Geoysynthetics August/September 2023 - 37

of Management and Budget (OMB), U.S.
Department of Transportation (USDOT),
and FHWA comment periods had lapsed.
The guidance issued to date has not been
adequate to resolve many questions raised
by the RFCs, leaving our industry and
many others in the transportation sector
with multiple uncertainties. With the
congressional meetings scheduled for the
following day, council members also discussed
the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) permitting reform, proposed
rules for per- and polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS), microplastics, and the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
reauthorization. For the FAA reauthorization,
the EC agreed on proposing
language to the congressional offices to
establish a Center of Excellence for resilient
airfield pavement research.
During our prep dinner, the invited
guest speaker, Daniel Elwell, former deputy
administrator of the FAA, provided
great insight on how to work with the
FAA. Additionally, Vince Glick, associate
program manager of the National
Transportation Product Evaluation
Program (NTPEP) updated us on the
changes occurring with the Datamine
system and the NTPEP program.
On Lobby Day, our members met
with 20 congressional offices (arranged
by Whitmer & Worrall). Our primary
goals for the day included explaining
GMA's position on BABA in hopes of
obtaining support from each office in
gaining clarity from OMB, USDOT and
FHWA on the IIJA language. We also
wanted to introduce the proposed language
for the Center of Excellence and
obtain their support during the reauthorization
markup.
Glick' presentation was perfectly
timed, as in early June, NTPEP's annual
meeting was in Seattle, Wash. Several of
our members attended the Geosynthetics
and Erosion Control Products committee
meetings to offer our continued support
of the program. Daniel Selander
(Willacoochee Industrial Fabrics Inc.
(WINFAB USA), first vice chair of the
EC, represented GMA during the meetings
and provided updates. Of interest
to GMA was the attendance of 46
state Departments of Transportation
(DOTs) representatives, which was by
far a record. This is a good indication that
the program (GTX Work Plan) that we
helped create is finally gaining traction
in all the state DOTs. Hopefully, we will
reach all 52 regions (including Puerto
Rico and Washington, D.C.) with the
geosynthetic program.
The American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials
(AASHTO) Committee on Materials and
Pavements (COMP) annual committee
meetings will be held July 30-August 3
in San Diego, Calif. The Interlayer Task
Group (ITG) of GMA has been diligently
working with a technical subcommittee
TS-4g. Geosynthetics and Erosion
Control Products committee, to produce
a 21-century revision of the M-288
Paving Fabric specification and will be
proposing this revision to TS-4g at the
meeting. Other topics to be discussed
include the state DOT portions on BABA,
supply chain issues (availability of domestic
supply) and revisions to the NTPEP
work plans.
Be sure to block your calendar
for November 14-15 and join us in
Washington, D.C. for the 2023 Fall
Lobby Days. This is an opportunity to
meet with your local congressional representatives
to promote the expanded
use of geosynthetics. G
GeosyntheticsMagazine.com
37
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Geoysynthetics August/September 2023

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