WaterBriefs: U.S. Senate confirms Ga. native to national post
In other news below:
-- Trinity River Authority supports Tarrant water district in voluntary water conservation
-- Electronic Control Security Inc. launches water supply security initiative
-- SABESP posts a 12.5% net revenue growth
-- Utah court reinstates antitrust claims against regional water district
-- U.S. Green Building Council recognizes bottling facilities
-- Vidler Water, Lincoln County Water District agree to sell water in Nevada
-- Southwest Water initiates CEO succession process
-- $10M initiative to help California dairy, other CAFOs protect water quality
-- DWR releases draft EIS/EIR for South Delta Improvements Program
-- California's Water Future Coalition mobilizes to support Bay-Delta water resource plan
-- EPA announces $740K award to improve Presumpscot River Watershed
-- Upper Sevier River water quality project receives $600K EPA grant
-- TTCM China signs a new water pipeline project
-- Devcon to acquire security companies, two deals valued at over $115M
-- Steelworkers Union requests data citing DuPont's past mismanagement of nuke site
-- WEF supports Sen. Paul Simon Water for the Poor legislation
U.S. Senate confirms Georgia native to national post
TUCKER, GA, Nov. 11, 2005 (PRNewswire) -- The U.S. Senate Thursday evening voted to confirm Millen native and former Jefferson Energy director James M. "Jim" Andrew to serve as administrator of the Rural Utilities Service (RUS).
"Jim has dedicated more than 30 years of his life to electric cooperatives in Georgia and across the country," said Georgia EMC President/CEO A. Paul Wood. "The Senate confirmation reinforces what we've known in Georgia for a long time -- there is no better advocate for cooperatives than Jim Andrew."
Andrew will head the RUS, a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development agency, which focuses on building and improving rural infrastructure to provide essential services such as electricity, water and telecommunications.
As administrator, Andrew will report to Under Secretary for Rural Development Tom Dorr and will be responsible for overseeing the RUS whose mission is to improve the quality of life in rural America by administering its electric, telecommunications, and water and waste programs.
The RUS plays a critical role in the success of electric cooperatives in Georgia, providing leadership and capital to upgrade, expand, maintain and replace the state's electric infrastructure. The agency grants loans and loan guarantees to finance the construction of electric distribution, transmission and generation facilities, including system improvements and replacement required to furnish and improve electric service, and for demand side management, energy conservation programs, and on-grid and off-grid renewable energy systems.
Andrew's long history with and dedicated service to cooperatives began in Georgia nearly 30 years ago. He has held top posts at Jefferson Energy Cooperative in Wrens, Ga.; Georgia EMC, a statewide trade association; National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation (CFC); and National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), a national association of 900 member cooperatives in 47 states.
On a local level, Andrew served in 1976 as vice president and chairman of the board of directors at Jefferson Energy in Wrens, Ga., an electric cooperative providing electricity and related services to approximately 26,000 customers in parts of 11 counties.
He went on to serve at the state level as vice chairman and chairman of the Georgia EMC board of directors.
Those positions prepared him for service at the national level. Andrew served as director on the board of directors for CFC and represented Georgia on the NRECA board of directors, serving as president, vice president and secretary-treasurer. Andrew has a further distinction among his peers: he is one of only three Georgians elected president of the NRECA board.
In this role, Andrew served as statesman and traveled across America to meet with managers from generation and transmission cooperatives, statewide associations, distribution co-ops, and hundreds of co-op directors from every corner of the country.
Andrew was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by Georgia EMC in 2003 and was named the 2004 Distinguished Cooperator in Georgia by the Georgia Cooperative Council.
He and his wife, Mary, currently reside in Millen, Ga.
Georgia EMC (www.georgiaemc.com) is the statewide trade association representing the 42 EMCs in Georgia, Oglethorpe Power Corp. and Georgia Transmission Corp. The 42 customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to four million people, nearly half of Georgia's population, across 73% of the state's land area. Georgia's 42 electric membership cooperatives now serve more customers than any other state network of EMCs in the nation.
