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July 2020 | Advertising for Certified Women, Veteran & Minority-Owned Subcontractors | 52nd Edition

TLC Engineering, Inc.

Helping Reopen Houston through UV Light Sterilization

Front Row (Left to Right): Shanti Vann, Pamela Gonzalez Back Row (Left to Right): Penelope Ybarra, DeShante Owens, Vincent Griggs, Tony L. Council, Bill Buckmaster, Nuri Brinkley

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INSIDE

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9.1% Doesn't Equal Economic Justice: What the Harris County Commissioners Court Disparity Study Reveals

08

Department of Commerce Announces New National Director of Minority Business Development Agency

30

Port Houston Successfully Managing through Pandemic – Keeping People First

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PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

Keith J. Davis, Sr. CERTIFIED:

HMSDC

The Subcontractors USA 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 TLC Engineering, Inc., a City of Houstoncertified Minority, Small, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and state of Texas registered Historically Underutilized Business that specializes in customized services in the areas of engineering, environmental services, construction management and inspections and disas-

Port of Houston

ACCOUNTING MANAGER Eugenie Doualla STAFF WRITER Carly Hammack ART DIRECTOR Angel Rosa PHOTOGRAPHY Grady Carter L.C. Poullard DISTRIBUTION Rockie Hayden CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Helen Callier Subcontractors USA News Provider

–Albert Einstein

City of Houston

HISD

04 ARCHITECTURE 04 Architects are crucial partners for civic leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic 06 CONSTRUCTION 04 06 Contractors pledge to combat racial inequality 08 Department of Commerce Announces New National Director of Minority Business Development Agency 10 Passage Of Paycheck Protection Program Improvements Will Save Many Construction Jobs And Protect Construction Employers 12 IT & TECHNOLOGY 12 The 5 Best Tech Opportunities for Construction Companies 14 SPOTLIGHT 14 9.1% Doesn't Equal Economic Justice: What the Harris County Commissioners Court Disparity Study Reveals 16-17 COVER STORY 16-17 TLC’s High-Tech Solution to Combat COVID-19: UV Light Sterilization 18 OIL AND GAS 18 Oil and Gas Monitoring and Enforcement Plan finalized 18 Texas Methane & Flaring Coalition Launches New Online Education Resources 20 Reducing Natural Gas Flaring

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22 PERMITS 22 The Top Ten Mistakes Contractors Often Make When Submitting Online for Permit 24 SAFETY 24 Which face coverings are best for preventing jobsite coronavirus spread?

24 U.S. Department of Labor Announces Availability of $11.5 Million 26 Seven Steps to Correctly Wear a Respirator at Work

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CONTENTS

PUBLISHER & CEO Keith J. Davis, Sr. COO & MANAGING EDITOR Kimberly Floyd

“You can’t solve a problem on the same level that it was created. You have to rise above it to the next level.”

Metro

BEHIND THE JOURNAL

ter management. TLC has provided exponential aid in every presidentially declared disaster to hit the City of Houston since Hurricane Ike in 2008, and now, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have created a top-notch system focused on the use of Ultraviolet light to help places of business sterilize and get to a point of reopening.

As always, thank you for your continued support of Subcontractors USA 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.

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30 TRANSPORTATION 30 Port Houston Successfully Managing through Pandemic – Keeping People First 30 Environmental Impact Statement Advances Texas High-Speed Train Project

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ARCHITECTURE

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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rom response to recovery, architects can offer unique solutions for cities, towns, and villages.

Recently, AIA 2020 President Jane Frederick, FAIA, and At-large Director Dan Hart, FAIA, participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by the National League of Cities and attended by a small group of civic leaders representing cities from around the country. The timely discussion focused on how architects can help cities address the challenges they are currently facing, and how best to reopen safely.

Frederick and Hart emphasized that architects are problem solvers at their core, not just when designing buildings and spaces. Civic leaders can consult architects to solve current problems, including rethinking how to deliver government services to their communities and constituents post-COVID, as well as rethinking

Architects are crucial partners for civic leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic

the design of educational facilities, nursing homes, restaurants, libraries, and grocery stores.

AIA’s special COVID-19 task forces have spearheaded this response at a national level and have developed the following resources for members, including: Reoccupancy Assessment Tool, Alternative Care Sites Preparedness, and COVID-19 ArchMap. AIA’s Blueprint for Better campaign has been championing the partnership between architects and civic leaders for years, but this relationship is more important now than ever.

COVID-19 has caused small businesses across the country to shutter, either temporarily or permanently, and local governments are struggling. With many of these municipalities relying on money from restaurant and tourism taxes to operate, it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain operations as normal – threatening hospitals, roads, and crucial

infrastructure repairs. According to data collected by the National League of Cities, nearly 100% of cities with populations above 50,000 will see a revenue decline this year, with an expected revenue loss of up to $134 billion nationwide. Additionally, between 300,000 and 1 million public-sector workers could be laid off or furloughed.

Construction is the local lifeline to an improving economy. It is crucial that cities and towns move construction projects forward during this pandemic, if their states allow. For unfunded projects or projects in states with strict restrictions, architects and civic leaders can continue working together on the design phase, so construction can begin as soon as mandates are lifted and funding is approved.

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Source: AIA

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CONTRACTORS PLEDGE CONSTRUCTION

to combat racial inequality

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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onstruction firms across the country are responding to recent protests against police brutality and racial injustice with statements calling for an end to inequity and with programs to attract and retain diverse team members.

Turner Construction has posted messages of support on its websites and on social media. "Recent events are a stark and painful reminder of the consequences of ongoing, undeniable racism that exists in our communities," wrote Turner CEO Peter Davoren.

