Calendar Years 2017 and 2018 Data Due Sept. 30
Construction employment grew in 218, or 61 percent, out of 358 metro areas between March 2018 and March 2019, declined in 83 (23 percent) and was unchanged in 57, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Meanwhile, new federal data on construction spending showed mixed results, as a steep decline in single-family homebuilding offset increases in multifamily and nonresidential construction. Association officials said the continuing demand for most construction underscores the need for federal enactment of immigration reforms to boost the supply of workers.
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).
Impacts Many Public and Private Works Construction Contractors
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.
Join more than 300 construction safety, health and environmental professionals at the first ever AGC Construction Safety, Health & Environmental Conference taking place July 23 – 25, 2019 in Seattle, WA.
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%.
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 Settlements Report.
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.