The Clean Water Act (CWA) aims to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.”  Section 404 requires a permit for the discharge of dredged of fill material into "Waters of the United States ." Waters of the U.S. has been defined in regulation to include "wetlands." Although never intended or designed as such, the Section 404 wetland permit program has evolved into the principle federal wetlands protection program.

On Monday, March 19, the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) reissued all existing nationwide permits (NWPs), general conditions and definitions, with some modifications, and also issued six new NWPs, two new general conditions and 13 new definitions.The effective date for the new and reissued NWPs is March 19. These NWPs will expire on March 18, 2012. 

The NWPs are intended to protect the aquatic environment and the public interest while effectively authorizing activities that have minimal individual and cumulative adverse effects on the aquatic environment. 

Disclaimer: This summary is provided for informational purposes only and is neither a legal opinion nor an official version of the final notice published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2007, which can be downloaded from http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20071800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2007/pdf/E7-3960.pdf.

Existing structures without surrounding land face difficult challenges. They must be retrofitted/hardened to withstand a blast if the structure is not able to withstand it. This can be costly. For new construction, the hardening must be part of the design considerations, leaving building owners and designers with several questions. What cost-effective solutions are available to create a blast-resistant building? Are there commercial-off-the–shelf (COTS) building systems that can meet the owner’s needs either as currently configured or through economic modifications? Must all solutions require a “fortress like” architectural solution? The portland cement industry is working with other industry trade associations and the U.S. Air Force to research the response of insulated cement-based wall systems to blast pressures.

At the last two Force Protection Equipment Demonstrations, held at the Marine Corps Base Quantico Va., the Insulating Concrete Form Association (ICFA) held non-instrumented demonstrations on the effectiveness of an insulated concrete form (ICF) wall to withstand a 50-pound TNT equivalent explosive charge at less than 1-foot stand-off distance with minimal damage. The wall tested was an insulated wall with 2.5 inches of expanded polystyrene foam on the inside and outside face of a 4-inch concrete panel. That demonstration resulted in several briefings, conducted by PCA’s Washington, DC office, to Department of Defense personnel on the viability of ICF and other insulated cement based wall systems to provide an economical building envelope with improved blast protection. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was the first to express an interest in investigating these systems. However, the demands of the Iraq conflict prevented the opportunity of commencing a study. The Air Force then stepped forward to conduct the research.

PCA met with its allied trade associations, the National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA), National Ready Mixed Concrete Association (NRMCA), ICFA, Tilt-up Concrete Association (TCA), Concrete Home Council (CHC), Precast/prestressed Concrete Institute (PCI), and the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute (CRSI) to determine the level of industry participation. All parties agreed to the merits of the research and PCA entered into negotiations with the Air Force to develop the Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) that formed the framework for the research. PCA then entered in a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the allied trade associations. Because of these efforts, the industry has agreed to provide insulated cement-based wall panels for research at the U.S. Air Force Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida.

Included in this research scope are several double wythe insulated masonry wall systems (NCMA and Brick Industry Association - BIA), two precast/prestressed sandwich panel systems (PCI), two tilt-up concrete sandwich panel (TCA), three different insulating form wall systems (ICFA) and an exterior insulated cast-in-place wall (CHC). Predictive analytical models, laboratory testing and full-scale explosive experiments are the primary research components.

The desired results are engineering level tools that can be used to predict the blast response of these COTS wall systems for both new construction and retrofits to existing structures. An example of a solution for a situation with stand-off distance limitations might be using a precast or tilt-up insulated sandwich panel, with the appropriate architectural treatments already cast-in, as an “armored girdle” around the building’s exterior two or three stories high or adding another masonry wythe with insulation in the cavity to an existing building.

The research program will comprise three phases. The first phase will examine existing COTS insulated cement-based wall systems, designed with standard mix concrete to meet a specified wind load and seismic design. The second phase will examine several unique concrete wall systems. The third phase will look at any modifications that could significantly enhance the blast performance of phase one and two products.

The research began in 2006 with the evaluation of 30-ft precast/prestressed insulated sandwich panels. While the blast effects are still being analyzed, the damage observed appeared minimal. The next wall assemblies scheduled in 2007 will be the reinforced masonry systems. A third wall assembly planned later in 2007 will be either an insulated tilt-up sandwich panel wall or one of the three ICF wall systems.