Daniel L. Johnson, CEO, and David C. Mortenson, chairman, of Minneapolis-based Mortenson, signed a statement from 29 Minnesota-based companies calling for an end to racial inequities that led to the May 25 killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

“These acts are painful and traumatic for our entire community, especially our communities of color,” they wrote. “The repeated occurrence of racially charged events of this nature are contrary to the close-knit employment and residential communities we desire to have in Minnesota.”

One hundred and eleven companies so far have joined the Associated General Contractors' newly formed Culture of CARE program designed to help contractors create more welcoming workplace environments for staff, particularly those from diverse demographic backgrounds. These companies — including Hensel Phelps, PCL and Skanska — have taken a pledge to ensure their workplaces are free from harassment, hazing and bullying.

As part of the program, the AGC is offering training designed to establish more inclusive workplaces. There are also broader educational materials available from the Culture of CARE program, including sample HR policies, toolbox talks, jobsite posters and hardhat stickers.

Talkingpoints points Talking The George Floyd murder and subsequent public outcry has renewed the conversation around race in the construction industry, according to Brynn Huneke, AGC director of diversity and inclusion.

"While there are lots of companies in the construction industry that have diversity and inclusion efforts and

have had them for a long time, I think this has reignited their desire to continue to grow and push and examine their own cultures and policies and practices and look at them through a diversity and inclusion lens," she said.

The numbers show there is still much work to be done in order to diversify the industry. For instance, African-American workers represent 12% of the total U.S. workforce but only 6% of the construction workforce, AGC Vice President of Public Affairs and Strategic Initiatives Brian Turmail said, and women are more than half of the U.S. workforce but make up only 3% of craft construction workers and 9% of the total construction workforce.

To help raise those numbers, the Associated General Contractors of San Diego announced last week that it has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Black Contractors Association of San Diego to expand and strengthen training programs for African Americans and other underrepresented groups in the city.

The organization’s aim is to build a regional construction workforce that is representative of San Diego’s diverse community, said Bill Haithcock, president of AGC San Diego, in a statement announcing the partnership.

Abdur-Rahim Hameed, president of the Black Contractors Association, said that the agreement is a “huge step in the right direction” and will more than double the number of apprenticeship positions, such as carpenters and drywallers, at local jobsites.

Staff support support Staff While standing against racial equality is the right thing to do, it also makes good business sense, Turmail told Construction Dive. Corporations as varied as Coca-Cola, Target, TD Bank and the NFL have all taken a stand

with protestors responding to Floyd's killing.

Construction companies are often asked about their inclusiveness during major construction projects or on state or federal jobs and recent incidents will increase this awareness by owners, he said.

“Companies want to make sure they are doing business with firms that are inclusive and doing their best to make sure they reflect the culture of the communities where they operate,” he said.

A recent AGC white paper highlights that an emphasis on diversity and inclusion can positively impact company profitability by improving employee productivity, recruiting and retaining top talent, increasing innovation and creating a safer workplace.

Furthermore, collaborative partnerships with diverse entities provide opportunities to expand market share.

It’s also important for organization leaders to acknowledge how employees are affected by the issue, according to J. Christopher Hamilton, an attorney and assistant professor at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

As many organizations are operating in a telework environment amid the COV ID-19 pandemic, a companywide virtual town hall is the best method for a CEO to "express that they stand on the side of justice," Hamilton told HR Dive, our sister publication. The meeting will create the right atmosphere and supportive environment, providing a conduit to express concerns, he said.

Leaders should affirm that they "stand behind the organization's antidiscrimination policies, and will continue to operate in accordance with U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission [EEOC] guidelines and regulations," he said.

Surveys can be helpful for identifying potentially disruptive issues within an organization. This method provides an opportunity for organizations that are trying to be "progressive, thoughtful and effective in their management," as well as those trying to create "an environment of inclusivity within the organization," Hamilton said.

Research shows that employers can boost retention by showing employees empathy.

"If you don't acknowledge the emotional and psychological impact on your staff during a national crisis," Hamilton said, "then you will not be prepared to address the implications that has for your bottom line."

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Source: Construction Dive

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CONSTRUCTION

Department of Commerce Announces New National Director of Minority Business Development Agency

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oday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced that David J. Byrd will be the new National Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA).

Mr. Byrd will be the 18th National Director of the agency.

Established by an Executive Order in 1969, MBDA is the only Federal agency solely dedicated to the growth and global compet it iveness of U.S. m inorit yowned businesses. “ D a v i d ’s vast experience in public ser vice and as an entrepreneur are true assets to MBDA and the Department of Commerce,” said Secretary Ross. “In his new role, I fully expect him to continue to provide the type of leadership that will lay the foundation to usher in the next 50 years of opportunities and growth for minorities as well as the country as a whole.”

Mr. Byrd joined MBDA in October 2019 as the National Deputy Director responsible for overseeing the day-to-day departmental operations and establishing a streamlined information portal to track Agency milestones and program execution. As MBDA National Director,

Mr. Byrd will oversee the development and implementation of Agency initiatives, policy agenda, and federal grant programs.

“I am honored to be selected by Secretary Ross to lead the Minority Business Development Agency”, said Mr. Byrd.

“I am proud to take the helm as the National Director following several of my career mentors who were instrumental in shaping the mission and strategic direction of MBDA since its founding in 1969. I look forward to continuing the Agency’s work ensuring the resiliency and growth of America’s minorityowned firms today, tomorrow, and for future generations of minority entrepreneurs.”

