The Environmental Protection Agency unveiled a web-based construction compliance center Thursday that is expected to assist builders, contractors and developers with environmental regulations. EPA Administrator Christine Whitman made the announcement at the Associated General Contractors of America’s national leadership conference, where she also announced a new partnership between EPA and AGC.
“One of the things you’ve been telling us is that the sheer number and complexity of environmental regulations are your greatest impediment to better compliance,” Whitman said.
The online compliance tool is expected to help clarify specific regulation standards and answer any questions members of the construction industry might have. The website includes plain-language explanations of environmental rules and links to state regulation websites and other sites that contain information for the construction industry.
Whitman also announced a partnership between EPA and AGC in the agency’s Sector Strategies Program. The new program focuses on expanding the use of environmental management systems, overcoming regulatory and other barriers and measuring results. AGC was selected by EPA to serve as the representative for the construction industry in the program. Seven sectors were chosen to participate in the program.
“Our purpose in this program is to help you continue improving environmental performance, and also to ease the burdens of regulation where we can, without sacrificing environmental quality,” Whitman said.
To go to EPA’s construction compliance website or to learn more about the Sector Strategies Program, click on the links to the right.
