The Biden-Harris Administration has been implementing the Waters of the United States conforming rule for one year. Implementation has been a challenge for regulators and industry alike. Meanwhile, ÐÔÊӽ紫ýÐÔÊӽ紫ý™s legal challenge to the 2023 rule continues, and the rule remains on hold in 27 states. The most recent legal filing applies recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on Chevron deference to the case.
From automating tedious tasks to supercharging project management, AI is becoming a game-changer for construction professionals. But itÐÔÊӽ紫ý™s not just about the techÐÔÊӽ紫ý”our guests share real-world stories of how AI is transforming their day-to-day work, making projects smoother and more efficient. We also tackle the big questions around ethics and responsible AI use, ensuring that innovation doesnÐÔÊӽ紫ý™t come at a cost. If you're curious about how AI can take your construction game to the next level, this episode is a must-listen!
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ÐÔÊӽ紫ý of America submitted a joint amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court on September 4, joining forces with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other business groups. The brief urges the Court to reverse a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that dramatically expands the scope of environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). ÐÔÊӽ紫ý warns that the D.C. CircuitÐÔÊӽ紫ý™s decision, if left in place, would set a dangerous precedent, forcing government agencies to evaluate environmental impacts far beyond their regulatory scope, creating unnecessary hurdles for construction projects across the country.
Here is the background. The Inflation Reduction Act empowered the federal agencies to explore the use of construction materials that have a lower embodied carbon (lower emissions associated with their life cycle). On August 7, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a new carbon labeling program for construction materials. ÐÔÊӽ紫ý provided feedback earlier this year on the draft.
In the last few years there has been a lot of action on environmental review and permitting reform. Whether it is new rules issued by the Biden Administration or reforms pushed by Congress, ÐÔÊӽ紫ý has all of the details to help you understand them.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case later this year on whether Clean Water Act (CWA) NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permits can include generic prohibitions that threaten the certainty that construction companies need to comply with environmental requirements. ÐÔÊӽ紫ý recently submitted a friend of the court brief advocating for clarity to protect contractors from enforcement and costly fines due to vague NPDES permit language. ÐÔÊӽ紫ý seeks to ensure that the Supreme CourtÐÔÊӽ紫ý™s decision preserves the successful permitting approaches used in construction general stormwater permits (CGP) issued by the U.S. EPA and states.