Underground Construction - March 2021 - 25

PLCA
Pipe Line Contractors Association

Jeff Griffin | Senior Editor

Despite Pandemic, PLCA
Accomplished Positive Year

The year 2020 was a period of challenges
and adjustments for members of the
Pipe Line Contractors Association.
The worldwide COVID 19 pandemic
limited association events and forced
adjustments on every level, said Kelly
Osborn of U.S. Pipeline, Inc., Houston
who served as PLCA president during
2020. Overall, the pipeline construction
industry has been deeply impacted by
the pandemic. However, there are many
positive accomplishments to report.
" Fortunately, as essential work,
some construction was able to move
forward, " said Osborn. " Most notably,
TC Energy's Buckeye Xpress was
successfully completed in 2020, and
we kicked off construction on Enbridge's
Line 3 Replacement Project.
" The PLCA negotiated project labor
agreements for both the Buckeye Xpress
and the Line 3 Project, ensuring that
the work would be performed by PLCA
members - union contractors with the
highest level of attention to safety,
quality, environmental compliance and
community support. "
In 2020, the PLCA Labor Committee
successfully completed labor negotiations
with each of the four pipeline unions,
updating the National Pipe Line
Agreements. Osborn said the new
agreements are intended to help
improve the competitive position of
PLCA members and help grow the union
contractor's industry market share.
The association's first-ever National
Pipe Line Conference was a highly
successful two-day virtual event that
focused on " Safety and Quality in Pipeline
Construction " and " Working Under the
National Pipe Line Agreement. "
" Several hundred PLCA members
participated in the virtual event. " said
Osborn. " We were very proud to add

this event to the PLCA's list of member
programs and believe it will be a terrific
event for years to come. "

2020 annual convention
Last February, the 2020 Convention
was held in Palm Springs, Calif., with
more than 650 representatives from
PLCA member companies, industry
organizations, unions and others
gathering to network with industry
colleagues, learn about the industry and
attend PLCA member meetings.
" It was wonderful, " Osborn said,
" made even more special because it
was the last event many of us were able
to attend before the world was changed
by the pandemic. "
The PLCA scholarship program was
re-named in honor of the late C. Paul
Evans, former president of CRC-Evans
and a PLCA Honorary Member.
" Evans was instrumental in founding
the PLCA scholarship program in 1998, "
said Elizabeth Worrell, PLCA managing
director and chief legal counsel.
Providing scholarships to the children,
grandchildren and stepchildren of
PLCA members, the program has
awarded over $5.5 million in
scholarships since its founding.
" Following Mr. Evans death in 2018, "
Osborn said, " the PLCA Scholarship
Committee wanted to honor Mr. Evans'
important contribution to the industry
and PLCA community - and most
importantly, his contribution to the
PLCA scholarship program. "
The 2021 annual meeting scheduled
for April and the Spring Leadership
Retreat had to be cancelled. The PLCA
hopes to reschedule the annual meeting
later in the year.
PLCA's priority this year is to grow
work opportunities for association

members, despite the challenges posed
by the pandemic.
" The announcement in early 2021
that the Biden Administration revoked
the Keystone XL permit was felt deeply
throughout the industry, " said Osborn.
" It was a very disappointing development
for a project that was to be built by
several PLCA members. "
According to Osborn, government
relations will be important during the
course of Biden's presidency and PLCA
will be active in this area in 2021 under
its newly formed Government Affairs and
Strategic Projects Committee.
PLCA offices are in Arlington, Va.
The association web site is www.plca.org. *

The association's first-ever National
Pipe Line Conference was a highly
successful two-day virtual event
that focused on " Safety and Quality
in Pipeline Construction " and
" Working Under the National Pipe
Line Agreement. "

PLCA 2020 President Kelly Osborn, U.S. Pipelines
UCONonline.com | MARCH 2021

25
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Underground Construction - March 2021

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