georgia contractor may-june 2012

THE VOICE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY OF GEORGIA

The Georgia

CONTRACTORVolume 8, Issue 3 May | June 2012

HOW GREEN ISTHE ASPHALT!FHWA-Sponsored Survey Shows aSurge in Asphalt’s Green Side.Recycling and Warm Mix PlayTheir Parts.See story on page 6

T-SPLOST

2 The Georgia Contractor

http://www.unitedconsulting.com

May | June 2012

Letter from the EditorMAY | JUNE 2012

A D V E R T I S E M E N T SA4 Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Chattahoochee Technical College . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Cummins Power South . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Engineered Restorations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Georgia Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Back Cover

Georgia Utilities Protection Center Inc. . . . . . Back Cover

Independent Electrical Contractors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

JAT Consulting Services Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

New South Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

RHD Utility Locating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

United Consulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Inside Front Cover

Silt-Saver Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Dear Readers~

e have concentrated on Transporta-tion in this issue in the hope that T-

SPLOST will pass in July and that voterswill come to know its importance to our

economy, our future, our jobs, and ouropportunities. It really is that important. From

Washington we are getting an update that the Final Long-TermTransportation Bill is within reach, we hope. Clearly, things can-not continue as they have been; action needs to be taken and cre-ative minds have to come into play to allow Georgia to reach itspotential as a true transportation hub of the east coast of the Unit-ed States. The harbor deepening is essential, and so is the creationof the infrastructure that will lead to the successful logistics of thetransportation delivery system throughout the region.

With that in mind, we took another look at the highwayconstruction materials, asphalt, and concrete, with fine presen-tations on ‘How Green is Asphalt’ and ‘Ready Mix Concrete.’These are two in-depth presentations of great interest.

As you all know, in March CEFGA and SkillsUSA con-cluded a very successful Careers Expo with the largest atten-dance ever. Scott Shelar, the Executive Director of CEFGA,took time out to report on this event, which was truly remark-able in that the construction industry continues to be weak andthe support from industry, while terrific, could not financiallyparticipate as it used to. It is coincidental and timely that ourgovernor’s Go Build Georgia initiative came into play and par-ticipated in this event as well; timely, as both programs are aim-ing to solve the same problems in our labor market—to helpyoung people interested in the construction trades obtain theskills and training that they will need to be successful in thisprofession. It is essential that every effort be made to let highschool students know about the excellent opportunities thatexist in the construction trades. Those great opportunities arestill available today. Our skilled labor force is getting older, andmany members plan to retire soon; successors are hard to find.

The Go Build Georgia Program will be starting a promo-tional program soon, not only in the print media but also on tel-evision. We invited the ‘Go Build Georgia’ team to send us theirarticle, which is being presented on page 10 under ‘GeorgiaSkilled Labor Situation.’ This article is very interesting andhighly informative.

We hope that you will find this issue of interest. Our pres-entation contains articles and news that you will not find any-where else in the print media. Drop by and visit us at www.the-georgiacontractor.com. You will like it.

R. Petersen-FreyEditor-in-Chief v

3

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http://www.siltsaver.com


www.thegeorgiacontractor.com

Managing EditorR. Petersen-Frey(770) 521-8877

Art DirectorPamela Petersen-Frey

(770) 521-8877

The Georgia Contractor is published bi-monthly on a calendar year basis. It is a maga-

zine designed around the construction industry associations and their

members. It is supported by associations and their members. Executive,

editorial, circulation, and advertising offices: 1154 Lower Birmingham Road, Canton,

Georgia 30115 • Phone: (770) 521-8877 • Fax: (770) 521-0406

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Opinions expressed by the authors are not necessarily those of any of the

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or omission and, as a matter of policy, neither do they endorse products or

advertisements appearing herein. Parts of this magazine may be reproduced with the

written consent of the publisher.

The Georgia ContractorOn The Cover

HOW GREEN IS THE ASPHALT!Asphalt’s green technologies aren’t justfriendly to the environment, they’re friend-ly to the wallets of state DOTs and otherpublic agencies. As infrastructure needsgrow and funding sources shrink, recyclingand warm mix—which can save seriousdollars—occupy an increasingly importantpart in the plans of the agencies chargedwith maintaining our roads and highways.

See the story on page 6

USE A COMPANY YOU CAN TRUSTWITH YOUR TRANSLATION PROJECT,

because a little mistake in another language can have unpleasant results.

A4 INC. (770) 521 8877

“Gort! Klaatu Borada nikto.”

6How Green Is the Asphalt!

10Shining Light on the Skilled Trades: Georgia’s Skilled Labor Situation

13Georgia Construction Industry’s Largest Event “Biggest and Best Ever!”

15A Brief Overview of Georgia’s New Industrial Stormwater General Permit

17Hiring: Do it the Steve Job’s Way.

19Lessons Learned | Accessibility Assessment

20Ready Mix Concrete Adjusts to Economic Conditions: Keying on Public Works

22Atlanta ~ A Megalopolis?

23Final Long-term Transportation Bill Within Reach

24Georgia Wood Design Awards

26Georgia Contractor News

The Georgia

Contractor

5May | June 2012

May | June 2012

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24

CONTENTS


esearch sponsored by theFederal Highway Admin-istration (FHWA) andconducted by theNational Asphalt Pave-ment Association(NAPA) shows signifi-cant growth in the use of

green technologies—reclaimed asphaltpavement (RAP), recycled asphalt shingles(RAS), and warm-mix asphalt technology(WMA) in 2009 and 2010.

Asphalt’s green technologies aren’t justfriendly to the environment, they’re friend-ly to the wallets of state DOTs and otherpublic agencies. As infrastructure needsgrow and funding sources shrink, recyclingand warm mix—which can save serious dol-lars—occupy an increasingly importantpart in the plans of the agencies chargedwith maintaining our roads and highways. Atop the findings of the survey:• Over 99 percent of all RAP is now being

reused or recycled in highway applica-tions.

• 96 percent of asphalt producers report-ed using RAP.

For the years 2009 and 2010: • Use of warm mix soared from 16.7 mil-

lion tons in 2009 to 47.2 million tons in2010—an astounding 180 percentincrease in one year.

• Use of RAP increased by ten percent.

• Use of RAS boomed by 57 percent.

Growth of reuse/recycling In 2005, a NAPA survey of contractors andDOTs found that about 12.5 percent of theasphalt pavement material used at the timewas made up of RAP. Today, that figure hasincreased to 17.6 percent. As a side note, by

reducing the need to acquire and processvirgin binder and aggregates, the industrycould avoid one million or more tons ofCO2 emissions with just a slight increase inthe rate of RAP use.

A previous authoritative publicationon the subject of RAP usage was a June1993 Report to Congress from FHWA andthe Environmental Protection Agency,which reported an 80 percent reuse/recyclerate for RAP. The 80 percent rate docu-mented in 1993 was higher than for anyother construction material.

In terms of reuse/recycling rates, the2009-2010 numbers bested the 1993 num-bers significantly. In 1993, when highwayconstruction activity was significantly high-er than during the current economic down-turn, a total of 91 million tons of RAP wasreclaimed, and 73 million tons was recycledor reused in highway applications; again,this was an 80 percent rate. The 1993report did not attempt to estimate howmuch RAP was reused in hot mix versusother highway construction such as shoul-ders and base.

In 2009, 67 million tons of RAP wasreclaimed, and 56 million tons wentdirectly back into asphalt plants to makehot-mix or warm-mix material, a rate of 86percent. In 2010, when 80 million tons ofRAP was reclaimed, 62 million tons wentinto hot or warm mix, a 77 percent rate.Of the small amount of material not goingback into hot or warm mix, all but .005percent was recycled into shoulders, base,or other highway uses.

‘Highest and best use’The highest and best use of RAP – givingthe biggest environmental bang for the tonof reclaimed material—is reusing it in hotmix or warm mix. This is because theasphalt cement in the RAP is reactivated asbinder. This cannot be done with any other

pavement material. Thus RAP replaces, onefor one, both virgin binder (five percent ofthe material by weight) and virgin aggre-gates (the other 95 percent).

Not only does RAP help conserve pre-cious natural resources and lower emissions,it provides economic benefits. When pricesof both asphalt binder and aggregates are influx, RAP can help stabilize prices for con-tractors and their customers.

Helping to boost the numbers for put-ting RAP through an asphalt plant for hotmix or warm mix: Base and intermediatepavement courses in some states have beenproduced with 100 percent RAP. In addi-tion, RAP is being used in higher and high-er levels in surface courses.

New research under way at the Nation-al Center for Asphalt Technology at AuburnUniversity, and planned by the NationalCooperative Highway Research Program,will help develop hot-mix/warm-mixasphalt designs that will greatly increaseRAP contents in mixes without sacrificingperformance.

RAS on the riseReclaimed shingles from manufacturingwaste as well as reroofing projects containbinder that can be used to reduce theamount of virgin binder used in asphaltmixtures. RAS typically has 20 to 30 per-cent binder.

