White House photo by Pete Souza Speaking in Tarrytown, N.Y., President Obama called for Congress to replenish the Highway Trust Fund, which is projected to go into the red in August. New funding would help pay for aging infrastructure, such as the Tappan Zee Bridge, pictured above, which is scheduled to be replaced by a new $5-billion crossing. Related Links: Text of Obama 5/14/2014 Tarrytown, N.Y., speech (White House transcript) Federal infrastructure project permitting "dashboard" list ENR Cover Story: Support for Environmental Review Reform Gains Momentum (3/24/2014 issue) [subscription] With the Highway Trust Fund expected to dip into the red
Related Links: Supreme Court Reverses 9th Circuit in L.A. Water Pollution Case August 2013 opinion by 9th Circuit Court of Appeals The U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up an appeal to a controversial Clean Water Act case that has pitted the County of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles County Flood Control District against the Natural Resources Defense Council and Santa Monica Baykeeper.The case, initiated by the environmental groups in 2008, already has been before the nation's high court. In January 2013, the court ruled on a narrow question: whether polluted water pumped from one part to another part
Photo Courtesy U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District Final bill expected to cut trust fund's share of total aid for Olmsted Locks and Dam on Ohio River, freeing money for other projects. In a move that brings a major, long-pending infrastructure bill close to the finish line, House and Senate conferees have agreed on a compromise measure that would authorize funds for new Army Corps of Engineers water projects and also is expected to map out changes in Corps project reviews.The lawmakers so far have released few details about the new bill, titled the Water Resources Reform and Development
Related Links: Link to Page with National Climate Assessment President Obama's Climate Action Plan A new White House-sponsored report concludes that climate change already is having an impact throughout the United States, with infrastructure feeling some of the effects, and says urgent action is needed to ensure that catastrophic results don't materialize.The third U.S. National Climate Assessment (NCA), which the White House released on May 6, says that rising sea levels, heavy downpours and extreme heat are damaging infrastructure of all types—including roads, rail lines and airport runways. It adds that the costs are expected to climb significantly in coming
Related Links: Video of Senate Finance Committee hearing; prepared statements and testimony Key Senators' Highway-Bill Outline Needs Revenue Key senators agree that highway and transit funding will hit a critical juncture soon and faces longer-range financial needs. At a May 6 Finance Committee hearing, there was no agreement on specific short- or long-term remedies.The Highway Trust Fund's flagging health is the immediate problem. The Congressional Budget Office projects that, by Sept. 30, the trust fund's highway-account balance will dwindle to $2 billion and its transit account will have $1 billion left, Joseph Kile, a CBO assistant director, testified.Finance Chairman Ron
Related Links: Supreme Court's April 29 ruling High Court Hears Arguments in Air Quality Case Industry observers say that the low cost of natural gas, as well as regulatory actions by the Environmental Protection Agency, could temper the immediate impact of the Supreme Court's April 29 ruling that upheld an air-quality rule for emissions that move across state lines.Still, the EPA contends the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) would require some $800 million annually in powerplant retrofits, mostly in upwind states. Some sources argue the court's decision may embolden the agency to interpret its Clean Air Act authority broadly in
Related Links: Administarative Settlement and Complaince Agreement (PDF) McHugh Pays City of Chicago's Procurement Office $2 Million A major Chicago construction firm has agreed to pay $12 million to settle federal and state charges that it used disadvantaged business enterprises (DBEs) as "pass-throughs" to get contracts for seven projects, totaling more than $156 million.James McHugh Construction Co. Inc., in a separate administrative settlement, also agreed to establish a corporate compliance program. The firm further agreed to hire a compliance officer and an independent monitor who will report to the government agencies.In addition, the company also promised to dismiss Senior Vice
Related Links: Prepared text of Ex-Im chairman's April 24 speech Congress Approves Three-Year Ex-Im Bank Measure (enr.com 5/28/2012) [subscription] A Capitol Hill battle is shaping up over the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. The bank provides financial aid to U.S. exporters, including heavy-equipment makers and construction firms. Its authorization expires on Sept. 30. A White House bill to keep Ex-Im running for five years has business groups' support. But at least one key House Republican opposes the proposal.The White House bill, sent to Congress on April 23, would extend Ex-Im through 2019 and raise its aid cap, in steps, to
Related Links: House-Senate Talks on WRDA Bill Get Under Way (ENR 12/2/2013 issue) [subscription] Water-Resources Bill Heads for House-Senate Conference (ENR 11/04/2013 issue) [subscription] After months of discussion between House and Senate conferees, an agreement on a new water-resources bill appeared to be near at ENR press time. The lead House negotiator, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.), on April 29 said, "We are inches away from crossing the goal line on a Water Resources Reform and Development Act."The bill would authorize new Army Corps of Engineers' civil-works projects and was expected to include Corps policy changes in
Related Links: Text of Potter Concrete-Justice Dept. settlement agreement Justice Dept. press release 4/17/2014 A Texas concrete contractor has agreed to pay the federal government $115,000 to settle charges that it violated documentation provisions of federal immigration law, the Dept. of Justice has said.DOJ, which announced the agreement on April 17, said its investigation showed that Dallas-based Potter Concrete Ltd. made “unlawful demands” of new hires who were not U.S. citizens.Justice said that the company required newly hired non-U.S. citizens to submit specific Dept. of Homeland Security-issued documents, but it allowed U.S.-citizen new hires to provide “their choice of documentation.”DOJ
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