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Asphalt Pavements Now Eligible For Federal Funding to Reduce Carbon -Apr. 21

This morning, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) released its Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) Implementation Guidance, unlocking $6.4 billion in formula funding over five years to help states and localities develop carbon reduction strategies.

While the CRP was established in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) of 2021, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), NAPA sought inclusion of paving activities by highlighting asphalt pavement’s many climate-friendly technologies, to help states and localities meet their climate goals. Such efforts included a February letter to Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works Chairman Tom Carper and Ranking Member Shelley Moore Capito requesting support for including the Stabenow and Wicker amendment to add eligibility for “projects using pavement technologies, including designs, materials and practices that reduce carbon emissions.”

Thanks to sustained efforts by NAPA and our transportation construction partners, the CRP guidance makes low-carbon pavement technologies eligible for this important program.
“NAPA worked to bring a coalition of stakeholder groups together to advocate for this,” said NAPA Executive Vice President for Advocacy Jay Hansen. “It opens opportunities for our industry to provide carbon-reduction solutions for the citizens and communities we serve across the country.”
The CRP guidance includes low-carbon asphalt pavements as follows:
Sustainable pavements technologies that reduce embodied carbon during the manufacture and/or construction of highway projects could be eligible for CRP if a lifecycle assessment (LCA) demonstrates substantial reductions in CO2 compared to the implementing Agency’s typical pavement-related practices. The LCA Pave Tool can be used to assess the CO2 impacts of pavement material and design decisions.

What this means:
* There is a new core highway program in which low-carbon asphalt pavement technologies are now eligible.
* This is NOT a mandate on state transportation agencies or the industry, but a free-market approach to utilize ready-to-go pavement technologies that reduce carbon emissions.

Detailed information found here is available directly from FHWA.
The availability of funding for low-carbon pavement technologies supports the asphalt pavement industry’s goal to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, outlined in The Road Forward, which will require working with partners like FHWA and state departments of transportation. NAPA is launching a webinar series, The Road to Zero: Making Sense (and Cents) of Climate Stewardship can be found here, beginning with An Introduction to The Road Forward on May 2.

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NAPA Welcomes Funding Certainty from Congress

Greenbelt, Maryland — The National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA) President & CEO Audrey Copeland, Ph.D., P.E., released the following statement today after reviewing the FY2020 Transportation–Housing & Urban Development Appropriations Bill Conference Report (Division H of the Domestic Priorities and International Assistance Appropriations Minibus, H.R. 1865), which secures substantial federal funding for transportation investment.

“The Appropriations Minibus bill passed by the House today is welcome news for everyone who values the ability to move freely across America. By avoiding another continuing resolution and dedicating federal spending levels for roads, bridges, airfields, and other projects, states will have the means to boost public safety and ease the flow of goods and people across the nation.

“We are especially pleased to see $2.2 billion in funding for highway programs above what was authorized in the FAST Act, $3.75 billion in airport improvement program grants, and the dedication of $6 million to a new airfield pavement technology program. And it is all being done without any mandates that would hamper the ability of states to select the best materials for their projects.

“NAPA urges the Senate to move swiftly to approve this Minibus. With last month’s cancellation of the rescission of $7.6 billion in funding for state highway projects and the imminent completion of the FY2020 appropriations process, the cloud is lifting from next year’s construction season. States will have the certainty needed to move forward with necessary projects, and Congress can begin work on authorization of the next long-term surface transportation program.”

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NAPA Response to COVID-19

We know the safety and health of your employees is your priority. During these challenging times, NAPA strives to serve as a trusted resource for your company and employees.

Quick Links

Act NOW To Secure & Grow America’s Highway Funding

Health & Safety  Our Health & Safety page provides important information about coronavirus symptoms and steps employers can take to educate themselves and their employees to help prevent the spread of the disease.

Legislative Updates  Our legislative page includes the latest developments on the Hill, including coronavirus bills and disaster assistance for small businesses.

Business Impacts and Continuity Visit this section to see resources assembled for you and your business.

News & Announcements

May 18, 2020

TCC Fly-In THIS WEEK
Late last Friday, it was announced that the TCC Fly-In, originally scheduled for earlier this year, will be held virtually this Thurs., May 21 from 12:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. EDT. You’ll hear from four congressional committee leaders on the prospects of short-term relief legislation for state departments of transportation as well as the long-term reauthorization of the FAST Act surface transportation law, which expires Sept. 30. Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions of the legislators and will receive an update on previous and upcoming TCC activities. Click here for more information and to register. 

