The massive American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is having a considerable (and beneficial) impact on construction markets and the environment. “Shovel ready” has been the term of the day in selecting projects, and few projects are so ready to be tackled than those on the National Priorities List (NPL)—aka, Superfund projects—and more proactive environmental management designs.
In mid-April, for example, both the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the release of additional Recovery Act funds. EPA’s administrator, Lisa P. Jackson, announced $600 million of allocations for Superfund projects. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced an additional $84.8 million would be distributed by the USDA to state and local governments to improve water quality, increase water supply, decrease soil erosion, and improve fish and wildlife habitat in rural communities.
The effect of this is certainly being felt in the geosynthetics industry, which provides many of the vital containment, reinforcement and erosion control technologies that these environmentally sensitive and environmentally damaged sites need.
The Netherlands-headquartered Royal Ten Cate, which has a successful geosynthetics business through US-based Tencate Geosynthetics, reports significantly lower first-quarter 2009 revenue; but cautions that little should be read into that since Recovery Act-funded projects are just now being given the greenlight. For Royal Ten Cate and other firms, the impact of these projects will be seen in corporate statements in the second half of 2009 and early 2010.
In addition to immediate project funding, federal support by way of renewed attention to proper regulation and enforcement could pave the way for a more sustainable rebirth of American infrastructure. Coal ash storage is a sector in great need of attention. Federal influence may be coming as committee paths are being cleared; and various states, such as Tennessee, are authoring new bills to require liners in new and expanding coal ash storage facilities.
On the enforcement side, the EPA may be on the verge of having its top support positions filled. Key nominees are being interview by Congressional committees and will be up for approval shortly. Enforcement is of particular concern in order to establish better controls early on so Superfund sites are less numerous in the future.
Superfund projects represent the most serious environmental problems, such as old mining sites with exposed toxic heaps or polluted landfill zones that were in operation and closed prior to today’s more stringent landfill construction and operation codes. Often, the work on these sites includes the establishment of modern containment controls, such as through the installation of geosynthetic caps.
Chris Kelsey is the editorial director for geosynthetica.net. He can be reached at chris@geosynthetica.net.
