After receiving a letter from ABC and 40 other leading business organizations, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) have extended the public comment period for the proposed “Waters of the U.S” rule from July 21, to Oct 20.

On April 21, EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers published a proposed rule that aims to clarify the definition of “waters of the U.S.” under the Clean Water Act which would significantly expand federal control of land and water resources across the nation – creating additional permitting and regulatory requirements. The public has until July 21 to submit written comments on the proposal; ABC as part of the Waters Advocacy Coalition (WAC) requested the agency grant an extension on the comment period.

Associated Builders and Contractors, along with more than 40 other leading business organizations, sent a letter to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) requesting they extend the public comment period on a proposed rule that aims to clarify the definition of “Waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The organizations are asking for 90 days beyond the current deadline or 90 days after the EPA releases the final connectivity report, whichever date comes later.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers April 21 published a proposed rule that aims to clarify the definition of "waters of the U.S." under the Clean Water Act which would significantly expand federal control of land and water resources across the nation—creating additional permitting and regulatory requirements. The public has until July 21 to submit written comments on the proposed rule.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) March 6 issued a final rule on the Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Construction and Development Point Source Category.  Under the final rule, which goes into effect May 5, EPA dropped the numeric discharge limit for turbidity in stormwater and implemented best practice management to prevent erosion at construction sites.

As part of an effort to expand its existing Lead Paint Renovation and Repair Painting rule to include public and commercial buildings, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Dec. 6 proposed to issue a related information collection request (ICR) to general contractors. As part of the Commercial Properties Coalition, ABC submitted comments Feb. 4 offering suggestions related to the scope and clarity of the questions in the ICR and the burden it will place on respondents with respect to time and cost.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started a pilot rebate program for nonroad engines called the Construction Equipment Funding Opportunity, which helps to provide financial assistance to public and private construction equipment owners for engine replacements and/or exhaust controls on older construction equipment. 

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Nov. 27 regulatory agenda includes items related to the Clean Water Act, lead paint programs and post-construction stormwater and stormwater ELG, among other items.

ABC, as part of the Waters Advocacy Coalition, responded to a draft scientific report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the connectivity of water, which the EPA said is intended to guide a forthcoming proposed rule that would expand its jurisdiction under the federal Clean Water Act (CWA). The proposed rule has not been released publically, but is under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The U.S. House of Representatives July 25 passed in a bipartisan vote of 265-155 to pass the Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act (H.R. 2218), which would establish a baseline for coal combustion residuals (CCR) disposal while maximizing flexibility for individual states.