Industry News & Announcements

ACC Supports Bipartisan Senate Legislative Reforms to Strengthen EPA's Peer Review Panels
Senators Boozman (R-AR) and Manchin (D-WV) introduced legislation to reform the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Science Advisory Board (SAB) and its subcommittees. The bipartisan EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act would improve the process for selecting experts to serve on EPA’s scientific advisory panels and would strengthen public participation in the reviews that serve as the foundation for many important regulatory decisions. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Crapo (R-ID), Sessions (R-AL), Vitter (R-LA) and Wicker (R-MS).

3M Unveils State-of-the-Art Fall Protection Testing Facility

Source: 3M.com

3M unveiled a state-of-the-art testing facility for its expanding portfolio of fall protection solutions, complete with a research and development tower. The testing facility is located within 3M’s Fall Protection campus in Cottage Grove, Minn. At the new facility, 3M will test harnesses, connecting and anchorage devices, lifeline systems, confined space equipment, and escape and rescue products.

Housing Markets Continue to Show Gradual Improvement

Source: nahb.org

Markets in 56 out of the approximately 350 metro areas nationwide returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI), released on Jan. 7. This represents a net gain of two from the previous month. The index’s nationwide score of .86 indicates that, based on current permits, prices and employment data, the nationwide average is running at 86 percent of normal economic and housing activity.