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Browse by Date - 201412

New EPA Rule Regulates Disposal of Fly Ash As Nonhazardous; Allows Beneficial Use to Continue

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Dec. 19 that it will not regulate coal combustion residuals (CCR), including fly ash, as a hazardous substance and by doing so will preserve the future beneficial use of this product in concrete and most other construction applications.  AGC has been actively involved in working to convince EPA that a hazardous designation was unnecessary and would have an extremely detrimental impact on the future use of fly ash and raise liability concerns about its previous use. 

EPA Rules Fly Ash Not Hazardous, Allows Beneficial Use to Continue

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that it will not regulate coal combustion waste, including fly ash, as a hazardous substance and by doing so will preserve the future beneficial use of this product in concrete and most other construction applications. AGC has been actively involved in working to convince EPA that a hazardous designation was unnecessary and would have an extremely detrimental impact on the future use of fly ash and raise liability concerns about its previous use.

Texas Approved to Carry Out Federal NEPA Responsibilities

The Federal Highway Administration this week finalized an agreement with Texas to allow TX-DOT to assume responsibilities for environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to ensure that highway projects in the state comply with environmental law. As part of the project delivery reforms contained in both the SAFETEA-LU transportation authorization legislation, and MAP-21, states are allowed to take on the environmental review responsibilities of the US DOT.

Ask Your Representatives to Sign Bipartisan Letter in Support of Long-Term Highway Bill

Four House members from two committees most critical to the highway reauthorization are asking their colleagues to sign onto a letter to House leadership that expresses strong bipartisan commitment for addressing transportation needs by providing a long-term funding solution.  It is a bipartisan “Dear Colleague” letter that is now being circulated by Reps. Ribble (9R-Wisc.), Lipinski (D-Ill.), Reed (R-N.Y.) and Pascrell (D-N.J.) calling for an end to short-term extensions and a revenue source to support a long-term bill. The letter has been sent to all Republican and Democrat House offices requesting their support.  The letter will be sent to Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi sometime next spring, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for this legislation. 

Congress Approved Extenders for 2014

On Dec. 16, the Senate approved H.R. 5771, the “Tax Increase Prevention Act of 2014” by a 76-16 vote. The $41.6 billion retroactive package of tax extenders, endorsed by the House on Dec. 3, now heads to the president’s desk for signature. The tax extenders legislation restored approximately 55 expired tax provisions for fiscal year 2014, including the following AGC-supported tax policies:

AGC-Backed Pension Reform Signed Into Law

On Tuesday, the president signed into law the $1.1 trillion spending bill, which eventually passed both the U.S. House and Senate after a tumultuous week filled with partisan politics on unrelated provisions. This nine-month bill funds federal agencies through the end of the fiscal year with the exception of the Department of Homeland Security – which is only funded through Feb. 27. The new law includes a series of association-backed multi-employer pension reforms, all designed to allow employers and employees the opportunity to protect and improve retirement programs.

Construction Employment Increased in 38 States and D.C. During Past Year

Construction firms added jobs in 38 states and the District of Columbia between November 2013 and November 2014 while construction employment increased in 26 states and D.C. between October and November, according to an analysis today of Labor Department data by AGC of America. Association officials noted that the list of states gaining jobs has varied significantly from month to month as the market remains extremely variable.

Pace of Demand Slows Slightly, Positive Outlook for Architecture Billings Index Continues

Headed by the continued strength in the multi-family residential market and the emerging growth for institutional projects, demand for design services continues to be healthy as exhibited in the latest Architecture Billings Index (ABI). As a leading economic indicator of construction activity, the ABI reflects the approximate nine to twelve month lead time between architecture billings and construction spending.

AGC Urges OFCCP to Simplify Compliance Requirements of Pay Secrecy Rule

On Dec. 16, AGC submitted comments to OFCCP in response to its proposed rule prohibiting federal contractors from retaliating against employees who disclose compensation.  The rule is in response to Executive Order 13665, signed by President Obama in April 2014.  It applies to federal and federally-assisted contracts and subcontracts, as it amends Executive Order 11246.

AGC Helps Enact Fuel Tax Increase for Inland Waterways Infrastructure

On Dec. 16, as part of the tax extenders legislation, the Senate passed a provision that would increase a fuel tax to benefit inland waterway lock and dam construction and maintenance projects. The provision would raise the fuel tax from 20 cents to 29 cents per gallon on barges using the inland waterway system and will take effect after April 1, 2015. For the last several years, AGC has worked with a coalition of commercial barge, agricultural and labor interests in pressing for this increase in inland waterways infrastructure funding.