Public Works articles from April 2001

Public Works archives from April 2001

EDITORIAL VIEWPOINT.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
April 1, 2001... Electricity--Can we get enough and at what cost? The question of an adequate and reasonably priced power supply affects public works operations just as it does the general population. Water and wastewater treatment facilities, street...

The EPA on February 6 withdrew its proposed regulations to reduce the occurrence of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs).(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The EPA adopted the rule January 5 but with drew it to allow new EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman, formerly the Republican governor of New Jersey, an opportunity to review it. President George W. Bush on January 20 directed federal...

Industry groups found some encouragement in the U.S. Supreme Court decision in March upholding the EPA's smog and soot rule.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The court rejected a major challenge to the 1970 Clean Air Act and EPA's implementation of it. The court said EPA was not obliged to consider an extensive cost/benefit analysis of its 1997 rulemaking. And it said EPA had not assumed powers that...

President Bush signaled he will approve a congressional resolution to repeal the controversial ergonomics rule drafted by OSHA during the Clinton Administration.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The Senate voted 56-44 and the House 222-206 to overturn the regulation. Industry maintained the controversial regulations were at best redundant and at worst a serious threat to U.S. business. Congress revoked the rule under a relatively...

The Bush Administration has proposed a budget that would increase fiscal year 2002 grants to states for wastewater projects by $500 million from the current $1.3 billion, with a portion designated for combined-sewer overflow controls.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The proposal also would allocate $2 billion to the Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan program. Overall, the budget--which is subject to extensive changes by Congress--would allocate $7.3 billion to fund the EPA activities, $56 million...

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) urged Congress and the nation's civil engineers to join it in developing an efficient, responsible plan to overcome the nation's multi billion dollar shortfall in drinking water infrastructure investment.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... AWWA made its request after the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) issued a report that criticized the investment shortfall, issuing the nation's drinking water infrastructure a "D" grade. "America's water utilities, elected...

A number of lawsuits have been filed to over turn EPA's January 22 rule to slash the arsenic standard in drinking water to 10 parts per billion (ppb), down from the current 50 ppb.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... EPA said the rule, issued in the final days of the Clinton Administration, would provide additional protection to at least 13 million Americans. It said all 54,000 community water systems, serving 254 million people will be subject to the...

President Bush changes his position on carbon dioxide.(no longer supports emissions regulation)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The President unexpectedly reversed his campaign position supporting regulation of the carbon dioxide emissions produced by power plants as part of four-part program that would also address mercury, smog-causing nitrogen oxide, and sulfur, a...

The Construction Industry Manufacturers Association (CIMA) joined with other highway groups to urge full funding of TEA-21 transportation legislation.(highway, transit construction projects)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... As approved, the fiscal year 2002 funding levels are $32.8 billion for highway projects and $6.7 billion for transit. "It would be disruptive to the states and the construction industry if the Administration and Congress were to pull back from...

Cities report on safety and communications equipment needs.(purchasing plans survey)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Over 8,200 cities in the U.S. and Canada were recently surveyed as part of the Public Works 2000 City Engineering Survey. Cities were queried on purchase plans for safety and communications equipment. Forty-nine percent or 4,018 cities...

Engineering firm to identify potential area of contamination through Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Schoor DePalma (Manalapan, New Jersey) has been retained to identify potential areas of environmental concern in three sections of Ewing Township, New Jersey--the Morris Wheeler property, the Kuhn &Jacob property, and the Robbins-Troy property....

R euse plan for military base outlined.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... RBF Consulting (Irvine, California) and partner Keyser-Marsten & Associates, have been selected to provide professional services for the Alameda Point Naval Air Station Reuse Plan Project. The community reuse plan envisions that once fully...

Airport serves as launch pad for ITS technology program.(Detroit Metropolitan Airport)(Michigan)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... A high-tech program featuring navigational aids for motorists in southeast Michigan was given the green light late last year at a meeting held at the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. In a display of regional cooperation, a wide array...

Unique land bridge dedicated.(The Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway Land Bridge)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The following item by Rusty Ennemoser is taken from the November 2000 issue of Transportation News, a publication of the Florida Department of Transportation, Tallahassee, Florida. Hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and wildlife now have a...

Sewer system design contract awarded.(Marysville, Washington)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Marysville, Washington has awarded Berryman & Henigar (San Diego, California) a $400,000 contract for permitting and designing a major portion of a sewer system. Marysville (population 20,680) is located in Snohomish County, 35 miles north of...

New water supply for Arkansas county.(Union County, Arkansas)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Union County, Arkansas officials have accepted a master plan calling for up to $70 million in new water supply facilities. This action heads off a potential water supply shortage. All of the county's water is pumped from the Sparta Aquifer,...

Bicycle racks combine functionality with art.(Glendale, Arizona bus stops)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The city of Glendale, Arizona has livened up its bus stops with 20 whimsical bicycle racks, which depict colorful characters such as "running man" and "mad biker" that are painted in primary colors. Typically, local buses only have room for two...

TECHNOLOGY STEPS UP TO MEET Changing Winter Maintenance -- Needs.
April 1, 2001... Late every summer, predictions about the severity of the upcoming winter start to appear: The Farmer's Almanac, the National Weather Service, even the woolly caterpillar are all eagerly observed, listened to, and avidly reported on...

CALIFORNIA CITY BOASTS AN Innovative Sweeping Program.
April 1, 2001... Q: When it comes to a sweeping program, what has the city of Long Beach done that you think makes it an organization that is competitive and professional? We sweep all streets in the city of Long Beach on a weekly basis, which is somewhat...