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Among other recent headlines:
• Trinity River Authority supports Tarrant water district in voluntary water conservation -- ARLINGTON, TX, Nov. 11, 2005 -- Dry conditions and low levels in water supply lakes operated by the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) has resulted in a request for all customers served by the District to pursue voluntary water conservation measures. As a result the Tarrant Regional Water District is requesting that voluntary water conservation measures be implemented in Bedford, Colleyville, Euless, Grapevine and North Richland Hills, consistent with the other TRWD's customers of Fort Worth, Arlington and Mansfield. TRWD has experienced two consecutive months with water supply demand exceeding 25% of projected demand. The water supply capacity in Lakes Bridgeport and Eagle Mountain on the West Fork of the Trinity River has been largely consumed which will place increased demand on the District's East Texas system of lakes and pipelines. It will take approximately nine inches of rain to relieve the existing drought conditions...
• Electronic Control Security Inc. launches WISE water supply security initiative CLIFTON, NJ, Nov. 11, 2005 -- Electronic Control Security Inc. (ECSI), a provider of security solutions to governments, nuclear power facilities and corporations worldwide, launched its Water Infrastructure Security Environmental (WISE™) initiative that provides a complete end-to-end total security envelope that protects and monitors water supply infrastructure and quality from source to faucet. The EPA and the Department of Homeland Security have highlighted threats to the nation's water supply that include potential terrorist biological, radiological and chemical attacks as well as contamination from sources such as waste water run-off, industrial chemicals, human and farm wastes and naturally occurring radiation sources...
• SABESP posts 12.5% net revenue growth, 8.8% EBITDA growth in 3Q05 -- SAO PAULO, Brazil, Nov. 11, 2005 -- SABESP - Cia. de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo, the largest water and sewage utility company in the Americas and third largest in the world, according to number of customers, announces results for the third quarter 2005 (3Q05). The Company's operating and financial information, except when indicated otherwise, is shown in Brazilian Reais, in accordance with the Brazilian corporate law. All comparisons in this release, unless otherwise stated, refer to the third quarter 2004. Highlights: Recovery of billed volumes for water and sewage services, recording a 3.5% growth in comparison to 3Q04; Net revenue in the quarter posted a 12.5% growth; 8.8% EBITDA growth; Net income of R$191.1 million in 3Q05...
• Utah Supreme Court reinstates antitrust claims of Summit Water Distribution Co., shareholders against Summit County, Utah and Mountain Regional Water Special Service District -- DNVILLE, CA, Nov. 11, 2005 -- On Nov. 4, the Utah Supreme Court unanimously ruled that counties in the state of Utah are not exempt from and must comply fully with state antitrust laws. The court issued its long awaited opinion in Summit Water Distribution Company vs. Summit County ruling in favor of the plaintiffs. As a result, Summit County (Park City, Utah), its water agency (Mountain Regional Water Special Service District) and other defendants will face trial on the claims of anti-competitive conduct. The plaintiffs allege that the county illegally conditioned valuable development approvals on participation in the county's water agency, improperly attempted to condemn all of the assets of the company, and attempted to drive the privately held Summit Water Distribution Company out of business. The actions of Summit County have driven the cost of water service to many of the county's residents to unconscionable levels...
• U.S. Green Building Council recognizes bottling facilities -- Nation's first food, beverage facilities earn Silver LEED Certification; Nestle Waters North America's new plants designed, operated for long-term environmental sustainability -- GREENWICH, CT, Nov. 11, 2005 -- Environmentally conscious building design and operational features comprising more than two million square feet of five industrial buildings of Nestle Waters North America have been built to earn LEED™ (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Today, at the Greenbuild International Conference and Exposition in Atlanta, Georgia, the U.S. Green Building Council recognized one of those bottling facilities, in Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, that achieved LEED Silver Certification in 2005...
