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Jay McQuillen, former RPA Officer and
Director has been elected to chair the Technical Advisory Board
for the association. McQuillen is the Manager of Granite's Southern
California operations. The Technical Advisory Board was created
in 1997 and guides the Association in technical issues relating
to Asphalt-Rubber (A-R). It is made up of profession-al engineers,
representing industry, academia and agencies, who have expertise
in crumb rubber modified pavements. Past Chairs included Mark
Belshe, P.E., FNF Construction Inc. of AZ, Jack Van Kirk, former
Caltrans A-R expert and Jon Epps, PhD, P.E., Professor Emeritus
of the University of Nevada, Reno. One of the major accomplishments
of the TAB is the development of a long-range strategic research
program for A-R, called "Asphalt-Rubber Research and Development,
an Industry Commitment to Excellence." A list of the TAB
is found on the inside cover of this edition.
Two additional experts were added to the panel
at the annual meeting, Jorge Sousa, Ph.D., P.E., President of
Consulpav International and Kamil Kaloush, Ph.D., Professor of
Civil and Environmental Engineering, Arizona State University.
Sousa, a graduate of the Military and Air Force Academies in
Portugal, received his doctorate at the University of California,
Berkeley under the tutelage of Prof. Carl Monismith and Kaloush,
a graduate of Ohio State University received his doctorate at
ASU with Dr. Matt Witczak as his advisor.
FHWA Promotes Recycled Materials
Frederick G. Wright, Jr., Executive Director
of the FHWA, issued a formal policy on February 7, 2002 stating
the agency's position on the use of recycled materials in highway
application. In a memorandum to FHWA personnel, Wright stated,"The
implementation of this policy will support our strategic goals
of preserving and enhancing the human and natural environment,
increasing mobility, raising productivity and improving safety.
Moreover, the new policy has the potential to strengthen the
relationship between FHWA and the Environmental Protection Agency
and to forge new partnerships among government, industry and
academia. By providing leadership and technical guidance to the
transportation community, FHWA will stimulate advancements in
recycling technology and the discovery of new opportunities for
the appropriate use of recycled materials."
The FHWA policy is:
(1) Recycling and reuse can offer engineering, economic and environmental
benefits.
(2) Recycled materials should get first consideration in materials
selection.
(3) Determination of the use of recycled materials should include
an initial
review of engineering and environmental suitability.
(4) An assessment of economic benefits should follow in the selection
process.
(5) Restrictions that prohibit the use of recycled materials
without technical basis should be removed from specifications.
The FHWA action plan for the policy includes the creation of
a FHWA Recycling Team and a team of champions in Division offices
to be points of contact for recycling technology. The action
plan calls for partnering with entities such as the AASHTO Subcommittee
on Materials and Environment and the Recycled Resource Materials
Center at the University of New Hampshire, as well as State Highway
agency Recycling Coordinators and state solid waste management
regulators. It also includes increased interaction and coordination
with industry partners. In terms of promotion and sup-port the
policy encourages research, development and technology transfer
programs to further innovation, the use of demonstration projects
and increased training opportunities for FHWA and SHA staff.
Commenting on the FHWA policy, Jay McQuillen,
the Chairman of the RPA
Advisory Board, said,"This new policy clearly marks an end
to the "linear land-fill" mentality that was prevalent
a few years ago and slowed the progress of "Asphalt-Rubber
technology."
With the years of research and field performance that have demonstrated
that use of scrap tire rubber in asphalt can produce superior
pavements, our industry which encompasses road builders and tire
recyclers, welcomes this policy as an opportunity to further
share our experience and success."
Editors note: Jay McQuillen served as a member of the Expert
Task Group (ETG) for
the FHWA pooled fund research on "Crumb Rubber Modifier
in Asphalt Pavement."
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