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THE ECA REPORTERA Publication of the Environmental Contractors Association of New York City
It has been a busy year for the
Environmental Contractors Association
and we are pleased to share our latest
newsletter featuring a look back at
ECA’s recent highlights as we transition
into the New Year.
The ECA is advocating for a new
item of legislation that establishes an environmental hazard
remediation technician registration program and has recently
gained the unanimous support of the New York City Council.
The ECA partnered with Mayor Bloomberg and the Mayor’s
Office of Housing Recovery Operations in a successful initiative
to treat and remove mold in homes impacted by Hurricane
Sandy. In further support of the impact of the environmental
community on recovery efforts, the ECA hosted a special
breakfast seminar entitled, “Superstorm Sandy: A Look Back
and Ahead at Disaster Recovery,” which featured a keynote
presentation by Cas Holloway, New York City Deputy Mayor for
Operations. Due to ECA’s pioneering efforts in the remediation
community following Hurricane Sandy such as these, the City
of New York has established a Memorandum of Cooperation
between the NYC Office of Emergency Management and ECA
to plan for future environmental emergencies.
Congratulations to Pinnacle Environmental Corp. and Local 78
for receiving the 2013 Emmy Award for Outstanding Societal
Concerns for the episode of “George to the Rescue”
that featured their services in the asbestos remediation
of the Grosvenor Neighborhood House YMCA in
Morningside Heights.
The ECA welcomes Morris Napolitano, President of Degmor,
Inc. as the association’s new Chairman.
We are proud to announce the formation of the Environmental
Advisory Council, an independent group of environmental
remediation professionals that will serve as a resource to the
industry and identify environmental issues and mitigation plans
through best practices that promote environmental wellness.
The ECA looks forward to continued success and progress
in 2014. In memory of Frank J. Garito, the ECA is developing
a scholarship fund to continue his outstanding impact on
the environmental community. Look out for more information
on this scholarship in January. We additionally anticipate
the growth of the ECA during the upcoming 2014
Membership Drive.
We wish you and your families happiness and health in 2014.
All the best,
Karen Grando
President
ECAENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
WIN
TER
2014
The ECA Reporter 1
ECA Influences Legislation Establishing Environmental Hazard Remediation Technician Registration Program
The ECA is pleased to announce the new legislation that establishes a voluntary master environmental
hazard remediation technician registration program. The ECA is advocating for this legislation as a solution
to the significant increase of asthma and other respiratory conditions as a result of asthma triggers, irritants,
pathogens, fungi and mold, including stachybotrys chartarum, soot from severe smoke or fire damage
and flood damage, mold or environmental pathogens and potentially infectious materials as defined by 29
CFR 1910, including viruses, bacteria, chemical spills and sewage. The legislation calls for a highly trained
workforce with skills across individual hazard and remediation method techniques to address these hazards
in a safe manner.
Recognizing Highly Skilled and Certified Workers
The registration program only recognizes those who are sufficiently trained to provide environmental
hazard remediation efficiently, effectively and safely, having satisfactorily completed all of the following
programs: occupational safety and health administration safety standards; New York state asbestos handler;
environmental protection agency lead worker; hazardous waste operations; microbial remediation; water
damage restoration or institute of inspection cleaning and restoration certification water damage restoration
certification; fire damage restoration or institute of inspection cleaning and restoration certification fire and
smoke restoration technician certification; polyychlorinated biphenyls awareness; bloodborne pathogens and
infection control risk assessment. These requirements for registration ensure a uniform standard of training
that will allow the citizens of New York City to have confidence that environmental hazard remediation is done
with the utmost quality and care.
After gaining the unanimous support of the New York City Council this past December, the ECA is confident
that the bill will initiate progress in the environmental remediation community and will ultimately be signed
into law. For more information on the new Environmental Hazard Remediation bill and technician registration
program, please contact Joyce Nastasi, Executive Director of the Environmental Contractors Association at
(212) 682-0062 or via e-mail at joyeca@earthlink.net.
ECA Partners With Mayor Bloomberg For Mold Remediation Program
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the ECA collaborated with Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and the Mayor’s
Office of Housing Recovery Operations on a new initiative to treat and remove mold in homes impacted by
the storm. This unique public-private partnership, coordinated by Neighborhood Revitalization NYC and
administered by Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), brought not-for-profit organizations and private
contractors—including many ECA members—together to provide mold treatments for affected households.
The initiative was a huge success and will serve as a model for future post-disaster mold remediation
programs.
Unique Public Private Partnership
The City partnered with the ECA to supply homeowners and volunteers with the guidance and proper
equipment to remove mold, distributing hundreds of heaters and dehumidifiers to relief centers in the
hardest-hit areas. This unique public-private partnership, coordinated by Neighborhood Revitalization NYC,
will bring not-for-profit organizations and private contractors—including many ECA members—together to
provide mold treatments for affected households.
Helping New York’s Families
Mayor Michael Bloomberg said of the initiative, “Through our first-of-its-kind Rapid Repairs program, we have
helped more than 15,000 families return to their homes. But mold remains a challenge that many residents
are confronting. Thanks to generous donations from people around the country and the world, the Mayor’s
Fund, the Red Cross and the Robin Hood Foundation have teamed up to sponsor a $15 million mold-clean-
up effort that will help thousands of families.”
Awareness and Training
In addition to the city’s direct mold treatment program, the Mayor’s Fund will sponsor free awareness and
safe practice trainings on mold treatment work.
Cas Holloway Speaks at ECA Superstorm Sandy Seminar
This past fall, the ECA hosted a special breakfast seminar, entitled Superstorm Sandy: A Look Back and
Ahead at Disaster Recovery, which featured a keynote presentation delivered by Cas Holloway, the New York
City Deputy Mayor for Operations.
