News

Browse by Date - 201904

EPA Solicits Comment on Draft Interim Recommendations for Addressing Groundwater Contaminated with PFAS

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will accept public comment until June 10, 2019, on the agency’s draft interim guidance for addressing two per- and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater.  When finalized, the recommendations will provide a starting point for making site-specific cleanup decisions under federal cleanup programs, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).  What is more, EPA anticipates that its guidance will be used by other federal, state and tribal agencies in carrying out “authorized” cleanup programs (e.g., federal facility cleanup programs and approved state Resource Conservation and Recovery Act corrective action programs).

Construction Employment Increases in 38 States from March 2018 to March 2019 While 29 States Add Construction Jobs Between February and March

Thirty-eight states added construction jobs between March 2018 and March 2019, while construction employment increased in 29 states between February and March, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials said the widespread gains show demand for workers remains strong and urged federal officials to enact immigration reforms to boost the supply of qualified workers.

Construction Executive Pay Reported to Rise by 3.8% for 2019

According to the latest Contractor Compensation Quarterly (CCQ) published by PAS, Inc., construction executive staff wage increases came in at 4.1% for 2018 and are projected to rise by an average 3.8% by 2019 year end.  Though the projected 2019 increase is 3.8%, it is pointed out that historically executive staff predictions are low, so year-end 2019 increases might come in even as high as 4.3% to 4.5%.

CLRC Issues Report on Labor Costs for Union Contractors

The Construction Labor Research Council (CLRC) has released a revised version of its annual Trends & Outlook Report now renamed Union Labor Costs in Construction.  The report includes general and detailed information about trends in collectively bargained compensation in the industry, including data analyses by region, by time, and by trade.  It can be a valuable resource when preparing for collective bargaining negotiations, particularly when used in conjunction with CLRC’s latest

U.S. EPA Concludes Pollution Through Groundwater Does Not Require a Federal Discharge Permit

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment on an interpretive statement published April 15, concluding that “releases of pollutants to groundwater are categorically excluded from Clean Water Act’s permitting requirements because Congress explicitly left regulation of discharges to groundwater to the states and to EPA under other statutory authorities.”  The full interpretive statement is online – click here.  EPA had requested comment on the issue previously; AGC solicited input from member and submitted comments challenging EPA’s consideration of using the CWA permit program to regulate discharges to groundwater eventually making their way to a jurisdictional surface water.  AGC strongly maintains that the CWA’s point source program does not regulate releases that reach “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) via groundwater.

DOL Issues Opinions Letter on FMLA Leave

The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) recently issued a new opinion letter clarifying the DOL’s position on designating and taking leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The opinion letter provides that “an employer is prohibited from delaying the designation of FMLA-qualifying leave as FMLA leave”, even if the employee would prefer it be delayed, and must notify the employee of the FMLA status of the employee’s leave within five days of the employer obtaining enough information to make the determination. The DOL also found that an employer may not permit employees to expand their FMLA leave beyond the statutory 12-week entitlement (or 26-week entitlement, in the case of military caregiver leave).

Union Contractors Committee Meets During Convention, Sets Conference Call Schedule for Rest of Year

AGC of America’s Union Contractors Committee held two sessions during the association’s 100th Annual Convention in Denver, CO.  At an open meeting of the Union Contractors Steering Committee on April 3, participants received updates from committee leaders and staff and conducted a roundtable discussion on matters of concern to union contractors and their AGC chapters.  The committee also set the following dates for 2019 Union Contractors Conference Calls:  June 11, September 10, and November 19.  Each call will begin at 2:00 p.m. Eastern time and is open to all interested AGC members and chapter staff.

Encore Electric of Lakewood, Colorado Named Nation's Safest Construction Company in 2018 by National Contractors Group

Encore Electric was honored for having the nation’s best construction safety and wellness plan in 2018 by the Associated General Contractors of America. The association, which oversees the Willis Towers Watson Construction Safety Excellence Awards, an annual ranking of construction safety programs, noted that 57 other companies were also selected as winners for the quality of their safety programs.