Archive for the ‘Environmental’ Category

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Brownfield Redevelopment: What You Should Know

Monday, January 16th, 2012

As the economy slowly recovers from the deepest downturn in decades, interest in redevelopment projects is also rebounding. With the private and public financing picture improving, developers and local governments are seeking to restart Brownfield redevelopment projects. However, the new rules of engagement require even stricter due diligence and scrutiny of the property as well as greater attention to financing, regulation, risk management and viable end uses or exit strategies.

The good news is that a wide variety of financial incentives are still available. Many states continue to offer Brownfield tax relief, and there is a range of federal and state-sponsored government funding sources for redevelopment. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, for instance, include Brownfield incentives. In 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorized a non-competitive $50 million grant program to establish and enhance state and tribal response programs, addressing assessment, cleanup, and redevelopment of Brownfield sites. Some state programs even provide financing for environmental risk insurance premiums associated with Brownfield redevelopment. Redevelopers are well advised to research financial incentives that many states and major cities have for Brownfield cleanup and assessment activities, including community grants and loan guarantees. In addition, there are often a variety of tax incentives available, such as property tax abatement. (more…)

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Linking EHS, Ethics and Economic Prosperity

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Striving to “do the right thing” can help environmental and health & safety (EHS) professionals create sustainable EHS programs that also have a positive impact on a company’s economic strength. EHS professionals must go beyond regulatory compliance and consider ethics in order to build successful programs that also boost the bottom line. While laws and regulations inform individuals and companies what they cannot do, ethics instruct individuals and companies as to what they should do. In other words, ethics is about doing the right thing, not about simply avoiding the wrong thing.

I support an “EHS management systems approach” in the workplace, which recognizes that unsafe acts, unsafe conditions and accidents are symptoms of problems in the organizational management system. In this philosophy, senior management is ultimately responsible for building an ethical system that effectively analyzes and controls workplace conditions and hazards. This means that EHS is no longer a “sunk cost,” but an integral function of doing business, just like quality.

Perhaps the greatest economic reason to support an ethics-based approach to EHS management within a capitalistic system is that prosperity generates an environment where continuing improvement and reduced risk are affordable.

EHS professionals must promote a more ethical approach to managing their own profession. This strategy requires moral courage, conviction and professional unity, including a bottom-up approach at their facilities and through professional organizations, and understanding the need to look out for workers, the environment, and the public despite culture, pressure and misdirection from management and peers.

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Go Green and Create a More Productive Work Environment

Monday, October 24th, 2011

Here are a few tips to green the workplace and keep employees working at their best:

• Preserve and make use of green spaces, including courtyards, ponds, walking paths and decks that allow occupants to enjoy and interact with the outdoors. Design workspaces that provide unobstructed views of windows to help bring the outdoor environment inside.

• Avoid “sick building syndrome” by improving air quality in the workplace. Ensure an adequate supply of fresh air and monitor CO2 levels to keep it within a healthy range and to avoid fatigue, headaches and difficulty concentrating.

• Evaluate and control employee exposure to airborne contaminants. Consider banning smoking on your campus including outdoor areas, and install permanent “knock-off” grates at all entrances to control unwanted particles from entering the workplace on employees’ shoes.

• “Green” your cleaning, maintenance and pest management operations by using more environmentally friendly cleaning products and organic, synthetic filters for equipment. For pest control, use non-toxic or minimally toxic methods only in targeted locations and for targeted species.

• Promote recycling. Distribute recycling containers around your buildings or campus to encourage separation of waste and recyclable items. Think beyond cans, glass, and paper. Consider composting food waste, including coffee grounds, from your cafeteria to improve the environment and reduce the cost of the waste stream.

• Control your own environment to work in greater comfort. Ask for the flexibility to adjust temperature, lighting and airflow to maintain personal comfort levels.

• Create a team of employees to monitor, patrol and educate workers on environmentally friendly behaviors. Celebrate events such as Earth Day and World Water Day to raise awareness and promote involvement.

• Add amenities such as huddle areas and quiet rooms to provide an inviting alternative to meeting rooms. Acoustical spray on ceilings and sound masking through white noise can minimize distractions in open office environments.

• Consider adding a fitness center to promote exercise and general health and well-being.

Remember – if employees are happy, healthy and comfortable, they are more likely to be productive at work.

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Are You Ready for TSCA Reform?

Monday, August 29th, 2011

The question most often asked when addressing this topic is, “Are you ready for Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) reform?” as if it is looming on the horizon but has yet to happen. The truth, however, is that most producers, manufacturers, and importers of chemical substances are dealing with chemical management changes on a daily basis.

