PCA Executive Report

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Voigt Heads Concrete Paving Group Gerald F. Voigt has been named president and chief executive officer of the American Concrete Pavement Association (ACPA). Voigt previously served as ACPA's chief operating officer and senior vice president of technical services. He joined ACPA in 1988 and has held senior positions in technical services and operations. He succeeds the late Val Riva. Contact Jerry Voigt

Queens College School a Crown Jewel for Concrete A primary/intermediate school built on the campus of Queens College, Flushing, N.Y., spotlights the structural, architectural, and safety features of concrete for public buildings. Only the second school built with structural concrete by the School Construction Authority of New York City, the project caps years of promotional efforts by PCA's Mike Mota and allies such as the New York City Concrete Promotion Council. Designed by architect Michael Fieldman, the Queens College School for Math, Science, and Technology features a reinforced concrete frame and an array of interior and exterior architectural concrete finishes. Interior concrete surfaces are fully exposed. An internal crack-control system eliminates the need for exposed joints. The project was recognized by the Concrete Industry Board of New York with the Roger H. Corbetta Award for Quality Concrete. Contact Mike Mota

Deadline Extended for Promotion Progress Awards Nominations are due January 15, 2005, for PCA's annual Promotion Progress Awards. The Awards honor cement company personnel for outstanding efforts in promoting cement and concrete products. Again in 2005, the Sustainable Development Award will recognize two individuals, one from Canada and one from the United States. Award winners will be announced at the PCA spring committee meetings in Chicago, February 28 - March 2, 2005. Check out 2004 winners More information and online nomination forms Contact Mark Justman

Contracting Added to Concrete Management Curriculum Middle Tennessee State University announced the addition of a concentration in concrete contracting to its Concrete Industry Management (CIM) program. This new addition will complement the school's nationally recognized program in concrete production, sales, and service that has been supplying new professionals to the industry since 2000. Approval of the new concentration is a major step forward in advancing the future knowledge and professionalism of the concrete industry, according to program director Austin Cheney. PCA supports the CIM program with grants through its Education Foundation. Contact Austin Cheney

Web Leads 2004 Gains in Publication Sales External sales of PCA publications, videos, and other resources totaled $1.99 million in 2004, an increase of $81,000 or 4% over 2003. Sales generated on PCA's online bookstore continue to rise. In 2004, 6,299 orders (65%) originated from PCA's Web site and accounted for $747,132 or 37% of revenues. Wholesale distribution to bookstores were the second largest source of publication revenue, totaling $415,206.

2004 Accident Survey PCA's Occupational Health and Safety Committee has mailed its Accident Experience Summary Survey to member companies. Each year, the committee collects and analyzes accident information to determine the safety record of the cement industry, help individual plants compare their record with others, and to recognize the industry's safest plants. Award-winning plants will be recognized at PCA's spring board meeting and at the IEEE-IAS/PCA Cement Industry Technical Conference, May 15-20, 2005, Kansas City, Mo. Surveys are due January 30, 2005. Contact Donna Wortman.



Arizona Cement Awarded DOE Grant The U.S. Department of Energy has granted a Plantwide Assessment Award to Arizona Portland Cement’s Rillito Plant. The funds will support the analysis of current energy usage and opportunities to enhance efficiencies throughout the process. This opportunity was facilitated by PCA’s involvement in the White House Climate VISION program and by California Portland’s participation in the Energy Star program. Other cement plants would also be eligible to pursue similar opportunities. Contact Tom Carter

EPA Identifies Nonattainment Areas for Tighter Standard EPA has designated areas in the United States that fail to meet the more stringent national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM) that was promulgated in 1997. This is the first time a PM standard has singled out particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter for regulation. The designation of nonattainment areas is a key step in implementation of the NAAQS. States willdevelop their implementation plans next and will then have until 2010 to comply with the standard. Contact Tom Carter

PCA Files Comments on Hex Chrome Proposal In response to a proposal from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), PCA submitted comments stating that portland cement should be exempt from regulation addressing hexavalent chromium. The rule is intended primarily to address inhalation risks from this particular species of chrome, which is contained in some cement in trace quantities. The OSHA proposal called for an exclusion of cement from the construction standard, but not the general industry standard. PCA’s comments demonstrate that an exclusion from both standards is justifiable and appropriate. Contact Tom Carter

Italy Threatens to Withdraw Support for Kyoto Protocol Last week Italian Environment Minister Altero Matteoli stated that Italy was unlikely to continue its support for multilateral action against climate change without support from the United States, India, and China. “It would be senseless to go ahead with the Kyoto Protocol [after 2012] if the United States, India ,and China do not participate,” he stated. He added, “If these countries do not wish to talk about binding agreements, then that means we must move forward with other strategies.” Contact Andy O’Hare

Barton Sets Priorities for Energy and Commerce Earlier this week, Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, announced that the top three priorities for the committee during the 109th Congress are: health care reform, telecommunications reform, and energy legislation. Chairman Barton indicated that the committee would consider taking action on legislation to amend the Clean Air Act, such as the Clear Skies Act, but not until the Senate showed interest in the issue. During the last Congress, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works was unable to pass the Clear Skies Act due to several competing measures, none of which was able to gain a majority of votes. Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, has set an aggressive agenda on the Clear Skies Act, with introduction expected in the next few weeks, a hearing by the end of January, and a mark-up and committee vote by mid-February. If the Senate is able to pass the Clear Skies Act, it is expected that the House will follow. Contact Mark Washko or Tom Carter

New England RTO to Begin Operations ISO New England gave notice to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) on Tuesday that it plans to make the transition from a power pool to a regional wholesale power market on February 1 when it becomes a Regional Transmission Operator (RTO). The New England power market will link six states in a $4.5 billion power market based on an agreement that was signed in September 2004. In its new role as a FERC-approved RTO, the grid operator will take control of the transmission facilities owned by the region’s seven major utilities and effectively run the wholesale power market. Contact Mark Washko



Register for World of Concrete through PCA and receive free registration and discounts on seminars. January 18-21, 2005 Las Vegas Convention Center
CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2005 March 15-19, 2005 Las Vegas, USA www.conexpoconagg.com	Promotion Progress Awards Entries are due December 31, 2004 More information



PCA's education and training group will conduct the following courses at PCA's Skokie, Ill., facility. Customized and off-site courses are also available. Plus, Web-based courses are available. For more information or to register, contact Julie Clausen.
Regional Courses Click on course titles for more information or to register. Combustion and Pollutant Formation (Day 1) Vertical Roller Mills for Raw Meal Preparation (Day 2) January 27-28, 2005 in Colton, CA February 24-25, 2005 in Midlothian, TX March 10-11, 2005 in St. Louis, MO
Skokie Courses Concrete: Principles and Practice February 7-10, 2005 Aggregates, Admixtures, and SCMs for Use in Concrete February 14-16, 2005 Microscopy of Clinker and Cement February 14-18, 2005	Cement and Concrete Overview March 7-8, 2005 Troubleshooting: Solutions to Concrete Field Problems March 9-11, 2005 Mill Grinding March 21-23, 2005 Kiln Process April 4-7, 2005

Portland Cement Association 5420 Old Orchard Road Skokie, Illinois 60077 847.966.6200 info@cement.org 1130 Connecticut Avenue, N. W., Suite 1250 Washington, D.C. 20036 202.408.9494 fax 202.408.0877 ©2004 Portland Cement Association All rights reserved

01.07.05

Washington Weekly
Education

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The Portland Cement Association conducts market development, research, education, and government affairs work on behalf of its members—cement companies in the United States and Canada.