APCA Journal 3rd Quarter 2025

The Publication for Merit Shop Pipeline Contractors AMERICAN PIPELINE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION 3rd Quarter 2025 APCA Member Directory Edition Contracts: I Know What I Mean, But Do You Know What I Mean? APCA Leadership Fights to Restore Fair and Open Competition How the Big Beautiful Bill Will Impact Pipeline Employers on Employment Law Issues Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Delivers Wins for Pipeline Industry

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PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 5 Officer Directors Official Publication of the American Pipeline Contractors Association Board of Directors Publication Staff PO Box 638 Churchton, MD 20733 (703) 212-7745 • www.americanpipeline.org ©2025 American Pipeline Contractors Association Nick Bertram Jomax Construction Co., Inc. Mike Castle, Jr. Castle Paul Cook. Sunland Construction, Inc. Scott Coppersmith (Advisory) Mears Group, Inc. David Dacus (Advisory) Troy Construction, LLC Taylor Dacus Troy Construction, LLC Shannon Driver Holloman Corporation Ricky Dyess M.G. Dyess, Inc. John Fluharty (Advisory) Troy Construction, LLC Adam Nietsche Pumpco, Inc. Sean Renfro (Advisory) Sunland Construction, Inc. Aaron Simon (Advisory) Troy Construction, LLC Roy Weaver Weaver, LLC Publisher Timothy Wagner Editor Michael Ancell Associate Editor Caroline Ferguson Advertising Sales Stacy Bowdring Information Technology Greg Smela Accounting James Wagner Layout & Design Joseph Wagner Government Affairs Ben Brubeck Government Affairs Jaime Steve President Kevin LaBauve WHC Energy Services President-Elect Nick Bruno Bi-Con Services Vice President Chris Jones HardRock Infrastructure Services Secretary/Treasurer Patrick McRae Mears Group, Inc. AMERICAN PIPELINE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION 3rd Quarter 2025 Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Delivers Wins for Pipeline Industry 7 By Ben Brubeck Congress has escaped Washington for August recess, and Republican lawmakers are busy persuading voters back home that its cheekily named One Big Beautiful Bill, also known as the budget reconciliation, will deliver wins for their pocketbooks and the American economy. President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law on July 4, and it extends key 2017 Trump tax cuts and makes additional tax, workforce development, and energy policy changes of interest to APCA member companies, their employees, and industry stakeholders. I Know What I Mean, But Do You Know What I Mean? 12 By John Grayson A recurring theme in this Contract Law column has been the importance of clarity in the contract. Construction contracts are filled with terms and phrases that may mean one thing to pipeliners but something completely different in day-today usage. Even within the pipeline construction industry, many words and phrases can be interpreted and understood differently, and this can be dangerous. Because there is very little standardization in construction contracts, the need for clarity is obvious. 2025 APCA Member Directory 27 Human Resources | By Greg Guidry 10 Safety Watch 14 News Briefs 17 APCA Member News 41 Industry Calendar 46 New APCA Members 46 Advertiser Index 46

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PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 7 Inside Washington Continued on page 8 Congress has escaped Washington for August recess, and Republican lawmakers are busy persuading voters back home that its cheekily named One Big Beautiful Bill, also known as the budget reconciliation, will deliver wins for their pocketbooks and the American economy. After months of congressional deliberation and White House arm-twisting and intervention, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) (H.R. 1) that President Trump signed into law on July 4, extends key 2017 Trump tax cuts and makes additional tax, workforce development, and energy policy changes of interest to APCA member companies, their employees, and industry stakeholders. “The important tax and workforce development policies in the One Big Beautiful Bill will benefit American workers and businesses,” said APCA President Kevin LaBauve, Senior Vice President of WHC Energy Services of Broussard, La., in an APCA statement on the OBBBA signing. Fair Tax Treatment The OBBBA delivers tax certainty and parity for large and small pipeline contractors and related businesses that will result in additional capital investment in materials, equipment, workers, and construction projects. “The entire pipeline industry is particularly heartened to see improvements to the tax code, including restoration of 100 percent bonus depreciation on capital investments, extension of the research & development tax credit, permanent status of the small business deduction, and the elimination of taxes on overtime wages for hard-working Americans like the men and women in the pipeline industry,” LaBauve said. Workforce Development The OBBBA includes provisions allowing investment in the pipeline industry’s workforce by expanding much-needed access to educational Pell grants to students enrolled in shortterm accredited programs aimed at upskilling the workforce and attracting new entrance into the skilled trades. In addition, the OBBBA allows 529 savings plan owners to make tax-free withdrawals for a broader population of workforce, on-the-job training, and continuing education programs and expenses. This includes tuition, miscellaneous fees, books, exam costs, and supplies for programs listed under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. “Making career and technical education programs and apprenticeships eligible for 529 savings plans will help grow enrollment and increase completion of these plans,” LaBauve said. “Developing the talent of a new generation of pipeline workers is vital to building and growing America’s 21st Century energy infrastructure.” Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Delivers Wins for Pipeline Industry Jaime Steve Government Affairs Solutions jsteve@gasolutions.net (202) 841-5493 Ben Brubeck Government Affairs Solutions bbrubeck@gasolutions.net (703) 472-7850

