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The California Asphalt Pavement Association

Vol. 16, Issue 44 || Oct. 30, 2023

Dear Russell,

This weekly report contains news and information of interest to the asphalt pavement industry, customers and agency partners in California. Please feel free to distribute this newsletter to others who may be interested in asphalt pavements. To subscribe to the newsletter click HERE. To provide feedback or story ideas click HERE. Having difficulty viewing this newsletter? View as Webpage

Comprehensive EPD workshop approached complex issue from all sides

At the conclusion of last week's comprehensive CalAPA workshop on Environmental Product Declarations, Jeremy Peterson-Self with Caltrans appeared to represent the sentiments of many other attendees when he shook his head about the volume of information presented. Even a subject-matter expert -- he was one of the presenters -- walked away with new knowledge and new insight on the complex topic he did not possess just a few hours before.


And this much is certain -- something is bound to change again next week.


Such is the nature with EPDs, the so-called "ingredients list" for products designed to provide information on their potential to contribute to Greenhouse Gas emissions, and by extension, bring about changes to the Earth's climate. Although much progress has been made on this front in recent years by the asphalt industry, with support from agencies and academia, it was evident by the end of the day Oct. 25 that much more needs to be done.


That throughline echoed the position of CalAPA during its successful opposition to an EPD bill that was making its way through the Legislature earlier this year. CalAPA was the only entity to officially register opposition to the bill even though the association said the industry supports the EPD concept in general and is working on adopting them nationwide. The EPD bill, sponsored by environmental groups, was too prescriptive and contained unrealistic deadlines that were not reflective of where the industry as a whole is with regard to EPD implementation, CalAPA argued. Work on Product Category Rules, the essential bits of information that feed into EPDs, similarly is evolving, the association noted. CalAPA stood alone in this position.


Dr. John Harvey with the University of California Pavement Research Center (UCPRC) did double duty at the workshop, first presenting on the overview of EPDs, and then later presenting on the "challenges to EPD implementation." Harvey, who is a respected voice nationally on the topic, noted that the evolution of EPDs has been chronicled in the CalAPA magazine, "California Asphalt," up to and including the current environmental-themed issue, which is available on-line HERE. His messaging has been remarkably consistent, including when he participated in a CalAPA webinar on EPDs back in 2019.


During last week's daylong event, additional perspectives were introduced, including from Chu Wei from the Federal Highway Administration, Dominika Ercolini and Deepak Maskey with Caltrans, Joseph Shacat with the National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA), and Chaitanya Bhat with the Asphalt Institute. Amlan Mukherjee with a consulting firm, WAP, with expertise on the NAPA EPD software tool, discussed the latest software updates and tips on information-gathering, while T.J. Young, a nationally-known expert on asphalt plant optimization, discussed the nexus between EPDs and efficient plant operations. Shacat and Bhat participated via remote meeting technology.


Brandon Milar, P.E., CalAPA's Director of Technical Services, served as the day's moderator and fielded the many questions from the audience, giving attendees an opportunity to customize their experience.


Special thanks is extended to the event sponsors, Valero, Mercer-Fraser Co., All-States Materials Group and Polyco. Special thanks also go to the CalAPA staff and volunteers who made the event a success, Sophie You, Jackie Henry and new "Asphalt Ambassador" Sherry Williams. Event attendee Denise Kennedy with DK Enterprises e-mailed CalAPA following the event saying, "I thought the ladies that helped at registration were the best I have seen, and I have been to a lot of conferences. And they remembered people's names."


As a public service, CalAPA is making presentations delivered at the workshop publicly available on the CalAPA SlideShare page HERE. A copy of the timed agenda for the workshop is HERE. For more information on the program, contact CalAPA's Brandon Milar, P.E., at (916) 791-5044.

In addition to Jeremy Peterson-Self of Caltrans (pictured at top), Dr. John Harvey of the University of California Pavement Research Center (above) were on the CalAPA EPD program bringing multiple perspectives to the complex topic.

Polyco was one of the sponsors of the CalAPA EPD workshop held Oct. 25 at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West Hotel. Hashemm Hashemi with Polyco (right) chats with Denise Kennedy with DK Enterprises. Other sponsors for the event included Valero, Mercer-Fraser Co. and All-States Materials Group.

Cameron Richardson with Ingevity (center) poses a question to a presenter at last week's CalAPA EPD workshop in Sacramento.

