News from APCA
APCA Opposes New WOTUS Rule
A new EPA rule on Waters of the U.S. is "burdensome and unnecessary" and impedes America’s efforts to realize our full energy potential, according to the American Pipeline Contractors Association.
"APCA strongly opposes the recent EPA announcement of a final rule on Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and repeal of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR)," the association said in a statement. "This ill-advised and poorly timed announcement only adds burdensome and unnecessary regulations to the process. Permitting reform and similar regulatory updates are necessary to unlock America’s full energy potential, and this decision moves us in the wrong direction. With a case affecting WOTUS regulations pending before the Supreme Court, this decision injects confusion into what should be a busy year of construction. APCA urges the Biden Administration to roll back this regulation as soon as possible and asks Congress to undertake meaningful action to reform the pipeline permitting process as a top priority."
APCA Comments in Opposition to NOPR on Project Labor Agreements
In comments to the Biden administration on October 18, the American Pipeline Contractors Association strongly objected to the proposed use of government-mandated Project Labor Agreements on federal construction contracts of $35 million or more.
"The proposed PLA rule on federal contracts over $35 million will reduce competition and drive up costs for the American taxpayer, resulting in a far slower rate of pipeline buildouts and upgrades needed to serve American families and businesses. For these reasons, the hard-working men and women who build America's vital energy pipelines strongly oppose the proposed PLA rule," APCA stated.
APCA Announces Release of 811 Emergency Study
APCA is proud to inform you of today's release of a new, comprehensive study of the nation's 811 system, which found that failures in the system are costing the U.S. some $61 billion a year in waste and excess costs and creating unnecessary hazards for public safety.
The study, unprecedented in scope and scale in the damage prevention space, was conducted by Continuum Capital for the Infrastructure Protection Coalition (IPC), a coalition of industry groups who represent regular users and stakeholders in the 811 system and want to see it run safely and efficiently.
You can view the study at the coalition website: www.ipcweb.org.
APCA Addresses Reconciliation Pitfalls in Letter to Congressional Leaders
As Congress nears an agreement on budget reconciliation legislation, APCA President Taylor Dacus sent a letter to congressional leaders on October 28 that offers our industry’s perspective on the consideration of a methane emission fee and of several harmful labor policies.
"APCA strongly objects to including a methane emissions fee/tax in reconciliation legislation," Dacus stated. "This proposal could lead to double taxation of critical members of the energy supply chain that are at the forefront of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including methane."
APCA Decries Keystone Revocation
The American Pipeline Contractors Association (APCA) expressed strong disappointment in President Biden’s revocation of the cross-border permit between the U.S. and Canada for the Keystone XL pipeline as part of his “Day 1” executive actions. The pipeline was being built to carry more than 800,000 barrels of oil a day from Alberta to the Texas Gulf Coast, passing through Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The president’s move comes at a time when 300 miles of pipeline included in the 1,200-mile project have already been constructed and when the energy industry cannot afford to lose sacred jobs in midst of a global pandemic.
APCA Signs onto Letter Opposing Trucking Mandates
On September 16, a coalition of 31 associations, including APCA, sent a letter to the Chairs and Ranking Members of the Senate and House transportation committees opposing four costly and burdensome proposals that are being floated for inclusion the next highway bill.
Senate Committee Schedules Hearing on Ring's NLRB Confirmation
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee announced on Wednesday that it will hold a hearing on the confirmation of John Ring to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on February 14.
APCA 2022 Mid-Year Meeting Pictures
View the Photo Gallery
Use the following password to access the photos: APCA2022
JW Gully - Inducted April 9, 2024
JW Gully began working in the pipeline business in 1966 with Harbert Construction in Gonzales, Louisiana.
He later went to work for the Houston Contracting Company, starting in Krotz Springs, Louisiana as timekeeper and later as office manager. He worked in Trinidad in 1970 and then transferred to the company warehouse in Belle Chase, Louisiana. There he was manager of equipment maintenance and in charge of logistics. He handled all import and exports of equipment, parts, and supplies relating to their overseas projects.
Over the next five years, JW moved to warehouse manager, then to the Houston office as equipment manager of U.S. and overseas projects, and finally to Vice President of procurement and maintenance of equipment for worldwide projects. In that role, he made frequent trips to visit projects in the Middle East, South America, and West Africa.
JW founded Sunbelt Tractor & Equipment Company in Houston, Texas on Friday June 13, 1980, to lease and sell pipeline equipment. That is when he became a member of the Rocky Mountain Pipeline Contractors Association, which later became APCA. In 2001 he moved the company to College Station, Texas.
In 2005, JW sold Sunbelt Tractor & Equipment Company to his son, Kevin Gully, and nephew, Brooks Gully.
JW then activated Sunbelt Equipment Marketing Inc to manufacture pipe trailers, flotation wagons, and miscellaneous other units. He introduced the first rubber track crawler carrier to the pipeline industry. Sunbelt has continued to grow and provide quality equipment at competitive rates along with maintaining a legacy of honesty, service, and integrity to the highest standards.
JW said that he is proud to be part of the pipeline industry among several loyal APCA customers like Troy, Sunland, Castle, MPG, MG Dyess, WHC, and many others.
In 2015 the Houston Pipeliners Association named JW Pipeliner of the Year.
In 2023, JW sold SEMI to his daughter, Bridget Ann Fry.
Now JW is a part time-consultant and spends time golfing and enjoying his wonderful family. He and his wife of 61 years, Zelda, have three children - Kevin, Kyle, and Bridget - four grandsons and three granddaughters. They are lifetime members of the Methodist Church.
Shell Sanford – Inducted April 4, 2023
Shell Sanford's career journey began in 1983, when he joined an offshore lay barge as a laborer and welder's assistant, constructing pipelines in the North Sea near Norway. Initially planning a summer stint before returning to college, Shell ultimately fell in love with the pipeline industry and never looked back.
After several years in the North Sea, Shell transitioned into mechanized welding, which is what his father – Bobby Sanford – did for more than 50 years, and where Shell would spend the next 25 years of his career. This career path led Shell to work across five continents, immersing him in diverse cultures and countries. In 1985, he recalls arriving in Saudi Arabia with nothing but a duffel bag, $500 in borrowed money, and no cellphone or credit card. In addition to financial motivation, Shell found deep satisfaction in the challenging work and enjoyed the camaraderie – "Achieving something, reaching a goal as a team."
In the early 1990s, Shell co-founded RMS Welding Systems, where his son Bobby currently works, carrying on his family's industry legacy.
Several years after returning home to Texas, Shell went to work for Sunbelt Equipment in 2013, "just temporarily," he said. Shell still works there today and says the last ten years with the Gulleys have been a blessing. He has enjoyed working for a family-owned business where honesty and integrity are held to a high standard.
Shell reflects fondly on the pipeline industry's legacy nature, citing several APCA members like Troy, Castle, MG Dyess, and Sunbelt as examples. Looking forward, he is optimistic about the future: "The pipeline industry is changing every day. I'm in my 4th quarter, but I see the next generation of leaders in this industry, and I see a bright future."
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