The rule also establishes a preferred hierarchy for
mitigation options, with mitigation bank credits as the preferred
method, followed by in-lieu fee program credits and permittee-responsible
mitigation. Permittee-responsible mitigation also has three further
possible circumstances — watershed approach, onsite and in-kind, and
off-site/out-of-kind.

Oklahoma team takes top honors in Construction
Challenge

Students from Perry High School in Perry, Okla.,
won the inaugural Construction Challenge held in Las Vegas during this
year’s ConExpo-Con/Agg. The team — composed of Amy Bieberdorf, Kelsey
Cave, Evan Williams, Cassandra Bratcher, Daniel Cross, Dakota Johnson,
and Trevor Kukuk — competed against 50 other teams throughout the
country to get the title.

They built multiple pieces of “construction
equipment,” debated another team on infrastructure issues, and created a
unique, interactive educational product that helps to get the word out
about careers in the construction industry. Each team member won a
$2,000 scholarship and a computer. The competition took place for three
days, March 11-13, during ConExpo-Con/Agg. Students competed in the
following three “challenges:” Infrastructure Dialogue, Equipment and
Careers, and Road Warriors.

“We learned time management and problem-solving
skills, and we logged lots of hours after school to get ready,” said
team member Kelsey Cave in a press release. Team member Evan Williams
added, “Lots of hard work paid off.”

Jeff Zagar, the team’s manager and a technical
education teacher, notes that each team member spent an average 112
hours in preparation time for the Las Vegas event.

Seven other teams won titles and prizes. The
overall third-place team, which was also the only all-girls team in the
competition, also won first place in two of the three challenges.

The Construction Challenge was developed by the
Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) in partnership with
Destination ImagiNation Inc. to engage the interest of teens in careers
in the industry through a hands-on, educational experience.

The construction industry will create more than 1
million new jobs by 2012, but there are not currently enough skilled
workers to fill the jobs, according to AEM. The Construction Challenge
provides an opportunity for students, teachers, parents, and community
leaders to learn more about the industry and it’s need for skilled
employees to deal with infrastructure problems of crumbling bridges,
overcrowded roadways, and aging water and wastewater systems, AEM notes.

“The response that these students have gotten at
the covention is better than we dreamed when we started this project 17
months ago,” said Al Cervero, AEM senior vice president, in a written
statement in March. “Not only were attendees checking out the
challenges, they were talking about the need to increase awareness of
the industry and the great jobs that are available. They were stunned by
the creativity and knowledge on display…by all of the teams.”

EPA recognizes producer with 2008 Energy Star

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
awarded California Portland Cement Co. (CPC) a 2008 Energy Star
Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in
protecting the environment through energy efficiency. CPC’s
accomplishments were recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington,
D.C. on April 1, 2008.