Published Nationally Northeast Edition
® March 21 2018 Vol. LVI • No. 6
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Inside
Delaware’s $52.5M Outfall Project Protects Bays By Cindy Riley CEG CORRESPONDENT
Tracey Road Equipment Hosts Paving Workshop...28
NTEA Holds Annual Work Truck Show...36
World of Asphalt Show, AGG1 Expo Breaks Records...44
In Delaware, a $52.5 million project that will eliminate the discharge of treated effluent from the Rehoboth Beach into the LewesRehoboth Canal is under way. The city of Rehoboth Beach is overseeing the effort. “In 1998, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) adopted a regulation for the Inland Bays known as a GHD photo The original facility was constructed in the mid-1930s. Total Maximum Daily Load There were complete upgrades for biological nutrient (TMDL),” said Krys Johnson, removal in 1959, 1987 and 1994. communications director, city of Rehoboth Beach. “The TMDL identified the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus detailed studies and the evaluation of all as impairing the Inland Bays, and ordered options, officials proposed an ocean outreductions of these nutrients entering the bays. fall in order to comply with that order. There are basically five elements to The treated wastewater from our wastewater treatment plant contains relatively low levels of the project. They include an ocean outthese nutrients; however, the TMDL requires the fall that will discharge the city’s highly complete removal of the city’s see OCEAN page 42 nutrients from the Inland Bays Watershed.” The current treatment plant went into operation The city of Rehoboth Beach is in 1987. Since that time, the plant has operated required, under the terms of a connon-stop. It was determined that many of the sent order from DNREC, to elimpumps and mechanical equipment needed to be inate the discharge. Following replaced, along with the roofs on the buildings. GHD photo
Impact of Steel Tariffs: The Industry Reacts
Table of Contents................ 4 By Giles Lambertson
Asphalt, Concrete, Paving, Compaction & Milling Section.......................... 73-98 Parts Section....................118 Auction Section...... 122-137 Business Calendar.......... 130 Advertisers Index............ 138
CEG CORRESPONDENT
Some construction and heavy equipment associations expressed utter dismay recently at the Trump Administration’s steel and aluminum tariff decision. Yet other industry reactions to the Mar. 8 announcement were more measured, almost hopeful. The disparity in responses is a reminder that economics is not a hard science, let alone a settled one. The eventual impact of steel and aluminum tariffs is unknown, the ultimate consequences unset in concrete. Tariffs may, in fact, be more political science
than anything else. They are enacted on behalf of targeted constituencies, often are employed as a negotiating tactic, and are arbitrarily imposed and rescinded. They are very much a political tool. Which is not to say a 25 percent tariff on imported steel and 10 percent tariff on aluminum is without economic consequence. Costs Will Rise “If you accept the premise that steel is used in construction, then construction workers are going to be hurt some,” said Dr. Peri da Silva, an international trade economist in the Department of Economics faculty of Kansas State
University. “There are not a lot of other ways to say that. Anyone who uses steel is going to be economically hurt. Everyone who works in industries that use steel will lose a little bit, and the steel industry is going to benefit.” Without question, the price of steel and aluminum products will go up, so profit margins will be squeezed. Rebar and steel beams for bridges or multistory structures will cost more, so project costs will increase. Heavy equipment manufacturers will pay more for steel and aluminum components, so machines will cost more to produce, a cost they may pass along to see TARIFFS page 40