The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is considering action that could halt the future construction and the major renovations of buildings nationwide, and could also jeopardize funding for highway and transportation projects. AGC requests that members and chapters send comment letters against this new EPA action.

AGC stands ready to respond to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) much anticipated rulemaking that will put forth a first-ever national effluent standard dictating the amount of sediment that may lawfully be discharged from all construction sites that disturb one acre or more of land.  A recent federal appellate ruling sets a Dec. 1 deadline for EPA to decide whether, and how, to set a strict, nationwide limit on stormwater discharges from construction sites.  Both in the courtroom and at the regulatory agencies, AGC continues to stress that numeric limits are not an appropriate control for construction runoff due to the high degree of variability in site parameters, regional and site specific rainfall, and erosion and sediment control effectiveness.

AGC of America, AGC of California, and the San Diego Chapter (collectively "AGC") are preparing to petition the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reopen its rulemaking on emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) from existing fleets of off-road diesel equipment.  CARB's off-road retrofit rule took effect on June 15, 2008, subject to federal approval of CARB’s request for a so-called "waiver of federal preemption."  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to act on California’s request in very great haste and without holding hearings in California.  AGC has notified and will continue to remind both federal and state regulators of the many compelling reasons to take a carefully measured approach to California's request for federal approval of its off-road diesel emission standards, and not to proceed in such great haste.

Construction equipment is being targeted as a major contributor of air pollution.  All AGC Chapters and members are encouraged to participate in a free webinar on December 3 to learn about clean diesel technology, regulations and requirements facing today’s construction industry.  Register online at www.dieselforum.org/webinars.

AGC is pleased to announce that its members represent three-fourths of the Engineering News-Record 100 Top Green Contractors List, issued in September 2008.