGC’s comments during the C-DAC process or the SBREFA panel, click here. Also, visit AGC Advocacy to review regulations and comments submitted by AGC on Safety and Health regulations throughout the year. Previous AGC Safety and Health Newsletter articles related to the same topic:AGC Comments and Requests Public Hearings on Proposed Crane and Derricks StandardOSHA Grants Extension for Public Comments on Crane and DerricksOSHA Publishes Crane and Derricks Proposal For more information, please contact Jeff Shoaf at (202) 547-3350 or shoafj@agc.org

The U.S. EPA released two memorandums in March to the EPA Regional Managers regarding  how the EPA will manage stimulus funds including what types of projects qualify, how new Davis Bacon requirements will impact programs and other administrative issues. This information and more can be accessed on http://www.epa.gov/recovery/. Files can also be directly accessed with the following links: Guidance for Award of Water Quality Management Planning Grants with Recovery Act Funds (604(b) Guidance) (PDF) (32 pp., 633K, About PDF) Guidance for Award of Recovery Act Funding to State Revolving Funds (PDF) (49 pp, 661K, About PDF) For more information contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org

On March 18, 2009 the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment  held a hearing on how municipalities can combat Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO),  the viability of "Green Infrastructure" to address stormwater runoff, and current approaches and developing technologies to combat CSO's.Click on the link below to view a summary of content and video from the hearing including testimony from the National Research Council; the United States Environmental Protection Agency; Dallas, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Portland, Oregon; WIN Coaltion partner the National Association of Clean Water Agencies; the National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies; and the Natural Resources Defense Council.http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingDetail.aspx?NewsID=833

On March 12, 2009, The U.S. House of Representatives approved a bill to reauthorize two federal programs that provide financing for wastewater infrastructure upgrades, repair and reconstruction.  The vote was 317 to 101 in support of H.R. 1262, the Water Quality Investment Act of 2009.  The bill would provide a total of $19.4 billion over five years in authorization of appropriations for wastewater infrastructure projects, including $13.8 billion for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) program.  These funds provide low-interest loans and additional loan subsidizations to communities for wastewater infrastructure. Funds are distributed to states based on a statutory formula and are made available through the annual appropriations process.  For a state-by-state breakdown of funding that is authorized, click here. The bill also includes $2.5 billion for the sewer overflow control grants program.  This program provides grants to communities to control combined sewer overflows (CSOs) and sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), which are overflows of untreated waste that can occur during wet weather events.  AGC remains concerned about the inclusion of  Buy American provisions included in HR 1262 which are similar to language in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.The Senate Environment and Public Works Commitee is expected to introduce companion legislation in the coming weeks.For more information contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org