Environmental Issues

AGC staff has been actively involved this spring with safety and environmental regulatory issues. Below is a description of some of the more notable topics. If you have any questions or suggestions, or would like to be added to the e-mail list alerting you of these issues, please contact Dan Hannan, Safety Director, 651/796-2192 or dhannan@agcmn.org.

• Industrial Storm Water Permit: This five year permit was reissued on April 5, 2010 by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and requires certain manufacturing facilities to file for a general permit to regulate their industrial storm water. Construction related activities covered under this permit include the manufacturing of concrete, asphalt, heavy equipment and landfill operations. For more information about these requirements go to: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/stormwater/stormwater-i.html  

• Construction Storm Water Permit: Requires erosion and sediment control for disturbed land during roadway or building construction. Although this permit was reissued in by the MPCA in 2008, new federal discharge limits will become enforceable for Minnesota operations in 2013. These effluent limit guidelines (ELG’s) will regulate the sediment leaving the construction site in an “end of pipe” fashion. The pollutant parameter to be measured will be the non-turbidity unit or NTU. This will likely require additional engineering or structural as well as non-structural controls. For more information go to: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/guide/construction/  

• Diesel Emission Grants: The AGC of Minnesota was successful this last year in teaming with the non-profit organization Minnesota Environmental Initiative (MEI) to earn members access to federal grant dollars for upgrading construction equipment to limit diesel emissions. These upgrades include oxidation catalysts, idle reducers, particular filters and even rebuilding engines or replacing them. To date 11 AGC members have qualified and are in the process of retrofitting some of their equipment with the use of these federal grant stimulus funds.

• PCB’s in Caulk: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently identified the potential for poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCB’s) to be present in caulk found in both commercial and residential structures that are older than 1979. As a result, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has implemented a requirement that prior to remodeling or demolition contractors must evaluate, remove and properly dispose of caulk containing PCB’s, above a certain level. The AGC and a number of its members are working with the MPCA to better understand the financial and logistical requirements of this requirement. For more information see the following draft MPCA guidance document: http://www.pca.state.mn.us/publications/w-hw4-48k.pdf  

• Lead Certification: If you are performing work that disturbs lead based paint or removing or painting over lead based paint you are now required to be certified by the U.S. EPA. Light duty remodel, repair or painting work that disturbs lead paint in certain child occupied or target housing sites requires certification for safe removal and exposure control. For more information check out the following website: http://www.epa.gov/lead/pubs/renovation.htm  

• Pilot Car: In an effort to provide safer movements of certain over-dimension loads, the AGC has introduced legislation that calls for the development of rules for a structured pilot car or escort vehicle training and certification program. Driven by AGC members including ATS, Midstate Companies, Tiller Corp., and MNDOT and the MN State Patrol, this group has been meeting over the last year to develop rule language and a certification and training program that will result in greater roadway safety statewide for over-dimension loads. Providing the bill passes this legislative session it will likely be 12 to 18 months before pilot car certification is required in Minnesota. Such certification is required in at least 12 other states with several in this region either proposing or considering pilot car legislation this year.

• Safety Training: AGC of MN continually offers safety training opportunities. Please look for e-mail notices or go to: http://www.agcmn.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1. Need training customized for your operations? Contact Dan Hannan at 651/796-2192 or dhannan@agcmn.org.