Water professional guide released
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Water Works Association (AWWA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF), in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor and the Environmental Protection Agency, released the Water Sector Competency Model, which defines the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities, for prospective water professionals and encourages careers in the water sector. The Water Sector Competency Model, posted at http://careeronestop.org/CompetencyModel/pyramid.aspx?WS=Y, is designed to increase the pool of certified and experienced water sector professionals through a variety of training and career advancement solutions. AWWA is supporting the initiative by engaging in a three-year research project that supports the improvement of the water sector competency model.

ASCE announces outstanding project finalists
RESTON, VA. — The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) announced the five finalists for the 2010 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement (OCEA) award. Established in 1960, the OCEA program recognizes projects for their contribution to the well-being of people and communities, their resourcefulness in planning and design challenges, and their innovative use of materials and techniques. Selected from a group of 28 entries, the 2010 finalists are:

• Arrowhead Tunnels Project – Inland Feeder Program, San Bernardino, Calif.;
• Concordia University Wisconsin Lakeshore Environmental Enhancement and Education Project, Mequon, Wis.;
• Sound Transit Central Link Light Rail: Section 710 Beacon Hill Station and Tunnels, Seattle, Wash.;
• Sutong Bridge, Nantong City, Jiangsu Province, China; and
• Utah State Capitol Seismic Base Isolation and Restoration, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Twenty earn new Public Infrastructure Inspector certifications
KANSAS CITY, MO. — The American Public Works Association (APWA) announced that 20 public works infrastructure professionals earned their credentials as Certified Public Infrastructure Inspector (CPII) in November. The purpose of the APWA Public Infrastructure Inspector Certification is to promote quality infrastructure throughout the community by advancing the knowledge and practice of construction inspection to benefit the community and public agencies.

Associations release environmental life-cycle assessment study
CENTENNIAL, COLO. — The American Galvanizers Association (AGA) in conjunction with the International Zinc Association (IZA) completed a life-cycle assessment (LCA) study for hot-dip galvanized steel. LCA is a standardized scientific method for the systematic analysis of all mass and energy flows as well as environmental impacts attributed to a product system, from raw material acquisition to end-of-life management. Results of the study are available free on the AGA website at www.galvanizeit.org