A new report from the Government Accountability Office highlights numerous duplicated programs within federal agencies, including surface transportation and U.S.-Mexico border-region water infrastructure. The report, released on Feb. 28, was requested by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), who attached an amendment to last year’s debt-limit vote directing GAO to conduct an annual review of redundant federal programs. Coburn says the new report will be helpful as Congress debates budget and appropriations measures. He says, “GAO has identified a mother lode of government waste and duplication that should keep Congress busy for the rest of the year.” In the introduction to the

Industry professionals poured out their passion at a conference in Washington, D.C., about the nation’s need to step up efforts to mitigate natural hazards through more resilient design and construction. Earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and wildfires are known natural hazards with risks that vary by location, but speakers at the event agreed that these risks can be mitigated by building in resilience. Codes, land-use planning and insurance programs all should be part of the solution. Photo Courtesy Of The Institute For Business & Home Safety North Carolina insurance institute test center withstood hurricane force winds that blew down a near-twin structure

As an increasingly budget-conscious Congress debates multi-year aviation legislation, airport construction funding may be frozen or cut back. That outcome would come as a blow to U.S. airports, which need an estimated $80.1 billion in capital projects over the next five years to upgrade and expand runways, terminals and other infrastructure, according to a new survey of airport officials who say current funds fall far short of those needs. + Image The survey, released by the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) on Feb. 23, shows that the potential market is substantial and that nearly half of the $80 billion would

The Environmental Protection Agency has approved final rules governing air emissions from industrial boilers and incinerators that burn solid waste and sewage sludge. Gina McCarthy, EPA assistant administrator for air and radiation, says the rules, signed on Feb. 21, were revised significantly from the original proposal because of industry concerns. “These are achievable and realistic,” she says. The rules take effect between 2014 and 2016. One change was to forgo numeric emission limits on some smaller facilities and instead use work-practice standards when possible. But emissions from larger coal- or biomass-fired units still must comply with numeric limits. The National

The House on March 1 approved by a 335-91 vote a bill to fund federal agencies for two weeks, but with $4 billion in cuts. Construction reductions include: $650 million from highways, $293 million from other surface transportation projects and $341 million from Corps of Engineers civil works. The stopgap would succeed a bill due to lapse on March 4 and give lawmakers time to work out a measure to last through Sept. 30. The House had passed a nine-month extension on Feb. 19 that extends through September, with $61 billion in cuts. But Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye

Issued by a consortium of energy-efficiency advocates, two new reports recommend ways to overcome hurdles to achieving net-zero emissions in commercial buildings. Barriers include cost and a reliance on prescriptive, instead of performance-based, energy codes. The reports, commissioned by the Dept. of Energy, represent input from more than 430 groups, including the American Institute of Architects and the National Association of State Energy Officials.

The U.S. Senate on March 2 approved a temporary continuing resolution to fund the federal government through March 18. The two-week spending bill, which was approved by the House March 1, cleared the Senate by a 91 to 9 vote. The president is expected to sign the bill, which includes $4 billion in cuts. Construction programs facing reductions include: $650 million from highways, $293 million from other surface transportation projects and $341 million from Corps of Engineers Civil Works. The House passed a nine-month extension on Feb. 19 that includes $61 billion in cuts. Senate Democrats say the cuts would

With the House’s passage of a $1.2-trillion continuing resolution funding the federal government through Sept. 30, industry groups are nervous that environmental and infrastructure programs could be scaled back sharply. The House bill, approved on Feb. 19, cuts appropriations by $61 billion compared with 2010 enacted levels. But the cuts aren’t set in stone. The continuing resolution (CR) now moves to the Senate, where Democratic leaders have slammed the House plan. Industry officials note, however, that Senate Democrats may be forced to make some concessions to avert a government shutdown. The current CR expires on March 4. Senate Majority Leader

Airport construction would get a boost under the two-year Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill the Senate approved on Feb. 17. The legislation, introduced by commerce committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), would hike funding for Airport Improvement Program (AIP) construction grants, to $4 billion in the bill’s first year and $4.1 billion in the bill’s second year from the current $3.5 billion. But industry officials worry the Senate numbers will not hold. A four-year bill making its way through the House of Representatives would trim AIP to $3.1 billion in fiscal 2011 and to $3 billion in 2012 and 2013. The

The House Ways and Means Committee on Feb. 17 approved a bill to repeal the 2010 health-care law’s requirement that companies file a 1099 tax form for each vendor that provides more than $600 in goods or services. Some industry groups opposed the provision, contending it is too burdensome for small companies. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said GOP leaders hope to bring the bill to the floor in the spring. The Senate passed a similar measure on Feb. 2.