Related Links: Rep. Waxman's Letter to OMB FracFocus Chemical Disclosure Registry Controversy remains over long-delayed Environmental Protection Agency guidance for writing permits for hydraulic fracturing that uses diesel. Some Democrats in the House of Representatives are eager to see the guidance finalized, but both industry and environmental groups have concerns, for different reasons.In an Oct. 25 letter, Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) asked the Office of Management and Budget to expeditiously review EPA's guidance, proposed in draft form in May 2012, and reject "any industry efforts to weaken or delay it." The new guidance would require U.S. oil and gas companies
Related Links: Construction Coalition Objects to OSHA's Proposed Silica Rule (ENR 9/9/2013 issue) OSHA Proposes Tougher Limit for Silica-Dust Exposure (enr.com 8/23/2013) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is giving industry groups, unions and other parties more time to file comments on its proposal to tighten the exposure standard for airborne silica.On Oct. 25, OSHA said it is extending the comment-period deadline by 47 days, to Jan. 27. A coalition of construction-industry groups objects to the proposed, more stringent exposure limit.OSHA announced the proposal on Aug. 23 and published it on Sept. 12.
Photo By 1st Lt. Ian McBride, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District House and Senate bills trim Inland Waterways Trust Fund's share of future aid for $3.1-billion Olmsted Lock and Dam on Ohio River. Related Links: House Approves Water Resources Bill Focus on Water-Resources Bill Shifts to House (ENR 6/3/2013 issue) The quest for the first major water-resources bill in six years has cleared a key hurdle with House passage of an $8.2-billion measure that would authorize 23 new Corps of Engineers water projects, speed their regulatory reviews and boost funds for dredging.The House's 417-3 vote on Oct. 23
Related Links: Shuster Rolls Out Water Resources Bill Focus on Water Resources Bill Shifts to the House The House on Oct. 23 overwhelmingly approved bipartisan legislation to authorize the U.S. Corps of Engineers to build, operate and maintain water resources projects.Lawmakers approved the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) 417-3.The bill would authorize badly needed investments in the nation’s lock and dam infrastructure, upgrade deficient levees and maintain ports, harbors and key navigation channels.The Senate passed a companion bill by an 83-14 vote in May. A conference committee will now need to iron out differences between the two bills.In
Construction was among the industries that reported increased employment levels in September, according to the latest employment statistics from the Dept. of Labor.The Labor Dept.’s monthly employment report for September, released Oct. 22, found that overall, total non-farm payroll employment rose by 148,000 in September, and the unemployment rate was virtually unchanged at 7.2 %.Construction, wholesale trade, and transportation and warehousing all saw employment increases.The construction sector added 20,000 new jobs in September, after showing little change in the prior six months. Moreover, the unemployment rate in the construction industry fell to a six-year low of 8.5%.Construction employment totaled 5,826,000
Related Links: AIA Press release on Trade Mission Opportunities for architecture and design firms are abundant in Brazil, but the best way to take advantage of those opportunities is to have boots on the ground, says Andrew Goldberg, the American Institute of Architect’s (AIA) managing director, government relations and outreach, who returned from a five-day trade mission to Brazil Oct. 10th.“The main thing we learned was that if you want to do work in places like Brazil, you really have to commit, and you need to be there… You need to be there on the ground, building relationships,” he says.The
Related Links: Sen. Reid's remarks on Senate Floor following establishment of bipartisan deal Shutdown's Construction Impact Widens The government is up and running again following the passage of a $987-billion continuing resolution (CR) on Oct. 16 that will fund the government through Jan. 15.On Day 16 of the shutdown, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) struck a deal that keeps the government running through Jan. 15 and raises the debt ceiling through Feb. 7. As part of the deal, they agreed to name conferees to work on the budget resolution, which has passed both
Related Links: Israel Firm Awarded Contract at Record-Size Desal Plant in California Tampa Bay is Ready to Test Whether Fixed Plant is Worth its Salt Many hopes are riding on the new $1-billion, 54-million-gallon-a-day seawater desalination plant and pipeline in Carlsbad, Calif. If successful, the project, made possible through one of the first public-private partnerships of its kind in the U.S., could serve as a model for other projects around the country.If the project falters, however, the growing momentum for similar U.S. seawater desalination projects could face a reversal, industry observers say."It is being watched closely right now," says Peter
Related Links: EPA regulation on cars and light trucks information page Court's Oct. 15 order granting certiorari in six consolidated greenhouse gas cases The U.S. Supreme Court will revisit federal regulation of greenhouse-gas emissions under the Clean Air Act but set strict limits on how it will do so. The high court on Oct. 15 agreed to hear six consolidated cases during its current term to decide whether the Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010 rule governing emissions from new cars and light trucks also gave the agency the authority to set new permitting requirements for powerplants, refineries and other "stationary sources"
Related Links: Text of Judge's Order to EPA Industry Position on Congressional Coal Ash Legislation A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to move forward with a stalled rule governing coal-ash disposal but offered few details on how the EPA should proceed.In a Sept. 30 order, Judge Reggie Walton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said he would issue an opinion with more specifics by Oct. 30. EPA proposed the coal-ash regulation in 2010.Environmental groups filed suit in 2012 against EPA, seeking to have the agency designate coal ash as a hazardous material
