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AGC Invited to EPA Administrator Roundtable to Celebrate 'Smart Sectors' Partnership

AGC recently participated in a roundtable discussion with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Smart Sectors Partnership and highlight initial successes.  AGC took the opportunity to express support of EPA’s efforts to improve the clarity and speed of the permits it issues.  AGC understands that state agencies issue most environmental permits; however, states use EPA’s permits/programs as a model.  Improvements EPA makes can have a positive impact on state-issued permits.  To this end, EPA is working on a policy for how the agency assesses the adequacy of state pollution control programs.  Click here to see EPA’s priority goals and latest action plan.


                       Courtesy of U.S. EPA

Smart Sectors staff liaison with AGC and other trade associations representing 13 sectors of the economy to find sensible approaches that better protect the environment as well as reduce regulatory burden.  Through Smart Sectors, AGC has participated in two Administrator roundtables, additional meetings with EPA program staff, and the sector liaisons have met with AGC contractor members in addition to moderating an EPA panel at the September 2018 AGC Construction Environmental Conference on a host of regulatory issues.  AGC looks forward to continued collaboration with the agency in the coming year.

EPA also released the Smart Sectors Accomplishments Report for 2017-2018, which shares metrics showcasing the program’s first year, such as: developing ongoing relationships with the regulated community, hosting two Administrator roundtables with all sectors, and participating in 17 site visits that covered the operations of 9 different sectors. In its first year, the program also created a video and story map about best practices in permitting, and unveiled a new sector snapshots web tool to provide environmental and economic data about three sectors participating in the program.

To learn more about the program, visit: www.epa.gov/smartsectors, or contact AGC’s Melinda Tomaino at tomainom@agc.org.

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