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Showing posts with label demolition. Show all posts
Showing posts with label demolition. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Assemblywoman Lupardo Sponsors Bill To Amend Asbestos Notification Fees

Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo is sponsoring Assembly Bill A09928, which will amend the notification fees for non-friable material.  This issue was discussed at Professional Abatement Contractors of New York's (PACNY) 2012 Environmental Conference.  The bill can be accessed at:  http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=A09928&term=&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Votes=Y&Memo=Y&Text=Y

Asbestos Thermal System Insulation on a Residential Ducts & Furnace
PACNY is supporting this bill, based on their research that many residential projects are not notified and are done illegally because of the steep fee structure.  Placing homeowners and occupants in danger.  In addition, because of recent flooding from natural disasters many homes have been condemned requiring them to pay the maximum asbestos notification fee of $4,000 to demolish the home.  This fee for demolition has been the subject of many articles regarding this cost that cities, towns, and villages are required to pay increasing the cost in doing demolition in the Southern Tier, Catskills, and other regions.  Visit the New York State Asbestos Group on Linked-in, regarding the discussion of this issue.

This is not the first time this issue has been discussed, a previous Senate Bill S748-2011 in the New York State Senate sponsored by State Senator Catherine Young wanted to modify the fees that residential one & two family owner occupied homes paid in doing asbestos abatement work - capping the notification fee at $500.

We agree that the notification fees need to be addressed, especially for residential work.  Though not convinced that the fee should be addressed in this manner.  Senator Young's bill handles it much simply and probably should be expanded to include residential homes/houses slated for demolition (or controlled demolition by a municipality).
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Friday, April 13, 2012

More Dangers Related To Toxic Dusts

In our current newsletter (find it at www.futureenv.com), we discuss the hazards of toxic dust at demolition and disaster sites. Three new studies from California seem to support my points regarding the dangers of the dust. Indoor Environment Connections in the February 2012 issue discusses the findings of these studies linking exposure to fine-particulate matter to heart disease.

These study defined particulate matter as a complex blend of substances ranging from dry solid fragments, solid-core fragments with liquid coatings and small droplets of liquid. These particles vary in shape, size and chemical composition, and can contain metals, soot, nitrates, sulfates, and very fine dust. One source of particulate matter, including PM2.5 or fine-particulate matter is exhaust from vehicles, especially diesel engines (which are used frequently on demolition and disaster sites). PM2.5 is particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter (making this particulate matter a respirable dust or dust that can enter into the deep lungs).
The California Air Resources Board (ARB) released three new studies, that indicate exposure to airborne fine-particulate matter significantly elevates the risk of premature deaths from heart disease among older adults and elevates incidence of strokes among post-menopausal women. The third study examined platelets of mice exposed to PM2.5. This study found that the exposed mice showed platelet activation which could promote clotting and lead to stroke and heart attacks. These studies add to the existing scienctific evidence that respirable airborne particulates pose a threat to public health. If these particles pose a threat to public health, what about the threat to workers who are exposed to PM2.5 at their worksites?
These studies further support my call, for the requirement that workers wear respirators on all demolition and disaster sites.
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Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Kings Park Psychiatric Center Bid Awarded to Low Bidder

On Saturday, March 10, 2010, Mr. Carl MacGowan of Newsday wrote an article regarding the demolition jobs that will be created by National Salvage & Service Corp. the winner of the Kings Park Psychiatric Center bid.  As we discussed in a previous blog post, we are concerned about whether this contractor understands New York State laws regarding labor, asbestos, transportation, and insurance.

This equipment could be used to tear down buildings.
The article states that National Salvage is expected to employ about 65 people to demolish 15 buildings and is unsure how many of those jobs would be going to local people (even if those jobs go to out-of-state people they would have to be paid prevailing wage as per New York State laws).  In addition, National Salvage anticipates using local subcontractors for work such as security, surveying, and removing asbestos and hazardous materials.  They will also be subcontracting 20% of the work to businesses owned by minorities and women. 