Prior to accepting the fourth presidential appointment of his career at MBDA, Mr. Byrd served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy Development, at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. His more than 28-year career in public service has included executive positions at the county, state, and federal levels. Mr. Byrd is also an experienced entrepreneur who owned and operated a consulting firm specializing in government relations, political consulting, executive and life skills coaching.

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CONSTRUCTION

Passage Of Paycheck Protection Program Improvements

Will Save Many Construction Jobs And Protect Construction Employers

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ith Needed Improvements to the Vital Survival Program Complete, Construction Official Urges Congress and the President to Act Quickly on Measures to Rebuild the Economy and Restore Jobs The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in reaction to the passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020: “This new law improves upon the original Paycheck Protection Program by extending the coverage period to 24 weeks, revising the ratio of percentage of expenses allowed to be forgiven up to 60 percent payroll costs and 40 percent non-payroll, extending the maturity period for the loans from two years to five, and allowing loan recipients to defer payroll taxes through the end of 2020. Its enactment will save

many construction jobs and allow thousands of construction firms to remain in business.

“Having fixed several problems with a measure designed to helped firms survive, it is time for Congress and the President to put in place measures to rebuild our economy. These measures include providing liability protection for contractors and other businesses that are taking steps to protect workers from the coronavirus, new infrastructure funding and measures to stimulate broader, private-sector demand for construction and development.”

Source: Associated General Contractors

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BEST TECH 5 12 | July 2020

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IT & TECHNOLOGY

The

Opportunities for Construction Companies

invoice approval, so then you need a payments automation solution on top of that. The good news is that automating payments is pretty easy to do, and it doesn’t depend on automating the invoice workflow, which is a much bigger project.

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

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onstruction has been one of the slowest industries to adopt technology. That’s partly cultural—folks in the industry like to solve problems with their own ingenuity. Many firms are still family owned, and there’s still a lot reverence for tradition. Plus, this is an industry with thin margins, where the first funding priorities are equipment and personnel.

But, it’s also partly because there hasn’t been a lot of technology built to meet the needs of the industry.

Before smart phones, it was hard to bring technology to the field. Even then, you had to have a good Wi-Fi connection, which wasn’t consistently available, or an expensive data plan. And, a lot of early field capture technology was based on someone having to manually input data into a device. That was a non-starter; having superintendents manually entering data didn’t really provide much in the way of productivity gains, and made for a lot of unhappy superintendents.

Now all that is changing. Founders are aging out of the industry, creating an opportunity for younger generations to apply technology with less resistance. Project owners are requiring the use of different technologies as a condition of funding. And, there are an increasing number of great solutions specifically designed for the industry. Connectivity and computing power have increased dramatically, making mobile applications a lot more reliable, robust and user-friendly. Cameras, drones, GPS, and RFID technology are making it easy to capture data without human intervention.

As more technology comes into play, the industry is finally waking up to the impact it can have on bottom line profitability. Here are some of the technology opportunities construction companies should have on their radar:

1

andVRVR 1. ARARand Whether it’s on a computer screen or through a headset, augmented and virtual reality are taking the output of BIM software and creating virtual models of a structure subcontractors can walk through before it’s even built, allowing them to collaborate and spot potential issues in a virtual environment.

For example, an electrical contractor could walk through the schematic of what the mechanical contractor would have built so they can say, “Okay, I see that there’s going to be a standpipe here, so we’ll run our conduit right next to it.” That leads to less rework and fewer scheduling delays. AR can also be used to help train workers in a more effective and cost-efficient manner.

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NOT YET 2. AI:AI: NOT YET Artificial intelligence could potentially have a big impact on the industry, but probably not for quite a few years. One immediate application is jobsite safety. There are already rudimentary tools that can analyze video from jobsite

5

5. BUSINESS BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE INTELLIGENCE

cameras and spot hazards. They can also determine from workers’ movements whether or not they’re accessing a scaffold or carrying materials up a flight of stairs correctly.

Eventually AI could be used to help improve project scheduling by learning from data from past projects and flagging issues that could lead to delays. It could analyze the performance of buildings over time and offer materials recommendations. But AI needs relevant data to learn from, so the industry needs to digitize first.

3

INTERNET THINGS 3. INTERNET OF OF THINGS If you look at industries that are starting to see some success with AI, such as health care and manufacturing, everything is happening more or less in one place. That makes it easier to put sensors on a machine or robot and capture data. It’s a bit more of a challenge when you have multiple jobsites and a lot of movable equipment, so taking data capture out of the hands of individuals and automating it, and storing data in a centralized place where it can be managed is the frontier right now.

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BACK OFFICE EFFICIENCY 4. BACK OFFICE EFFICIENCY Most firms are using some sort of automated accounting platform. But there are still gaps that need to be filled.

Invoice routing and approval is a big one. People are literally having the back office scan invoices and then email out invoice images to the project superintendent.

Invoice images are “digital paper,” meaning they’re not actual digital artifacts. Any data that’s on them has to be manually entered, and the whole routing and approval process is manual as well.

Then there’s the payment process itself. Solutions built to handle procure to pay actually only handle procure to

Most ERP systems offer tons of reports, but people want to combine that with data from other sources. They want to be able to look at the data three-dimensionally and be able to drill into it.

ERP systems don’t have that kind of capability, and as the amount of data companies have access to grows, so does the need to have a business intelligence platform to pull it together and generate analyses and models.

There are a lot of challenges to overcome before construction becomes a fully digitized industry. It’s still hard to deploy technology organization-wide when you have workers on multiple job sites. Do you pull everyone off the job to come in for training? Probably not. Adoption can move pretty slowly, with some workers using the technology and others continuing to do things the way they’ve always done them. That creates data silos that require manual intervention to boil up to actionable, executive level reporting. So, it may take longer to realize the ROI on some tech investments than in other industries. Nonetheless, the industry is moving forward.

