Underground Construction - May 2021 - 9

the OG&E network bandwidth from 150 Megabits
per second (Mbps) to 10 Gigabits per second
(Gbps). Network security and resiliency will be
enhanced, and network reliability and uptime will
be increased by adding redundancy using fiber,
microwave and links to carrier networks. Moreover, it mitigates the risk of wireless interference as
FCC regulations evolve.

measures such as takeover, financial restrictions
and enhanced auditing and would have to submit
improvement plans to the health department.
The proposal from Mills, a Republican from St.
Martin Parish, moves next to the House for debate.

DeSantis, Army Corps Reach
Deal on Major Everglades Project

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an agreement on April 22
with the Army Corps of Engineers that will continue
work on a key reservoir in Everglades restoration.
Work on the long-stalled Everglades Agricultural
The Louisiana Senate unanimously agreed to set up
Area reservoir in western Palm Beach County is to
a grading system to tell the public about the condibe shared between the state and federal governtion of the state's community water systems.
ments. DeSantis the agreement will accelerate the
The proposal by Sen. Fred Mills would require
Army Corps portion of the project.
the Louisiana Department of Health to develop
The state and federal governments have spent
the system of grading from A through F, similar to
billions of dollars over the years on restoration of
the way the education department grades public
the Everglades. The vast wetland suffers from lack
school systems.
of adequate fresh water and also fertilizer-laden
Water systems would be judged on their history
of federal and state water quality violations, financial runoff that brings unwanted nutrients to the system.
The reservoir will have a water storage composustainability, operations and performance,
nent and a wetland with vegetation that can cleanse
customer satisfaction and other benchmarks. The
water from Lake Okeechobee, according to the
health department would have to publish the letter
South Florida Water Management District.
grades online, with the first grades due in 2023.
The plan is to sharply reduce the Lake
Any community water system that receives
Bore_Spacer-Ad_UC_2020.pdf 1 2/24/2020 10:40:27 AM
Okeechobee discharges down the Caloosahatchee
a D or F grade
could be subject to corrective

Senate Backs Grading System
for Louisiana Water Systems

and St. Lucie rivers to estuaries where the water
is blamed for blue-green algae blooms and other
environmental problems.

In Memoriam
James " Jim " Fletcher,
consummate salesman and
leader, HDPE pioneer and
legend in the industry, died
March 30, at the age of 82.
He began his 35-year career
at ISCO as the company's first salesperson and
often spoke fondly of his first job, supplying pipe
to slipline the sewers at Fort Knox. It was also one
of the first and largest jobs for ISCO.
His early leadership and influence continued
and is a big part of the company ISCO is today.
Some of the greatest moves throughout ISCO's
history were, in part, guided by Jim's hand. He
introduced high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe
to Jim Kirchdorfer, Sr., the founder of ISCO in
1980, and spent 35 years pioneering HDPE.
While his accomplishments at ISCO and in
the HDPE industry are impressive, he was most
proud of his children, Bryan and Susan, and his
grandchildren: Cameron, Ashley, Ella, and Cole,
who will all miss their " papaw. " *

CMY

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Underground Construction - May 2021

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