On March 11, 2009 President Obama quietly signed into law the $410 billion Omnibus Appropriations Act for FY 2009, officially completing work on last year’s budget process.  The Senate approved the bill late Tuesday, after delaying the vote on final passage for several days due to concerns over whether there were sufficient votes in the Senate to pass the bill and forcing Congress to enact a short-term resolution to fund the government through mid-week.  An AGC analysis of the omnibus appropriations bill shows that Congress would increase funding for federal construction programs by 5.5 percent above the FY 2008 level.  AGC found that Congress provided $115.6 billion for federal construction programs in FY 2008.  The omnibus would provide $121.9 billion for the same accounts.  To view a chart comparing the amounts in the omnibus with the levels Congress enacted in FY 2008 and those President Bush recommended in his FY 2009 budget request to Congress, click here. For more information, contact Karen Lapsevic at (202) 547-4733 or lapsevick@agc.org.

There has been a great deal of introspection this year about what the M&U Division needs to do in order to grow, be more responsive and provide more value for AGC members.  Throughout the year we have surveyed our members and conducted outreach to assess goals and identify member needs.  We are pleased to report that AGC is pleased to announce that on March 10, 2009 the M&U Division approved a new structure for the Division at the AGC Annual Convention and we have elected our new Division Officers for 2009-2010. The M&U Division will be adopting new Emphasis Area Networks which will consist of members focused on special construction emphasis areas including: Market Development, Legal and Regulatory Issues, Liaison with Owners and Engineers, and Damage Prevention.   The Utility Market Network, Utility Regulation Network, and Utility Liaison Network will allow AGC members to share information and identify issues that should be addressed by the M&U Division.   Membership in the Networks will generally be open to all interested AGC members. A primary vehicle for information sharing and issue identification will be through electronic forums. Issues requiring AGC action will be referred from these networks to the Steering Committee for appropriate action through Task Forces. Leading the Division in this bold new approach will be newly elected Chairman Mr. Art Daniel, the Chief Operating Officer of AR Daniel Construction Services, Inc. located in Cedar Hill, Texas. Mr. Daniel has been in involved in the utility construction industry for over thirty years.   Mr. Daniel’s industry involvement includes President 2004 of AGC of Texas, AGC of Texas Water and Wastewater Committee, AGC of Texas-ACEC Joint Committee, AGC of Texas-TxDOT Joint Committee, AGC of Texas Trenchless Technology Committee (past Chair), Past Municipal & Utilities Division Chairman 1997-1998 & 2001-2002, and Past Dallas Area Chair of the AGC of Texas.   Mr. Daniel currently serves on several AGC of America Committees and recently as Vice Chair of the Municipal and Utilities Division of AGC of America and as a member of the Board of Directors of AGC of America.  He is also a member of North American Society for Trenchless Technology and the Gulf Coast Trenchless Society. Newly elected M&U Vice Chairman Mr. Gene Shull is the Owner and President of A. E. Shull & Company an underground utilities and road construction company located in Tyler, Texas which was organized in 1973.  In addition to serving as President of the Associated General Contractors of Texas in 1990, Mr. Shull previously chaired the M&U Division at AGCA in 1991. Mr. Shull is, and has been, active in numerous state, local, and civic groups including the Tyler Rotary Club, Tyler Chamber of Commerce, Governor’s Underground Storage Tank Advisory Committee , the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse , the Texas General Services Commission – Appointed by Governor George W. Bush in 1997, and most recently as a Trustee for the Tyler Independent School Board. We would also like to thank outgoing Chairman, Mr. L. Bradford Barringer of B.R.S. Inc located in Richfield, North Carolina.  A member of Carolinas AGC, Brad’s persistence and dedication to the M&U Division and the construction industry is unmatched. We appreciate his leadership of the Division throughout the last year.  Mr. Barringer is a tireless and dedicated advocate for shared responsibility in underground utility damage prevention and is one of AGC’s long time activists in the Common Ground Alliance. Brad is an active participant in the AGC Education and Research Foundation which recently awarded $177,000 in scholarships for students in 2009. Brad also currently serves as the Region 2 CGA Coordinator which consists of the North Carolina Regional CGA, Tennessee Damage Prevention Committee, Utility Service Protection Center, Delmarva, Virginia Utility Protection Service, Inc., Kentucky Regional CGA For more information on these developments and  how you can get involved with the M&U Division contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org

The AGC Municipal & Utilities Division hosted Steven Allbee from the EPA Office of Water at AGC’s 90th Annual Convention in San Diego. Albee is a 30-year veteran of the EPA, serving as the primary author of the EPA Clean and Drinking Water Gap Analysis and one of the leaders in establishing the State Revolving Fund Program.  He is widely regarded as one of the leading national experts on water infrastructure needs and advanced asset management approaches.  Allbee was featured in the AGC-funded documentary Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure. Allbee addressed the significant challenges facing our aging water infrastructure and the critical role that contractors play in ensuring public health and water quality. Allbee noted that the level of attention and funding for water and wastewater was unprecedented and lauded AGC for its support in raising awareness in Congress and throughout the nation with Liquid Assets. Albee commented that he had thought that a Trust Fund for Clean Water would never materialize, but was extremely optimistic given recent developments in water infrastructure.  These include the $7.4 billion contained in the stimulus for clean and drinking water, the recent passage of $19.4 billion over five years in authorization of appropriations for wastewater infrastructure projects, and the President’s 2010 Budget which called for $3.9 billion for the Safe Drinking and Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Programs. Establishment of a Clean Water Trust Fund is one of AGC’s top legislative priorities in the 111th Congress and AGC anticipates the introduction of legislation in the coming months. Click here for a copy of Allbee’s presentation For more information or a copy of Allbee’s presentation, contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org