U.S. House of Representatives finally gets a speaker, with an asphalt connection

Regular readers of this publication know that we're always striving to identify the "local angle" to news that is happening across the street or across the country. Such was the case with our recent coverage of the drama in the U.S. House of Representatives to identify a Speaker of the House. No business can be conducted without one, so it's pretty important. The "local" angle in recent years has been the fact that two previous House speakers hailed from California -- U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from San Francisco, and U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from Bakersfield. The latter was speaker until Oct. 3 when he was ousted by a conservative faction of his own party, setting off a weeks-long soap opera to find a replacement.


Last week the question was finally answered as the GOP caucus put forward Rep. Mike Johnson from Louisiana, which set off a mad scramble by Official Washington to learn more about the relatively new backbencher. His official bio, by the way, is HERE. We, on the other hand, just picked up the phone and called our man in Louisiana, Erich Ponti. Ponti is the executive director of the Louisiana Asphalt Pavement Association, who it so happens also served along with Johnson in the Louisiana Legislature. In fact, Ponti says, Johnson sat one row away from his desk, which makes for an even closer relationship during long and often tedious legislative sessions. Take it from someone who once had his own desk on the floor of the state Senate in Sacramento (reserved for the press).


Ponti (pictured) describes Johnson as "quiet," "thoughtful" and "methodical" in how he arrives at his positions, as well as "approachable" and a "great listener." Ponti also recounted to us how in a recent meeting between Johnson and construction industry interests, including LAPA, Johnson was very engaged and asked probing questions about the various issues the industry brought up.


As the talking heads in Official Washington and on cable news fall all over themselves to come up with "hot takes" on someone they don't even know, we'll place a little more stock in the opinions of a former legislator who worked closely with Johnson before he became famous and who was not as surprised as others with Johnson's rapid rise in the House leadership ranks. Like Pelosi and McCarthy before him, Johnson enters his new job with a working knowledge about the asphalt industry and its contributions to infrastructure, jobs and our quality of life. We hope that insight comes in handy as he faces his first big test -- a Nov. 17 deadline to pass a stop-gap funding bill to keep the federal government operating. This much is certain -- he won't be taking the decision lightly.


Our previous asphalt-centric "hot take" on the Speaker situation, which generated a fair amount of buzz from our readers, is HERE.

Safety reminder: Be aware of your surroundings

We were alarmed when we heard about the recent theft of a vehicle belonging to one of our member companies, McGuire & Hester. We were even more alarmed when we heard that it was basically a strong-arm robbery, where thieves overpowered the employee near his home and made off with the truck.


Thankfully, the employee was not seriously injured, and the truck, a white Ford F-550, has since been recovered. This report comes to us from Pete Lambert, who oversees asphalt paving operations for McGuire & Hester and also serves on the CalAPA Board of Directors representing paving contractors.


Lambert tells us the thieves apparently followed the employee home to San Leandro and, when he exited his vehicle, jumped him. Again, we're thankful this didn't turn out much worse. The recovered truck, by the way, appears to be in good shape but was stripped of all tools and supplies. Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call McGuire & Hester at (844) 997-7233.


Feel free to offer up this anecdote at the next tailgate safety meeting. Anyone who works in construction was told, on Day 1, to always be aware of your surroundings. "Keep your head on a swivel," it is often said. Even when the workday is done, however, it is still good to be aware of your surroundings. Scoundrels with bad intent certainly are.

Special quality issue of CalAPA's 'California Asphalt' magazine is out

A special quality-themed issue of CalAPA's official magazine, "California Asphalt," is arriving in mailboxes this week. An on-line version of the magazine can be accessed HERE.


The issue features interviews with influential champions for quality in our industry, a spotlight on the CalAPA Quality Paving Certificate, as well as other insights for the industry that is embarked on a continuous improvement journey.


The issue also features an in-depth feature on longtime CalAPA member company Butler-Justice, manufacturer of environmental solutions for the asphalt pavement industry. There's also lots of fun photos from the sold-out CalAPA golf tournament held last month in Temecula.


California Asphalt magazine is published six times per year and provides in-depth articles, insight and analysis of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and stakeholders available nowhere else. Past issues of California Asphalt can be found on the CalAPA magazine archive page HERE. For advertising information, contact Kerry Hoover at Construction Marketing Services at (909) 772-3121.