COMMUNITIES USE SPECIALIZED MACHINE FOR Sidewalk Sweeping.
April 1, 2001... Rather than rely on manual brooming and litter pick-up methods to improve the appearance of downtown areas, increasing numbers of communities are turning to the use of one-person operated "pedestrian" or "walk-behind" vacuum sweepers to clean...

USING TURFGRASS SOD TO MEET THE EMERGING EPA Erosion Prohibition Challenge.
April 1, 2001... Renewed vigor by the EPA in enforcing the Clean Water Act has raised the bar for public works officials to prohibit erosion. The pressures are cascading down to all others involved in highway and street consturction and municipal wastewater...

VEGETATED CHANNEL SYSTEM Protects Eroded Stream Bank.(West Bouldin Creek in Austin, Texas)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... In summer 1999, West Bouldin Creek in Austin, Texas, had experienced significant erosion of a 150-ft long, 22-ft high section of a bluff adjacent to the South Sixth Street roadway. At this location, a near 90-degree turn in the creek created...

CONTRACTOR MAKES FULL USE OF Road Reclaimer.(Intercounty Paving Associates)
April 1, 2001... A fully equipped road reclaimer is allowing a New Jersey contractor to expand its services in foamed asphalt base stabilization, and broaden its geographic reach. Intercounty Paving Associates (Hackettstown, New Jersey) has wrapped up its...

CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT Fleet Managers Emphasize Efficiency.(Construction Industry Manufacturers Association)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The Construction Industry Manufacturers Association (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, www.cimanet.com) in October 2000 organized a roundtable discussion of fleet management issues. Participating were five of the major construction contractors in the...

MANAGEMENT REVIEW IMPROVES Public Works Department's Operations.(Department of Public Works-Transportation Division in San Diego County, California)
April 1, 2001... A comprehensive management review of road maintenance conducted for the Department of Public Works-Transportation Division (DPW) in San Diego County has resulted in a one-time savings of more than $2.6 million and recurring annual savings of...

Strategies for improving fleet maintenance.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... More and more, cities' fleet management people are treating other city departments like valued customers whose business they want to keep. As they work to keep their fleets in tip-top running order, fleet managers generally are concerned with:...

Tampa, Florida.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... As fleet manager for the Tampa Department of Public Works, Tim Perry oversees the maintenance of some 2,880 vehicles and pieces of equipment. Perry serves every other city department except the Fire Department: Public Works, Sewer, Water,...

Naperville, Illinois.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... In Naperville, a large Chicago suburb, vehicle services manager Jim Inglese rides herd on some 560 vehicles and pieces of equipment--about $20 million worth in asset value. "I have a slightly different philosophy," says Inglese. "I've changed...

Kansas City, Missouri.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The Motor Equipment Division of the Department of Public Works uses a computerized work order system for keeping track of PM and vehicle repairs. In real time, the system logs in a vehicle when it comes in for service, and logs the times work...

Low Cabover Refuse Truck.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The MR Model low cabover truck can easily negotiate in and out of tight spots, with wheel cuts up to 45[degrees]. Its straight-through driveline provides a short wheelbase, further enhancing mobility. The setback front axle and short bumper to...

Versatile Trucks.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The Super Duty F-650 and F-750 allow customers to adapt and customize the trucks to fit their exact needs, such as refuse applications. Three different diesel engines up to 260 hp, three different cab styles (Regular Cab, SuperCab, and Crew...

New Trucks.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... This firm is launching a new line of trucks, including the 4000 Series (shown) of medium-duty trucks and the 7000 Series of trucks. The 7300, 7400, and 7500 models are engineered and built to perform in severe service vocations like waste...

Low Cab Forward Truck.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The Condor Class 8 is designed for refuse, recycling, and other specialized heavy-duty truck applications. It features a vast, two-piece windshield, large side and rear windows, and optional side-back window. Its low cab height makes for easy...

Heavy-Duty Refuse Truck.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The Condor Class 8 truck (marketed and sold by both Freightliner and Sterling Truck) is said to offer operators revolutionary advancements in safety, ergonomics, maneuverability, durability, and serviceability. A spacious interior provides...

Built Tough Truck.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... Features on the Model 330 refuse truck like aircraft-grade huckbolted fasteners in the cab and frame overpower damaging torque, while making cab panel repair less costly. The two-piece windshield lowers replace ment cost. Corrosion-resistant...

Right of Way Trimmer.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The Right of Way Trimmer cuts overhanging roadside brush up to a height of 30 ft using a 7-blade variable angle cutting head. The machine is hydrostatically driven for transport speeds up to 15 mph. The high flotation tires allow for off- or...

New Check Valve.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The Curved Bill Tideflex[R] check valve is designed to enhance sealing, especially in low areas with little back pressure. Its all-rubber construction makes it virtually immune to rust, corrosion, and weathering. The curved bill offers...

Restroom, Concession Buildings.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... This firm supplies modular restroom and concession buildings. Premanufactured for economy and ease of installation, Hunters Trail buildings are pre-plumbed, pre-wired, and shipped complete with concrete floor. They meet ADA requirements and can...

Automated BOD Reader.(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... The AutoEZ[TM] automated BOD reader uses four-probe design to read 36 BOD samples in 15 minutes or less. It automatically calculates results according to standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. Windows[R]-based operating...

WORTH TELLING.(multiple brief articles)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2001... * The Asplundh Tree Expert Company (Willow Grove, Pennsylvania) announces the formation of a new division, Asplundh Highway Division, that will offer vegetation management services to federal, state, and local transportation departments...

Public contract dispute over unknown subsurface conditions.
April 1, 2001... The Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division, heard an appeal in SMC Corporation, Inc., Plaintiff-Appellant, vs. New Jersey Water Supply Authority, Defendant/Third-Party Plaintiff-Respondent, vs. Bergmann Associates i/p/a Donald J....