News from APCA
APCA Opposes OSHA Changes to Tracking Rule: Rule Benefits Unions, Not Employees
- Details
APCA strongly opposes OSHA's revisions to the Improve Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses final rule. Under OSHA’s new rule, companies in construction and certain other designated industries will be required to electronically submit OSHA form 300 and 301 information annually if they have more than 100 employees and form 300A information if they have 20 or more employees.
APCA Backs Bipartisan Immigration Bill: Dignity Act of 2023 (H.R. 3599)
- Details
May 30, 2023 -- Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) and Veronica Escobar (D-Tex.) introduced sweeping legislation last week, the Dignity Act (H.R. 3599), that addresses our nation’s broken immigration system. The American Pipeline Contractors Association supports this bill as a workable compromise that tackles the critical worker shortage significantly impeding the pipeline construction industry and the entire American economy.
APCA Opposes New WOTUS Rule
- Details
A new EPA rule on Waters of the U.S. is "burdensome and unnecessary" and impedes America’s efforts to realize our full energy potential, according to the American Pipeline Contractors Association.
"APCA strongly opposes the recent EPA announcement of a final rule on Waters of the United States (WOTUS) and repeal of the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR)," the association said in a statement. "This ill-advised and poorly timed announcement only adds burdensome and unnecessary regulations to the process. Permitting reform and similar regulatory updates are necessary to unlock America’s full energy potential, and this decision moves us in the wrong direction. With a case affecting WOTUS regulations pending before the Supreme Court, this decision injects confusion into what should be a busy year of construction. APCA urges the Biden Administration to roll back this regulation as soon as possible and asks Congress to undertake meaningful action to reform the pipeline permitting process as a top priority."
APCA Comments in Opposition to NOPR on Project Labor Agreements
- Details
In comments to the Biden administration on October 18, the American Pipeline Contractors Association strongly objected to the proposed use of government-mandated Project Labor Agreements on federal construction contracts of $35 million or more.
"The proposed PLA rule on federal contracts over $35 million will reduce competition and drive up costs for the American taxpayer, resulting in a far slower rate of pipeline buildouts and upgrades needed to serve American families and businesses. For these reasons, the hard-working men and women who build America's vital energy pipelines strongly oppose the proposed PLA rule," APCA stated.
APCA Announces Release of 811 Emergency Study
- Details
APCA is proud to inform you of today's release of a new, comprehensive study of the nation's 811 system, which found that failures in the system are costing the U.S. some $61 billion a year in waste and excess costs and creating unnecessary hazards for public safety.
The study, unprecedented in scope and scale in the damage prevention space, was conducted by Continuum Capital for the Infrastructure Protection Coalition (IPC), a coalition of industry groups who represent regular users and stakeholders in the 811 system and want to see it run safely and efficiently.
You can view the study at the coalition website: www.ipcweb.org.
APCA Addresses Reconciliation Pitfalls in Letter to Congressional Leaders
- Details
As Congress nears an agreement on budget reconciliation legislation, APCA President Taylor Dacus sent a letter to congressional leaders on October 28 that offers our industry’s perspective on the consideration of a methane emission fee and of several harmful labor policies.
"APCA strongly objects to including a methane emissions fee/tax in reconciliation legislation," Dacus stated. "This proposal could lead to double taxation of critical members of the energy supply chain that are at the forefront of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, including methane."
Page 21 of 22
Almost 8 out of every 10 U.S. construction trades workers building domestic pipeline construction projects do not belong to a union, according to a Continuum Capital report.