Fifteen years ago, you had cutting-edge technology vendors trying to convince construction companies to test their new tablet-based reporting tool or time card, but the use cases weren’t compelling. Now that there are a lot of proven solutions from reputable vendors, there’s more trust and confidence that field solutions are going to be dependable and effective.

Contractors are starting to realize that if they want to win bids, they have to bring that to the table. You have people in the field who are now used to doing everything on their mobile phones. And you have this generational shift happening, with younger generations expecting to apply technology to any number of use cases. It’s a magical moment in time where the industry is poised to leap into the future.

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Source: Associated General Contractor

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SPOTLIGHT

9.1% Doesn't Equal Economic Justice:

What the Harris County Commissioners Court Disparity Study Reveals

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nsuring that minorities, women, and other disadvantaged groups have fair access to economic opportunity is a top priority for the Harris County Commissioners Court. Minority and women-owned businesses play a vital role in the local economy and are driving the growth of new business and jobs in Harris County. Advancing fair and inclusive economic policies to bolster their long-term success will help create wealth and jobs within the community.

Two years ago, Harris County Commissioners Court commissioned a disparity study to determine if minority- and women-owned businesses have access to government contracting and procurement.

In other words, a disparity study reveals if there is a problem. Initial results revealed: there is a big problem.

“Although minorities and women make up a significant portion of our local economy as small business owners and entrepreneurs, they often face barriers that undermine their long-term ability to

thrive and compete in the 21st century economy,” Commissioner Rodney Ellis said. “It is imperative that all people have a fair chance to contribute and succeed.”

of Harris County's contracts are with MWBE. When disparities exist, a gender- or race-conscious approach is appropriate and allowable.”

Here are some troubling facts that the disparity study found: • Only 9.1% of Harris County's contracts are with minority or womenowned businesses. Only 0.5% of our contract dollars go to Black-owned businesses; 0.6% to Asian-owned firms; and 4.6% to Latinx-owned businesses.

Those figures are not at all representative of the businesses who could and want to contract with Harris County.

• The study also found disparities in wages, business earnings, and business formation rates for minorities and women in all industry sectors in the County's marketplace.

“To level the playing field, I asked the county to conduct the study because it was the critical step in establishing a minorityand women-owned business enterprise (MWBE) program,”

Rodney Ellis Harris County Commissioner

Commissioner Ellis said. “The results were dismal. Only 9.1%

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A disparity study helps governments legally justify an MWBE program by ensuring the program meets a compelling governmental interest—in this case, remedying past discrimination in contracting and procurement—and is narrowly tailored to further that interest.

The Disparity Study is the first step.

While the Harris County Commissioners Court will be opening their Office of Economic Equity and Opportunity later this year, contracting is not going to wait until its open, therefore, the work to start creating a Minority/Women-owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) program needs to begin right away.

“We must act quickly because MWBEs are critical to strengthening and diversifying our region’s economy and creating wealth and economic opportunity in our local communities where they are needed most,” Commissioner Ellis said.

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LC Engineering, Inc. has provided exponential aid in every presidentially declared disaster to hit the City of Houston since Hurricane Ike in 2008. As a City of Houston-certified Minority, Small, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and state of Texas registered Historically Underutilized Business, they specialize in customized services in the areas of engineering, environmental services, construction management and inspections and, of course, disaster management.

While the majority of TLC’s past work was focused on the clean up from natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods, the clean up for the COVID-19 pandemic is not so different. TLC’s team is already equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to provide work that focuses on getting the City of Houston reopened and back on its feet. For

"[This pandemic] is just an offshoot of those disasters,” Tony Council, president of TLC, said.

“Now, instead of it being a hurricane or flood, it’s a pandemic. So, one thing that we must do in all those situations is clean up and reinvigorate the city. It just seemed natural for us to go into the Coronavirus disinfecting.”

this disaster, however, they have shifted their focus to a more high-tech form of cleaning. “[This pandemic] is just an offshoot of those disasters,” Tony Council, president of TLC, said. “Now, instead of it being a hurricane or flood, it’s a pandemic. So, one thing that we must do in all those situations is clean up and reinvigorate the city. It just seemed natural for us to go into the Coronavirus disinfecting.”

Through countless hours of research, testing and trial and error, TLC has created a top-notch system focused on the use of Ultraviolet light to help places of business disinfected and get to a point of reopening. Instead of relying on the standard spraying, fogging and wiping down method of cleaning, TLC’s UV-C light machines offer a deeper level of cleaning that reaches the point of actually sterilizing items. This is especially necessary for sensitive items such as keyboards and computers, which cannot be thoroughly cleaned by the standard methods.

“Cleaning up for a hurricane or flood is really focused on more physical work,” Council said.

“But, here, what we have is airborne bacteria that we cannot see. Therefore, the cleanup needed to be more high-tech. When this pandemic first occurred, we started with a lot of research, seeing what was available to get this done, and we found this particular UV system that is the top technological system available. So, I decided to invest in some of the equipment and do our part in getting this city back open.”

Although this is a new form of technology for TLC, that required a lot of trial and error to perfect, Council says he is confident they have mastered the system and can offer their clients a safe and sterile place of business upon the completion of their services.

Shanti Vann, Senior Technician at TLC, says their team has gone through several hours of training and certification, including the Hazwoper 40 hour training, to ensure they are offering the best services. Once the technicians are trained, completing the actual process is relatively straightforward.