Caltrans District 3 Director Amarjeet Benipal, a no-nonsense leader who got stuff done, to retire at year's end

Amarjeet Benipal of Caltrans

Caltrans District 3 Director Amarjeet Benipal will be retiring by year's end, Asphalt Insider has learned. Benipal shared the news with the association shortly after notifying Caltrans Director Tony Tavares and Chief Deputy Director Mike Keever.


Benipal is well known to the asphalt pavement industry, having served as the straight-talking head of the Pavements Program as the State Pavement Engineer. Benipal was on hand earlier this year at a meeting of the California Transportation Commission to accept a national award from the Asphalt Pavement Alliance for deploying innovative long-life asphalt pavement projects on Interstate 5 in Sacramento. The pavement design strategy delivers asphalt pavements that last 40 or more years with minimal maintenance.


In an interview with Asphalt Insider following the Jan. 26 award presentation, Benipal said, “This is actually a great opportunity for getting recognized for the work Caltrans, CalAPA and the National Asphalt Pavement Association, along with the UCPRC and our contractor partners have done to innovate and balance intelligent decision-making, balance the risk, and provide the taxpayer the best service they can expect from the government.” A previous Asphalt Insider story about that event is HERE.


Benipal has been the chief of District 3 since September of 2014. The regional district covers 11 counties, and also provides regional design services for the 22 counties that make up District 1 and District 2 in the North State. His official bio is HERE.


During his time in the pavements program, Benipal earned a reputation for holding everyone accountable -- Caltrans personnel and industry representatives alike -- for following through on commitments while demanding everyone adhere to the highest standards for excellence and ethics, even if it made some feel uncomfortable. He also was known for pushing complex transportation improvement projects through mountains of bureaucratic red tape imposed on the department by external entities.


Some signature projects that got off the drawing board and into construction as a direct result of his firm hand included the $386.3 million U.S. 50 Multimodal Corridor Enhancement Project in Sacramento County, and a $315.4 million Interstate 5 rehabilitation and HOV lane project from Elk Grove to downtown Sacramento. Other major projects picked up nicknames, such as the "Raise 80" series of projects increased the vertical clearance of nine bridges in Placer County to meet federal standards, and the "80 Across the Top" project, a $133 million Interstate 80 rehabilitation and HOV project in Sacramento. All were significant in that they demonstrated in a tangible way that the $50 billion "Road Repair & Accountability Act of 2017" was delivering on its promise to fix California's aging roads and bridges.


As he prepares wrap up a 30-plus year career in state service, Benipal can look in the rear-view mirror and see nearly 250 active construction projects valued at more than $1 billion. That's an impressive legacy of accomplishment that deserves recognition well beyond these pages. But this will have to do for now.


On his last day, here's hoping that someone gets on the loudspeaker at the District 3 offices in Marysville and makes an announcement like they used to do at Elvis concerts: "Amarjeet has left the building." (Mic drop).

RPC meeting










Amarjeet Benipal and other Caltrans and industry leaders recognized former association executive Jim St. Martin in 2012 for his many contributions to the Caltrans-industry Rock Products Committee, since renamed the Pavement & Materials Partnering Committee. Pictured, L-R: Benipal, Jim Ryan, St. Martin, Phil Stolarski and Scott Jarvis.

Amarjeet Benipal (center) was among the surprised Caltrans officials on hand at TransLab in Sacramento when CalAPA arranged to have Elvis sing "Suspicious Minds" as part of a partnering exercise in 2013. Pictured, left to right: Phil Stolarski, Benipal and Scott Jarvis from Caltrans.

Amarjeet Benipal participated in a panel discussion at a CalAPA conference in Sacramento in 2010. His no-nonsense style won him the respect of the rough-and-tumble construction industry.

People in the news: Happy Halloween (OMG!)

At the risk of running afoul of the Vatican, we bring you our vote for the most creative Halloween costumes of 2023. You remember Halloween, right? That fun event nearly squashed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Apparently it's back and better than ever.


Pictured are some CalAPA stalwarts -- Steve Marvin with LaBelle-Marvin (right), in an O-M-G getup for the ages, joined by the husband-and-wife team that (during daylight hours) publishes the CalAPA magazine and membership directory, Brian Hoover and Kerry Hoover with Construction Marketing Services. When he's not quoting Bible verses, Marvin is busy preaching the gospel of quality asphalt pavements in the current issue of CalAPA's magazine, California Asphalt. Can we get an amen?


