Register Today for Annual Legislative Briefing, Fly-In

This is a reminder that the Transportation Construction Coalition's "Transportation at the Cross Roads" legislative briefing and fly-in is scheduled for May 20-21 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.

The event will begin with a legislative briefing on Tuesday (May 20) from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed by a Capitol Hill reception from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.. The second day will begin with a breakfast program from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. Immediately afterward, participants are urged to visit with their Representatives and Senators to discuss key issues.

The North American Concrete Alliance partners, including the American Concrete Pavement Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, and Portland Cement Association are urging members and affiliates to participate in the briefing, as well as to call on elected federal officials to urge both increased funding, as well as durable solutions to some of the greatest challenges to transportation construction.

ACPA, NRMCA, and PCA members are urged to register directly online at http://www.BlueSkyz.com/tcc2008. As the event draws nearer, position papers and other materials will be available to help members and affiliates communicate key issues with elected officials.

Contact Kerri Leininger.

Senators Introduce Tax Bill with Renewable Energy Credits

Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and John Ensign (R-Nev.) yesterday introduced a $6-billion tax bill that includes a one-year extension of a renewable energy production tax credit.

The Clean Energy Tax Stimulus Act of 2008, cosponsored by six Democrats and 14 Republicans, represents another attempt to secure quick passage of renewable energy tax credits that expire at the end of 2008. The bill will likely be attached to another legislative vehicle, sponsors said, as there's only enough time on the calendar for passage of a handful of bills before adjournment.

The main provision of the bill would extend the in-service date for the renewable energy production tax credit (Internal Revenue Code, Section 45) through Dec. 31, 2009.

Another important provision would extend and modify the solar energy and fuel cell investment tax credit. The bill would extend for one year through 2009 and expand by $400 million the $1.2 billion that public power utilities and rural cooperatives can issue in Clean Renewable Energy Bonds to reduce the cost of renewable energy investments.

Other tax incentives to improve energy efficiency would be extended, including a tax credit for contractors who build new energy-efficient homes and a deduction for installing energy-efficient property in commercial buildings.

Contact Deidra Ciriello.

Thirteen Communities in Attainment with Ozone Standard

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is designating 13 areas, all of which agreed to reduce ground-level ozone pollution earlier than the Clean Air Act (CAA) required, in attainment of the eight-hour ozone standard.

In a proposed rule that appeared in the Federal Register (April 2), EPA recognized those communities for demonstrating attainment with the 8-hour ozone NAAQS by December 31, 2007.

Under the eight-hour ozone standard, the maximum ozone level is 0.08 part per million averaged over an eight-hour period. EPA announced in March that it is lowering the ozone standard to 0.075 part per million, but that standard will not be enforced for several years.

The communities being given the designation are:

• Washington County/Hagerstown, Md.
• Fayetteville, N.C.
• Greensboro area, N.C.
• Hickory-Morganton-Lenoir area, N.C.
• Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson; S.C.
• Chattanooga area, Tenn.
• Johnson City-Kingsport-Bristol area, Tenn.
• Nashville area, Tenn.
• San Antonio area, Texas
• Frederick County/Winchester, Va.
• Roanoke, Va.
• Berkeley County, W.Va.
• Jefferson County, W.Va.

The communities participated in EPA's voluntary early action compacts.  EPA has entered into 28 early action compacts nationwide.  

Contact Tyrone P. Wilson.

More Stringent Ozone Standards
Urged by Scientific Advisory Committee

Members of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee's Ozone Review Panel said a future tightening of the national ambient air quality standards for ozone is needed to adequately protect public health and welfare.

The panel, during a March 28 teleconference, also said the new primary standard for ozone set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 12 was not sufficiently protective of human health and voiced disappointment that the agency did not issue a separate secondary standard.

The panel was convened to express concerns in a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson.
Members of the panel agreed to call on EPA's support for "a reasonable and scientifically defensible cumulative form for the secondary standard" and restate its support for a standard set between 7 ppm-hours and 15 ppm-hours, using the W126 seasonal standard index.

The standard using the W126 index is expressed as the annual sum of weighted hourly concentrations, measured over 12 hours per day (8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) in the consecutive three-month period during the summer having the highest ozone levels.

In addition to calling for tighter standards, the group also agreed to urge adequate funding of ozone effects studies.

Contact Tyrone P. Wilson.

Agency to Roll Out Greenhouse Gas Rule this Spring

Responding to the U.S. Supreme Court decision on global warming last April, the Bush administration said last week it would open a public comment period this spring on possible greenhouse gas rules.

U.S. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson told key lawmakers that he plans to issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking that spells out several different ways the federal government can confront climate change.

He said EPA is trying to sort through policy options for dealing with various economic sectors—from automobiles to power plants, airplanes, hospitals, and schools.

"Rather than rushing to judgment on a single issue, this approach allows us to examine all the potential effects of a decision with the benefit of the public's insight," Johnson said. "In short, this process will best serve the American public."

The Supreme Court last April ordered EPA to reconsider its controversial decision that carbon dioxide emissions from cars and other motor vehicles was not a pollutant that posed a threat to public health.
Bush himself promised shortly afterward to answer the court before the end of the year, but EPA backed away from that schedule when Congress passed a sweeping new energy law in December that increased fuel economy standards for the first time in decades.

In a telephone interview, Johnson said EPA has been studying the interplay between the Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts v. EPA and the new energy law that Bush signed last December. Johnson said he was taking his time now because any one EPA move could have far broader consequences.
EPA's letter did not spell out any additional schedule for what it will do beyond the public comment period.

Contact Andy O'Hare.

Senate to Vote on Housing Stimulus Package

U.S. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) and Committee Ranking Member Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) yesterday introduced The Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008.

The measure, totaling close to $11 billion, would provide $4 billion in Community Development Block Grant Funds to purchase and rehabilitate foreclosed homes, as well as $100 million for housing counselors for families at risk of losing their homes.

The bill allows the cap on mortgage revenue bonds to increase by $10 billion for housing finance agencies to refinance mortgages for first-time homebuyers and sub-prime loans. It would also permit homebuilders and other businesses to write-off recent losses incurred in 2008 and 2009 on their tax returns from as far back as 2004 so they could claim greater refunds.

Also, property owners who do not itemize on returns would be allowed to claim a deduction for their property taxes of $500 and $1000 and purchasers of foreclosed homes would receive a tax credit of $7,000 spread out over two years. Lastly, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan limit would be permanently increased to $550,000 up from $362,000 and the FHA down-payment requirement would be increased to 3.5% 

The package, which is expected to pass, will be voted on in the Senate next week.

Contact Robert Sullivan.

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