• Vidler Water, Lincoln County Water District agree to sell water in Lincoln County, Nevada -- LA JOLLA, CA, Nov. 10, 2005 -- PICO Holdings Inc.'s wholly-owned subsidiary, Vidler Water Company, and the Lincoln County Water District have entered into two new agreements to supply water to a planned community in Lincoln County, Nev. Lincoln/Vidler have agreed to sell 560.06 acre-feet of water for approximately $3.4 million, or a price of $6,050 per acre-foot of water. The purchaser is Coyote Springs Investment LLC , the developer of a planned community commonly known as Coyote Springs, to be located partially within Lincoln County, Nevada and partially within Clark County, Nevada. The water rights are the subject of an existing protest, and escrow will close within 15 days of the protest being resolved...
• Southwest Water initiates CEO succession process -- LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2005 -- Southwest Water Co. has begun a CEO succession process. In yesterday's third quarter earnings conference call, Chairman of the Board and CEO Anton C. Garnier, 65, announced that, in accordance with prudent corporate governance practices, the company has retained an executive recruiting firm to begin a CEO search that will include both internal and external candidates...
• $10M initiative to help California dairy, other CAFOs protect water quality -- DAVIS, CA, Nov. 10, 2005 -- California dairy producers and other confined animal operators are encouraged to apply now for assistance through a $10 million special initiative that will share the cost of structures and management practices producers may need to protect water quality on their farms. USDA's popular Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) will provide the resources for this effort...
• Calif. DWR releases draft EIS/EIR for South Delta Improvements Program -- SACRAMENTO, Nov. 10, 2005 -- The Department of Water Resources (DWR) released the draft Environmental Impact Report for the South Delta Improvements Program (SDIP). The release of the draft will begin a formal public process on a plan to improve water quality and protect fish in the southern part of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, while increasing the reliability and amount of water supplies for Californians...
• Calif.'s Water Future Coalition mobilizes to support next step in Bay-Delta water resource planning -- SACRAMENTO, Nov. 10, 2005 -- A broad coalition of more than 60 statewide water, agricultural, business, and planning organizations, and local government officials today announced its support of the upcoming environmental review process for the South Delta Improvements Program (SDIP), the next step forward in California's long-term plan to better manage the Bay-Delta's water resources and ecosystem. With California facing a critical challenge to provide a safe, reliable, and high-quality water supply that keeps up with the state's rising population and fast-growing trillion-dollar economy, California's Water Future is mobilized to actively support SDIP, a project of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Two thirds of California receives its water from the San Francisco Bay/Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta...
• EPA announces $740K award to improve Presumpscot River Watershed -- BOSTON, Nov. 10, 2005 -- After months of awaiting word about the winners of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2005 Targeted Watershed Grants, the Casco Bay Estuary Partnership and the Presumpscot River Watershed Coalition received the good news today ¿ that the groups were chosen to receive close to $740,000 to further their plans to improve the Presumpscot River. From a ceremony at the University of Southern Maine, Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England office, announced the award and noted that Maine's watershed project was one of 12 selected by the US Environmental Protection Agency nationwide to receive more than $9 million. The Maine project was among 74 proposals submitted nationally, including nine proposals submitted by five New England states. With the watersheds announced today, and those selected in the first two years of the program, EPA has targeted 46 watersheds across the country, giving them more than $46 million, including $4.3 million to four New England states...
• Upper Sevier River water quality project receives $600K EPA grant -- DENVER, Nov. 10, 2005 -- The Environmental Protection Agency's Region 8 Office announced it will provide $600K to the Upper Sevier River Watershed to fund water quality improvement efforts. This grant will reduce pollution and establish a Blue Ribbon Trout Fishery by restoring impacted river reaches and encouraging the use of more efficient irrigation and grazing practices. The effort, one of 12 watershed projects selected nationwide under EPA's Targeted Watershed Grant program, will be managed by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality...
• TTCM China signs a new water pipeline project -- MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA, Nov. 10, 2005 -- TTCM China Inc., a supplier of glass-reinforced plastic pipes, announces that it has signed new water pipeline contract. The city of Jing Chang in Gan Shu Province has signed a water pipeline contract with TTCM to bring water to the city. TTCM is delivering this turnkey project, which is expected to be complete by December 2005. The value of this water pipeline project contract is worth $875,000 dollars...
