The 2014 CEC Provides Resources for Sustainability and Compliance ManagersAs AGC members, you are a diverse group and the agenda for the 2014 AGC Contractors Environmental Conference reflects this fact.  Whether you are a compliance manager for a highway construction firm or the sustainability manager for a builder, you will gain tips and knowledge at the 2014 CEC to excel in your position.  Find out how we accomplish this task below.  And join us on June 12-13, 2014, in Arlington, Virginia.  Register online today at www.agc.org/enviroconf2014.Promoting Universal Strategies for Leadership and ManagementEnvironmental leadership and management are the themes for the 2014 CEC.  The skills and strategies that help you achieve these goals are universal.  Management programs can just as effectively manage stormwater as the green requirements on a jobsite.  Managing costs, exploring new technologies as well as training and communicating goals to the project team are important across the vertical and horizontal construction markets.  The 2014 CEC covers these issues through case studies and presentations; but best yet, it is the forum to share and hear from your peers what programs and technologies are working – or not working – in the field.Providing Just the Right Amount of Information in the Plenary SessionsCompliance is the foundation for green construction; however, sustainability managers at construction firms often specialize in “green” and not in “compliance” – and vice versa for compliance managers.  Recognizing this, the plenary sessions on compliance and sustainability give only the most current developments.  More experienced attendees do not have to sit through the basic information; whereas, professionals newer to the field are given a solid base from which to expand their knowledge.  This strategy enables you, the attendee, to benefit from the sessions no matter what your prior knowledge level --- and provides you a more complete view of the environmental issues that affect the business of construction.Digging-in during the Breakout SessionsThe breakout sessions are where you will be able to find more in-depth information on the topics that are most relevant to your field.  The 2014 CEC provides eight (8) breakout sessions where you can truly get to the heart of the issues addressed; whether your interest is in stormwater, recycling/reuse of materials, suspicious materials on a jobsite, net-zero energy buildings, alternative and renewable fuels, or more.We hope to see there!  For more information or to register, go to www.agc.org/enviroconf2014 or contact AGC’s Melinda Tomaino at tomainom@agc.org or 703-837-5415.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is asking for input on its newly released “Framework for Identifying and Evaluating Lead-Based Paint Hazards from Renovation, Repair, and Painting Activities in Public and Commercial Buildings.” The purpose of this Framework document is to allow EPA to determine if renovation, repair and painting activities in public and commercial (P&C) buildings do, in fact, create a lead-based paint hazard.  If EPA’s analysis indicates that hazards are created, then the agency would propose appropriate regulatory controls to reduce or prevent exposure to the general population.

In May, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced opportunities for brownfields investment grants and for the recipients of environmental training grants.  Altogether, 171 communities will receive 264 grants totaling $67 million in brownfields funding to clean and redevelop contaminated properties, boost local economies and leverage jobs.  In addition, $3.6 Million in Fiscal Year 2014 will be distributed to 18 grantees for Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training (EWDJT) that provide under- and un-employed residents with training for job opportunities in many fields of interest for construction firms.

Last month, the US General Services Administration (GSA) published its updated P-100: Facilities Standards for the Public Buildings Service.  The 2014 PBS-P100 establishes design standards for new buildings, major and minor alterations, and work in historic structures for the GSA Public Buildings Service (PBS).  This document contains both performance based standards and prescriptive requirements to be used in the programming, design, and documentation of GSA buildings.  It is a mandatory standard for GSA facilities.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (“FWS”) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (“NMFS”) (together, the “Services”) recently announced a significant set of proposed regulatory changes and policies relating to critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (“ESA”).  The proposed rules and policies increase the discretion of the Services to designate broad areas of occupied and unoccupied habitat as critical habitat, and increase the likelihood that federal actions will be determined to adversely modify designated critical habitat.

On May 14, AGC launched a new Twitter account -- @AGCEnvironment -- as a resource for environmental compliance and sustainability news and information from a broad range of sources.  AGC’s Director of Green Construction will comb the Web and collect information of interest in one easy place for you to access.  Whenever possible, we highlight AGC members that are making the news or blogging about relevant topics.

The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, issued the following statement in response to the release of the final version of the joint House-Senate conference committee’s Water Resources Reform & Development Act: "The release of this water resources bill is yet another sign that investing in infrastructure is something members of both parties in both houses of Congress can and do support. Republicans and Democrats alike understand and appreciate the economic wisdom of improving our aging system of inland waterways, harbors, ports, locks and dams.

Today, AGC celebrates Building Safety Month, along with other leaders of America’s design and construction industry, promoting resilience as the solution to making the nation’s aging infrastructure more safe and secure.  AGC and almost two dozen associations, representing 700,000 members, issued a joint statement on reliance at a special press conference and event on May 13 at the National Building Museum.  AGC  has included a session on how owners are incorporating resiliency into their plans during AGC’s 2014 Contractors Environmental Conference—on June 12-13, in Arlington, Va.  Visit www.agc.org/enviroconf2014 for more information.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has embarked on three notable activities to gather information and data to determine whether or not renovation activities in public and commercial buildings expose the public to lead-based paint dust, with a possible proposed rule coming in July 2015.  First, EPA is soliciting small construction company representatives to advise a federal review panel on how to minimize the potential burden of any proposed regulation on small businesses. The deadline to submit a nomination is May 9 – click here to apply.  

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a harmful decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, issued in April 2013 in Mingo Logan Coal Co. v. EPA, which says the Clean Water Act (CWA) grants the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the “veto” power to withdraw a Section 404 dredge-and-fill permit several years after it has been duly issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and relied upon by the permittee.