May 12, 2020

House Unveils COVID-19 Legislation
House Democrats introduced their version of the next COVID-19 stimulus package entitled the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act, or the HEROES Act. The legislation would provide $3 trillion to a myriad of programs to provide support amid the COVID-19 pandemic and is viewed as a starting point in House negotiations with the Senate and White House. Specifically, the bill includes hazard pay for frontline healthcare workers and essential workers. The bill could be considered in the House as soon as Friday. Click here to read more.

May 6, 2020

Remote Laboratory Assessments Available
AASTHOre:source announced it will conduct remote laboratory assessments. If your laboratory requires assessment to gain accreditation, resolve an accreditation issue, or to satisfy a project owner, then a remote assessment may meet that need during these times. A remote assessment is conducted using a combination of desktop auditing, online web conferencing, and video streaming to obtain evidence of compliance to quality management system and testing standards. Click here for more information.

May 4, 2020

Important NAPA Member Briefing This Week
Attention NAPA members: Join us this Thursday, May 7 as NAPA staff detail the impacts of COVID-19 on the asphalt pavement industry. Staff experts will brief members on health and safety issues, the current legislative outlook, and the business environment in states across the U.S. In this members-only webinar, participants can ask questions of the NAPA staff as our industry continues to navigate the COVID-19 era. Click here to register today.

April 29, 2020

Download the UPDATED Construction Industry Safety Coalition’s (CISC) Response Plan here.  CISC is comprised of over two dozen trade associations, including NAPA (view CISC’s membership information here). The updated response plan, provided as a Microsoft Word template, can be tailored to individual companies. Changes to the original plan are noted in red. The template also includes a training checklist, a toolbox talk, an employee notification form, screening tools, and other important documents and information. Read more about the asphalt road construction industry’s suggested practices for preventing the spread of COVID-19 by visit our “Preventing the Spread” page and “Additional Best Practices for the Asphalt Industry” page.

Discussions Heat Up Over “Work-Related” Coronavirus
Over the past month, state and federal agencies and legislatures have started to address whether COVID-19 can or should be considered “work-related” in essential workers and whether the illness is compensable under a state Workers’ Compensation program. While federal OSHA still requires the employer to determine whether a COVID-19 illness is “work-related,” some state Workers’ Comp boards are specifying otherwise. For the most up-to-date information, including a state-by-state analysis, click here.

In addition, questions have been raised about whether the government should shield employers from potential liability associated with business-related COVID-19 illnesses in employees or clientele (e.g., customers and subcontractors). Liability protections may be one of the central fights in Phase 4 coronavirus legislation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has indicated he will insist that any future COVID-19 legislation include provisions legally protecting hospitals, health providers and other businesses against potential lawsuits regarding infections. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) responded that she would not support legal immunity that weakens the rights of workers and patients.

April 21, 2020

NAPA Requests Federal Infrastructure Funding Amid Decline in Transportation Revenue

State projections are showing significant declines in transportation revenue as a result of a 50 percent vehicle traffic decline. In certain states, toll road traffic is down 67 percent. Today, NAPA sent a letter to U.S. Senate and House leaders, urging quick action to enact financial relief, as proposed by the state departments of transportation (DOTs) through the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). Additionally, NAPA requests congressional leadership to enact – before the FAST Act expires this fall – a multi-year reauthorization bill of at least five years and increase investments that will contribute to the nation’s economic recovery while improving the National Highway System. In tandem, NAPA launched a grassroots effort to make it easy for industry leaders to send their own letter to their representatives and senators.

April 17, 2020

Construction Workers Listed as “Essential” in CISA Guidance

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued updated guidance (version3.0) on essential workers.  In the section on “Public Works and Infrastructure Support Services” (page 13 of the above linked pdf), language has been added to include the following as essential workers: employees who support the construction, maintenance, or rehabilitation of critical infrastructure; and workers who support construction materials production, testing laboratories, material delivery services, and construction inspection.

Active Employee Screening as an Infection Control Measure 
Active screening of workers can be conducted as a requirement to entering the jobsite, before the start of each shift, and continued throughout the day, as necessary. The Hawaii construction industry provides a sample jobsite policy for employee screening of COVID-19 and use of the COVID-19 Health Assessment Questionnaire. Click here to read more.

