NY Daily Record Since 1908

Writing this column in December 2016, now a month past the surprising presidential election result, brings with it many uncertainties. Predicting environmental policy in new administrations is challenging under normal election conditions, but with a businessman about to assume the ...

Tagged with: Clean Air Act Clean Power Plan Clean Water Act Climate Change Donald Trump Environmental Law EPA George S. Van Nest

On August 1, the Governor’s Office announced that the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) approved New York’s most far reaching clean energy mandate. The Clean Energy Standard is aimed at fighting climate change, reducing air pollution and diversifying ...

Crystalline silica is a mineral found in many building materials such as sand, stone, concrete, brick and mortar.  Tiny particles of silica can be released into the air during construction and manufacturing activities. If workers are exposed to respirable silica ...

As we reported in the August column (The Daily Record, Aug. 3, 2015), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule that sets the first limits on carbon emissions from power plants in the country. Although issued with celebration by ...

On Aug. 3, the United States Environmental Protection Agency issued a rule that sets the first limits on carbon emissions from power plants in the country. While met with fanfare from the Obama Administration and certain environmental groups, the Clean ...

Tagged with: Environmental Law George S. Van Nest

The Brownfield Cleanup Program was enacted in 2003 to encourage private development of former brownfield parcels. The program was amended in June 2008 to cap tax credits, and those tax credits were scheduled to expire in December 2015. As part ...

Tagged with: brownfields Environmental Law

Following Election Day and the shift in Senate control, it may be worth a look ahead at environmental issues that are likely to be confronted in 2015.  While the administration of President Obama has already been very active in the ...

Tagged with: Environmental Law George S. Van Nest

The Brownfield Cleanup Program was enacted in 2003 to foster private development of former brownfield parcels. The program was amended in June 2008 to cap tax credits, and those tax credits are scheduled to expire in December 2015. Unfortunately, significant ...

Tagged with: Environmental Law George S. Van Nest

The New York State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQR) was adopted in 1976 and requires that state and local agencies evaluate potential environmental impacts of projects prior to granting approval. Since enactment, it has served as the principal environmental planning ...

Tagged with: Environmental Law George S. Van Nest

The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) developed the initial Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) standard in 1993 to address the scope of environmental due diligence required prior to acquisition of real estate in light of environmental liability ...

Tagged with: Environmental Law George S. Van Nest

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is working on a new Self-Audit Policy to encourage environmental compliance. The draft policy is being finalized and is expected to be issued in the near future. The policy would apply to ...

Tagged with: Environmental Law George S. Van Nest

As previously reported in this column, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is still weighing public comments and considering proposed regulations to address Marcellus Shale development. But now, many local communities are beginning to act on the issue. ...

Tagged with: Environmental Law