What Role Do Technical Specifications Play in Construction?
Technical specifications are a crucial element of construction preplanning and contain explicit, comprehensive details regarding the proper execution of a given project. Carefully written technical specifications establish quality control standards for a project and...
Supreme Court Limits EPA’s Authority to Regulate Wetlands
On May 25, 2023, the Supreme Court handed down a ruling to Idaho property owners that will affect the United States as a whole, with the potential to limit the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ability to regulate certain wetlands under the...
Title V Permit Compliance: A Walden Case Study
Background The Air Pollution Control Act of 1955 marked the first time the United States federal government passed legislation which funded research regarding air pollution; however, it wasn’t until the Clean Air Act of 1963 and Air Quality Act of 1967 that air...
What Could Nassau County’s New “S.E.P.T.I.C. Program” Mean for You?
Nassau County, New York, has recently begun its new “S.E.P.T.I.C. Program” (program), which is intended to replace antiquated or failing septic systems. This program shall provide grant money to both homeowners and small businesses to improve existing or construct new...
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Limits in New York City—Who and What Will Be Affected?
On December 7, 2022, New York City (NYC) passed its latest rule corresponding to the overall goal of reducing building greenhouse gas emissions over the next several decades. Section 103-14 of Chapter 100 of Title 1 of the Rules of the City of New York, herein...
PSEG Long Island Develops Plan to Meet New York State Goals
In 2019, New York State (NYS) passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, known as CLCPA or the Climate Act, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions drastically. Under the Climate Act, GHG emissions will be reduced 40 and 85 percent by 2030...
NYSDEC to Revise Uniform Procedures Act (UPA) Regulations
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) is proposing revisions to the Uniform Procedures Act (UPA) regulations which are codified in 6 NYCRR Part 621. As of August 17, 2022, the public comment period has begun, where the NYSDEC is...
OSHA Implements a National Emphasis Program (NEP) to Combat Heat-Related Injuries and Illnesses
The United States Department of Labor (USDOL) has published an instructional bulletin which establishes programs to combat heat injury and illness for all affected employees governed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This instructional...
New York City Benchmarking Reporting Due May 1, 2022
Are you required to report? New York City (NYC) Local Law 84 of 2009 (LL84) enacted requirements to benchmark the energy and water use of city buildings. LL84 applies only to covered buildings, defined by NYC as “... (i) a building that exceeds 50,000 gross square...
What is the SPDES Permit Program and its Role in Eliminating Pollution?
The State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (SPDES) permit program was authorized by Article 17 of the Environmental Conservation Law, with the intent of protecting New York State’s water resources from contamination. The SPDES program intends to protect humans,...