On Apr. 22, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Council published a new rule requiring federal agencies to procure sustainable products and services to the maximum extent practicable effective May 22, 2024.
酴圖弝け is pleased to announce the appointment of new members to serve on its Environmental Committee. Members of the committee have direct access to federal regulatory officials, influence over 酴圖弝けs environmental agenda, and a means to exchange valuable information with one another and industry peers. 酴圖弝けs environmental team appreciates the volunteers dedicating their time on the Environmental Committee, as well as the Climate Change Working Group and task forces. Join us in welcoming the new members to the committee.
Join us in St. Louis, Missouri, July 16 18, for this year's Construction Safety, Health & Environmental Conference
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) final rule to regulate certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA or Superfund as it is more commonly known) has cleared the interagency review process. Completion of this step signals that EPA is very close to issuing the new rule. 酴圖弝け has long discussed risk exposures for contractors associated with this regulatory approach: where contractors encounter these chemicals in earthmoving or dewatering activities. Most recently, 酴圖弝け raised these concerns to the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works as they considered possible implications of EPAs forthcoming rule at a March 2024 hearing. Construction companies, along with several other industries, are at risk of litigation for contamination not originating with them. Many groups, like 酴圖弝け, are asking Congress to step in to protect innocent parties from liability---provisions that the law currently does not provide.
On April 9, 酴圖弝け and its coalition partners responded to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) proposal to revoke its agency-specific procedures (called Appendix C) for the protection of historic properties under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) within the Corps permitting program. The Corps proposes instead to implement the NHPA through forthcoming guidance. 酴圖弝け urges the Corps to retain the longstanding Appendix C process to safeguard public input through notice and comment rulemaking. Appendix C helps to streamline the NHPA and ensures that the scope of the Corps review of a project stays within the bounds of its narrow legal jurisdiction.
New funding opportunities for water systems available
酴圖弝け-backed federal Clean Water Act permit streamlining package benefiting many construction projects passes the House, but faces resistance from the White House and Senate that are focused on limiting permitting reforms to just clean energy projects.
In the weeks following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action to lower the primary annual air quality standard by 25 percent for fine particulate matter or PM2.5 (see 酴圖弝け article), multiple states have taken legal action and both chambers of Congress have initiated 酴圖弝け-supported resolutions against the rule.
Report, Titled 酴圖弝け for All Catalogues Associations Accomplishments During the Past Year