“We typically start with the UV wand and go over what the big machine will not be able to get to,” Vann said. “Then, we set the machine on a timer, and it cleans with whole space within that time. We use a dosimeter card so our clients can have a visual representation that the space is legally disinfected. We also swab as a second verification. We swab before and then again after the cleaning, and we send that to a lab that tests for bacteria as well as viruses like COVID-19.”

Once the cleaning is complete, clients are given a certificate to display in their window as well as a digital version to share online that shows they have been legally dis-

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infected and are safe to resume business.

W het her it is mold, lead, asbestos or other illnesses, environmental analysis and mitigation is a significant aspect of TLC’s operations.

TLC has spent years cultivating a strong relationship with the City of Houston and has sent proposals in the hopes of becoming engaged in the work to help this city overcome the COVID-19 pandemic and get the Houston’s economy and quality of life back to its best.

“As a team, we are committed to restoring a healthy work environment and getting this city back on its feet,” Council said. “And as the only company offering this high-tech form of cleaning, I think we could play a major part in the fast and safe reopening of Houston.”

TLC Engineering, Inc. 8204 Westglen Drive Houston, TX 77063 Office:713-868-6900

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OIL AND GAS

OIL AND GAS

Oil and Gas

Monitoring and Enforcement Plan finalized

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he Railroad Commission of Texas has released its latest strategic priorities in regulating the state’s oil and gas industry. The RRC’s Fiscal Year 2021 priorities are outlined in the Oil and Gas Monitoring and Enforcement Plan which can be found on the RRC website at https://www.rrc.texas.gov/ media/58340/og-s-plan-fy-2021.pdf Texas’ oil and gas industry is vital to the state’s budget and economy and contributes toward the country’s security by helping it be energy independent. From common household products to everyday energy consumption, oil and gas has a profound impact on our lives. By ensuring the industry operates in a manner that protects public health and the environment, the Railroad Commission helps protect this critical resource that all Americans rely upon.

The annual planning document outlines how the agency will continue to build upon its current success to ensure all wells in the state are inspected at least once every five years and documents ongoing enhancements to agency operations.

“Just in the past several months we have utilized technological advances to streamline operations and improve our agency’s efficiency,” said Wei Wang, RRC Executive Director. “We launched a Drone Program that will help inspectors quickly respond to emergencies which is critical in incidents when time is of the essence. The drones also provide aerial views of incidents, which were not available to inspectors in the past. We

also added another layer to our transparency initiative with an online portal for our hearings cases. Not only does this portal give the public unprecedented access to view documents and reports used in the hearings, but it also allows parties involved in hearings to easily save time by filing documents online while also streamlining our staff resources.”

In April the Commission exceeded its Fiscal Year 2020 performance target four months ahead of schedule for the number of oil and gas well and facility inspections. As of this month, 286,205 inspections have been conducted. The RRC has also exceeded the 5-year well inspection frequency goal for the year.

Among other goals, the annual planning document outlines R RC’s education initiatives.

The educational outreach helps operators better understand RRC rules which can help them comply with the rules and avoid enforcement action.

The various educational activities that the agency uses include an annual regulatory conference; regulatory forums at sites near large concentrations of oil and gas workers; presentations at industry events, including conferences, seminars and workshops; production of online user guides; and instructional videos.

Because of the impact of COVID-19, the Commission embarked on several virtual training sessions and is exploring ways to provide more online training as part of the agency’s future outreach to the oil and gas industry.

Source: Texas Railroad Commission

Texas Methane & Flaring Coalition Launches New Online Education Resources

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he Texas Methane & Flaring Coalition (the Coalition), an alliance of Texas oil and natural gas trade associations and nearly 40 Texas energy companies, today announced they have launched new educational tools and resources for stakeholders, legislators and regulators, and the general public who are seeking to gain a better understanding of issues related to methane and flaring.

Announced earlier this spring, the Coalition serves as a partnership to further encourage industry development and innovations, pioneering technologies, and achieving efficiencies that will successfully reduce emissions during a time when oil and natural gas production has increased.

The Coalition’s site hosts new features including a frequently asked questions (FAQ) page, which addresses a variety of topics such as where oil and natural gas originates, the process of development, delivery and refining, and the difference between vented and flared emissions. The site’s full glossary of terms provides a comprehensive approach to providing information on industry operations, challenges and opportunities.

Videos, infographics and other learning tools have also been made available for a visual, virtual perspective on industry safety, procedures and environmental practices.

Texas operators are committed to working collaboratively to develop our state’s natural resources while improving environmental performance. To that end, the Coalition will continue to work together on environmental progress to minimize flaring and methane emissions, pledging to collectively identify and promote operational and environmental recommended practices.

To ensure transparency and to encourage public education, participation and feedback, the Texas Methane & Flaring Coalition’s website will be updated frequently as the Coalition develops and implements its objectives, findings and recommendations. For more information, please visit www.texasmethaneflaringcoalition.org.

Source: Texas Oil and Gas Association

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Reducing Natural Gas Flaring

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

OIL AND GAS

A

t a recent meeting of the Texas Railroad Commission, the Texas Methane Flaring Coalition laid out a series of best-practice recommendations for industry and regulators to consider as we all move toward a goal of zero routine flaring in the Permian Basin.

We’re proud to add our voice to this diverse group calling for action – everyone from the Environmental Defense Fund to the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative and investors such as JP Morgan Asset Management, as well as small and large energy companies.

ExxonMobil’s experience in the Permian Basin demonstrates that zero routine flaring is within everyone’s reach.

A little over a year ago, we instituted an ambitious protocol to reduce flaring at our U.S. unconventional operations.

The protocol includes the installation of new equipment to capture emissions, completing wells only when we have adequate natural gas takeaway capacity, and shutting in production if there is a prolonged mechanical upset.

