INSIDER:  Sept. 6, 2011

Inside this issue:
• UPCOMING MEETINGS
• FROM THE EO’S CORNER
• CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT SUCCESS!
• BIAW QUICK CHECK – KNOW WHO YOU HIRE
• L&I STAY AT WORK PROGRAM
• BIAW SAFETY ASSISTANCE
• GATEWAY PACIFIC TERMINAL – Sept. 8
• 2020 LOW-IMPACT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM – Sept. 8
• WETLANDS II – IS EVERY PUDDLE OR DITCH A "CRITICAL AREA”? – Sept. 15
• GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING  - "IT’S A NEW DAY AT BIA” 
• LINCOLN GREEN: A COMMERCIAL GREEN ROOF WORKSHOP
• HOUSING SEMINAR – WHATCOM COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
• SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER  CLASSES
• DUCT & BLOWER DOOR TESTING
• LEAD RENOVATION RULE
• 18TH ANNUAL WASHINGTON CONSTRUCTION LAW SEMINAR – Sept. 15-16
• GROWTH MANAGEMENT and LAND USE SEMINAR

UPCOMING MEETINGS
• Thursday, Sept. 8, 11:00 a.m., GAC – Gateway presentation
• Thursday Sept. 15  Board of Directors Meeting 11:30
• Thursday, Sept. 15 BIAWC-CAPR Wetlands II Seminar, 1-5 p.m. tech session,
7:30-9 p.m. general public
• Monday, Sept. 19, 11:30 a.m. Built Green®
• Tuesday, Sept. 20, 11:30 a.m. Membership Committee Meeting
• Wed. Sept 21 General Membership Event 5:30 – 7pm  Barbeque "on the patio”
• Thursday, Sept. 22, 11:30 a.m., GAC
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FROM THE EO’S CORNER
It’s a new day at the BIAWC! I’ve put in just over three weeks here at 1650 Baker Creek. I’m having a blast and I’m excited to be working for you! I am very grateful to the selection committee and the Board for giving me this opportunity. All of a sudden I have over four hundred customers - each and every one of you – the members of this Association! I look forward to shaking hands and getting to know you.

I have spent the past thirty years of my life "in the trenches” here in Whatcom County building homes in our community. I am well aware of the challenges we are all facing in the homebuilding and remodeling industry.

We’re getting back to full strength here at BIAWC and making some very positive changes.

Stay tuned as we rev up for the election season, address issues regarding permit costs, inclusionary zoning, flood control and many many more challenges facing our industry. 

We invite you to stop by and say hello anytime. We are here to help you and your business be successful.

Please come see the beautiful building that houses your Association. We have three different rooms for use by the membership and the general public. Let us give you a tour.
I’m here every day working for you. Thanks for the opportunity.

--- Brian A. Evans, Executive Officer BIAWC
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CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT SUCCESS!
Thanks to all who participated on Aug. 19! We had about 100 players and a gorgeous day. Thanks for a good job to committee members Doug and Cooki Campbell, Jordan Salisbury, Darin DeYoung, Bob Fraser, and Lori Himmelstein for all their hard work.  Special thanks to our title sponsor, Western Refinery Services, and all the other sponsors who made the day possible!  
--- Stephanie Artino, Golf Tournament Chair

