Concrete Reefs Contribute to Healthy Marine Life

Approximately 950 tons of concrete will be used off the coast of southwest Florida to create artificial reefs, a critical component in building a healthier environment for marine life.

Culverts, junction boxes, and other acceptable secondary concrete materials will be placed 4.5 miles off Doctors Pass near Naples, Fla.  On June 25, the Collier County Coastal Zone Management Department began deploying the first artificial reef of 2009, which will provide 950 tons of underwater habitat.

The materials were placed 30 feet below water level and will not only create a healthy habitat for very important marine life, but improve recreational and charter fishing and diving opportunities, provide a socio-economic benefit to the local community, minimize user conflicts, and facilitate reef research.

Of Florida’s 35 coastal counties, 34 are involved in some type of artificial reef development. Currently, Collier County boasts more than 100 offshore artificial reefs.

Second PCA Infrastructure Webcast Tomorrow

PCA will present the second in a series of infrastructure-related Webcasts, “PCA Perspectives - The Stimulus Plan: When Will We See The Impact?” on June 30, 11 am CDT.  There is no charge for this Webcast.

The U.S. construction industry will no doubt be boosted by the historic $787 billion economic stimulus plan, but it may take some time before the impact is felt – both in actual infrastructure spending and in job creation. In this one-hour Webcast, Ed Sullivan, PCA chief economist, will share his most recent economic forecast and his assessment of the stimulus plan.

A white paper on the topic will also be available for download.
More information or to register.

House approves cap-and-trade bill, 219-212

Late Friday afternoon, the House of Representatives voted 219-212 to approve a comprehensive global warming bill that sets mandatory limits on U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.

211 Democrats and eight Republicans voted to adopt the sweeping legislation following a frenzied final week of lobbying that included personal pleas from President Obama.

The U.S. Senate has pledged a fall floor debate following markups in the Environment and Public Works Committee and several other panels.

The Democrat-written House bill (H.R. 2454) is more than 1,500 pages long and orders major industrial sources of greenhouse gases to enter into a cap-and-trade program that requires a 17 percent cut in domestic emissions by 2020.  It also orders utilities to supply 15 percent of their power sales from qualified renewable sources of electricity by 2020.

"Notably, the legislation includes provisions directed to protect domestic manufacturers of energy intensive products, such as cement, from unfair trade practices.  These industries would be granted free emission allowances under the cap and trade program which would be established by the legislation."

Additionally, several policies and programs long sought by environmental groups were included.

Republicans lost, 172-256, on their alternative approach that would have set a goal for the United States to reach 50 percent energy independence in a decade and 100 percent energy independence in 20 years.
Contact Andy O'Hare

Rappel Retires from PCA

Jim Rappel, PCA senior vice present for finance and administration, announced his retirement effective, June 30, 2009.

Rappel, who has been with PCA for more than 10 years, oversaw PCA’s accounting and financial management as well as building services, human resources, and information technology.

 “Jim brought to PCA a wealth of financial and accounting experience that he used to successfully guide the association through a variety of business cycles.  Our thanks to Jim for his outstanding contribution to the association,” said Brian McCarthy, PCA’s president/CEO.

Prior to joining PCA, Rappel was an executive with the American Medical Association.

Nedli, Farnsworth Promoted to New Positions

Laura Nedli, CPA, PCA controller, will be promoted to the position of vice president of finance and administration and chief financial officer, effective July 1, 2009. Nedli joined PCA in July 2008, bringing an extensive background in both public and private accounting and financial management.

Most recently, she was director of financial operations and information systems for Brethren Benefit Trust, Inc., a nonprofit organization that provides insurance and pension benefits for pastors and employees of congregations, districts, and church agencies.

In addition to the accounting department, Nedli will also assume responsibility for the human resources and information technology functions.

Jan Farnsworth, currently PCA’s corporate secretary, will take on additional responsibilities as vice president of operations. With this expanded role, Farnsworth will oversee facilities management, in addition to her current leadership of event management and office services functions.
Contact Laura Nedli
Contact Jan Farnsworth

Changes in Fire Standards More Appropriate for Cement-Based Products

PCA initiated changes to American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) E119 Standard Test Methods for Building Construction and Materials that were successfully balloted. 