Even with all of this we still say, the devil will be in the details.  We have discussed this project in several classes, and the concensus in our classes is it will be interesting to see if the project remains at $6.4 million or will the change orders and extras bring the project closer to the $15 million budget or exceed it? 
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Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Toxic Dusts - Demolition Implications

We have posted our Winter-Spring 2012 Newsletter on our website.  The main article discusses the implications of toxic dusts on demolition, disaster relief, and emergency response workers.  This is an issue I feel really strongly about and if my recommendations are taken seriously, maybe there will be no need for any Zadroga Bills to deal with 9/11 type illnesses in the future.
Demolition, Emergency Response, and Disaster Relief Workers should wear respirators when they respond.

Related articles
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Tuesday, December 06, 2011

Kings Park Psychiatric Center Demolition Up For Bid

We realize the Kings Park Psychiatric Center Demolition being up for bid is a bit old since this was announced back in October.  However, our understanding is that the bid documents were not ready at the time of the announcement in Long Island Business News.  Contact Dvirka & Bartilucci or TRC Environmental for more information regarding this bid opportunity.  This definitely will be a large project and look forward to seeing the results of the bid for this project.
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Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Asbestos Found At Plattsburgh, NY Site

An article titled "Asbestos Found At Nikki's Site; Tear Down Can Start" in the Press Republican Newspaper on August 9, 2011 discusses the condemned bar and rooming house at the corner of Main and Academy streets that partially collapsed on July 25 and damaged the adjacent property, known as the Faubert Building in Plattsburgh, New York.  Testing confirmed that the debris from the collapse of Nikki's Place contains asbestos.

According to the article, Dilshad Perera, on-site coordinator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), said that as soon as the estimated funding needed for the cleanup is in place, a certified asbestos-abatement contractor can be hired to safely haul the material away.

We assume this project is using the New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL) Industrial Code Rule 56 section on controlled demolition with asbestos in place.  Though it does surprise me that the EPA is on-site versus NYSDOL.
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Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Jury Selection Begins in the Deutsche Bank Building Fire Trial

Deutsche Bank Building damaged by falling debr...Image via WikipediaThe Engineering News Record (ENR) of New York wrote an excellant article on the beginning of jury selection for the manslaughter trial of site safety manager Jeffrey Melofchik, 49, who worked for Bovis; Mitchel Alvo, 58, the cleanup director for subcontractor John Galt Corp.; Salvatore DePaola, 56, a Galt foreman; and Galt itself on the fire that occurred in 2007 at the former Deutsche Bank Building.  The article does an excellant job of providing a history of all that has occurred since the fire occurred in 2007.  Including the Manhattan District Attorney's investigation, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) investigation, and the New York City investigation.  Based on the article it would seem the Manhattan District Attorney will have an uphill battle getting a conviction on this trial.
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Sunday, January 16, 2011

Asbestos Controversy in Troy New York.

Demolition of the Old Troy City Hall in Troy, New York has caused controversy regarding the asbestos discovered in the building.  It seems based on the news report it seems like they got caught doing demolition before removal.  The City Engineer says he is doing exploratory demolition and New York State Department of Labor approved it.  Is he looking for more asbestos?  When was this building built?  Have they sampled all 46 of the presumed and suspect asbestos materials that is on the New York State Industrial Code Rule 56 list?  These are just some of the questions I have regarding this demolition.  Additional reports have mentioned a limited asbestos survey.  Why is it limited?  What hasn't been sampled?
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Wednesday, December 08, 2010

Riverhead is Soliciting Bids for Asbestos Abatement

Riverhead, New YorkImage by dougtone via FlickrThe Town of Riverhead on Long Island is attempting to rid its town of a long-time eyesore, but has had trouble lining up a contractor to remove asbestos from the property at an affordable price.  According to Riverheadlocal.com and Mesothelioma Resource Center, the town of Riverhead will solicit bids for the third time to award a contract for asbestos abatement at the former Weeping Willow motel.  The town hopes to demolish the structure and develop the land as part of a riverfront greenbelt.
In New York State and many other states asbestos removal is done ahead of demolition to prevent fibers of the hazardous mineral from becoming airborne and causing a health danger to anyone in the vicinity.  Asbestos exposure is linked to lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma and asbestosis and has been the focus of many asbestos settlements and mesothelioma lawsuits.  The West Main Street property was purchased by the town last year for $1.2 million, the community website reported.

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That Time of Year! Conferences, Posting Requirements, and OSHA Violations Increased!

It's that time of year again. We're between conferences.  February 15-16, 2024 was the Professional Abatement Contractors of New Yor...