Regulatory Updates/Legislation

NYSDOT EI- DERA Regulations

EI 10-007- This EI announces this issuance of new Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) regulations and procedures for contractors to comply with. It can be found by clicking EI10-007

2010 Business Diversification Act

This bill brings several key changes to m/wbe subcontracting. To view the summary of this Act please click here.

Prompt Payment Interest Rate

The new prompt payment interest rate is 3.25% effective on payments from January 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010. 

Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment Act

The Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, enacted March 18, 2010, includes several important provisions relating to federal transportation investment.  However, among the measure's non-transportation provisions are new tax benefits for employers who hire or retain workers.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) posted new information, questions and answers, and forms on April 7, 2010 about those provisions on its website. These should be helpful to transportation construction industry employers who are considering taking advantage of these provisions. The link to the relevant IRS web page is as follows: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=220745,00.html. Note that there are several links within the page that will provide further information.

 NYSDOT 2010 DBE Program Plan

The NYS Department of Transportation has issued a draft 2010 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program plan. A copy of the draft plan and DOT power point presentation on the plan can be found here.

Department of Environmental Conservation Diesel Retrofit Requirement
S6609/A9709 Transportation and Economic Development and Environmental Conservation Article VII

Part C: Establishes a waiver process so that transit systems and state agencies and authorities that operate diesel vehicles, and those that operate diesel vehicles on their behalf, do not have to install pollution devices on older vehicles if those vehicles will be retired within 3 years. If passed this proposal would take effect immediately and would require DEC to iissue waivers for vehicles that will be taken out of service by December 31, 2013.

Environmental Retrofit Conference

The GCA with our partners at LICA and CIC held an Environmental Retrofit Conference on February 9, 2010. The US Environmental Protection Agency, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Westchester County Department of Health, NYC Department of Environmental Protection, NYS Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and Port Authority of NY & NJ all gave presentations explaining their role in retrofitting and how they work with contractors through the process.

Copies of the presentations are available here.