OSHA Rule Allowing Third Parties to Attend Walkaround Inspections Finalized
In late March 2024, OSHA amended the OSH Act in the section pertaining to representatives on walkaround inspections. Specifically, the regulation had stated that only employees of an organization could be authorized as employee representatives on inspections. ...
EPA’s New Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Regulations
Background For many decades, Americans have unknowingly been exposed to toxic chemicals, including those called “forever chemicals,” like per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), with no oversight from the government. These chemicals are known to have a negative...
NYSDEC Proposes Amendments to Rule 6 NYCRR Part 490: Projected Sea Level Rise
In 2014, the Community Risk and Resiliency Act (CRRA) added a new section to the New York State Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) that required the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to adopt science-based sea level rise projections. DEC is proposing...
Proposed Rulemaking: 6 NYCRR Parts 494 and 495 Are Now Open for Public Comment
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) introduced two proposed amendments to New York State environmental regulations that are currently open for public comment. They involve chemical use, storage, and emissions. The proposed regulations...
DOB Releases Second Major Rule Package with Changes to Make LL97 Compliance More Affordable
The deadline for submitting the first compliance reports for buildings covered by New York City’s Local Law 97 (LL97) is May 1, 2025. As this deadline approaches, the New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) is providing more guidance on how building owners can be...
New EPA Proposed Standards for Air Emissions from Municipal Solid Waste Burning Facilities
An announcement by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has called for the setting of higher compliance standards for air emissions from large solid waste facilities burning municipal waste. This action comes from the requirement of the Clean Air Act, which...
Deadline for Public Comments on Proposed 6 NYCRR Part 375 Amendments: May 21, 2024
Introduction to 6 NYCRR Part 375 6 NYCRR Part 375 Environmental Remediation Program regulations govern all environmental remediation efforts in New York State. The main focus of these regulations is to determine whether a site is contaminated with hazardous chemicals...
2024 Draft Update of Solar and Wind Valuation Model Released for Public Comment
Introduction Walden notes that the U.S Energy Information Administration (EIA) released projections for power generation in its recent Short Term Energy Outlook report, showing that solar and wind energy will lead growth in U.S. power generation for the next two...
Protecting New York State’s Freshwater Wetlands
In the past, wetlands across the nation were treated as dumping grounds for waste. In the 1700s, more than half of the wetlands that existed in the contiguous United States were destroyed due to the pollution and filling in of these areas. You may be asking yourself:...
How Will the CLCPA Impact Solid Waste Management Facilities?
New York State passed the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, Chapter 106 of the Laws of 2019 (CLCPA or Climate Act). This law is intended to significantly reduce the impact New York State has on climate change and to ensure that these changes do not...