• Devcon acquires Coastal Security Company for $50.4M -- DEERFIELD BEACH, FL, Nov. 10, 2005 -- Devcon International Corp.announces that Devcon Security Holdings Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, has acquired all of the outstanding capital stock of Coastal Security Company, a provider of electronic security services, in a cash for stock transaction valued at approximately $50.4 million. Coastal, with headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., provides retail electronic security services to commercial and residential customers principally in South Florida, and wholesale monitoring service to dealers throughout the United States. Through the monitoring and servicing of more than 165,000 security systems, the total contractually recurring monthly revenue to be acquired is roughly $1.26 million...
• Devcon to acquire Guardian International, Inc. in transaction worth $65.5M -- DEERFIELD BEACH, FL, Nov. 10, 2005 -- Devcon International Corp. announces that it and Devcon Acquisition Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, have entered into a definitive merger agreement to acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of Guardian International Inc., a provider of electronic security services throughout Florida and the Greater New York metropolitan area, for an estimated aggregate cash price of roughly $65.5 million, including certain Guardian debt obligations and expenses...
• Steelworkers Union requests data on DuPont's past mismanagement of Savannah River nuclear weapons facility in S.C. -- NASHVILLE, TN, Nov. 10, 2005 -- The United Steelworkers (USW) has filed an extensive information request under the Freedom of Information Act from the Department of Energy concerning accidents, security breaches, radiation releases and other environmental contamination that occurred during the DuPont Company's 1954 to 1989 operation of the Savannah River Site (SRS), a nuclear weapons facility located near Aiken, South Carolina. DuPont issued a news release Oct. 11 that indicated its intent to once again play a role in the plant's operation and bid on $7.5 billion of DOE contracts. According to the USW, DuPont abandoned the site in the wake of DOE criticism of the company's mismanagement and of mishaps that could have resulted in cataclysmic accidents. A congressional hearing in October 1987 indicated that there were over 30 serious accidents at SRS under DuPont's management between 1957 and 1985. By 1988, the company's reactors at SRS were forced to shut down due to dangerous conditions...
• Water quality organization supports Sen. Paul Simon Water for the Poor legislation -- ALEXANDRIA, VA, Nov. 9, 2005 -- The Water Environment Federation (WEF), a non-profit organization of water professionals, is pleased to support The Paul Simon Water for the Poor Act (H.R.1973) and its passage by the House of Representatives earlier this week. The Act, authored by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (OR-3), aims to make access to safe water and sanitation in developing countries a major objective of U.S. foreign assistance by recognizing the direct link between poverty and the availability of clean drinking water and sanitation. The legislation supports WEF's mission to preserve and enhance the global water environment and draws attention to the vital role water quality plays in public health, the economy and environment. Last week, Mr. Blumenauer and other officials joined WEF at its annual meeting where over 18,000 water professionals gathered in Washington, DC to share expertise and learn the latest in water quality research, technology and services...
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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: Santa Clarita bans saltwater pools in battle to protect river from chlorides" -- Also in this report (Nov. 9, 2005): AquaCell files for proposed spin-off of its Aquacell Water unit; Pennvest approves $28M for water projects; Calgon Carbon announces launch of new UV product; Biorem to provide $1M biofilter for new composting facility in Canada's Peel Region; Altair Nanotechnologies wins $2.5M in Congressional funding for nanoscience research; Versar awarded new $1.5M stormwater contract by Frederick County, Md.; Magazine names ista North America 'Best Energy Management/Submetering Company'; Compass Minerals International explores sale of UK evaporated salt plant; England's bathing water quality better than ever before; Ecuador leaders in Chevron lawsuit say their lives are in danger; Equipment & Systems Engineering installs 137 water sanitation systems in Nicaragua; CAWST, Petro-Canada recognized for 'Water for Life' partnership; UK salt merger cleared...
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