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 8 Inside Washington Continued from page 7 Energy Tax Credit Changes Favorable to Pipeline Contractors Significant changes to energy tax credits in the OBBBA are likely to result in increased construction of natural gas, hydrogen, and other pipeline-heavy forms of energy production. The OBBBA ended the electric vehicle and solar-heavy home clean energy tax credits and rapidly phases out wind and solar tax credits for project developers. Furthermore, tax credits for new nuclear, geothermal, and battery storage projects will phase out after 2033 and fully end by 2036. With White House policy and communications teams emphasizing the need for reliable energy grids—a knock against inconsistent wind and solar production—to meet new demands from growing domestic manufacturing and AI infrastructure projects, pipeline contractors are well-positioned for growth. What’s Next As GOP lawmakers and the White House sell the economic benefits of the OBBBA to constituents over August recess, Democrat lawmakers are home highlighting its cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Obamacare by more than $1 trillion over the next ten years, as well as new work requirements for Medicaid and SNAP eligibility. Some Republicans will be taking intraparty arrows from budget hawks because the OBBBA raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, and the Congressional Budget Office estimates that it raises the federal deficit $3.4 trillion by 2034. In addition, cuts to clean energy tax credits are likely to stop and delay construction of new clean energy projects, putting some Republicans in a difficult position with job creators and blue-collar voters back home. OBBBA negotiations sucked up a significant amount of time and energy from the congressional appropriations process, which has stymied Congress from passing all 12 funding bills in regular order by August recess, despite promises to the contrary made by House and Senate leadership. When Congress returns to Washington in September, they face a September 30 government shutdown unless they pass all appropriations bills, a short or longer-term continuing resolution (CR), or a combination of these options through a cromnibus or minibus spending bill. In March, Congress agreed to a CR through the end of the fiscal year, but a deal may be more difficult to hammer out this time given the political climate in Washington. The stakes for the forthcoming government funding showdown will be high as campaign season for the 2026 midterm election is around the corner. Mid-term elections traditionally have not been kind to the party occupying the White House. Expect Democrats to come back from recess energized and prepared to obstruct Trump administration nominees and any potential GOP legislative policy wins as they hammer constituents with negative messages about the OBBBA. Permitting Reform Gains Momentum The Trump administration continues to advance NEPA and permitting reforms through executive and regulatory actions, as Katherine Scarlett and David LaCerte, key nominees at the Council on Environmental Quality and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, await a full Senate confirmation, respectively. To date, Congress held committee hearings touching on the cumbersome permitting process, signaling a bipartisan interest in permit reform. The House teed up a floor vote on the APCA-supported PERMIT Act (H.R. 3898), which would streamline permitting under the Clean Water Act, a tool often used to obstruct projects needed to build and improve water, energy, and other infrastructure. Unfortunately, a floor vote on this bill was postponed when Speaker Mike Johnson (RLa.) announced that Congress would be breaking for recess early in the face of mounting legislative maneuvering and pressure to fully disclose files related to the Epstein saga. Pipeline Safety Both the House and Senate recently held hearings on pipeline safety and PHMSA reauthorization, as PHMSA head nominee Paul Roberti awaits a full Senate confirmation vote. The Common Ground Alliance’s Damage Prevention Action Center, which APCA is a member of, continues to advocate for Congress to pass strong third-party damage prevention language contained in Section 18 of the PIPES ACT of 2023 (H.R. 6494), voted out of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in 2024. DPAC’s government affairs committee, co-chaired by APCA’s Ben Brubeck and Google Fiber’s Ariane Schaffer, are leading industry collaboration on this critical federal and state safety policy, working closely with 811 centers, utilities, and contractor stakeholders in the coalition. Busy on the Labor Front On July 17, the White House nominated Scott Mayer, Chief Labor Counsel at the Boeing Corporation, and James Murphy,