RAS use increased 57 percent from2009 to 2010. The study found that724,000 tons was used in 2009, rising to1.14 million tons in 2010. Assuming a con-servative asphalt content of 20 percentbinder in the shingles, this represents a sav-ing of 234,000 tons (1.5 million barrels) ofvirgin asphalt binder. (In the 1993 report,reuse/recycling of roofing shingles was notknown.) Recent advances in technology forreclaiming, testing, and utilizing shinglesare credited with boosting the reuse of thisvaluable resource.

How Green Is the Asphalt!FHWA-Sponsored Survey Shows a Surge in Asphalt’s Green Side. Recycling and

Warm Mix Play Their Parts. By Margaret Cervarich | Vice President | Communications and Public Affairs | National Asphalt Pavement Association

R

7May | June 2012

A paving crew uses warm-mix asphaltcontaining reclaimed asphalt pavement

(RAP) to pave a suburban street.

It is estimated that there are about 11million tons of waste shingles available inthe US each year. Therefore the amount ofRAS being used in asphalt pavement pro-duction represents about ten percent of thetotal available asphalt shingles (manufactur-er waste and tear-offs).

Warm-mix use soarsThe first public demonstration of warm-mix asphalt in the U.S. was a 2004 projectat World of Asphalt in Nashville. Today,warm mix has been tried in all but three ofthe 50 states, and at least 29 states havespecifications for WMA.

Initially, warm mix was heralded as away to enhance conditions for workers atthe paving site. As contractors and agen-cies explored the use of WMA technolo-gies, however, they discovered construc-tion benefits including the potential toextend the paving season in cold climates,enhance compactability, increase haul dis-tances, reduce energy use and emissions atthe plant, and even use higher percentagesof RAP.

In 2009, the survey estimates the totaltonnage of WMA at 16.7 million tons. Thisgrew to 47.2 million tons in 2010, for a 180percent increase. Worth noting is that lessthan 100,000 tons was produced in theU.S. in 2004. Plant foaming is used for themajority of WMA production; however, theuse of chemical and organic additives alsoincreased between 2009 and 2010.

The public-private partnership repre-sented by the FHWA’s Warm-Mix AsphaltTechnical Working Group deserves much ofthe credit for the rapid deployment of warmmix. Manufacturers of both foaming equip-ment and additives also have contributedmightily by creating more and more tech-nologies for producing warm mix. In 2004,only three WMA technologies were avail-able in the U.S., while today at least 25technologies are represented on the Website at www.WarmMixAsphalt.com.

Also worth noting is that the U.S. rateof utilization of warm mix is far ahead ofany other country.


Making the Most of WMA, RAP, and RASThe full survey is available from the NAPA Website at www.asphaltpavement.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=33

NAPA offers a number of publications that arehelpful to contractors and agencies on warmmix and recycling. These include:

• Warm-Mix Asphalt: Best Practices, 2nd Edi-tion (order number QIP-125)

• $45 list, $35 government agencies/educa-tional institutions

• Guidelines for the Use of Reclaimed AsphaltShingles in Asphalt Pavements (order numberIS-136)


• Designing HMA Mixtures With High RAPContent: A Practical Guide (order numberQIP-124)


• Recycling Hot-Mix Asphalt Pavements (ordernumber IS-125)


• All are available from the NAPA online storeat http://store.hotmix.org.

http://www.chattahoocheetech.edu/technicalprograms

9May | June 2012

Total, Million 124.0 119.8 358.4* 358.0*

DOT, Million 56.9 55.6 169.2* 171.6*

Other Agency, Million 28.1 27.8 83.5* 85.8*

Commercial & Residential, Million 35.6 32.6 105.8* 100.7*

Reported Values Estimated Total Values

2009 2010 2009 2010

Companies/branches Using RAP 186 186

Tons Accepted, Million 23.2 24.0 67.2 72.9

Tons Used in HMA/WMA, Million 20.0 21.6 56.0 61.6

Tons Used in Aggregate, Million 1.4 1.6 6.2 7.3

Tons Used in Cold Mix, Million 0.4 0.4 1.5 1.6

Tons Used in Other, Million 0.1 0.1 0.7 0.8

Tons Landfilled, Million 0.1 <0.1 0.1 <0.1

Avg. % for DOT Mixes 12.5% 13.2% Same Same

Avg. % for Other Agency Mixes 14.0% 15.2% Same Same

Avg. % for Commercial & Residential 17.5% 18.0% Same Same

National Average All Mixes 15.6% 17.2% Same Same

RAP

Tons of HMA/WMA Produced

RAS

Companies/branches Reporting Using RAS 44 61

Tons Accepted, Thousand 332.1 558.7 957.4 1,1851.0

Tons Used in HMA/WMA, Thousand 245.8 392.7 723.9 1,136.1

Tons Used in Aggregate, Thousand 5.0 2.5 6.1 3.2

Tons Used in Cold Mix, Thousand - - - -

Tons Used in Other, Thousand 39.0 34.5 123.2 124.8

Tons Landfilled, Thousand - 0.5 - 6.7

Avg. % for DOT Mixes 0.33% 1.44% Same Same

Avg. % for Other Agency Mixes 0.37% 0.47% Same Same

Avg. % for Commercial & Residential Mixes 0.63% 0.81% Same Same

Companies/branches Reporting Using WMA 85 121

Avg. % for DOT Tons 6.3% 15.0% Same Same

Avg. % for Other Agency Tons 4.4% 21.7% Same Same

Avg. % for Commercial & Residential Tons 4.5% 11.6% Same Same

Total Tons, Million 6.4 18.2 16.7 47.6

% Using Chemical Additive 15% 20% Same Same

% Using Additive Foaming 2% 1% Same Same

% Using Plant Foaming 83% 79% Same Same

% Using Organic Additives 0 1% Same Same

WMA

*ese are very approximate values. Summary: Table 1 summarizes reported and estimated total values from the survey. e estimated total values were determined by factoring thevalues for the reported tons to the total state tons. e percent of DOT, other agency, and commercial/residential mixes using WMA increasedfrom 6.3 to 15.0 percent, 4.4 to 11 percent, and 4.5 to ten percent, respectively.

Table 1: Summary of RAP, RAS, WMA Survey

In conclusion, the survey clearly shows that the asphalt pavement industry continues to lead the nation in environmental stewardship andin economic stewardship. Increases in the use of RAP, RAS and WMA score successes for both the environment and the economy. Pre-cious natural resources are conserved. Workers have a more comfortable work environment. Pavements can be of higher quality at less cost,and can last longer. Ultimately, the American public is the biggest beneficiary of asphalt’s push for green technologies. v


SHINING LIGHT ON THE SKILLED TRADES

By The Go Build Georgia Team

http://www.gobuildgeorgia.com

11May | June 2012

ith over 82,000 positionsopening within the skilledtrades over the next fiveyears, it is important tocommunicate these oppor-tunities to Georgia’s citi-

zens. Students and parents especially need to beaware that these jobs are not only available, but arewell paying, respected career paths. Many peopleseem to be unaware of the wage and lifestyle ben-efits that come along with pursuing a career inthese fields.

Go Build Georgia focuses on five areas withinthe skilled trades: manufacturing, industrial con-struction, energy, telecommunications, and trans-portation. All of these areas play a crucial role inkeeping Georgia’s economy healthy and thriving. With Georgia’s unemployment still resting abovethe national average, it is time for a call to action.

Breaking the stereotypes 77.8 percent of parents think their child enteringinto the skilled craft labor trades will have a neg-ative impact on their child’s safety and health. 44percent of parents think it will have a negative

impact on their child’s financial goals. These arejust a few of the statistics that the Go Build Geor-gia team is determined to change. Skilled labor isin high demand but short supply, and it is timeto break the antiquated way of thinking aboutthese hands-on jobs. It is time to make the skilledtrades cool again.

Another common misconception is thatthese are jobs that do not translate into long-term careers. There is a great opportunity forentrepreneurship within the skilled trades. A stu-dent can start as a journeyman and through learn-ing and hard work will eventually supervise a fleet

or even own their own company. A perfect example of the cool factor that

comes with a career in the skilled trades is GoBuild Georgia spokesman, Mike Rowe. In addi-tion to being a household face and name throughhis work as the executive producer and host of“Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe,” he is also a hugechampion of the importance of skilled labor toAmerica’s future.

There is good money to be made with a careerin the craft trades. Did you know that the averagehourly median wage for a welder is $22.45? Orthat a boilermaker’s hourly wage comes in around$26.97? This information needs to be disseminat-ed to our students and parents. These are greatjobs that if continue to go unfilled will cause aneconomic crisis for our state.

Lastly, many people have been told that theonly path to a successful career in our country is afour year college degree. While a suitable path formany students, it is not for everyone. Otheroptions such as technical schools and training pro-grams can lead students into high-demand, high-wage jobs.

