As of June 26, 2009, all new construction and major renovation projects registering to use the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System^TM need to use the newest version-LEED 2009. The changes to the rating system are part of an over-arching evolution of the LEED system-LEED Version 3.  In this guest article, AGC Environmental Network Steering Committee Chair Thomas Taylor (Vertegy, an Alberici Enterprise) provides a quick look at some of the changes in the new version.

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Active construction sites that store certain quantities of "oil" must prepare and implement Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans by November 10, 2010, to prevent the discharge of oil to navigable waters, per a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule published last week.  This action once again extends the compliance dates for construction sites and other "facilities" covered by EPA's oil SPCC requirements - and comes just in time to wipe out the prior July 1, 2009 deadline.  Following is a description of the SPCC program deadlines, the construction sites subject to the rules and EPA's streamlined amendments that resulted from AGC's multi-year effort to make the program more workable for contractors.

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In close coordination with the AGC of California and its San Diego Chapter, AGC of America continues to press California for relief from its potentially nationwide rule on off-road diesel emissions.   Last December, AGC petitioned the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reopen the rule.  AGC also urged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deny the state the federal approval that it requires to enforce the rule's core requirements.  Since then, AGC has persuaded CARB to make an objective assessment of how greatly the recent economic downturn has already reduced emissions from off-road diesel equipment, and to share background information on the agency's past projections of such emissions with the association.

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On Thursday, June 18, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed S. 787 the Clean Water Restoration Act.  The legislation was offered as an amendment sponsored by Chairwoman Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.), Senator Max Baucus(D-Mont.) and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Republican committee members criticized the bill as a substantial expansion of federal jurisdiction over water by removing the term "navigable" waterways.  Ranking Member Senator James Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Senator John Barasso (R-Wyo.) offered multiple unsuccessful amendments to address "negative impacts" on rural and agricultural communities.

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Now scheduled for June 25, this webinar will explore the green incentives and sustainability provisions contained in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009. Learn about the details of these provisions as well as the potential impact on construction project financing and lending standards. Information will be provided on the current credit and lending issues as well as the impact on financing contained in portions of the ARRA, specifically green incentives. Industry expert Andy Lutz from Navigant will explore ARRA its impact on the construction market on June 25 from 1:30 - 3:00 pm ET. Register today!  All previous registrations will be honored.

For more information, please contact Carrie Harper at harperc@agc.org.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 established an energy and renewable energy worker training program through a provision known as the Green Jobs Act, which would limit training grant funding only to entities that coordinate with labor organizations.  AGC is supportive of the creation of such a grant program as part of an effort to create an efficient and renewable energy-skilled workforce.  However, AGC believes that the opportunity to qualify for such grants should be open to all contractors, both union and open shop, with accredited training programs.

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