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 9 a former career official with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), to serve as members on the NLRB, which currently has three of its five board seats vacant following President Trump’s unprecedented firing of Democrat-appointee Gwynne Wilcox. These nominees would fill two seats as the courts make a final determination about whether Wilcox’s firing was lawful. Of note, the term of the lone Republican-appointed member and now NLRB Chair Marvin Kaplan expires on August 27. As a result, even if Mayer and Murphy are confirmed, there will likely be at least two vacancies (Kaplan and Wilcox) that the Trump administration must address swiftly in order to have an effective NLRB. Unfortunately, those two nominees and President Trump’s NLRB General Counsel nominee Crystal Carey face a perilous confirmation process as some Republican Senators, led by Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), have signaled that they will join Democrat Senators in blocking these nominees from advancing out of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. It is the latest effort by Hawley to curry favor with labor unions that has frustrated the business community. Earlier this year, he released a pro-labor framework and legislation dealing with labor contracts that he hopes will attract more union membership and leadership support for the Republican Party. The House Education and Workforce Committee passed APCA-supported bills clarifying independent contractor and joint employer provisions that are often confusing and unworkable for businesses and employees alike. Of note, Bidenera NLRB and DOL regulations related to both issues remain paused after successful industry-led litigation. The regulated community anticipates further regulatory and legal action from the NLRB and Trump DOL, as it is unlikely the Senate will take up these bills. APCA continues to advocate against anti-competitive and costly government-mandated project labor agreements (PLAs) on federal and federally assisted construction projects. A controversial June 12 White House Office of Management and Budget memo (M-25-29) indicates the Trump administration will continue former President Biden’s controversial policy mandating PLAs on federal construction projects valued at $35 million or more, roiling construction industry stakeholders and pro-free enterprise lawmakers. Despite the OMB’s new PLA exception language exempting projects from PLA mandates if federal agencies determine that a PLA mandate will increase costs by 10 percent or more, it is very concerning that the Trump administration’s default posture is pro-PLA. In a July 17 letter, APCA leadership expressed appreciation to Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Representative Clay Higgins (R-La.) for spearheading letters to President Trump, signed by almost 120 U.S. House and Senate lawmakers in opposition to the continuation of Biden’s pro-PLA policy. The APCA letter stated: “America’s economy and energy dominance cannot be successful without contributions from all qualified pipeline contractors and their skilled employees, regardless of whether they choose to affiliate with unions as a condition of building taxpayer-funded construction projects. “APCA is concerned that without strong opposition to anti-competitive and inflationary government-mandated PLAs from leaders like you and our industry stakeholders, the Trump administration and other policymakers may attempt to expand a pro-PLA posture to federally assisted projects and energy and pipeline construction projects. This would undermine positive steps by the Trump administration taken earlier this year eliminating Biden policies pushing government-mandated PLAs on federally assisted projects via federal agency government grant programs. “For these reasons, APCA supports the Fair and Open Competition Act (H.R. 2126/S.1064), introduced by Rep. Higgins and Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., that would prohibit controversial government PLA mandates and preferences on federal and federally assisted projects.” APCA members received a grassroots alert through Muster to take action and write the White House in support of a new fair and open competition policy. Litigation surrounding the Biden policy has not been resolved and may be further complicated by the Trump memo. Please continue to stay engaged politically through grassroots communications and sustained outreach to elected officials during August recess and into the fall. APCA’s government affairs team looks forward to representing your interests before Congress and the Trump administration and welcomes feedback on industry priorities, as always. 7 “America’s economy and energy dominance cannot be successful without contributions from all qualified pipeline contractors and their skilled employees, regardless of whether they choose to affiliate with unions as a condition of building taxpayer-funded construction projects.”

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 10 Human Resources The new legislation will impact construction employers in several employment law areas. Discussed below are some of the major changes that should be noted. 1. No Federal Tax on Overtime and Tips Details • Individuals must earn $150,000 or less in 2025 to be eligible, and for couples, the combined income limit is $300,000 (this threshold will be adjusted for inflation in future years). • For tip deductions, employees must work in occupations where receiving tips is customary, such as servers, bartenders, hotel staff, hairstylists, etc. (The Treasury Department will publish a comprehensive list of eligible tipped occupations by October 2.) Construction occupations will likely not make the list since receiving tips is not customary in the industry. But if you happen to own a restaurant or hotel, this might apply to those investments. • Only cash tips (including those charged and those received under tip-sharing) and tips reported to employers for payroll tax purposes are eligible. • The maximum deduction for tip income is $25,000 per year. • For overtime deductions, employees must receive OT pay as defined by the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (pay for hours worked beyond 40 in a workweek at a premium rate), and the deduction applies only to the premium portion of OT pay (the amount above the regular hourly rate). • The maximum deduction for OT income is $12,500 per year (up to $25,000 if married filing jointly). • These exemptions will apply only from TY2025 to TY2028 and will need to be extended by Congress to continue. Impact on Employers • Employers will need to adjust payroll systems to accurately track and separately report these amounts on W-2 forms, increasing administrative complexity for payroll and HR departments. 2. Medicaid Eligibility While not a direct workplace regulation, the new law introduces stricter work requirements for Medicaid eligibility, requiring individuals to work or engage in qualifying activities for at least 80 hours per month. Details • Adults aged 19 to 64 in the Medicaid expansion group must complete at least 80 hours per month of work, job training, education, or approved community service to maintain eligibility (unless they fall under an exemption, such as having dependent children, qualifying medical conditions, etc.). • States must verify compliance with work requirements at application and at least every six months. Impact on Employers • This could affect employee health coverage and increase HR involvement in verifying or documenting employees’ work hours for those relying on Medicaid. • Some observers believe this requirement will lead to a growth in the number of people seeking employment, especially at low-skill and lower-paying jobs. • Others believe the cuts to Medicaid and other social programs could lead to reduced employee health coverage, especially among lower-wage workers, potentially increasing absenteeism or turnover due to loss of benefits. Greg Guidry Ogletree Deakins Nash Smoak & Stewart greg.guidry@ogletree.com (337) 769-6583 How Will Pipeline Employers Be Impacted by the Big Beautiful Bill on Employment Law and Related Issues?

