Comment Letter Urges EPA to Slow Down and Change Course AGC submitted comprehensive comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on its proposal to mandate drastic changes to the way that construction contractors manage stormwater runoff. EPA intends its new construction general permit (CGP) to replace the one that it adopted just three years ago.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided against expanding its Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) rule to include lead-dust sampling and clearance testing requirements, the Agency announced on July 15.  AGC played a key role in communicating the construction industry’s concerns with the proposed “clearance testing” requirements.  AGC worked alongside a coalition of real estate and development groups to present a collective industry voice that has led EPA to refrain from straddling contractors with costly and unnecessary dust wipe sampling and laboratory analysis requirements.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) stormwater permit revisions would change the way contractors everywhere manage stormwater runoff.

Contractors now have more time to comment on the proposed “Guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act.”  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) extended the comment period by 30 days and will accept comments through July 31, 2011.

On June 22, AGC sent a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee members in support of legislation to manage coal combustion residuals, e.g., fly ash, as nonhazardous waste. The industry uses these materials, and has for more than 60 years, in the construction of roads, bridges, buildings and other critical infrastructure.  The markup of the bill was originally scheduled for June 23, but was delayed until after the July 4th holiday recess reportedly to allow more time to strengthen bipartisan support.

On June 22, AGC sent a letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee members in support of legislation to manage coal combustion residuals, e.g., fly ash, as nonhazardous waste.

The EPA is extending the public comment period for the draft Construction General Permit (CGP) to regulate stormwater discharges to July 11, 2011, to give AGC and other stakeholders additional time to review the draft permit and provide comments.

AGC is continuing its work with a coalition of real estate and development groups (Commercial Properties Coalition) to identify issues and items that could be included in a comment package responding to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) forthcoming proposed Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) rule(s) covering renovations of both the exteriors and the interiors of public and commercial buildings. 

AGC recently joined with a coalition of industrial, municipal and construction-related groups focused on Clean Water Act issues to respond to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new memorandum recommending the use of numeric effluent limits “where feasible.”

Pointing out 60 days is not enough time for the construction industry to review and respond to the draft “Guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act” and supporting documentation, AGC has requested an extension of the comment period (currently to close on July 1) until September 30, 2011.