PACNY's 2022 25th Annual Environmental Conference is Back! Part Two.

After the lunch break at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York's (PACNY's) 25th Annual Environmental Conference continued for the rest of the day on Thursday, March 3, 2022, and into the next day Friday, March 4, 2022.   

Ms. Elizabeth Kirkland, Senior Industrial Hygienist of New York State Department of Labor's (NYSDOL's) Asbestos Control Bureau

The conference continued with Ms. Elizabeth Kirkland, Senior Industrial Hygienist of New York State Department of Labor's (NYSDOL's) Asbestos Control Bureau (ACB), her presentation was on "Industrial Code Rule 56 Deficiencies: Common NYSDOL Inspector Observations."  Her presentation was entertaining and eye-opening on the common deficiencies she found when performing inspections at asbestos abatement project sites.   The next presentation was Mr. Kevin Hutton, President & CEO of EAST Centers of NY, LLC, presenting on “Mold Work Practices: Should, Shall, Must, Recommended, Required?” His presentation discussed the difference between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mold guidelines and similar guidelines, versus the Institute for Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) S520 Standard. It seemed to be a plug for the IICRC S520 standard.  

Panel Discussion on the Value of Sampling in Post Remediation Verification

After a break in the Exhibitor Hall, the last presentation was a panel discussion on mold regarding the “Value of Sampling in Post Remediation Verification”.   The panel consisted of Brian King, President of HSE Consulting Services, LLC, Jack Springston, Industrial Hygiene Services Manager and Training Director of Atlas Technical, and Russel Vent, General Manager of Paul Davis Restoration of Greater Rochester, NY with Kevin Hutton posing the questions for the panelists.  The panelists did a great job responding to the questions and giving excellent answers, Russel Vent's questions resulted in very interesting discussions regarding post-remediation verification.  As in the past, the first-day presentations ended with the Vendor Reception in the Exhibitor Hall with pass-around food, hors d’oeuvres, and an open bar (see video below).

Friday, March 4, 2022, started with Kevin Hutton's, again, and Mary Anne Kaputa's, President and CEO of Adirondack Operations, LLC, presentation on "The Changing Role of the NYS Project Monitor."  The presentation highlighted the expansion of the NYS project monitor role in asbestos abatement projects including knowledge regarding waste disposal and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, other than asbestos.  The major question from this presentation was "what is the actual role of the project monitor?"  This question has been bouncing around the industry for over 35 years.  We remember discussing this very question with Mr. Brendan Broderick of J.C. Broderick & Associates and Mr. Rich Maniscalco of Jet Environmental Testing, Inc., many years ago.  The reality of this question is that our clients decide what that role is.  If the client develops a scope of services required or we provide our clients with a scope of services offered, this is what decides the role of the project monitor.  For example, if we develop a scope of services offered and we say we are not responsible for OSHA regulations other than asbestos, well that tells the client the role of the project monitor.  The client then must decide if that is what they want and if they are willing to pay for that scope of services.

Mary Anne Kaputa, President and CEO of Adirondack Operations, LLC

After a short break, the final presentation was the NYSDOL Roundtable with Questions & Answers Session which included:  Ms. Amy Phillips, the Director of the NYSDOL ACB Program; Mr. Edward Smith, P.E., Program Manager of the NYSDOL Engineering Services Unit; Mr. Kirk Fisher, new Program Manager of NYSDOL ACB & Enforcement; & Paul Demick, Associate Safety & Health Inspector representing the NYSDOL Licensing & Certification Unit.

Ed Smith, Paul Demick, Kirk Fisher, & Amy Phillips, the NYSDOL Roundtable.

Mr. Ed Smith, P.E. mentioned that a wrap and cut Applicable Variance was imminent.  In addition, when filing a variance application only the application and the check need to be mailed.  The supporting documentation can be sent by email.  Many of the questions during the Q&A were related to hard cards, licenses, delays in processing applications, and violations.  The conference ended with the usual networking lunch.  It was a good beginning to bringing back the PACNY Environmental Conference and look forward to a more diverse conference next year.