What are the options in post-secondaryeducation? The Go Build Georgia team recently took a trip,along with local high school students, to tour thefacilities at McKenney’s Mechanical Contractorsand Engineers. When asked about their plans forpost-secondary education, a few were collegebound, but many were still undecided.This is the perfect opportunity to educate these

students on the availability of skilled trade careersin our state.

Georgia has a strong technical college systemand university system that have been driving this

GeORGiA’s skilled lAbOR

siTuATiON

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idea for many years. Go Build Georgia ishere to bring attention to the skills gap ourstate faces and the opportunities thesecareers present to our students and thosecurrently unemployed.

By visiting the Go Build Georgia web-site (www.gobuildgeorgia.com) anyone canCustom Build Your Career by creating aprofile on the site. The site will direct some-one towards a career based on their interestsand other factors. Site users may thenupload resumes and keep a log of the infor-mation they find useful on the site.

Students of Skills USAIn March, SkillsUSA Georgia, in collabora-tion with the Construction EducationFoundation of Georgia, hosted a CareerExpo in Atlanta. Students traveled fromacross the state to compete in many facets ofthe skilled trades.

The Governor’s Office of WorkforceDevelopment provided travel scholarshipsto nine participants in the National Skill-sUSA competition in Kansas City.

After receiving thank you letters fromeach student, our team realized what animportant accomplishment this is for thesestudents.

“SkillsUSA has allowed me to evolvefrom simply a modest to a distinguishedcabinetmaker, and now I have the confi-dence to compete on the national level.”–Caleb Floyd, Warner Robins High School“By attending this conference, I have thechance to go up against the best of the bestin field of sheet metal…” Clint Wells, Hep-hzibah High School

“Being able to compete against the besthigh school students from across the nationhas prepared me to be a champion in theworld of work.”~Brett Jenkins, omson High School

Programs like SkillsUSA are exactly whatGo Build Georgia aims to highlight.

These opportunities teach students notonly invaluable work skills, but also to takepride in their projects.

The Future of Georgia’s Skilled Workforce Having a strong workforce in our state isimportant for several different reasons.When companies look to make the move toGeorgia, it is our goal to present them witha pool of highly skilled, professional work-ers. More manufacturing and constructioncompanies that choose to locate their facili-ties throughout the state means more jobsfor Georgians.

With this program and the supportfrom all communities, we are heading in theright direction as a state. We are positioningour economy to be competitive not onlynationally, but internationally.

Go Build Georgia has gained muchsupport from key stakeholders as the teamcontinues to spread the message of the ben-efits of a career in the skilled trades. As webring educators and business leaders togeth-er, we hope to create a new, positive imagefor these skilled trade careers. v

The Georgia Contractor12

http://www.newsouthconstruction.com

Joshua Willis stood with pride in

Allison-Smith Company’s booth

at the 2012 CEFGA CareerExpo.

It was one year ago that he was on the oth-er side of the booth, meeting employers,looking for an opportunity he dreamed ofsince he was five years old.

“My goal at this event last year was togo as hard as I could and get a job and that’swhat I accomplished,” said Willis, whocompeted in the SkillsUSA ElectricalWiring Competition last year, and caughtthe eye of a volunteer judge from Allison-Smith Company. “This event is greatbecause it gives young people an opportuni-ty to display their skills and go make some-

thing out of themselves at a young age. Forme, it eliminated the job search afterschool. I already had a job waiting on me.”

The 2012 CEFGA CareerExpo andSkillsUSA State Championships, heldMarch 15-16 at the Georgia InternationalConvention Center, attracted more schools,more companies, and more students thanever before. Nearly 5,000 students from225 schools visited with reps from 335 com-panies. The record-breaking 6,685 totalattendees represented a five-percent increaseover 2011.

“It was our biggest and best event ever,”said Scott Shelar, executive director of CEF-GA, the event’s primary organizer. “We hadmore schools, more students, and moreindustry professionals than ever before.

“We are always so impressed with the qual-ity of the attendees,” Shelar said. “Ourindustry professionals were especiallymoved by the quality of the students, thequality of the SkillsUSA competitors, andthe general politeness and professionalismof the students.”

In addition to being a golden oppor-tunity for students to learn about careerpathways in architecture, construction,and energy, the CareerExpo and Skill-sUSA event is evolving into a uniqueopportunity for employers to meet theirnew workforce.

Allison-Smith Company picked upJoshua Willis last year. This year, multipleelectrical contractors were eyeing the topSkillsUSA competitors in the Electrical

Georgia Construction Industry’s Largest Event“Biggest and Best Ever!”

May | June 2012 13

Congratulations 2012 Georgia Carpentry Champions! Pictured above are the 2012 SkillsUSA Georgia State Champions forthe Carpentry Competition, sponsored by CEFGA and Go Build Georgia. (l to r) Silver medalist Sam Andrus of AllatoonaHigh School, gold medalist Tyler Hendrix of Griffin High School and bronze medalist Clint Clackum of Cedartown HighSchool. The event was held March 16, 2012, at the Georgia International Convention Center (GICC). The gold medalist,

Tyler Hendrix, will represent Georgia at the SkillsUSA National Championships in June.

Wiring and Industrial Motor Controlcontests.

“It was nice to see in action the answerto the question we all ask, where are wegoing to get people to replace us when allthe Baby Boomers retire?” said Bob Kalas ofDay & Zimmermann, a $2 billion con-struction and maintenance company.“There are some really sharp young peopleout here who are approaching the tradesand it is up to us, both contractors andowners, to help them get there. Thanks forthe invite and we WILL be back next yearto help this program going forward.”

“There’s been a big push for everybodyto go to college,” said Tim Grimes of DollarConcrete. “But our country was built by peo-ple putting things together with their hands.This CareerExpo is a great place for us to

share all of the careers available in concrete.”CEFGA’s eighth annual CareerExpo

represented Georgia’s largest youth work-force development event. More than 300companies, trade associations, and post-secondary education and training programscreated interactive exhibits to demonstratethe scope of the industry and introduce stu-dents to specific career paths.

The purpose of the event is to encour-age students to explore and consider careersin architecture, construction, and energy.

The CareerExpo covers an area the sizeof six football fields, divided into 12 differ-ent ‘Worlds.’

For example, in the The World ofMasonry, students observe a Master BrickMason laying brick and block, then are giv-en an opportunity to work with ‘mud’ and

lay brick to a line. And in the The World of Heavy Equip-

ment and Utility Contracting, studentsoperated equipment simulators and actuallarge pieces of construction equipment(under close adult supervision.)

Through hands-on activities, studentslearned about specific careers, understand-ing the skills, education, and training neces-sary for employment. In addition, this year’sevent put a special emphasis on STEM -Science, Technology, Engineering, andMath and how these disciplines are used inthe building industry.

For more information about theCareerExpo and SkillsUSA State Champi-onships, please contact CEFGA at (678)889-4445 or [email protected], or visit ourWeb site at www.cefga.org v


15May | June 2012

n April 16, 2012, theGeorgia Environ-mental ProtectionDivision (GeorgiaEPD) issued the2012 Industrial

Stormwater General Permit, GAR050000(2012 IGP). The 2012 IGP sets forth therequirements that most regulated facilitiesmust implement to comply with the CleanWater Act (CWA) and Federal Water Pollu-tion Control Amendments of 1972. TheCWA introduced the National PollutantDischarge Elimination System (NPDES) toreduce/eliminate the release of toxic sub-stances into water. NPDES regulates stormwater discharges from a broad range ofindustrial facilities. In Georgia, administra-tion of industrial storm water discharges asrequired by NPDES is the responsibility ofthe Environmental Protection Division ofthe Georgia Department of NaturalResources.

BackgroundOn July 31, 2011, the 2006 General StormWater Permit (2006 IGP) expired. Cover-age for regulated facilities was extendedunder this permit until the 2012 IGP takeseffect on June 1, 2012. The new generalpermit is significantly different from the2006 IGP. What follows is a brief summaryof the major changes.

The 2012 IGP is Georgia’s approach tosatisfying the requirements in the federal2008 Multi-Sector General Permit (2008MSGP). To ensure compliance with federalrequirements, Georgia EPD issued the2012 IGP, which requires ten categories ofindustries to obtain coverage. Regulatedfacilities either ‘attach’ themselves to thestate’s general storm water permit by com-pleting a Notice of Intent (NOI) or submita ‘No Exposure Exclusion’ for exemptionfrom permit requirements. Submittal of anNOI obligates the regulated facility to abideby the terms of the general permit.

Systemic ChangesOrganization: The organization of the 2012IGP has been changed to more closely alignit with the federal permit (2008 MSGP). Indoing this, the new permit organizes regu-lated facilities into 27 sectors plus one sec-tor for non-classified facilities (Sector AB).Classification of a facility is based on itsStandard Industrial Classification (SIC)code. For example, a beer brewery would beclassified as SIC 2082, which would cause itto be regulated as a Sector U facility.

