Related Links: Obama executive order on flood-risk standard White House fact sheet on flood-risk standard Corps of Engineers study of North Atlantic coast flood risks The Obama administration has issued tougher risk-management standards for federal agencies to use in determining where federally funded buildings, highways and other infrastructure projects in floodplains should be situated.The new requirements, contained in an executive order that President Obama signed on Jan. 30, drew praise from state floodplain officials and environmental advocates, but also sparked criticism from a construction group and some lawmakers— including eight Republican U.S. Senators, who question the standard's legality.John Podesta, counselor
President Obama’s nearly $4-trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2016 has a picture of a bridge on its cover, reflecting one of the main elements inside the book: substantial spending on infrastructure, especially the initial year's $478-billion, six-year surface-transportation bill.
The Senate has approved legislation authorizing construction to begin on the controversial and long-delayed $3.3-billion Keystone XL oil-pipeline project. The Senate passed the bill on Jan. 29 by a 62-36 vote.
Related Links: Boxer, Inhofe Float New Transportation Bill Proposal (ENR 6/11/2012 issue) [subscription] Video of House Committee Chairman Shuster's remarks at U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting (1/23/15) A surface-transportation authorization is construction's No. 1 legislative priority this year and tops the agenda for Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the new chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW). Inhofe is seeking "a fiscally responsible, long-term transportation bill that builds upon reforms in MAP-21, better coordinates funding needs with private and state partners, and eliminates wasteful spending," according to a document provided for a media briefing in early January.INHOFEInhofe, who chaired
Alaska lawmakers and state officials are vowing to fight President Obama's Jan. 25 announcement that he will ask Congress to designate 12.3 million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), as well as four Alaskan rivers, as wilderness areas off-limits for oil and gas development.
Related Links: Webcast/video of Jan. 21 House VA Committee hearing Searching for a Better Way to Build Big Veterans' Hospitals (ENR 12/29/14 issue) [subscription] Federal Ruling Halts Construction of Massive VA Hospital Near Denver (enr.com 12/11/14) [subscription] Facing strong Capitol Hill criticism for poor management of big hospital projects, the Dept. of Veterans Affairs now is open to considering transferring that part of its construction program to the Army Corps of Engineers, a top VA official says. Testifying at a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on Jan. 21, VA Deputy Secretary Sloan D. Gibson said he’s “perfectly willing” for the VA
Related Links: Judge's ruling on BP Spill Estimate Energy company BP says it hopes to reduce its Clean Water Act fines in the Deepwater Horizon oil-spill trial's penalty phase, which began on Jan. 20, to the "lower end of the statutory range."U.S. District Court Judge Carl Barbier ruled on Jan. 15 that BP should pay penalties for 3.2 million barrels of oil spilled in the 2010 disaster. That number is much lower than the 4.19 million bbl the federal government cited. Barbier said both sides presented strong arguments, adding, "There is no way to know with precision how much oil
Related Links: White House Statement Threatening Veto Press Release from Bill Sponsor, Rep. Bob Goodlatte The House has passed legislation that would require federal rules to undergo more rigorous cost and scientific analyses.Supporters say the bill, sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and approved on Jan. 13 by a 250-175 vote, would modernize the regulatory process and make it more transparent. However, opponents warn that it would stymie efforts to write health and environmental rules. The White House has issued a veto threat.
Related Links: Construction Groups Say Obama Immigration Directive Will Slow Search for Legislative Fix (enr.com 11/20/2014) [subscription] Intensifying a dispute over federal immigration policy, the House has passed legislation that would cut off funding to implement President Obama’s 2014 immigration directives and end a two-year-old program that shields illegal immigrants who entered the U.S. as children from being deported.When Obama announced his plan last year, construction industry officials warned that the ensuing controversy could dim the Capitol Hill outlook for comprehensive legislation to revamp immigration policies. The new House immigration provisions are included in a bill funding the Dept. of
AP Wide World photo Biden wants proposed new infrastructure bond, other actions to help boost private sector's 3% share of total U.S. infrastructure investment. Related Links: White House fact sheet on new infrastructure proposals and plans Recommendations of interagency working group on infrastructure finance Obama Pushes for More Private Financing for Infrastructure (ENR 7/28/2014 issue) [subscription] The Obama administration has unveiled a new batch of proposals and initiatives aimed at drawing more private money to invest in U.S. infrastructure, with a particular focus on water projects.The new plans, announced on Jan. 16, flesh out President Obama’s Build America Investment Initiative,
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