August Ditchmen | Page 8

currently and allows users to view locate tickets for up to 30 days. Interestingly, photos, notes and street views are available with DigCheck. Attendees were treated to a scrumptious buffet lunch with a keynote speaker--former twotime Olympian Cliff Meidl, who impressed the audience with his remarkable story of recovery and overcoming adversity after he experienced a tragic digging accident. NUCA FL thanks the Florida Energy Pipeline Association and its members who sponsored Cliff’s presentation and Sunshine 811 for coordinating his attendance and travel. The post-lunch session focused on New Stormwater & Dewatering Discharge Regulations by Eddie Snell, Reedy Creek Improvement District. Eddie shared Reactive Best Management Practices and Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPPs) requirements, including new site-specific criteria. He also cautioned contractors about the fines and penalties for non-compliance, up to $37,500 per day per violation, and relayed that DEP will be increasing reviews of SWPPPs, enforcement and site inspections. Eddie briefed the group on the proactive best management practices (BMPs) for stormwater management and the enhanced BMPs such as Type IV silt fence, high flow inlet protection devices, belted silk retention fence, sediment control, rumble racks, mud wraps, rolled control blankets, sustainable vegetative covers and flexible armoring, to name a few. Lastly, Kelly Davis, Bouchard Insurance, gave a light-hearted presentation on the requirements for employers with respect to the Affordable Care Act Employer Reporting & Department of Labor Compliance Preparation. Kelly reminded attendees that there is a oneyear delay for medium-sized employers (50-99 full-time employees), but large-sized employers must report coverage for all “benefit eligible employees” at 30 hours per week or more. Kelly reviewed the triggers for employers to determine whether they meet the 9.5% affordability test for coverage, such as W-2, federal poverty level or payroll test and mentioned the subsidies in health exchange. Finally, she also warned employers about payroll vendors ripping people off by charging exorbitant amounts to file the new reports. Have an idea for our next Construction Industry Forum? Please email [email protected].