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Climate change once again moves to the forefront in public discourse after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Inspector General released a report criticizing the process EPA used in determining that greenhouse gases (GHG) endanger public health and welfare.  The report, requested by Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) in April 2010, determines EPA did not complete the necessary peer reviews for a “highly influential scientific assessment,” which was warranted in this case.  Sen. Inhofe and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) are calling for committee hearings and further review of the report findings—ensuring that GHGs will be part of the overall discussion on EPA regulations moving forward.

The House is scheduled to vote Wednesday, Oct. 5 on H.R. 2681, the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011, which would force the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to rewrite three new proposed regulations for the cement industry. 

�鶹��Ƶ continues to call for greater transparency, accountability and oversight in the development of national rules covering Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP) activities.  �鶹��Ƶ helped to bring some positive movement this summer on the “residential” side of the LRRP rule – which is now in full effect – and influenced the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to abandon lead-dust sample and testing for repair work on homes, schools and daycare centers built prior to 1978.

A testament to �鶹��Ƶ’s continued outreach and strong advocacy work, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have announced their intent to move ahead with a rulemaking to clarify critical jurisdictional terms under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and have invited �鶹��Ƶ to represent industry on a small business review panel scheduled to meet Oct. 12.  This regulatory development is very important to contractors because to the extent that waters remain under state control (and the federal government doesn't broaden its jurisdiction over every wet area), contractors will not need to obtain costly and time-consuming CWA Section 404 "wetlands" permits before commencing work.

This article is the second of a three-part series. Look for the third installment in mid-October. By Jo Moore, Environmental Director for Ranger Construction Industries, Inc; member of �鶹��Ƶ’s Environmental Forum Steering Committee If you have oil on your jobsite, or at your asphalt plant, be aware of the Nov. 10, 2011, deadline to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) oil spill planning rule. The federal Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) program applies to the owner and operator of any facility or construction site that has the “capacity” to store more than 1,320 gallons of any type of oil product in above ground storage tanks/containers. This is Part 2 of a three-part series intended to help �鶹��Ƶ members determine if they need a federally-required oil spill plan – and, if they do, the series will help them develop one that meets EPA requirements.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recent decision to pull back its latest stormwater turbidity limit proposal will help the construction industry avoid billions in new compliance costs.  Unfortunately, EPA is only seeking to delay imposing its nationwide limit on dirt in stormwater, instead of abandoning the idea all together.  �鶹��Ƶ’s strong advocacy and outreach efforts have led EPA to hold off for a decade on forcing contractors to monitor the water running across their jobsites and publicly report any exceedance of a strict number limit. Following is a rundown on recent events, the implications for construction and �鶹��Ƶ’s take away message.

As advocated by �鶹��Ƶ, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reportedly delayed its release of controversial new rules to restrict stormwater that washes off land development sites after construction work is completed.  We can now expect to see a “post-construction” stormwater proposal in December 2011.  This extra time hopefully will allow the agency to resolve many of the legal, authority and process issues that �鶹��Ƶ has repeatedly expressed to both EPA and Congressional staff with regard to first-time national post-construction rules.

Last week, the president announced that the administration will delay promulgation of new National Ambient Air Quality Standards for ozone.  In his statement, the president said that economic concerns and efforts to reduce regulatory burdens and uncertainty led to his decision to delay the new standard until at least 2013.  �鶹��Ƶ welcomed the decision having asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to wait on moving forward with new standards until 2013 when the agency is scheduled to finish its next review of the most current science on ozone.

�鶹��Ƶ is pleased to announce the appointment of five new members to serve on its Environmental Forum Steering Committee through the  2014 �鶹��Ƶ Convention.  Members of the Steering Committee have direct access to federal regulatory officials, influence over �鶹��Ƶ's environmental agenda, and a means to exchange valuable information with one another and industry peers.  �鶹��Ƶ also acknowledges the invaluable contributions of those members who recently completed their terms on the Steering Committee.

This article is the first of a three-part series. Look for the second installment at the end of September. If you have oil on your jobsite, or at your asphalt plant, be aware of the Nov. 10, 2011, deadline to comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) oil spill planning rule. The federal Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) program applies to the owner and operator of any construction site that has the “capacity” to store more than 1,320 gallons of any type of oil product in above ground storage tanks/containers. This is Part I of a three-part series intended to help �鶹��Ƶ members determine if they need a federally-required oil spill plan – and, if they do, the series will help them develop one that meets EPA requirements.