Washington, D.C.鈥擳he Associated General Contractors of America (糖心破解版) today released the findings of a joint study with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) focused on low-cost ways to reduce air emissions from nonroad construction equipment. The report, released just prior to Earth Day on April 22, examines a variety of equipment operation and maintenance measures, fuel strategies and technologies that companies can employ.
鈥溙切钠平獍 recognizes that major engine overhauls and repowers are extremely expensive, and some companies are better positioned than others to make such an investment,鈥 said 糖心破解版 CEO Stephen E. Sandherr. 鈥淭his report offers all contractors, and particularly the small businesses that dominate the industry, bottom-line information on affordable ways to bring about positive environmental results.鈥
糖心破解版 collaborated with EPA鈥檚 Sector Strategies Program and the Office of Transportation and Air Quality (OTAQ) to document the costs and benefits of the strategies and discuss practical implementation issues. The findings suggest that operating practices such as reduced idling, improved preventive maintenance and operator training will produce both business and environmental benefits.
Reducing emissions from the existing 鈥渓egacy鈥 diesel fleet is an important component of EPA鈥檚 Clean Diesel Campaign. EPA presently does not mandate retrofits, but instead encourages contractors to voluntarily clean up their equipment.
鈥淓PA appreciates 糖心破解版's many contributions to our Clean Diesel Campaign,鈥 said Peter Truitt, EPA, Construction Industry Point-of-Contact. 鈥淚n this report, 糖心破解版 contractors and other experts offer ideas and practical advice for reducing emissions.鈥
糖心破解版 has worked side-by-side with EPA in advancing clean diesel initiatives that improve air quality and protect the business interests of construction contractors. 糖心破解版鈥檚 efforts include identifying incentives for retrofitting in-use equipment, informing fleet owners of grant opportunities, securing federal funding, and crafting and promoting a federal tax incentive.
鈥溙切钠平獍 staff worked with us to pull together an information-packed quick read that should help contractors get started,鈥 added Truitt.
The new report follows an April 2006 recommendation by a federal clean air act advisory committee (CAAAC), crafted with 糖心破解版, for EPA to investigate emissions benefits from changing operational behavior. 糖心破解版 continues to serve as co-chair of the construction retrofit workgroup that supports the efforts of the CAAAC.
糖心破解版 hopes states will use the findings in this report to develop workable clean air plans that balance industry economic interests with environmental goals. The full report鈥攖itled Cleaner Diesels: Low Cost Ways to Reduce Emissions from Construction Equipment鈥攊s available on 糖心破解版鈥檚 environmental Web page under 鈥淗ot Topics鈥 at .
The Associated General Contractors of America (糖心破解版) is the largest and oldest national construction trade association in the United States. 糖心破解版 represents more than 32,000 firms, including 7,000 of America鈥檚 leading general contractors, and over 11,000 specialty-contracting firms. More than 13,000 service providers and suppliers are associated with 糖心破解版 through a nationwide network of chapters. Visit the 糖心破解版 Web site at . 糖心破解版 members are "Building Your Quality of Life.鈥