Airport Grant Deadline Extended
May 4 is the new deadline for an airport to notify the FAA if it intended to use its FY 2020 Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grant funds.  The original deadline was April 1.  This  announcement applies only to the AIP funds provided through the annual appropriations bill.

April 14, 2020

President Trump, Governors Debate Reopening the U.S. Economy 
In a series of tweets and at yesterday’s White House press conference, President Trump announced he is taking formal steps to reopen the economy by assembling a task force. Noticeably absent from the task force are Secretary of Health Alex Azar or any other administration health officials who have guided the pandemic response.  Showing concern about reopening, Dr. Anthony Fauci has said he feels “we’re not there yet.”

Under federal emergency management statutes, governors play the more pivotal role in ordering and enforcing economic restrictions.  Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York described reopening of the economy by slowly expanding the sectors of essential services.  Gov. Gavin Newsom of California outlined six benchmarks which must be met to begin the state’s reopening process.  Many states are forming regional action plans with neighboring states. As our leaders work to mitigate economic impacts, we still need to let them know that the construction industry must be designated as essential. Click here to send a letter to your governor today.

CDC Updates High-Risk Individual Guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its list of conditions which place an individual at higher risk for COVID-19. The revised list has direct implications to accessing COVID-19 testing, as CDC guidelines require in some cases that a patient be at higher risk in order to be tested. The full guidance is available HERE.

April 10, 2020

CDC Guidance on Returning to Work After Potential COVID-19 Exposure
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued interim guidance for employers of critical infrastructure workers in safely returning those employees to work after possible exposure to the coronavirus. This includes workers being in household contact or having close contact with someone confirmed or suspected to have COVID-19. It also includes contact with a symptomatic individual and contact with an individual during the 48 hours before he or she became symptomatic.

The CDC advises that critical infrastructure workers may return to work after potential exposure, so long as they remain asymptomatic and the following additional precautions are taken:

  • Prescreening the employee’s temperature;
  • Regular monitoring under the supervision of the employer’s occupational health program;
  • Employee should wear a mask at all times in the workplace for 14 days after last exposure;
  • Workplace social distancing;
  • Regular and thorough disinfecting of all work areas, especially common areas.

April 8, 2020

CRH-COVID-Video

COVID-19 Video Tutorial for Construction Workers

NAPA member CRH Americas Materials produced a thorough video tutorial on what road construction workers can do to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus. The video is intended to help other companies educate their employees as well. Versions of the video with English, Spanish, and French subtitles are also available. Contact NAPA Communications Director Monica Dutcher to request those versions.

AASHTO Asks Congress For $50B Fiscal Backstop For State DOTs
The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) sent a letter to Congressional leadership on April 6 requesting the immediate injection of $49.95 billion to offset an estimated 30 percent loss in state transportation revenues over the next 18 months. AASHTO is requesting that the nearly $50 billion be distributed to state DOTs via formula funding, a figure that includes $16.7 billion to cover revenue losses for the remainder of fiscal year 2020 and $33.3 billion for FY 2021. In addition, AASHTO is asking Congress to pass a “robust” surface transportation reauthorization legislation in order to provide a long-term boost to the nation’s economy once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

Call to Action: Next Coronavirus Supplemental Should Include Transportation Investment
Call-to-Action-CoronaNAPA asks industry leaders to contact their U.S. senators and representatives to urge them to include a multi-year surface transportation investment package in the next round of coronavirus relief legislation. It’s easy — the letter is already written. You just have to enter your name, home address, and phone number. Click here to send your letter today.

Earlier News & Announcements

NAPA Advocates for the Industry Amid Pandemic
Since the pandemic outbreak, NAPA has signed on to the following letters in support of the industry:

Click here for an archive of all previous COVID-19 News & Announcements.

NAPA Resources

NAPA Webinar on Coronavirus/COVID-19: Business & Workplace Implications
A must for business owners, HR managers, and health & safety professionals, NAPA’s 90 minute webinar, presented by labor and employment attorneys with Ogletree Deakins, focuses on a company’s operational labor and employment requirements during the pandemic.

NAPA Webinar on 2020 Market Outlook for Asphalt Pavement
This webinar provides NAPA’s views on the various drivers impacting demand for asphalt pavement in 2020 and beyond, covering such topics as Federal-aid Highway funding, Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants, state legislation and ballot initiative trends, and the pending reauthorizing of the FAST Act in Congress. Click here to download the webinar.

