The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is still collecting applications for the 2013 Construction Equipment Funding Opportunity, a pilot rebate program to help public and private construction equipment owners repower or retrofit their older diesel powered off road construction engines. EPA currently has $2 million in available funding for the rebates. This program is made possible by the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA), which Congress reauthorized in January 2011 to allow rebates, in addition to grants and revolving loans. You may be eligible for a monetary rebate from EPA to help cover the cost of installing DPFs (diesel particulate filters) or doing engine repowers. But you must submit your one-page application form by Jan. 29, 2014 (deadline just extended), to participate in the lottery-type drawing for rebates. Your chance of winning is very good as only a few applications have been submitted thus far.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it plans to survey general contractors regarding their recent renovation, repair and painting (RRP) activities in public- and private-sector commercial buildings. EPA has asked for public comment by Feb. 4 on the scope and clarity of the questions included in its draft Information Collection Request (ICR), as well as its underlying assumptions and burden/cost estimates. EPA is taking these steps because it needs more data on whether or not RRP activities in buildings expose the public to lead-based paint (LBP) dust. If EPA determines such activities create LBP “hazards,” the agency will write additional rules that will apply to building contractors.
After learning that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stepped up its enforcement of the federal Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) program, AGC collaborated with agency staff to present three private webinars for contractors to review the new inspector’s guide and what companies can expect during an inspection. The webinar series reached nearly 400 construction industry professionals and brought to light EPA’s new protocol for helping sites attain full compliance with the SPCC rule as rapidly as possible.
AGC, along with other industry allies in the construction, materials, mining, and agriculture sectors, briefed several U.S. House of Representatives staff members as part of a panel discussion focused on Clean Water Act (CWA) permitting issues facing the industry. Also this month, AGC worked with the Waters Advocacy coalition to submit extensive comments on EPA’s draft connectivity report, which ties every body of water in the U.S. together.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a new national strategy for green infrastructure, along with a compilation of case studies that analyze the economic benefits and costs of green infrastructure and low impact development programs. These actions reinforce the agency’s continuing plan to propose significant changes to the national stormwater program to facilitate the use of green infrastructure in all new development and redevelopment projects.
A successful conference needs an outstanding agenda! The 2014 AGC Contractors Environmental Conference will be held June 12-13, 2014, in Arlington, Va. Please help AGC of America plan an environmental program that meets your needs and exceeds your expectations.
Submit Your Application by January 15 for a Chance to Win up to $120,000 in Funding!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now collecting applications for the 2013 Construction Equipment Funding Opportunity, a pilot rebate program for non-road engines. EPA currently has $2 million in available funding for rebates to help public and private construction equipment owners repower or retrofit their older diesel construction engines. This program is made possible by the Diesel Emission Reduction Act (DERA), which Congress reauthorized in January 2011 to allow rebates, in addition to grants and revolving loans.
On Oct. 25, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced that it would be extending the public comment period on its proposed silica rule by 47 days. The original deadline to submit public comments had been Dec. 11, but has been pushed back to Jan. 27, 2014. AGC submitted a request to extend the deadline by 90 days in order to best respond to the proposed rule’s 87 detailed questions. This extension now allows AGC to work with its members to properly formulate an effective response. AGC is also working with a coalition of nearly two dozen construction industry trade associations that represent all facets of the industry to craft a response to the proposed rule.
On Oct. 25, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) sent to the U.S. Department of Energy its long-awaited recommendations for the federal government’s use of green building rating systems. GSA recommends that agencies use either the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) 2009 or the Green Building Initiative’s (GBI) Green Globes 2010 — with a minimum goal of achieving LEED Silver or 2 Green Globes certification levels for new buildings.
AGC Offers Members Opportunities to Learn More and Weigh In
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a massive 331-page draft report distilling peer-reviewed science on how smaller, isolated water bodies are connected to larger ones. See Connectivity of Streams and Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Review and Synthesis of the Scientific Evidence. The agency is accepting comments on the draft report through Wednesday, Nov. 6. EPA has publicly acknowledged that the final version of its connectivity report will serve as a basis for a future joint EPA and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers rulemaking to clarify their jurisdiction in Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting. This article provides links to information on how these actions may impact your business, identifies the key issues for the construction industry, and highlights current opportunities for you to communicate your concerns with government officials.