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On June 22, ���ϲ����� submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) written comments for consideration in the interim final regulation on federally-assisted projects. These projects would include building, highway and municipal and utility construction projects funded by the stimulus. In addition, OMB that same day published Implementing Guidance for the Reports on Use of Funds Pursuant to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("Recovery Act"). This guidance details the reporting requirements included in Section 1512 of the Recovery Act for recipients of grants, loans and other forms of assistance. The reports required by Section 1512 will be submitted by recipients beginning in October 2009 and will provide information to the government, such as:Who is receiving Recovery Act dollars and in what amounts?What projects or activities are being funded with Recovery Act dollars?What is the completion status of such projects or activities and what impact have they had on job creation and retention?The reporting framework in the referenced guidance has been updated and enhanced to capture additional spending data from prime recipients and sub-recipients of federal financial assistance Recovery Act awards. Further, OMB has deployed a nationwide data collection system at the website www.FederalReporting.gov that will reduce the information reporting burden on recipients by simplifying reporting instructions and providing a user-friendly mechanism for submitting required data.To read ���ϲ�����'s comments to OMB, click here.To read the OMB Memorandum and Guidance Document click here.To view the Recipient Reporting Data Model - Template, Data Dictionary, XML Schema click here.To read the List of Programs Subject to Recipient Reporting, click here.For additional information, contact Perry Fowler at (703)837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) provides significant funding for states to finance high priority infrastructure projects needed to ensure clean water and safe drinking water. The Act also includes "Buy American" provisions that require Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) projects to use domestic iron, steel, and manufactured goods. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosted a webcast on June 22 that discussed how the ARRA Buy American provisions will affect the implementation of CWSRF and DWSRF projects. The content discussed EPA's expectations on the part of the recipient, procedures for requesting a waiver, and the content of EPA's April 28 Memorandum on Implementation of Buy American Provisions.Download a PDF of the slides from the webcast here.View the webcast here.For additional information, contact Perry Fowler at (703)837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org.

  On June 29, 2009, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report, “Clean Water Infrastructure: A Variety of Issues Need to Be Considered when Designing a Clean Water Trust Fund.”  The long awaited report from the GAO acknowledges that our Nation faces tremendous challenges in replacing and rehabilitating our water infrastructure, with estimated needs between $400 and $600 billion over the next 20 years for safe drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure.      

On June 6, ���ϲ�����'s Chief Economist Ken Simonson gave a presentation to Washington, D.C.'s  Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) senior management.  WASA provides drinking water and wastewater services to 500,000 customers in the District of Columbia, and 1.6 million customers in Maryland and Virginia. In his presentation, Simonson discussed the outlook for construction markets and highlighted increasing unemployment and material price trends in the construction industry.���ϲ�����'s Municipal &Utilities Division director Perry L. Fowler also participated in the WASA briefing and discussed current industry trends and regulatory issues impacting ���ϲ����� contractors such as  American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Buy American requirements and recent waivers issued by the EPA.  Former ���ϲ����� of D.C. president and ���ϲ����� national board member Dragan Stojanovic, Norair Engineering Corp., also attended the meeting.Simonson also spoke to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection at its Newtown Creek Water Pollution Control Plant on June 22. Both the Washington, D.C. and New York water agencies have multi-billion dollar construction plans and sought out ���ϲ�����'s chief economist for his take on the outlook for materials costs.If you know of a water or wastewater agency that would like to schedule a similar presentation for its senior management and estimating or engineering staff, please contact Perry Fowler at fowlerp@agc.org.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a di minimus waiver from Buy America requirements contained in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  This is the second Buy America waiver issued by EPA; the first national waiver applied to projects under contract before President Obama signed the ARRA.  This nationwide waiver can be applied to materials or components which constitute five percent or less of the total cost of materials incorporated into  a water infrastructure project funded by EPA's Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan ( SRF) programs funded by the ARRA. ���ϲ�����'s efforts were critical in educating the EPA about the complexity and components of typical water infrastructure projects, such as treatment plants or pipe replacement and rehabilitation projects. This waiver was deemed to be in the public interest  by the EPA in order to ensure ARRA-funded projects proceed within the timelines established in the legislation to provide jobs and infrastructure investments. ���ϲ����� applauds EPA's action to avoid project delays and unnecessary liability for ���ϲ����� members.To view a copy of the 6-page EPA document click here.For additional information contact Perry L. Fowler at fowlerp@agc.org or (703) 837-5321.

