The White House Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) final rule, “National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Implementing Regulations Revisions Phase 2” (published May 1), earned swift rebuke from the Congressional leaders behind the permitting reforms in the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA). AGC echoes their concern that the rule will only exacerbate the permitting process, lead to more lawsuits, and delay projects further. The rule is likely to face action under the Congressional Review Act.
On Friday, April 26, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) once and for all denied a 2014 petition filed by the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) to list discarded polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as a hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). AGC has previously reported on this issue when AGC submitted comments to the EPA, and when there was a tentative ruling from EPA siding with AGC. This win comes in a large part thanks to the nearly 2,000 AGC members who took action and encouraged EPA not to move forward with regulating PVC.
Download your copy of the playbook and calculator today
Newly final rule expected to trigger third-party lawsuits
On Apr. 22, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council published a new rule requiring federal agencies to procure “sustainable products and services” to the maximum extent practicable effective May 22, 2024.
TRIP has issued a news release highlighting the importance of safety, reliability, and condition of the nation’s freight transportation network following the collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge.
On April 29, 2024, Senate and House of Representatives leaders reached an agreement to reauthorize Federal Aviation Administration funding for the next five years. Previously, the House passed their version of the bill in July 2023, but the Senate was held up due to debates about increasing the pilot retirement age, including flight simulators in qualifying as a portion of flight training, and providing special security at airports for certain members of Congress and other officials.
According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., construction executive staff wage increases came in at 5.6% for 2023 and are also projected to rise by an average 4.7% by 2024 year-end. The actual 2023 increase compared to the 2023 projected increase was .9% higher, so it is possible we will see this same trend in 2024 (or not – see below). For comparison, WorldatWork is projecting a 4.1% average increase for all executives in 2024.