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August 2021 | Advertising for Certified Women, Veteran & Minority-Owned Subcontractors | 65th Edition

METRO’s Interagency Mentor Protégé Program Continues its Partnership for Small Businesses to Succeed in the Midst of the Pandemic Joseph Vigier

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Houston Airports’ FlySafe Houston Communications Campaign Receives Double Honors at 42nd Annual Telly Awards

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Texas Central Names Renfe as Early Operator for Historic Project

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Keith "MR. D-MARS" Davis, Sr. CERTIFIED:

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The Subcontractors US Texas Journal highlights opportunities and news relevant to the construction, energy, architecture, manufacturing, education, engineering, oil and gas, transportation, and IT industries we serve. We hope you find this issue not only informative, but inspiring and educational as well.

This month's issue highlights METRO’s Interagency Mentor Protégé Program. As our world continues to be in the midst of COVID-19, there are questions about the expectations of small businesses’ ability to pivot and thrive during this time. But the good news is that despite statistics and predictions, many small businesses have not given in, remaining resilient in moving forward for opportunities and resources. And continuing to answer the call of small businesses is METRO’s Office of Small Business, led by its Director Otis Johnson. Through their Interagency Mentor Protégé Program (IMPP), under the leadership of Shurronda Murray, External Relations Officer Procurement and her partner, Alex Sandoval,

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BEHIND THE JOURNAL PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. CHIEF OF STAFF & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla ASSISTANT SALES REPRESENTATIVE Tiffany Brown OPERATIONS COORDINATOR Bria Casteel ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa DIGITAL MEDIA MANAGER Erick Fontejon PHOTOGRAPHY Grady Carter L.C. Poullard DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Helen Callier Lawrence Dean Stacy M. Brown Julianne Malveaux Subcontractors USA News Provider

Business Development Officer, METRO continues this partnership with the City of Houston, HISD, Port Houston, Houston Community College, and Houston First Corporation, for small and disadvantaged businesses to advance.

The METRO Office of Small Business provides strategically designed and results-driven outreach programs and partnerships to assist small businesses in reaching their goals. In addition to the IMPP, the agency’s development of an in-house training program and METRO Small Business University (SBU) are just some of the results-producing efforts equipping and preparing SBEs and DBEs on how to do business with METRO. As always, thank you for your continued support of the Subcontractors US Texas Journal. When you support us, you are supporting more than just our company; you are supporting the communities in which we live and work. Working together, we can succeed in making positive things happen.

“Transit today is really about building an environment where people feel comfortable and safe. It’s about creating walkable, livable communities, and connecting people to opportunities.”

— METRO President & Chief Executive Officer Tom Lambert

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08 CONSTRUCTION 08 Construction Employment Trails Pre-Pandemic Level in 39 States as Supply Chain Challenges, Rising Materials Prices Undermine Demand 10 Construction Employment Declines by 7,000 in June as Nonresidential Firms Struggle To Find Workers and Materials To Complete Projects 12 Producer Prices for Construction Materials and Services Soar 26 Percent Over 12 Months as Contractors Cope With Supply Hitches, Weak Demand 13 ENERGY 13 CenterPoint Energy Implements Independent Board Leadership and Governance Structure 15-18 COVER SOTRY 15-17 METRO Salutes the 2021 Class of the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program

20 PERMITS 20 5 Permitting Tips to Employ When Slapped with Pages of Rejection Comments 22 OIL AND GAS 22 Newly Launched PIPES Online System Improves Access to RRC’s Pipeline Records, Enhances Transparency 22 Railroad Commission’s Underground Injection Control Program Recognized in EPA Report 22 SAFETY 22 OSHA Reminds Non-Profit Organizations of Available Grants for Training on Workplace Hazards, Infectious Diseases 12 OSHA, National Demolition Association Enter Alliance To Protect Safety, Health of Demolition Contractors 26 TRANSPORTATION 26 Texas Central Names Renfe as Early Operator faor Historic Project 30 Houston Airports’ FlySafe Houston Communications Campaign Receives Double Honors at 42nd Annual Telly Awards 30 Powered Up, Ready to Roll METRO Adding Electric Buses to Fleet

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OUR SERVICES

CONTENTS 04 ARCHITECTURE 04 Texas Historical Commission Awards Preservation Internship to PVAMU Master’s Student, Research Assistant 06 Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Black Hair Inspires Architecture Embodying Black Identity 06 Past-President Kevin M. Holland and Active Member Emily A. Grandstaff-Rice Join AIA Board of Directors

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ARCHITECTURE

Texas Historical

Commission Awards Preservation Internship to PVAMU Master’s Student, Research Assistant

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hen Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) graduate student Kennedy Wallace was in middle school, she already had her sights set on college. Although she was interested in a career in photography, a chance meeting with a historic preservation representative from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) shifted her focus to a new world with new possibilities.

“People tend to think that art school is just a place where you color all day long, but that was not the reality at SCAD,” said Wallace, who earned a bachelor’s degree in historic preservation from SCAD. “Every day, I was constantly pushed beyond my expectations and the limits I thought I had. When I decided to come to PVAMU, I was once again groomed and prepared beyond my expectations. I am in an environment where my lessons aren’t just theoretical. They are hands-on, and I love the fact that I’m being taught how to properly execute.”

The Master of Community Development student is taking her professional development a step further this summer with a prestigious internship with the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The internship is considered by many to be one of the top preservation training and research opportunities in the country. Wallace’s acceptance into the program demonstrates the rigor and success of PVAMU’s historic preservation curricula in the School of Architecture.

“PVAMU is the only HBCU (Historically Black College/University) and institution in Texas with a community development program. We are also noted as one of the oldest academic community development programs in the nation, and one of the ways we stand out is our Historic Preservation track,” said Community Development Assistant Professor Tiffany Thomas.

Thomas said PVAMU has made an intentional effort to attract students with a wide range of professional and academic training to amplify the number of research and community development possibilities available to explore. Since joining PVAMU, Wallace has been part of Thomas’s research program. “[Wallace] currently serves as my graduate research assistant, where she supports my research in Piney

Point, a Freedmen’s town in midwest Houston,” Thomas said. “I received a faculty Mellon grant ($5,000) to transfer their archives into digital form, and [she] has assisted in this work. In Spring 2020, she along with her classmates worked in this community and hosted a series of community engagement meetings funded by USDA/NIFA micro funds, which enhanced her interest to pursue historic preservation.”

The THC internship presents a new opportunity for Wallace to contribute to cultural heritage and preservation research.

“During this internship, I will be helping research and develop a diversity and inclusion toolkit that will help excel the Texas Main Street project. This fits into my career plans by exposing and preparing me for optional realities of the rehabilitation of communities of color that are in need culturally and economically.

Within the next 10 to 15 years, a handful of friends and I want to come together and start a firm that fights against the negative aspects of gentrification,” Wallace said.

The Preservation Scholar Internship is highly competitive and requires a detailed application, recommendations and interviews with the Preservation Internship Board and project supervisors. The internship provides access to statewide preservation resources, a professional network and a host of valuable research and outreach opportunities. Another PVAMU graduate, William Polley, has also served an internship and is now employed full time with the THC. “Black people and their culture are not monolithic, and Piney Point and many other Freemen’s Towns are great examples of that,” Wallace said.

