EPA Officials Hear Contractor Perspectives in Ohio

OCA President Chris Runyan pictured with EPA Deputy Assistant Administrator Caitlin McHale.

What happened: On July 16, Ohio Contractors Association (OCA) President Chris Runyan participated in an industry stakeholder roundtable with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Cleveland. Representing the views of ARTBA and OCA, Runyan joined stakeholders from a variety of industries in discussing environmental permitting and other regulatory issues.

What he said: Runyan emphasized the need for a clear, durable definition of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) that provides long-term certainty for transportation projects. He also encouraged EPA to better align its Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s requirements to reduce administrative burdens and improve consistency for contractors.

Other topics included state administration of Clean Water Act Section 404 permitting and Ohio’s experience implementing Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs). Much of the broader conversation centered on challenges with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ local offices.

Why it matters: Roundtables like this provide EPA with direct feedback from transportation industry leaders on how federal environmental policies are implemented in practice. Sharing state-specific experiences helps inform future policy and permitting decisions while ensuring the agency understands the practical impacts of its regulations on project delivery.

ARTBA thanks Chris for representing the industry’s perspective during the discussion.