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On May 14, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released the final hours of service rule in order to improve the safety of the nation’s roads and increase flexibility for truck drivers. The final rule makes changes to four provisions: the short-haul exemption; adverse driving conditions; the 30-minute break; and split-sleeper berth. The final rule does not increase driving time. Last year, �۽�ֱ�� submitted comments to FMCSA in support of the notice of proposed rulemaking.

On May 12, 2020, the Associated General Contractors and other construction contractor groups called on Congress to address the growing multiemployer pension crisis in a letter. While Congress debates the next round of COVID-19 related stimulus legislation to address the unprecedented public health emergency the multiemployer pension crisis has been growing. Construction industry plans account for over half of all multiemployer defined benefit plans and cover nearly four million multiemployer defined benefit participants.

In a recent U.S. Supreme Court opinion in the Cty. of Maui v. Hawai’i Wildlife Fund (Maui) case, the Court expanded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) reading of its authority to regulate discharges to groundwater and created a new “functional equivalent” test that now leaves contractors confused about whether their stormwater storage ponds, basins and underground storage will require discharge permitting.

�۽�ֱ�� has put safeguards in place so you can register with confidence �۽�ֱ�� is moving forward with its annual Construction Safety, Health and Environmental Conference on July 14-16, 2020, in Louisville, Kentucky. As a leader in construction safety, health and environment, our top priority is the safety and health of our members, attendees, speakers and staff. We have been closely monitoring the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and remain optimistic that we can deliver our in-person event this July. However, should circumstances not improve in the coming months, we are fully prepared to shift to an online format. Whether in-person or online, we are confident that we will be able to provide you with the same superior educational content and peer-to-peer engagement that you are used to from �۽�ֱ��.

Association Partner Procore Also Releases Near Real-Time Construction Data Measuring Impacts of Coronavirus as Association Calls for New Measures, Including Safe Harbor Provisions, to Revive Industry

U.S. EPA expands enforcement and compliance history online (ECHO) tools The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides public access to industry regulatory compliance and enforcement data online. EPA released a new State Clean Air Act Dashboard (State Air Dashboard) that is available to the public via the Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) Web page. The dashboard, which is focused on stationary sources only, provides information such as how many inspections were performed, how may violations were identified, and how many enforcement actions were taken. EPA plans to update the RCRA, CWA and SDWA dashboards to this new format over the next 6-8 months.

�۽�ֱ�� recently participated in a virtual meeting with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler to discuss the release of the Construction Snapshot, �۽�ֱ��’s participation in the Smart Sectors Program, and top issues for �۽�ֱ�� contractors. Importantly, the Smart Sectors’ Construction Snapshot includes a look at the industry’s environmental as well as economic performance over time, using data from different publicly-available sources. �۽�ֱ�� took the opportunity to thank U.S. EPA for its leadership in response to COVID-19 (e.g., list of disinfectants and enforcement discretion policy), and to express support of several recent U.S. EPA deregulatory actions. �۽�ֱ�� also provided industry-specific insights on where additional implementation guidance is needed to clarify how certain environmental laws will be applied (and enforced) in the field.

�۽�ֱ�� and its Transportation Construction Coalition partners organized a bipartisan effort led by Reps. Conor Lamb (D-Penn.) and Bob Gibbs (R-Ohio) calling on the leadership of the House of Representatives to include an immediate $49.95 billion federal fund infusion for state departments of transportation (DOT) to move planned projects forward. Projections are showing decreases in state motor fuel tax and toll receipts as vehicle traffic declines by 50 percent in most parts of the country due to work and travel restrictions. Some state DOTs could experience losses as high as 45 percent, leading to significant project letting delays and cancellations, threatening construction jobs. �۽�ֱ�� and its chapters are making a concerted effort to bring as many members of the House together in making this request a priority included in the next COVID-19 relief bill. Contact your U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators to tell them to support this critical funding for the transportation construction industry in the next COVID-19 relief bill.