A host of legal challenges have been filed against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 (EPA) rule to tighten its ozone national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) from 75 parts per billion (ppb) down to 70 ppb. A coalition of groups representing various industries are faulting what they say is EPA鈥檚 inadequate consideration of naturally occurring 鈥渂ackground鈥 ozone levels (ozone formed from sources or processes other than U.S. man-made emissions ) that might hamper states鈥 ability to attain the agency's tighter limit. EPA is promoting 鈥渞egulatory relief mechanisms鈥 to address the concerns of states and other interested parties.
A recently released Presidential Memorandum speaks to how federal agencies should, in their environmental reviews and permitting, address impacts on natural resources caused by construction and development 鈥 a process called 鈥渕itigation.鈥 The new policy broadens the federal government's 26-year-old 鈥渘o net loss鈥 wetlands policy by expanding that concept to any natural resource and encouraging agencies to replace those resources even before construction begins.
麻豆视频 Explains What You Need to Know Today about Federal Jurisdiction over WOTUS
麻豆视频 Supports Online Lead Paint Training
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized an 麻豆视频-supported rule that will allow contractors who are subject to EPA鈥檚 current Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) rule to complete the required 鈥渞enovator鈥 re-certification process via distance/online learning, rather than traveling to a more expensive in-seat program.
May Force Cities to Further Restrict Runoff from Construction and Development
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments until March 21 on proposed changes to its general permit program for operators of municipal separate stormwater sewer systems (MS4s), which will ensure that cities are reducing pollutants in their runoff to the 鈥渕aximum extent practicable鈥 (MEP). The proposed rule addresses how small MS4s seek and incorporate public comment and agency reviews into their permits. The proposal would significantly change how cities obtain Clean Water Act (CWA) authorization to discharge stormwater from their systems and may force cities to further limit runoff from active construction sites and developed properties.
May Force Cities to Further Restrict Runoff from Construction and Development
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments until March 21 on proposed changes to its general permit program for operators of municipal separate stormwater sewer systems (MS4s), which will ensure that cities are reducing pollutants in their runoff to the 鈥渕aximum extent practicable鈥 (MEP). The proposed rule addresses how small MS4s seek and incorporate public comment and agency reviews into their permits. The proposal would significantly change how cities obtain Clean Water Act (CWA) authorization to discharge stormwater from their systems and may force cities to further limit runoff from active construction sites and developed properties.
The House voted to halt the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 'Waters of the US鈥 rulemaking redefining jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act and prevent the administration from issuing a substantially similar regulation. This vote follows the Senate鈥檚 approval of the same resolution in November. The measure now heads to the president鈥檚 desk, where it is expected to be vetoed. Unfortunately, it is unlikely either the House or Senate will have the votes needed to override the president鈥檚 veto. 麻豆视频 will continue to work with Congress and its industry allies to find a workable legislative solution to this rulemaking.
The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), in response to a request from the top Republican on the Senate Environment Committee, concluded that several aspects of the social media and grassroots campaign undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) around the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rulemaking violated provisions of the laws designed to protect against undue agency influence on the rulemaking process.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently released a new tool to assist small residential lot builders in developing their required stormwater pollution prevention plans, or SWPPP documents. The Small Residential Lot SWPPP Template is an optional tool designed to streamline SWPPP development and is fully compliant with the SWPPP requirements in EPA鈥檚 Construction General Permit (CGP). EPA has invited states to modify the agency鈥檚 new template, as needed, for use with their state CGPs.
As just announced by 麻豆视频 via its 2016 Environmental Rules Watch List, the construction industry can expect to see a wide range of regulatory action in the coming year, spanning the air, water and waste program areas. 麻豆视频 works with federal agency staff during the rulemaking process to ensure that the construction industry鈥檚 voice is heard 鈥 analyzing and expressing the industry鈥檚 views on federal proposals to enact or modify laws that regulate contractors. 麻豆视频 created a handout to help you track the development of environmental rules throughout 2016 and even weigh in on issues that are important to you and your business.