Energy Critics Say Hydraulic Fracturing Drilling Poisons Water Supply Shale rock formations in the United States contain natural gas in abundance, and a new method for tapping this resource—hydraulic fracturing—is drawing controversy because of critics’ concerns that the technique could poison supplies of drinking water...click here for more. Mining Projects Aim to Capture and Destroy Methane Gas Coal miner Consol Energy Inc. is working on a project to capture and destroy methane gas...click here for more. Buildings/Land Groups Study Value of Recycling Rather Than Razing Old Buildings A new study on adaptive reuse, or the repurposing old buildings rather than razing them and building new ones, is being conducted by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Cascadia Green Building Council, and the Green Building Services consultancy... click here for more. Philadelphia Becomes Latest Major U.S. City to Require Cool Roofs Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter in May signed into law the “Cool Roof” bill, which adds the city to others —including Chicago and New York—that require reflective roofs on new construction... click here for more. Transportation FTA Works to Improve Evaluation Criteria for Major Transit Projects The Federal Transit Administration is seeking feedback on ways to improve the way major transit project proposals are rated and evaluated... click here for more. States Continue to Struggle to Find Road and Bridge Money Many states are finding it difficult to locate funding to build roads, bridges, and other infrastructure, as tax revenues are falling while larger economic forces and congressional inaction exacerbate the problem... click here for more. Other Women Engineers Inching Up the Management Ladder Leadership roles in engineering can be isolating for women, and the challenges of obtaining a leadership role in engineering can be daunting for women new to the field... click here for more. Click here for more NewsLine.

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Find Your Best Hires on the Industry’s Best Job Board Save time and money by posting your job openings where they are most likely to be seen by qualified applicants—ACEC’s Job Board. The Job Board participates in the Engineering and Science Career Network, a cooperative venture of 37 engineering and science associations. As a result, the Job Board is priced more economically and generates resumes from applicants who are more qualified than the big boards. Join the 2,100 other employers who already use this valuable employment tool for recruitment, and place your ad today. Click here to get started.

Over 450 Searchable Jobs Posted Over 22,000 Searchable Resumes Posted Over 2,100 Registered Employers Last Five "Help Wanted" Open Positions: Sr. Water Resources Engineer—Phoenix, AZ Environmental Project Engineer—Corpus Christi, TX Project Engineer, Gas Piping Design—Manchester, NH Construction Materials Technician—Richland, WA Project Civil Engineer—Cambridge, MD A Sampling of Posted Resumes: Sales & Marketing Professionals—275 Project Managers—878 Technicians—233 Water/Wastewater Engineers—569 Operations—412 View These and Other Resumes and Jobs on ACEC's Job Board www.acec.org/jobbank

Download AASHTO Audit Guide Online Seminars ACEC's popular series of online seminars detailing the new AASHTO Uniform Audit and Accounting Guide are now available for purchase and download on-demand through the ACEC Bookstore. To order, click on the seminar title of interest: New State DOT Compensation and Audit Rules That Will Affect Your Bottom Line New Rules on Allowable and Reasonable Compensation FAR Compliance in a Time of Increased Government Oversight New Guidance for Successful Overhead Audits

Member Firms on Front Lines of Gulf Oil Spill "Battle" T. Baker Smith designed and engineered the installation of these offshore booms along the Louisiana coast. ACEC Member Firms are on the front lines of efforts to control and clean up the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. T. Baker Smith, Inc. of Houma, La. is working with BP to install an offshore boom system to capture oil entering the Chandelier and Breton Sounds. “We have a vested interest because this is where we live,” says Kenneth Smith, president and CEO of T. Baker Smith, which has about 50 of its 200 employees working on the oil spill. “We are concerned about the impact of the spill from both an environmental and an economic standpoint.” The company is also doing environmental sampling and working with the local parish to determine ways to keep the oil out of the barrier islands.

William Schew oversees O’Brien & Gere’s oil spill mitigation efforts. O’Brien & Gere, a multi-state firm headquartered in Syracuse, N.Y., has several team members involved in clean-up operations, ranging from working with the U.S. Coast Guard in the training of the oil skimming crews to manning boats in the Gulf to rescue oil-covered birds. “We are also working to ensure that the shoreline and open water cleanup activities are conducted in an environmentally sensitive manner,” said William Schew, vice president of O’Brien & Gere. If your firm is involved in the Gulf oil spill mitigation effort, please tell us about it. Send an email to gdonohue@acec.org.

