Environmental Observer

AGC Member Earns 'National Clean Diesel Campaign Pioneer' Award from U.S. EPA

Crystal Yates — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:11:31 +0000

AGC member Bob Lanham (William Brothers Construction, Houston, Texas) was awarded for his leadership and endorsement of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Clean Diesel Campaign retrofit program. The Award of Recognition was presented in Washington, D.C., by EPA's Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation Gina McCarthy during the recent Clean Diesel 10 conference. [...]

Federal Diesel Retrofit Grant Competition NOW OPEN!

Crystal Yates — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:36:06 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Clean Diesel Campaign recently opened a new grant competition to solicit applications for approximately $32 million in funding for clean diesel activities. The Request for Proposal (RFP) - RFP# EPA-OAR-OTAQ-11-01 - will remain open until January 13, 2011. Private construction companies cannot apply, on their own, for an EPA diesel [...]

California Formally Proposes Sweeping Amendments To Controversial Rule on Off-Road Diesel Emissions

Crystal Yates — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 21:34:15 +0000

Consistent with its prior agreement with AGC, the California Air Resources Board ("CARB" or "Board") has formally proposed a series of sweeping amendments to its controversial rule on off-road diesel emissions. The amendments will push the original deadlines for construction contractors and other fleet owners to meet the rule's emission standards and/or turnover requirements back [...]

DOT/EPA Propose First-Time National Emissions and Fuel-Efficiency Standards for Heavy-Duty Trucks, Including Pickup Trucks

Crystal Yates — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:30:43 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on October 25 announced proposed new emission standards for carbon dioxide (CO2) and fuel consumption standards for three categories of heavy trucks–combination tractors, heavy-duty pickups and vans and vocational vehicles-beginning with model year 2014. The agencies [...]

Update on November 2012 Stormwater Rulemaking to Control Post-Construction Runoff

Crystal Yates — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:49:54 +0000

AGC remains actively engaged in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) effort to promulgate new standards to restrict stormwater discharges from newly developed and redeveloped construction sites (i.e., post-construction discharges) by November 2012. EPA recently sent out mandatory questionnaires to obtain data and other information on construction stormwater management practices to support the new stormwater [...]

EPA Gears Up For Next Diesel Grant Competition

Crystal Yates — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 15:16:05 +0000

AGC Supports Robust Funding for Program and Five-Year Reauthorization The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced that it will open its application process for fiscal year 2011 National Funding Assistance Program diesel grants this November. The Agency expects to make $60 million available for the upcoming competition. Interested grant applicants should begin preparing their clean [...]

EPA Extends Deadline To Meet Federal Oil Spill Planning Requirements by One Year

Crystal Yates — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 16:54:56 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently revised the compliance deadline for the Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) rule, which affects some construction sites and hot-mix plants. All facilities (i.e., sites) storing over 1,320 gallons of "oils" either by aggregate (i.e. > 55 gallon drums) or single tank capacity must comply with federal EPA [...]

Green Programs: Buildings, Homes, Roads, Neighborhoods and More

Crystal Yates — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 18:29:33 +0000

Green Programs: Buildings, Homes, Roads, Neighborhoods and More Construction professionals are familiar with commercial green building projects and the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. But what some contractors may not know is that "green" is growing to encompass other critical infrastructure projects - including highway and local road construction, site selection, utility [...]

Update on Chesapeake Bay Watershed Clean-up Efforts, Potential Impact on Future Construction

Crystal Yates — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 19:33:24 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released for public comment a draft Chesapeake Bay "pollution diet" on September 24. The pollution diet, called a total maximum daily load (TMDL), establishes pollution discharge limits for nitrogen, phosphorous and sediment-including sediment runoff from construction sites-entering the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. The Chesapeake Bay watershed is 64,000 [...]

AGC and CARB Reach Agreement to Delay and Ease State's Off-road Diesel Rule

Crystal Yates — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 18:11:12 +0000

AGC and the staff of the California Air Resources Board have reached an agreement on proposed changes to the state's off-road diesel rule designed to give the local construction industry time to recover from the recession while protecting air quality. As part of the agreement, CARB will delay enforcement of the rule until 2014, ease annual [...]