Article courtesy of the Portland Cement Association. Founded in 1916, the Portland Cement Association represents cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts market development, engineering, research, education, and public affairs programs.
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• Date: Thursday, May 22
• Call-in time: Noon to 5:00 p.m. EDT
• Phone: 800-899-6242.
• Theme: NAHB Members: Leaders of the Pack. Logos, a PowerPoint presentation and other items are available for download from the NAHB Web site.
• Double Spike Credits: During the month of May, NAHB will award double Spike credits for every new member recruited. 

More information on National Membership Day is available on the NAHB Web site at www.nahb.org/membershipday, or by contacting Nick Lashinsky at 800-368-5242 x8455, or via e-mail at nlashinsky@nahb.com. [return to top]

The NAHB Concrete Home Building Council is sponsoring the tour and is hoping for another large turnout.  

"NAHB is currently evaluating all of their education programs, and attendance numbers are an important measurement criteria. Our previous tours have averaged over 100 attendees, and provided a unique opportunity to learn more about our building systems, and manufacturing technologies," said Michael H. Weber, President of the NAHB Concrete Home Building Council. "In addition to builders, we feel many concrete industry personnel can benefit from attending this exciting event. If you have new employees, and are looking for a way to share with them an overview of our industry, this is certainly the best opportunity available."

You can find more information on the 3rd Annual NAHB Concrete Technology Tour on the NAHB Web site. [return to top]

The name change took effect at the 2007 NAHB Winter Board of Directors Meeting in Orlando, Fla.

"NAHB is already the leading trade association for remodeling firms whether it’s membership, services or awareness, but we found that many inside and out of the industry were still confused as to what exactly is a council," said Mike Nagel, CGR, CAPS, a remodeler from Chicago and the chairman of the 2007 NAHB Remodelers. "The change to NAHB Remodelers ensures that consumers and the broader industry associates NAHB with remodeling as well as new home construction."

The name change is also expected to spur more remodelers to join NAHB and local HBAs.

Though there are roughly equal numbers of home building and remodeling firms in the country, at 80,000 each, according to the home building industry’s latest Census figures, NAHB represents a smaller percentage of remodeling firms than home builders.

"I believe once the broader industry realizes what NAHB provides remodeling firms we’ll see that number jump dramatically," said Nagel. "I can’t even begin to count the NAHB benefits that have bolstered my ability to run a competitive business."

"No one advocates more effectively, offers the top-notch educational opportunities or provides any other service to the remodeling industry better than NAHB," Nagel added.

The name change does not automatically affect state and local Remodelors™ councils across the county. The councils have the option individually to keep their current name or more closely align their name with the new NAHB Remodelers name.

For more information, visit the NAHB Remodelers pages on the NAHB Web site. [return to top]

This means if your employer is a Builder or Associate member, and your local HBA recognizes the Affiliate category, you are now eligible for full membership via the Affiliate category for a significantly reduced fee (the national portion of the dues investment is only $5). Why bother? Because it’s the full memberships that count when it comes to taking care of our industry.

By reducing the already low Affiliate member dues structure from $25 to $5 at the national level and breaking down the financial barrier to membership, the NAHB Membership Committee is raising priorities in other areas:

1. The dues decrease is designed to increase official participation and therefore our ability to protect and serve the industry.
   
   
2. The dues decrease will amplify valuable member involvement at all levels of the federation.

“Numbers are just as important in managing the business of our association as they are in the business of building homes,” said 2006 NAHB Membership Committee Chair Larry Stege, who led the 2006 Committee in an exploration of possibilities regarding this membership category last year culminating in the change.

“The only difference is that our bottom line is measured by the vitality brought to the scene by our members and by the strength we have in our legislature’s office…in order to lead this industry into the future, we have to be able to officially count and welcome in the thousands of Affiliate members who are involved in our Councils,” Stege added. 

As an Affiliate member, individuals may serve on NAHB committees, task forces, working groups and more, and are included in the official membership number of the federation. Council members who are eligible (employed by a Builder or Associate member) are encouraged to participate by seeking Affiliate membership. If your local HBA does not offer the category, contact your Executive Officer to request availability.

More details are available online at  www.nahb.org/AffiliateInfo , or contact Emily Fitzsimmons at efitzsimmons@nahb.com. [return to top]