Critical Business Webinars, Including Health Care Reform’s Impact on Firms ACEC business webinars provide critical business information for Member Firms navigating current market challenges and seeking new business opportunities. Here's a look at upcoming topics: June 15—New High-Speed Rail Markets by Andy Kunz, U.S. High Speed Rail Association 16—U.S. Water Demand, Supply and Allocation: Trends and Outlook 2010 to 2030 by Ben Dziegielewski, Southern Illinois University 22—Trash to Treasure—Profit from By-Product Synergy Opportunities by Andrew Mangan, U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development 23—Commissioning: A Growing Market by Michael King, ARCOM; Earle Kennett, NIBS; Patrick Prendergast, GBA/ViroCon Inc. 30—The New Health Care Law: What It Means for Your Firm by Seth T. Perretta, Davis & Harman LLP Additional descriptions and registration information for these and other courses are provided below.

BIM Course Targets Owner Perspective, Adding IT Value and Improved Results June 21-22, Orlando, FL Realizing BIM Potential for A/E Firms: Leveraging the Building Information Modeling Process for Increased ROI is ACEC’s new 2010 next-level exploration of this challenging and increasingly owner-specified process. Presented June 21-22, Orlando, FL, the course focuses on fine-tuning the BIM process by adding technology value without breaking budgets; improving interoperability and streamlining workflows; reducing RFIs for fee savings; ensuring M/E/P inclusion; optimizing integration of BIM into firm culture and services; legal lessons learned; and managing risk. Faculty represent key perspectives involved in the overall process: design engineer, firm IT management, software developer, owner, M/E/P integration technology expert, and legal and risk management. They are innovators who have successfully transformed BIM projects into marketplace advantage. A/E company principals, project managers, COOs, IT managers and business development professionals of firms already using or familiar with BIM will get a cutting-edge, first-hand look into diverse opportunities for maximizing their bottom-line benefits and moving forward with BIM. For course brochure featuring agenda highlights, faculty bios and registration information, click here.

Get an Inside Look at High-Speed Rail Projects, Potential and Opportunities June 15, 1:30-3 p.m. Federal and state governments have recently made serious commitments to a state-of-the-art national high-speed rail network. President Obama has identified it as a “legacy” initiative for his Administration, budgeting billions in coming years to follow the $8 billion in initial Recovery Act stimulus spending. While new in the U.S., high-speed rail has long been in operation in Japan and France and is rapidly expanding worldwide, with major new systems under construction in Spain, China and many other countries. Andy Kunz, president and CEO, U.S. High Speed Rail Association presents New High-Speed Rail Markets, an in-depth look into high-speed rail market potential in a timely and informative interactive online seminar on June 15. Participants will get information and updates on several facets, including: Existing high-speed rail systems worldwide Extensive benefits of a national high-speed rail system Status of high-speed U.S. rail projects including Florida and California How the engineering profession can lead the national high-speed rail project Procedures under consideration for procurement and construction Upcoming events for engineers to get involved in high-speed rail development High-speed rail has the potential for becoming an increasingly important form of transportation for America’s future, with the capacity to move millions of people quickly, safely, and efficiently, while at the same time creating jobs across many professions, including planning and engineering. For details and to register, click here.

Water Supply Shortages, Systems and Reforms Examined June 16, 1:30-3 p.m. Climate change and population growth could lead to significant local and regional water shortage over the next two decades, requiring increased federal government involvement and forcing reforms to current water management systems. On Wednesday, June 16, ACEC presents a special online seminar, U.S. Water Demand, Supply and Allocation: Trends and Outlook 2010 to 2030, an in-depth exploration of current and future issues, and federal, state and local government roles. Climate warming is predicted to decrease snowpack and reduce snowmelt in the West. In several parts of the U.S., droughts are expected to become more frequent and have greater intensity. Engineering firms will have a significant role to play in helping states, communities, and federal agencies adapt their programs and facilities. The Bureau of Reclamation, for example, is planning to make up to $1 million available for grants to fund research and projects in desalinization and advanced water treatment. In this important seminar, Ben Dziegielewski, professor of water resources, Southern Illinois University, will examine current and future issues facing the nation’s water supply, including: Future water demand trends and scenarios Regional water supply/demand imbalances and hot spots Options to deal with supply/demand imbalances Federal/state and local roles The seminar is a must for firms active in the water sector, and will provide a concise outline of what to expect through 2030. Click here to register.

