On May 25, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council issued a proposed rule that would require some federal contractors to indicate whether they publicly disclose greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduction goals or targets. Comments are due by July 25, and AGC is reviewing the proposed rule to assess implications for general contractors.
AGC recently submitted extensive comments on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) draft 2017 National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Construction General Permit (draft CGP), based on the Association’s members’ input. AGC has devotedly represented the construction industry’s main concerns with EPA’s draft CGP and offered detailed recommendations on how to improve it by communicating closely with the agency’s construction stormwater leads through e-mails, conference calls, and face-to-face meetings and, most recently, via AGC’s 44-page comment letter. To the extent that EPA adopts more stringent permit provisions, it affects construction firms everywhere because states that run their own stormwater permit programs generally follow EPA’s lead in adopting enhanced protections.
In celebration of National Building Safety Month, traditionally recognized throughout the month of May, AGC participated in an exclusive, invitation-only White House Conference on Resilient Building Codes. Speakers shared insights on what adaptations buildings require in order to enhance resiliency, how to support local communities in protecting their building stock from natural and other disasters, and suggestions on incorporating resilience attributes into codes and standards. Click here for the White House fact sheet on the event.
AGC is a sponsor of the High Performance Building Coalition, a group of approximately 200 organizations (including industry representatives) that helps inform congressional staff on issues pertinent to high-performance buildings. This High Performance Building Week, June 13-16, 2016, the coalition is hosting a series of Congressional briefings on related standards and developments. Here are three recent happenings that will be discussed.
Stay on top of the numerous federal and state environmental regulations impact the construction industry, with this comprehensive, online environmental resource for contractors—the Construction Industry Compliance Assistance Center. The CICA Center is a free resource that is open to the entire U.S. construction industry. It serves and is applicable to companies engaged in all aspects of construction including residential, commercial, industrial, and heavy civil projects. Find out what you’re missing at www.cicacenter.org.
AGC’s environmental Twitter account — @AGCEnvironment — is your resource for environmental compliance and sustainability news and information from a broad range of sources. AGC’s Director of Environmental Services combs the Web to collect information of interest in one easy place for you to access. AGC also highlights AGC members and chapters that are making the news or blogging about relevant topics. If we have missed some relevant environmental news about your company, use the Twitter message function to let us know.
AGC will hold this webinar on June 27, 2016, from 2:00pm-3:00pm ET
Take Advantage of Early Bird Savings; Regular Registration Rates Begin July 5th
AGC Invites Members to Share Feedback
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling today that will give the construction and development industries a way to respond immediately to overly aggressive assertions by the federal government that the property they want to build contains jurisdictional “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS). A “jurisdictional determination” (JD) significantly impacts how land may be used, dramatically raises costs, and often reduces the feasibility of constructing critical infrastructure. AGC submitted a joint “friend of the court” brief in the case, US Army Corps of Engineers v. Hawkes Co., making a strong case for why it is vital for contractors to know with certainty whether their projects contain WOTUS.