What is UCA of SME and how did it come about?

摘要

Those of you who attended this year's North American Tunneling (NAT) conference in Chicago have heard this already. For those of you who could not be there, I want to tell you what and who we are. First, the Underground Construction Association (UCA) of SME is not related to American Underground Association (AUA) in any way. The AUA discovered some financial problems and its Board of Directors decided to sell its assets to SME. Consideration was given to remaining independent, but in the long run becoming part of SME as a subgroup seemed to be the most prudent course of action. The Board used the proceeds to pay off all AUA's debts and to dissolve. This process is almost complete.