Excavation Matters

EPA Appropriations Bill Passed With Significant Water Funding Increase for SRF Programs

Perry Fowler — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:20:00 +0000

On October 29, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate approved the conference report providing appropriations for the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of the Interior and other agencies. The Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, passed on a party line vote (247-178) and included significant increases for EPA programs including a $2 billion increase over FY09 SRF programs.

PHMSA Releases Advanced Notice of Excavation Enforcement Rulemaking

Perry Fowler — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:17:31 +0000

Rulemaking has potential to impact excavation standards, including civil and criminal enforcement actions.

Clean Water Trust Fund Update: AGC has Updated Information on the AGC Legislative Action Center on H.R. 3202

Perry Fowler — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:15:56 +0000

H.R.3202, the "Water Protection and Reinvestment Act," was introduced by Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) on July 14, 2009, with bipartisan support. It establishes a five year $50 billion fund for repairing America's corroded pipes and overburdened sewer systems, which pose serious health, environmental and security risks. The Water Protection and Reinvestment Act will provide a deficit neutral, off-budget and firewalled dedicated revenue source for water infrastructure that will not be subject to the uncertainties of the annual appropriations process.

Appropriations for Army Corps and Bureau of Reclamation Signed by President

Perry Fowler — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:14:04 +0000

President Barack Obama on October 28 signed into law $33.5 billion spending bill to fund government energy and water programs for the 2010 fiscal year.

EPA Administrator Testifies Before Congress on New Clean Water Act Enforcement Action Plan

Perry Fowler — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:11:55 +0000

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lisa Jackson appeared October 15 before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure to discuss the Clean Water Act's (CWA) permit program and EPA's immediate plans to strengthen its enforcement efforts. Jackson specifically called out construction sites as one of "the biggest threats" to our nation's waters, adding that EPA needs "to target enforcement to the most serious violations and the most significant sources." To address what she describes as an "unacceptably low" level of enforcement activity, Administrator Jackson announced the release of EPA's new action plan to strengthen federal and state CWA enforcement.

AGC Meets with NRWA in Louisville at H20 Expo

Scott Berry — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:15:21 +0000

The National Rural Water Association (NRWA) represents approximately 26,696 public water and wastewater utilities in rural communities across the United States. On October 4, AGC Staff and M&U Regional Representative Dick Smailes, Contractors Association of West Virginia member, met with NRWA and other national leaders to discuss opportunities for collaborative efforts with AGC Chapters and [...]

Buy American Update

Scott Berry — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:14:21 +0000

AGC has been active in our efforts to ensure that the "Buy American" requirements of the Recovery Act did not seriously delay $6 billion allocated for drinking water and wastewater projects being administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and $1.4 billion allocated for the USDA's Rural Utilities Service (RUS). Trade agreement exceptions to [...]

S. 1005 Update

Scott Berry — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:10:16 +0000

AGC and the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) Coalition continue to push the Senate to bring S. 1005 Water Infrastructure Financing Act of 2009 to the floor of the Senate. On October 7, the WIN Coalition sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid calling for action on S.1005. S.1005 authorizes $39.191 billion for EPA water [...]

2009 AGC Highway & Utility Contractors Issues Meeting Update

Perry Fowler — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 18:40:56 +0000

AGC's Highway & Utilities Contractors Issues Meeting will take place on November 13-14 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida at the PGA National Resort. This meeting is the premier national event for contractors and related businesses involved in every aspect of highway and utility construction to hear about and discuss issues and trends in these markets. In order to secure the AGC rate of $179.00 a night you must register by October 16, 2009!

EPA Administrator Orders Overhaul of Clean Water Act Enforcement Program - More Reporting, More Inspections, More Public Oversight!

Scott Berry — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:11:54 +0000

The U.S. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has directed the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) to examine its Clean Water Act enforcement program and report back to her in early October with an action plan to strengthen and improve the Agency's enforcement efforts. This new initiative comes in light of information showing that water [...]