Thank you to Stephanie for an outstanding job organizing the tournament this year!!
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BIAWC QUICK CHECK - A BIAW PROGRAM TO REDUCE L&I CLAIMS
25% of all workers' comp claims are fraudulent (from a study conducted by the Fraud Advisory Commission of the National Counsel on Compensation Insurance). It has been proven that individuals who engage in acts of fraud have often engaged in other criminal activities including illegal drugs, theft and even violent crimes.  Quick Check is a web-based court search service available to BIAW members through BIAW's website. For $6.95 you get the fastest and most cost-effective means of searching criminal records in Washington State available anywhere. Quick Check Website.
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NEW – L&I STAY AT WORK PROGRAM
Effective June 15th, 2011 - L&I's New "Stay at Work" program reimburses employers for up to 50 percent of the wages they pay to their workers who have been injured on the job but are not able to return to their regular job. Click here for more information
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BIAW SAFETY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM - PROMOTING WORK SITE SAFETY
The BIAW Safety Assistance program offers members a valuable tool to deal with safety and health regulations. The program, which is free of charge to all BIAW members, includes on-site safety consultations, safety-related seminars and updates on OSHA and WISHA standards. Members also receive free sample written safety programs.
If you have any questions regarding the BIAW Safety Assistance Program, please e-mail or call BIAW Field Representative Donovan Quebedeaux at 1-800-228-4229. 
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GATEWAY PACIFIC TERMINAL
Thursday, Sept. 8 at 11:00 AM, BIAWC Office
Craig Cole will speak on why the BIAWC should be interested in Gateway Pacific Terminal at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 8 (a regular GAC meeting time). Craig plans a half-hour presentation then questions, at the BIAWC offices. All BIAWC members and their guests are welcome. It’s a brown bag lunch session – please bring your own. We ask that you RSVP to lindat@biawc.com by Sept. 6 so we know what size room to reserve.
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2020 LOW-IMPACT DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
Thursday, Sept. 8 at Noon, at the 20/20 Engineering Office
2020 Engineering will host a luncheon (lunch will be provided) from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, September 8, to discuss how low-impact developments can fit your site. Residential, commercial and public development will be discussed. 2020 Engineering plans a presentation featuring project examples and a round table discussion on costs, permitting, maintenance and LEED credits. Who should attend: architects, landscape architects, planners, designers and developers who are currently involved in or interested in learning about low impact development. The luncheon will be at the 2020 Engineering offices, in the Wellspring Building, 814 Dupont St., Bellingham, WA 98225. Space is limited soTo RSVP or If you have questions, please RSVP by calling Lindsay at contact 2020 Engineering at (360) 671-2020 ext. 100 ask for Lindsay, or by email: Lindsay@2020engineering.com.
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WETLANDS II – IS EVERY PUDDLE OR DITCH A "CRITICAL AREA”?
Thursday, Sept. 15, 1-4:30 pm and 7– 9:30 p.m, BIAWC Banquet Room
Due to high interest following Whatcom CAPR’s May seminar on wetlands, CAPR and BIAWC are bringing hydro-geologist and engineering geologist Steve Neugebauer back to present two wetlands programs on Thursday, September 15.  A technical presentation for engineers, wetlands scientists and consultants is planned from 1-5 p.m.  Steve will talk to property owners and a lay audience from 7-9:30 p.m. about how the presence of a legitimate wetland is scientifically determined. Both sessions will be held at the BIAWC, 1650 Baker Creek Place, Bellingham. WA 98226. Admission is $40 per person for the technical presentation, and $20 per person for the general session, or $50 for both. There is a discount for those who attended CAPR’s earlier wetlands seminar on May 21. For more information, contact Roger Almskaar at (360) 671-1324.
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GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING  - "IT’S A NEW DAY AT BIA”      
 Wednesday, Sept 21 5:30 -7pm, BIAWC Banquet Room
Five buck barbeque. Burgers and dogs out on the patio. $2.00 well-drinks. $1.50 Beers. Free soft drinks! Come on out for a late summer barbeque. Meet our New Executive Officer and mix it up with your BIAWC staff. We’ll be out on the patio. Stop by on your way home. It’s your association!
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LINCOLN GREEN: A COMMERCIAL GREEN ROOF WORKSHOP
Thursday, September 22, 4:00-5:00 p.m. at Lincoln Square, Bellingham
The Bellingham Housing Authority has embarked on a full scale retrofit of Lincoln Square. Sustainable Connections is partnering with them to provide access to Bellingham’s newest and largest green roof.  Lincoln Green is a snapshot of a full scale commercial green roof retrofit utilizing the latest technology. The roof covers three larger sections totaling 6,200 sqft.  Attendees will tour the three roof tops, gain experience and learn the methodologies of low impact development through the installation and lessons learned on this roof. Local experts will be onsite to discuss green roof questions and needs. Attendees who RSVP will receive root beer floats courtesy of Boundary Bay Brewery and Mallard Ice Cream. Following the workshop, tour the rest of the building and help celebrate Whatcom County’s Largest Solar Installation at 6:00 pm.  409 York St., Bellingham.  RSVP with erin@sconnect.org  or at 360.647.7093 x108.
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HOUSING SEMINAR – WHATCOM COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS
Wednesday, Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Free to interested parties – location to be announced (probably the Country Club). Mike Luis, a housing specialist for WA state who was recently asked to head up commission for siting a new Boeing plant, will speak on in-migration in Whatcom County and its effects on affordable housing here. After lunch, Clayton and Jack Petree will speak on Bellingham housing benchmarks. To reserve a spot, contact Perry Eskridge at perrye@wcar.net.
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SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER  CLASSES
Deadlines are a week before each session, but the sooner folks enroll, the sooner we’ll know whether there’s enough interest to present these.
• "Washington State Energy Code Update,” WSU Energy Program class 1-4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 20 at BIAWC. Get the latest on how to deal with the 2009 IECC, which is now in effect.  A blower door test demo is planned. To enroll, contact Linda Twitchell, lindat@biawc.com, 671-4247. BIAWC and Built Green® members, $20. General public, $35.