On June 10, 2009, the House Appropriations Interior & Environment Subcommittee approved it’s FY 2010 bill, which provides funding for the Department of the Interior and other agencies, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This bill delivers on the President’s requested budget of $3.9 billion for EPA’s Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) programs with an increase of approximately 250% from FY09 appropriations (excluding the $6 billion in ARRA stimulus funding).

On Monday June 6, 2009, ���ϲ�����’s Chief Economist Ken Simonson gave a presentation to senior management including capital planning, design and program management staff at Washington, DC’s  Water and Sewer Authority (WASA).  WASA provides drinking water and wastewater services to 500,000 customers in the District of Columbia, and 1.6 million customers in Maryland and Virginia. In his presentation, Simonson discussed the outlook for construction markets and highlighted increasing unemployment and material price trends in the construction industry.

���ϲ����� of America applauds Contractors Association of West Virginia (CAWV) for its successful use of the Liquid Assets documentary to highlight state and local needs.  An article about CAWV's successful campaign is included in the March/April edition of West Virginia Construction News.For information about how you can use Liquid Assets to raise awareness in your community visit www.agc.org/liquidassets.If you would like to receive a copy of Liquid Assets or would like additional information, contact Perry Fowler at (703) 837-5321 or fowlerp@agc.org.

EPA is announcing new revised Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) allotments that will be provided to the states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Territories, American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages if the President's budget request for Fiscal Year 2010 is enacted.  These allotments reflect the results from EPA's most recent Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment, which was released on March 26, 2009. The revised allocation percentages affect DWSRF Program appropriations for the four years from Fiscal Years 2010 through 2013. Under these new allotments, each state will receive a minimum of 1% of the national funds available to states as required by Congress. The President's budget request for FY 2010 includes an increase in the minimum funding to be made available to American Indian and Alaska Native water systems from 1.5% to 2.0% of the total funding appropriated for the DWSRF. The President also requested an increase in the minimum funding to be made available to United States Territories from 0.33% to 1.5% of the total available.The goal of the DWSRF program is to provide states with a financing mechanism for ensuring safe drinking water to the public. States have used federal capitalization grant funds to establish loan programs from which assistance is provided to public water systems. Eligible infrastructure projects include upgrades of treatment facilities, eligible storage facilities and transmission and distribution systems. Projects to consolidate water supplies may also be eligible. Since the program began in 1997, states have provided nearly $14.6 billion in low interest loans for more than 6,000 projects. The second major purpose for which a state may use its capitalization grant is funding "set-asides."  States are allowed to reserve up to 31% of their capitalization grant for a variety of specific purposes designed to further public health protection under the SDWA. Examples of activities that can be funded through set-asides include: technical assistance to water systems, source water protection, operator certification and enhancing the ability of systems to operate successfully in the long term. Information about the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund program can be found at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/dwsrf.html

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a di minimus waiver for Buy American requirements contained in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  This is the second Buy American waiver issued by EPA; the first national waiver applied to projects eligible for re-financing, or projects which were awarded in anticipation of stimulus funding between October 1, 2008 and February 17, 2009. This nationwide waiver can be applied to materials or components which constitute five percent (5%) or less of the total cost of materials incorporated into a water infrastructure project funded by the ARRA through EPA's Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Loan (SRF) programs.  This waiver was deemed to be in the public interest by the EPA in order to ensure that ARRA-funded projects proceed within the timelines established in the legislation while meeting the ultimate goal of the stimulus' infrastructure component of creating and sustaining jobs and investing in our infrastructure.���ϲ�����'s efforts were critical in educating the EPA about the complexity and components of typical water infrastructure projects, such as treatment plants or pipe replacement and rehabilitation projects.  ���ϲ����� has been particularly concerned about Buy American requirements exposing members to unnecessary liability, particularly for smaller items which are not typically manufactured in the United States, such as some ductile iron pipe fittings, flanges, valves and other necessary items.To download a copy of the 6-page EPA document click here.For additional information contact Perry L. Fowler at fowlerp@agc.org or (703) 837-5321.