By-Product Synergy: Conserving Resources; Generating Revenue June 22, 1:30-3 p.m. Andrew Mangan, executive director, U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development, presents Trash to Treasure—Profit from By-Product Synergy Opportunities, an online seminar on the organization’s By-Product Synergy (BPS) program. The seminar will serve as a roadmap for creating solutions that conserve natural resources through collaborative, regional projects that generate economic returns while improving the environment and society. BPS is the matching of under-valued waste, transportation, energy and other streams from one facility with potential users at another facility to create new revenues of savings, environmental and societal benefits. Mangan will present successful BPS case studies, including the Chicago Waste-to-Profit Network, and projects in Houston, in addition to targeting future BPS opportunities. The potential BPS market size is estimated at over $3 billion annually, primarily in major metropolitan areas and industrial zones, through municipal and industrial material recycling and reuse, and in water, carbon, energy efficiency, ecosystems and real estate. Click here for details and to register.

Online Seminar Details Commissioning Importance in Era of LEED Standards June 23, 1:30-3 p.m. Owners are increasingly asking for commissioning—documented confirmation that all systems and components of a building are designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained according to the operational requirements of the owner or final client and according to criteria in project documents. Commissioning is taking on growing importance, particularly for M/E/P firms, which seek compliance to LEED standards and the expectation that a building continue to operate and be maintained according to those requirements after it is occupied. On June 23, Michael King, ARCOM; Earle Kennett, NIBS; and Patrick Prendergast, GBA/ViroCon, Inc., will present Commissioning: A Growing Market, examining the details of today’s commissioning process from overview to markets where commissioning is used. The presenters will address several concerns: Who should provide these services and what are the appropriate qualifications? What’s the appropriate level of commissioning for a facility or project? What commissioning standards are appropriate for a project? What building systems should be commissioned? What should be included in an RFQ or RFP for commissioning? What’s the commissioning process for a project? What’s the impact on the design team’s scope of services? What’s the impact on the Contractor’s responsibilities and cost? What’s the typical cost for commissioning services? Click here for details and to register.

New Health Care Law Requirements, Tax Rules, Challenges Explained June 30, 1:30-3 p.m. The new health care law will significantly impact the nation’s health care system as well as A/E firms that offer health insurance benefits to their employees. Due to popular demand, ACEC will again offer the online seminar The New Health Care Law: What it Means to Your Firm on June 30. Firms will take on new responsibilities, and could face financial penalties if they do not provide health care for their employees, or provide coverage that fails to meet certain benefit and cost requirements. The new law also includes a number of changes to the tax code that every firm should know about. Presented by health care expert Seth T. Perretta, partner at Davis & Harman LLP, the session will provide a comprehensive overview of the new law and what you need to know right now to prepare. Key issues to be covered include: Penalties for certain employers that do not offer qualified health coverage New group health plan mandates and insurance reforms Excise tax on high-cost plans Small business tax credits Expanded Form 2099 requirements New W-2 reporting requirements Limits on flexible spending arrangements (FSAs) Changes to the incentives for wellness programs This seminar is a must for firms seeking a better understanding of the new law. Click here to register. If you have a question, please contact La’Creshea Makonnen, 202-682-4338 or lmakonnen@acec.org.

Get Ready for 'New Normal': September SEI Class Has Limited Openings In the course of five separate five-day sessions over an 18-month timeframe, ACEC’s Senior Executives Institute (SEI) participants acquire new tools and high-level skills and insights to prosper in our changed—and challenging—A/E/C business environment. The opening session, Your Vision & The World, offers a thoughtful and illuminating five days in Washington, D.C., with leading authorities and visionaries on the changing environment, economic trends, public policy, global practice, and leading a living company. Since its inception, SEI has attracted public and private sector engineers and architects from firms of all sizes, locations, and practice specialties, who are drawn to a highly interactive, energetic, exploratory and challenging learning opportunity. Class 16 begins in September 2010. Course size is limited, and registrations for Class 16 are being accepted. Executives with at least five years’ experience managing professional design programs or businesses are invited to register for this highly regarded leadership building opportunity. For an overview of the full SEI program and to register, visit the ACEC SEI website. To inquire, contact Deirdre McKenna at dmckenna@acec.org.

 
 

The American Council of Engineering Companies 1015 15th St., NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20005-2605 Phone: 202-347-7474 - Fax: 202-898-0068 www.acec.org - E-mail:acec@acec.org Alan D. Crockett, Director, PR Gerry Donohue, Editor/Designer