Image via WikipediaThe verdict is in on the Kings Park Psychiatric Center environmental cleanup. The cleanup is estimated to cost $215 million. Compared to original estimates from developers ten years ago of $60 million, that is nearly 4 times the original estimates. Though we don't think the original estimates were accurate at all. The current estimate, developed by Dvirka and Bartilucci an environmental engineering firm based in Woodbury, NY, and TRC Environmental, an environmental consultanting firm based in NYC, is probably closest to the mark because Dvirka and Bartilucci and TRC spent several months on the property performing a number of inspections and surveys to get as accurate a picture of the materials and the costs involved with this project.
The $215 million price is for demolishing all 57 abandoned buildings on the property and returning the 368 acres to open space, said a statement from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, which commissioned the study by Dvirka & Bartilucci. The bulk of the cost, about $186 million, pays for tearing down the buildings and cleaning up asbestos and other hazardous materials. Other costs include $26 million to demolish and remediate five miles of underground steam tunnels and $3.7 million to excavate materials dumped on the property over the years. State Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport) had secured $29 million for park cleanup and agreed to spend $3.6 million for the environmental study. He said the actual cost will be determined when the projects are put out for bid.
In February 2009, after community groups clamored for some resolution of the property, then State Parks Commissioner Carol Ash ordered the demolition of 15 buildings deemed unsafe, which will cost $14 million. Requests for bids for that project will go out soon. Once that happens and those bids come in we will get a better idea what it will actually cost.
Future Environment Designs Training Center specializes in asbestos, indoor air quality, industrial hygiene, and occupational safety training programs. We offer New York State asbestos and mold certification courses. We design, develop, and maintain the various indoor air quality, asbestos, and safety programs that are Keeping Your Employees Safe.
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Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Kings Park Psychiatric Center Cleanup Estimated At $215 Million
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Gov. Paterson Proposes Eliminating New York Participation in Federal Superfund Program
Image via WikipediaIt seems to us that our lame duck Governor is doing all the nasty and dirty work before the incoming Governor has to. Between laying off state workers, firing the Commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), and now eliminating New York State's participation in Superfund, its to bad we can't get a tax cap in place, too. It concerns us how NYS DEC will be able to handle all the work that is scheduled for NYS. Between the Hudson River Dredging project, the Gowanus Canal and Newtown Creek just to mention a few. We need to make sure that Governor Patterson's obvious attack on the NYS DEC does not hamper or significantly hinder its ability to perform its functions in New York State.
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- Timesunion.com: Layoffs loom at agency in transition (timesunion.com)
- Ending Superfund role is foolish (timesunion.com)
- Government lacks basic manpower (timesunion.com)
- Anger over state pullout (timesunion.com)
- Gov. ready to swing the ax on nearly 900 state jobs (nydailynews.com)
- Green: Paterson Fires Environmental Commissioner (green.blogs.nytimes.com)
- Governor's Aide Steps In for Ousted Environment Chief (green.blogs.nytimes.com)
- Newtown Creek Is Declared a Superfund Site (nytimes.com)
- "Another Superfund Site in New York City: Newtown Creek to Get a Makeover" and related posts (blogs.ei.columbia.edu)
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Floorings Affect on Indoor Air Quality
Mold growing on wood tacking under carpeting. |
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- Study Finds Flooring & Wallpaper Contain Hazardous Additives (healthychild.org)
- Is Your Floor Making You Sick? (blisstree.com)
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- Kitchens & Baths: Clean & Easy Flooring (floortalk.wfca.org)
- Recycled Flooring Recognized by Industry Leading Publication & Highlights the Rise of Green Building in America (prnewswire.com)
- Tests Uncover Hidden Chemicals in Wallpaper, Flooring (greenbiz.com)
- Study of Home Improvement Products Finds Lead, Phthalates, Cadmium, Organotins, Other Harmful Ingredients (yubanet.com)
- Best Way to Improve Indoor Air Quality (planetsave.com)
Friday, October 22, 2010
Bedbugs and Lice Make Comeback.