“By studying Piney Point, an individual can learn about Black people’s journeys regarding entrepreneurship, migration, religion, and how they worked so hard to establish their communities. My wish and hope for many Black people within the United States is that they get the opportunity to have the comfort and knowledge of knowing Black history outside of trauma. Black people and their history are beautiful, and there is more than one way of seeing and experiencing that.”

For more information, please visit www.pvamu.edu/soa/.

Source: Prairie View A&M University’s School of Architecture

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ARCHITECTURE

Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design

Black Hair Inspires Architecture Embodying Black Identity

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he Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts announced recently that University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design Professor Sheryl Tucker de Vazquez’s proposal Hair Salon: Translating Black Hair Practices for Architecture Using Computational Methods is among its 2021 grant award recipients. Positioned between the natural and the cultural, the project explores how the natural texture and maintenance of Black hair can be translated to architecture. Tucker de Vazquez will collaborate with Felecia Davis (Penn State University), Marcella Del Signore (New York Institute of Technology), and William D. Williams (Rice University).

Inspiration struck Tucker de Vazquez while attending a show at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, where she saw photos of exotic hairstyles taken by a Nigerian photographer. One photograph, in particular, was that of natural black hair woven into a basket, creating space.

“I thought to myself, they are already making space with hair,” said Tucker de Vazquez. “What happens if we do this in architecture? What does that look like?”

With the idea of using braided hair to create space, Tucker de Vazquez sought to test out the concept through preliminary student investigation. During the spring 2020 semester, her 3501 Interior Architecture studio designed a Libromat, a combination of a laundromat and library in Houston’s Third Ward, that eventually received a 2020 American Institute of Architecture (AIA) Houston Chapter Design Award.

The project showed it was possible to develop space using rule-based methods for weaving Black hair. Its success encouraged Tucker de Vazquez to continue pursuing this notion.

“I was already working on this idea with my students in the spring of 2020, but a few months later, George Floyd’s death brought the Black Lives Matter movement to the forefront,” shared Tucker de Vazquez. “I thought this project was very timely because it speaks to affirming black identity in an architectural space.”

While much of African material culture did not survive the transatlantic slave trade, Black hair textures and styles have remained as one of the most enduring signifiers of Black identity in the United States. Until recently, there were no protections for Black hair; however, in 2019, California passed the CROWN (Create a Respectful and Open Workplace for Natural Hair) Act, legislation prohibiting discrimination based on hairstyle and hair texture. Five states – New York, Colorado, Washington, Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey – and the United States Military followed in adopting protections for Black hair. Before the CROWN Act, African American women could be forced to change their hair or be sent home if their hair was not considered a “professional” style.

“The act of braiding is a rule-based system. All pro-

cesses in black hair, including cornrows, locking hair, and even crocheting are rule-based,” said Tucker de Vazquez. “The computational piece allows us to manipulate those rules and inflect them in ways to create other kinds of possibilities.”

The use of computational methods to translate Black hair and its practices provides an opportunity to shape architecture that speaks to the Black identity. While there has been research performed in this area concerning textiles, this has never been investigated before in architecture.

“I am excited because I have been searching my entire career for material properties and elements specific to African American culture and identity,” shared Tucker de Vazquez. “Since we do not have material architecture, material elements, including the Black body itself, become the point of departure for architecture.”

The Hair Salon project will culminate in an exhibition at the Hines College in August 2022. Tucker de Vazquez hopes to have a hairstylist at the exhibition to demonstrate the unique African hair designs that initially inspired her and then show the translation into computational skills. Having received such a distinguished grant from the Graham Foundation, she plans to pursue additional funding through the National Endowment for the Arts to develop a traveling exhibition that will ultimately reach people throughout the United States.

“We live in such a western civilization and culture, where African Americans are along the edges and western culture is at the center,” stated Tucker de Vazquez.

“What I am trying to do is take African American ways of being in the world and putting that in the center.”

Sheryl Tucker de Vazquez is an associate professor at the University of Houston Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design. She has published extensively on the influence of African American culture on the American built environment, and her design work has been recognized with multiple design awards.

In 2020, Tucker de Vazquez chaired the Hines College’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force to identify opportunities for change, concluding in a comprehensive report. She is currently a member of the College’s new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Action Task Force charged with implementing action items from the DEI report. This year’s support from the Graham Foundation is her second grant through the prestigious program.

You can learn more about Hair Salon: Translating Black Hair Practices for Architecture Using Computational Methods by visiting the Graham Foundation at www. grahamfoundation.org.

For more information, please visit https:// uh.edu/architecture/.

Source: Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design News

ARCHITECTURE

Past-President Kevin M. Holland and Active Member Emily A. Grandstaff-Rice Join AIA Board of Directors

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ecently, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) announced the newly elected members of its Board of Directors. Two of the three positions will be occupied by The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) members: Emily A. Grandstaff-Rice FAIA and Kevin M. Holland, FAIA.

About Emily A. Grandstaff-Rice, FAIA, elected 2022 First Vice President/2023 President-elect Grandstaff-Rice has held a variety of leadership positions at AIA National. In 2017, she was elected to serve as the 2018-2020 at-large director. She also chaired the Equity and Future of Architecture Committee from 2017-2020 and the Equity in Architecture Commission from 20152016. In 2014, she was President of the Boston Society of Architects. Grandstaff-Rice is a senior associate at Arrowstreet in Boston. Her design work has spanned academic, hospitality, institutional, and commercial projects. She has a Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Master of Liberal Arts in Educational Technology from Harvard University.

About Kevin M. Holland, FAIA, elected 2022-2024 At-large Director

President Kevin Holland addressing NOMA at the 2015 Conference in New Orleans

Holland has supported AIA National, AIA Los Angeles, and NOMA in a number of capacities. Since 2020, he has been the Secretary for the AIA Los Angeles Board of Directors. He has also served as a member of AIA National’s Government Advocacy Committee from 2016-2018. Additionally, Holland has served on NOMA’s Board of Directors as the Immediate Past National President from 2017-2018; 1st Vice President/Presidentelect from 2013-2014. He was also NOMA’s Midwest Region Board of Directors Vice President from 20092012. Holland is the managing principal of k.michael architects, LLC, in Los Angeles. He is committed to providing quality design to all income spectrums. Holland received his Bachelor of Science Architecture from The University of Virginia and Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan.

For more information, please visit noma.net.

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Source: NOMA

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CONSTRUCTION

Construction Employment Trails Pre-Pandemic Level in 39 States as Supply Chain Challenges, Rising Materials Prices Undermine Demand

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onstruction employment in June remained below the levels reached before the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020 in 39 states, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government employment data released today. Association officials noted that many construction firms are struggling to cope with supply chain challenges and rising materials prices, which is undermining demand for new projects and impacting firms’ ability to hire new workers.

“The construction industry is a long way from full recovery in most states, in spite of a hot homebuilding market in many areas,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Soaring materials costs, long production times for key items, and delayed deliveries are causing owners to postpone projects.”

From February 2020—the month before the pandemic caused project shutdowns and cancellations—to last month, construction employment increased in only 11 states and was flat in the District of Columbia. New York shed the most construction jobs over the period (-54,300 jobs or -13.3 percent), followed

by Texas (-54,100 jobs, -6.9 percent) and California (-36,500 jobs, -4.0%).

