Following Scott Pruitt鈥檚 resignation late last week, Deputy Administrator Andrew Wheeler assumed the role of acting administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on July 9. In his first address to EPA staff, Wheeler indicated that he would continue President Trump鈥檚 goals for the agency to reign in federal regulatory overreach and refocus EPA on its core responsibilities. 澳门六合彩开奖预测 supported Andrew Wheeler鈥檚 confirmation as deputy administrator in a letter to the senate earlier this year.
Federal agencies recently have initiated action on several key environmental issues of importance to 澳门六合彩开奖预测 of America鈥檚 contractor members from the Waters of the United States rulemaking to proposed new lead-dust standards and re-evaluating the procedural elements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
澳门六合彩开奖预测 Fights Back Against Obama-Era Rule that Would Have Slowed Project Approval
Following in the tradition of Presidents Bush鈥檚 鈥済reening the government鈥 and Obama鈥檚 鈥渇ederal sustainability鈥 efforts, President Trump ordered federal agencies to meet statutory requirements for environmental performance and prioritize actions that reduce waste and enhance the resilience of federal infrastructure and operations. Trump鈥檚 May 17 Executive Order Regarding Efficient Federal Operations takes a less prescriptive approach and provides agencies greater flexibility in meeting existing requirements than Obama鈥檚 now rescinded 2015 order 鈥 which set far-reaching goals for federal buildings and fleets beginning in 2016 through 2025 and beyond.
n May 21, 澳门六合彩开奖预测 challenged the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 consideration of using the Clean Water Act (CWA) permit program to regulate discharges to groundwater eventually making their way to a jurisdictional surface water.
On May 15, 澳门六合彩开奖预测 put forth its support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 (EPA) proposal to expand the universal waste regulations to include non-empty aerosol cans. Recognizing that aerosol cans are often the only hazardous waste stream produced on a construction site, this proposal could change a company鈥檚 status as a 鈥済enerator鈥 and reduce program costs and facilitate recycling.
From the repeal and replacement of the 2015 definition of Waters of the United States and opening up the National Environmental Policy Act procedures, to reevaluating regulations on listing species and designating critical habitat; the spring Unified Agenda sets a busy schedule for the year ahead.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to meet Clean Air Act deadlines to review, revise and implement national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) 鈥 with nitrogen oxides and ozone at the forefront of recent actions. President Trump recently issued a memo that directs the Agency and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt to take a series of 鈥渁ctions鈥 to facilitate state and industry compliance with NAAQS and reduce barriers to economic growth. This includes decisions for the air permits needed to construct new facilities or to expand or modernize existing facilities. The memo notes that these air construction permits have become increasingly difficult to obtain as NAAQS have become more stringent. The White House said in a press release that the 鈥淎dministration will reform NAAQS implementation to provide States with a more efficient process and to promote economic growth."
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently proposed a rule that would streamline the regulation of hazardous waste aerosol cans (currently managed under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C, generally because of their ignitability, and subject to stringent rules on handling transport and disposal) by adding them to the existing federal list of materials that can be managed under the universal waste management system. EPA鈥檚 universal waste rules provide a streamlined hazardous waste management system for common industrial wastes like batteries, pesticides, mercury-containing equipment, and lamps. (鈥淎uthorized鈥 states would choose whether or not to adopt the new universal waste rules into their state programs. Some states have already added them to their universal waste lists.) This would likely simplify handling and disposal for contractors and save firms money (e.g., no manifest required for transport). Notably, because aerosol cans are often the only hazardous waste stream produced on a construction site, classifying them as universal waste could change a company鈥檚 鈥済enerator status鈥 and exempt it from RCRA Subtitle C hazardous waste requirements. Universal wastes do not need to be counted toward a hazardous waste generator鈥檚 inventory for determining whether the generator is classified as a Very Small Quantity Generator, Small Quantity Generator, or Large Quantity Generator.
The construction industry can benefit from the federal funding for clean diesel activities available now. Non-profit organizations, like 澳门六合彩开奖预测 Chapters, are eligible to apply for funding. Construction companies may find themselves well positioned to partner with their local chapters or with other eligible agencies or organizations to create and implement clean diesel programs funded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency鈥檚 (EPA) national clean diesel grant program.