The results have been extremely encouraging, and demonstrate that the

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industry can reduce flaring through cost-effective measures.

In just one year, we lowered our flaring intensity in the Delaware and Midland sections of the Permian from 4.7 percent in June 2019 to 1 percent in May. When you consider we’re producing a lot more oil in the Permian compared to last year, this achievement takes on added significance.

Natural gas production provides enormous economic and environmental benefits.

These benefits can be maximized when the oil and gas industry takes further action to reduce flaring and methane emissions.

At ExxonMobil, we’re making real progress on both — through support for federal methane regulations, and by meeting our flaring and methane reduction targets, which we expect to do by yearend.

Through initiatives like the Texas Methane Flaring Coalition, we’re also helping others achieve the same progress.

Source: ExxonMobil

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PERMITS

The TOP TEN MISTAKES Contractors Often Make When Submitting Online for Permit type of project to be constructed • Mistake 10: Files not uploaded. Important to con firm that files were uploaded and simply hitting the submit button without seeing validation will cause you to believe that you have submitted for permitting; and in the real world, you have not.

By Helen Callier Contributing Writer

T

he past few months have thrown many Contractors into a frenzy figuring out how to submit plan electronically. While some contractors plowed on through and wasted time figuring out how to submit, others attempted to go the jurisdiction only to be told to submit online, and then, there were those contractors so frustrated, they proceeded to start construction without a permit.

When the latter scenario happens, realize the City Inspector like a magical Genie knows there was no permit pulled; and your job may be shut down or you are handed a violation with your shutdown. Either way, not pulling a permit will cost you money and time to resolve.

To assist those realizing the online submitting plans world for permitting is here to stay, below is a list of the top 10 mistakes that contractors make when submitting for a building permit online. This is data collected from hearing some stress-filled stories from contractors about their electronic plan submissions.

• Mistake 1: Place all files in one folder; most of the time called “my docs” type folder. The Reviewer will not take the time to hunt and search for your files. If files are not in the correct folder, it will cause a rejection; if it even gets assigned.

The above is a short list of mistakes that we see contractors make. To minimize challenges in submitting for your building permit online, consider visiting the jurisdiction’s web site or reach out to a permit expediter that has intimate knowledge of online system and perspective jurisdiction.

• Mistake 2: Missing cover sheet with plan set • Mistake 3: Faile to properly label files correctly • Mistake 4: Not separating sheets and uploaded one complete plan set. Jurisdictions will not do your work for you and sheets are to be separated for departmental reviews. Visit jurisdiction’s web site for guidance.

• Mistake 5: Plans attempting to submit are not signed.

• Mistake 6: Plans stamped review only and not for construction. We hear about this one often and this becomes an automatic rejection from the jurisdiction • Mistake 7: Missing prerequisite documents • Mistake 8: Uploading not sure what to do with files in the “misc” folder online • Mistake 9: Did not use correct forms based on

Conclusion InInConclusion From you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, to bellyaching about not being able to submit manually to questioning why a one-day permit in person process now takes up to five days are understandable admissions. The best way to move forward in the electronic plan submission world is to devise a game plan and execute using the 10 mistakes about as a checklist of what to avoid. You can also give PermitUsNow a call a 1.844.PERMIT.4 to walk you through online plan submission as we have trained other contractors of the do’s and don’ts or you can engage our services to permit your project to achieve savings and alleviate permitting stress. #BuildSafe

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SAFETY

Which face coverings are best for preventing jobsite coronavirus spread?

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

W

hile any face covering will help contain the usual droplets that come from coughing, sneezing and even speaking, there are things to look for in a face covering to maximize jobsite safety from the coronavirus.

Researchers at Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering and Computer Science, using flow visualization testing in a laboratory equipped with laser light and a mannequin, recently published their findings as to which masks were the most effective.

High-quality face coverings are especially important for industries such as construction, where employees are often in close contact. Jim Goss, senior safety consultant at HCSS Construction Software, told Construction Dive that face coverings are a critical component of contractors’ COVID-19 safety plans and are imperative for situations when workers cannot maintain a distance of 6 feet or more.

The masks tested at Florida Atlantic were: • A single-layer bandana-style face covering.

• A folded cotton handkerchief.

• A homemade mask constructed of two-layers of 70-thread per inch cotton quilting fabric.

• A non-sterile cone-style mask.

The researchers also conducted tests with no face covering.

Using a mixture of distilled water and glycerin to simulate a typical cough spray, researchers found that droplets traveled more up to 12 feet without a mask, well past the social distancing guideline of 6 feet.

With the single-layer bandana, droplets traveled 3 feet and 7 inches. When the tested mannequin was wearing a folded cotton handkerchief, the cough jet traveled 1 foot and 3 inches. The homemade mask made of stitched, quilted cotton allowed droplets to travel 2.5 inches, and the cough jet reached 8 inches when the mannequin was wearing a cone-style mask.

In the end, the researchers found the tighter the fit, the better the mask performance. Thicker material also fared well.

The research aligns with the latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding face coverings for the general public. In fact, the agency provides instructions for making a cloth mask on its website.

Face coverings are recommended and even required on construction sites across the country, and construction pros responding to a recent Construction Dive survey said they are an important means of protection from COVID-19. About two-thirds of respondents also said they are required on their jobsites, either by their firms or by local government protocols.

"The face covering does not protect you, it protects others from you," noted AECOM Senior Construction Manager John Tull. "I have a family that I want to go home to and I don't want to worry about what I could be taking home."

N95respirators respirators N95 Last month, OSHA published a series of frequently asked questions and answers regarding the use of masks in the workplace. The new guidance outlines the differences between cloth face coverings, surgical masks and respirators.