Other NAPA Webinars 

CrewSafety Work Zone Training CrewSafety’s online format allows contractors to provide their paving crews with work zone safety training in an online format.

Other Key Resources

Centers for Disease Control (CDC): COVID-19 Overview
CDC: Workplace, School, Home Guidance
CDC: Keeping the Workplace Safe
CDC: Resources for Businesses and Employers
Department of Labor (DOL): Guidance for Preparing Workplaces for Coronavirus
DOL: OHSA Resources for Workers and Employers on COVID-19
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19
U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Coronavirus Toolkit
World Health Organization (WHO): Situation Reports
Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Tracker: https://systems.jhu.edu/

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Business Impacts and Continuity

DOL Issues Guidance Regarding Employee Benefit Plans (April 30, 2020)
The Department of Labor (DOL) Benefits Security Administration (EBSA) today issued deadline relief and other guidance under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This will help employee benefit plans, plan participants and beneficiaries, employers and other plan sponsors, plan fiduciaries, and other service providers impacted by the pandemic.

A DOL notice, jointly issued with the Department of the Treasury and Internal Revenue Service, extends certain time frames affecting participants’ rights to healthcare coverage, portability, and continuation of group health plan coverage under COBRA, and extends the time for plan participants to file or perfect benefit claims or appeals of denied claims. These extensions provide participants and beneficiaries of employee benefit plans time to make important health coverage and other decisions affecting their benefits during the coronavirus outbreak.

FEMA Disaster Financial Management Guide (Updated April 15, 2020)

FEMA released the Disaster Financial Management Guide to help jurisdictions identify and use available federal resources for disaster recovery, including COVID-19 supplemental funding.  While the guide applies to all disasters, the concepts, principles, and resources directly apply to COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. It includes guidance on the following:

  • Considerations and practices for tracking, calculating and justifying the cost of an emergency;
  • Supporting local reimbursement reconciliation;
  • Avoiding deobligation of grant funding; and
  • Effectively funding and implementing recovery projects and priorities.

 

An Overview: The CARES Act

Updated 4/3/2020

Congress recently passed H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This third congressional relief package provides $4.1 billion in support for individuals and businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. Below are related updates and information on payroll relief, unemployment, small businesses, fraud, and scams.

1. Payroll Relief

The CARES Act provides significant payroll relief provisions pertaining to the employee retention credit and delays employer payroll taxes.

  • The CARES Act includes an employee retention credit (ERC). The ERC is against an employer’s portion of payroll tax for an eligible business that is forced to suspend or close operations due to COVID-19, or has a significant revenue decrease, and continues to pay its employees. This credit is in addition to the payroll tax credit provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) for eligible employers providing emergency paid and sick leave.
  • The CARES Act postpones the due date for the employer’s share of payroll taxes (6.2 percent) related to Social Security for businesses. The deferred amounts would be payable over the next two years, with 50 percent due Dec. 31, 2021, and the remaining 50 percent due Dec. 31, 2022. Additional information about these payroll relief provisions is available on the IRS website.

2. Unemployment
Many people who lost their job or were laid off as a result of COVID-19 are applying for unemployment benefits for the first time. The CARES Act provides Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits for American workers. Notably, the bill also gives states the option to offer benefits to individuals who are self-employed and independent contractors. A summary of unemployment benefit provisions in the CARES Act is available here.

3. Small Businesses
Under the CARES Act, the Small Business Administration (SBA) overseea a variety of loan and grant programs, including the Paycheck Protection Program. This program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and other expenses. NAPA recommends you consult the following resources:

4. COVID-19 Scams, Fraud Attempts
The IRS has urged taxpayers to lookout for calls and email phishing attempts related to COVID-19. These contacts can lead to tax-related fraud and identity theft.

 

An Overview: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Updated 4/3/2020

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), signed into law on March 18, 2020, is effective on April 1, 2020, and contains paid leave provisions, summarized below.

1. Paid Leave Requirements

The FFCRA created new temporary paid sick leave and paid Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) programs that are 100 percent reimbursable by the federal government. The effective date of both programs is April 1, 2020 and they expire on Dec. 31, 2020. Both programs are in addition to any leave businesses already offer. On April 1, the U.S. Department of Labor announced new action regarding how American workers and employers will benefit from the protections and relief offered by the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act and Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act. The leave provisions are created by a time-limited statutory authority under the FFCRA and expire Dec. 31, 2020. The rule is effective April 1-Dec. 31, 2020.

