Yesterday, NUCA chaired the Clean Water Council's (CWC) first meeting of the year at the offices of the Portland Cement Association. Discussion centered on legislation expected out of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee that would reauthorize the EPA's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and begin to restore and increase SRF funding. The CWC agreed to schedule visits with key senators on the committee to encourage their support of the bill as it moves through committee and then to the Senate floor for debate and a vote. The point of contact for the legislation, EPW Majority Deputy Staff Director Ken Kopocis, has affirmed his commitment to passage, saying, "I look forward to working with the CWC to get the bill enacted this year."

Already 30 organizations strong, the CWC welcomed the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) to its ranks at the meeting. The IUOE is the 12th largest union in the AFL-CIO, representing 400,000 members in some 170 local unions throughout the United States and Canada. In 2008, the CWC is planning to aggressively pursue the membership of many other "heavyweight" national construction organizations committed to ensuring a high quality of life through sound environmental infrastructure. 

 

It's that time of year when NUCA puts out a call to its contractor members for applications for the prestigious William H. Feather Safety Awards. The completed application form, with all supporting materials, must be submitted to NUCA by February 29, 2008. The winners will be recognized at the Sixth Annual Awards Dinner during NUCA's 2008 Spring Meetings & Washington Summit, May 21-23, 2008, JW Marriott Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC. [Photo: NUCA Safety Instructor Greg Strudwick (right) presents Joseph Wilkerson of JF Wilkerson Contracting Co. Inc. with the 2006 Overall William H. Safety Feather Award.]

The NUCA Institute for Education and Research will be offering three separate trainings in the first three months of the year! The NUCA Institute Core Leadership Curriculum, which targets managers, will be held February 25-29 at NUCA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia. The Leadership Skills for Crew Leaders Program, which targets field personnel, will be offered in two locations--Seattle, Washington and Forest Park, Georgia. The Utility Contractors Association of Washington will host the first one on February 22-23 and the Georgia Utility Contractors Association the second on March 27-28. Click here for program schedules and registration forms.