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 11 3. Health Savings Account (HSA) Expansions The law introduces several targeted expansions to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), offering employers and employees pandemic-era flexibility in how they use pre-tax health dollars. Details • The final law permanently allows telehealth coverage before deductibles for HSA-compatible plans, permits HSA funds to pay for direct primary care, and expands HSA eligibility to individuals enrolled in health plans through the Affordable Care Act’s Marketplace. • High-deductible health plans (HDHPs) with HSAs may continue to cover telehealth and other remote care services before the deductible is met, making pandemic-era relief permanent (the safe harbor otherwise would have expired at the end of 2024). • Beginning in 2026, HSA funds can be used to pay for certain direct primary care (DPC) arrangements, up to $150 per month for individuals and $300 per month for families. • Beginning in 2026, individuals enrolled in bronze and catastrophic plans through the ACA Marketplace will become eligible to contribute to HSAs. Impact on Employers • Employers can offer or promote HDHPs with robust telehealth and DPC options, making benefits packages more attractive and flexible. • The permanent telehealth provision provides stability for benefits planning and communication, ending the cycle of temporary extensions. • More employees, including those on ACA bronze and catastrophic plans, can participate in HSAs, increasing the reach of tax-advantaged health savings. • Employers interested in direct primary care can now facilitate pre-tax payment for these services, supporting employee access to affordable, relationship-based care. 4. Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Contribution Limit Increase The dependent care FSA contribution limit will increase for the first time since 1986 (aside from COVID-era increase of $10,500 that was applicable only for 2021). Details • Starting in 2026, the dependent care FSA contribution limit will increase from $5,000 to $7,500. • This will be a welcome change for employees as childcare and elder care expenses continue to skyrocket. • Just like the current limit, the new limit is not indexed to inflation. Impact on Employers • Employers will need to amend their cafeteria plan documents (and other materials, such as summary benefit materials) to offer the higher limit. • Employers considering whether to adopt the new $7,500 limit should confirm that they can still satisfy the nondiscrimination testing requirements under Section 129 of the Internal Revenue Code. Note that many employers already experience difficulty passing these tests, which are designed to ensure that dependent care FSA benefits are not skewed in favor of higher-paid employees. 5. Boosted ICE Budget—Increased Immigration Enforcement The law provides a massive increase in funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Protection (CBP) operations, dramatically expanding enforcement resources and capabilities. Details • ICE’s annual budget is tripled to nearly $30 billion for enforcement and deportation operations, with a total of about $170 billion allocated over the next decade for immigration enforcement and border security. • That money will partially be used to hire 10,000 new ICE employees over the next five years, aiming to achieve the stated goal of doubling the current workforce. • As a result, we should see an increase in mass deportations, expanded detention infrastructure, and crippling new financial barriers to legal immigration processes. Impact on Employers • ICE is expected to ramp up workplace activities in the near future, including audits, I-9 inspections, and worksite raids, particularly in industries such as agriculture, construction, hospitality, retail, and manufacturing. • Familiarize yourself with your rights and responsibilities should you face an enforcement action, and take proactive steps to minimize the chances of one occurring at your workplace. • Have clear procedures in place to address potential enforcement actions. • Conduct an immigration health check of your compliance program. 7

