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September 9, 2002
9 September 2002
Allison Salyer, editor
asalyer@aaes.org
WASHINGTON UPDATE
The House overwhelmingly passed a bill (HR 4727) that would boost to more than $34 million the funding authorization for dam safety programs over the next four years. For additional information please see the NSPE and ASCE submissions below, or go to www.cq.com
Democrats and Republicans continue to debate over whether the employees of a new Department of Homeland Security should be unionized. Senate Republicans, who have threatened to oppose any bill they say might hinder the administration's ability to hire, fire and assign agency employees without the interference of a union, were preparing to offer two key amendments this week. Votes on the Senate version are not expected until the week of September 9th at the earliest. Additional information may be found at www.foxnews.com
The President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) met in conference call during the week of August 26th to discuss a draft report and letter to be submitted to President Bush on federal investments in research and development. Additional information may be found at www.ostp.gov
Efforts to promote sustainable development received a major boost as the World Summit on Sustainable Development concluded with significant commitments to improve the lives of people living in poverty and to reverse the continuing degradation of the global environment. The overriding theme of the Summit was to promote action and major progress was made to address some of the most pressing concerns of poverty and the environment. Commitments were made to increase access to clean water to proper sanitation, to increase access to energy services, to improve health conditions and agriculture, particularly in dry-lands, and to better protect the worlds biodiversity and ecosystems. The major outcome document, the Plan of Implementation, contains targets and timetables to spur action on a wide range of issues, including halving the proportion of people who lack access to clean water or proper sanitation by 2015, and the phasing out of toxic chemicals by 2005. Additionally, the Summit also generated concrete partnership initiatives by and between governments, citizen groups and businesses. These partnerships are bringing with them additional resources and expertise to attain significant results where they matter. Additional information may be found at www.johannesburgsummit.org
Association News
ASME
ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING DIVISION ENDORSES STATEMENT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
ASME's Environmental Engineering Division has endorsed the ìDialogue on the Engineers Role in Sustainable Development - Johannesburg and Beyond,î a declaration by the U.S. engineering community on sustainability. This statement, initiated by the National Academy of Engineering, U.S. State Department, American Association of Engineering Societies, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, serves as the engineering community's statement to the World Summit on Sustainable Development. The statement was also in affiliation with the American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineers International Roundtable, and the World Federation of Engineering Organizations- Committee on Sustainable Technology.
The ìDialogueî states, ìCreating a sustainable world that provides a safe, secure, healthy life for all peoples is a priority for the US engineering community. It is evident that US engineering must increase its focus on sharing and disseminating information, knowledge and technology that provides access to minerals, materials, energy, water, food and public health while addressing basic human needs. Engineers must deliver solutions that are technically viable, commercially feasible and, environmentally and socially sustainable.î
The full document is available on the ASME's Government Relations web site at:www.asme.org/gric/ps/2002-02-30.html For more information, contact Kathryn Holmes at holmesk@asme.org
ASME CO-SPONSORS CALIFORNIA LEGISLATIVE DIALOGUE ON NANOTECHNOLOGY
On August 15, in conjunction with the California Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), ASME co-sponsored a California Legislative Dialogue on Nanotechnology. The purpose of the Legislative Dialogues is to brief key California Legislators and their staffs on emerging technologies and to discuss public policy initiatives supporting education, applied research and commercialization related to the specific technology of interest.
Dr. Stanley Williams, Director of Quantum Science Research, Hewlett Packard Labs was the presenter. Previously, he was the keynote speaker at the ASME Nanotechnology Conference in Mountain View, CA, on June 19, 2002. Lynden Davis, Vice President (Elect), Region IX, gave introductory remarks. Dr. Williams emphasized two key points. First, it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit American citizens into the field due to the continuing decline of math and science education in our high schools.
Second, he was effusive in his praise of ASME's leadership in nanotechnology at the national level and also recommended establishing a coalition among the various California government, corporate, university and engineering societies involved in this technology ñ an area ripe for additional ASME leadership through its public policy forums.
At the local level, Senator Vasconcellos, Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Preparing California for the 21st Century and Chair of the Economic Development Committee, committed to a proactive involvement to resolve some difficulties preserving proprietary interests and intellectual property rights in research partnerships between corporate sponsors and California universities.
For more information about the meeting, contact Melissa Murray at murraym@asme.org
NSPE
Great Lakes Clean Up: The House passed a bill (H.R. 1070) that would authorize $260 million for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to oversee the clean up of contaminated sediments from the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes Legacy Act would authorize $50 million a year over five years for monitoring and remediating projects in "areas of concern" identified by EPA. Another $2 million a year over the same time frame would be provided for research and development of new technologies to clean up contaminated sediments.
Dam Safety Bill Sails Through House: The House overwhelmingly approved a bill (H.R. 4727) that would reauthorize the national dam safety program and take into account heightened security threats. The bill would require the director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare a strategic plan to establish national goals, priorities and target dates to improve dam safety. The director would also be required to assist states in their dam safety programs and establish a review board to monitor state implementation of new procedures.
Doubling NSF Funding: The Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee approved legislation that would authorize a doubling of funding for the National Science Foundation over five years. The bill (S. 2817) would authorize $37.6 billion. It would direct NSF to spend the money on information technology research for cybersecurity, data management, communications, plant genome research and nanoscale science and engineering. The House passed a smaller increase earlier this year. That bill (H.R. 4664) would fund $19.1 billion over three years and contains specific funding earmarks.
$26 Billion for Energy and Water: The House Appropriations Committee approved a FY03 energy and water spending bill (number not available) that would provide $26 billion in new discretionary spending authority for the Corps of Engineers, the Interior Department including the Bureau of Reclamation, the Department of Energy and several independent agencies. The bill is $857 million above FY02 and $516 million above the president's request.