NAPA recommends downloading these compliance assistance materials:

2. Related Tax Credits for Required Paid Leave Provided by Small, Midsize Businesses
The FFCRA provides small and midsize employers refundable tax credits that reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing paid sick and family leave wages to their employees for leave related to COVID-19. For more guidance on these tax credits, click here. For an excellent employer’s guide on coronavirus paid leave programs prepared by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, click here.

Assistance for Small Businesses: Paycheck Prioritization Program
The Paycheck Protection Program prioritizes millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $349 billion toward job retention and other expenses. Small businesses and other organizations described in the Small Business Act, as well as individuals who are self-employed or are independent contractors, are eligible if they meet program size standards.

NAPA Webinar on Coronavirus/COVID-19: Business & Workplace Implications
A must for business owners, HR managers, and health & safety professionals, NAPA’s 90 minute webinar, presented by labor and employment attorneys with Ogletree Deakins, focuses on a company’s operational labor and employment requirements during the pandemic.

Most State, Local Highway Agencies Deem Road Construction Essential
Most state and local highway agencies (SHAs) are continuing highway and road construction projects and, in some cases, have deemed road construction as essential. At this time, we do not have any reports of labor or material supply shortages due to COVID-19. Many highway agencies are providing flexibility to contractors in reviewing claims or time extensions related to labor or material shortages. With the widespread cancellation of in-person training, NAPA sent a letter to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) encouraging SHAs to allow flexibility regarding certifications which may include allowing certification extensions until training is available again and/or using independent assurance as a method to validate technician competency while completing project work. The letter also requests FHWA work with SHAs to allow flexibility regarding contract schedules in this unprecedented time.

State-By-State Compilation | Effects of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Projects and Agency Operations
The National Asphalt Pavement Association, working in partnership with the State Asphalt Pavement Associations (SAPAs), is monitoring the status of State Departments of Transportation/Highway Agencies and paving projects across the country in light of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Updates on DOT openings and project status from NAPA members and the SAPAs has been compiled, on a state-by-state level, on this page. The information below reflects our knowledge, in a very fluid situation. Updates to the page will be made as additional information becomes available. Click here to access the latest information.

Please pass along any market intelligence to Amy Miller at AMiller@AsphaltRoads.org. All new intelligence will be used for the next edition of the report.

The National Association of Manufacturers is providing updated COVID-19 information and resources from state and local governments.

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Asphalt Pavement Magazine

Stay connected with asphalt technology by subscribing to Asphalt Pavement Magazine.
View Current Issue HERE.
Subscribe HERE.

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DRIVEWAYS & CONSUMER INFO

Visit NAPA’s Asphalt Consumer Center HERE for detailed information on driveways and asphalt plants. Get the answers you want about the #1 recycled product in America. Sponsored by Beyond Roads<http://www.beyondroads.com/>.

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Additional Best Practices for the Asphalt Industry

FROM OUR FRIENDS AT NAPA:

Listed below are some additional suggested practices and recommendations compiled from industry submissions, government agencies, and other trade associations. Consider implementing to minimize contracting or transmitting COVID-19, in addition to those recommendations listed above and in the downloadable Exposure Preparedness and Response Plan. These will be updated and/or revised as needed:

General recommendations: social distancing and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)Barriere Hand Washing Station

• Maintain 6-foot social distancing as much as possible, do not shake hands, and do not congregate.
• Wear a face covering like a bandana or scarf, especially when working in close quarters. Click here for additional Respiratory Protection During COVID-19 for Road Construction Workers guidance.
• Minimize or eliminate face-to-face training and meetings.
• Minimize or eliminate visitation with non-essential individuals.
• Minimize or eliminate employee ride-sharing. If necessary, ensure no more than two individuals per vehicle. Ensure adequate ventilation, preferably fresh air, during the vehicular transportation of employees.
• Do not share PPE.
• Sanitize reusable PPE per manufacturer’s recommendation prior to each use.
• Utilize disposable gloves where appropriate; wash hands after removing gloves.
• Consider changing clothes prior to arriving home. Keep soiled clothing separate and wash in hot water with laundry sanitizer.
• Segregate delivery personnel from plant personnel.
• In lieu of using a common source of drinking water, consider individual water bottles
• Consider utilizing portable hand washing/sanitizing stations pictured right. (credit: Barriere Construction). Click on the image for more information.

