AGC Supports Repeal of Greenhouse Gas Rules

AGC submitted comments in early November to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) supporting its proposal to repeal an Obama-era rule requiring states to measure greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when planning transportation improvement projects. AGC joined with 38 other organizations with similar interests in transportation infrastructure enhancements in challenging FHWA’s authority to mandate the measurements pointing out that Congress, in the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, called for development of performance measurement standards but specifically limited those measures to safety related issues, pavement and bridge conditions and congestion.

The GHG measurement rule was issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation in the final days of the Obama Administration. AGC raised concern about the rule when it was initially issued and in a meeting with Transportation Secretary Chao in her first days on the job following Senate confirmation. AGC suggested repealing the rule in written comments to both the White House and the Transportation Department on regulatory reform.

AGC also submitted separate comments pointing out that the GHG measurement rule would undermine the transportation planning process, could adversely impact air quality and duplicate other federal initiatives related to GHG already underway. AGC’s comments this week strongly supported FHWA’s proposal to repeal the rule.

For more information, contact Brian Deery at deeryb@agc.org or (703) 837-5319.