The occasion for donning the Halloween finery was an annual Halloween-themed party put on Saturday by Marvin at his La Cresta home in Riverside County. Here's hoping you and yours have a safe and sane Halloween this Tuesday. We'll be spending the time handing out treats and hoping that (for Steve's sake) the man upstairs has a sense of humor.

Tech Term of the Week

Each week we highlight a word, acronym or other term commonly used in the asphalt pavement industry in California.


SEAL COAT: A thin asphalt surface treatment used to waterproof and improve the texture of an asphalt wearing surface. Depending on the purpose, seal coats may or may not be covered with aggregate. The main types of seal coats are aggregate seals, fog seals, emulsion slurry seals, and sand seals.

Paving Pointer of the Week

Each week we highlight a key point or best practice of interest to asphalt paving crews, inspectors and others working in the field. We welcome suggestions. More tips can be found in our "Asphalt Parking Lot Construction Checklist" HERE. Information on the CalAPA "Quality Paving Certificate" program is HERE.


PAVING OPERATION: Ask yourself: Is the equipment properly maintained and in proper working order? Does the foreman have a paving plan (i.e., the paving lanes and passes are painted out and a roller pattern has been established)? 

Climate Term of the Week

Each week we highlight a term that is specific to climate-change issues related to the asphalt pavement industry. This feature is intended to raise awareness of the asphalt industry's climate-change initiatives and the specialized terminology that goes with them. More information on "The Road Forward" asphalt industry climate initiative can be found HERE.


ROLLING RESISTENCE: Force resisting a tire's motion. 

Quote of the Week

"I did it my way."


– Frank Sinatra

CALAPA CALENDAR:


View all CalAPA events HERE.


*

REGISTRATION OPEN:

"Asphalt Pavement 101" class

Wednesday, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (lunch included)

Hilton Sacramento Arden West Hotel, 2200 Harvard Street, Sacramento.

Details HERE.


*

REGISTRATION OPEN:

"Quality Asphalt Paving" class

Thursday, Nov. 16 from 8 a.m. to noon

Hilton Sacramento Arden West Hotel, 2200 Harvard Street, Sacramento

Details HERE.


*

SIGN UP NOW!

Contractors' Dinner

Tuesday, Nov. 14, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Dal Rae Restaurant, 9023 Washington Blvd., Pico Rivera

Details HERE.


*

SAVE THE DATE!

CalAPA Annual Dinner & Awards

Friday, Jan. 12, 2024

Jonathan Club, 545 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles.

Details HERE.

Registration opens soon!


SAVE THE DATES!

Spring Asphalt Pavement Conference & Equipment Expo

March 5-8, 2024

Doubletree Hotel, 222 N. Vineyard Ave., Ontario.

Details soon!

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SAVE THE DATES!

CalAPA Fall Asphalt Pavement Conference

Oct. 23-25, 2024

Hilton Sacramento Arden West Hotel, 2200 Harvard Street, Sacramento.

Details a bit later!


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There's never been a better time to join the California Asphalt Pavement Association! Members receive insight and advanced notice on critical issues that impact every company's bottom line. CalAPA members also receive invitations to exclusive member-only events, in-depth "Member Alerts," our comprehensive asphalt market forecast for California, discounts and industry-specific networking opportunities not available anywhere else. CalAPA's new searchable on-line membership directory helps connect potential customers with member companies. A brief video about CalAPA is HERE. Click HERE to download our Member Service brochure. Click HERE to view Vol. 1 of recent testimonials. Not convinced? Click HERE to view Vol. 2 of recent testimonials. With so much changing in the asphalt pavement industry, what you don't know can cost you! Click HERE to send us an e-mail inquiry, or contact Russell Snyder with CalAPA at (916) 791-5044.

We hope you enjoy CalAPA's Asphalt Insider newsletter. We are committed to providing you with the most up-to-date information on technical issues, regulation, news, analysis, events and trends in California that is of interest to the asphalt pavement industry and our various agency partners. To subscribe to the newsletter, click HERE. For comments, questions or to suggest a story idea, click HERE.


Sincerely,


Russell W. Snyder, CAE

Executive Director

California Asphalt Pavement Association (CalAPA)®

The "Asphalt Insider" is an official publication of the California Asphalt Pavement Association. For more information or to inquire about membership, call (916) 791-5044, or click HERE to contact us. Copyright © 2023 California Asphalt Pavement Association -- All Rights Reserved. The CalAPA name (No. 5,621,794) and logo (No. 5,621,795) are registered trademarks with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
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