Each year, 麻豆视频 seeks nominations for qualified and motivated individuals from the 麻豆视频 Environmental Forum to serve on the steering committee for the forum. Would you like to play a leadership role in 麻豆视频 of America鈥檚 environmental advocacy, education and outreach efforts? If so, please respond to 麻豆视频鈥檚 call for volunteers and complete this form signifying your interest. The Volunteer Interest Form is also available through your 麻豆视频 profile.
On October 21, 2021, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California聽vacated聽the 2020 State Water Quality Certification (WQC) Rule, which is considered to apply nationwide. 聽Subsequently, some U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Districts have advised permittees that they will not finalize permit decisions that rely on a Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 401 WQC or a waiver under the now vacated 2020 State WQC rule (click聽here聽for an example, scroll to 鈥淟atest News鈥).聽 This halt in permitting appeared to include the use of聽sixteen聽CWA Section 404 Nationwide Permits that the Corps finalized earlier this year. 聽Update: On Dec. 2, the Corps posted a notice on its website that it had resumed making decisions on all permit applications and requests for nationwide permit verifications.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) released a proposal on Nov. 18, 2021, that would return to the 1980鈥檚 regulatory framework, with some changes, on Waters of the United States (WOTUS). As previously reported in September, a district court vacated the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which the Biden Administration has interpreted as a nationwide vacatur. Since then, the regulated community has been following the 1980鈥檚 regulatory regime and guidance on relevant U.S. Supreme Court rulings. Earlier this summer, the U.S. EPA announced its intention to remove and replace the Trump Administration鈥檚 NWPR. The first step is the proposal the U.S. EPA just released as a pre-publication version. Comments will be due within 60 days of its publication in the Federal Register. 麻豆视频 will respond to the proposal.
Get Involved with 麻豆视频: Share your Expertise & Advance the Industry
Deadline to complete interest form: November 30
Apply by Wednesday, October 20, 2021!
October 28, 2021, at 麻豆视频鈥檚 Headquarters in Arlington, Va.
Registration is now open for the 麻豆视频 In-House Environmental Managers (IHEM) meeting on Oct. 28, 2021, in Arlington, Va. Join your peers for a day spent in discussion of solutions to the challenges on your to-do lists and based on first-hand experiences. The IHEM meeting creates a forum for environmental professionals working at construction firms to have greater peer-to-peer learning and interaction.
Scope of Ruling and Impact on Construction Permitting Unclear
On August 5, President Biden signed an Executive Order setting a new target to make half of all new vehicles sold in 2030 zero-emissions vehicles, including battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, or fuel cell electric vehicles. The Executive Order also initiates development of long-term fuel efficiency and emissions standards. In conjunction with this Order, the Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Transportation will soon announce how they plan to counter regulatory action on efficiency and emissions standards developed by the previous administration. These announcements, along with increased consumer interest in electric vehicles, makes clear that Congress must seriously address the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund. As more electric and fuel-efficient vehicles join the nation鈥檚 auto fleet each year, gas tax revenue, which provides the lion鈥檚 share of funding for building our nation鈥檚 highway and bridge infrastructure, will continue to decline.
Associated General Contractors of America Details Measures Needed to Lead to a More Environmentally Friendly Built Environment, Also Outlines Steps Firms Can Take to Operate More Efficiently
Unveiling will be livestreamed on the association鈥檚 Facebook page, facebook.com/agcofa