Permit Requirements: A regulated facility issubject to general requirements, set forth inParts 1 through 7, and sector-specificrequirements, set forth in Part 8 of the 2012IGP. These sector-specific requirementsmay include best management practicesand/or analytical sampling (i.e., benchmarkmonitoring). For example, per Part 5, allfacilities covered by the permit are requiredto implement an industrial storm water pol-lution prevention plan (SWPPP). Anyfacility involved in the manufacturing offood and kindred products (including bev-erages) has a sector-specific requirement toinspect loading and unloading areas for allsignificant materials, storage areas, includ-ing associated containment areas; wastemanagement units; vents and stacks ema-nating from industrial activities; spoiledproduct and broken product containerholding areas; animal handling and holdingareas; staging areas; and air pollution con-trol equipment.

Additional Requirements: The 2012 IGPalso has changes affecting the following:• A new requirement to verify that there is

no non-storm water discharge enteringthe storm sewer system has also beenimplemented. Appropriate verificationmethods include dye, smoke or equiva-lent testing, TV surveillance, or analysisof as-built drawings/schematics.

• Target values have been established for

benchmarks (these were not provided inthe 2006 IGP).

• A mechanism is now provided for afacility to establish its own benchmark.This was not provided in the 2006 IGP.

• Numeric effluent limitations now affectseven types of discharges (the 2006 IGPonly had six).

• Analytical sampling results performedduring the term of the 2006 IGP mustbe summarized and retained by thefacility.

• Records pertaining to the 2012 IGPmust now be kept for at least three yearsfollowing coverage termination.

• The requirement to perform routinefacility inspections (including quarterlyinspections and annual sampling) nolonger applies to inactive/unstaffedfacilities.

• Facilities exceeding benchmark valuesmust now address the exceedance withchanges to existing BMPs or make adetermination that a further benchmarkreduction is neither feasible nor eco-nomically practicable.

• Facilities exceeding numerical effluentlimits must now implement correctiveaction and follow-up monitoring (mini-mum frequency is quarterly).

• Analytical results not prepared on-sitemust now be performed by an accredit-ed analytical laboratory.

• Additional provisions when a pollutantof concern (POC) causes an impairmentto a stream that is located within onemile of the regulated facility. These pro-visions clarify benchmark samplingrequirements and provide four optionsfor the regulated facility:

A Brief Overview of Georgia’s New IndustrialStormwater General Permit

By Daniel E. Agramonte, PE | O’Brien & Gere

O


• The regulated facility may certify thatthe pollutant of concern is not exposedand/or not present at the facility.

• If the POC in the facility’s discharge isexpected to be less than the water quali-ty standard or there is sufficient wasteload allocation for the POC based onthe total maximum daily loading for thePOC.

• The facility was previously required toconduct impaired stream segment sam-pling per Part III.C. of the 2006 Indus-trial Storm Water General Permit.

• The POC is present in the discharge tothe impaired stream segment.

Other requirements specific to impairedstreams have also been implemented in the2012 IGP, including clarification regardingdistance to impaired streams, appropriatesampling parameters for fecal coliforms,and handling of benchmark/pollutant ofconcern exceedances.

Specific Sectors ~ an ExampleRegulated facilities will be classified intoone of the 27 sectors in the 2012 IGP. Spe-cific requirements may apply in the varioussectors, including best management prac-tices (BMPs), inspections, and sampling.These changes are numerous, and it is sug-gested that facility-specific sectors be con-sulted in the 2012 IGP. For example, the2006 IGP required annual analytical sam-pling for facilities in 21 sectors. The 2012IGP has added six sectors, bringing the totalto 27 specific industrial sectors. Consistentwith the federal 2008 MSGP, many of theserequirements are at the sub-sector level. Forexample, all ‘Food and Kindred Products’(Sector U) facilities are subject to the fol-lowing supplemental requirements:• The drainage area site map must indi-

cate the location of vents and stacksfrom cooking, drying, and similar oper-ations; dry product vacuum transferlines; animal holding and handling area;spoiled product; and broken productcontainer storage areas if they’re exposedto precipitation or runoff. The SWPPPfor the facility must document food andkindred product processing-related

industrial activities, as well as applica-tion and storage areas for pest controlchemicals used at the facility

• The following must be inspected at leastquarterly if potentially exposed to stormwater: loading and unloading areas forall significant materials; storage areas,including associated containment areas;waste management units; vents andstacks emanating from industrial activi-ties; spoiled product and broken prod-uct container holding areas; animal han-dling and holding areas; staging areas;and air pollution control equipment

Within Sector U, additional requirementsmay also apply to specific areas within thesector, known as ‘subsectors.’

Facilities performing animal processingare subject to specific operational (e.g., pro-cedural) and structural BMPs. Benchmarkmonitoring applies to the following cate-gories (subsectors) within Sector U:• Subsector U1: SICs 2041 – 2048, grain

mill products

• Subsector U2: SICs 2074 – 2079, fatsand oils

• Subsector U3: SICs 2011 – 2015, meatproducts

Facilities in Subsector U3 with dischargesfrom material storage piles are also subjectto additional benchmark monitoringrequirements.The nature and complexity ofthe requirements dictate that facilities beaware of their primary SIC code in order tofully understand applicable requirements.

In ClosingThe changes to the 2012 IGP are indeed farreaching in their efforts to comply withmultitude requirements, including: Thefederal permit (2008 MSGP), EPD Rulesand Regulations for Water Quality Control,and EPD’s anti-degradation policy.

Regulated facilities are advised to readand understand the new permit. If needed,technical consultation should be consideredin order to ensure compliance and reducepotential environmental liability. v

http://www.jatconsulting.net

May | June 2012 17

im was the perfect candidatewith many years of solid experi-ence as a professional sales repand had an obvious talent ofpersuasion and communicationskills. But the hiring managerhad some strong reservations

during the interview. Jim’s strong focus onresults ‘right now’ and a certain aggressive-ness that could probably overwhelm orupset clients were some of the weaknesses hewas concerned about.

In regards to Jim’s focus on the purpos-es of the company, its role in the communi-ty, the vital importance of innovation, andunselfish dedication to excellence, he didthe perfect job. He sold himself like neverbefore and got hired.

Four months later, Jim was fired forlack of vision, lack of dedication, and worstof all, for his lack of honesty in his inten-tions.

The manager knew he had to hire ‘theSteve Jobs way,’ but had no real clue as tohow to do it. He hired what he saw andwhat he heard ‘at the moment.’ He wastrapped into Jim’s salesmanship talent. Andhe was fooled by Jim’s hidden intentions: toget the job, ‘no matter what needs to besaid…’

Steve Jobs’ Hiring PhilosophySteve Jobs was an amazing and unconven-tional leader in many respects. His reputa-tion as the best entrepreneur of our time canbe summarized in a few words: he and histop execs never compromised with the tal-ents and qualifications required of theiremployees. He personally interviewed over5,000 applicants during his career. He andhis executives considered very differentqualities in people than most business own-ers do. When you thoroughly analyzeApple’s philosophy of hiring, you find outthat there has always been fundamental, un-compromising attributes needed to get a jobat Apple Inc.

You too can apply these attributeswhen you look at attracting top players andensure you avoid trouble makers.To help you in the hiring process, here are

the main ‘Apple selection attributes.’

Vision-minded. Everyone joining the com-pany must have a clear picture of its man-agement vision—and fully agree to fight forit, to defend it, and to live with it every day.Applicants who do not seem to get it aresystematically rejected. When you hire peo-ple who don’t seem to agree with, or careabout your company vision, you are poten-tially employing future enemies.

Innovation-minded. Steve Jobs alwaysemphasized the vital importance of hiringpeople who are innovative—willing to cre-ate something from nothing. Applicants arefirst chosen for their ability and willingnessto constantly create, rather than for theirtechnical competence.

Future-minded. Employees at Apple aredriven by their leader’s vision of the futureand they contribute everyday to creating thefuture, more than just beating the competi-tion. Each of them owns the future of the

Hiring: Do It the Steve Jobs WayBy Patrick Valtin

JPatrick Valtin

http://powersouth.cummins.com/wps/portal/powersouth

market because they know they can con-tribute to creating it. The eagerness to cre-ate, not follow the future is a vital attributeobserved in top players, no matter theindustry.

Passion-minded. Steve Jobs’ first principleis: ‘Do what you love.’ People are hiredbecause they love the product, the compa-ny, and its vision. Applicants who do notdemonstrate a genuine passion and ‘love’for the company’s purposes and businessphilosophy will never make it.

Contribution-minded. A statement givenby an Apple recruiter is clear enough: “Wedidn’t want someone who desired to retirewith a gold watch. We wanted entrepre-neurs, demonstrated winners, high-energycontributors who defined their previousrole in terms of what they contributed andnot what their titles were.”

Engagement-minded. Over two thirds ofAmericans are not engaged in their work-place. Apple management is strict onemployees’ level of commitment. Commit-ted individuals who are inspired by a grandpurpose make the whole difference in themost competitive conditions.

