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On Feb. 17, the U.S. Senate confirmed President Trump’s nominee to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, after contentious debate and on a 52-46 vote that fell largely along party lines. In the days that followed, Pruitt has given more clues about the Agency’s changing focus and direction.

With President Trump in office and a Republican Congress, it would appear that opportunity exists to improve the regulatory system, as well as the compliance and enforcement process. As previously reported, �鶹��ý shared a comprehensive federal agency regulatory, compliance and enforcement plan with members of Congress and the Trump Presidential Transitional Team calling for changes to reduce barriers to investment in infrastructure. Building on the plan, �鶹��ý has prepared two additional documents to help keep �鶹��ý members -- and political leaders -- abreast with key developments and focused on the construction industry’s priorities. These documents chart a path forward for meaningful reform.

Christie DeLuca, AECOM Grow, increase, expand. These concepts form the foundation of a company’s strategic goals. Although not all strategies require entering new markets, at some point, firms must expand beyond existing clients or geographies to achieve significant growth. Whether you’re on the executive team or serve in the business development space, answering these questions honestly can help your team determine where your company should focus its resources to achieve realistic and meaningful growth.

�鶹��ý Welcomes StormwaterONE as CICA's 2017 Platinum Level Supporter

Both the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have increased civil penalties for new enforcement cases. This is the second time in six months that these federal agencies have raised their penalties for environmental or safety/health violations.

Matthew Lee, Young Contracting Have you ever had to sit through a presentation where you spend the entire time checking you phone for emails and messages even though you know you haven’t received any new ones? At some point in your career, whether you are in business development, sales, marketing, management, or otherwise, most of us will have to get up in front of a group of people and make a presentation. Here are FIVE tips that may help you give a meaningful presentation.

Call for Presentations Is Open; Save the Date for September 13-14

Join �鶹��ý and EPA for this Free WebEd on March 1 at 1:30pm Eastern

The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 13 announced it will resolve a dispute over what court should hear the legal challenges to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ controversial 2015 rule that redefines the term “Waters of the United States” in the Federal Code of Regulations. The WOTUS rule determines what waters and wet areas are subject to federal control, water quality limits, permitting, enforcement and other reviews under the Clean Water Act. States, industry, environmental advocates and others criticized the 2015 WOTUS rule in a host of district courts and courts of appeals.

�鶹��ý Highlights Major Accomplishments, Notable Changes and Areas for Improvement The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its final 2017 Construction General Permit (CGP). It takes effect on Feb. 16, 2017, which is when the 2012 CGP expires. As with any reissued CWA discharge permit, there comes new or modified requirements. �鶹��ý served its members well by making sure the construction industry’s top issues of concern were heard and vetted. We kept the most troubling provisions out – and we got some new clarifying language and flexible provisions worked in. Looking ahead, the new language on “joint and several liability” may prove to be contentious and will likely be a key focus of near-term debate and future improvement.