The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced that it will propose and take final action by Nov. 2012 on a first-time national rule that would restrict stormwater discharges from newly developed and redeveloped sites.  Currently, EPA is requesting the construction industry's feedback on a draft questionnaire that will inform and guide the new stormwater runoff rulemaking.  The final industry questionnaire would require certain general contractors to provide detailed technical information for up to 10 projects completed in 2009 - including project type/size, stormwater management controls and associated costs, discharge permit forms - as well as company-wide financial information spanning the last five years.

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The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week conducted three days of legislative hearings with over 50 witnesses providing testimony on S. 1733, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, a bill that would create a "cap and trade" regulatory program to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to address global climate change concerns.  The bill aims to reduce U.S. GHG emissions by 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83 percent below 2005 levels by 2050. 

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