September 30, 2020

September 2020 - Wastewater Sampling - An Early Warning System for SARS-CoV-2

September 30, 2020/ Samir Qadir

Sampling of wastewater effluent is an emerging strategy to detect and prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). As we look to reopen the economy and get people back to work, implementing proactive solutions that ensure the safety of employees, customers, and their families should be a top priority for all facilities. Many businesses and institutions have already begun taking steps to ensure worker and customer safety as part of their COVID-19 prevention and risk reduction strategy.

August 27, 2020

August 2020 - PHE Wins Another Contract with the United States Army Corps of Engineers!

August 27, 2020/ Samir Qadir

PHE, along with our joint venture partner Michael Baker International, was recently awarded a third indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Mobile District! The latest award is a Small Business contract to provide environmental planning services, with contract capacity of $40 million. Through this contract, PHE and Baker will support the USACE Mobile District’s Planning and Environmental Division to provide solutions to complex environmental planning needs.

July 30, 2020

JULY 2020 - Nuclear Power: Today’s Climate Change Solution or Tomorrow’s Predicament?

July 30, 2020/ Samir Qadir

With substantially lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than fossil fuel-generated electricity, nuclear power has received new attention as one measure to lower global GHG emissions and help mitigate climate change. While there is mounting urgency to develop and deploy carbon-free energy technologies, it is important to consider related environmental, health, and safety risks regardless of those technologies. Is the U.S., and indeed the world, prepared to deal with the unique risks and challenges that nuclear energy presents in return for its carbon benefits?

April 22, 2020

April 2020 - Earth Day Reflections: Environmental Compliance Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic

April 22, 2020/ Samir Qadir

On Earth Day 2020, PHE takes stock of how we can continue to fulfill our environmental responsibilities, even as organizations struggle to cope with a dangerous and uncertain global pandemic. COVID-19 has caused disruption on a scale not seen in recent history. However, our experience with attendant disruptions to personnel and other resources in times of other crises (such as natural disasters), provides valuable insight into the types of compliance deficiencies and liabilities that can occur during these times.

March 03, 2020

March 2020 - America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) Of 2018 - How Prepared Are You?

March 03, 2020/ Samir Qadir

On October 23, 2018, America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) was signed into law. Congress passed this amendment to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in response to the extensive damage to drinking water utilities from Hurricanes Maria and Harvey. AWIA requires utilities to prepare for disruptions by conducting a risk and resilience assessment, preparing an emergency response plan, and updating these documents every 5 years thereafter. Unlike previous legislation that required water systems to assess their vulnerability to malevolent acts, AWIA requires an all-hazards approach, considering cyber and natural hazards as well as malevolent threats. Compliance deadlines under AWIA are rapidly approaching. Read on to learn more about the law and how PHE can help you stay in compliance!

September 06, 2019

September 2019 - Section 508 Compliance: 6 Tips to Stay on Track When Preparing Accessible Public Documents

September 06, 2019/ Guest User

Public involvement is an essential component of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and when the Federal Government produces accessible documents, individuals with disabilities can review and engage with the project. It’s also the law! Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires Federal documents and websites to be compatible with assistive technologies, which make them accessible to individuals with disabilities. This section was created in 1998, as Congress recognized the need for regulations governing accessibility in technology and electronic devices. On January 19, 2017, the U.S. Access Board issued a final rule that requires contractors to provide Section 508-compliant deliverables for media that will be released to the public. Therefore, digital NEPA documents, such as Environmental Impact Statements (EISs) or Environmental Assessments (EAs), need to be Section 508-compliant. By creating high-quality documents that conform with Section 508 rules, you will ensure that the greatest number of people will have the opportunity to engage with the project and provide their comments.

July 09, 2019

July 2019 – It’s Time for More Resilient Infrastructure: Reducing Risk Through Adaptation

July 09, 2019/ Guest User

Our nation’s infrastructure faces increasing risks from extreme weather and other changes to climatic conditions. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has identified 16 critical infrastructure systems that are essential to our security and economic prosperity. These systems depend on various physical facilities and assets to provide a range of essential services like energy, clean water, transportation, and communication. Examples of essential assets include roads, bridges, power plants, electrical transmission lines, water treatment plants, and communication towers, all of which are potentially vulnerable to severe weather and other effects from climatic changes. This Pulse article identifies current and likely future changes to the environment and explores the concepts of adaptation and resilience as they apply to infrastructure.

April 16, 2019

April 2019 - Sustainability & Waste Management at the 2019 National NAEP Conference

April 16, 2019/ Guest User

Join Chris Rua, CHMM on May 21, 2019 at the 2019 National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Chris, a Senior Compliance Specialist with PHE, will be presenting a paper on why a sustainable approach to construction and demolition (C&D) waste management is not only good for our environment, but can reduce regulatory compliance burdens and add to the bottom-line.

Facility managers tasked with the responsibility of sustainably managing their wastes often run up against some significant challenges when dealing with C&D waste. This is especially true for federal facility managers/engineers that are required to comply with Executive Order 13834, Efficient Federal Operations, which mandates that federal agencies implement waste prevention and recycling measures in a manner that increases efficiency, optimizes performance, eliminates unnecessary use of resources, and protects the environment. Register today and learn about the challenges of managing construction and demolition waste, tips for cost saving measures, and potential opportunities for sustainable management.

October 04, 2018

Looking forward with 30 years of perspective

October 04, 2018/ Fred Carey

The last 30 years have transformed the way we understand and address human impact on the environment, and have increased emphasis on conducting business in an environmentally sensitive manner. Since its founding in 1988, PHE has been helping businesses and government agencies achieve a balance between mission-effectiveness and protection of our natural resources. With three decades of hard-earned experience, PHE’s commitment to helping our clients navigate complex environmental requirements – and address new environmental and societal challenges – is stronger than ever!

July 26, 2018

July 2018 - Top 5 Things Facility Managers Should Know About New Refrigerant Management Requirements

July 26, 2018/ Guest User

Managing refrigerant and refrigeration systems can be a challenge for facilities and facility managers due in part to expanding regulatory requirements. Section 608 (Refrigerant Management Requirements) of the Clean Air Act was updated to expand requirements for managing ozone-depleting substance (ODS) refrigerants to now also include ODS substitutes. ODS substitutes which are now regulated include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) (e.g., R-410A, R-407C and R-134a), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) (e.g., R-116), and hydrofluoro-olefins (HFOs) (e.g., 1234YF). These are collectively referred to as “non-exempt ODS substitutes.”

News