Presentations from key federal agencies rounded out the expert management and risk sessions at AGC’s 2018 Construction Environmental Conference by providing attendees with updates and answering questions on several regulatory developments. As part of its conference wrap-up, AGC provides below a list of the issues the government agencies discussed along with links to relevant articles and AGC’s comment letters, where applicable. AGC appreciates the time and talent of all the speakers at the 2018 CEC that, based on participant feedback, exceeded expectations.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Washington, DC
Meg Gaffney-Smith, Deputy Chief, Operations & Regulatory Division
TOPIC: The Corps’ Engagement in the Administration’s Infrastructure Initiative
Presentation Slides (PDF)
Related AGC Articles and Comments:
AGC Submits Recommendations to Army Corps on Regulation Reform
Administration Announces One Federal Decision Policy
U.S. Department of Interior, Washington, DC
Aurelia Skipwith, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks
TOPIC: Key Developments Related to Species and Migratory Birds
Related AGC Article and Comments:
Feds Issue New Take on the ‘Take’ of Migratory Birds
2016 Mitigation Policies That Went Beyond the Law Withdrawn
AGC Comments on Significant Reforms to Regulations that Implement the Endangered Species Act
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
Rita Chow, Sustainable Materials Management Team
EPA Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery
TOPIC: Sustainable Materials Management
Presentation Slides (PDF)
Related AGC Action: In 2018, AGC helped plan a meeting with EPA entitled, Forum on Life Cycle Approaches to Sustainably Manage Materials in Building and Infrastructure Projects. A summary document of that meeting is now available on EPA’s website.
Emily Halter, Water Permits Division
EPA Office of Water
TOPIC: Stormwater, Groundwater
Related AGC Article and Comments: EPA Considers Using the Clean Water Act to Permit Discharges to Groundwater
Additional Information: EPA updated its frequently asked questions on stormwater permitting to include information on e-signatures and electronic recordkeeping.
Hayley Hughes, DrPH, MPH, CSP, National Lead Coordinator
EPA Office of the Administrator
TOPIC: Federal Strategy to Reduce Childhood Lead Exposures and Eliminate Associated Health Impacts
Additional Information: (See resources listed under Michelle Price’s presentation below.)
Gary A. Jonesi, National Coordinator for EPA’s E-Discovery, Audit Policy, and Administrative Litigation
EPA Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance
TOPIC: Enforcement Policies
Related AGC Article: Federal Government Releases New Policies That Will Affect Environmental Enforcement
Additional Information:
eDisclosure on EPA’s website
Audit Policy on EPA’s website
Russell Kaiser, Chief, Freshwater and Marine Regulatory Branch; Wetlands and Communities Division
EPA Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
TOPIC: Clean Water Act Section 404 Permitting
Additional Information: Provided an update on implementation of the Waters of the United States rule and an overview of EPA’s role in the Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting process.
Michelle Price, Chief, Lead, Heavy Metals and Inorganics Branch; National Program Chemicals Division
EPA Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics
TOPIC: Lead Based Paint
Related AGC Articles and Comments:
Lead Pipes, Paint, and Dust; Update on Federal Activities
EPA Proposes to Lower Dust-Lead Hazard Standards; Would Leave Definition of Lead Paint Unchanged
Jessica Young, Branch Chief
Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery
TOPIC: Aerosol Cans
Related AGC Article and Comments: AGC Supports Proposal to Streamline Disposal Requirements for Aerosol Cans
And the construction sector contacts within the Smart Sectors Program, EPA Office of Policy
Daisy Letendre
Nena Shaw
TOPIC: Collaboration/Partnership
Related AGC Article: See related article in this issue of the Observer.
For an overview of the 2018 CEC, click here for a printer friendly version of the complete agenda with speakers’ names and affiliations. AGC also would like to use this opportunity to thank the 2018 sponsors: Cianbro, D3G-Dominion Due Diligence Group, EDR, EMSL Analytical, Kiewit, The Lane Construction Co, Safety-Kleen, WCD Group, and Zurich.
For more information about AGC’s environmental services, contact Melinda Tomaino at tomainom@agc.org.