Geosynthetics October/November 2022 - 37

GMA NEWS
GMA is dedicated to
our members' success.
GMA actively identifies,
assesses, analyzes
and acts upon market
growth opportunities
and issues that affect
its member companies.
The activities of
the association are
proactive in nature and
center on five areas:
» Engineering support
» Business development
» Education
» Government relations
» Geosynthetics industry
recognition
Washington fully open
S
By Fred C. Chuck and Bryan Gee
ince mid-summer, the Geosynthetic Materials Association (GMA) has been swamped
with conversations related to the Buy American, Build America (BABA) provisions of the
Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) 180-day hold for clarity and definition on the Buy America
clauses. GMA members have been meeting with various agency leaders in Washington, D.C.,
to ensure that our questions are directly expressed to these stakeholders. Conversations focused
on several key areas, including the Centers of Excellence for the study of sustainability
and resilience, new funding mechanisms for local projects, resiliency, and protective features
funding under the National Highway Performance Program (authorized under the Fixing
America's Surface Transportation Act of 2015), and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs
Act (IIJA) Buy America provisions.
Additionally, GMA has been present at the 2022 National Transportation Product
Evaluation Program (NTPEP) Annual Meeting (including the Geosynthetics Technical
Committee) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) Committee on Materials and Pavements (COMP) TS-4g (Geosynthetics and
Erosion Control Tech Section). This new Tech Section (TS) clarifies the need expressed
by the Department of Transportation (DOT) that geosynthetics are an integral part of its
solution tool kit for construction, repair and maintenance of the country's roadway systems.
November will be a busy month for the GMA legislative calendar. Early November will
Fred C. Chuck is the
executive director of GMA.
Bryan Gee is the director of
education and training for
Tensar International Corp.
and the chair of the GMA
executive council.
see the end of the current Department of Transportation's (DOT) temporary 180-day waiver
for the IIJA's new category of construction materials and the request for information (RFI)
time frame for comments. Depending on the Office of Management and Budget (OMB),
DOT and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clarifications, potential delays
and anticipated disruptions could start to occur on project delivery. At the same time,
the national elections will have concluded, bringing possible changes and adjustments to
congressional activities. The middle of the month will see GMA hold its Fall Lobby Days
(November 15 and 16), providing face-to-face conversations with the congressional offices
and an opportunity to directly express our opinions and concerns.
GMA's government affairs work continues. The association expects a busy fall/winter of
2022-2023. There will be more to do on implementation of funding from the IIJA, as well
as advocacy work on upcoming major legislation concerning water resources and disaster
response. GMA is also expanding efforts to build even stronger working relationships
with the executive branch at federal agencies including the U.S. DOT, Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) and the U.S. EPA.
GMA has lots of exciting work to do, and the association needs the help of the geosynthetics
industry to continue to achieve GMA's advocacy goals. Contact GMA executive
director Fred C. Chuck at fred.chuck@textiles.org to learn more. G
Division
Geosynthetics is the official
publication of the Geosynthetic
Materials Association.
GeosyntheticsMagazine.com
37
>> For more, search GMA at
GeosyntheticsMagazine.com.

http://www.GeosyntheticsMagazine.com http://www.GeosyntheticsMagazine.com

Geosynthetics October/November 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Geosynthetics October/November 2022