The Biden Administration has proposed new changes to a suite of rules that would significantly affect the applicability and implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The proposed revisions reverse reforms made by the prior administration to regulations governing the listing and delisting of species and plants, the designation of critical habitat and the interagency consultations that are part of the approval process for projects that involve federal permits or funding. One change, in particular, would upend longstanding policy and require offsets to any impacts that cannot be avoided through the 鈥渞easonable and prudent measures鈥 (RPMs) that project proponents currently employ. A summary of the proposed changes follows below.
The construction industry added 19,000 jobs in July even as the sector鈥檚 unemployment rate increased, according to an analysis of new government data the Associated General Contractors of America released today. Association officials noted that tight labor conditions are bringing more previously employed construction workers back into the job market as firms continue to boost pay levels.
The White House Council on Environmental Quality proposed rule ignores recent NEPA amendments included in the debt limit deal.
The House votes to repeal a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) rule. As a result of the rule, at least 3,000 projects already under construction will have to re-do their Endangered Species Act consultations, threatening schedules and even project feasibility.
Two Pittsburgh area 蜜桔直播 chapters, the Master Builders鈥 Association of Western Pennsylvania (MBA) and the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania (CAWP), have teamed together to launch a new mental health initiative for the Pittsburgh area construction industry. By posing a simple question, "Yinz Good?" (Pittsburghese for "Are you okay?"), the initiative encourages individuals to engage in conversations about mental health and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health issues in the workplace.
Termination for cause on a construction project is the equivalent of 鈥済oing nuclear.鈥 Construction is riddled with claims and litigation, and termination for cause litigation may be the costliest.[i] Construction professionals need to be familiar with the termination clauses in their contracts. This article examines the importance of writing an effective termination for cause provision and how the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and ConsensusDocs standard construction contracts differ on this issue.
Please join 蜜桔直播 of America on August 16, 2023, from 2:00pm ET to 3:00pm ET for a virtual townhall update on its climate change initiatives and discussion on carbon reporting and the construction industry. This virtual townhall will be open to all 蜜桔直播 members and chapters. There is no charge, but you must register to reserve a seat鈥攃lick here.
On July 19, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to require employers to provide employees with proper-fitting PPE to protect them from occupational hazards. This move would align the construction, general industry, and maritime standards related to PPE and further emphasize the need for PPE that properly fits the variety of body types represented in construction while providing the intended protection.