Wyoming recorded the largest percentage loss (-15.3 percent, -3,500 jobs), followed by Louisiana (-15.1 percent, -20,700 jobs) and New York.

Of the states that added construction jobs since February 2020, Utah added the most (7,000 jobs, 6.1 percent), followed by Idaho (4,400 jobs, 8.0 percent), South Dakota (1, 4 0 0 percent) jobs, 5.9 and Rhode Island (1,200 jobs, 5 .9 %). percentThe largest age gain was in lowed by Idaho, folUtah, Rhode I s l a nd , Dakota. and South From May to June construct i o n ment deemploycreased in 25 states, increased in 24 states and D.C., and held steady in Maine. The largest decline over the month occurred in New York, which lost 6,900 construction jobs or 1.9 percent, followed by Pennsylvania (-4,100 jobs, -1.6 percent) and Texas (-3,300 jobs, -1.3 percent). The steepest percentage declines since May occurred in Vermont (-3.5 percent, -500 jobs), followed by New York, Alabama (-1.9 percent, -1,700 jobs), and North Dakota (-1.9 percent, -500 jobs).

Georgia added the most construction jobs between May and June (5,700 jobs, 2.9 percent), followed by Kentucky (2,700 jobs, 3.4 percent) and Florida (2,500 jobs, 0.4 percent). Kentucky had the largest percentage gain for the month, followed by Alaska (3.0 percent, 500 jobs) and Georgia.

Association officials cautioned that construction employment is unlikely to grow in many parts of the country until many of the supply chain challenges impacting firms improve. They added that the President could help by removing tariffs on key construction materials. They added that ending the unemployment supplements would add to the pool of workers for manufacturers, shippers, and construction firms to hire.

“Easing tariffs will help, but what the construction supply chain needs are workers to manufacture the products, ship them to contractors and build the projects the economy demands,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Unemployment supplements helped families survive the pandemic-related lockdowns, but they are undermining the post-pandemic recovery.”

Visit www.agc.org to view state February 2020-June 2021 data, 16-month rankings, 1-month rankings, and map.

Source: www.agc.org

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The Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Program at the University of Houston (UH) is committed to promoting the inclusion of HUB vendors in university procurements. The HUB Program ensures compliance with state HUB laws, assists UH departments in locating HUB vendors; as well as offering HUBs assistance to facilitate access and contracting opportunities.

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CONSTRUCTION

Construction Employment Declines by 7,000 in June as Nonresidential Firms Struggle To Find Workers and Materials To Complete Projects

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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onstruction employment declined by 7,000 between May and June as the industry still employs 238,000 fewer people than before the pandemic, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released today. Association officials said that job losses in the nonresidential construction sector offset modest monthly gains in residential construction as many firms struggle with worker shortages, supply chain disruptions and rising materials prices.

“It is hard for the industry to expand when it can’t find qualified workers, key building materials are scarce, and the prices for them keep climbing,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer.

“June’s job declines seem less about a lack of demand for projects and a lot more about a lack of supplies to use and workers to employ.”

Construction employment in June totaled 7,410,000, dropping 7,000 from the revised May total. The total in June remained 238,000 or 3.1 percent below February 2020, the high point before the pandemic drove construction employment down. The number of former construction workers who were unemployed in June, 730,000, dropped a quarter from a year ago and the sector’s unemployment rate fell from 10.1 percent in

June 2020 to 7.5 percent this June.

Residential and nonresidential construction sectors have differed sharply in their recovery since the pre-pandemic peak in February 2020. Residential construction firms—contractors working on new housing, additions, and remodeling—gained 15,200 employees during the month and have added 51,000 workers or 1.7 percent over 16 months. The nonresidential sector—comprising nonresidential building, specialty trades, and heavy and civil engineering contractors—shed 22,600 jobs in June and employed 289,000 fewer workers or 6.2 percent less than in February 2020.

Sandherr noted that many firms report key materials are backlogged or rationed, while also reporting frequent increases in the amount they pay for those materials.

In addition, many firms report they are having a hard time finding workers to hire despite the relatively high number of people currently out of work. He added these factors are contributing to rising costs for many contractors, which are detailed in the association’s updated Construction Inflation Alert (https://www.agc.org/ sites/default/files/AGC%202021%20Inflation%20 Report_Version5_S_0.pdf).

Association officials said they were taking steps to recruit more people into the construction industry.

They noted the association launched its “Construction is Essential” recruiting campaign earlier this year. They said Washington officials could help the industry by taking steps to ease supply chain backups. They also continued to call on the President to remove tariffs on key construction materials, including steel.

“It appears there are large numbers of qualified workers available to hire who are on the sidelines until schools reopen and the federal unemployment supplements expire,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Our message to these workers is clear, there are high-paying construction careers available when they are ready.”

Source: www.agc.org

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CONSTRUCTION

Producer Prices for Construction Materials and Services Soar 26 Percent Over 12

Months as Contractors Cope With Supply Hitches, Weak Demand

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

U

nprecedented price increases for a wide range of goods and services used in construction pushed up contractors’ costs by a devastating 26.3 percent from June 2020 to June 2021, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released recently. Association officials cautioned that rising materials prices are making it difficult for many construction firms to benefit from the re-opening of the economy, undermining the sector’s ability to add new, high-paying jobs.

“Contractors have been pummeled in the past year by cost increases, supply shortages, and transport bottlenecks,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “Meanwhile, falling demand for many types of projects meant contractors could not raise bid prices enough to recoup these expenses.”

The producer price index for new nonresidential construction—a measure of what contractors say they would charge to erect five types of nonresidential buildings—rose only 3.4 percent over the past 12 months.

That was a small fraction of the 26.3 percent increase in the prices that producers and service providers such as distributors and transportation firms charged for construction inputs, Simonson noted.

There were double-digit percentage increases in the selling prices of materials used in every type of construction. The producer price index for lumber and plywood doubled from June 2020 to last month, although prices for lumber have declined since the index was computed.

The index for steel mill products climbed 87.5 percent, while the index for copper and brass mill shapes rose 61.5 percent and the index for aluminum mill shapes increased 33.2 percent. The index for plastic construction products rose 21.8 percent. The index for gypsum products such as wallboard climbed 18.0 percent. The index for prepared asphalt and tar roofing and siding

products climbed 12.1 percent, while the index for insulation materials rose 10.1 percent.

In addition to increases in materials costs, transportation and fuel costs also spiked. The index for truck transportation of freight jumped 15.4 percent.

Fuel costs, which contractors pay directly to operate their own trucks and off-road equipment, as well as through surcharges on freight deliveries, have also jumped.

Association officials urged Congress and the Biden administration to act quickly to address rising materials prices. They repeated their calls for the president to remove tariffs on key construction materials, including steel and aluminum. They also urged Washington officials to explore other short-term steps needed to improve the supply chain for key construction materials.

“Construction firms will have a hard time adding new staff while they are paying more and more for many of the products they need to build projects,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer.

“Washington officials can take steps that are likely to have an almost immediate impact on materials prices, but they need to act.”

For more information on producer price index data and chart of gap between input costs and bid prices, please visit www.agc.org.

