Walden Employees Complete “Smoke School”
On September 13, four of Walden’s employees attended “smoke school” to certify or recertify in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Method 9 Air Opacity of Visible Emissions. Those who attended and were recertified include Ethan Lo, Cari Covell,...
Soil Vapor Intrusion and Indoor Air Quality Concerns
Dangerous chemicals in the air don’t just come from wildfires and smoke. Soil vapor can have a significant impact on indoor air quality. When soil and/or groundwater are contaminated by volatile organic compounds, these contaminants are released into soil vapor which...
What Is a Community Air Monitoring Program?
Community Air Monitoring Programs (CAMPs) are commonly required at construction, demolition, and other sites where volatile organic compounds (VOCs), dust, or other harmful airborne substances can potentially be released into the air. The monitoring of dust, vapors,...
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...
Submit Your Comments on the USEPA Draft GHG Report!
On February 15, 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent out a Federal Register notice regarding the draft of the Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions and Sinks 1990-2021 that is now available for the public to review. In this notice, the EPA is...
NYSDEC Releases Guidance Documents for CLCPA and CRRA Compliance
This past December, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) issued two policies that will help mitigate the impacts of climate change. The first, Commissioner’s Policy on Climate Change (CP-49), outlines guidance on how to comply with the...
EPA to Strengthen Fine Particle Pollution Standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a policy that will make the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) for fine particle pollution, PM2.5, more stringent. The current primary annual PM2.5 standard is 12 micrograms per cubic meter, with...
EPA Proposed Rulemaking Targets Phaseout of HFCs
Last month, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposed rulemaking intended to improve heating and cooling technologies, making them operate more efficiently. This proposed rule has been developed under the bipartisan American...
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...
Preparing for FDNY Spray Booth Inspections
A Fire Department of New York (FDNY) spray booth inspection can occur as scheduled after filing for a FDNY permit. These inspections can also be unexpected if there is a suspected violation. In this second instance, during the inspection, the facility must be prepared...