Forty-four states added construction jobs between January 2018 and January 2019, while 33 states added construction jobs between December and January, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of Labor Department data released today. Association officials cautioned that the employment gains may not last without an increase in the number of people trained for construction careers.
麻豆视频 Charities Inc., the charitable arm of the Associated General Contractors of America, donated $265,000 today to fund a new 鈥淣ational Healing Quarters鈥 for Warrior Canine Connection. The funds will help cover the cost of renovating a historic dairy barn in Boyds, Maryland to serve as the new headquarters for the group that provides therapy for veterans with invisible wounds like PTSD and service dogs for other wounded veterans.
State NEPA Reviews Targeted
60-Day Comment Period Ends April 15
On Feb. 5, the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee advanced President Trump鈥檚 nomination of Andrew Wheeler as administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency鈥攁 move which 麻豆视频 supported in a letter to the committee. The 11-10 committee vote fell along party lines. Acting Administrator Wheeler鈥檚 nomination now moves to the full Senate for confirmation.
On Feb. 6, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized its 2019 penalty rule that increased the maximum civil penalties per violation of an environmental statute or agency regulation. These annual adjustments are required by the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Improvements Act of 2015. Below are the new 2019 penalty maximum levels to account for inflations. In practice, fines tend to track the perceived or actual economic benefit derived from the violation(s) 鈥 consistent with applicable EPA penalty policies.
60-Day Comment Period Begins
Over the decades, determining where federal Clean Water Act jurisdiction lies has added regulatory uncertainty, delay, and cost to construction projects throughout the nation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 (EPA) recently proposed 鈥淲aters of the United States鈥 (WOTUS) rule will help construction projects move forward in a timelier manner, clearly limit federal jurisdiction over water and wetlands, and continue to protect our nation鈥檚 clean water. Please contact the EPA today to let them know that you support clear federal clean water permitting guidelines.
The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America, Stephen E. Sandherr, released the following statement in reaction to President Trump鈥檚 State of the Union call for new infrastructure investments: