Norman Rodgers, III P.E., P.L.S., CME

DEC’s Environmental Facilities Corp. Reports $26B Backlog of Drinking/Clean Water Projects ALBANY—The NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation has provided financing for more than 2,000 essential local water infrastructure projects totaling more than $23.7 billion since 1990. Its estimated capital improvement needs for water and sewer projects far exceeds this amount, and tens of billions of dollars in local projects remain in the pipeline, according to a report released by Office of the NYS Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli . The most recent US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assessments estimated 20-year capital improvement needs of $28.7 billion for clean water projects and $35.1 billion for drinking water projects in the state. The EPA also estimated that New York has more than 494,000 lead service lines in need of replacement, among the highest in the nation. While the revolving fund programs have financed many vital projects, EFC’s 2024 Intended Use Plan showed a Clean Water State Revolving Fund backlog of 876 projects with estimated costs of $17.9 billion, and a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund backlog of 1,004 projects with estimated costs of $8.3 billion, together totaling $26.1 billion. Between 1990 and 2022, New York has spent $18.2 billion for the CWSRF and $5.5 billion for its DWSRF, topping California, Texas, Florida and Pennsylvania. New York’s cumulative CWSRF spending almost doubled that of California ($10.6 billion), the next highest spender, and was more than other large states on DWSRF Project Assistance Disbursed, and for project starts and completions. The federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 is estimated to make $2.5 billion available for these programs and will target projects that address emerging contaminants, climate change, bioterrorism, disadvantaged communities, and replacement of lead water service lines. Additional funding ($5.4 billion) has come from state grant appropriations since 2015, of which $1.4 billion has been spent. Mr. DiNapoli said, “New York has spent more on clean water and drinking water projects than any other state, but the resources needed to address aging infrastructure and related challenges remain significant. The state should build on its efforts to help communities access funding to ensure the success of these programs continues.” EFC is a public benefit corporation that provides financing assistance through grants, loans, and technical expertise to state and local entities, as well as some businesses. The corporation receives state and federal funds and allocates them to participating entities. Major programs include the CWSRF and the DWSRF, which are federally supported. EFC uses these resources along with state funds to provide subsidized loans and grants to municipalities for drinking water, wastewater treatment, and other projects, with interest and loan repayments used to finance additional projects. #cleanwater #drinkingwater #conservation

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For the first time in fifteen years, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation has proposed significant revisions to the CP-51 Soil Cleanup Guidance, which will impact key remedial programs. Review Roux's summary of the proposed revisions to see if they might affect your projects here: https://lnkd.in/eUnNmfYr #EnvironmentalRemediation #SoilCleanup #NYSDEC #EnvironmentalPolicy #CP51 #EnvironmentalConsulting

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In February 2024, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation proposed comprehensive revisions to its Part 375 regulations for NYS remedial programs, including the State Superfund, Brownfield Cleanup Program, and Environmental Restoration Program. NYSDEC continues to accept written public comments on these proposed changes until 8:00 p.m. next Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Curious about the potential impact these proposed changes may have on your redevelopment projects? Read Roux and Sive, Paget & Riesel's latest joint blog post written by Rachel Henke & Kevin Rogers to learn more about five key proposed changes to the Part 375 regulations and the implications they may have on real estate development and financing. https://lnkd.in/e4pqrhXw #RegulatoryInsights #EnvironmentalRegulations #RealEstateDevelopment #BCP #StateSuperfund #NYSDEC #EnvironmentalLaw #Part375 #Remediation #Remedial #SPR #EnvironmentalConsulting #HazardousWaste #RealEstate #Brownfields #DueDiligence #NYCRR #Regulations

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SPR’s latest blog post highlights key elements of the NYS Fiscal Year 2025 Budget, which passed in April. The Budget includes roughly $1 billion for environmental and energy programs, including water infrastructure upgrades, land conservation measures, and energy project permitting. Even with these notable commitments to environmental stewardship, the centerpiece of the Budget is housing, given the bipartisan nature of the on-going housing affordability and vacancy crisis, especially in New York City. As the SPR Blog previously covered (https://lnkd.in/ecFQNtpj) last year’s budget notably lacked affordable housing commitments and failed to replace the expired Real Property Tax Law § 421-a tax incentive, thus jeopardizing the viability of housing projects throughout New York. As part of the FY 2025 Budget, a new Real Property Tax Law § 485-x was enacted to modify and replace 421-a. And § 467-m was adopted to spur conversion of existing buildings from commercial to residential uses. Read more in SPR’s most recent blog post by Nika D. Sabasteanski, JD, MPH.   #AffordableHousing #FY2025 #NewYork #EnvironmentalPrograms #TaxLaw #NYSBudget #SixtyYearsOfEnvironmentalLaw 

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The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory in effect for Rockland, Westchester, Putnam, and Orange counties from Tuesday, June 18th at 12 p.m. until Wednesday, June 19th at 8 p.m. During this period, heat index values are expected to reach between 95 and 100 degrees, with high temperatures to continue until the end of the week. High temperatures pose significant health risks, and at Greater Mental Health, we understand that the extreme temperatures this week may have an impact on specific populations, especially those who may be taking certain antidepressant, antipsychotic, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and blood pressure medications. For more local resources and educational information on how to stay safe during extreme temperatures, please visit https://lnkd.in/eRhUgEFJ.

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Productivity/Job Flow/service a problem? K-Town Disposal will be the solution. Busy season is HERE in the #propertymgt #construction and #demolition industries in the #Northeast #Boston area. We want our current and potential partners, clients, GCs, PMs, Property Managers, and owners to know we have stepped up our capacity to deliver top service at all levels (Urgency, Fleet, Labor, Containers, Tech) We will meet or exceed all productivity requirements with unmatched communication in order to keep your job sites or business flowing. We take #pride in this!! We are here for you when you need us - Night or Day. We #appreciate the opportunity!! Reach out today, and become a #priority! 📞 603-386-0386 📧 info@ktowndisposal.com #demo #constructionmanagement #projectmanagers #generalcontracting #boston #rolloff #demolition #roofing #hardscape #gc #contracting #mass #nh #contractors #homeowners #permanent #metal #development #apartmentmanagers #propertymanagers

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EFC Approves $116 Million for Projects to Advance Clean Water, Drinking Water Projects in Hudson Valley The NYS Environmental Facilities Corporation Bd of Dir approved more than $116 million in clean water and drinking water improvement projects in the HV region—part of more than $300 million in financial assistance awarded for water project upgrades across NYS. The board's approval on June 20 authorizes municipal access to low-cost financing & previously announced grants to get shovels in the ground for essential water & sewer infrastructure projects, including treatment processes to remove emerging contaminants from drinking water. The funding approved for 20 projects includes sig. investments from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the State Revolving Funds and the state’s Water Infrastructure Improvement grant program. The Board's approvals include financings through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and grants already announced pursuant to the WIIA program. BIL funding for water and sewer infrastructure is administered by EFC through the State Revolving Funds. Clean Water Projects in Hudson Valley Town of Thompson, Sullivan County—$13,012,000 grant and $14,358,967 interest-free financing from BIL; $1,000,000 market-rate CWSRF financing; and a $6,383,930 WIIA grant for the planning, design, and construction of upgrades at the Kiamesha Lake Wastewater Treatment Plant to protect water quality in Kiamesha Creek, a trout stream in the Delaware River Basin. TOTAL CLEAN WATER FUNDING ASSISTANCE: $34,754,897 Westchester County – Funding for four projects: $13,503,000 interest-free and $13,503,000 market-rate CWSRF financing; and a $2,029,400 WIIA grant for the planning, design, and construction of engine and blower replacements at the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant to protect water quality in the Hudson River. TOTAL: $29,035,400 $10,373,895 interest-free and $10,373,894 market-rate CWSRF financing; and $6,203,611 WIIA grant for phase IV heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment replacement, and odor control improvements at the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant to protect water quality in the Hudson River. TOTAL: $26,951,400 $3,666,875 interest-free and $3,666,875 market-rate CWSRF financing for repairs and upgrades to the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant secondary system to protect water quality in the Hudson River. TOTAL: $7,333,750 $3,759,165 interest-free and $3,759,164 market-rate CWSRF financing; & a $2,970,600 WIIA grant for the planning, design, and construction of sewer system repairs in the Peekskill, Ossining, Yonkers Joint, Blind Brook, Mamaroneck, and New Rochelle Sanitary Sewer Districts to protect water quality in the Hudson River & Long Island Sound. TOTAL: $10,488,929 TOTAL CLEAN WATER FUNDING ASSISTANCE-WESTCHESTER COUNTY: $73,809,479   TOTAL CLEAN WATER PROJECTS (HUDSON VALLEY): $108,564,376 Go to https://efc.ny.gov/cwsrf #cleanwater

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Have you received an NJ BPU letter requiring you to report your building's energy and water use? Below is what your letter will look like. Benchmarking for energy and water for 2023 is due by July 1, 2024. I am a NJ Certified Benchmarker and can help you submit your report. #NJBenchmarking #NJCleanEnergy #NJBPU #EnergyStarPortfolioManager

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Attention to our city and town partners: The deadline to submit Efficient Buildings Fund projects to the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources' project priority list is May 10th at 5:00 PM. We can help with free energy audits and free energy consulting services. Learn more about the benefits of the Efficient Buildings Fund and how to apply! #energyefficiency #cleanenergy

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Passaic Valley Water Commission planning to meet new EPA drinking water guidelines by 2029 (Clifton, N.J. – April 25, 2024) – This month, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals.’ These manufactured chemicals can be found in food packaging, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, stain resistant carpets and firefighting foam. Over time, PFAS naturally breaks down and accumulates in air, soil and water and can be ingested by the human body. Identified health risks include reproductive issues, developmental delays in children, increased cancer risks, compromised immune function, hormonal interference, elevated cholesterol, and liver damage.   Last week, Passaic Valley Water Commission (PVWC) was featured in a News 12 New Jersey story, where Executive Director Jim Mueller explained how PVWC is planning to comply with the new federal drinking water mandate. PVWC would like to remind its customers that it has been successfully removing PFAS since August 2022, when the company completed the installation of a resin ion exchange system to remove high levels of PFAS in West Milford’s Nosenzo Pond well system. This system complies with the new federal regulations for PFAS.   The difference between Nosenzo Pond and the PVWC Little Falls Water Treatment Plant (LFWTP) is the volume of water treated. Since the amount of water treated is significantly larger at the LFWTP (80 million gallons per-day), PVWC worked with an external consultant, Cornwell Engineers, and the Water Research Foundation (WRF), to develop a pilot testing program to evaluate options to remove additional PFAS at the LFWTP. The pilot began operation in February 2024 and WRF is performing a national peer review using subject matter experts to review the methodology of the pilot testing program and validate the results. PVWC will be using the results of the pilot program to identify optimization opportunities for the existing treatment process as well as necessary upgrades to comply with the new PFAS standards by the 2029 deadline.   PVWC will keep its customers updated regularly on water quality via annual consumer confidence reports (CCRs), press releases, and social media. The company is also looking to continue hosting town hall meetings for customers to engage with our water professionals.   If you have not registered for our free notification system, please visit https://lnkd.in/e_QiTbGK.   Passaic Valley Water Commission, recipient of the 2023 Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies Gold Award for exceptional utility performance, serves over 800,000 consumers in Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris and Passaic counties. Please follow us on X (@PVWC), Instagram (@passaic_valley_water) and/or Facebook (@thePVWC).

