PACNY 29th Annual Environmental Conference Part Two – Day Two Recap

Day Two of the Professional Abatement Contractors of New York (PACNY) 29th Annual Environmental Conference on February 26, 2026, at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino delivered a full schedule of technical presentations, regulatory updates, and practical field discussions, all complemented by strong engagement in the Vendor Exhibit Hall.

Future Environment Design's Team in the Vendor Hall

With the morning sessions split between the Mohawk and Tuscarora Rooms, attendees could tailor their experience to their discipline and interests while still coming together throughout the day in the Oneida Room for networking, lunch, and the always-popular Happy Hour.

Vendor Exhibit Hall Sets New Record

Before diving into the sessions, it’s worth highlighting that this year’s Vendor Exhibit Hall, located in the Oneida Room, featured 32 vendors, setting a new conference record.

This continues to reflect the industry's growth and the importance of direct interaction among service providers, manufacturers, trainers, consultants, and contractors. The exhibit hall remained active throughout the day, especially during lunch and the closing Happy Hour, providing valuable opportunities to connect and discuss new products, services, and technologies.

Morning Sessions – Mohawk Room

"Lead-Based Paint Regulations: Recent Changes & Updated Standards" by Brad Arthur, PE – Arthur Engineering DPC. The day began with a regulatory-focused presentation on lead-based paint, where one of the more notable updates discussed was the shift away from using the term “clearance.”  Instead, the industry is moving toward defined terminology using two distinct clearance-related levels:

• Work Completed
• Pre-Occupancy

2026 Changes to the Lead Standard

Brad also addressed the growing challenges associated with analytical methods at increasingly lower detection limits. The cost differences between methodologies were particularly eye-opening:

• Flame AA: approximately $4 per sample
• ICP: approximately $45 per sample

This has significant implications for project budgeting and laboratory selection as regulatory thresholds continue to tighten.

"The Science You Should Know" by Kevin Hutton – EAST Centers of NY.  Kevin delivered a science-driven session reinforcing the importance of understanding the “why” behind what we do in the field. While many of us operate within regulatory frameworks daily, revisiting the underlying science helps strengthen decision-making, interpretation of results, and overall credibility in the field.

"Exposure Assessments Under OSHA’s Asbestos Construction Standard" by Peter DeLucia – Riedman Companies. This presentation focused on the practical application of exposure assessments under 29 CFR 1926.1101, highlighting:

• Real-world compliance challenges
• Proper interpretation of exposure data
• The importance of defensible assessment strategies

The discussion resonated with many in the room, particularly regarding the gap between regulatory language and field implementation.

Morning Sessions – Tuscarora Room

"Immigration Enforcement: Know Your Rights – Employer Edition" by Michael Paglialonga, Attorney at Law, at Littler Labor & Employment Law Solutions.  This session provided a timely and important briefing on the evolving landscape of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and I-9 compliance, particularly in construction and hospitality sectors.  The key takeaway was clear:

• We are seeing a shift from historically routine, paper-based audits to more aggressive, high-frequency site inspections and enforcement actions, with projections reaching up to 15,000 audits annually.
• The emphasis has moved toward proactive compliance, or what was described as “preventative maintenance” of documentation, to avoid significant civil and potential criminal liability.

Michael Paglialonga, ICE Presenter, photo by Nathan Boor of AAC

"Workers’ Compensation: Protecting Yourself and Your Team" by Anthony Tomeselli – NYS Workers’ Compensation Board.  Anthony provided a comprehensive overview of workers’ compensation, focusing on:

• The distinction between business advocates and injured worker advocates
• Proper classification of independent contractors
• The implications of the Construction Industry Fair Play Act

This was a valuable reminder that misclassification and misunderstanding coverage requirements can have serious financial and legal consequences.

Anthony Tomeselli's points regarding the Business Advocate

"From Mold to Measurement: A Practical Overview of Mycotoxins" by Aaron Wilson – Hayes Microbial Consulting.  Aaron’s presentation highlighted the complexity of mycotoxins and their impact on indoor environmental quality.  One of the most critical takeaways:

• Mycotoxins are toxic at extremely low concentrations—parts per billion (ppb) and even parts per trillion (ppt).