• "Lien Law & Construction Contracts,” Wednesday, September 28, at BIAWC. This combo is taught by Seattle attorney Lawrence Linville.
"Lien Law”: Understand circumstances in which you must give a preliminary lien notice to an owner and/or general contractor, and rules on preparation and recording, setup, filing and foreclosing your claim. The class runs from 8 a.m. to noon – 4 real estate clock hours, 3 insurance CE hours. It’s OK to bring a contract you have questions about.
"Construction Contracts”: What to include or avoid in a contract with an owner or general contractor, clauses designed to resolve disputes and limit warranties, runs from 1 to 4:30 p.m. – 3.5 real estate clock hours, 3 insurance CE hours. CGA/CGB/CGR credit – must attend whole day. 
Registration deadline for both classes is Sept. 20. BIAWC member discount. For more info and registration, see the BIAW webpage: For Lien Law, click here.
For Construction Contracts, click here.

• "Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) Training,” Oct. 18-19, and "CESCL Re-Certification,” Oct. 20, at BIAWC. If your project disturbs more than an acre of land or is in a subdivision, you probably need a Construction Stormwater General Permit from the Department of Ecology. All such sites now require a Certified Erosion and Sediment Control Lead (CESCL) on-call or on-site to inspect, install and manage stormwater controls. This course is designed for residential builders. It offers16 Appraiser classroom continuing ed hours. Re-certification credit: Certified Graduate Associate (CGA), Builder (CGB), Remodeler (CGR) and Graduate Master Builder (GMB).  Registration deadline is Oct. 10. BIAWC member discount!  For registration and more info on the basic class, click here.
For registration on the Recertification class, click here. 

• "Built Green® Washington’s "Green Building for Building Professionals” course will be Oct. 27-28, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at BIAWC. Learn how green homes provide buyers with lower energy costs and higher value. Cover strategies for incorporating green-building principles into homes without driving up the cost of construction. Techniques will be discussed for competitively differentiating your home products with increased indoor environmental quality and energy and resource efficiency.  16 Appraiser and Real Estate Continuing Education credits hours, 12 AIA/CES credits; designation credit: CGA, CGB, CGP. Taught by Ted Clifton, CGB, CGP, of LaConner. The price is $300 for BIAWC members, $350 for non-members. Registration deadline is Oct. 19. Make checks payable and return to: BIAW, PO Box 1909, Olympia, WA 98507 / 360-352-7800. Or click here for course information and online registration.