The changes clarify the conditioning requirements for concrete and masonry specimens, making it clear that conditioning at elevated temperatures or by using other methods is appropriate for the specimens.  The changes are most beneficial for high-strength concrete, insulating concrete form systems, and grouted masonry.

During ASTM Committee week, June 14-18, 2009, in Vancouver, British Columbia, PCA staff worked on several other issues important to the industry.

> PCA worked to keep test uncertainty of test results isolated from actual field performance, the latter not being the intent of the standard test method.
> Opposition by PCA helped to halt progress on proposed changes to elevate fire test endpoint temperatures.  These changes would have significantly increased the number of materials and systems that would qualify for a fire resistance rating.
> PCA supported challenges by the National Institute of Standards and Technology that the proposed standards are not sufficiently severe to be representative of wildland fires.
> PCA spoke against placing time limits on the life of test data which would require arbitrary re-testing of assemblies at specific time limits.  If such requirements were put in place, all assemblies would require repeat testing of hundreds of specimens at a cost of approximately $30,000 per test, in order that the fire resistance ratings of concrete and masonry assemblies could be retained in the building codes.

Other issues on the horizon include precision and bias which may have legal implications on reported fire resistance ratings as used in the building codes, applying loads to test specimens, restraint of specimens, and variations in test methods.
Contact Steve Szoke

Transportation Reauthorization Bill Passes First Hurdle

The House Highways and Transit Subcommittee last week approved by voice vote the draft $450 billion, six-year surface transportation reauthorization bill released by Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-Minn.).  The subcommittee approved the 775-page draft bill without amendment although a dozen amendments were offered by Republican members of the panel.  These were withdrawn to be considered during full committee mark up or possibly worked out prior to that time.

Chair Oberstar indicated that he’d like to have a full committee markup in late July, although the timing is contingent on reaching an agreement on financing and revenue issues with the House Ways and Means Committee, the Democratic leadership, and the Obama Administration.  Talks at the staff level are reportedly underway.  Assuming this timetable holds, the House floor debate would likely occur following the August recess.

The Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, which has jurisdiction over the highway portion of the surface transportation law, is not as far along as the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.  At an EPW Committee hearing on Thursday, Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) reiterated her support for the 18-month extension suggested by Secretary Ray LaHood last week.  Other members of the panel also expressed support for the 18-month extension in order to work out finance and revenue issues.  At yesterday’s markup, virtually all members of the House Highway and Transit Subcommittee express strong opposition to the 18-month extension.
Contact David Hubbard

Call for Abstracts: Concrete Bridge Conference

Abstracts are due by July 15, 2009, for the 2010 Concrete Bridge Conference sponsored by the National Concrete Bridge Council (NCBC), a coalition of allied industry associations including PCA.

The theme of the 2010 conference, to be held February 24-26 in Phoenix, is “Achieving Smart, Safe, and Sustainable Bridges.”  The conference is the premiere national venue for the exchange of ideas and information on all aspects of concrete bridge design and construction.  Hundreds of bridge engineers, including department of transportation and highway agency officials, attend it.

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration and NCBC jointly sponsor the conference.
Submit abstracts at www.nationalconcretebridge.org
Contact Sue Lane

PCA to Exhibit and Speak at Infrastructure Systems Conference

The Infrastructure Systems Conference, a biennial conference intended to help prepare the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to meet the current and future engineering and construction needs of the nation, will be held July 20-24 in Cleveland.

The theme of this year’s ISC is "Building National Technical Competency." It is an opportunity for the exchange of ideas and sharing of technical knowledge within the architecture, engineering, and construction community.

Wayne Adaska, PCA’s director of pavements, will participate in a technical session dedicated to roller-compacted pavements. "Overview of RCC Pavements - Applications, Design and Construction” will take place on Wednesday, July 22.

PCA’s booth will highlight technical literature on pavements, sustainability, and concrete materials.
Contact Wayne Adaska, Jamie Farny or John Sullivan.