Excellence-minded. Steve Jobs was knownfor his passion of perfection. The companyalways tries things out until they are per-fectly done. The same attitude is expectedof every collaborator. Applicants who donot share that passion for excellence do nothave a chance.

Other Critical Attributes to EvaluateYou will notice that these seven pointsenforced in the Apple’s personnel selectionare all personality-related attributes, alsocalled soft skills. They do not always guar-antee performance. But the chance ofselecting productive people is at least 200percent higher when focusing on thesevital soft skills. It is very well known thatrecruiters who focus on soft skills in theirpersonnel selection process are, on aver-age, 50 percent more effective in selectingtop players.

So, in order to avoid falling in themomentary personality trap—as the hiringmanager in the above example did, youshould also focus on the following two basicsoft skills:

Honesty. Did you know that one third ofall business failures in the USA are due toemployee theft? Also, 95 percent of all UScompanies are victims of theft, and yet onlyten percent ever discover it. So this is defi-nitely a crucial criterion to evaluate. Every-body recognizes the importance of honestyso it would make sense to evaluate it PRI-OR to evaluating any other soft skill,wouldn’t it?

There are strong indicators whichallow you to precisely evaluate honesty.Here are just a few: gaps in the resume,contradictory data between the resume andyour standard job application, negativereaction or embarrassment from the appli-cant to your challenging questions, and lackof accuracy in applicants’ explanations ofprevious achievements.

Willingness. According to the US Depart-ment of Labor, more than 87 percent ofemployee failures are due to unwillingness todo the job. You can’t simply force someoneto do something if they do not want to.Such persons will do what you want in orderto keep their job or to avoid penalties. Butthey will not really put their heart into it.

Most applicants will tell you that they arewilling, of course. The key to finding out ifthey are honest is to ask them to prove it.Challenge them to demonstrate that theyhave been willing to work hard, learn some-thing new, question their old habits, workunder tough conditions, etc… The way youdo this is simply by asking them to give youspecific examples when they had to displaysuch willingness.

So, hire the Steve Job’s way, by allmeans. But don’t forget these two basicattributes in the same process. Inform appli-cants that your company values and man-agement philosophy imply honesty andwillingness/positive attitude as primaryselection criteria, no matter the position—lack of either is enough to be consideredunqualified! v

About the AuthorPatrick Valtin is the author of No Fail Hiringand a 24-year veteran coach and trainer inthe fields of management and humanresources. He is the President of M2-TECUSA Inc. Patrick has personally trained85,000 business owners and executives fromover 30 countries in the last 23 years on thesubjects of business strategies, leadership andpeople management, hiring, sales, and mar-keting. For more information, please visitwww.nofailhiring.com, www.m2-tec.com orcall (877) 831-2299.


http://www.er-inc.net/

he purpose of the acces-sibility assessment is todetermine if a propertyhas conditions out ofcompliance with existingregulations.

The Americans with Disability Act, PublicLaw 101-336 (1/26/1992) requires in allplaces of public accommodation or com-mercial facilities that: 1) new construction must be designed

and constructed so as to be readilyaccessible to and usable by personwith disabilities,

2) alterations to existing constructionmust be designed and constructed soas to be readily accessible to andusable by person with disabilities, and

3) in existing construction, all “readilyachievable” barriers must be removedby January 26, 1992 to accommodateindividuals with disabilities.

The ADA was revised on September 15,2010, and the revised requirements tookeffect on March 15, 2011. The compliancedate for the 2010 Standards for new con-struction and alterations is determined by:the date the last application for a buildingpermit or permit extension is certified to becomplete by a state, county, or local govern-ment; the date the last application for abuilding permit or permit extension isreceived by a state, county, or local govern-ment, where the government does not certi-fy the completion of applications; or thestart of physical construction or alteration,if no permit is required.

If that date is on or after March 15,2012, then new construction and alter-ations must comply with the 2010 Stan-dards. If that date is on or after September15, 2010, and before March 15, 2012, thennew construction and alterations mustcomply with either the 1991 or the 2010Standards.

The Department of Housing andUrban Development (HUD) still recog-nizes the Fair Housing Act for accessibili-ty issues on their properties. At this time,HUD has considered the new ADArequirements as a ‘Safe Harbor’ for newconstruction.

Here are some typical questionsand answers concerning ADArequirements:

Are there any limitations onthe ADA’s barrier removal require-ments for existing facilities?

Yes. Barrier removal need be accom-plished only when it is ‘readily achievable’to do so.

What does the term ‘readily achiev-able’ mean?

It means “easily accomplishable andable to be carried out without much diffi-culty or expense.”

What are examples of the types ofmodifications that would be readily achiev-able in most cases?

Examples include the simple rampingof a few steps, the installation of grab barswhere only routine reinforcement of thewall is required, the lowering of telephones,and similar modest adjustments.

What are the ADA requirements foraltering facilities?

All alterations affecting the usabil-ity of a facility must be made in an accessi-ble manner to the maximum extent feasible.For example, when alterations are made to aprimary function area, such as the lobby ofa bank or the dining area of a cafeteria, anaccessible path of travel to the altered area must also be provided. The bathrooms, tele-phones, and drinking fountains serving that

area must also bemade accessible. These additional accessi-bility alterations are only required to theextent that the added accessibility costs donot exceed 20 percent of the cost of theoriginal alteration. Elevators are generallynot required in facilities under three storiesor with fewer than 3,000 square feet perfloor, except as specifically required by thestandard.

ECS can provide varying levels ofaccessibility assessment from visual assess-ment and a Level II checklist assessment aspart of a Property Condition Assessment toa full assessment of a property utilizingchecklist of the United States Access Board.An Accessibility Assessment can provide theclient with useful information regardinghow to improve their properties. This infor-mation can be helpful in creating expensebudgets to maintain or upgrade a property.We hope that these ‘Lessons Learned’ willbe helpful to you in your next project.

Respectfully,ECS Corporate Services, LLC© 2011 ECSCorporate Services, LLC All RightsReserved v

Accessibility AssessmentObservations & Lessons from the School of Experience By ECS Corporate Services LLC.

May | June 2012 19

ADJUSTS TO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS;KEYING ON PUBLIC WORKS By Roy H. Keck, FACI

READY MIX CONCRETE

The project is part of a $46 million bridge and interstatewidening of the interchange to reduce traffic congestion andto accommodate future growth of Clayton County, all whilemaintaining existing traffic flow during construction.


ust five years ago, total annualUS construction was at $1180billion, with privately fundedwork comprising 75 percent ofthis total. Since then, construc-tion has declined 30 percent to

the current total of $827 billion, with the pri-vate sector dropping to 65 percent of the total.The annual value of publicly funded construc-tion has remained level over that period, rang-ing from $286 billion in 2007 to $288 billionin the 2011, based on US Census Bureau data. Funding for highway construction is typicallyprovided by Congress to the states through asix year appropriations bill, with the mostrecent called SAFETEA-LU which covered fis-cal years 2004-2009. The boost in fundingfrom the American Recovery and Reinvest-ment Act of 2009 provided $48 billion nation-ally and $903 million dollars in Georgia con-struction or maintenance projects to our statehighway system. GDOT’s 2009 fiscal yearreceived a significant boost to over $2 billiontotal appropriations because of the stimulusmoney, in spite of the decline in funding fromthe Georgia General Assembly

The downturn in availability of privatelyfunded construction in Georgia has pushedlocal ready mix concrete suppliers to reach

deeper into public worksand transportation marketsto keep their plants andtrucks in business. Theinterchange reconstructionproject at I-75 and StateRoute 54 in Morrow, Geor-gia, represented a signifi-cant use of Portland cementconcrete in both bridgestructures and pavements.McCarthy ImprovementCompany was chosen byCW Matthews to completethe paving of 31,000 squareyards of concrete for the$46 million project.Because of the complexityof the project, the paving

would be spread over a 24 month period. Thisfactor and the lack of a suitable nearby batchplant site caused McCarthy project manage-ment to consider using a local ready mix sup-plier to provide their concrete needs. This was

J

The project consists of a total of 31,000square yards of pavement at a depth of 12inches. A typical placement requires 900cubic yards of ready mix concrete at a rateof 100 cubic yards per hour

21May | June 2012


had a very fortu-nate childhood in

Decatur, Georgia. Iknew the City’s mayor—

my Dad (Jack Hamilton), and he knewa lot of movers and shakers in themetro area including Mayor Hartsfieldand, my favorite, Richard Rich (Rich’sDepartment store). So, when my fifthgrade teacher (Mrs. Williams) assignedus to prepare a social studies projectabout the future of Atlanta, the Mayor(Dad) suggested that I do an exposeabout Atlanta potentially being amegalopolis (mind you, this is beforethe sign at the Darlington apartmentssaid our population was even near1,000,000). My Dad was just homefrom strategic planning meetings withfive other mayors, county leaders fromfive counties and of course, the Gover-nor and Lt. Governor. The term mega-lopolis came up as a potential futuredescriptor of the former Marthasville.