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 12 A recurring theme in this column has been the importance of clarity in the contract. The principal role of the contract is to memorialize the agreement in easy-to-understand terms without creating any ambiguity. This is true regardless of the value of the goods involved or the size and complexity of the project. Construction contracts, particularly pipeline construction contracts, are filled with terms and phrases that may mean one thing to pipeliners but something completely different in day-to-day usage. Even within the pipeline construction industry, many words and phrases can be interpreted and understood differently, and this can be dangerous. Because there is very little standardization in construction contracts beyond, perhaps, format or organization, the need for clarity is obvious. A Useful Tool An important tool to accomplish this goal is to assign definitions to words that could be open to multiple interpretations or have a meaning unique to the subject matter of the contract. It is common to see an entire section of a contract dedicated to definitions. Frequently, the first letter of each word or phrase to be defined is capitalized (e.g., “Work” or “Permit”). Capitalizing serves to signal that the word is to be given its particular meaning in the context of the project. Each such word or phrase is defined in the dedicated “Definitions” section of the contract. Typically, if a word is not capitalized and defined, it should be given its usual and customary meaning. Alternatively, some contracts have special definitions for terms and phrases scattered throughout the body of the contract. The defined term is commonly identified by a capital letter or italics, and its intended definition immediately follows, often in parentheses. Often Maligned But Important Some may consider the definitions section or the defined terms scattered throughout the document to be mere boilerplate not worthy of careful attention. Others may scoff at the detail contained in the definitions, calling it “lawyer make-work” (or worse) intended to make the contract longer and more complicated. The reality is quite the opposite. Failure to draft appropriate defined terms tailored to each contract or neglecting to carefully review the defined terms can lead to unfortunate results. Defined terms can serve multiple functions in a construction contract, including: • Specificity: Defined terms allow parties to define and explain terms that might have multiple meanings or are complex, tailoring the definition to the specific needs of the contract; • Clarity and consistency: They ensure that key terms have a consistent and agreed upon meaning, preventing misinterpretation and future disputes; • Efficiency: By defining or explaining certain terms only once, defined terms can shorten lengthy phrases or descriptions and make the contract easier to read, navigate, and understand; and • Risk reduction: By explicitly defining terms, parties can mitigate the risk of disputes over their meaning and ensure a mutual understanding of the obligations and rights being undertaken. The primary reason to define terms in a contract is to align expectations and to save the parties from the disruption and expense of fighting over the meaning of words or phrases in their contract or the potential disappointment of a judge making a determination that does not comport with a party’s understanding of the agreement. It is far better for the parties to the contract to decide what a word in the contract means Contract Law John L. Grayson Cokinos | Young jgrayson@cokinoslaw.com (713) 535-5573 I Know What I Mean, But Do You Know What I Mean?

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 13 than to leave it to a judge. For example, glossing over a defined term can result in a party unwittingly committing to obligations beyond what it believes were agreed upon or receiving less from the other side than it expected. Examples Consider a circumstance where the project involves obtaining certain permits from governmental agencies. If the term “permit” with no capital letter is not defined, there likely is no agreement between the parties about what type of permit is contemplated or who is responsible for obtaining such permit. Because government permits can take months or even years to obtain, it is vital that the parties understand exactly what type of permit is contemplated and who is responsible for obtaining it. Failure to define “Permit” can therefore be disastrous. Another example to illustrate the importance of defined terms is a phrase with which all of us are familiar. Force majeure has a common meaning that most people believe they understand. However, in the construction context, this term can mean pretty much whatever you plug into the definition. Some definitions of weather-related force majeure are limited only to “named storms,” which means no matter how much it rained or flooded, if that storm was not officially named, force majeure does not apply. As a final example, consider a contract that defines the term “Services” as work to be performed that is described in the Statement of Work (SOW) attached as an exhibit and shall include any additional work that is necessary or incidental to the project. In this circumstance, the contractor may understand that the four corners of the Statement of Work contain the full scope of his/her obligations, but the preceding definition actually expands the extent of those obligations to include any additional work that is necessary to the services. If that additional work is anything more than minor, the consequences could be disastrous for the economics of the project. Conclusion We all appreciate and understand the role defined terms play in this business. However, the prudent contractor will not be complacent when it comes to carefully reviewing and understanding the defined terms. It is important to make sure that your understanding of defined terms is clearly reflected in those definitions. 7 SERVICES CUSTOM PIG DESIGN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE PIGGING RESOURCES PIGGING FORMULAS PRODUCTS FOAM PIGS SOLID CAST PIGS STEEL PIGS TRACKING EQUIPMENT Pigs Unlimited International, LLC (800) 578-7436 sales@pigsunlimited.com 15719 Treichel Rd. Tomball, TX 77377 www.pigsunlimited.com Making the World a Cleaner Place, One Pipeline at a Time...

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 14 Safety Watch OSHA Celebrates 50 Years of Partnering with Small Businesses For more than half a century, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s On-Site Consultation Program has been helping small and medium-sized businesses protect workers and improve safety at no cost and with complete confidentiality. Launched in 1975, the program has grown to serve all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories. In the last decade alone, the program averaged nearly 24,000 worksite visits annually, with 98 percent of these visits occurring at worksites with 250 or fewer employees, and prevented almost three million workers from exposure to hazards each year. A 2023 OSHA economic analysis estimated that these efforts generate $1.5 billion in national benefits annually, resulting in fewer injuries and illnesses, lower workers’ compensation costs, and increased productivity. Throughout its 50 years, the program surpassed one million visits in 2010, supported recovery efforts following national disasters such as 9/11 and Hurricanes Katrina and Maria, launched digital resources like the Small Business Handbook app to make safety information more accessible, and created the Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program, which honors small businesses with outstanding safety programs. As it marks this milestone, OSHA reaffirms its dedication to practical, science-based solutions that protect workers and fuel business success for the next 50 years to come. Safe + Sound Week 2025: Tools and Tactics for Safer Jobsites Each August, OSHA hosts Safe + Sound Week, a national campaign designed to promote workplace health and safety programs. From August 11 to 17, construction employers are encouraged to participate by promoting core elements of safety programs: management leadership, worker involvement, and effective hazard identification and response. This year’s theme, emergency preparedness, hits home in an industry where unplanned events, from falls to fires, can escalate quickly if teams aren’t trained and ready. On the Safe + Sound webpage, OSHA provides free resources tailored to the construction sector, including customizable safety talks, evacuation drill templates, visual aids, quizzes, and checklists. These tools are designed to make it easy for firms of all sizes to implement meaningful safety activities without disrupting operations. Those who complete the week’s activities can earn a certificate of recognition from OSHA and a spot on their national participant map for their safety leadership. While the incentive is symbolic, the impact of worker-centered safety programs is anything but. Participation starts with registration on OSHA’s website using the link below. Safe + Sound Week Registration: www.osha.gov/safeandsoundweek/signup. Additional OSHA Resources: www. osha.gov/safeandsoundweek/plan-andpromote.