Tools, Supplies, Equipment

• Minimize or eliminate sharing of hand tools (shovels, floats, loots, hand saws, etc.)
• Use disposable hand towels.
• Clean/disinfect potentially touchable surfaces on equipment, trucks, pickups etc., before and after shifts by the operators.
• Disinfect reusable supplies before and after use.
• Attempt to use/drive the same truck, piece of equipment, or tool; ensure it is disinfected after use.
• Clean surfaces of construction equipment (pavers, end loader, rollers, cranes, etc.) and service/fleet vehicles including steering wheel, gear shift, instrument panels, etc. at the beginning and end of shifts. Use aerosol sanitizers inside closed cabs.

Documentation / Weigh tickets

• Minimize or eliminate sharing of pens.
• Minimize or eliminate transfer of paper tickets or cash. Be careful of using electronic payment tools and ensure the surface is clean or disinfected.
• Utilize e-ticketing if possible. Click here for state-by-state listing of e-ticketing use.
• If allowed, submit required documentation (inspections, certifications, invoices, prevailing wage reports, etc.) electronically.
• Request third-party haulers to remain in their vehicles, if possible.
• Use a clear plastic sleeve to receive paper material tickets and attach plastic sleeve to paver after each receipt.
• For documents requiring paper copies or wet signatures, utilize drop boxes or other non-contact means to transfer paperwork between Contractor and Owner.

Documenting Hazard Mitigation Strategies

  1. Ensure daily that employees are not symptomatic or have tested positive for COVID-19 (This needs to be conducted by an authorized representative, e.g., HR).
  2. Develop a company policy for requiring employees to stay home or self-quarantine.
  3. Consider developing an Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan: OSHA has recommended classifying a worker’s exposure to COVID-19 based on a worker’s or the employment type risk factor. For example, office workers, individuals directly interacting with others or groups, high-risk individuals, etc. Examples are available on the Internet for municipalities. See Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19, starting on p. 7.
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Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC)

The U.S. EPA requires certain facilities to prepare a Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans to document how those facilities will protect surface waters from oil contamination in the event of an oil spill. Regulations that drive this program are found in Title 40 of the Federal Regulations Code, Part 112 (40 CFR 112). An SPCC Plan isn’t a permit or approval, but instead is a Federal regulatory requirement for any facility with over 1,320 gallons of petroleum stored in aboveground tanks. Virtually every asphalt plant exceeds this threshold, and therefore needs an SPCC plan. Watch this space for a new NAPA publication on developing a good SPCC tank inspection and integrity testing program.

Click here to see a webinar on developing an SPCC plan for asphalt plant facilities.

Click here for a copy of NAPA’s new Spill Prevention, Control, & Countermeasures (SPCC) Plan and Stormwater Management Guidance Manual that will assist asphalt plant owners in complying with federal requirements.

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Community Relations

Communities in which asphalt mixing plants operate often have questions about what is stored onsite, what is emitted from the plant, and the safety of the materials produced. The industry has a long history of working with federal regulatory agencies including EPA and OSHA. Since the early 1990s, EPA has done extensive testing on asphalt plant emissions and in 2002, removed this industrial sector from the “major source” category – identifying that emissions from asphalt plants are not an area of concern. To help set the record straight about EH&S impacts from asphalt plants and products, the following information briefs are available:

Environmental Impacts of Asphalt Plants<https://www.asphaltpavement.org/PDFs/SR206-EnviromentalImpact-web.pdf>
Stockpile Leachate from RAP<http://www.asphaltpavement.org/images/stories/SR-190revised.pdf>
Rap as Clean Fill<http://www.asphaltpavement.org/PDFs/SR204-RAP_as_Clean_Fill.pdf>
Cleaner Water with Asphalt<http://www.asphaltroads.org/assets/_control/content/files/cleanerwater.pdf>

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Asphalt Industry $1,000 Scholarships

Application Deadline: December 10, 2020
For more information, contact the Asphalt Pavement Association of New Mexico.
PO Box 25546 505-831-8811
Albuquerque, NM 87125 www.apanm.org

ELIGIBILITY

  •  Must be a current New Mexico resident.
    *   You or a parent must be an employee of an APANM member firm.
    *   Must be a registered student for the planned award semester, this scholarship will be applied to the student’s college account; this is not a cash award.
    *   Must be enrolled full-time in an Accredited New Mexico College or University.
    *   Must have an expressed interest in pursuing a four-year degree.
    *   Must maintain a minimum 2.5-grade point average

Click here for application.

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