Underground Construction - July 2021 - 26

Pipe Line Contractors Association
PLCA
Th e year 2020 and even through the fi rst
half of 2021 was a period of challenges
and adjustments for members of the
Pipe Line Contractors Association.
Th e worldwide Covid 19 pandemic
limited association events and forced
adjustments on every level, said Kelly
Osborn, PLCA president from 2020 to
February 2021.
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.
" Th e PLCA negotiated project labor
agreements for both the Buckeye Xpress
and the Line 3 Project ensuring that
the work would be performed by PLCA
Jeff Griffi n | Senior Editor
Rescheduled PLCA Convention Set for August
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 it is hoped help
grow the union contractor's industry
market share.
The association's first-ever National
Pipe Line Conference was a highly
successful two-day member 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 terrifi c
event for years to come. "
73RD ANNUAL
PLC CONVENTION
Aug. 11-15
The Greenbrier Resort
White Sulphur Springs, WV
26 JULY 2021 | UCONonline.com
In February, the 2020 Convention
was held in Palm Springs, Calif., with
more than 650 representatives from
PLCA member companies, industry
organizations, unions and others
gathered 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. "
Th e 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. Th e scholarship program, which
provides scholarships to the children,
grandchildren and step-children of PLCA
members, 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 convention
was moved first to April and then
rescheduled to August to allow a fully
open and safe meeting.
Osborn said the PLCA's priority for
2021 will be 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 the PLCA will be active
in this area in 2021 under the PLCA's
newly-formed Government Affairs and
Strategic Projects Committee.
Osborn's term as president ended
in February. He is president of U.S.
Pipeline Inc., Houston, Texas. Dwayne
Osadchuk, president of Oz Directional
Drilling, Carefree, Ariz., became the 2021
president of PLCA. *
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
PLCA, (571) 570-2700, plca.org
http://www.plca.org http://www.UCONonline.com
Underground Construction - July 2021

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