Related Links: Study: Global Contract Disputes Worth Less, But Last Longer Construction disputes around most of the globe took longer to settle in 2012 than the year before, according to a new survey.The Middle East topped the chart in terms of both the length of disputes and the values involved.The average time needed in 2012 to settle construction disputes increased by 20%, or about 60 days, to 12.8 months.The money at stake in the disputes declined slightly, to $31.7 million.The data came from the newest Global Construction Disputes Report published by EC Harris, a U.K.-based built asset consultant and a
Related Links: ENR Blog: DOT Nominee Foxx Clears a Hurdle Link to Webcast of Foxx's 5/22/13 confirmation hearing Anthony Foxx, President Obama’s nominee to head the Dept. of Transportation, has advanced a step toward confirmation, with the Senate commerce committee’s unanimous vote June 10 to move his nomination to the full Senate.The committee’s top Republican, John Thune of South Dakota, said at Foxx’s May 22 confirmation hearing that he wouldn’t vote the nomination out of committee until DOT responded to his request for information about how it implemented budget sequester cuts to Federal Aviation Administration programs. Those cuts resulted in
Courtesy of House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Gibbs, House water-resources and environment subcommittee chairman, said, "We are studying infrastructure projects to death." Related Links: Focus on Water-Resources Bill Shifts to the House (ENR 6/3/13 issue) Senate WRDA Bill Nears Passage (ENR 5/20/13 issue) As House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders plan their version of a Water Resources Development Act, or WRDA, it's clear they want the bill to include provisions to accelerate Army Corps of Engineers civil-works project reviews. The WRDA the Senate passed on May 15 already includes language that aims to move projects faster through reviews.A June 5
Related Links: House Appropriations Committee summary of milcon/VA bill (excluding floor amendments) White House budget office statement on milcon/VA bill Boehner's June 6 letter to Obama A battle is brewing between President Obama and House Republicans over 2014 appropriations. The White House issued veto threats for the first two House-passed 2014 spending bills—for Dept. of Defense (DOD) construction-Veterans Affairs and the Dept. of Homeland Security—and any other 2014 appropriations bills that track the budget resolution the House approved in March.In response, House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) wrote Obama, saying the president was taking a "reckless" approach and was threatening to
Photo by AP Wideworld Hurricane Floyd inundated nearly the entire eastern third of North Carolina in 1999, making clear the state's flood-map revision process was dangerously broken. Related Links: Moving On After Sandy After Sandy, FEMA Flood Maps Are a Moving Target The arrival of Hurricane Floyd in September 1999 could not have come at a worse time for North Carolina. Torrential rains pounded vast areas of the state already saturated by Hurricane Dennis just three weeks before, resulting in massive flooding that exceeded 500-year flood levels in many eastern river basins.Floyd revealed deficiencies in North Carolina’s flood hazard information
Photo by AP Wideworld President Obama, with Gov. Christie, visits Asbury Park, N.J., seven months after Sandy blasted towns along the coast. Obama said, "The Jersey shore is back, and it is open for business," but it still faces "a long road ahead." Related Links: Sandy Recovery, An ENR Special Report Moving On After Sandy ENR 1/28/13 - Senate Vote Next Step for $50.5B Post-Sandy Funding Bill When President Obama paid a May 28 visit to the New Jersey shore, he met Gov. Chris Christie (R) and stopped at towns slammed by Superstorm Sandy seven months earlier. Obama noted the
Photo Courtesy of FEMA In May in Mantoloking, N.J., the cleanup contractor uses floating booms to contain debris set for removal. Related Links: ENR's Complete Coverage of Sandy Recovery Efforts Federal Aid for Post-Sandy Rebuilding Rolls Out After Sandy, FEMA Flood Maps Are a Moving Target How The Corps Removed 500 Million Gallons In 13 Days In NYC Viewpoint: The Next Steps for New York City Flood Protection Subway Signal Teams Slog On Ideas abound, reconstruction is rolling, and funding is flowing, although not at the same speed and strength with which Superstorm Sandy walloped New York City and the
Related Links: EPA will Revise Flawed Effluent Rule for Construction Sites EPA Summary of Proposed Stormwater Rule The Environmental Protection Agency's draft rule for post-construction stormwater runoff—originally expected to be released by a court-ordered date of June 10, with final action by June 2014—could be facing some hurdles.All eight Republicans on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee have asked EPA's acting assistant administrator for the Office of Water, Nancy Stoner, to delay releasing the proposal, saying the planned rule-making is "clearly inconsistent" with the Clean Water Act and that the agency has failed to allow small businesses to participate
Related Links: House Appropriations Committee summary of bill (excluding floor amendments) List of adopted floor amendments (with brief descriptions) The House has approved a fiscal 2014 spending measure that would trim both the Dept. of Defense and Dept. of Veterans Affairs’ construction programs.The bill, which the House passed on June 4 by an overwhelming 421-4 vote, provides $9.95 billion for DOD construction, down $670 million, or 6%, from pre-sequester fiscal 2013 levels.The measure—the first FY 2014 appropriations bill to clear either chamber of Congress—also slashes the VA major-projects construction account 36%, to $342 million, which is the amount President Obama
Related Links: Special Report on Sandy Recovery Efforts How Sandy-Struck Regions are Coming Back FEMA Service Center: How To Find Your Flood Map National Flood Insurance Program: Flood Hazard Mapping Over recent months, a new storm has roiled the storm-battered communities of New York and New Jersey.The Federal Emergency Management Agency's "advisory base flood elevation" (ABFE) maps—delivered to guide the start of the post-Sandy rebuilding of homes, businesses and public facilities until more comprehensive "flood insurance rate maps" (FIRMs) can be completed—have been assailed by local residents and leaders. Many complain the ABFEs overstate the vulnerability of areas to flooding