Source: www.agc.org

SAFETY

OSHA, National Demolition Association Enter Alliance To Protect Safety, Health of Demolition Contractors

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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he U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the National Demolition Association recently signed a two-year alliance agreement to protect the safety and health of workers in demolition and related industries.

The goal of the alliance is to improve

demolition industry safety by providing training and targeting industry-specific hazards. The alliance will focus on developing best practices in power plant demolition and providing agency staff with training on best practices related to deconstructing and dismantling building components for reuse, repurposing, recycling and waste management.

“Planning for a demolition job is as important as doing the work,” said Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Oc-

cupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick. “We look forward to working with the National Demolition Association to help reinforce the importance of making adequate preparations for bringing down a building, training all workers on industry hazards and safety precautions in a language they understand, providing appropriate personal protective equipment and complying with OSHA standards.”

Demolition work involves many of the hazards associated with construction, but includes additional hazards from unknown fac-

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tors, such as changes or modifications that alter the original design, materials hidden within structural components, and unknown strengths/weaknesses of construction materials, as well as hazards created by the demolition methods used.

The National Demolition Association is a non-profit trade association comprising nearly 400 member companies nationally and internationally. The association provides educational resources on structural demolition and dismantlement, industrial recovery, recycling, architectural salvage decontamination, asbestos abatement and nuclear clean-up.

Learn more about demolition hazards at https://www.osha.gov/demolition.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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ENERGY

CenterPoint Energy

Implements Independent Board Leadership and Governance Structure

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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enterPoint Energy, Inc. recently announced the unanimous decision of the CenterPoint Board's Independent Directors to implement a new independent board leadership and governance structure. The Board named Martin Nesbitt, chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee, as its new independent board chairman, effective immediately.

• Martin Nesbitt appointed as Independent Chairman of the Board, effective immediately • Independent directors eliminate Executive Chairman role • Milton Carroll to depart from Executive Chairman position, effective immediately, and from the Board on September 30 • Independent directors implement a multi-year retention arrangement for President and CEO Dave Lesar

To institute the Company's new governance structure, this independent seat replaces the position of Executive Chairman. This position has been eliminated by the independent directors of the board, effective immediately.

In connection with these decisions by the independent directors, Milton Carroll departs from the Executive Chairman position and as an employee of the Company, effective immediately, and from the Board as a director, effective September 30 of this year, each substantially in advance of Mr. Carroll's current mandatory retirement date in 2023.

CenterPoint's Board, based on extensive feedback from shareholders and evaluation of evolving governance practices, determined that now is the right time to execute this significant leadership and governance transition as the company continues to advance its well-received strategic plan to drive sustainable value for the benefit of all its stakeholders. In connection with today's leadership and governance transition, the Company entered into a multi-year retention grant arrangement with President and CEO Dave Lesar to retain his continued leadership, and to provide executive management continuity, drive successful execution of CenterPoint's value-creation strategy, and provide executive leadership succession planning.

The arrangements entered into with Mr. Carroll and Mr. Lesar will be publicly filed on Form 8-K. Mr. Nesbitt said, "CenterPoint is a backbone of economic vitality and reliable energy delivery for the communities we serve, and CenterPoint's importance is a central part of Milton Carroll's legacy. As we continue to seize opportunities ahead of us, I believe that our unique value proposition will be further strengthened by CenterPoint's commitment to strong corporate governance, including through the leadership and governance transition we announce today. I am honored to have been selected to lead CenterPoint as independent Chairman of the Board and on behalf of the Board, we express our deepest gratitude and respect for Milton, who has served CenterPoint and its stakeholders tirelessly for nearly 30 years. Milton has been a steady source of inspiration, leadership and guidance to all who have known him, and his stewardship and commitment to CenterPoint's success have been unmatched. Milton was instrumental in the creation of CenterPoint, provided initial board leadernavigated ship and with the help of many others, CenterPoint through the difficult transition of the early days of the deregula-

tion of the Texas electrical market. He then helped lead the company to where it is today – stronger than ever, with a market capitalization near its historic high. I look forward to continuing to work closely with our incredible CEO Dave Lesar, who has demonstrated tremendous energy and accomplishment since he became CEO only a year ago."

Mr. Carroll said, "In the nearly 30 years since I joined CenterPoint's Board in 1992 and during my time as Executive Chairman of the Board, CenterPoint has successfully navigated industry, energy and regulatory challenges, business transitions and changes in our nation and communities. Thanks to our great CenterPoint team, we are an indelible part of the fabric and history of Texas and the other territories we serve. I am excited to see how CenterPoint continues to evolve under the leadership of Marty and Dave and reach even greater heights of potential and promise. It has been an honor to serve as Chairman and then Executive Chairman alongside my fellow directors."

Mr. Lesar said, "We have been on a very focused mission over the past year to unlock the untapped power and potential within this company, its premium regulated utilities and its exceptional talent. Milton has been a critical partner throughout this journey, and with our utility-focused strategy, we are now taking advantage of the robust capital investment opportunities available to us and are firmly on the path to exit our midstream investments and progress our renewable energy growth objectives. I believe the best is yet to come, and I couldn't be more excited to continue my commitment to CenterPoint's future success and the development of its next phase of leadership over the coming years. On behalf of myself and all our employees, I am deeply grateful to Milton for laying CenterPoint's strong foundation and positioning the company so well for this new era. I am excited for our future and look forward to discussing our second quarter results."

For more information, visit CenterPointEnergy.com.

Source: CenterPoint Energy

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SUBCONTRACTORS USA

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METRO SALUTES THE 2021 CLASS

August 2021 | 15

SUBCONTRACTORS USA

of the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

A

ccording to small business statistics from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), small businesses make 99.9% of U.S. businesses and employ 47.1% of U.S. employees. Each year, thousands of new business enterprises open, and many businesses are currently struggling to stay afloat, adapting to unexpectancies brought on by the pandemic.

Andwhile whilestatistics statisticscontinue continueto tocome come And together in regards to the impact together in regards to the impact COVID-19 COVID-19 on the small economy, business some had on thehad small business economy, some indicators are: indicators are: • 38% of essential SMBs stayed open in 2020 • 37% remained open by adjusting business style with safety • 10% switched to remote operations • 8% shut down but planned to reopen • 7% reopened after a temporary closing • 59% of entrepreneurs expect the COVID-19 impact to affect their bottom line for two years or less • 31% of owners and managers reported that their business was not operating (May 2020) **Sources: Bank of America, Data for Good, and JPMorgan Chase**

As our world continues to be in the midst of COVID-19, there are questions about the expectations of small businesses’ ability to pivot and thrive during this time. But the good news is that despite statistics and predictions, many small businesses have not given in, remaining resilient in moving forward for opportunities and resources. And continuing to answer the call of small businesses is METRO’s Office of Small Business, led by its Director Otis Johnson. Through their Interagency Mentor Protégé Program (IMPP), under the leadership of Shurronda Murray, External Relations Officer Procurement and her partner, Alex Sandoval, Business Development Officer, METRO continues this partnership with the City of Houston, HISD, Port Houston, Houston Community College, and Houston First Corporation, for small and disadvantaged businesses to advance.

“METRO’s Office of Small Business remains in the trenches, advocating for our small and disadvantaged

businesses. The team and I have the passion, heart, commitment, and competency, working with small businesses, so they receive opportunities to do business with METRO. I am proud that this department continues to meet and exceed the agency’s contract goals with SBEs and DBEs,” said Murray.