A megalopolis is a large urban

complex and usually involves severalcities, towns, counties, and communi-ties that link together (usually alongtransit corridors that move people andcommerce). Megalopolis is a Greekword for ‘Great City.’ Megalopoli,founded in 371BC was a town in thewestern prefecture of Arcadia and hada characteristic of ‘unbridled growth inall directions.’ I recall that I concludedthat yes, the ATL could be a megalopo-lis- no oceans or other geographic con-straints to stop us- why not?

I recall drawing a map (with no I-285 on it, as it was not built then),showing the region and our neighbor-ing states, and how this megalopoliswould grow and grow (smartly, mindyou) and perhaps connect to the outly-ing cities—Macon, Columbus,Greenville, Augusta, Chattanooga, andwhen connected—we have our mega-lopolis with Atlanta in the middle. Mystudy concluded that climate,resources, and commerce, combined

with transportation would be the driv-ers of our growth. My Dad’s strategicgroup of the ’60s cited two potentialproblems however. Without enoughwater or great transportation solutionsthe growth and our economy will suf-fer—not only in Atlanta, but through-out Georgia.

And so, here we are 50 years laterand these two issues are at the fore-front—water and transportation. If wemiss the 2012 opportunities to addressthese issues, we set the stage for a verydifficult future for Atlanta and Georgiagoing forward. I could write an entirepiece on water as I have spent moretime there. This is the year for trans-portation commitment as theTSPLOST vote inches closer and clos-er (July 31, 2012). This transportationrelated vote is likely the most impor-tant event for engineers and for allGeorgians—I think more importantfor Georgia than who occupies theWhite House for the next four years. v

Atlanta ~ A Megalopolis?By Jim Hamilton, PE | President ACECG | Chairman of GEA

I

an opportunity for local supplier WalkerConcrete to demonstrate the viability of aready mix company in supplying a mainlinePortland cement concrete pavement(PCCP) operation.

A mainline paving operation typicallysupplies concrete to a high productionpaving machine from a central-mixed con-crete batch plant, with its product deliveredby dump trucks. A very high rate of deliveryis achieved this way, for typically thick sec-tions (ten inches or more) of pavement withwidths of 20 to 25 feet. During the courseof a day, it is possible to pave a mile or moreof PCCP in such an operation.

Ready mix concrete production differsin that concrete is usually batched usingwhat is called ‘dry batch plant,’ where themixing is done after all materials are

charged into a transit mixer. The completebatching and mixing operation may takelonger than central mixing, and the hourlyproduction rate is limited by the plant’sweighing and feeding capabilities. For thisreason, supplying a concrete paver opera-tion is often not done using a ready mixbatch plant.

The concrete plant chosen for thisproject actually has two automated plantson-site with the primary plant having aproduction rate of 150 cubic yards perhour. For this project, Walker shifted someof its other business to nearby plants, andthrough effective planning of the day’sorders, was able to meet the high produc-tion needs for each of the scheduled pave-ment pours.

Georgia DOT continually upgrades

major intersections in the state in order tomake exit ramps more durable, often replac-ing failing pavement with Portland cementconcrete. The factors GDOT considers indetermining the appropriate project pave-ment section is based on availability ofmaterials. This has a direct bearing on theeconomics of the project. Ready mix con-crete is as viable an option as other materi-als since every GDOT district has localready mix companies within just a few milesof every interstate intersection. Accordingto the GDOT Pavement Design Manual,rigid (PCC) pavements typically last for 30years or more with little or no maintenance,and as a result, GDOT uses Life Cycle CostAnalysis based designs. v

23May | June 2012

he path to a newlong-term trans-

portation bill in Con-gress has been a wind-

ing and often frustrating endeavor. Yet,despite the partisan rancor, and a series ofnine short-term extensions of current high-way and transit programs over the last two-and-a-half years, enactment of a final bill isvery possible this year. This would representa major victory for the engineering industry,and comprise arguably the most significantjobs and economic growth initiative toemerge from Congress this year.

Passage of a final compromise bill tosend to the White House was a key lobby-ing objective for Council members duringour recent Annual Convention and Leg-islative Summit in Washington. A newtransportation bill will create near-termjobs and economic activity by kick-start-ing projects stalled by the current unpre-dictability in federal funding. Long-termimprovement projects will facilitate eco-nomic growth by enhancing mobility, eas-ing congestion and improving safety. Statedepartments of transportation and localagencies need the certainty of a multi-yearprogram with stable funding in order toadvance these vital projects.

On March 14, the U.S. Senate passedan ACEC-backed two-year surface trans-portation reauthorization bill (S. 1813) thatmaintains current funding levels plus infla-tion through September 2013 for federalhighway and transit programs. The bill,called “Moving Ahead for Progress in the21st Century” or MAP-21, was approvedon a broad bipartisan vote of 74-22.

MAP-21 authorizes $85.3 billion forhighways and $20.9 billion for transit pro-grams over two years. The bill consolidatesmany existing highway programs, givesstates more flexibility in allocating funds,reforms project delivery requirements andbegins implementation of performancemeasures for state transportation depart-ments. In addition to formula funding to

states and local agencies, it provides $1 bil-lion per year in financing support to lever-age additional private investment throughthe Transportation Infrastructure Financeand Innovation Act (TIFIA) program. Inorder to support the highway and transitprogram funding levels, MAP-21 supple-ments the Highway Trust Fund with $13.9billion by redirecting certain fees and trans-ferring funds from various other accounts.

The Senate bill is by no means ideal.ACEC and our industry allies would prefera longer-term bill that stabilizes the High-way Trust Fund in a sustainable way. How-ever, Senate committee leaders crafted a bi-partisan approach, and it is much betterthan continued short-term extensions ofcurrent programs.

In the House, Republican Leaders wereforced to abandon plans for a comprehen-sive five-year, $260 billion authorizationplan after the bill failed to garner sufficientsupport. On April 18, the House adoptedan alternative measure to advance the leg-islative process and begin conference com-mittee negotiations with the Senate. The

Final Long-term Transportation Bill Within ReachBy Matt Reiffer | Director of Transportation Programs | ACEC

T

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The House bill (H.R. 4348) includes anadditional 90-day extension of currenttransportation funding and programs, aswell as ACEC-backed provisions to approvethe Keystone XL pipeline and improve theenvironmental review process for projects.

A House-Senate Conference Commit-tee has been appointed to negotiate a finalbill. ACEC will continue to support thehighest possible funding levels, while alsopromoting aggressive project deliveryreforms that will save time and lower proj-ect costs. We will also seek to retain lan-guage from the five-year bill that wouldtask state departments of transportationwith contracting out for engineering servic-es to the maximum extent practicable.

The current extension of federal high-way and transit programs expires on June30. We need a final bill to be negotiatedand signed into law before that deadline.With the help of ACEC members commu-nicating with their lawmakers about theimportance of this bill to our industry andthe nation’s economy, we can get it done. v

http://www.iecatlanta.org


Traditional Use of Wood This category recognizes the innovative useof wood in buildings that traditionally fea-ture wood in their design and construction,such as wineries, churches, clubhouses,lodges, and out-structures. Buildings thatpush the limits of wood design, as well asthose that showcase one or more of wood’squalities such as strength, beauty, versatility,and cost-effectiveness were favored.

tvsdesign and Walter P. Moore andAssociates of Atlanta won in the Tradi-tional Use of Wood category for the SykesChapel Center for Faith and Values in Tam-pa, Florida, because of the creative use ofvarious wood elements in a traditional struc-ture, including structural glue laminatedarches that both provide the main structuralframework and the beautiful interior designfeature. The building is located in the geo-graphic center of campus. This 13,000-square-foot building, 65 feet tall, is a non-denominational place of worship for theUniversity of Tampa. The shape of thebuilding represents two praying hands. Theentrance to the center opens to a pre-func-tion vestibule from which visitors can viewthe main hall of the chapel. The main hall ofthe center seats approximately 260 people.

Douglas-Fir Larch Glue laminatedwood trusses/columns were used as thestructural support system for the chapelmain hall. Wood was also used in the mainhall in many other places including thewalls, ceiling, stage, and storefront window.Wood was used for floors and wall/ceilingveneers in the Contemporary MeditationRoom, one of two mediation rooms in thechapel, which also has a 13'-0" diameterlabyrinth inlay in the floor.

Wood was chosen as the primary inte-rior finish for the chapel mainly for itswarmth and beauty. The exterior of thebuilding is clad in brick, stone, and metal,which complements the other campus

buildings while the wood in the interiorbreathes life outward from the building atnight through large windows on the northand east facades. Inside the chapel, the cher-ry wood walls and ceiling work in harmonywith the light colored floor.