AROUND THE AGENCIES - The Federal Register can be accessed at www.access.gpo/su-docs/aces/fr-cont
Protecting Critical Energy Infrastructure: In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) clarifies the types of information that may be protected, the procedures for submitting and requesting confidential treatment of critical energy infrastructure information (CEII) and a method for handling challenges to CEII status. It also proposes changing the definition of CEII. More information about the proposal is available at www.ferc.gov under press releases.
Changes Proposed for Pipeline Safety: The Research & Special Programs Administration (RSPA) is proposing a rule that would change some safety standards for hazardous liquid and carbon dioxide pipelines. For details see the Federal Register for Friday, September 6, 2002 at page 56970.
IN THE STATES
Museum Unveils Engineering Center: The Cumberland Science Museum in Nashville opened its new $1.85 million Tennessee Engineering Center, designed to raise interest in the profession. The center provides a hands-on engineering exhibit for students, serves as a hub for continuing education and provides meeting space for engineering and other associations.
Paid Family Leave Bill Sent to Governor: The California legislature gave final approval to a bill (S.B. 1661) that would enact the country's first paid family leave law. If it becomes law, the bill would provide up to six weeks of partial income replacement for family to care for a newborn or newly adopted child or to care for a relative with a serious health condition. The leave pay would be funded by a small increase in employee contributions to the State Disability Insurance fund.
BUSINESS NEWS
Penalties for Not Meeting Job Creation Goals: Fed up with companies taking development tax credits and not living up to their agreements, more states and municipalities are requiring companies to repay economic development incentives if job creation goals are not met, sometimes tacking on a penalty. Experts say the clawbacks, also known as recaptures and recisions, reflect a growing trend in the states to make companies honor the contracts they sign.
TIDBITS
Louis Errichiello, chair of NSPE's Critical Infrastructure & Homeland Security Task Force attended a meeting of The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP). He presented a draft proposal of NSPE's "Academia Bridge" that is designed to increase interaction between TISP and academia.
PROJECTS
Advocate passage of water infrastructure and energy legislation and licensing of federal engineers.
Promote participation in the Engineer Ambassador program and expand NSPE-PAC participation.
Follow up on the L&GA meeting.
ASCE
Dam Safety Legislation Passes House
The House of Representatives passed the Dam Safety and Security Act (H.R. 4727) Thursday, 401-2 thanks in part to the efforts of many ASCE members who responded to a Key Alert earlier this week. The passage of the bill, introduced May 14, 2002 by Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), means ASCE, the Association of State Dam Safety Officials (ASDSO) and other supporters are one step closer to ensuring the continuation of the National Dam Safety Program, set to expire at the end of September.
The National Dam Safety Program (NDSP) provides funds to state dam safety programs to use in their efforts to monitor dams under their jurisdiction. These funds are not used to repair dams but instead go towards training of dam safety officials, equipment used to monitor dams, and other technical needs. Since its enactment in 1996, the NDSP has provided over $15 million to state dam safety programs, resulting in increased inspections of dams.
House Appropriations Committee Approves $4.76 Billion for Army Corps of Engineers
The House Appropriations Committee Thursday approved an energy and water development spending bill that provides $4.76 billion to the Army Corps of Engineers, exceeding the president's request by over $500 million and increasing funding for the Corps by $134 million compared with FY 2002.
The move comes amid controversies that the Corps had mismanaged some of its programs and improperly estimated the costs and benefits associated with programs. The National Academy of Sciences recently recommended that Corps projects be subject to an outside review.
The Senate already approved its version of the energy and water development spending bill on July 24, providing $4.6 billion for the Corps. The Senate version provides less funding for a study on using Nevada's Yucca Mountain as a repository for high-level nuclear waste, which almost certainly will touch off a fight when the two versions of the bill are reconciled by a conference committee.
House Rejects Permanent Tax Breaks for Education
The House Wednesday rejected a bill making permanent the education tax breaks enacted last year as part of the $1.35 trillion tax cut. Democrats said the measure would take money away from public schools and add to the federal government's financial crisis.
The legislation would have extended tax relief beyond 2010 for those investing in education savings accounts, the Associated Press reported. The 213-188 vote for the measure failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed for a bill considered under suspension of the rules.
Energy Plan Gets Little Support
New draft energy proposals being circulated by House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality Chairman Joe Barton (R-TX) are drawing a less than enthusiastic response from Capitol Hill staff and energy industry representatives. The provisions, which Barton's staffers describe as a "work in progress," would change the way the electricity industry is regulated and would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission the right of eminent domain to build new electric transmission lines. Barton's staff members said they are consulting with Energy and Commerce Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA), who chairs the House-Senate conference committee that is negotiating the national energy strategy package. Tauzin has not endorsed Barton's proposals. The conference committee has made little progress in drafting compromise electricity provisions.
Construction Spending Flat in July
Spending on construction projects around the country was flat in July, the Commerce Department reported Thursday, leaving it at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $834.1 billion. But even that standstill was better than the decline of up to 0.4 percent some analysts had forecasted. Stronger spending by government on big government projects in July helped blunt widespread weakness in commercial construction by private builders.
State Legislative Update
The following bills were recently introduced in state legislatures across the country. If you have questions about particular legislation, please contact Austin Fulk. These bills affect the civil engineering profession, but ASCE National has not taken a position on them unless otherwise noted.
California www.leginfo.ca.gov
A.B. 2534 would enact the Watershed, Clean Beaches, and Water Quality Act. The act would provide around $175 million in grants to public agencies and nonprofits for water quality.
S.B. 199 increases the size of grants that the California Pollution Control Financing Authority may award to $5 million per grant.
Pennsylvania
S.B. 1513 addresses legal responsibilities of engineers and contractors on construction projects.