| News for and about the civil engineering community
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- Los Alamos toxic waste could contaminate groundwater
Nuclear waste at the Los Alamos National Laboratory has been seeping into streams near the Rio Grande in New Mexico. Around 18 million cubic feet of waste is stored at Los Alamos, and it could contaminate drinking water supplies for 250,000 residents. While Los Alamos has begun an extensive cleanup of surface sites, the cleanup does not extend to groundwater deep below the surface. Los Angeles Times
(11/1)
    
- Rock slide closes North Carolina interstate
A rock slide that occurred last week will keep North Carolina's Interstate 40 closed for the next four months, officials say. Local leaders raised concerns about building the route through a gorge when it was first proposed. Completed in 1968, it has been shut down by landslides 10 times since 1972. Engineers have attempted to solve the problem by scaling back the slopes of the terrain, but the landslides persist because of "wedge failure" spots where planes of rock come together. Asheville Citizen-Times (N.C.)
(11/1)
- Constructing green buildings poses new liability risk
Property/casualty insurers are refusing to cover a potential liability that may arise from constructing new buildings and other properties that do not comply with environmental efficiency standards. "There is certainly going to be litigation coming out soon around this issue, and insurance companies are waiting to see" the outcome before offering any coverage, an industry executive said. Business Insurance
(11/2)
| Technology and Trends | | |
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- Column: Grants may cover 30% of renewable energy projects
The stimulus package includes cash grants of up to 30% for certain renewable energy projects, writes Michael Williamson, chairman of the real estate group in the Los Angeles office of Buchalter Nemer. In this article, Williamson explains the application process as well as how to determine if a project qualifies for a grant. He notes that some projects that started construction in 2008 may be eligible for grant funds. GlobeSt.com
(10/30)
- Online plan rooms may help contractors cut costs
Combining online plan rooms with back-office software has the potential to help contractors and subcontractors share information, save time and reduce expenses, experts say. One recent release is American Reprographics' PlanWell DataBridge, an online plan room that allows PlanWell Enterprise plan rooms and Meridian Systems' Prolog software to exchange information. ConstrucTech (free registration)
(10/30)
| Sustainability | | |
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- Businesses, governments make green strategies a priority
Businesses, officials and planners in the Dallas area are taking steps to reduce their carbon footprint. For example, a new building code in Dallas is expected to eventually reduce power and water consumption for new buildings by 15%. Meanwhile, some corporations are enabling patented environmentally friendly innovations by allowing anyone to use them for free. Xerox, for example, has contributed a method for removing toxic waste from contaminated groundwater. The Dallas Morning News
(11/1)
, The New York Times (free registration)
(10/31)
- European satellite will track water movement
A Russian Rockot launcher lifted a satellite that will track the impact of climate change on the movement of water into space. European Space Agency officials say the satellite will provide the first measures of Earth's surface soil moisture and ocean salinity from space. They also say the satellite will help scientists predict extreme weather events and calculate Earth's carbon cycle. Google/Agence France-Presse
(11/1)
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Poll: Which of the following do you think will have the most effect on your business in 2010?
Look for the ASCE SmartBrief Year-End Report on Dec. 8 and 15. The results of this poll will appear in Part 2 on Dec. 15.
 | The economy/credit problems |
| Health care legislation |
| Continued federal funding from the stimulus act |
| Unemployment |
| Management Practices | | |
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- Exchange of ideas is helpful, even for CEOs
Jennifer Walzer, CEO of Backup My Info!, cites anecdotal evidence that companies are hiring, most companies want their employees to be happy and many CEOs see the need for a strong second-in-command who can complement their skills. Walzer advocates forming discussion groups to exchange ideas and joining organizations that foster business discussion. The New York Times/You're the Boss blog
(10/29)
| Policy Update | | |
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- More challenges await climate-change measure in Senate
The Senate's climate-change legislation is expected to face more problems, as the measure has deeply divided Democrats and provoked opposition from key Republicans, dimming the prospects for its approval. This comes even as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., supported the bill, which was co-written by Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. The senators are scheduled Wednesday to talk with Energy Secretary Steven Chu, White House climate adviser Carol Browner and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar for a possible compromise on the proposal. The Washington Post
(11/2)
| Critical Infrastructure | | |
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- Small airports projects receive earmark funding
Airports that cater mainly to private planes have received $1.1 billion in funding for construction projects since 2001, according to a recent analysis. Lawmakers added the projects, known as earmarks, to annual spending bills. Airports have used the funds to extend runways to attract more corporate jets and renovate terminals used mostly by private pilots. Meanwhile, critics say some earmark projects are receiving funding instead of higher-priority projects. USA TODAY
(11/2)
| News from ASCE | | |
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Conference takes engineers "From Builders to Integrators"
The Society's 139th Annual Conference in Kansas City, Mo., ended with laughs, plus a desire to help others. Comedian, pundit and actor Ben Stein provided the laughs at the closing general session breakfast, while also stressing that investment in infrastructure, and more of it, is what has and will keep our nation great. Sunday, members volunteered their time and labor at Heartland Therapeutic Riding in nearby Stillwell, Kan., in the annual post-conference community service event. Heartland provides therapy to children and adults with disabilities through interaction with horses. Next year's 140th Conference is set for Las Vegas -- mark your 2010 calendar for Oct. 21-23. View a photo gallery of Conference highlights; more photos are being added. Review the Conference program. Learn more about ways to give your time and promote the profession through ASCE-sponsored volunteer activities.
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Save now: Take ASCE online courses for 33% off!
So ASCE members can take greater advantage of the convenience, flexibility and effectiveness of our on-demand, online courses, prices are being discounted 33% through the end of the year. Simply enter Promotion Code ASCE33 at checkout to receive the discount. Completing an online course and passing the online test will help you fulfill your continuing education requirements by the upcoming Dec. 31 deadline for P.E. license renewal in many states. A recent Education Department study found that students who learned online did better than those getting face-to-face instruction. See the variety of online courses available, and register to save 33%!
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