Construction companies nationwide will suffer significant financial losses and more construction workers will lose their jobs if the federal government allows California to proceed with plans to impose retroactive emissions standards on diesel construction equipment, warned AGC in an August 10 letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The second installment of AGC's summary of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454) explains the major provisions of Title II (Energy Efficiency) of interest to the construction industry.

When Congress reconvenes after Labor Day, the U.S. Senate will resume its work on a comprehensive energy and climate bill.  In part, those deliberations will focus on a companion bill, the America Clean Energy and Security Act, or H.R. 2454, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed on June 26, 2009, by a vote of 219 to 212. This article begins a series of articles that AGC will publish in AGC's Environmental Observer to keep members informed of the ongoing climate change debate in Congress.  These articles will summarize H.R. 2454 in plain English and include AGC's preliminary reactions.Majority leaders in the Senate are aiming to vote on their version of the climate change bill as early as October.  After the differences between the two bills are reconciled, the resulting language will need to secure passing votes in both houses of Congress before a final bill can go to President Obama.As Congress debates climate change, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is also laying the foundation to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act though both industry groups and several government agencies (including EPA) have expressed concern that regulation under the existing statute is not the best course of action.Read more here.For more information, contact Karen Lapsevic at (202) 547-4733 or lapsevick@agc.org.

AGC urged the Environmental Protection Agency to decline California's request for a waiver to the Clean Air Act, a move that would hurt the already-devastated industry by forcing them to retrofit or replace billions of dollars in equipment.A study conducted by AGC shows that 32 states are poised to follow California's lead on the issue.  Meanwhile, AGC pointed out that states would be hard pressed to find a better way to undermine the stimulus than forcing contractors to throw away billions in perfectly good equipment.View a copy of AGC's letter to the EPA or view a copy of the new analysis of states likely to follow in California's wake.For more information, contact Leah Pilconis at (703) 837-5332 or pilconisl@agc.org.

For the first time in over 35 years, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed changes to the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for nitrogen dioxide (NO2).  NAAQS define the maximum allowable level of pollutants and drive state air pollution cleanup programs.  EPA has proposed adding a new one-hour standard to the existing annual standard.  EPA also proposes to establish a roadside monitoring network to track peak levels of NO2 along major highways.  AGC is analyzing what a new NAAQS for NO2 may mean for future construction, including new stricter requirements and/or restrictions on diesel engines and their use.

AGC of Kentucky and Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania won $2 million and $925,000 respectively in federal grants under EPA's National Clean Diesel Funding Assistance Program, plus collected more than $725,000 in matching and in-kind contributions.

This first installment of AGC's summary of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454) explains the major provisions of Title I (Clean Energy).  There are 10 subtitles described below.

AGC Invited To Help Shape New Action Plan Aimed at Improving Water Permit Compliance The U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has directed the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) to examine its Clean Water Act enforcement program and report back to her in early October with an action plan to strengthen and improve the Agency's enforcement efforts.  This new initiative comes in light of information showing that water quality goals are not being met, there are too many violations in too many places, and the level of EPA enforcement is unacceptably low, according to Administrator Jackson's memo to key Agency officials.

When Congress reconvenes after Labor Day, the U.S. Senate will resume its work on a comprehensive energy and climate bill.  In part, those deliberations will focus on a companion bill, the America Clean Energy and Security Act, or H.R. 2454, which the U.S. House of Representatives passed on June 26, 2009, by a vote of 219 to 212. This article begins a series of articles that AGC will publish to keep members informed of the ongoing climate change debate in Congress.  These articles will summarize H.R. 2454 in plain English and include AGC's preliminary reactions.

AGC of America estimates that as many as 32 states are closely following California's controversial effort to implement and enforce first-time emission limits for in-use "fleets" of off-road diesel (ORD) equipment.  If these states adopt identical rules, construction companies across the nation will be forced to pay the high cost of installing aftermarket pollution controls on equipment that is currently out in the field, or face replacement and retirement as their only alternatives.  Interested states admit their goal is to reduce off-road emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at a much faster rate than what is required by federal "Tier 1-4 standards," which set pollution limits for newly-manufactured off-road diesel engines and fuel -- but do not mandate any reductions from existing engines.