This week in Infrastructure Systems:
- Please join ASCE Government Relations and membership in urging Congress to pass the Water Resources Development Act. ASCE reminds us that "Passing the Water Resources Development Act of 2016 (WRDA) is one of the top federal priorities for ASCE this year. While the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) have passed bills out of committee, neither Chamber has scheduled a floor vote." Please visit this link to complete a pre-drafted letter addressed to your representatives, and let them know how important WRDA is.
- If you know a young engineer, please share these 7 pieces of advice with them, even if it is unsolicited. In the week after of Father's Day, it is good to reflect on advice from an engineer dad to his engineer son.
- The EPA has promoted several tools that can be used in order to assist water and wastewater utilities in improving resilience to climate change. The Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative helps forward thinking utilities determine how to deal with potential water shortages, increases in river levels, or increased incidence of extreme precipitation events. Three tools in particular, the Climate Readiness Evaluation Tool (CREAT), an adaptation information exchange, and an adaptation workshop planner will help utilities address the challenges they and their stakeholders will face.
- Chemicals and advanced manufacturing will be affected by a new rule promulgated in the European Union. The European commission has launched the first regulation aimed at classifying and banning endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This rule attempts an ambitious objective: guarding against unforeseen consequences of EDC exposure even though there are major information gaps in the assessment of EDC hazards and human exposures. The Guardian provides a peek into some of the accomplishments and controversies of the European commission’s new rule.
- The New York Times has done an excellent feature story on the new Panama Canal. Their interactive feature explores the risky project, and is a fascinating read for anyone interested in infrastructure. The description of the financial, cultural, technical, and economic challenges facing the Canal Authority and the project consortium is absolutely riveting. Folks living in coastal cities like I do stand to see substantial economic and technological benefits from the increased use of Panamax vessels in international shipping.
- Big week for Ohio off the basketball court too, as Columbus, OH, USA is awarded $140 million, including a $50 million smart cities grant from the Department of Transportation, to upgrade their transportation network. How can your city become smarter?