Íæż½ã½ã

The nation's buildings and infrastructure will become more efficient, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and cutting energy consumption, according to a new green construction plan released Thursday by Íæż½ã½ã. The plan outlines measures designed to stimulate demand for green construction projects, boost infrastructure capacity, and improve building efficiency and green construction practices.

Emissions from California's construction and other off-road diesel equipment are less than 28 percent of what state officials have estimated, Íæż½ã½ã announced today. As a result, the California Air Resources Board has no scientific justification for sticking to a new rule requiring construction contractors to spend billions of dollars on their existing equipment.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has scheduled a hearing for April 14 in Washington to consider the California Air Resources Board's (CARB) request for a waiver to allow it to begin enforcing its off-road diesel equipment rule. The rule was originally scheduled to go into effect on March 1, 2010 but EPA never granted approval to CARB to move ahead with enforcement. Íæż½ã½ã is preparing expert witness testimony asking EPA to deny California's request.This EPA action follows closely on the heels of a public hearing held by CARB on March 11 on the question of whether the off-road regulations should be further modified to account for the down economy and subsequent emissions reductions. Íæż½ã½ã presented CARB with substantial empirical data demonstrating that the downturn in California's economic conditions and the resulting drop in construction activity have made the rule unnecessary. Íæż½ã½ã has pointed out that California's own inventory data makes clear that off-road equipment operators will be well under the state's aggressive diesel emissions limits for years to come without this rule.  Íæż½ã½ã will make similar recommendations at the upcoming EPA hearing.Unless blocked, the CARB rule will require California's contractors to retrofit, repower, retire and/or replace much of their off-road equipment. The Federal Clean Air Act grants unique authority to California to adopt its own clean air rules, including an off road diesel emissions rule. Other states are prohibited from developing their own regulations but may adopt California's rules once EPA has approved them.  A study conducted by Íæż½ã½ã shows that 32 states, including Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas, are poised to use the California requirements. Because of the impact on contractor's nationwide, Íæż½ã½ã joined with the Íæż½ã½ã of California and San Diego Íæż½ã½ã Chapter in a collective effort to stop the rule or significantly modify it.

Íæż½ã½ã last week joined a broad coalition of environmental, science-based, public health, industry, and state and local government groups by signing a group letter in support of expanded funding in fiscal year 2011 for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Diesel Emissions Reduction Program (DERP).  

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set new rules for certain contractors who renovate or repair housing, child-care facilities, or schools built before 1978.  Workers must follow lead-safe work practice standards to reduce potential exposure to dangerous levels of lead during renovation and repair activities.

Íæż½ã½ã hosted a special forum at this year's Convention focused on environmental challenges specific to the construction industry.  Íæż½ã½ã recognizes that environmental requirements have become a great and growing responsibility for contractors, delaying if not threatening construction projects and increasing the cost of doing business.  Íæż½ã½ã works year-round to provide its members with compliance tools and to advocate for constructive solutions to complex ecological and economic challenges.

  April 22, 2010 • 3:00 - 4:30 ET For owners seeking a third-party green-building certification, it is essential to all parties that the green building objectives and responsibilities are clearly delineated in order to effectively achieve project goals.

Íæż½ã½ã sent a letter to Senator Lisa Murkowski (R- Alaska) on February 12, 2010, in support of S. J. Res. 26, a bipartisan resolution that would block the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from regulating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the Clean Air Act.  Cosponsored by 37 Republicans and three Democrats, Senator Murkowski's resolution would nullify EPA's December 2009 finding that GHG emissions endanger public health and welfare and thus are subject to federal regulation under the Clean Air Act.  Similar resolutions have been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is seeking public comment on the definitions and categories it plans to use to collect data on the number, occupational, industrial and geographic distribution of green jobs.

Íæż½ã½ã joined members of the Waters Advocacy Coalition (WAC) Wednesday in a letter to the editor of The New York Times in response to an article the newspaper published March 1. The article addressed concerns with water and wetland protection under the Clean Water Act following two Supreme Court decisions over the last decade.