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 15 OSHA is renewing its National Emphasis Program on Amputations in Manufacturing Industries. Under the initiative, which aims to find and reduce dangers that could lead to amputations and other injuries in the manufacturing sector, OSHA will conduct inspections of manufacturing facilities to ensure compliance with safety practices while operating, servicing, or maintaining machines. This includes controlling hazardous energy sources and ensuring machines are properly guarded to prevent amputations. Significant changes in the updated emphasis program include: • An updated list of North American Industry Code System establishment codes identified for inclusion in the program, • Allowing establishments that had an inspection under the NEP in the previous 24 months and did not report an amputation to be deleted from the programmed inspection list, and • Revisions to the OSHA Information Systems coding instructions. The updated program will replace the previous version, which ended on June 27, 2025, and will remain in place for five years from the effective date. OSHA Updates Penalty Guidelines to Support Small Businesses The Department of Labor (DOL) has updated its guidance on penalty and debt collection procedures in the OSHA’s Field Operations Manual to reduce the financial burden to compliance for small businesses. “All employers should be offered the opportunity to comply with regulations that help maintain a safe working environment,” DOL Secretary Keith Sonderling said. “Small employers who are working in good faith to comply with complex federal laws should not face the same penalties as large employers with abundant resources. By lowering penalties on small employers, we are supporting the entrepreneurs that drive our economy and giving them the tools they need to keep our workers safe and healthy on the job while keeping them accountable.” The new policy, outlined in the Penalties and Debt Collection section of OSHA’s Field Operations Manual, increases penalty reductions for small employers, making it easier for small businesses to invest resources in compliance and hazard abatement. For example, a penalty reduction level of 70 percent, previously only applicable to companies with 10 or fewer employees, will now be expanded to include businesses that employ up to 25 employees. Additionally, the updated policy expands the penalty reduction for employers without a history of serious, willful, repeat, or failure-to-abate OSHA violations. Under OSHA’s revised policy, employers that have never been inspected by federal OSHA or an OSHA State Plan, as well as employers who have been inspected in the previous five years and had no serious, willful, or failure-to-abate violations, are eligible for a 20 percent penalty reduction. The new policies are effective as of July 14. Penalties issued before that date will remain under the previous penalty structure. Open investigations in which penalties have not yet been issued are covered by the new guidance. DOL Renews National Emphasis Program to Address Amputations in Manufacturing

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 17 Continued on page 18 News Briefs APCA Leadership Fights to Restore Fair and Open Competition Toward the end of his term, former President Biden steered the construction community in a misguided direction when his administration issued a final rule requiring project labor agreements (PLAs) for projects fully funded by federal grants. When the Trump administration took office, the industry looked forward to the restoration of fair and open competition, but restrictions remain in place, and progress is stagnant. To call renewed attention to the matter, 116 members of Congress sent two letters to the administration, writing: “As members of Congress representing American construction workers, we respectfully request that you rescind the Biden administration’s use of project labor agreements for federal construction projects final rule. The rulemaking threatens the competitiveness of infrastructure bids, increases construction costs, and delays work on federal construction contracts procured by federal agencies.” Subsequently, on July 17, past APCA President Roy Weaver, Weaver LLC, and current President Kevin LaBauve, WHC Energy Services, sent a letter thanking these 116 lawmakers for their efforts to dismantle the rule. On behalf of the association, they urged stakeholders to repeal the mandate, as without swift action, government-required PLAs will continue to sideline experienced merit-shop contractors. “APCA is concerned that without strong opposition to anti-competitive and inflationary government-mandated PLAs from leaders like you and our industry stakeholders, the Trump administration and other policymakers may attempt to expand a pro-PLA posture to federally assisted projects and energy and pipeline construction projects,” LaBauve and Weaver wrote. “This would undermine positive steps by the Trump administration taken earlier this year eliminating Biden policies pushing government-mandated PLAs on federally assisted projects via federal agency government grant programs.” LaBauve and Weaver later expressed strong support for a legislative solution to oppressive PLAs: the Fair and Open Competition Act. This bicameral legislation, introduced by Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.), would prevent the merit-shop construction industry from being excluded in what should be a competitive bidding process. True to APCA’s mission of defending merit-based competition, they left congressional readers with this parting message: “Thank you for standing up for free enterprise and merit-based employment policies. APCA looks forward to working with you to support our industry’s workforce and help all contractors deliver quality energy pipeline infrastructure to America.” 7 New Yorkers Want Energy Choice, Not a Natural Gas Ban According to a newly released survey by Natural Allies for a Clean Energy Future, nearly six in ten New York voters oppose the state’s current stance against new natural gas pipelines from Pennsylvania. Their findings are based on a text-to-web survey, conducted by MAD Global Strategy, of 500 registered voters residing in the state of New York. Recent developments indicate that Gov. Kathy Hochul is working in a bipar-

