Regulatory Horror Story Highlights Need to Reform Permitting Process nIllustrating how the federal regulatory system has run amok and the eed for Congress to pass legislation to fix a broken permitting process, a development firm today shared its three-decade nightmare with a House panel regarding its futile attempts to obtain a Clean Water Act permit. During a hearing before the House Subcommittee on Interior, Energy and the Environment, lawmakers heard how The ESG Companies based in Virginia Beach, Va. has been denied a Section 404 Clean Water Act permit to develop its property for close to 30 years, even though the company has repeatedly gone through proper channels and put forth state-approved plans that would result in no net loss of wetlands. Valerie Wilkinson, vice president and chief financial officer of The ESG Companies, testified before the House committee on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). She described how an ongoing regulatory quagmire has prevented her firm from developing a multi-use community to meet local housing needs on land purchased in the mid-1980s. “The land we acquired almost three decades ago still lays undeveloped and we continue to be held hostage by the federal government,” said Wilkinson. Read More OSHA Delays Enforcement Of Beryllium Exposure Rule yEmployers have been given three ears to put into operation all of the protective aspects of the regulation. They have one year to bring exposure limits within the new boundaries, two years to furnish changing rooms and showers and three years to enact engineering controls. OSHA said compliance will cost employers approximately $74 million a year but that medical and death-related expenses will drop more than $560 million a year. OSHA estimated that the new limits will protect approximately 62,000 workers, preventing 46 new cases of berylliumrelated disease and 94 associated deaths each year. Read More BEAUTY. ELEGANCE. STRENGTH. Our Aluminum Doors Will Surprise You. Ed’s Garage Doors offers a broad selection of aluminum doors that are the perfect complement to your home. Visit our showroom to see many exclusive aluminum doors on display, and talk with a design expert about our countless in-stock and custom options. Showroom Hours: Mon. – Fri.: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Evenings: By appointment Sunday: Closed 136 Water Street, Norwalk, CT 06854 203-847-1284 edsgaragedoors.com ® MARCH 2018 | HBRA of Fairfield County 21
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