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The second day of the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York's (PACNY's) 23rd Annual Environmental Conference at Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, started in the Vendor Exhibit Hall with the realization that there were quite a few new vendors on display. To be exact 5 additional vendors added to the usual 23 vendors the conference usually has. To provide access to the presentations PACNY has loaded most of the presentations from the three-day conference at their website, click here.
Video of the Vendor Exhibit Hall at Turning Stone Casino
Opening remarks & conference welcome were done by Chairman Deb Sanscrainte of Aramsco, and PACNY President Joseph Cantone, of Colden Corporation. The first presenter for the second day was Sue Rossi, CHMM the Sr. Industrial Account Manager of Waste Management, her topic was "Asbestos and other special wastes". Her presentation informed us that New York State in 1988 had 227 landfills and now there are only 26 active landfills, many closed due to tougher environmental regulations. Her presentation also informed us that NYS requires landfills to treat non-friable asbestos-containing materials (ACM) that are placed into an asbestos labeled waste bag (class 9 bags) as friable. Even if they are put into class 9 bags that were turned inside out. If the bag rips open at the landfill, the landfill will back charge the contractor for the additional fee for disposal as a friable instead of the nonfriable charge. Ms. Rossi also discussed that Waste Management's High Acres Landfill can accept polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) bulk product (e.g., caulk, paint, mastics, sealants) waste. The approval checklist and backup information for the handling of PCB bulk product wastes and a copy of her presentation can be found here.
Sue Rossi, CHMM of Waste Management speaking about Friable ACM waste
Our next presenter was Timothy W. Pullis, ARM, Construction Practice Leader of Brown & Brown of NY, Inc., discussing "Workers' Compensation EMR Fundamentals". Mr. Pullis discussed a drugfree workplace credit of 5% (worth 5 points); experience mod was explained as a formula that calculates the ratio of "expected" losses compared to "actual" losses, the experience mod is a statistical comparison of risks using the same job class codes and similar payroll, and the result adjusts the annual workers compensation premium based on the prior loss experience by "modifying" the manual premium; and EMRs over one (1) could exempt people from certain contracts. Our presenter before coffee break was Adam Schrader, President of Ecospect and George Schambach, President of NYS American Association of Radon Scientist and Technologist (AARST) Professional Home Inspection Service discussing "Current Radon Legislation in NYS, and current national American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/AARST Standards for testing and mitigation in all building types". Mr. Schambach discussed pending NYS legislation Assembly Bill #A8605 and Senate Bill #S6851 to amend the real property law, in relation to radon service professional licensing. Radon service professionals would include - radon measurement professional defined as radon service professional who deploys and retrieves radon detectors and provides a report of the associated measurement results that are generated by a radon analytical laboratory and radon mitigation professional defined as a radon service professional who interprets radon test results and determines the most effective way to manage radon concentrations within buildings.
Corey Briggs of Colden Corporation - Freeze Framed!
After taking our break in the Vendor Exhibit Hall, Kevin Canaan, of AAC Contracting, started the presentations by awarding Joseph D. Lane, President of Environmental Protection Services, PACNY's Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of service above and beyond normal PACNY duties. Corey W. Briggs, MSPH, CIH, CET, FAIHA, Senior Consultant of Colden Corporation, led a presentation titled "Freeze Frame - Focus on H&S" that was entertaining for the many pictures of unsafe acts. Next up was Brian Sampson, of the Associated Builders and Contractors Association, discussing "Trends and Issues of Concern for the Construction Community". His discussion touched on the legalization of recreational marijuana and the extension of prevailing wage to private work.
Mike Rubin of Goldberg Segalla - Proactively Establish Your Defenses
After lunch and the Vendor Exhibit Hall Mike Rubin Esq., Partner at Goldberg Segalla, discussed "Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Top Ten Tips - Minimize and Eliminate Exposure". Mr. Rubin's presentation touched on the employer's rights during an OSHA inspection, creating an OSHA response plan, asserting your rights during an inspection, and points necessary for a proactive defense. After another visit to the Vendor Exhibit Hall, Mike Waller, PhD, of Rochester Regional Health, spoke on "Sustainability/Solutions and How to Balance". Dr. Waller started his presentation with "how do you define sustainability." His definition was thought-provoking "development that meets the needs of the current generation without compromising the needs of future generations" or in other words "Solving today's challenges without creating future problems". The presentations ended with Rob DeMalo, Member of the Board of Directors of the Environmental Information Association (EIA) and Senior Vice President of EMSL Analytical, Inc, presentation on "Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Regulatory Update". Discussing the Significant New Use Rule (SNUR) proposal from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Vendor Reception - Food and an Open Bar
After the presentations, the Vendor Reception was held in Vendor Exhibit Hall including food and an open bar. The vendor reception included the usual suspects Aramsco, DiVal, Frederico Demolition,Healthy Indoors, and Future Environment Designs, click here for a full list of Sponsors/Vendors. One of the interesting new vendors was Sundstrom displaying new respirators for asbestos and silica and Red Roof Inn with a special discount for conference attendees. The second day is called Professional Day and all the presentations definitely met the definition of professional with a lot of valuable information provided and may takeaways. Stay tuned for the final day Regulatory Day!