The AGC Municipal & Utilities Division hosted Mr. Steven Allbee from the EPA Office of Water at AGC's 90th Annual Convention in San Diego. Albee a 30-year veteran of the EPA, serving as the primary author of the EPA Clean and Drinking Water Gap Analysis and one of the leaders in establishing the State Revolving Fund Program. He is widely regarded as one of the leading national experts on water infrastructure needs and advanced asset management approaches. Allbee was featured in the AGC funded documentary Liquid Assets: The Story of Our Water Infrastructure.Allbee gave a compelling presentation about the significant challenges facing our aging water infrastructure and the critical role that contractors play in ensuring public health and water quality. His thorough and entertaining presentation was well received by the audience of fifty-plus contractors. Allbee noted that the level of attention and funding for water and wastewater was unprecedented and lauded AGC for its support in raising awareness in Congress and throughout the nation with Liquid Assets.Albee commented that he thought that a Trust Fund for Clean Water would never happen, but was extremely optimistic given recent developments in water infrastructure, including the $7.4 billion contained in the stimulus for clean and drinking water, the recent passage of H.R. 1262, which contains $19.4 billion over five years in authorization of appropriations for wastewater infrastructure projects including $13.8 billion program for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and the President's 2010 Budget which called for $3.9 billion for the Safe Drinking and Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund Programs. Establishment of a of Clean Water Trust Fund is one of AGC's top legislative priorities in the 111th Congress and AGC anticipates the introduction of legislation in the coming months.For more information or a copy of Mr. Allbee's presentation, contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-1983 or fowlerp@agc.org.

This year's Municipal & Utilities Division session on Friday March 6 will feature Mr. Steve Allbee with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Mr. Allbee has been with the EPA for 28 years and is currently the Project Director and principal author of The Clean Water and Drinking Water Gap Analysis.  The "Gap Analysis" is a comprehensive national-level assesment of published by the EPA and is often cited as the primary source documenting the challenges ahead for America's water and wastewater systems. Mr. Allbee will make a presetnaion on the challenges that face our national water infrastrcure.  EPA's 2002 Gap Analysis  outlined needs between $450-600 billion over the next twenty years.The M&U Division session will take place at the San Diego Convention Center on March 6 at 10:00 AM in room 28 A. The M&U Division hopes that you will join us at Convention.   Please click here for a list of sessions at the 2009 Convention of particular interest for Municipal & Utility Contractors.If you haven't already registered, there's still time.  Visit our convention website and register today!If you've already registered, the we've got something special for you - this year, we're making it even easier for you to plan your trip, organize your agenda and make the most out of your time.Need help planning what sessions to attend? Create your own convention calendar that you can download to your PC and sync with your Blackberry, iPhone or other mobile device.Bringing the family? Looking for more to do? Check out our guide to local restaurants and attractions.Bringing your camera to the Convention? Upload and share your Convention Photos.See you in San Diego!For addtional information please contact Perry L. Fowler at fowlerp@agc.org

The Highway and Utilities Contractors Issues Meeting took place Feb 6 and 7. Over 120 contractors came to La Quinta, Calif., for discussion of the issues that affect their particular markets and to hear presentations from some of the leading experts in the field.Topics included materials prices and availability for asphalt and steel, the national implications of the California Air Resources Board's Off-Road Diesel Emissions limits and the political outlook for the economic stimulus package, SAFETEA-LU reauthorization and the Water Trust Fund. Scott Williams and Don Weaver, chair and vice-chair respectively of the Highway & Transportation Division, presided over the first day of activities, which included sessions on worker visibility standards and public works financing troubles. Brad Barringer and Art Daniels, Municipal & Utilities Division Chair and Vice Chair, presided over the second day, which included sessions on ethics and compliance programs, Florida's success with dispute resolutions boards, and OSHA's crane operator standard.For more information, contact Scott Berry at (703) 837-5368 or berrys@agc.org.

The Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) Coalition sent a letter to Senate leaders today asking for inclusion of additional funding for waste water Infrastructure when the package is considered in the Senate. 

On January 15, the House Democratic Leadership announced details of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Details of the $825 billion package were released by the House Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees. The total package consists of $275 billion in economic recovery tax cuts and $550 billion in targeted investments, coupled with several unprecedented accountability measures. AGC estimates that approximately $150 billion of the spending proposed in this bill would benefit the construction industry.

An alliance of utility and construction organizations that AGC helps lead, known as Common Ground Alliance, released new data showing that pipeline safety improved in 2007 over the previous year.  The group noted that there were fewer incidents and less damages over the previous year.  Much of the credit goes to a greater industry-wide commitment to safety as well as strong promotion of the national 811 “Call Before You Dig” number.

The Contractors Association of West Virginia helped sponsor a December 15 broadcast of the groundbreaking PBS documentary Liquid Assets, which highlights the health and safety threats of our nation’s long-neglected water infrastructure.  After the broadcast, local chapter members pulled together representatives from the EPA, the local water authorities and utility owners for a roundtable discussion on the state’s water needs.