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Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association, Inc.
News
NEPA Streamlining Legislation Moves Forward
On November 20, the House Committee on Natural Resources passed the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED) Act, to reform the permitting and judicial review process for construction projects subject to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA).
Limits on EQIP and Conservation Funding Lifted
Agripulse reports that federal conservation funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will no longer limit how much farmers can receive. The continuing resolution (CR), passed by Congress before the Thanksgiving holiday, funds through Jan. 30 those parts of the government not covered by three agency specific appropriations bills approved as part of the CR legislation.
From the ADMC: Putting Farms First, Streamlining Delivery
The Agricultural Drainage Management Coalition (ADMC) met with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) chief Aubrey Bettencourt on Friday, Sept. 26 to discuss strategies for maximizing the effectiveness of the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two organizations.
US DOT Continues Crack Down on Non-US Truck Drivers - CDL Schools
The U.S. Transportation Department said this week it may withhold up to $30.4 million in federal highway funding from Minnesota over commercial driver licenses issued improperly to non-U.S. residents. The letter to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz gave the state 30 days to come into compliance and revoke the licenses after a federal audit.
New JULIE Training: Understanding Joint Meets
JULIE’s newest online course—JULIE Essentials for Joint Meets—is now available and designed to give both new and experienced professionals a clear understanding of the joint meet process. In just 25 minutes, learners will walk through state requirements, best practices, communication tips, and how to coordinate effectively with facility owners, locators, and excavators before work begins.
Why Excavators Love RTE
Remote Ticket Entry (RTE) lets excavators enter their own locate requests online—24/7—with built-in mapping, address tools, and quality checks. No phone call needed. For crews who submit tickets regularly, RTE improves accuracy, speeds up planning, and helps you stay compliant with state law. Only RTE users can add attachments to their locate requests.
JULIE Positive Response System Now Fully Functional
JULIE’s Positive Response is a system that member utility companies will use to communicate the status of a locate request notification to the excavator through a series of codes. The state law requires that all member utility companies respond to every locate request notification they receive.
Your Life Matters - Video
On April 29, 2025, Northern Natural Gas was notified by its contracted aerial patrol pilot of an active drain tiling operation underway near Brooklyn, Iowa. The excavator took over his grandfather’s company, and his two brothers took time off from work and school to assist in the drain tile project. The excavator’s compelling, genuine account of the day's events and his personal reaction to narrowly escaping a tragic outcome will likely connect with fellow excavators, the agricultural community, and drain tile installers.
Return on Investment for Conservation Drainage
On November 12, the Illinois Conservation On-Farm Network (ICON) hosted Isaac Ferrie of Crop Tech Consulting and Ben Reinhart of Ecosystem Services Exchange for a discussion on conservation drainage practices that deliver multiple benefits for producers. While several options exist for tile-drained landscapes, such as saturated buffers and bioreactors, the spotlight for this webinar was on controlled drainage, also known as drainage water management.
Job Site Photos Are Worth Thousands of Dollars
Documentation is crucial to protecting your company’s bottom line. You cannot take too many pictures of sites, rental equipment, roads and driveways.
JULIE's Positive Response System is Ready!
We are excited to share that JULIE’s Positive Response System will be fully functional and available for excavators beginning December 1, 2025. This means you can begin checking how utility companies responded to your locate requests online ——any time, from anywhere, using a phone, tablet, or computer with internet access.
EPA Rolls Out New Language on Waters of the US Under the Clean Water Act
On November 17, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of the
Army announced proposed revisions to the 2023 definition of “waters of the United States,” which
defines the scope of federal jurisdiction over Clean Water Act permitting.
National LICA Announces New CEO
National LICA is excited to welcome Dennis Mikula, Jr. as our next Chief Executive Officer, beginning January 1, 2026. A longtime LICA leader, industry advocate, and president of a third-generation contracting firm, Dennis brings decades of experience and a strong commitment to contractors nationwide.
Minnesota Denies Agriculture Permit Requirement
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has denied a request from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA), a coalition of environmental activist organizations, to adopt a regulatory permitting program requiring agriculture drainage projects to be granted a MWPCA permit before construction of drainage ditches and systems can proceed.
Significant Farm-Level and Public Benefits, New Report from EDF
In the face of increasingly volatile and extreme weather across the midwest, a new report from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) finds drainage water recycling presents a promising strategy for farmers to manage against variable rainfall, enhance yield resilience and improve farm economics.
Talk Saves Lives: FREE Suicide Prevention Program
Developed in partnership with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, this program equips construction workers with tools to recognize warning signs, have real conversations and connect people to life-saving resources.
OSHA's 10 Most Frequently Cited Standards in 2025
OSHA recently revealed its top 10 most frequently cited standards in the 2025 fiscal year using preliminary data. This information is valuable for construction employers, as it helps them identify common exposures that affect their workforce and gives them insight to plan their compliance programs.
Little Progress on Finding A Way Forward on Government Shutdown
This week, as the government shutdown passes the 35-day, setting a record for longest shut down in history, little progress has been made in resolving the impasse. Senate Democrats are demanding that Congress address Affordable Care Act subsidies now before they will support a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund government operations.
Minnesota Denies Agriculture Permit Requirement
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has denied a request from the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA), a coalition of environmental activist organizations, to adopt a regulatory permitting program requiring agriculture drainage projects to be granted a MWPCA permit before construction of drainage ditches and systems can proceed.
Emerging Farm Resiliency Practice Provides Significant Farm-Level and Public Benefits
New economic analysis of drainage water recycling shows the practice can increase crop yields and improve water quality, highlighting the opportunity for public and private co-investment strategies.