2021 WORKSHOPS Week Week 1: May 11 Week 2: May 18

METRO’s METRO’sOffice OfficeofofSmall SmallBusiness Businessisisaa trendsetter when it comes trendsetter when it comestototraining, training, certification certificationand andcontracting, contracting,with withMETRO being firstthe to: first to: METROthe being • Have 35% contract goals • Require primes to commit to goal with identified SBEs/DBEs prior to contract award • Graduate 7 SBEs/DBEs from the IMPP • Offer multi-trades contracting • Offer full calendar year of SBU training • Offer one-on-one business assessments • Offer 100% secure on-line certification application

In 2020 IMPP was briefly on hold for Murray and her department to properly plan and prepare for this year’s participants to have the same effective and impactful experience, but virtually, through their Five Star Virtual Program. “All of our IMPP partners met and unanimously agreed to move forward with the program this year on a virtual platform. Last year met us all with some unexpected opposition, but we were not going to give up on our SBEs and DBEs, as so many of them were affected by the pandemic, needing mentoring and support to rebuild their firms,” Murray explained.

This year IMPP had a substantial increase in mentor (prime contractor) participation and commitment to protégés, with the workshops, Mentor-Protégé Meet & Greet, and graduation (held July 6, 2021) all hosted virtually.

Murray said, “The IMPP partners’ and mentors’ response to support small businesses and participate with the Five Star Virtual Program was absolutely touching. We are grateful for their commitment to partner with IMPP, meeting the needs of small businesses. Houston has an exceptional heart. Time and time again we see how our city pulls together to support those in need. Our mentors are a shining example of that selfless spirit.”

Week 3: May 25

Session Topic Doing Business with Government Entities Back Office – (HR/Compliance/PO’s/Invoices, etc.)

Learning To “Market” Your Company

Week 4: June 1

How To Price Your Product/Project

Week 5: June 8

Financial Management

Week 6: June 15

Mock Request for Proposal

Week 7: June 22

Mock Request for Proposal (2)

Week 8: June 29

RFP Presentation and Evaluations

Week 9: July 6

Graduation

2021 APPLICANTS, APPLICANTS, PROTEGES PROTEGES & & GRADUATES GRADUATES 2021

• Agha Engineering, LLC • BJackson Enterprises • CDM7, LLC • Disha Services, Inc. • Environeer, LLC • Evolution Alignment, Inc. • GK Engineers, LLC • Gradient Group, LLC • Janissary, LLC • JMAC Group, dba Craft Safety Inspections & Craft Safety Industries • Lucky 8 Cabinetry Corporation, dba Quick Qabinets • MarshWagner, Inc. • Nuksy’s Fine Catering, LLC • One Day Came, Inc. • Source2Load Electrical Consulting, LLC, dba Source2Load Engineering and Consulting • T.R. Grace & Company, Inc., dba Houston Elite Risk Management • TRT Abatement, LLC • V&M Contractors, LLC dba Paperwork Consulting • Vizion Crane & Industrial Support, LLC

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The efforts and outreach of METRO’s Office of Small Business is strategically designed and resultsdriven to assist small businesses in reaching their goals. IMPP is a partnership with the City of Houston, HISD, Port Houston, Houston Community College, and Houston First Corporation, as an extension of the support we provide to SBEs and DBEs. The pandemic has not slowed us down, but allowed us to pivot, continuing to provide the same stellar experience through this year’s Five Star Virtual Program.”

SUBCONTRACTORS USA

Joseph Vigier

Vizion Crane & Industrial Support, LLC

Bryan Jackson

Linda Marroquin

Lucky 8 Cabinetry Corporation, DBA Quick Qabinets

BJackson Enterprises, LLC

Flor Alvarez

TRT Abatement, LLC

Nathaniel Grace

T. R. Grace & Company, Inc dba Houston Elite Risk Management

Janissary - Yalcin, Nathan Janissary, LLC

Chad Slater

Dhiren Srivastava

SourceSource2Load Electrical Consulting, LLC dba Source2Load Engineering and Consulting

Disha Services, Inc.

Kastan Martin

—Shurronda Murray, METRO External Relations Officer Procurement

Davia Gernand

Juan Romero

GK Engineers, LLC

Agha Engineering LLC

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V&M Contractors LLC, DBA Paperwork Consulting

August 2021 | 17

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2021 2021Interagency InteragencyMentor MentorProtégé ProtégéProgram Program Received 108 Applications Accepted 20 Protégé’s into the Program Graduated 19 Protégé’s from Program

2021 INDUSTRIES AND FIRMS Industries A&E Construction General Services Professional S’

Heather Marsh

No. of Firms 6 7 1 5

MENTORS MENTORS

MarshWagner, inc.

Rae Craft

JMAC GROUP LLC DBA Craft Safety Inspections & Craft Safety Industries

Michael Zhang

Environeer, LLC

Quentin Howard

Evolution Alignment, Inc.

AAA Asphalt & Paving, Inc AECOM Austin Commercial Freese & Nichols Gilbreath Communications HHS HNTB Corporation Level 3 Business Consulting Levy Restaurant M Scott Construction, Inc. Manhattan MStrategic Partners Parsons Corporation Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc. Sundt Transportation TD Industries Tellepsen

WORKSHOPPRESENTERS PRESENTERS WORKSHOP Joi Beasley, GOGO Business Communications Ervin Hughes, Level3 Business Consulting Latoshia Norwood, L’Renee & Associates, LLC. Julie Irvin & Susan Repka

Whatdo dosome someofofthe thementors mentorsand andprotégés protégéshave haveto tosay sayabout aboutthis this What year’s IMPP Five Star Virtual Program? year’s IMPP Five Star Virtual Program?

I have had the good fortune of being a mentoring firm with the IMPP from its inception, and over the years I have seen both mentor and protégé firms benefit from their participation in the program. The program is invaluable in that it allows multiple agencies to work together to provide small businesses with access to training and ongoing mentorship from subject matter experts and industry insiders that they would ordinarily not have access to due to time or economic constraints.

—IMPP Mentor, Ervin Hughes, Jr., Executive V.P. of LeveL3 Business Consulting

Yolanda Henry

Nuksy's Fine Catering, LLC

Stephanie Anderson Gradient Group, LLC

The IMPP has been a fantastic experience, learning all aspects of government bidding and the procurement process that we were able to immediately implement into our routine operations. Our goal is to become a prime in the next few years and provide other protégés with the same support we received. And the partnerships and friendships we formed with all of the participants; we will continue to cultivate.

—IMPP Protégé, Michael (Xiaoyu) Zhang, PE, PMP, CHMM, Managing Consultant of Environeer Engineering Consulting The METRO Office of Small Business provides strategically designed and resultsdriven outreach programs and partnerships to assist small businesses in reaching their goals. In addition to the IMPP, the agency’s development of an in-house training program and METRO Small Business University (SBU) are just some of the resultsproducing efforts equipping and preparing SBEs and DBEs on how to do business with METRO. For more information about the METRO Office of Small Business, the Interagency Mentor Protégé Program, and all of their programs, please visit www.ridemetro.org/pages/SmallBusiness.aspx.

