In other news below:
-- ACEC, AGC and ASCE laud Clean Water Trust Fund Bill
-- AWWA applauds EPA signing of Stage 2 DBPR and LT2ESTWR
-- Washington Group joint venture to help replace steam generator at N.J. nuclear power plant
-- Analysis of U.S. Homeland Security R&D programs and budgets through 2010 released
-- Biosolids expert Dr. Mohammad Abu-orf joins Siemens Water Technologies
-- Underground Solutions announces new management team, completion of convertible note issue
-- Orange County's Groundwater Replenishment System to receive $2.25 million in federal funding
-- CCC closes purchase of Steel Valley Plastics and announces consolidations, expansions
American Council of Engineering Companies endorses Clean Water Trust Fund Bill
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 16, 2005--The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), today announced its strong support of The Clean Water Trust Act of 2005.
The Washington D.C.-based business association of America's engineering industry also urges Congress to pass this ground-breaking legislation as an important step towards addressing America's water infrastructure crisis.
Introduced by Rep. John J. Duncan, Jr., chairman of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, the legislation would create the Clean Water Trust - a $7.5 billion annual fund dedicated to clean water infrastructure programs.
The Clean Water Trust is similar to existing trust funds that have been extremely successful in financing critical highway and airport infrastructure work across the country. Money from the fund would flow directly to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) existing State Revolving Loan program, requiring no additional administrative bureaucracy. The Clean Water Trust Act would also:
-- Provide critically needed funds to address the clean water funding gap, which is estimated by EPA to be $300-$500 billion;
-- Protect public health, the environment, and our quality of life;
-- Restore the viability of the federal-state-local financial partnership, which is critical to achievement of Clean Water Act goals;
-- Guarantee that over 30 years of water quality progress under the Clean Water Act is continued; and
-- Position the nation for future economic growth, and do so in a deficit neutral manner.
ACEC President David Raymond stated: "This legislation addresses a very serious problem. Our Nation's water infrastructure is in critical need of replacement and upgrade, and current funding mechanisms are grossly inadequate. Engineers applaud Chairman Duncan for his leadership and vision in introducing this innovative approach to the problem, and we stand ready to assist in its ultimate passage."
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the business association of America's engineering industry, representing approximately 5,500 independent engineering companies throughout the United States engaged in the development of America's transportation, environmental, industrial, and other infrastructure. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., ACEC is a national federation of 51 state and regional organizations.
Other groups backing the legislation include:
• Contractors applaud effort to establish Clean Water Trust Fund -- WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 15, 2005 -- The Clean Water Trust Act of 2005, introduced today by Congressman John J. Duncan, Jr. (R?Tenn.), Chairman of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee would help to fund water and wastewater infrastructure needs to protect the environment and the economic well-being of the nation, according to Associated General Contractors of America (AGC)...
• ASCE supports introduction of Clean Water Trust Act -- RESTON, VA, Dec. 16, 2005 -- The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) yesterday backed introduction of the Clean Water Trust Act of 2005, a bill that will create a federal program to provide a long-term, dependable funding source for our nation's critical water supply. Congressman John J. Duncan (R - 2nd District - Tenn.), chair of the House Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee, introduced this important legislation to address the projected shortfall in water infrastructure investment...
In other ASCE news:
-- "Defense Secretary Rumsfeld Authorizes ASCE To Review New Orleans Hurricane Protection System"
-- "ASCE Testifies Before Senate on New Orleans Levee Breaches"
-- "ASCE Cosponsors Conference Addressing the Recovery and Rebuilding Of Louisiana"
-- "Nominations Sought for 2006 Charles Pankow Award for Innovation"
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Among other recent headlines:
• AWWA applauds EPA signing of Stage 2 DBPR and LT2ESTWR -- WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 16, 2005 -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) yesterday signed the Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproduct Rule and the Long-Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule (LT2ESWTR). These rules seek to improve the quality of drinking water in a manner that maintains strong protection against waterborne disease while controlling the formation of disinfection byproducts. The American Water Works Association (AWWA) was a participant on a diverse federal advisory committee that provided input during the rule's development. Jack Hoffbuhr, executive director of AWWA, applauded the action...
• Washington Group International's SGT joint venture to provide steam generator replacement services at N.J. nuclear power plant -- BOISE, ID, & PRINCETON, NJ, Dec. 16, 2005 -- Washington Group International Inc. announced that SGT LLC, its joint venture with AREVA's Framatome ANP, has been awarded a contract by PSEG Nuclear to provide services for replacing steam generators at Salem Unit 2, a nuclear power plant in Hancocks Bridge, N.J. SGT will provide project management, planning, engineering, licensing and construction services for the replacement of four steam generators at Salem Unit 2, a 1,150-megawatt pressurized water reactor. The replacements will take place during a scheduled refueling outage in the spring of 2008. Framatome ANP will supply the replacement steam generators under a separate contract...
