Testifying at a House Science & Technology Committee/Technology & Innovation Subcommittee hearing last month, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association
Testifying at a House Science & Technology Committee/Technology & Innovation Subcommittee hearing last month, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association National Resource Director Dan Huffman outlined how the concrete industry is advancing pervious concrete as a leading-edge infiltration technology. He provided a visual demonstration of the absorptive capabilities of pervious concrete, while explaining how the material can contribute to low-impact development and even provide for substantial water harvesting. Huffman also described how NRMCA has helped to develop guideline specifications for the design and use of pervious concrete through American Concrete Institute committee work. In addition, to enhance greater utilization of pervious pavement technology, he noted how the association’s national program for pervious concrete contractors had resulted in 1,200 certifications in the last 18 months.
Leading the Green Transportation Infrastructure: Challenges to Access and Implementation, hearing was Subcommittee Chairman David Wu (D-OR). In response to Huffman’s overview of pervious concrete pavement, plus similar insight on other technologies aimed at minimizing roads’ and highways’ environmental impact from four others offering testimony, Wu observed, Our challenge today is not the development of new technologies. It is to get people to start using the technologies we’ve got. On paper, these technologies look like no-brainers. So why don’t we see them used more often? While certain technical and research issues need to be addressed, their biggest impediments are state and federal regulations. He also expressed interest in writing legislation that would facilitate transfer of green transportation technologies to industry and local governments.