Wood was also chosen for its acousticalproperties. Tongue and groove 2 1/2"Southern Pine wood decking covers theceiling of the vaulted main hall. The deck-ing is arranged in a wave-like pattern tobounce and diffuse the sound around thegrand space during musical performances.Wood also finished the pipe organ case.

Wood behind the Walls This category honors the creators of non-residential buildings that are structurallymore than 90 percent wood-frame, thatdemonstrate innovation in terms of archi-tectural design and function, and showcasewood’s strength, versatility, cost-effective-

ness and/or other qualities.

Hughes/Beattie/O'Neal/Law Architects/Planners, Johnson Laschober& Associates, P.C., and Allen-BatchelorConstruction Inc. of Augusta won in theWood behind the Walls category for TheSanctuary in Evans because of how woodwas used to accomplish the traditionalcathedral design while efficiency was maxi-mized using wood structural elements suchas prefabricated wood trusses and interiorwood elements such as wainscoting.

The original church structure was asmall metal building. The growing churchwas in need of a larger worship space andnew facade to hide the cold uninviting met-al structure. The new church building is22,263 square feet. Used primarily forchurch services, the building was finished in2010. The church seats 950 and includesoffices, a coffee shop, and a bookstore witha fireplace.

Wood construction provided a signifi-cant cost savings over a metal framing sys-tem. The use of prefabricated wood trussescombined with the on-site wall construc-tion provided design flexibility and short-ened construction time. Local skilled car-penters and a simple installation processhelped keep labor and overhead costs to aminimum. The traditional cathedral designcould only be accomplished with the use ofinterior wood elements including woodbrackets, exposed beams, wainscoting, andpaneling.

The cathedral design required a simplebut flexible framing system. Plywoodsheathing provided support for the exteriorfinish while also providing shear bracing inthe walls and roof. Species include South-ern Yellow Pine and spruce wall studs, andinterior wainscoting and trim are cedar,alder and birch. v

Georgia Wood Design Awards

Sykes Chapel for Faith and Values ~Tampa, Florida

25May | June 2012

Sykes Chapel for Faith and Values,Sanctuary ~ Tampa, Florida

GeorgiaNewsContractor

IEC Members, Pace Electrical Contrac-tors and Eaton, Bring CAR-CHARG-ING STATIONS to SavannahPace Electrical Contractors Inc. in part-nership with the city of Savannah unveiledtwo brand-new electric car-charging sta-tions in the Whitaker Street parkinggarage yesterday during a ribbon-cuttingceremony. The chargers are Eaton’s Pow-R-Station Level Two, which will easily fillan all-electric vehicle battery in as little asfour hours. This model is the perfectchoice for the garage, which allows cus-tomers to ‘plug-in’ while shopping or din-ing in Savannah’s City Market.

“This is a little bit of an experimentfor us,” said Sean Brandon, director ofParking Mobility Services. “We have got-ten calls about it. We are responding todemand. These charging stations will helpus gauge what should go in, what type ofequipment, how the spaces should be laidout. Should demand increase over thenext few years, we will be able to respondto it.”

Pace Electric Project Manager Shan-non Yarborough added, “Pace is proud tobe a leader in bringing this green energytechnology to Savannah. We worked veryhard to coordinate this project with thecity and to fully educate ourselves on thecar-charging technology. As the electricaland energy industries evolve, we find itimportant to keep up with the trends—which clearly involves more renewableenergy technologies.”

Both Pace Electrical and Eaton havebeen long-standing members of the IECin the Savannah area. IEC is proud oftheir part in bringing green energy tech-nology to Savannah, and IEC anticipatesother locations will soon follow suit!

For additional information, contact

Niel Dawson, Executive Director at (770)242-9277.

IEC is a trade association for meritshop electrical contractors. IEC offers awide array of training programs for

apprentices and experienced electricians,personnel referral including loan/borrowprograms, and provides a broad range ofinformational resources for electrical con-tractors in Atlanta and Georgia. v

Mary Ellen Sprague, District Four Alderman; Robbie Jones, Pace ElectricalContractors Inc.; Mayor Edna B. Jackson; Shannon Yarborough, Pace ElectricalContractors Inc.; Van R. Johnson, II, District One Alderman stand in front of oneof the two electric car charging stations in Savannah’s Whitaker Street Garage.


27May | June 2012

IEC Georgia’s Newest Board Member,Chris Correll, Brings Insightful Experi-ence from Legrand North Americae Independent Electrical Contractors(IEC) Georgia Board is proud to announceChris Correll of Legrand North America asits newest member. Mr. Correll has been asuccessful electrical contractor representa-tive with IEC’s partner Legrand for 11years, and comes to IEC Georgia with over27 years of experience in the electrical field.Legrand is a sizable organization with30,000 employees, 170,000 products andoffices in 180 countries. It is the leadingprovider of products and systems for electri-cal installations and information networks.Mr. Correll has made his home withLegrand and now will lend his expertise toIEC. With a passion for this industry and apositive outlook, he will add innovation tothe opportunities IEC creates for its mem-bers. Mr. Correll believes in IEC and itsbenefits. When asked to share his thoughtson IEC and its impact on the industry, Mr.Correll stated, “With the training IECoffers through either local or online, ourmembers will be well positioned for astrong work force when the economy comesback.” A positive outlook during what somecould call challenging times is what helpsIEC serve its members well, and is anotherreason the board knows Mr. Correll to bean excellent addition.

Mr. Correll possesses a business degreefrom Auburn University and is alsoCSI/CDT(Construction SpecificationInstitute/ Construction Document Tech-nologist) certified. IEC Georgia is excited tohave Chris Correll as its newest boardmember, and all the positive work this part-nership will accomplish.

Building & Facilities Maintenance Newto Chattahoochee Technical CollegeFew careers offer the variety and flexibilityof building and facilities maintenance.With a need for knowledge in areas such asplumbing, heating, refrigeration, air condi-tioning, electrical work, and carpentry, thefield has room for growth and specializationwith the right education and training. atis why Chattahoochee Technical College

has decided to introduce its own Buildingand Facilities Maintenance Technologyprogram at its Marietta Campus.

“Now is a great time to consider acareer in facilities management,” said Chat-tahoochee Technical College InstructorMichael Turkington. “Because of an aginginfrastructure, new technology and greenbuilding initiatives, new roles are being cre-ated to meet growing demands.”

Chattahoochee Technical College’snew diploma level program will be the firstof its kind in the Metro Atlanta area. Whilenot all jobs require more than a high schooldiploma or GED, the education and train-ing provided by the new program will beinvaluable for those wanting to move up intheir current jobs or acquire a new positionwith more money and stability.

“Turnover within this field can bepretty high,” Turkington said. “Employersshould have an interest in this program too,as this provides a quality, low cost educa-tion for their employees and future employ-ees. Research has shown that properly edu-cated and prepared individuals are happieremployees and less likely to quit or changecareers.”

With financial aid options such as theHOPE Grant and the federal Pell Grant,there are many ways to help pay for thecourses. Additionally, some employers mayoffer tuition reimbursement and otherincentives.

e 52 credit-hour program will offi-cially launch this August with its first groupof students. e Building and FacilitiesMaintenance Technology program is a care-fully designed sequence of courses that pre-pares students for careers in the maintenanceand repair of residential and light commer-cial structures and attendant fixtures andappliances. Learning opportunities developacademic, technical, and professional knowl-edge and skills required for job acquisition,retention, and advancement. e programemphasizes a combination of theory andpractical application necessary for successfulentry level employment in a non-manufac-turing maintenance environment.

“e program will provide a thoroughbackground for those wanting to enter orpromote within the field,” said Turkington.

“With basic to intermediate instruction inelectrical, plumbing, HVAC, buildingmanagement systems, and light carpentry,graduates of the program will be qualifiedto perform all the necessary maintenanceduties at some of the Atlanta area’s topemployers.”

According to the Bureau of Labor Sta-tistics, median hourly wages of generalmaintenance and repair workers were$16.21 per hour. e employment of gen-eral maintenance and repair workers isexpected to grow 11 percent over the nextfew years.

For more information on the Buildingand Facilities Maintenance TechnologyProgram, call (770) 528-4978 or visitwww.ChattahoocheeTech.edu. v

Lennox Launches Three-phase Nitro-gen-charged Air Conditioner and HeatPump UnitsThree-phase nitrogen-charge split systemair conditioners and heat pumps are nowavailable from Lennox. Offered as replace-ment units for three- to five-ton equipmentthat currently uses R-22 refrigerant, thesenitrogen-charged products are designed toaccommodate ambient temperatures up to125ºF.

The units feature a nitrogen-charged,high-efficiency scroll compressor that isgrommet-mounted for quiet operation andprotected internally against high-tempera-ture motor overload conditions. Enhancedaluminum fins and copper tubing coils offerhigh efficiency and capacity; a raised designprevents debris from collecting in the bot-tom of the coil, preventing loss of airflow.