• Analysis of U.S. Homeland Security R&D programs and budgets through 2010 released -- DUBLIN, Ireland, Dec. 16, 2005 -- Research and Markets has announced addition of "U.S. Homeland Security Research and Development - Markets, Programs and Forecasts - 2006-2010" to its offering. With over 470 pages, 307 graphs and 121 tables, the report provide a comprehensive analysis of the 2006-2010 HLS R&D activity that is funded by all major U.S. federal agencies and departments. Further, it dissects agencies, resources and budgets and provide the 2006-2010 R&D programs and budgets forecast segmented by four categories...
Other recent reports include:
-- "Research and Markets: Spain's bottled water market size by volume projected through 2009"
-- "Zenith International: Global Soft Drink report finds rise in Asia/Australasia, decline in W. Europe"
-- "Zenith International: Bottled water market driven by consumer demand for healthy drinks, knowledge about hydration"
• Biosolids expert Dr. Mohammad Abu-orf joins Siemens Water Technologies -- WARRENDALE, PA, Dec. 16, 2005 -- The Siemens Group Industrial Solutions and Services (I&S) announced today that Dr. Mohammad ("Mo") Abu-orf has joined the company's Corporate Technology division of Siemens Water Technologies, effective immediately. Most recently, he was director of biosolids processing in the Central Technical Services (CTS) group at Veolia Water North America. Before that, he was director of the biosolids R&D programs at USFilter/Veolia Water Systems' North American Technology Center (NATC). He also served as project manager at the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF) in Alexandria, Va...
• Underground Solutions announces new management team, completion of convertible note issue -- PITTSBURGH, Dec. 16, 2005 -- Underground Solutions Inc. announced that Andy Seidel has been named president and CEO. Seidel is the former CEO of USFilter Corp., the nation's leading provider of water and wastewater products, systems and services. Mark Smith, who has led the company since its inception, has become board chairman. Seidel is joined at UGSI by three former senior executives of USFilter: Roop Jain, who has been appointed as executive vice president and COO; Steve Stanczak is now executive vice president and general counsel; and Raj Patel was named as executive vice president and CFO...
• Orange County's Groundwater Replenishment System poised to receive $2.25 million in federal funding -- FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA, Dec. 15, 2005 -- The Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) System in Orange County will receive $2.25 million in federal funding for fiscal year 2006, according to an appropriation bill signed into law on November 19, 2005 by President George W. Bush. The $2.25 million appropriations is part of $20 million authorized for the project by Congress in 2000. With its 2006 fiscal year funding, GWR System will have received a total of nearly $16 million in federal funding since the project began in 2000. The GWR System is a joint project of the Orange County Water District and Orange County Sanitation District and will provide approximately 23 billion gallons of water each year for Orange County beginning in 2007...
• CCC closes purchase of Steel Valley Plastics and announces consolidation, expansion of facilities -- ATLANTA, Dec. 15, 2005 -- Consolidated Container Company (CCC), based in Atlanta, announced the completion of its acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Steel Valley Plastics of Warren, Ohio -- a manufacturer of 3- and 5-gallon polycarbonate water bottles. This transaction, announced as pending on Dec. 5, closed on Dec. 14. It also announced its intention to wind down operations in its polycarbonate manufacturing facility in Leetsdale, Pa., immediately, with the goal of closing the facility in mid-February. CCC will be expanding the new Warren, Ohio, plant, adding two more manufacturing lines, a significant amount of support equipment and increasing the size of this facility. The expanded plant will employ 25-30 people...
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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: Pentair Partners With ITT Industries to form FARADYNE Motors LLC" -- Also in this report (Dec. 15, 2005): Degremont, Zenon win US$260M contract for wastewater treatment plant in Qatar; American Water names George Mackenzie interim CEO; Panichella appointed as Hercules VP and Aqualon president; Aqua Society Inc. announces CEO change; Chemtura increases prices on BioLab industrial water additives; SmartDitch.com reaches thousands facing water flow challenges; Globetech Environmental completes Beiseker plant acquisition; PA Gov. announces $150,000 for York County stormwater management plan; Hitachi, Hitachi Plant sign corporate split agreement; Wataire Industries Inc. announces confirmation of pending patent; Fisher Biosciences partners with Alfa Laval to provide disposable bioprocessing systems; Terasen Utility Services, Terasen Measurement launch patent-pending gas meter testing; OMNOVA facilities recognized for environmental, health, safety and security achievement; Filtros Ltd granted U.S. patent for all-ceramic gas diffuser...
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