Construction Stormwater Survey Requires Reply Within 60 Days to Avoid Steep Fines

Crystal Yates — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 20:41:24 +0000

AGC has received reports that its members have received a letter from the U.S. EPA directing them to complete a mandatory survey on construction stormwater management practices within 60 days - or face significant fines and penalties of up to $37,500 per day per violation. While EPA claims to have not directed this survey to general [...]

California Admits to Vastly Overstating Construction Emissions Following AGC's Efforts

Crystal Yates — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:56:52 +0000

Association Calls on CARB to Repeal Costly, Unneeded Off-road Diesel Rule The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has acknowledged that it has vastly overestimated the amount of diesel pollution being emitted by the construction equipment currently in use in California. In fact, the construction industry will meet state-mandated targets for reducing pollution for many years to [...]

AGC of Greater Florida Partners to Invest Over $1.6M to Cut Emissions from Construction Equipment

Crystal Yates — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 19:31:46 +0000

Construction Associations' Coalition Will Help Contractors Cut Emissions from Bulldozers, Excavators and Other Heavy Construction Equipment Used in Construction Statewide. The Associated General Contractors of Greater Florida in partnership with a coalition of construction associations in the Southeast will invest more than $1.6 million over the next two years to cut diesel emissions from off-road construction [...]

EPA Invites AGC to Play a Key Role in Clean Diesel 10 - National Clean Diesel Campaign Conference

Crystal Yates — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 18:33:16 +0000

Recognizing AGC's influence on "clean diesel" initiatives that affect the construction industry, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) invited AGC to help plan and moderate the "Non-road Track" at Clean Diesel 10, a significant event to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of EPA's National Clean Diesel Campaign (NCDC). AGC is currently serving on the NCDC Clean Diesel [...]

EPA Releases Construction Fleet Inventory Guide

Crystal Yates — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:12:56 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just released a Construction Fleet Inventory Guide designed to help fleet owners/operators build an accurate inventory of construction equipment and vehicles. Having this fleet inventory is an essential component for many clean diesel grant applications. EPA's comprehensive 118-page guide contains photos and specific directions for how to locate [...]

EPA Posts New Information for Building Contractors Who May Encounter PCB-Containing Caulk

Crystal Yates — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:09:46 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new "guidance" materials on the practices a contractor "should" follow when conducting the renovation, repair and/or abatement of buildings that have polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-containing caulk. Contractors responsible for such activities also must clearly understand the regulatory requirements, and are encouraged to consult the EPA or environmental professionals experienced [...]

EPA Revamps Approach to Protect, Restore the Nation's Waters; Offers Opportunities for Early Public Input

Crystal Yates — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:03:27 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public listening session Aug. 26 on potential changes to the water quality standards (WQS) regulation before proposing a national rule. The current program, which has been in place since 1983, governs how states adopt standards under the Clean Water Act to protect their waters. These standards [...]

New Members Join AGC's Environmental Network Steering Committee

Crystal Yates — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:34:32 +0000

AGC is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to its Environmental Network Steering Committee. Members of the Steering Committee have direct access to federal regulatory officials, influence over AGC's environmental agenda, and a means to exchange valuable information with one another and industry peers. AGC also acknowledges the invaluable contributions of those [...]

Federal Government Poised to Issue More Greenhouse Gas Controls for Highway Mobile Sources

Crystal Yates — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:46:43 +0000

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), on behalf of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), are taking action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fuel use from vehicles used on roads for transportation of passengers or freight. This move comes in response to President Obama's May [...]

New Opportunities for Contractors to Provide Input on EPA's Fly Ash Rule

Crystal Yates — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:11:18 +0000

On August 19, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) extended by 60 days the public comment period for its proposed rule to classify coal combustion residuals (CCR) as either hazardous or non-hazardous waste. The new deadline to submit comments is November 19. CCRs are used widely in vertical and horizontal construction. AGC will hold an [...]