‘EJSCREEN’ Expected to Guide Agenda for Rule-Writers and Citizen Activists In its latest move to make environmental data more transparent and readily available to the public at large, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new environmental justice (EJ) screening and mapping tool (EJSCREEN) that uses high-resolution maps combined with environmental and demographic data to identify places with arguably higher pollution burdens and vulnerable populations. Some predict that EJSCREEN will serve as a powerful tool to environmental and other citizen groups who want to target EJ communities and the industrial operations within them. For EPA’s part, the agency states: “Engaging the public, meeting with stakeholder groups and affected people, and utilizing tools like EJSCREEN are some critical ways to consider environmental justice in EPA’s rulemaking actions.”

In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced recipients for brownfields investment grants and environmental training grants for Fiscal Year 2015 (FY15). These grants signal areas where communities may see future development as well as identify sources for job training and recruitment in many fields of interest for general and specialty construction firms.

Free Webinar to Explain New Web-based ‘eDisclosure’ System The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold webinars on June 10 and June 15 to describe its plan to modernize the implementation of its Audit Policy and Small Business Compliance Policy. The plan is called eDisclosure – a new centralized, web-based system for more efficiently receiving and processing violations disclosed to EPA under these policies.

The stormwater information on the AGC-supported Construction Industry Compliance Assistance (CICA) Center is one of the most frequently accessed resources on this comprehensive, online environmental resource for contractors. To find out why this is such a popular resource, take a look at the overview below and then check out the stormwater resources available at http://cicacenter.org/stormwater.html.

Early Bird Registration Savings End May 31st Plan to join your peers at AGC’s 2015 Contractors Environmental Conference on September 2-3, in Arlington, Virginia to explore ways to turn environmental responsibilities into successes for you and your firm. With separate tracks on compliance and sustainability, the 2015 CEC addresses the issues on your to-do list. Read more to learn about the topics on the schedule at your environmental management and leadership conference this year -- and to take advantage of early bird registration savings when you register.

Free Webinar Explains How to Use ECHO The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides public access to industry regulatory compliance and enforcement data online. The Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) website at http://echo.epa.gov integrates data from EPA information systems for public use. EPA will hold a one-hour webinar that provides an introduction to its ECHO website on Tuesday, June 2. To register, click here.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) on May 27 completed and released a new and final rule on the water features over which they will claim jurisdiction. The new rule is the culmination of their long and controversial effort to align federal regulations with the latest U.S. Supreme Court decisions and simultaneously make permitting decisions easier.

Action Needed Now – House Vote as Early as Tomorrow, Rule Expected to be Finalized Soon The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) are close to finalizing their proposed rule redefining "waters of the U.S." and making many more areas subject to federal control. More federal control would require nearly all construction sites to obtain often unnecessary Clean Water Act permits. The vast majority of new areas covered by these rules are currently protected by state and local governments so any increase to overall water quality are questionable.

Numerous federal and state environmental regulations impact the construction industry. Most construction companies seek outside support to understand and comply with the numerous and complex rules. The Construction industry Compliance Assistance (CICA) Center is the only comprehensive, online environmental resource for contractors. It is available to you at no cost, thanks to on-going funding provided by the Associated General Contractors of America and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Here are the highlights of your CICA Center, at a glance.

Early-bird savings are in effect; speaker proposals are due next week! Join us Sept. 2-3 for the nation’s foremost management conference for environmental professionals in the construction industry—AGC’s 2015 Contractors Environmental Conference (CEC) in Arlington, Va. AGC opened registration on Earth Day last week and early bird savings are available through May 31. In addition, a few speaking opportunities remain, so be sure to submit your proposal by the end of next week.