The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) recently released an updated version of its Employment Law Guide, an online publication for workers and employers that describes the major employment laws administered by the department.According to a press release issued by DOL on November 30, 2009, the Guide is said to be "especially helpful for employers without dedicated legal or human resources staff" and "helps small businesses develop wage, benefit, safety and health, and nondiscrimination policies."The updated version addresses recent and important changes in employment laws, including:the increase in the federal minimum wage;expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act;child labor regulations in the agriculture industry; andchanges to the Defense Base Act, which provides workers' compensation benefits to civilian employees working outside the United States on U.S. military bases or under certain contracts with the U.S.Designed to be used along with DOL's FirstStep overview advisor, an online system that allows employers to determine which federal employment laws apply to them by answering a few simple questions about relevant variables, each chapter in the Guide "addresses each of the laws in the FirstStep advisor, outlines coverage under the law, its basic requirements, employee rights, recordkeeping, reporting, notice and poster requirements, penalties and sanctions for non-compliance, relation to state, local and other federal laws, and contact information for further assistance."  Both the Employment Law Guide and FirstStep overview advisor are available at www.dol.gov/elaws.

Though $1 billion in construction was recently completed at the Indianapolis International Airport, planners are already beginning to discuss their next steps for the construction of an "aerotropolis," a mini-city that would be composed of businesses, retail, and lodging.  The aerotropolis, which is popular in Asia and Europe, has the potential to attract global headquarters of business and influence communities for 20 miles.The project would not commence for many years, but planners are already interviewing consultants to discuss future development and use of surrounding airport land, as well as the purchase of more land in the future.To read the entire article from the Indianapolis Star, click here.

March 17-20, 2010 | Orlando, FLJoin us March 17-20 in Orlando for AGC's 91st Annual Convention and Pavilion. As the construction industry continues to battle tough economic conditions and legislative challenges, AGC's Annual Convention provides the only opportunity for contractors to get all the latest information on economic forecasts, rules and regulations, and best practices, and to hear first-hand from others on what they are doing to survive and thrive in this challenging environment.  For a complete list of Building Division Sessions, please click here.The AGC 91st Annual Convention and Pavilion will offer  Don't miss the following highlighted Building Market Sessions: "State of the Union: A Forum with the Building Trades," "Economic Outlook Forum Luncheon: Will This Year Be a Perfect '10?," "Introduction to BIM and Integrated Project Delivery," and "BIM 101: An Introduction to Building Information Modeling."  Register today and learn more at http://convention.agc.org.

A recent Reed Construction Data article released data from the RCD/RSMeans Commercial Construction Expansion Index, which indicates that the volume of nonresidential construction is expected to increase in 2010.  This data is based on projects in planning or currently under construction, and examines construction on a local level.  On the interactive Expansion Index, metro areas are defined as either rapidly growing, expanding or shrinking, based on a twelve month projection.Though volume is projected to increase, Reed also stated that the recession will continue through 2010.  Lower than expected building operating income projections, the inability to obtain financing, and further decline in occupany rates are a few of the reasons the recession is expected to continue.To read the article on commercial construction volume, please click here.To view the RCD/RSMeans Commercial Construction Expansion Index, click here.For the article on the possible continuation of the recession, please click here.

On February 1, Congressmen Paul E. Kanjorski (D-Pa.) and Ken Calvert (R-Calif.), along with 77 other bipartisan House members, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernake suggesting they take further steps to ensure the health of the commercial real estate (CRE) market.The letter urges the regulators to help stabilize the CRE market before it further effects the general economic recovery.  The lawmakers outline the following three action steps in their letter: 1. Create a clear method for evaluating the effectiveness of CRE loan modification guidance; 2. Institute a system to differentiate performing vs. non-performing loans, and any other steps needed to provide lending institutions with more confidence in assessing CRE loans; and 3. Make clear public statements encouraging lenders to continue to make credit available for performing assets as a means of restoring confidence and long-term value in the CRE market.For more information, and to read the entire letter, please click here.

Public agencies have been reporting for more than a year that they are paying less for school buildings and other facilities than they had been. But few governments seem to have stepped up their construction programs to take advantage of the price breaks.

Over the last few years, EPA has consistently tightened its national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) for particulate matter (PM), ozone and nitrogen dioxide (see related stories in the January issue of the Environmental Observer).  AGC has closely tracked and weighed in on these rulemaking actions with an eye to what they may mean for future construction, including stricter requirements and/or restrictions on diesel engines and their use. Follow AGC's action by reading the entire Environmental Observer article here.  For more information, contact Leah Pilconis at pilconisl@agc.org.

March 2, 2010, 1:00-3:30 p.m. ETPrepare now for first-time nationwide numeric discharge limits and monitoring requirements.  These new limits, called Construction and Development Effluent Limitations Guidelines (C&D ELG), strictly enforce the amount of sediment allowed to run off any construction site disturbing 10 or more acres of land at any one time (whether contiguous or not).  This new rule, issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in December 2009, also specifies the exact types of erosion and sediment controls that contractors must use, at a bare minimum, to control stormwater runoff on all construction sites that disturb one or more acres of land.   To find out what this means for contractors - sign up for AGC's March 2 webinar, 1:30 -3:00 pm ET.All AGC chapters and members are encouraged to participate in this March 2 webinar to learn about these new federal requirements that are certain to change the way contractors manage stormwater on their projects! Click here to register.BackgroundThe C&D ELG rule takes effect in February 2010 and phases in over four years.   The new ELG requirements will be incorporated into all federal and state individual and general National Pollutant Discharges Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater construction permits upon their next reissuance.  Click here to see when your state's construction general stormwater permit is scheduled to expire and be re-issued.  For more information on what the new C&D ELG rule requires, see a detailed article that ran in the January 8, 2010, issue of AGC's Environmental Observer newsletter - click here.For more information, contact Leah Pilconis, senior environmental advisor to AGC, at pilconisl@agc.org.

February 25, 2010 | 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. ET2010 promises to be a most challenging year for commercial contractors. Backlogs are down, in years, bid lists are way up, and margins are practically non-existent. What do you need to know to survive the current downturn, turn things around, and re-emerge whole and healthy for the future?Join hosts Rick Jefcoat and Wayne Rivers of CEO Performance Roundtable Program to find out about today's construction landmines - and how to avoid the missteps that could cause your company's downfall. Register here!

Unit 2: BIM Technology, the second course in the AGC Building Information Modeling (BIM) Education Program, is now available. BIM Technology covers the common characteristics and differences of BIM applications in use today and specific processes for planning, organizing and deploying BIM tools throughout the life of a project.Developing a solid understanding of the available BIM solutions, their functionality and how they relate to the various construction phases before purchasing software will significantly aide contractors with overall BIM implementation efforts and increase return on investment.AGC BIM Education Program courses are offered by AGC Chapters around the country. Interested individuals can visit the AGC national course calendar for information on upcoming BIM Technology course offerings at www.agc.org/BIMEP or contact Amy Fields at (703) 837-5360 or curriculum@agc.org.