| December 28, 2012 | News for contractors and the construction industry |
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| Infrastructure & Project Focus | | |
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- Honolulu gets OK to proceed with $5.26B rail project
Honolulu has received the green light from U.S. 9th Circuit Judge A. Wallace Tashima to proceed with construction of its $5.26 billion rail project. However, the city cannot begin work on the project's phase four until it reconsiders options to the planned downtown routes. "The judge's ruling allows us to complete the remaining work requested by the court, while keeping the project on schedule ... Oahu residents can look forward to seeing their rail system fully operational in 2019 as planned," said Dan Grabauskas, executive director and CEO of the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation. Honolulu Star-Advertiser
(12/27)      
- San Francisco 49ers' new stadium tops out
With steel work more than 90% finished, Turner/Devcon, general contractor for the San Francisco 49ers new stadium, held a topping-out ceremony and worker appreciation lunch earlier this month. Crews "have clocked an estimated 475,000 hours" working on the nearly $1 billion project in Santa Clara, Calif. The Santa Clara Weekly (Calif.)
(12/25)
- Slideshow: Calif.'s Devil's Slide tunnels
For the first time in almost 50 years, California is building highway tunnels -- two single-lane, 4,200-foot-long tunnels through San Pedro Mountain on the Pacific Coast in San Mateo County. Excavation for the Devil's Slide tunnels began in 2007 and was extensive. The tunnels, estimated to cost $439 million, are completed except for the operating systems inside them, so the opening date was pushed back to early 2013, according to Caltrans spokesman Bob Haus. San Francisco Chronicle
(12/27)
| Economic Update | | |
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| Innovation & Green Building | | |
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- 2012's top "mindblowing" buildings
Sustainable buildings and designs created significant buzz this year, and 14 buildings are among the "most mindblowing structures" of 2012, writes Morgan Clendaniel. Among them are the CO2ngress Gateway Towers project in Chicago "that scrubs the air clean;" prefabricated housing in California; and the first-ever net-zero stadium project in Brazil. Each highlights the growing adoption of sustainable construction to save on energy and resources. FastCoExist
(12/27)
- 3 insulation materials could be used for commercial retrofits
Three innovative insulation materials could soon be used for commercial building retrofits in the U.S. as costs of these products fall and local building codes allow their use, says Aditya Ranade, senior analyst with Lux Research and head of the firm's Sustainable Building Services. Vacuum insulation panels offer thermal efficiency while maximizing floor space; aerogels offer flexibility for interior and exterior use; and phase-change materials benefit buildings in areas with warm days and cold nights. Commercial Property Executive
(12/26)
| Policy Watch | | |
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- Jackson to leave EPA; Perciasepe, McGinty on list of successors
Lisa Jackson has announced her intention to resign as chief of the Environmental Protection Agency. Deputy Administrator Robert Perciasepe heads the list of her potential successors. Other choices include EPA's top air pollution regulator Gina McCarthy, California Air Resources Board Chairwoman Mary Nichols and Kathleen McGinty, who previously headed the White House Council on Environmental Quality under Clinton. The confirmation process could reportedly turn to a "hellish" battle in the Senate over hot-button issues such as air and water regulations. The Hill/E2 Wire blog
(12/27), National Journal
(12/27), InsideEPA.com (subscription required)
(12/27)
| Association News | | |
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Just in time for the holidays -- AGC Members can save $500 on a new Dodge Ram truck
AGC is pleased to announce a new Membership Discount Program with Chrysler, offering AGC Members a special $500 cash allowance toward the purchase or lease of a new 2012 or 2013 Chrysler, Jeep or Dodge. Visit www.agc.org/Chrysler for more information.
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Oil Spill Prevention, Clean-up and Reporting: What Federal EPA Requires
Regardless of the type of work you do, any jobsite or facility that stores "oil" of any type in drums or tanks must adhere to EPA's SPCC (Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure) program requirements -- or risk being fined. Register for AGC's 90-minute webinar on Jan. 8, from 2-3:30 p.m. ET. EPA's SPCC Technical Team Leader will review requirements and how to implement compliant procedures and plans to reduce the occurrence of spills and discuss the most common errors and violations. Failure to comply with EPA's SPCC (Spill Prevention Control & Countermeasure) requirements can cost you $37,500 per day per violation! Register online.
| SmartQuote | | |
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 | If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart."
--Socrates,
Greek philosopher
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| | Recent AGC SmartBrief Issues:
- Thursday, December 27, 2012
- Wednesday, December 26, 2012
- Monday, December 24, 2012
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- Thursday, December 20, 2012
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