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Several environmental groups on Aug. 26 called on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to prohibit oil and gas firms from dumping hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” chemicals in ways that could prove harmful to the public and communities.

Transportation sector employers, including those in the trucking industry, will need to hire and train more than 4.6 million workers to address market needs, employment turnover and retirements over a period from 2012 to 2022, a federal report unveiled Aug. 24 found.

WASHINGTON��— A group consisting of national and regional stakeholders will begin to meet in a few months to outline ways to improve parking availability nationwide for truckers, senior Department of Transportation officials announced Aug. 21.

Delaware Democrat Sen. Tom Carper, a senior transportation authorizer, offered a bill designed to raise fuel taxes over four years.

Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Inhofe, the chamber’s top transportation authorizer, said sending the White House a long-term highway bill this fall is a major priority for his Senate colleagues and policy counterparts in the House.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam (R) will visit 15 cities across the state over the next two months to draw attention to aging roads and bridges needing repair.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is heading to the Midwest midweek to chat with Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), chairwoman of the chamber’s trucking policy panel.

The Senate on July 30 approved both a House-passed, three-month extension of funding authority for highway programs and a six-year highway policy designed to reform several trucking regulations.

Before adjourning for the August break, House Republican leaders on July 29 garnered sufficient support from Democrats to send to the Senate a measure that would authorize funding for the Highway Trust Fund for three months.