Construction Industry Tries to Build Image with Earth Day Activities.

Environmental News Network, Sun Valley, Idaho Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Apr. 19--Where developer meets land is where environmental protection often ends, but on Earth Day 2001 this year the Associated General Contractors of America will take to the airwaves to share its green solutions to construction.

The contractors association is joining with ABC Radio, Select Marketing Services and the U.S. State Department to sponsor a consumer awareness program for Earth Day.

Stephen Sandherr, CEO of AGC, said of the education campaign: "AGC had a unique occasion to broaden the awareness of how construction contributes to our everyday quality of life, highlight the construction industry's environmental solutions and how the construction industry is a major player in recycling our Earth's precious resources."

Contractors often find themselves on opposite sides of contentious legal issues from environmental groups. In February, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia agreed with four Missouri chapters of the Associated General Contractors that the Sierra Club cannot sue in federal court to sever all federal funding for highway construction in the state of Missouri.

The Sierra Club case was based on the argument that the city of St. Louis should not be permitted to build more highways until it conforms to its federal ozone limit.

Sandherr said: "AGC has always urged these activist groups to work with us during the planning process. However, AGC will aggressively react to continued attacks from national environmental groups who want to block construction projects. AGC has dedicated significant resources to improving environmental education, advocacy, public relations and litigation."

Still, America's largest and oldest construction trade association is taking advantage of Earth Day "to applaud the efforts of construction contractors nationwide who appreciate that environmental improvements are a part of their responsibility to the local communities that support them."

The construction industry must observe air quality standards, transportation conformity requirements, storm water management, wetland preservation, endangered species protection, hazardous waste cleanup and toxic chemical requirements. More and more contractors are recycling on site, saving money on landfill fees, new materials and wear-and-tear on trucks, the association says.

These efforts and the idea that the Earth's resources must be managed, conserved and recycled to serve future generations are the focus of the association's Earth Day program, dubbed "The Federal Spotlight."

The three-part program includes a month-long radio and Internet awareness and education campaign, followed by a trade event inside the State Department.

The contractors have created 30-second radio spots to air on three ABC radio stations in the Washington, D.C. area: WMAL Newstalk (630 AM), WRQX Mix (107.3 FM) and WJZW Smooth Jazz (105.9 FM).

AGC's environmental services Web site (http://www.constructionenvironment.org) is linked to ABC radio affiliates.

AGC represents more than 33,000 companies, including 7,500 general contractors, and 12,000 specialty-contracting firms.

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(c) 2001, Environmental News Network, Sun Valley, Idaho. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.