Used for many construction-related activities even before the COVID-19 outbreak, N95 masks are facepiece respirators that filter at least 95% of airborne particles. OSHA has offered guidance for employers when workers are engaged in activities that require an N95 mask but shortages may prevent them from accessing the masks in the numbers needed.

The agency said that employers may use alternative classes of respirators that provide equal or greater protection compared to an N95 mask, such as NIOSHapproved, non-disposable, elastomeric respirators or powered, air-purifying respirators. Other alternative respirators are N99, N100, R95, R99, R100, P95, P99 and P100 masks.

If an acceptable alternative is not available, employers can use masks that are past the manufacturer's extended shelf life, reuse N95 masks or use N95 masks for an extended period of time. Cloth masks, OSHA said, are not considered personal protective equipment (PPE) and cannot be used in place of respirators when respirators are required.

Otheroptions options Other According to the American Chemical Society, there are other options that come close to the efficacy of an N95 mask, such as double layers of 600 thread-per-inch cotton and a cotton and polyester-spandex hybrid.

Some contractors have also been providing face shields to their workers for added protection for the face and eyes. Steve Sorrentino, director of specialty films for Madico, a manufacturer of laminates and coatings, said that, unlike masks that cover only the mouth and nose, face shields cover eyes, nose and mouth providing a barrier to prevent the spread of infectious diseases or viruses. Madico is manufacturing the Safe-Gard face shield.

In addition, Sorrentino said, face shields eliminate the mask issues of fogging of eyeglasses and breathing one’s own carbon dioxide.

The CDC does not recommend face shields for use by the general public as a mask replacement unless they wrap around the sides of the wearer’s face and extend to below the chin.

Even when using an effective mask, there are additional recommended practices that will maintain their efficacy. Jay Woody, chief medical officer at Intuitive Health and co-founder of Legacy ER & Urgent Care, both in the Dallas area, offered the following tips to enhance masks' safety: • Use nonwashable masks only once.

• Machine wash cloth masks after each use.

• Wash hands before donning a mask, before removing it and after removing it.

• When taking off a face mask, remove it from the back. If unwashed hands touch the inside of the mask and the face, this negates the purpose of wearing a mask.

• Dispose of single-use masks properly.

SAFETY

U.S. Department of Labor

Announces Availability of $11.5 Million

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

I

n Worker Safety and Health Training Grants The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today announced the availability of $11.5 million in Susan Harwood Training Grants for nonprofit organizations, including community and faith-based organizations, employer associations, labor unions, joint labor/management associations, Indian tribes, and colleges and universities.

The Harwood Training Grant program supports inperson, hands-on training for workers and employers in small businesses; industries with high injury, illness, and fatality rates; and vulnerable workers, who are underserved, have limited English proficiency, or are temporary workers. The grants will fund training and education to help workers and employers identify and prevent workplace safety and health hazards, including the coronavirus, through the following funding opportunities categories: • Targeted Topic Training grants support educational programs that address identifying and preventing workplace hazards. These grants require applicants to conduct training on OSHA-designated workplace safety and health hazards; • Training and Educational Materials Development grants support the development of quality classroomready training and educational materials that focus on identifying and preventing workplace hazards; and • Capacity Building grants support organizations in developing new capacity for conducting workplace safety and health training programs and must provide training and education based on identified needs of a specific audience or a set of related topics.

More information on the grants and how to apply are available at www.grants.gov. Harwood applications must be submitted online no later than 11:59 p.m. EDT on July 20, 2020. Applicants must possess a “D-U-N-S” number and have an active System of Award Management (SAM) registration. A D-U-N-S number may be obtained freeof-charge from Dun & Bradstreet.

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA’s role is to help ensure these conditions for America’s working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights.

Source: Construction Dive

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Source: OSHA

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MORE THAN BRICKS AND MORTAR

As one of the nation’s largest commercial builders, Turner is dedicated to providing avenues of opportunity for Minority- and Woman-Owned Businesses in Houston to achieve entrepreneurial success.

Our commitment to social responsibility and fair play is not just on paper; it is ingrained in our corporate culture. We are devoted to making sure the contributions that strengthen the local economy reflect the demographics of the community at large.

w w w. t u r n e rc o n s t r u c t i o n . c o m

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Seven Steps to Correctly Wear a Respirator at Work Seven Steps to Correctly Wear a Respirator at Work Following these simple steps will help you properly put on and take off your Following these simple stepseveryone will help you respirator, and keep you and elseproperly safe. put on and take off your respirator, and keep you and everyone else safe.

Wash Your Hands ➊➊ Wash Your Hands

WashWash your your hands withwith soapsoap andand water or alcohol-based hand rubs hands water or alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60% alcohol. containing at least 60% alcohol.

Inspect the Respirator ➋ ➋ Inspect the Respirator

Inspect damage.IfIfititappears appearsdamaged damagedorordamp, damp, Inspectthe therespirator respirator for for damage. do not use it. do not use it.

Put ononthe Put theRespirator Respirator ➌➌

Cuprespirator the respirator in your hand Cup the in your hand with the nosepiece at your with the nosepiece at your fingertips and the straps hanging fingertips and the straps hanging below your hand. below your hand.

Cover your mouth and nosewith with Cover your mouth and nose the respirator and make sure there the respirator and make sure there are no gaps (e.g., facial hair, hair, are no gaps (e.g., facial hair, hair, and glasses) between your face and and glasses) between your face and the respirator. the respirator.

Adjust the Respirator

Adjust the Respirator ➍➍

Place both hands over the respirator.

