The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced nearly $50 million in funding opportunities for cement, aggregate and concrete interests as part of an overall $160 million package for the Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Construction Materials and Products Program. “As America continues to build more and upgrade our nation’s infrastructure, cleaner construction materials like concrete and steel are increasingly…
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EPA funding fuels NRMCA promotion of low carbon concrete
Sources: National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, Alexandria, Va.; CP staff The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association has secured a $9.63 million Environmental Protection Agency Reducing Embodied Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Construction Materials and Products Program grant, enabling the group and its Build With Strength team to further educate the architectural and engineering communities on designing and specifying low carbon concrete.…
Read MorePCA, Ash, Slag and Pozzolan groups land EPA grant for EPDs
Sources: Portland Cement Association, Washington, D.C.; CP staff The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $2.4 million to advance a project boosting the number of facility-specific Environmental Product Declarations from Portland Cement Association, American Coal Ash Association, Natural Pozzolan Association and Slag Cement Association members. The project will entail PCA distributing up to $1.5 million in grants to eligible…
Read MoreEPA quantifies $600B+ in clean water infrastructure needs through 2045
Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff A new Environmental Protection Agency report to federal lawmakers projects future capital outlays to maintain or modernize publicly owned wastewater treatment works, stormwater infrastructure, nonpoint source control, and decentralized wastewater treatment systems like septic tanks. Such investments are deemed essential to supporting the Clean Water Act’s goal of fishable, swimmable waters from coast…
Read MoreGHG Inventory shows cement plant CO2 emissions’ positive trend
The latest Environmental Protection Agency Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks cites 2022 GHG loads of 5.489 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, a 1.3 percent increase from the prior year. The GHG Inventory factors emissions of CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride—all pegged for their global warming potential when released to…
Read MoreEPA outlines 2029-2032 mixer, dump, day cab emissions standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claims avoidance of 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and $13 billion in net society benefits attributable to GHG Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3. If upheld after near-certain legal challenges, new thresholds in the final rule, measured against Phase 2 targets, will equate to CO2 emissions reduction levels of a) 8-40…
Read MoreWork ethic takes center stage
We reflect this month on 2024 National Ready Mixed Concrete Association convention notables: Committee awards and Chairman Nathan McKean’s enthusiastic industry view. Here, we extend the Florida gathering’s salutes to NRMCA Executive Vice President, Operations and Compliance Gary Mullings, who has retired from day-to-day duty after 50-plus years with the organization. Luckily, he continues as a consultant, primarily assisting the…
Read MoreImproving Air Quality to Meet Revised Soot Standard Could Harm U.S. Economy
By Lucinda Minton Langworthy and Angela R. Morrison Earlier this year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reduced the level of the primary annual National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), commonly referred to as soot, from 12-9 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), reflecting a 25 percent reduction in the standard intended to be protective of…
Read MoreEPA weighs comments on low carbon materials, product labeling
The Environmental Protection Agency is set to review feedback from a February-March public comment period involving a draft approach for implementing an Inflation Reduction Act-funded Label Program for Low Embodied Carbon Construction Materials. The $100 million undertaking will support the White House Buy Clean Initiative, applicable to Departments of Defense and Transportation and General Services Administration procurement, by helping define…
Read MoreEPA finalizes 2028 day cab, 2029 mixer, dump model emissions standards
Sources: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; CP staff The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency claims avoidance of 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions and $13 billion in net annual benefits to society attributable to GHG Emissions Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles – Phase 3, a final rule released just ahead of the Easter holiday weekend. If they clear near-certain legal challenges, the…
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