Both the air conditioner and heatpump units are built with a heavy-duty gal-vanized steel cabinet coated with a bakedpolyester paint finish for maximum durabil-ity. The design also includes a full metallouvered panel coil guard and rounded safe-ty corners. Controls located in the cornerpost and external gauge ports offer easyinstallation and service. Finally, a raisedbase pan with ports installed with the airconditioner offers excellent water anddebris drainage.

Additional features of the new nitro-gen-charged split system air conditionersand heat pumps include a discharge mufflerfor quiet operation, and a bi-directional fil-ter drier for long-lasting durability and sys-tem protection. Easily accessible servicevalves allow quick installation and easycleaning and service, while a low-pressureswitch protects against loss of charge. Trade-available components are offered on bothair conditioner and heat pump units.

Finally, the heat pump unit is alsoequipped with a reliable, solid-state, time-initiated, temperature-terminated defrostsystem with a field-selectable defrost cyclein 30-, 60- or 90-minute increments. Thesystem is also equipped with Quiet-shift™capable defrost control, short-cycle com-pression protection and built-in diagnosticsto help contractors save time on the job.v

EMCOR Services Aircond Named by AFLAC as Partner of the Year EMCOR Company Honored for DeliveryExcellence of Mechanical, Energy, Automa-tion, and Facilities ServicesEMCOR Services Aircond was named Part-ner of the Year by Aflac for its delivery ofmechanical, energy, automation, and facili-ties services at Aflac’s international head-quarters in Columbus, Georgia. Havingsaved Aflac $4,000,000 in energy costs overthe last four years, EMCOR Services Air-cond was one of four companies named anAflac Partner of the Year in a competitionwith over 200 companies that provide Aflacwith services.

EMCOR Services Aircond has beenworking since 2004 at Aflac’s one millionsquare foot corporate campus in Columbus.

A portion of the energy savings were derivedby replacing the existing direct digital con-trol system with a new facility managementsystem. This facilitated the installation ofenergy saving programs that have beeninstrumental in a more effective operation ofthe facility, such as a campus wide demandstrategy that controls space temperature setpoints based on real time energy consump-tion, proper scheduling based on occupancyand hours of use, air handling unit deckreset, and hot water and chilled water reset,and coordination of the mechanical systemsto provide sufficient heating and cooling atthe lowest operating cost.

“It’s an honor to have been named anAflac Partner of the year, and we are lookingforward to continuing our efforts toupgrade facilities to enable Aflac to realizeeven greater energy efficiencies in thefuture," stated Kelly Cutchins, President ofEMCOR Services Aircond. v

Hilti TE 700-AVR BreakerThe new Hilti TE 700-AVR DemolitionHammer is built for comfort and has beenspecially designed for extensive renovationwork. Featuring 15 percent more power, areduced contact pressure, as well as anoptional TE DRS-B Dust Removal System,the TE 700-AVR helps get jobs done fasterlike removing masonry, breaking out pene-trations in concrete, and enlarging openingin walls, as well as removing tiles and plaster.

Weighing in at only 17.4 lbs. with 8.5ft-lb of impact energy, it races through anyjob. This tool achieves impressive breakingperformance, while the Active Vibration

Reduction (AVR) system keeps vibration toa minimum for increased comfort and pro-ductivity. An active cooling system reduceswear and tear, the three-chamber sealinghelps keep dust out of the tool, and theinnovative brushless SR motor eliminatesthe need to replace carbon brushes. Theresult is longer intervals between service andtwice the expected tool life.

It also features a lockable switch foreasy sustained operation during long peri-ods of use, a reduced hammering buttonthat resets when unplugged, and a side han-dle with full radial and axial adjustmentsprovides a secure grip in virtually any posi-tion. When used with Hilti TE-YP PolygonSelf-Sharpening Chisels peak performancecan be achieved because there’s no need forre-sharpening. v

Hogan Construction Group Selected by Fulton CountyAs part of the Atlanta-Fulton Public CapitalImprovement Program’s $275 millionLibrary Bond Referendum, the HoganConstruction Team has been selected toprovide Construction Management at-Riskservices for the Wolf Creek Branch Librarylocated in south Fulton.

The Construction Management Teamis a strategic association of Hogan Con-struction Group, and consultant The Col-


laborative Firm joining forces to providekey solutions to this new 25,000 square footlibrary.

Hogan’s portfolio boasts more than fif-teen library projects which includes sixCM@Risk LEED libraries all completed forlocal counties and municipalities. “We areexcited about the success of our LibraryDivision” says Paul Hogan, President, “andour achievement in attaining LEEDAccreditation for those libraries whenplanned.”

Along with our consultant, The Col-laborative Firm LLC, a system of localinvolvement and community reinvestmentprograms will be created to help create abuilding experience enjoyable and success-ful for the entire community.

One very special program to involvethe community is the creation of the ‘Wallof Fame.’ The Hogan Team will coordinatewith local schools to obtain contributions ofart, stories, and poems from local children.The true success of this project approach iscommunity involvement.

Working together, Hogan Construc-tion Group and The Collaborative Firmwill be responsible for preconstruction serv-ices and construction services. v

Decade of Employee Ownership forMcCarthy Holdings Inc. Garners ResultsMcCarthy Holdings Inc., one of America’soldest and largest privately-held construc-tion companies, celebrated its 10th anniver-

sary of 100 percent employee ownershiptoday. McCarthy was originally founded asa family-owned business in 1864. On April12, 2002, Michael M. McCarthy sold hismajority ownership interest in the companyto its employees. As the great grandson ofcompany founder and Irish immigrantTimothy McCarthy, he was the final familymember to have an ownership interest inthe firm. Today, McCarthy is structured asan S corporation employee stock ownershipplan (S ESOP).

“Our new adventure began in anextremely difficult time for our nation,right after the events of September 11,2001,” explained McCarthy Chairman andChief Executive Officer Michael Bolen.“Despite the nation’s economic highs andlows over the past decade, employee owner-ship has literally transformed our company.We have experienced significant success ona wide variety of fronts, enabling us todeliver even higher quality projects on-timeand on-budget. Moreover, with the addi-tion of the ESOP, our employee ownersnow have an additional retirement benefit—an outstanding advantage from which allAmericans could gain.” v

Hollywood & Highland Retail Mall and Kodak Theatre—completed November 8,2001 $312 million, 845,000 sf mixed use facility which includes six-level parkinggarage, retail space, cinemas and a 3,600 seat premiere theater used to host the

Academy Awards.

DeKalb County | Reid H. Tucker Library | Front View

May | June 2012 29


IEC Georgia Partner Member PaceLighting Selected as Showroom of the Year Finalist for the ThirdConsecutive YearIEC Georgia is excited for partner memberPace Lighting of Savannah, Georgia, whofor the third consecutive year has beenselected by an esteemed panel of lighting,retail, and merchandising experts as a final-ist for the third annual 2012 NationalShowroom of the Year Awards. In 2010,Pace Lighting won this award and was nom-inated again in 2011. The 2012 NationalShowroom of the Year Awards is presentedby Residential Lighting magazine & theDallas Market Center. Winners will beannounced at the Dallas Market Center in aceremony on June 21, 2012. Look for aprofile of Pace Lighting in the May 2012issue of Residential Lighting. IEC is elatedwhen members are recognized as being atthe top of the game. IEC members are qual-ity professionals with quality service.

For additional information, contactNiel Dawson, Executive Director at (770)242-9277. v

Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act E-Verify Requirements Begin Phase In on January 1, 2012

By Philip J. Siegel

On Friday, May 13, Georgia Governor Nathan Deal signed into law the Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act(“IIREA”). While this new legislation went into effect on July 1, 2011, its requirement that construction companies participatein E-verify applied only to those companies performing public work. Beginning January 1, 2012, however, the E-verify require-ment will be phased in over time such that all companies that employ more than ten employees will soon be required to partici-pate in E-verify.

e IIREA requires all Georgia employers that employ more than ten employees to attest to their participation in E-verifyin order to obtain a business license. is requirement phases in over time. Effective January 1, 2012, the IIREA requires allemployers with 500 or more employees to attest to their registration and participation in E-verify as a condition to obtaining alocal business license. Beginning July 1, 2012, the E-verify requirement applies to employers with 100 to 499 employees, and onJuly 1, 2013, the requirement extends to all employers employing more than ten employees. e IIREA instructs the AttorneyGeneral to provide a standardized form affidavit to assist employers with obtaining their business licenses. e form affidavit isavailable on Georgia’s Department of Law’s official Web site at http:///www.law.ga.gov. If your company employs less than 500employees and is therefore not yet subject to the E-verify requirement, you can provide an exemption affidavit which can also beaccessed on the Department of Law’s Web site.

If you have any questions about Georgia's new Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act, the Form I-9 or E-verify,you can contact Philip Siegel by emailing him at [email protected] or calling him at (404) 469-9197.

Philip J. Siegel is a member shareholder of Hendrick, Phillips, Salzman & Flatt, P.C., a construction law firm located in Atlanta, Georgia.

May | June 2012 31

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