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NUCA remains at the forefront of federal advocacy for utility contractors, while New Jersey's influence in shaping industry policies continues to grow. Recent efforts in Congress have focused on preserving critical funding for water construction projects in the state, facing significant proposed cuts which NUCA is actively working to mitigate through ongoing lobbying efforts in the House. #utilityconstrution #NUCAStrongerTogether

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GHHN Awards $65,250 Statewide for the 2024 NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program: Preservation Supplies and Site Assessments! 92 organizations from around NYS received funding - awards range from $223 to $1,000. 70 organizations received funding for preservation supplies. Funded requests include: * 698 boxes * 234 trays and enclosures * 5 HEPA vacuums * 4 display cases * 6 fans or dehumidifiers * acid free tissue for 26 organizations * data loggers/monitors for 9 organizations * UV blocking window film for 2 organizations * temporary shelving for 6 organizations * 21 organizations will purchase miscellaneous supplies including stockinette, tags, digital camera, muslin, cotton tying tape, UV indicator cards, Tyvek, vacuum microtools, PPE, and insect traps * 1 organization will purchase materials to clean and care for their silver collection * 3 organizations will purchase materials to create custom storage * 1 organization will purchase materials to create a disaster preparedness kit 22 organizations received funding for site assessments: * 6 sites will undergo general assessments * 4 will have site assessments focused on storage/housing * 2 will have assessments focused on disaster preparedness planning * 6 will have assessments on specific material types: textiles (3), art (2), and frames (1) * 3 will have assessments focused on environmental controls The 2024 NYSCA/GHHN Conservation Grant Program: Preservation Supplies and Site Assessment Grants are administered by Greater Hudson Heritage Network, in partnership with the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA), with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional funding from the ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION INC supports projects from Long Island and New York City. Read the press release here: https://conta.cc/4bp9JHL

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FutureLV: The Regional Plan covers a range of topics that are important to the Lehigh Valley region: land use and preservation, economy, environment, housing, farming policies, and transportation planning and investment. See for yourself at https://lnkd.in/dDR63Dnf.

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New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy enacted S2760 / A4384 into law, which took effect on January 8, 2024. This legislation introduces significant changes for community associations in New Jersey, focusing on two key areas: building inspections and reserve studies. These components are designed to enhance the management and safety of community associations within the state.   Here’s a Detailed Overview of New Jersey Bill S2760/A4384. Inspection Timelines for New and Existing Buildings: 1. Aged older than 15 years must be inspected on or before January 8, 2026 2. Aged 1 to 15 years must be inspected within one (1) year of the building reaching fifteen (15) years. 3. Any subsequent inspections shall take place within five (5) years of the preceding inspection. 4. Regardless of the above timelines, if there is observable damage to a primary load bearing system noted during an inspection, a re-inspection must occur within sixty (60) days of the preceding inspection. Learn more about New Jersey's S2760 #structuralintegrity bill: https://lnkd.in/enWXZi5R Learn more about our #buildinginspection services: https://lnkd.in/ew7DskBP #NJStructuralInspections #BuildingSafetyNJ #NewJerseyInspections #StructuralIntegrityNJ #NJBuildingCodes #SafeStructuresNJ #NJConstructionInspection #NewJerseyEngineers #PropertyInspectionNJ #NJRealEstateInspections #RerservesStudiesNJ #S2760 #StructuralInspectionBill #WeKnowBuildings

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Attention commercial, industrial, and institutional property owners in Eastern MA – big changes are on the horizon regarding new rigorous Clean Water Act (CWA) stormwater discharge permitting requirements. Peter Tamm and Patrick O'Connor outline how these changes may impact your properties, and how you can get ahead of the curve to ensure compliance in our latest advisory here: https://bit.ly/3xGMLhn

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We're halfway through Infrastructure Week 2024. Read about some of our projects! #PVWC #PVWCproud #InfrastructureWeek2024

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