12/13/03 Update - LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS GORDAN

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=175 BGCOLOR="#A6CAF0" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="21"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B><IMG SRC="00d0d1d0.gif" border=0 width="13" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> <B>© </B>2001 Elias M. Gordan</div> <div> All rights reserved</div> <bR> <div> <B>Law Office of</B></div> <div> <B>Elias M. Gordan</B></div> <div> Post Office Box 60</div> <div> Palos Park, IL  60464</div> <bR> <div> Phone  708.923.9735</div> <div> Email  gordanlaw@att.net</div> <div> Web    www.gordanlaw.com</div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>HOME</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id24.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN About Us"><U><B>About Us</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN Contact U"><U><B>Contact Us</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>NEWS - 12 DECEMBER 2003</B></div> <bR> <div> -   EPA Stormwater Enforcement Update</div> <div> -   Federal contracting link</div> <div> -   Coming AGC-US Coll. Bargaining Conference in Chicago</div> <div> -   State Environmental/ Pollution $$ Assistance</div> <div> -   Joliet Items</div> <div> -   Compensation Survey</div> <div> -   "Shell bills" under attack </div> <bR> <div> 1)   <U>EPA Stormwater Enforcement Update</U></div> <div>         The USEPA recently announced their strategy for enforcing Federal stormwater permit requirements.  In coming months, they will focus their enforcement on large construction projects, with special attention given to a "target list" of problem areas/contractors.    For smaller project sites, USEPA will focus on outreach and compliance assistance, not enforcement.  Pls call or email if you desire a copy of the Enforcement Strategy.  More info at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.cicacenter.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.cicacenter.org"><U><B>www.cicacenter.org</B></U></A></FONT>  (Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center, a joint effort of USEPA, AGC-US, and other private groups).</div> <bR> <div> 2)   <U>Federal contracting link</U> for info, on Federal procurement opportunities for small and disadvantaged businesses:</div> <div>      <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://osdbuweb.dot.gov" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://osdbuweb.dot.gov"><U><B>http://osdbuweb.dot.gov</B></U></A></FONT> </div> <bR> <div> 3)   <U>Coming AGC-US Collective Bargaining Conference in Chicago</U>  January 28-29</div> <div>          For more details, email Denise Gold  at  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:goldd@agc.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:goldd@agc.org"><U>goldd@agc.org</U></A></FONT>  </div> <bR> <div> 4)   <U>Joliet Items</U></div> <div>         The Coast Guard has announced ongoing restrictions on barge traffic along the DesPlaines River in Downtown Joliet, in response to several drawbridge collisions in recent months.  Also, there are plans in the works to relocate and rebuild IL 53 south of downtown Joliet, in conjunction with a new Criminal Courthouse (I am on a Will Co. Bar Assn committee dealing with court facilities, and thought the topic might be of interest to you).  Funding for the County's share has yet to be arranged, since the County apparently never agreed to a cut of the riverboat tax proceeds (as the City of Joliet did).</div> <bR> <div> 5)   <U>Compensation Survey</U></div> <div>         William Condon & Co, a Tinley Park, IL accounting firm, is preparing their 7th Annual Compensation Survey for the IL/ NW Indiana construction market.  Survey participants will receive a free copy of the survey.  For more info, go to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.thecondongroup.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.thecondongroup.com"><U><B>www.thecondongroup.com</B></U></A></FONT> </div> <bR> <div>   </div> <div> 6)   <U>Shell Bills Under Attack</U></div> <div>         The practice of "shell bills" is currently being reviewed by the IL Supreme Court.  Many pieces of proposed legislation are first introduced as "shell bills", which make very minor changes to an existing law's wording.  Later, the "shell" is deleted and the "real" legislation slipped in.  This allows for wholesale modification of legislation midstream, after the deadline for bill introduction has passed.  For example, legislation in the coming IL Legislative session must be proposed by 1/14/04.  If language is not ready by 1/14, a shell bill can be introduced, and changes made later.  </div> <div>      Often, a shell bill will be introduced in the House, then changed in the Senate.  This practice has been challenged in a class-action lawsuit, on the grounds that it violates the Illinois Constitution, which requires 3 readings of a bill, on different days, in House and Senate.  Q for the Court:  Can you start with an apple, and end with an orange?</div> <bR> <div>       Thank you for your support, and for the recent IRTBA Technology Advancement Award, given for this update service.  Stay warm.</div> <bR> <div> Quote:  "It is a pleasure to do work you love for people you like" (author unknown).</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Law Office of Elias M. Gordan, </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="http://www.gordanlaw.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gordanlaw.com"><U><B>http://www.gordanlaw.com</B></U></A></FONT><B> </B></div> <div> <B>Post Office Box 60, Palos Park, IL, 60464   </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000BF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><A HREF="mailto:gordanlaw@att.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:gordanlaw@att.net"><U><B>email gordanlaw@att.net</B></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HOME PAGE LAW OFFICE OF ELIAS M. GORDAN"><U><B>BACK TO HOME PAGE</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>