• Built Green® Washington will hold its new 7-clock hour class for appraisers, "Green Home Trends and Appraisal Methodologies,” on Oct. 28 in Burlington. This is a brand new program that offers an opportunity for appraisers to learn the difference between Built Green® project values and those of traditionally built homes. For more information, send an e-mail to registration@seecsolutions.com.
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DUCT & BLOWER DOOR TESTING FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION
Whatcom County Building Services Division has announced:
Currently and until further notice, the county Building Services Division is requiring on-site inspections by Public Service Inspectors for both air leakage and duct system testing associated with new construction. We recommended that duct systems be tested as soon after rough-in stage as practical. The intent is to discover any deficiencies before any inadvertent cover or concealment, while the system is most accessible. We recommend that the system be tested for compliance before the site inspection by the Public Service Inspector, with ample time to make corrections if and as needed. If the test fails for any reason, the inspector will not have time to wait on the site for problems to be identified and corrected. It is our intent to work through the learning curve with everyone, however, the inspectors will have the option to charge a re-inspection fee ($100.00 per Unified Fee Schedule #8215) for any required return inspection.  Inspectors will ask to see current duct tester certification from the tester on site. The tester may be asked to demonstrate knowledge and/or documentation for the proper calibration of the equipment being used for the test. The signed affidavit will be required before inspection approval.
We recommend that building air leakage be tested as soon after drywall stage as practical, prior to cabinet and plumbing fixture installations. The exception is that light fixture and electrical cover plate gaskets should be in place. Admittedly, the timing is tricky. Eventually, experience will dictate the most efficient methodology. The intent is to make the test set-up as easy and comprehensive as possible, maintain maximum accessibility for corrections when needed, and achieve the most accurate results.
Wain Harrison, Supervisor Building Services
WHarriso@co.whatcom.wa.us  / cell 360-815-0685 / office 360-676-6907
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LEAD RENOVATION RULE
EPA published the final rule for the Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule (LRRP) in the August 5 edition of the Federal Register. The changes made to the LRRP go into effect on October 4. The good news is: EPA will not require clearance and dust wipe testing!
There are several changes which will directly affect job sites.
1. Certified Renovators may collect a paint chip, from the components to be disturbed, for laboratory analysis. This is an alternative to performing an EPA recognized test kit. EPA will be publishing guidance on how those renovators previously certified will be able to receive training on this option.
2. Vertical containment or equivalent extra precautions in containing the work area must be used on exterior renovations performed within 10 feet of the property line. By incorporating the phrase "or equivalent extra precautions” EPA is allowing contractors to use the technique which best suits the situation in order to contain dust during an exterior renovation. EPA is additionally allowing the use of less than 10 feet (for exteriors) and less than 6 feet (for interiors) of plastic sheeting or other impermeable material to be placed on the ground/floor if used in conjunction with a vertical containment.
3. EPA is clarifying that the prohibited practices apply to all painted surfaces, not just "lead-based paint.” To do this EPA replaced the term” lead-based paint” with "painted surfaces” and added "painted surfaces” to the definitions within the regulation.
4. HEPA vacuums must now be operated in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions.
5. EPA is clarifying that the on the job training required to be provided by the certified renovator refers to only those lead-safe work practices required by the LRRP.
6. The recordkeeping and post renovation reporting requirements are modified to include paint chip sampling results similar to the previous requirements of recognized test kits.
--- Bob Bixler, Connor Institute
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18TH ANNUAL WASHINGTON CONSTRUCTION LAW SEMINAR – Sept. 15-16
Presented by The Seminar Group at the Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA.
Program Co-Chairs Bruce P. Babbitt, a founding member of Jameson Babbitt Stites & Lombard PLLC, and Paul R. Cressman Jr., a founding member of Ahlers & Cressman PLLC, will lead an extended faculty discussing Washington and federal case law, statutes and regulations, Indian Law, public contracts, insurance and bankruptcy. This seminar is available via Live Webcast, which allows you to tap into the event with your computer. Live CLE Credits are available. To view the full agenda, which includes registration information and pricing, click here. To register over the phone, call The Seminar Group at 800-574-4852.
Credits:  WA CLE - 12.25 MCLE Credits including 1.0 Ethics Credit - Attending & Live Webcast.
Contractors & Engineers - May Qualify for Credit - Attending & Live Webcast.
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20th ANNUAL GROWTH MANAGEMENT and LAND USE SEMINAR – Nov. 3-4
Law Seminars International presents 29 speakers at the Seattle Grand Hyatt at Olive 8. The program is designed for attorneys, real estate, land use and environmental professionals, city and county officials, planning consultants, and anyone else involved in managing growth and development in Washington. Topics include the Ruckelshaus final report for agriculture and critical areas projects, new shoreline plans and their relationship to GMA, permit procedures and appeals, and recent vesting developments and challenges. Information: 206.567.4490 or 800.854.8009. Register by email at registrar@lawseminars.com or online at www.lawseminars.com . Regular tuition is $995 with a group rate of $745 each for 2 or more from the same firm.
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