The second day of
the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) environmental conference at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY started with the Technical Sessions. The day started with opening remarks from
Sean Hart, of Energy & Environment, President of PACNY and Deb Sanscrainte,
of Aramsco, the Conference Chair. This
year's Technical Session seemed much more intense & focused with a lot of
good information presented. The
presentations kicked off with Dr. Martin Rutstein, of Ecological Consulting
& Management Services, discussing "Talc with Tremolite & Other
Amphiboles." Discussed the issues of talc contaminated with asbestos or
silica and the potential for diseases correlated to talc related asbestosis,
silicosis or talcosis. Dr. Rutstein's
presentations are always entertaining and are eye opening in regards to the
science of geology. The next presenter was
Mr. Tom Laubenthal, of The Environmental Institute (a division of ATC Group
Services) discussing "Using ASTM E2356 Standard Practice for Comprehensive
Building Surveys". Mr. Laubenthal's
discussion brought up interesting points regarding the use of Safety Data
Sheets (SDS) and Architect/Engineer Certifications of no asbestos containing
materials used as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's)
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) and its applicability for the
purposes of a "thorough inspection" under the EPA's National Emission
Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAPS). After Mr. Laubenthal's presentation, we took
a break to wander the Vendor Exhibit Hall and meet with some of the vendors
like Grayling/ILC Dover (glovebags, etc.) and AMA Analytical (laboratory services).
We returned from the
break for Mr. Ed Stuber's, of Galson Laboratories, update on the
"Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) Silica
regulation." One of the key points
of his presentation is that the silica standard is no longer a moving
target. Previously, the standard was
based on a formula. The current standard
has a set permissible exposure limit (PEL) of 50 micrograms per cubic meter and
a set action level of 25 micrograms per cubic meter. In additions, it is very important to ensure
you see the lab's proficiency testing data because labs that analyze silica
samples have till June 23, 2018 to comply with the OSHA standard. Dr. Chris Goulah, of EMSL Analytical,
presented on "Legionella". The
presentation was on the New York City outbreak in 2015 and the regulations created by New
York City (NYC) and New York State (NYS) to protect against Legionella. Dr.
Goulah's presentation noted that Legionnaires' Disease is on the rise since 2000 and that most cases are the result of exposure to Legionella asssociated with building water systems (potable & non-potable). Mr. Jim Redmond, of Associated General Contractors of NYS, gave us a "Regulatory Update on OSHA." Mr. Redmonds discussed the electronic submission of injuries and illnesses (goes into effect on July 1, 2017 for more information visit OSHA's website) and construction industry citations based on the multi-employer work-site policy (creating, exposing, correcting, & controlling). We then broke for the buffet lunch and another stroll through the Exhibit Hall and meet vendors like DiVal Safety Equipment and Frederico Demolition.
Brent Kynoch of EIA
The afternoon started with Dr. James Haklar, from EPA Region 2, discussing "Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCBs) Case Studies". Dr. Haklar's presentation discussed the primary sources of PCBs in buildings (caulk, fluorescent light ballasts, paints and mastics) and secondary sources (building materials contaminated by releases of PCBs from the primary sources). Dr. Haklar's presentation also discussed exposure levels for evaluating PCBs in Indoor School Air (to keep the total exposure below the oral reference dose of 20 nanograms PCB per kilogram-day) and the EPA's agreement with NYC. Up next was Mr. Brent Kynoch, of the Environmental Information Association (EIA), updating us on "What Does Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) Reform Mean to the Asbestos Abatement Industry?" Mr. Kynoch discussed "unreasonable risk" and the EPA's need to take final risk management action within 2 years or 4 years if an extension is needed. In addition, Mr. Kynoch informed us that asbestos was selected in the "Top 10" chemicals for review by EPA and as of the PACNY conference the public comment period was open (it has since closed, here is the docket information: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0736). The final speakers for the day were Mr. Cole Stanton, of Fiberlock Technologies, and Mr. Fred Schauf, of Spectrum Environmental presenting on "Environmental Indicators: Changes in Policy and Practice that WILL Impact Restoration & Abatement in 2017 -2018 and Beyond." Mr. Stanton and Mr. Schauf discussed the 2016 Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA) report to NYS Department of Labor (NYSDOL). This report indicated the following:
Mr. Cole Stanton, of Fiberlock Technologies, and Mr. Fred Schauf, of Spectrum Environmental
Remediators perform own assessments/final inspections
Mold Remediation Plans are incomplete:
No quantities per work area
No Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) mentioned
EPA registered biocides etc. without specifying a product
No method for remediation, only "industry standards"
No cost estimate
Non NYSDOL licensed assessors provide the inspection/assessment.
Real Estate agents are assessing and preparing Mold Remediation Plans for properties they are listing (does not appear to violate Article 32, it does appear to violate their code of ethics.)
Mold remediators are still providing homeowners with checklist used as assessment and mold remediation plan
and/or, No Mold Remediation Work Plans provided.
Training Quality needs significant improvement:
Incorrect information presented, such as: asbestos testing is not necessary as mold takes precedence over asbestos containing materials; a check list by the homeowner is OK; sampling is required; biocides are preferable to removal.
Classes last less than 5 hours a day
Mold assessment classes being taught by teachers without mold experience.
Vendor Reception in the Exhibit Hall
That ended the Technical Sessions on day 2. The Vendor Reception in the Exhibit Hall started, where further networking with the vendors and the attendees continued. It was a very informative day 2 and the amount of information was fantastic. Looking forward to day 3 and our presentation. Thank you to the Long Island contingent that attended the conference this year.
Part of the Long Island Contingent that Attended This Year
PACNY's Environmental Conference - Day 1 - And So It Begins!(futureenv.blogspot.com)
NYC's Legionnaire Outbreak Over, Leading to New Requirements for Building Owners.(futureenv.blogspot.com)
NYC Legionnaires' outbreak up to 10 dead, 100 diagnosed(newsday.com)
OSHA slams co. after 2 men died(bostonherald.com)
