Photo by Grant Ellis/World Bank World Bank President Kim says new program will be "very ambitious," seeking to raise "billions of dollars" for projects in developing countries. Related Links: World Bank Oct. 9 press release World Bank President Kim's prepared remarks at annual meeting's opening press briefing U.S. Treasury Secretary's comments on Global Infrastructure Facility The World Bank is teaming with private investors on a new financing venture that seeks to raise billions of dollars to help meet developing countries' huge infrastructure needs.The new public-private Global Infrastructure Facility (GIF), launched on Oct. 9 at the bank’s annual meeting in Washington,

Related Links: Link to EPA Office of Inspector General Report Information on Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act A new report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Inspector General says a unit of the agency's Gulf Coast region mismanaged coastal restoration funds and should reimburse the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for $780,793, unless the regional office can document the spending complied with federal law.In an Oct. 9 report, EPA IG Arthur Elkins Jr. says that, from 2010 to 2013, EPA Region 6's water-quality protection division (WQPD) used Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA) funds for purposes

Related Links: Letter calling for increased harbor fund spending, with signatures of supporters Text of WRRDA as enacted (See Section 2101 for Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund annual target appropriations) Port officials have launched a heavy lobbying push to get Congress to boost fiscal year 2015 spending for dredging and other improvements. They want appropriators to approve spending that roughly equals the hike authorized in the Water Resources Reform and Development Act, or WRRDA, signed in June.The campaign, led by the American Association of Port Authorities, seeks about $1.17 billion in 2015 spending from the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund—that's up from

Related Links: Proposed rule as published in Federal Register Oct. 1 SBA Office of Advocacy Letter The Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy has asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to withdraw a proposed rule clarifying the definition of "waters" of the United States.Construction groups have complained that the proposal, published in the April 21, 2014, Federal Register, expands the scope of the waters requiring a Clean Water Act permit for dredging and filling.In an Oct. 1 letter, the SBA advocacy office said that the proposed rule will have a "direct, significant effect on

Courtesy City of Madison Cities such as Madison, Wisconsin are the kinds of clients covered by the federal government's new municipal advisor rules. Related Links: New Federal Scrutiny of Advice to Municipal Clients SEC Rule Gives Design Frims Broad Exemption When is an engineer not an engineer?According to the U.S. Securities Exchange and Commission, whenever an engineer advises a municipality on project funding related to bond sales and debt financing, rather than project design or construction, the engineer is not performing engineering services.In that case, the SEC considers the engineering firm a municipal advisor and the firm is legally required

Related Links: Link to National Economic and Labor IMpacts of the Water Utility Sector Link and background on Johnson Foundation report. A new study puts some data behind claims that the water-wastewater industry can boost the economy through investments in infrastructure.The study found that 30 water utilities across the U.S. plan to spend an aggregate of $23 billion annually for capital construction and operating costs over the next 10 years. The study, released at WEFTEC's annual meeting in New Orleans on Sept. 29, was funded and published by the Water Research Foundation and the Water Environment Research Foundation.The research team

Related Links: Text of ASCE-Eno Report Text of MAP-21 (see Section 1106 for asset-management plans) A new study calls for transportation agencies to expand the use of life-cycle cost analyses for highway and other projects, saying the process can save money over the projects' long life spans.The American Society of Civil Engineers-Eno Center for Transportation report, released on Sept. 30, says many states have used life-cycle cost analyses, or LCCAs, for highway pavement work, but such evaluations haven't taken off for other transportation projects.LCCAs go beyond design and construction cost calculations to include long-term expenses, such as maintenance and operations.The

Related Links: Supreme Court oral arguments calendar Briefs in Supreme Court cases for 2014-2015 term In the term that begins on Oct. 6, the Supreme Court faces two cases that could have a major impact on construction firms, industry officials say.KBR v. U.S. focuses on a whistle-blower's claims that KBR fraudulently billed the government for 2005 work at a water purification plant in Iraq earlier than work occurred. A lower court ruled in the whistle-blower's favor in 2013. The case's key question is whether a federal contractor can claim the same sovereign-immunity protections as the government.Mike Kennedy, Associated General Contractors

 The Wayne County, Mich., prosecutor has charged three current and former county employees with felonies and misdemeanors for misconduct and neglect of duty in allegedly failing to inform county commissioners of increases in the cost of a partly completed jail project. Days after charging the three, the county announced it had settled its claims in state court against the project's at-risk construction manager.Officials of the construction manager, a joint venture of Walbridge Aldinger Co., Detroit, and dck Worldwide, Pittsburgh, could not be reached for comment. A Wayne County spokesman said that, under the settlement, the county would pay the construction

Related Links: Full NAM report A new study from the National Association of Manufacturers says that a long-term hike in infrastructure spending could give a boost to the U.S. economy, and increase jobs and workers’ take-home pay. The report, released on Sept. 23, says that a targeted, large spending boost—about $83 billion a year in 2009 dollars—over 15 years could push U.S. Gross Domestic Product up 1.3% by 2020 and by 2.9% 10 years later. The study, titled "Catching Up," also forecasts that such an infusion would raise household after-tax pay by $1,300 by 2020 and $4,400 by 2030.There have