May/June Engineering Inc. — A Collectors Item The May/June issue of Engineering Inc., featuring President George W. Bush's visit to the ACEC Annual Convention has been most popular with membership—requests for additional copies have all but exhausted the supply on hand. If you would like an additional copy of this issue, please contact Angela Wilson 202-347-7474 or awilson@acec.org with your name and mailing address, and an issue will be mailed.

2006 QBS Award Winners In South Dakota, Indiana Lester Fukuda, ACEC judge for QBS Awards Program. The Office of the State Engineer for South Dakota has been named the recipient of 2006 National Qualifications-Based Selection (QBS) Grand Award, while the Indianapolis Public Schools system has been selected as this year's QBS Merit Award winner. The QBS Awards Program honors those that effectively protect and promote QBS methods to procure engineering services at state and local levels. This is the ninth year ACEC has participated in the awards program, in partnership with the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). "We received a number of outstanding nominations this year," said Lester Fukuda, one of ACEC's judges for the program. "The Grand Award and Merit Award winners are two excellent examples highlighting the success of QBS."

Supreme Court Sends Wetlands Cases Back To Lower Court For More Review The Supreme Court ruled on two major wetlands-related cases this week, sending both back to the lower court to further review whether certain wetlands are subject to federal regulation under the Clean Water Act. While the ramifications of the decision remain unclear, the legal process that continues could have a significant impact on how the federal government regulates wetlands, a major issue for clients of ACEC members. At issue in Rapanos vs. United States and Carabell vs. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, was the scope of the Clean Water Act's jurisdiction over wetlands and other "waters of the U.S." In both cases, the lower courts sided with the Army Corps of Engineers and upheld the Corps' authority to regulate the project developments at issue, both of which required the use of wetlands. The Court's decision was split, with four justices siding against the Corps and a fifth, Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing a separate opinion but voting to send the cases back for further review. While the decision does not appear to provide clearer guidance over what constitutes a wetland subject to federal regulation, the plurality opinion authored by Justice Antonin Scalia does note that "the Sixth Circuit applied the wrong standard to determine if these wetlands are covered 'waters of the United States." The remand to the lower courts could yet bring additional clarity to the regulation of wetlands. Action in the courts could also prompt Congress and the agencies to develop clarifying legislation and/or regulatory changes to the Clean Water Act. In his dissent, Justice Stephen Breyer noted that he believes the decision "call[s] for the Army Corps of Engineers to write new regulations, and speedily so.

Show Your Competitive Edge: Display The ACEC Member Seal Many factors come into play for clients in deciding which engineering company should be awarded a contract. Knowing that the company is a member of ACEC—a business organization committed to excellence—makes the client's choice easier. ACEC members nationwide benefit from the ACEC brand name. Your Member Seal may be displayed on websites, letterheads, business cards and any other communications medium as a demonstrated mark of excellence—a unique marketing advantage! Click here to download the ACEC Member Seal.

Mark Your Calendars Now for the Fall '06 Business of Design Consulting

October 25-28

Las Vegas, NV

Plan now to attend this flagship program for the engineering firm of the 21st century. This intensive four-day workshop offers up-and-coming design firm leaders the chance to explore eight different areas for improved management and leadership skills. Includes hands-on modules on a variety of business practices topics.

Click here for more information and to register.

ACEC And Colorado State University Partner On Continuing Education Courses

To better serve the educational needs of engineering company employees, ACEC has partnered with Colorado State University (Fort Collins and Denver, CO) to offer engineering-related continuing education courses. One- and two-day classroom sessions and online seminars are available.

Fall courses include:

• October 19 & 20: Engineering for Safety and Security: Preparing the Built Environment for Natural and Human-Caused Threats

• November 9: Contracts and Project Risk Management—New Proactive Approaches

• November 10: Introduction to Project Scheduling: Software Applications