Trey Harris

CDM7 LLC dba CDM7

David Delancy

One Day Came, Inc.

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Sources: fitsmallbusiness.com Smallbiztrends.com sba.gov Bank of America Data for Good JPMorgan Chase

18 | August 2021

SUBCONTRACTORS USA

SMALL BUSINESS ON THE MOVE Take your company to new heights!

ARCHITECTURE/ ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTION

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

GENERAL SERVICES

SUPPLIES & EQUIPMENT

METRO’s OFFICE OF SMALL BUSINESS OFFERS: • Outreach • Certification • Compliance

• Virtual one-on-one • Small Business University (SBU) • Business Development

For more information, contact METRO’s Office of Small Business at smallbusiness@RideMETRO.org or call 713.739.4844.

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ENERGY

Condition Your AC System,

Not to Overwork

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

U

outh Texas is known for its sprawling pastures, longhorns and sizzlin’ summers. To help beat the heat, customers are cranking down their thermostats to stay cool and comfortable. How does that affect utility bills and budgets?

Those lower thermostat settings can lead to much higher energy usage and bills.

Why? Air conditioning can account for a whopping 50% or more of your summer energy bills! Ensuring your AC unit is well-maintained and running efficiently is key in preventing sticker shock when the electric bill arrives.

Recently, I spoke with Tom Damiani with San Antonio-based Damiani’s Comfort Design. I asked him a few HVACrelated questions on how to keep homes comfortable while keeping energy use down. Keep reading to find out about AC repair versus replacement, frequency of changing filters, whether or not to close vents and doors to unoccupied rooms, and more.

Me: How will customers know if they need a repair or a complete AC replacement?

Tom: Usually, it’s a threshold of how old the unit is and what type of unit it is.

Every manufacturer offers several models of systems, from builder grade (installed by the builder during construction and likely low-cost model) to high end. Depending on the type of unit you have, it may be nearing its end of life. Homeowners can look at the cost of repair versus the cost of replacement to help them make the decision. When units are around 10 years old and costing hundreds or thousands of dollars for repairs, it may benefit the customer in the long run to replace the unit.

be working as efficiently as before. They have a more challenging time maintaining the temperature you have set. Often, I find that ductwork can be a culprit of higher bills. As insulation around the flex duct starts to degrade, the unit has a harder time keeping your house cool.

Me: Should vents or doors in unoccupied rooms be closed?

Tom: Units are designed off a certain static pressure, so closing and sealing off vents and interior doors add to the unit’s stress and decrease your overall airflow.

Doing this can result in resistance and issues with coils leaking, compressor failure, and motors and capacitors failing because the AC unit is working too hard. The air return of the unit must match the output of the system.

Me: Is proper duct size important for energy efficiency?

Tom: The same sized duct throughout the house is not efficient. It’s essential to look at the volume of space in the room you are trying to cool and which direction it is facing, and how many windows are in that room. Two same-sized rooms can have different sized ductwork depending on orientation and number of windows.

Duct systems should be designed based on a room’s cubic feet per minute (CFM) requirement, then you can control dampers and move the air to where it is needed and avoid hot and cold spots. Be sure to seek the help of a licensed and bonded professional. This action will help homeowners lower their utility bills.

Me: Why do lines freeze at my outside unit?

Tom: The unit may be low on refrigerant, the ductwork might be undersized, the air return is drastically undersized, or it could be a plugged filter.

Me: Should customers check their air filters at least twice a month in the summer?

Tom: Absolutely. My friends always ask me, “How often should I change the filters?” My response is, “How often do you want to see me?” The higher efficient 5-inch filters that your specific AC manufacturer recommends, can be changed every six months. One-inch filters at the unit or the return air grill should be changed a minimum of once a month.

If you have an older house or lots of inand-out traffic, and pets, then those filters likely need to be changed twice a month.

Me: We recommend a temperature setting of 78 degrees on the AC system for customers to save money on their cooling cost during the summer. Although not recommended, we know some customers may set it cooler than that. For optimal efficiency, should customers set their thermostat to where there is about a 20-degree differential from outside temperature? For example, if it’s 101 degrees outside, should the thermostat be set at or near 81 degrees?

Tom: That is a fact.

Load calculations are based on design criteria. This considers the size of the home in volume,

Me: Can my energy bill increase year to year if I always maintain the same temperature setting in the summer?

Tom: As units get older, they may not

number of windows and other factors.

Diverting much from the 20-degree difference means the AC is working harder and longer. If customers choose to oversize the unit to keep the house cold, they may experience higher-than-normal humidity in the home. The unit then turns on more often, resulting in higher bills.

Me: What are variable speed compressors?

Tom: Variable speed compressors provide unbelievable comfort. They have between 65-80 stages to go through to achieve great comfort and can have a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) in the 20s. Unlike units that run at 100 percent capacity, variable speed compressors can cycle through stages to meet the temperature needed in the home. This can help save money as the unit is capable of drawing less electricity.

Me: What role does return air play in energy efficiency?

Tom: Most homes do not have enough return air. A system is designed to blow out as much air as returned for the unit to work properly. If the unit cannot suck back the same amount of air it pushes out, it will start pulling it from cracks and air gaps around the windows, doors and even attics. These areas bring more dust into the house. Evidence of air infiltration is dirt buildup on the floor, window sills, blinds and curtains, and near doors. This is because the AC is pulling air from the outside, a clear sign that there is an issue with return air. Those homes will need to have their air filters changed more often.

Pulling air through doors and windows also brings in warm air from outside, causing your air conditioner to work harder.

It’s important not to close vents or doors in unoccupied rooms that do not have return air in them.

According to energy.gov, today’s best air conditioners use 30% to 50% less energy to produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in the mid-1970s.

Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years old, you may save 20% to 40% on your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient model.

If you are having issues with your air conditioner, it’s best to seek more than one quote for the repair or replacement of your unit. Keep in mind that you may be able to qualify for a rebate from both CPS Energy and/or federal tax credit on the purchase of a new AC system.

For more tips on air conditioning, visit www.cpsenergy.com or www.energy.gov.

Source: CPS Energy

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PERMITS

5 Permitting Tips

to Employ When Slapped with Pages of Rejection Comments

By Helen Callier Contributing Writer

P

icture this: you sip your favorite cup of coffee, log into a jurisdiction permitting eportal to check the status of your plan reviews, then you take a double-look at the screen and shake your head wondering why you have received multiple pages of rejection comments from plan reviewers. What the heck is going on and what are they doing with your project? Your project is straight-forward and there’s just gotta be something wrong with the plan reviewers, right?

We get it and have heard many stories from contractors and architects sharing how plan reviewers do not know what they are doing and are out to get you.

Contractors go on to say that responding to pages of rejection comments costs money and pushes back the start of construction and then they ask what can be done to minimize the loss.

Here’s what we know for sure, plan reviewers do make mistakes.

Yes, that’s right. And below are a few common reasons that plan reviewers make mistakes:

• Unclear on your project’s scope of work; • Heavy workload and missed key aspects of project scope of work; • In training and lack knowledge on standards; • Hit the reject button in error when instead the project was approved; and • Not clear on how to apply the latest ordinance or new policy issued in permitting.

