AGC’s Second Contractors Environmental Conference is a Success

AGC held its second Contractors Environmental Conference on June 13-14, 2013, in the Washington, D.C. area.  Approximately 80 participants and more than a dozen government agency representatives participated in the event that focused on providing the tools to lead in compliance and sustainability. The event began with a pre-conference “regulatory fly-in”, where Environmental Forum Steering Committee members met with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on June 12.  Then followed the day-and-a-half Contractors Environmental Conference filled with general sessions that focused on environmental leadership and breakout sessions that explored either compliance or sustainability topics. Conference highlights included a keynote address from Administrator Victor Mendez of the Federal Highway Administration and a Compliance Assistance Hour with representatives from several program offices at the federal agencies.  Mr. Mendez’s remarks highlighted several of the savings in FHWA’s Every Day Counts Initiative, including 75 million gallons of fuel saved last year.  He also called attention to bipartisan support for infrastructure and efforts to streamline the environmental permitting process.  At the Compliance Assistance Hour, participants met one-on-one with representatives from program offices at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. General Services Administration, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  These agencies shared information and answered questions on several programs, such as GSA’s BUILD, wetlands permitting, stormwater, lead and toxics as well as building energy codes.  Direct links to the offices in attendance are on the conference webpage at www.agc.org/enviroconf2013. AGC extends a special thank you to the speakers who provided expert information and contractor case studies on a wide range of environmental subjects.  In keeping with a paperless meeting, the attendees received presentations and speaker information on a conference flash drive as well as through the AGC of America Conferences App.  Speaker names and topic descriptions are online at the conference webpage www.agc.org/enviroconf2013. Speaker photographs are online at http://www.flickr.com/photos/agcofamerica/sets/72157634202877926/. The conference sponsors help keep educational programs affordable and accessible to AGC members.  Please join us in thanking Construction EcoServices, Kiewit Corporation and Lane Construction Corporation for the wireless access during the conference as well as Republic Services, Safety-Kleen and Travelers for providing refreshment during the morning and afternoon breaks.  As with last year’s conference, we were pleased to welcome back the International Erosion Control Association as an industry partner. For more information on the Contractors Environmental Conference, please contact AGC’s Melinda Tomaino at tomainom@agc.org or (703) 837-5415.