Last year, there seemed to be growing momentum on this topic when both the TSCA of 2010 (H.R. 5820) and the Safe Chemicals Act of 2010 (S. 3209) were introduced. Both bills were immediately referred to congressional committees, where they remained for quite some time. Although one committee hearing was held on H.R. 5820, no further legislative activity was ordered, and because these bills were introduced in a previous session, no further action can occur. So are they dead? Not likely. Members often reintroduce bills that did not come up for debate under a new number in the next session. Although last year’s expedited reform came to a halt, it is safe to say TSCA reform by Congress is not behind us. However, when it will return remains a question. (more…)

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Posted in EHS Violations, Environmental, EPA, OSHA, Ralph Carito, Safety, Total Environmental & Safety | No Comments »

Maybe it’s Time to Hire the Right EHS Consultant

Monday, July 25th, 2011

In a climate of close scrutiny and hefty fines across all aspects of environmental and health and safety (EHS) regulatory compliance, securing the right EHS consultant to assist your company can make the difference between achieving and maintaining compliance at a reasonable cost, or spending too much money and remaining at risk. Let’s face it, almost every aspect of a company’s operation touches upon one or more of the many changing EHS regulation, it’s no wonder that there are so many consultants hovering over industry…or should I say those who call themselves EHS consultants.

Engaging a consultant, who is knowledgeable and who can swiftly and efficiently navigate through the many rules, regulations, laws and mandated compliance at the federal, state and local levels, will help your company stay on track and keep you moving in the right direction with little or no interruption to your operations or business. The flip side could be unfavorable, including excessive costs, fines, negative public relations, and worse yet an injury, death, or negative impact to the environment. (more…)

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Idling of Trucks with Sleeper Berths is No Longer Allowed in NJ

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

The idling of diesel-powered vehicles produce a wide variety of air pollutants, including fine particulates, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, and many other toxic air pollutants, some of which are known carcinogens. These air pollution contaminants cause health problems for both the drivers and general population. Health issues and range from difficulty in breathing to heart attacks to cancer. In fact, the number of premature deaths in New Jersey each year caused by exposure to these types of air pollutants exceed the number of deaths from homicides and motor vehicle accidents.

In addition to the environmental risks, idling vehicles unnecessarily consume fuel and increase engine wear, which relates to higher operating costs.

Because of the above-mentioned, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regulation N.J.A.C. 7:27-14 has always prohibited diesel-powered vehicles from idling for more than three consecutive minutes if the vehicle is not in motion, with limited exemptions. However, Prior to May 1, 2011 N.J.A.C. 7:27-14.3(b)6 allowed drivers to idle their diesel vehicles while resting or sleeping, so that heating, air conditioning, and other electrical equipment can remain powered. This is not the case anymore. (more…)

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Managing EHS Regulatory Compliance: Be Prepared for Change

Saturday, March 26th, 2011

The risks and costs of environmental and health & safety (EHS) regulatory non-compliance are rising as the regulatory environment becomes more challenging. Compliance needs are pervasive and persistent across all geographical jurisdictions and industries. Today’s EHS professional (and those who wear a 2nd or 3rd hat as the person responsible for EHS compliance) face a vast and complex regulatory matrix that includes regulatory authorities focused on workplace safety, the environment, transportation and homeland security, to name just a few. EHS management now often encompasses requirements that extend beyond the immediate boundaries of the company, including upstream and downstream supply chain management.

The last 2 years have given shape to a complex regulatory landscape, with the United Nations’ Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS); the European Union’s (EU) Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulatory framework; and the possible reform of the United States’ Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). It is highly likely that 2011/2012 will bring many new compliance challenges.

By reviewing the below representative samples of the regulatory challenges that emerged in 2010, you can better prepare for 2011/2012′s emerging challenges and, therefore, begin to prioritize strategies and tactics that align with these challenges. (more…)

Posted in Environmental, EPA, NJDEP, NYDEC, OSHA, PADEP, Ralph Carito, Safety, Sastainability, Total Environmental & Safety | No Comments »

How to Properly Clean Up a Broken Fluorescent Lamp, According to the EPA

Monday, February 21st, 2011

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) updated its existing guidance document on how to properly clean up a broken fluorescent lamp. The updated document also includes recommended precautions in schools to prevent exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that are found in older fluorescent light fixtures. (more…)

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EPA’s Criminal Enforcement Program Opened 346 New Criminal Cases In 2010

Saturday, December 18th, 2010

In 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took enforcement and compliance actions that required polluters throughout the United States to pay more than $110 million in civil penalties and commit them to spend an estimated $12 billion on cleanups, pollution controls and other abatement measures. (more…)

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Employees Are Getting Involved In EPA’s RMP

Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released interim guidance that would provide greater transparency in the agency’s chemical safety inspection process. Under the interim guidance, EPA inspectors will offer employees and employee representatives the opportunity to participate in Risk Management Program (RMP) chemical safety inspections. (more…)

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