UCT@ICUEE
Published in: Underground Construction
Date: 9/1/2007
By: Robert Carpenter
The biannual ICUEE show in Louisville, KY, (Oct. 16-18) has placed a special focus on enhancing their educational program. With that in mind, our sister organization, the highly-respected educational outreach Underground Construction Technology (UCT), was asked to establish the underground construction aspect of the ICUEE program. This is the second time UCT has produced the UCT@ICUEE Educational Program.
We’re pleased to continue this ongoing relationship with AEM, the parent organization to the ICUEE show, and flattered by the many industry companies who recommended UCT as the best industry provider of quality, informative and generic industry educational programs. This year s program includes 18 different sessions ranging from new technology to productivity. We’re trying some new directions and will continue to refine and enhance future programs. For more information, check out our website at ucononline.com, or icuee.com.
Equipment emissions
Not only are contractors in California concerned, but contractors around the country are keeping a wary eye on possible fallout from that state’s recent adoption of a regulation to reduce toxic emissions from diesel engines for off-road equipment used in construction and other related activities.
The rule will cover equipment powered by diesel engines of 25 horsepower and higher and will affect most utility contractors whose fleets include loader-backhoes, excavators, trenchers, directional drills and many other self-propelled machines.
The chairperson of the California Air Resources Board even touted that “the regulation is the first of its kind in the nation and could serve as a model for other states to follow.”
Whether you are for or against such rules is irrelevant. The bottom line is that implementation of such rules will drive up costs. More on page 30.
Training center
The importance of contractor training can never be minimized. In these days of tight labor markets, sometimes worker education lags a bit and companies struggle to keep jobs on time and within budget. It was refreshing to learn of the commitment made by Mears Group to not only stress education, but to actually build their own unique training facility at their headquarters in Rosebush, MI. In addition to directional drilling, Mears uses patented techniques to install cathodic protection. Training is extremely important to the company’s diverse construction niches. See details on page 39.
Electric going underground
We’ve all grown up with networks of pole-hanging electric lines–efficient and cheap to install, but with potential for accidents plus high susceptibility to weather problems, not to mention eye-sores. However, improvements in cable products and installation methods has narrowed the gap between overhead and underground costs.
A report prepared for the Edison Electric Institute released last summer found that electric utilities are placing a significant number of power lines underground. In the past 13 years, the report said, about half the capital expenditures for transmission and distribution lines by investor-owned utilities in the U.S. have been to place cable underground. Some state regulatory agencies encourage converting overhead utility cables to underground. Turn to page 22 for the complete story.
UCT Atlanta registration open
Online registration and travel reservations are now open for the UCT International Conference & Exhibition, the largest underground infrastructure business and social event of 2008. Held in booming Atlanta, UCT will be full of new, diverse programs geared for all sectors of the underground market, plus about 500 exhibits highlighting the latest technological advances.
Register early and save! Go to www.uctonline.com, or contact Karen Francis, kfrancis@oildom.com, (281) 558-6930, ext. 222, for more information.
Robert Carpenter
Editor