By looking at the rejection comments, you can discern if any of the above reasons appear to have been a factor in you receiving rejection comments. And if so, be courteous in responding to rejection comments, being mindful that it is critical for your project’s approval to treat plan reviewers as you would like to be treated. To do otherwise may dig your hole deeper and generate a different set of rejection comments.

When Whenshocked shockedwith withpages pagesofof rejectioncomments, comments,here hereare are55 rejection tipsto toemploy employininpermitting. permitting. tips 1. Check to see if pages were properly uploaded into the electronic system or if hard copy sheets were packaged per jurisdiction standards. This is a surefire way to receive a massive amount of rejections during the completeness check.

Jurisdiction staff expects to find the correct files in the right folder online or in a hard plan set. When plans are not correctly assembled or files not uploaded in the right folders, rejection comments will rise.

2. Look for commonality in city rejection comments. Often addressing one rejection comment will clear 4 to 5 other comments because they are related.

Finding the linchpin can save you time and money. If you have any questions, call the plan reviewer.

3. Prepare a thorough response sheet.

Noting “N/A” or failing to respond to a rejection comment is risky, potentially causing more delays as the section is there for a reason. If a comment is found not to be applicable, then briefly point out the reason.

Also, if a comment is about a missing sheet that is actually in the original submittal, then note that the xyz sheet is in the civil set on sheet C.123. The goal is to respond to each comment with information that is

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helpful for the plan reviewer to do their job in approving your plans.

4. Call or schedule a meeting with the plan reviewer. This step can save you time and money, as clarification ensures that you are clear on what the plan reviewer is rejecting and requests to see for granting approval.

5. And last but not least, don’t forget to meet requirements, providing a detailed QA/QC resubmittal package.

We know the pain of contractors and architects needing assistance with rejection comments, taking calls through our toll-free line. The 5 tips above are valuable to assist when responding to 2 to 3 comments or multiple pages. The PermitUsNow team stays in the batter’s box and on deck to assist clients in pulling permits in a timely manner.

If you have any questions, you can reach our team of permitting experts at 1.844.PERMIT.4.

Visit us on the web at permitusnow.com. #BuildSafe

August 2021 | 21

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22 | August 2021

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OIL AND GAS

SAFETY

Newly Launched PIPES Online System Improves

Access to RRC’s Pipeline Records, Enhances Transparency

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

I

n yet another move to take advantage of improvements in technologies, the Railroad Commission today launched its new Pipeline Inspection Permitting Evaluation System (RRC PIPES).

RRC PIPES is a centralized cloud-based portal, which streamlines agency processes and provides a valuable tool for RRC’s Pipeline Safety staff and operators to upload documents, including inspection and incident reports, and complaints, while automatically making more documents available to the public.

Not only does the new system improve transparency, allowing the public to see inspection and violation information 24/7, but it reduces staff time spent working on data entry and processing open records requests, helping Pipeline Safety staff focus more of their efforts on the oversight of about 1,600 operators and 248,000 miles of intrastate pipelines which include: natural gas and LP-gas distribution lines; hazardous liquid and natural gas transmission lines; and hazardous liquid, and natural gas regulated gathering lines.

Inspection packages uploaded by pipeline inspectors are made publicly available once the internal review process has been completed and a letter has been sent to the operator.

The system also makes it easier for operators. It reduces the amount of paperwork they must mail to the RRC and allows for the payment of fees online.

Operators may, after becoming authenticated users, now submit and upload applications and other documents for review and approval by the RRC. “PIPES is the latest example of our work to modern-

ize the Railroad Commission a nd t a ke adva nt a ge of the most advanced digital tools ava ilable,” s a id Wei Wang, RRC E xecutive Director. “Our goal is to find efficiencies where we can so staff can focus on their core duties. PIPES makes data more readily available for us to analyze and for the public to view. Online systems like PIPES help us better serve the public and help with the experience of operators in complying with our rules and requirements.”

Other recent advancements at the RRC include the launching of an award-wining database in 2019 called RRC OIL (Online Inspection Lookup), which is updated daily and allows the public to see inspection and violation information 24/7, and the CASES portal (Case Administration Service Electronic System) in 2020, which enabled the agency to process all hearings and enforcement case types electronically, reducing the reliance on paper and automatically making documents for the cases available to the public.

The RRC PIPES portal can be accessed via https:// www.rrc.texas.gov/pipeline-safety/rrc-pipes/.

For more information, please visit http://rrc.texas.gov/.

Source: Railroad Commission of Texas

OIL AND GAS

Railroad Commission’s Underground Injection Control Program Recognized in EPA Report

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

I

n a new report, EPA Region 6 once again commended the Railroad Commission’s Underground Injection Control program for protecting underground sources of drinking water and controlling seismic activity.

RRC’s UIC program, which handles the most Class II injection well applications in the nation, carries out state and EPA-approved rules on permitting, construction, and testing of underground injection wells.

Injection wells are used to dispose of waste fluid from oil and gas operations, especially saltwater; for brine mining; for enhanced oil recovery, which prolongs the life of oil and gas fields; and for hydrocarbon storage. Injection wells are located in underground formations geologically isolated from aquifers that are sources of drinking water.

InInhis hisletter letteraccompanying accompanying the report, EPA the report, EPARegion Region66 Water WaterDivision DivisionDirector Director CharlesMaguire Maguirewrote: wrote: Charles

The Railroad Commission continues to confront significant challenges in the program and has taken some innovative measures to address them in a year complicated by the Covid pandemic. We wish to thank you and your staff for your work in protecting underground sources of drinking water from underground injection activities under your authority. We appreciate the continued attention to issues related to permitting disposal wells in seismically active areas of the Permian Basin and the continued attention on problematic areas in East Texas resulting in a consistent system for evaluating seismic hazards near disposal wells and application of appropriate permitting conditions.

“We take a lot of pride in our UIC program, which is informed by the best available science to protect groundwater and control seismicity,” said Paul Dubois, RRC Assistant Director for Technical Permitting. “While we do like to be recognized for our efforts, we appreciate all critical feedback the EPA provides in its annual review of our program, which helps us to improve and better serve Texans.”

The full Fiscal Year 2020 EPA Region 6 End-of-Year Evaluation Railroad Commission of Texas Underground Injection Control Program is available on the RRC’s website at rrc.texas.gov.

Source: Railroad Commission of Texas

OSHA Reminds Non-Profit Organizations of Available Grants for Training on Workplace Hazards, Infectious Diseases

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

he U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration reminds non-profit organizations that more than $21 million in training grants are available.

The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides $10 million for Workplace Safety and Health Training on Infectious Diseases, including the coronavirus grants.

Applications must be submitted at www.grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 26, 2021. Applicants must possess a D-U-NS number and have an active System of Award Management registration. Obtain a free D-U-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet.

Additionally, the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program provides $11,787,000 in available funding for Targeted Topic Training, Training and Educational Materials Development, and new Capacity Building grants.

Applicants can apply for a grant under one of these funding opportunities.

Applications for Susan Harwood Training Grants must be submitted at www.grants.gov no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on Aug. 23, 2021. Applicants must possess a D-U-N-S number and have an active System of Award Management registration. Obtain a free DU-N-S number from Dun & Bradstreet.

Learn more about each funding opportunity at https://www.osha.gov/harwoodgrants.

