PACP Positioned as North American Standard
Since the North American Association of Pipeline Inspectors (NAAPI) ceased operations in September, the NASSCO Pipeline Assessment and Certification Program (PACP) has been positioned as the new standard for North America.
Upon closing its doors, NAAPI referred its members to NASSCO for operator training and certification. NASSCO is preparing for this demand in Canada by securing PACP-certified trainers in each province. Under PACP, operators do not need to be recertified. A QA/QC program within PACP allows contractors and municipalities to monitor the accuracy of each technician and require further training if indicated.
In June, Canada’s Center for Expertise and Research on Infrastruc-tures in Urban Areas established PACP as the industry standard in Quebec.
Overflow Right-to-Know Bill
The U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed the Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act requiring publicly owned treatment works to install a methodology, technology and management program that monitors SSOs, notifies the public and local health agencies when overflows occur, and provides monthly and annual reports to the EPA of all overflows. Congress probably will enact the measure next year. The bill is at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:s.02080:.
NUCA Creates New Position
Kenneth Sommer has filled the newly created position of Director of Chapter Development for the National Utility Contractors Association. Sommer’s duties include recruiting members, establishing chapters as legal entities, and coordinating their membership activities, advocacy efforts, programs, events, marketing, communications and general administration. Contact Sommer at 703/358-9300 or e-mail ken@nuca.com.
Water Pollution Control Program Grants
A new rule from the EPA gives $5.1 million to states with adequate permit fees for administering their National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) programs. The rule encourages states to voluntarily implement adequate fee programs and shift part of the financial burden to those who benefit from the permits. The ruling also allows states to transfer funds to other critical water-quality program activities. The permit fee incentive applies only if federal funding for state water pollution control programs is more than the 2008 level. The rule is in effect for the 2009 grant cycle and beyond. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/owm/ cwfinance/npdes-permit-fee.htm.
Learning Opportunities
Two Manuals from CWP
The Center for Watershed Protection released the final installment of the Urban Subwatershed Restoration Manual Series, Manual 9: Municipal Pollution Prevention/Good Housekeeping Practices. It provides how-to guidance on investigating and improving 10 major municipal operations, identifying which of them have the greatest impact on water quality, crafting a strategy to address them, and setting measurable goals. The manual is for smaller NPDES Phase II and unregulated communities.
Monitoring to Demonstrate Environmental Results: Guidance to Develop Local Stormwater Monitoring Studies Using 6 Example Study Designs covers scoping, budgeting, staffing needs, equipment and sampling requirements. The manual navigates the complexities of implementing a monitoring program, enabling managers to be more confident in their results and get the most out of limited stormwater dollars. The manuals are free downloads at www.cwp.org.
Maine
The Maine WasteWater Control Association and York County Community College in Wells have developed a Certificate of Business Management for Wastewater program. Sessions are Thursdays from 8 a.m. until noon at the college.
• Jan. 8 - Feb. 26 – Technical Skills/Regulatory Compliance
• March 5 - April 23 – Elective (training or computer skills)
Call Joan Kiszely at 800/452-8786 or visit www.mwwca.org.
UW-Madison Engineering Courses
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Engineering Professional Development is offering the following CEU, LU, PDH classes. They are at the Madison campus unless indicated otherwise:
• Jan. 5-9 – Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention (K081)
• Feb. 12-13 – Fleet Management (K325), Las Vegas, Nev.
Call 608/262-2061 or visit http://epdweb.engr.wisc.edu.
American Public Works Association
APWA has these courses as Web-based broadcasts:
• Feb. 12 – Successful Models for Rural Water
• March 12 – Mobile Technology for Public Works Use
• March 26 – How to Initiate and Implement a Right-of-Way Program
• April 9 – Continuity of Operations – How to Stay on Top
Call Carrie Merker at 816/472-6100, ext. 5213, or visit www.apwa.net.
Calendar
Dec. 1-5
Water Unifies International Conference, University of California-Irvine. Call 949/824-3425 or visit www.waterunifies.org.
Dec. 2-3
Water Environment Research Foundation Research Forum, Marriott Suites on Sand Key, Clearwater Beach, Fla. Call 703/684-2470 or visit www.werf.org.
Dec. 9-10
Damage Prevention Conference and Expo, Riviera Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nev. Visit www.damageprevention.com.
Jan. 25-27
American Water Works Association Water Resources Symposium: Managing in Times of Change and Uncertainty, Portland, Ore. Call 800/926-7337 or visit www.awwa.org.
Feb. 5-6
Ohio Water Quality & Waste Management Conference, Holiday Inn on Lane, Columbus. Call Dr. Karen Mancl at 614/292-4505 or visit http://setll.osu.edu.
Feb. 12-13
American Water Works Association Research Symposium: Emerging Organic Contaminants, Austin, Texas. Call Linda Moody at 303/347-6201 or visit www.awwa.org.
Feb. 17-20
American Water Works Association/Water Environment Federation Utility Management Conference, Hotel Monteleone, New Orleans, La. Call Linda Moody at 303/347-6201 or visit www.awwa.org.
Feb. 25-28
Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky. Call 800/257-7222 or visit www.pumpershow.com.
March 1-4
American Water Works Association Customer Service and Information Technology Conference, Westin Hotel, Charlotte, N.C. Call 800/926-7337 or visit www.awwa.org.
March 4-6
Utility Construction Heavy Equipment Expo, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Ariz. Call 703/358-9300 or visit www.nuca.com.
May 5-7
Water Environment Federation Technical Exhibition and Conference (WEFTEC), Anchorage, Alaska. Call 800/666-0206 or visit www.weftec.org.