This reinforces the need for careful interpretation of sampling data and a strong understanding of the limitations and capabilities of current analytical methods.

Aaron Wilson discussing types of mycotoxins

Afternoon Sessions

"Asbestos in Settled Dust – Is it a Valid Method?" Panel Discussion Panelists:

• Angelo Garcia, III – Future Environment Designs, Inc.
• Martin S. Rutstein, Ph.D. – Environmental Consulting and Management Services, Inc.
• Marc Rutstein – Environmental Consulting and Management Services, Inc.

This panel sparked significant discussion around one of the more debated topics in the industry—the validity and application of settled dust sampling for asbestos.  The conversation focused on:

• Whether it should be used as a screening or decision-making tool
• Interpretation challenges
• Regulatory limitations
• Real-world implications, including cost impacts when misapplied

We really enjoyed working with the Rutsteins in putting this presentation together.  Though Dr. Rutstein's review of our presentation made us feel like we were back in college working with our professors.  See our presentation below, and our slides can be found in our training library.

"Diversity in Safety – Inclusive Safety Designs" by Courtney Connelly – The El Group, Inc.  Courtney delivered an important session on designing safety programs that are not just compliant, but inclusive.  The focus was on providing equity tools—ensuring that all workers, regardless of background or ability, have access to the same level of protection.  This is an area that continues to evolve and deserves ongoing attention in safety program development.

Courtney Connelly discussing OSHA PPE Update

"From the People’s House to Every House" by Linda Reinstein – Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization.  Linda Reinstein presented from Washington, D.C., on enforcement gaps, accountability, and the current status of the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now (ARBAN) Act.  The central question: Where do we stand today?  The presentation reinforced:

• Ongoing regulatory gaps
• The need for comprehensive legislative action
• The human impact of delayed policy decisions

As always, Linda’s presentation grounded the technical discussions in real-world consequences and public health impact.

Linda Reinstein discussing asbestos disease 

"Common Compliance Issues in the Field" by Stacy Portnoy – New York State Department of Labor Asbestos Control Bureau.  Closing out the formal sessions, Stacy provided a practical look at common compliance issues observed in the field.  These types of presentations are always valuable, as they reflect what regulators are actually seeing on projects—often highlighting recurring issues that are entirely preventable with proper planning and oversight.

Stacy Portnoy discusses the most common violations in 2025

Closing the Day: Networking and Industry Engagement

The day concluded with the Happy Hour Networking Event in the Vendor Exhibit Hall.  With record vendor participation and strong attendee turnout, the room remained active and engaged. These interactions continue to be a key component of the conference—providing an opportunity to discuss challenges, share solutions, and strengthen professional relationships across the industry.  One of the interesting vendors was A2Z Environmental LLC because they have a battery-operated pump capable of sampling for asbestos (both NIOSH 7400 method and the AHERA TEM method) and mold (spore trap sampling).  See the video from the Happy Hour Networking Event below:

Final Thoughts

Day Two of the PACNY Conference successfully balanced technical depth, regulatory insight, and practical field application.  From evolving enforcement trends and analytical challenges to emerging discussions on equity and technology, the sessions reflected where the industry stands today—and where it’s heading.

Stay tuned for Part 3, where we’ll wrap up the final day of the conference and key takeaways

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Professional Day - Day Two of PACNY's 23rd Annual Environmental Conference - Vendors Galore!

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!

Sundstrom Silica Dust Respirator Kit

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9/11 Workers Compensation Deadline Approaching

To preserve the right to file a 9/11-related worker's compensation claim, you must register by August 14, 2007. Registering will allow you to make a claim no matter when a 9/11-related condition occurs. Considering that many of the contaminants that people were exposed to (such as asbestos) have long latency periods (the period of time from exposure to the occurrence of the disease) it is important to register to protect your rights (asbestos diseases can take anywhere from 10-40 years to develop). By registering before August 14, 2007 you can protect your right to free healthcare if you develop a 9/11 related illness. There is no residency or citizenship requirement to register with the New York Worker's Compensation Board. The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health has established a hotline (24-hour toll-free hotline is 1-866-WTC-2556) and a website (http://www.nycosh.org/911info) to promote registration