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 18 News Briefs Continued from page 17 tisan fashion to both restart the state’s offshore wind construction and reconsider new natural gas infrastructure. Despite New York being predominantly considered a “blue” state, the survey determined that this is a winning issue. Natural Allies tested six different policy positions to confront New York’s energy challenges, and found this position— balancing more renewables with more natural gas—is backed by 66 percent of New York voters, including 74 percent of state Democrats, making it the most popular of all policies tested. “This proves that even among the bluest states in America, natural gas is popular with voters and is necessary for affordability and reliability,” former Congressman and Leadership Council Co-Chair Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) said. “Like Governor Lamont in Connecticut, Governor Hochul is on the right path to supporting a balanced policy that ramps up renewables like offshore wind to reduce carbon emissions, while maintaining natural gas and nuclear as foundations for baseload power.” An overwhelming majority of New York voters, 71 percent, oppose banning natural gas, including 76 percent of independent voters. In comparison, only 19 percent support moving away from natural gas toward the electrification of buildings and homes. “As energy bills increase across the Northeast in an already uncertain economic environment, it is no surprise that residents care first and foremost about affordable and reliable energy,” former Philadelphia Mayor and Natural Allies Leadership Council Co-Chair Michael Nutter said. “Coming out of the 2024 election, Democrats need to find their way back to common-sense policies that put affordability and kitchen-table issues first. It’s where independent and working-class voters are. Advancing balanced energy policies that include both renewables and natural gas is a political winner and key to tackling our energy affordability and climate challenges together.” 7 FERC Removes Barriers to LNG Facility Construction Under the Trump administration, changes are underway for natural gas infrastructure construction in the United States. This includes recent modifications by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to withdraw regulatory obstacles. To do so, the agency will suspend enforcement of FERC’s Order No. 871 and temporarily increase the cost limit at which projects do not require individual approval. For years, anti-pipeline protesters have successfully delayed construction through repeated requests for rehearing and at times, to the extent that projects become no longer financially viable. Little to no legal safeguards were offered to construction companies, which only encouraged this weaponization of the legal system. The immediate waiver of FERC’s Order No. 871, which paused construction while the commission considered requests for rehearing, will prevent groups from delaying construction with endless cycles of litigation, allowing projects to move forward as intended. In the future, FERC will establish a process for permanent repeal to prevent delays for projects the commission deems necessary. The commission has released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to permanently remove Order No. 871 and is now seeking public comment. FERC also temporarily raised the cost limit under which natural gas companies are permitted to undertake pipeline modifications or construction without requiring case-by-case authorization. This change will provide natural gas companies with increased flexibility, saving time and money and enabling the faster buildout of essential infrastructure. Like the Order No. 871 waiver, FERC released a Notice of Inquiry seeking comments on permanently adjusting the blanket certificate cost limitations. “New and expanded natural gas infrastructure is essential to help America avoid a grid reliability crisis,” FERC Chairman Mark Christie said. “As the demand for electrical power continues to grow, getting more natural gas generation built is

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 19 Transportation Department Updates Pipeline Enforcement Policies The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) recently announced modifications to its procedures for pipeline safety enforcement proceedings. The changes include allowing for fair access to agency records, as directed by Congress in 2020. In the future, entities facing enforcement actions will now have equitable access to the agency’s records, enabling them to build a more effective defense. Previously, parties involved in an enforcement proceeding before PHMSA could only receive certain agency records specified in an outdated 2013 regulation. In 2020, Congress directed PHMSA to provide “all agency records pertinent to the matters of fact and law asserted.” With this most recent announcement, PHMSA has established that it will ensure it acts within this mandated time frame. critically important, and that means we must get natural gas infrastructure to supply that generation built more quickly as well, so that we can provide consumers with reliable power.” As electricity demand surges and reliability concerns grow, it is now undeniable that the country is in dire need of expanding its energy infrastructure. With no time to waste, the waiver to Order No. 871 will provide immediate relief to companies that have been subjected to the misuse of the justice system. Equally as necessary, the temporary increase to the cost threshold for project approvals will give natural gas companies greater flexibility to move forward without bureaucratic bottlenecks. 7 Acting Administrator Ben Kochman Continued on page 18