Image via WikipediaIt's interesting how certain news stories can just freak you out a bit. For some its blood, for others it could be molds. Well for me its bugs...in particular very small bugs. Like bedbugs and lice just really gets me itching. So when a story like the one in Newsday discussed the current bedbug and louse issue, it was all I could do to prevent myself from scratching like crazy. Recent news stories have bedbugs present at the Waldorf Astoria (where else would you stay if you visited New York City), at Lincoln Center (I guess they like ballet) and the Central Islip Library (they also like to read..or maybe they are really bookworms?). This shows that bedbugs have evolved, additional proof of this is that these bedbugs are
resistant to DDT and malathion, products used in the past to kill them. The article makes interesting reading and other articles have discussed how to avoid bedbugs while traveling or specifically discussed about bedbugs not being a public health emergency. The primary reason being that bedbugs are not known to spread disease. They just want to feed on us (ok, just writing that creeped me out...itch, itch, scratch, scratch).
resistant to DDT and malathion, products used in the past to kill them. The article makes interesting reading and other articles have discussed how to avoid bedbugs while traveling or specifically discussed about bedbugs not being a public health emergency. The primary reason being that bedbugs are not known to spread disease. They just want to feed on us (ok, just writing that creeped me out...itch, itch, scratch, scratch).
Related articles
- Itching for answers, 400 attend a summit on bedbugs (dispatch.com)
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- A Simple, Cheap, Safe, Non-Toxic Cure & Prevention For Bed Bugs, Fleas & Lice (projectworldawareness.com)
- Nit picking on a budget: the price of lice (walletpop.com)
- To freak out or not to freak out? (ask.metafilter.com)
- http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bedbugs/DS00663
- Waldorf Astoria Sued Over Bedbugs (huffingtonpost.com)
- Terri Bennett Appears on WBTV to Talk About Natural Solutions for Bedbugs (doyourpart.com)
- Bedbugs in Lincoln Center (slog.thestranger.com)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Watertown Daily Times | Asbestos suspected in cellar of plaza
Code enforcement official (CEO) stops illegal asbestos removal work. This is a good sign that some CEOs are starting to learn the asbestos requirements and bodes well for the asbestos industry. Maybe we'll see less cheating, which will create more work for the asbestos industry.
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Friday, October 15, 2010
Federal jury finds Syracuse company guilty of mail fraud
Image via Wikipedia Federal jury finds Syracuse company guilty of mail fraud
We have discussed this asbestos air monitoring and laboratory consultant case in class. Follow the link which describes the guilty verdict against Certified Environmental Services (CES). Remember one of the more interesting points of this case was that two individual asbestos air monitors were indicted on their illegal work. Making them individually responsible for aiding and abetting the illegal work of the contractors. It will be interesting if this has an impact on the industry.
We have discussed this asbestos air monitoring and laboratory consultant case in class. Follow the link which describes the guilty verdict against Certified Environmental Services (CES). Remember one of the more interesting points of this case was that two individual asbestos air monitors were indicted on their illegal work. Making them individually responsible for aiding and abetting the illegal work of the contractors. It will be interesting if this has an impact on the industry.
Related articles
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Carl Potter's Safety Code of Conduct
Scaffolding improperly installed missing mud sills, etc. |
Mr. Carl Potter is a safety speaker and his website is an excellant resource for information regarding occupational safety and health. We have received many of his articles and writings, and have always found them informative. To emphasize this point, please click on the title above to read his latest post regarding setting up a Safety Code of Conduct and the reason why employees typically don't follow safety rules. Our experience and discussions with many of you, has led us to the same conclusions. We agree with Mr. Potter come up with your own Safety Code of Conduct and decide to be safe when performing your work.
Related articles
- Momentive Achieves OSHA Voluntary Protection Program Star Status (eon.businesswire.com)
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