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Association & Industry News
The estimated ready mixed concrete produced in November 2021 is 34.5 million cubic yards, 9% higher than that in November 2020. The estimated production in the U.S. through November is 364 million cubic yards, approximately 4.1% higher than that during the same period in 2020. Ready mixed concrete production is estimated from cement shipments reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. More detail is available here for NRMCA members under the heading titled Production Statistics. 
Buildings
NRMCA has named Matthew Lemay manager, codes and sustainability, providing support for NRMCA’s building codes, state and local advocacy and sustainability certification initiatives starting February 1. In his new role, he will review and evaluate state and local legislative and regulatory activities, and will write advocacy reports detailing significance and impact to the concrete industry. He will also help collect, review and evaluate data in support of legislative and regulatory positions taken by NRMCA and assist the Structures and Sustainability team to develop strategies and actions to support or oppose legislative and regulatory efforts at the state and local level. The role also includes managing NRMCA sustainability certification programs, including Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), Responsible Sourcing Certification program of Concrete Sustainability Council (CSC) and Material Ingredient Disclosure Health Product Declaration (HPD) program.
NRMCA and Ohio Concrete are partnering on an educational event in Cleveland on Tuesday, February 22, that will provide the full construction team perspective on why insulating concrete form (ICF) construction is increasingly becoming the preferred choice for commercial projects. Attendees can attend the event live at the Tremco Building Science Laboratory in Cleveland or participate virtually. Architects can earn five AIA continuing education credits during the event which features the following topics:
On Friday, President Biden signed an Executive Order (EO) directing all federal construction contracts over $35 million to utilize project labor agreements (PLAs). The EO does not impact federally assisted projects, though federal agencies have been pushing PLAs through grant applications. The EO will require a rulemaking during which stakeholders may comment on the proposed rule. For more information, contact Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org. 
Government Affairs
While Congress appears headed for another short-term funding extension, NRMCA and its allies in the transportation construction industry continue to raise awareness of the critical importance of fully funding highway programs in FY2022. Because Congress is operating under a continuing resolution, highway programs are funded at FAST Act levels rather than the higher levels authorized under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) which was signed into law last November. This represents a funding difference of around $9 billion that would be lost without appropriations legislation recognizing the higher level of funding.
An eleventh-hour amendment to the America COMPETES Act, legislation designed to support American businesses competing globally, included labor provisions that NRMCA has long opposed. As the House of Representatives considered the America COMPETES Act, two labor provisions were added as the bill went to the floor for consideration that were not contained in the base text of the legislation or considered as a stand-alone amendment. One of those provisions would allow for card check – certification of a union election by checking cards of employees – and effectively eliminate private ballots in organizing elections, opening employees to harassment, intimidation and peer pressure. NRMCA, NSSGA and PCA sent a letter to House members urging opposition to card check provisions and underscoring the importance of private ballots in union elections. The legislation ultimately passed along largely party lines. The provision has little chance of surviving Senate action or conference negotiations between the House and Senate. For more information, contact Andrew Tyrrell at atyrrell@nrmca.org.
SEO
NRMCA has opened its annual member survey to measure regulatory action within the industry. The survey is used to determine regulatory trends on specific issues, issue types and in geographic regions. This year’s survey also includes specific sections related to COVID-19 regulatory enforcement. This information, which is strictly confidential, will help NRMCA to better tailor its actions to address and combat any such issues, and to keep a finger on the pulse of when, where, how and why regulatory agencies are targeting and levying enforcement actions against the industry. NRMCA urges you to take the survey at your earliest convenience. It will be held open until 5 p.m. Eastern time on Friday, February 25. For more information, contact Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org. The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), put into law in 1986, requires industries to report on the “storage, use and releases of hazardous chemicals (and materials) to federal, state, and local governments.” This specific reporting requirement under EPCRA is commonly referred to as Community Right-to-Know (CRTK) reporting, Tier II reporting and/or Section 311/312 reporting. The reporting deadline is Tuesday, March 1. Click here to learn more about EPCRA, chemical/material thresholds and how to report. For more information, contact Gary Mullings at gmullings@nrmca.org or Kevin Walgenbach at kwalgenbach@nrmca.org. 
Calendar
Please note that e-mail and direct links to each event listed below can be accessed from NRMCA's Web site. February 14 - 18, Online Course *Sold Out February 15 - 17, Online Course *Sold Out February 22, Onsite and Live Webinar March 1 - 3, Centennial, CO March 1, Mesa, AZ March 15 - 18, San Antonio, TX March 22, Pearl, MS March 22 - 24, Smyrna, TN March 22 - 25, Boston April 4 - 8, Online Course April 19 - 21, Smyrna, TN April 19 - 21, Online Course September 29 - October 3, Aurora, CO 
The Safety Contest & Benchmarking Survey has for years been a safety performance and incentive/award program aimed to foster safe practices at ready mixed concrete plants across the nation. The Safety Contest & Benchmarking Survey is a per-plant contest open to facilities operated by NRMCA member companies in good standing in 2021. Companies with more than one division are encouraged to distribute entry blanks to individuals responsible for keeping safety records at each plant location. Entries must be e-mailed to safetycontest@nrmca.org by April 1. Click here to access the entry form, more information and staff contact. The 2022 Fleet Benchmarking Survey is filled out by industry fleet managers and/or financial managers early each year, based on data gathered from the previous calendar year’s performance. This year’s form includes new questions on mixer drum composition, idle time and types of fuel being used. The survey is used to establish industry benchmarking norms and procedures. Information gathered from the annual Fleet Benchmarking Survey is published in a full report in Concrete InFocus magazine each autumn. A shorter Executive Summary of the survey is also made available to all. Entries must be e-mailed to fleetbenchmark@nrmca.org by Friday, April 22. Click here for more information, to download the entry form and staff contact. 
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