Source: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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TRANSPORTATION

Texas Central

Names Renfe as Early Operator faor Historic Project

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

exas Central, developers of the high-speed train between Dallas and Houston, has signed a contract with Renfe to be the Early Operator for the transformational project aiming to revolutionize travel in Texas.

Renfe is one of the world's most significant railways operators, running 5,000 trains daily on 7,500 miles of track. The company is integral to the transport system in Spain, its home base, handling more than 510 million passengers and 17 million tons of freight moved in 2019.

"Renfe has an established reputation for excellence in railroad operations in Spain and across the world," said Texas Central CEO Carlos Aguilar. "With their decades of expertise, they were a natural fit to join our team of best-in-class global experts setting the foundation for this new jobs-creating industry we are bringing to Texas."

As the Early Operator, Renfe will work alongside Texas Central on the design and development of the commercial aspects of the high-speed train system. The Early Operator will focus on providing key expertise and supporting senior decision makers, leveraging existing capabilities within Texas Central's integrated organization. The agreement is the latest example of the project bringing on board the industry's best subject matter experts from across the globe. It comes just a couple of weeks after Texas Central announced it named the multinational firm Webuild to lead the civil construction consortium that will build the passenger line.

Webuild will be responsible for all work up to the top of the rail, including viaducts, embankments and drainage.

Renfe will also provide advisory and consulting services to Texas Central on final design, execution, construction, testing and commissioning of Civil, Station and buildings, Installation, Core Systems and O&M technology and plans and processes, as well as all commercial aspects of the HSR system.

"Renfe is proud to contribute its unique international high-speed experience to this project as we are the only operator in the world that has participated in designing, developing, operating and maintaining a high-speed train system outside of its home country," said Isaías Táboas, President of Renfe Operadora. "High-speed rail provides

a safe, time efficient, and environmentally friendly transportation option. We truly believe that the Texas Central Railroad project meets all the conditions to become the first truly high-speed system in the U.S. and that it will be a game changer for the state and the country."

The announcement is the latest milestone for the investor-led project. In July, Texas Central Signed a contract with Webuild to serve as Design-build lead, and late last year, the company reached two historic milestones when the Federal Railroad Administration issued the final Rule of Particular Applicability (RPA) and the Record of Decision (ROD) for the project.

Now that these milestones have been reached, the required elements are in place for the company to fully focus on the final due diligence and secure permanent financing.

The system Texas Central Railroad proposes to build in Texas will replicate the proven Japanese Tokaido Shinkansen high-speed rail system, as operated by the Central Japan Railway Company (JRC). Texas Central chose this system because it is one of the safest and most punctual train systems in the world. In its 55+ year history, it has transported over 10 billion passengers with an impeccable safety record of zero operational passenger fatalities and zero accidents since first deployed.

This technology reliably moves more than 400,000 passengers every day.

The project will create an estimated 17,000 direct jobs during the six years of construction, over 20,000 supply chain jobs and more than 1,400 direct permanent jobs when the train is fully operational. The Texas Central project will use $7.3 billion of materials from US companies across 37 states. And, over the next 25 years, this project will have a direct cumulative economic impact of $36 billion.

Texas Central has a comprehensive Business and Workforce Opportunity Program with a mission to promote the value and development of small, rural, and minority-, woman-, veteran- and disabled individualowned businesses by offering fair and competitive opportunities to bid and participate in building and operating the Texas highspeed train.

For more about Renfe, visit www.renfe.com.

For more about Texas Central, visit www.texascentral.com.

Source: Texas Central High Speed Rail

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Houston Airports’ FlySafe Houston Communications Campaign Receives Double Honors at 42nd Annual Telly Awards

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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ouston Airports FlySafe Houston communications campaign received double honors at the 42nd annual Telly Awards. FlySafe Houston is an internationally accredited passenger and employee-focused safety and health initiative that aims to reduce the spread of COVID-19 at every corner of Houston’s airports.

The Houston Airports’ FlySafe Houston communications campaign video, which was written, produced and edited exclusively by the Houston Airports communications team, was awarded in two categories: • Silver Telly Winner in Branded Content: Writing (Official Listing) • Bronze Telly Winner in Branded Content: Public Interest/ Awareness (Official Listing) The Telly Awards honor excellence in video and television across all screens and is judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming net works and production companies, including Netflix, Dow Jones, Duplass Brothers Productions, Complex Networks, A&E Networks, Hearst Media, Nickelodeon, ESPN Films, RYOT, Partizan and Vimeo.

“Our communications team is extremely honored to receive these prestigious awards for a campaign that was created to save lives,” Houston Airports Director of Communications and Public Relations Foti Kallergis said. “When we consider the caliber of the competition worldwide with thousands of quality entries, this accolade is a testimony that doing the right thing and committing to excellence yields great dividends. We are humbled.”

In June 2020, Houston Airports activated FlySafe Houston to work in unison with airline partners’ existing health and safety programs to create a “curb to sky” safety promise. The FlySafe Houston campaign had a global potential reach of more than half a billion in the first two weeks of its launch and was key to preserving and strengthening airline and business partnerships.

The enhanced safety measures include mandatory mask and face coverings, touchless kiosks at select airline ticketing counters, facial comparison technology at select departing and immigration entry points, deep cleanings, social distancing markers in queues, safety shields at counters, additional installment of hand sanitizer stations, increased frequency of air-filter replacements and public announcements and signage to promote good hygiene and social distancing.

“In the face of a year like no other, Houston Airports has continued to defy the limitations of our new world, in continuing to create compelling and engaging work,” Telly Awards E xe c ut i ve Director Sabrina Dridje said.

“This year’s submissions doubled down on what we already know about the industry. Creativity cannot be stopped. Collaboration will always prevail. New ideas and stories will always find a way to break through to an audience.”

Last year, The Telly Awards attracted more than 12,000 entries from top video content producers including Adobe, Adult Swim, the BBC, Condé Nast, J. Paul Getty Museum, PBS, Playstation, RadicalMedia, T Brand Studio, Ogilvy & Mather and The Walt Disney Co. Source: Houston Airport System

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METRO

Adding Electric Buses to Fleet

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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attery electric buses will be added to METRO's fleet as the Authority moves forward with the purchase of 20 full-size electric buses and 10 paratransit vans. The buses will operate on the 402 Bellaire Quickline and the 28 OST/ Wayside routes. The vans, meanwhile, will be used for METROLift and Community Connector services.

The introduction of the electric buses and vehicles is part of a larger Climate Action Plan that is currently being developed. The proposed plan has a series of environmentally sustainable initiatives including a zeroemissions vehicle program. METRO will also explore the use of vehicles powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology.

"We are thrilled to be developing these sustainability initiatives at METRO. This is about the agency moving forward and taking action to build a more environmentally friendly service for our workforce and community," said METRO President & CEO Tom Lambert.

The project also has an equity and access focus with the initial routes serving three of the communities in the city of Houston’s Complete Communities program.

These communities are disproportionately affected by carbon emissions.

"We look forward to running these buses in service to evaluate their performance and make sure they meet the needs of our customers," said METRO Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer Andy Skabowski.

METRO has applied for federal grants to fund the $25 million dollar purchase of the buses and supporting infrastructure. The procurement process will begin next to select a vendor.

For more information, please visit ridemetro.org.

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