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 20 On July 25, Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) introduced the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act. If signed into law, the SPEED Act would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to help streamline permitting processes and return the law to its intended purpose. “With commonsense upgrades, we can cut red tape and enable the United States to build once again while setting the standard for environmental stewardship. The SPEED Act will help launch America into a future where we can effectively innovate and implement to revitalize our infrastructure, meet skyrocketing energy demands, lead the world in the AI race, and work in harmony with our natural environment,” Westerman said. “America must lead by setting an example for the rest of the world on how to steward the environment, strengthen the economy, and create the best place to live and work. The bipartisan SPEED Act is a big step in the right direction.” NEPA is a procedural statute that establishes parameters for assessing a construction project’s environmental impact. Despite being well-intentioned, NEPA has evolved into a cumbersome and lengthy process that has increased costs and drawn out permitting timelines. To portray the extent of NEPA’s reach, its procedural requirements apply to all major federal construction actions, including projects related to roads, bridges, highways, ports, irrigation systems, forest management, transmission lines, energy, broadband, water, and most other essential infrastructure. The SPEED Act would accelerate permitting for these projects by shortening timelines and curbing frivolous litigation. It simplifies the required analyses in NEPA documents, thereby easing the burden on agencies and establishes updated judicial limitations for NEPA claims, including a 150-day deadline for filing claims. “America must get back into the business of building,” Golden said. “We need modern infrastructure. We need robust power production that does not discriminate between energy sources. A country as advanced as the United States must be nimble enough to build what we need, when we need it.” 7 SPEED Act Introduced in House Natural Resources Committee News Briefs Continued from page 19 PHMSA Establishes National Center for LNG Excellence Enacted in 2020, the Protecting our Infrastructure of Pipelines and Enhancing Safety Act, Section 111, required the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) to create a National Center of Excellence for Liquefied Natural Gas Safety, referred to as “The Center.” Soon after, PHMSA and other federal agencies, including the Coast Guard, Department of Energy, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, began determining The Center’s goals and how to pursue them. Announced on August 1, PHMSA has entered into a Chairman Bruce Westerman Rep. Jared Golden “Inspections and enforcement actions are a critical part of PHMSA’s safety program,” PHMSA Acting Administrator Ben Kochman said. “After four years of the Biden administration’s misguided attempts to turn PHMSA into an environmental regulator, we are ensuring due process and putting safety front and center. These long overdue reforms will refocus our enforcement program, so the law is applied fairly, transparently, and in a way that respects the core legal principle of due process.” These policy revisions are intended to align PHMSA’s enforcement process with statutory requirements and reinforce the agency’s primary purpose of ensuring pipeline safety. With this recent action, the agency is strengthening its ability to achieve meaningful safety outcomes while still ensuring that critical infrastructure gets built. 7

PIPELINE CONTRACTORS JOURNAL | 3rd Quarter 2025 21 20-year agreement with Louisiana’s McNeese State University to establish an on-campus program. Before the LNG Center’s inauguration, stakeholders determined four interrelated services it would pursue. The first is that it will work with federal, state, and local regulators to improve oversight and safety collaboration and share insights on LNG advancements across official agencies. Second, it will lead LNG safety research, focusing on key risks, emerging issues, and performance-based best practices, with support from PIPES Act funding. Third, it will serve as the national hub for LNG operational best practices. Lastly, it will distribute LNG safety information through relevant communication channels. “This project has been in the works for over two years, and it would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of Senator Kennedy and his staff, our partners in Washington, D.C., and our colleagues at the University of Louisiana,” Dr. Wade Rousse, University President, said. “We believe having PHMSA right here in Lake Charles, working alongside us, will serve as a powerful catalyst for securing the future of our region’s vital industries.” 7 Continued on page 36 PHMSA Introduces Data-Driven Enforcement Priorities The Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) announced revised pipeline inspection and enforcement (I&E) priorities, with a goal of improving regulatory oversight for activities that have the greatest impact on pipeline safety. “PHMSA regulations should be used to ensure the safe transportation of energy products, not as a tool to drive fossil fuels Visit CrossCountryIS.com Or Call 1-855-955-CCIS (2247) Your trusted partner for Innovative Equipment and Quality Supplies. We are committed to excellent customer service and timely project delivery Your One-Stop Shop for Innovative Equipment Rentals and High Quality Construction Supplies Visit CrossCountryIS.com or call 1-855-955-CCIS (2247) Your One-Stop Shop for Innovative Pipeline Equipment and Supplies. We are Committed to Excellent Customer Service and Timely Project Delivery. Visit CrossCountryIS.com or call 1-855-955-CCIS (2247) Continued on page 22

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