Repeat until you get a proper seal.

Inhale quickly and then exhale.

If you If youuntil can'tyou getget a proper seal,seal. try Place both hands over the respirator.

Repeat a proper feel leakage from the nose, readjust another respirator.

Inhale quickly and then exhale. If you If you can't get a proper seal, try the nosepiece; if leakage from the feel leakage from the nose, readjust another respirator. respirator edges, readjust the straps.

the nosepiece; if leakage from the respirator edges, readjust the straps.

➏ Remove the Respirator

➏ Remove the Respirator

Placethe thestrap strap over over your your head Place head and and rest at the top back of your head. rest at the top back of your head.

If you have a second strap, place If you have a second strap, place the bottom strap around your the bottom strap around your neck and below your ears. Do not neck and below your ears. Do not crisscross straps. crisscross straps.

IfIfyour nose yourrespirator respiratorhas hasa metal a metal nose clip, use your fingertips from both clip, use your fingertips from both hands to mold the nose area to the hands to mold the nose area to the shape of your nose.

shape of your nose.

➎ Wear Wear the Respirator ➎ the Respirator

Avoid touching the respirator while usingtouching it. If you do, your hands.

Avoid thewash respirator while

Note: If you reuse your respirator, wearreuse gloves when Note: If you your inspecting putting respirator,and wear glovesonwhen the respirator.and Avoid touching inspecting putting on your face (including your the respirator. Avoid touching eyes, and mouth)your yournose, face (including during the process. eyes, nose, and mouth)

using it. If you do, wash your hands.

during the process.

➐ Dispose of the Respirator

➐ Dispose of the Respirator

For more information, see the quick video, "Putting On and For more Taking Off ainformation, Mask".  see the

quick video, "Putting On and Taking Off a Mask". 

Remove the respirator from behind.

Do not touch the front.

If the respirator does not need to be reused because of supply shortages, discard it in a wastedoes receptacle.

Wash your hands.

Ifclosed-bin the respirator not need to be reused

because of supply shortages, discard it in a closed-bin waste receptacle. Wash your hands.

1-800-321-OSHA (6742) TTY 1-877-889-5627

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www.osha.gov

www.osha.gov

OSHA 4015-05 2020

Wash your hands.

Remove the respirator from behind.

Do not touch the front.

OSHA 4015-05 2020

Wash your hands.

July 2020 | 27

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TRANSPORTATION

Port Houston Successfully Managing through Pandemic – Keeping People First

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

T

he Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority met in virtual session Tuesday for its regular monthly meeting. Port Chairman Ric Campo opened his remarks by declaring that events surrounding the pandemic and social injustice were a “wake up call,” and committed Port Houston to “double its efforts,” both internally and more broadly, to strive towards economic equality and social justice.

Chairman Campo commended Executive Director Roger Guenther for his letter to employees assuring them of Port Houston’s commitment to moving forward on its objectives of diversity and inclusion. He also acknowledged Port Houston’s strategic plan, launched earlier this year, both for putting People in place first and for supporting those objectives.

He commended the Port Houston’s Police Department for its stellar record as “a silent partner” effectively handling port business.

“Striving towards social justice and economic equality is a journey,” Chairman Campo said. “Equality of life starts with economic equality, social justice, diversity, and inclusion, and that’s what Port Houston is all about.”

Chairman Campo provided an update on Port Houston’s Disparity Study scheduled for completion in September. Chairman Campo remarked that the study’s primary purpose is to help identify means to enhance minority and women-owned contracting opportunities with Port Houston. Griffin and Strong, P.C. is conducting the independent analysis.

Chairman Campo also announced that Port Houston’s new Community Grants Program, launched June 22. With an approved budget of $250,000, the program is focused on investing resources into meaningful projects and programs to “enhance the local communities and create greater value for the Houston region.” He encouraged organizations to provide letters of interest and apply for the program.

Finally, Chairman Campo was pleased to highlight recent funding awarded to Port Houston to support its continued growth, adding that the Department of Transportation’s recent INFRA Grant of nearly $80 million might be the largest award of its kind provided to a port. He noted that its magnitude speaks to the understanding of the importance of the Port of Houston and its impact on the nation, supporting exports and domestic manufacturing.

The latest award, along with three rounds of state funding for port access projects through the Texas Department of Transportation, all support Port Houston’s mission to “move the world and drive economic prosperity.”

During the meeting, the Port Commission also approved approximately $30 million in funds towards construction, channel maintenance improvements, and other continued investment in growth.

The next Port Commission meeting is scheduled for Thursday, July 30. Information concerning the Community Grants Program is available at https://porthouston.com/community-outreach/ grantsprogram/.

TRANSPORTATION

Environmental Impact Statement Advances Texas High-Speed Train Project

By Subcontractors USA News Provider

O

n May 29, 2020, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Texas High-Speed Train project, a regulatory milestone that ensures the state-of-the-art system will be built in a way that minimizes impacts to landowners and the environment along the 240-mile alignment.

The release of this more than 10,000-page set of documents, produced by the FRA and informed by six years of work by hundreds of experts from more than 12 federal, state and local agencies in coordination with Texas Central, is the crucial next step for this transformational project.

The FRA and other agencies involved took great care to thoroughly review the Texas High-Speed Train project in detail to ensure it will be a source of pride for Texans now, and for years to come. For that, we are grateful to all of the professionals at the FRA, US Department of Transportation, US Army Corps of Engineers and the other agencies who have contributed to this exhaustive study, and our overall permitting process in a most responsible manner.

We look forward to continuing our work under the FRA’s oversight as the project proceeds to construction and operations.

Source: Port Houston

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Source: Texas Central

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