AGC is working with EPA, the Federal Highway Administration, Construction Materials Recycling Association and other organizations on a one-day workshop that explores green construction approaches.
Citing new data showing California's emissions from off-road diesel equipment are below air quality targets for years to come, AGC called on state officials to immediately order at least a two-year delay of its new off-road "diesel retrofit" rule in an emergency petition filed January 11. The delay is needed to avoid unnecessary losses and layoffs within the state's hard hit construction industry while the California Air Resources Board (CARB) continues to review the recently adopted engine emission standards that will force construction companies in California to retrofit or replace almost all of their heavy construction equipment that is currently in the field.
AGC responded to EPA's proposed rule to tighten the air quality standards for ground-level ozone this week in Engineering News-Record and AGC's Environmental Observer, and noted that the rule has resulted in restrictions on the operations of construction equipment around the country.
Citing new state data showing California's off-road diesel equipment operators will be well below new emissions targets for years to come, AGC called on state officials to immediately order at least a two-year delay for their new off-road "diesel retrofit" rule in an emergency petition filed Monday. The delay is needed to avoid unnecessary losses and layoffs within the state's hard hit construction industry while the California Air Resources Board continues to review its diesel rules.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Jan. 7 proposed to tighten the air quality standards for ground-level ozone issued in 2008 by the Bush administration and to set a separate secondary standard. According to agency estimates, the costs of implementing the proposal range from $19 billion to $90 billion. A final rule is expected by Aug. 31.
On December 23, AGC submitted comments on an EPA proposed "tailoring rule" that would change the thresholds specific to greenhouse gas emissions as they would apply to two stationary source permitting programs under the Clean Air Act: (1) new construction and major modification permits and (2) operating permits.
Early in 2009, EPA committed to issuing a final determination and possible new requirements for the disposal and reuse of coal combustion waste by the end of the year. On December 17, EPA announced that it will miss that deadline due to the complexity of the analysis it is currently finishing. EPA anticipates issuing a proposal in early 2010.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold five listening sessions in January 2010 in select cities to inform the public and solicit feedback on upcoming rules to strengthen the national stormwater program. EPA is particularly focused on further restricting stormwater discharges from newly developed and redeveloped construction sites. In addition to holding public meetings this month, EPA recently requested the construction industry's feedback on a draft "industry questionnaire" that the Agency plans to distribute this spring to collect detailed financial and technical information from real estate developers and general contractors to guide and inform the new stormwater runoff rulemaking. EPA plans to propose and take final action on its new stormwater rules by Nov. 2012.
President Obama heads for Copenhagen, Denmark today to join other heads of state at the U.N. Climate Change Conference. Negotiators had hoped to reach a political agreement that would lead towards a legally binding agreement in 2010 to cut worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. However, industrialized and developing countries are deadlocked over the scope of those cuts and the amount of aid industrialized nations are prepared to provide developing countries to adapt to climate change and curb their own emissions.
Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee ranking member Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and House Energy and Commerce Committee ranking member Joe Barton (R-Texas) this week filed resolutions under the Congressional Review Act that, if passed by Congress and signed by the President, would nullify the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's December 7 finding that greenhouse gas emissions endanger public health and welfare.