The seminar recognized the individuals who came together to form an outstanding program in response to
Hurricane Sandy and highlighted the positive impact of the environmental remediation community following
the disaster. The seminar included two panel discussions, An Unprecedented Disaster with Unprecedented
The ECA Reporter 1
Challenges and Disaster Recovery Response: Innovative Solutions and Lessons Learned, led by industry
leaders and ECA members. Speakers included:
• Karen Grando, ECA President
• Robert Avaltroni, Four Bridges Consulting Services
• Doug Glorie, STV Inc. and Environmental Advisory Council Chair
• Gary DiPaolo, Structure Tone
• Robert Kulick, OSHA Region II Regional Administrator
• Morris Napolitano, Degmor, Inc.
• Edison Severino, Local 78—Asbestos, Lead and Hazardous Waste Laborers
• Richard Tobin, NYC Fire Department
• Daniel Zarrilli, Mayor’s Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability
• Louis Coletti, Building Trades Employers’ Association
• Brad Gair, Mayor’s Housing Recovery Office
• Richard Anderson, NY Building Congress
• Bryan Fryklund, Flood Control America
• Michael Gilsenan, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
• Steven Pirovolikos, Structure Tone
• Denise Scott, Local Initiatives Support Corporation
• Geraldine Sweeney, Mayor’s Office of Operations
The seminar offered crucial information on the innovations that the environmental remediation industry has
developed that will benefit future disaster-recovery efforts. To view photos from this event, click here: http://www.ecanyc.org/img/october2013/index.html.
ECA Develops Memorandum of Cooperation with NYC Office of Emergency Management to Improve Response to Environmental Disasters
Recognizing the ECA and its members’ landmark contributions and leadership in addressing water damage
and mold conditions in New York City homes impacted by Hurricane Sandy, the City of New York has
established a Memorandum of Cooperation between the ECA and the New York City Office of Emergency
Management (NYC OEM) to create a formal response to significant emergency conditions and events that
require a multi-agency response with the goal of improving upon the City’s existing environmental emergency
response and remediation planning and protocols.
Critical Resources to Become Available
The ECA and the NYC OEM will collaborate in the development of various plans, tools, standards, training
materials and exercises, similar to those previously produced by the ECA, to enhance environmental
emergency response on a local and regional level utilizing public and private remediation capabilities. The
ECA and the NYC OEM will develop training programs, drills, joint seminars, workshops and technical
meetings, employing the specialized expertise of the NYC OEM, the ECA and its members. The partnership
will initiate the discovery, evaluation and sharing of new technology and equipment available to environmental
response and remediation operations. The organizations will also get involved in external public and private
initiatives that support environmental response and remediation.
Looking Forward to Improved Disaster Response
The ECA is looking forward to working with the NYC OEM to prepare the City of New York with the tools and
knowledge needed to take on future disasters like Hurricane Sandy and to enhance the City’s environmental
emergency response. After the incredible success of the Rapid Repairs mold remediation initiative, the ECA
expects that the Memorandum of Cooperation will create even greater progress, and will further establish a
dependable future for environmental emergency response and remediation.
The ECA Reporter 1
Pinnacle Environmental and Local 78 Win Emmy Award For George to the Rescue Episode
We are thrilled to congratulate member contractor Pinnacle Environmental Corp., Local 78—Asbestos, Lead
& Hazardous Waste Laborers, and the NBC television series “George to the Rescue,” for having received the
2013 Emmy Award for Outstanding Societal Concerns for the episode of the series featuring the asbestos
remediation of the Grosvenor Neighborhood House YMCA in Manhattan.
Asbestos Called for Industry Experts Pinnacle and Local 78
When the “George to the Rescue” crew of contractors began the renovation of the run down YMCA kitchen
in Morningside Heights, the team discovered that all of the kitchen’s pipes were wrapped in asbestos.
This complex obstacle required the specialized expertise of Pinnacle Environmental Corp. and Local 78—
Asbestos, Lead & Hazardous Waste Laborers to remediate the asbestos with the highest possible standards
of safety and quality.
The team of industry veterans sealed off the entire room and installed new pipes, electric work, plumbing,
gas lines and ventilation systems. The contractors additionally finished the new teaching kitchen with state-
of-the-art appliances, as well as new flooring, ceiling, cabinets, counter tops and an organic herb garden.
Providing Cooking Classes and Nutritional Education for New York City
The Grosvenor Neighborhood House YMCA serves as a second home for countless residents of New York
City. The establishment is dedicated to strengthening the community by nurturing the potential of children,
promoting healthy living and fostering a sense of social responsibility. The new teaching kitchen at the
Grosvenor Neighborhood House YMCA is part of the program Salsa, Sabor Y Salud, created by Latinos for
Latinos to engage the community in cooking classes and nutritional education for adults and children in New
York City.
To view this episode of George to the rescue, click here: http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/the-rescue-george-updates-a-ymca-kitchen/1d2kyhfy5
Morris Napolitano Appointed to Chairman of the ECA
Morris Napolitano, President of Degmor, Inc., has been appointed to Chairman of the ECA. Morris has
been a vital member of the association, having served on the board of directors as Vice President for many
years, and has brought extraordinary expertise and passion for the remediation community to the ECA and
greater environmental industry. He has led the association through some of its most successful projects
and achievements. Most recently, Morris was instrumental in the development of the Environmental Hazard
Remediation Bill that was passed into New York City law this December.
Morris founded Degmor, Inc. in 1988 and has been serving the New York metropolitan area with the highest
quality of environmental remediation services, specializing in disaster related damage and environmental
contamination for decades. He is a go-to source for expertise on all facets of environmental hazard
remediation, including mold remediation, Critical Point Cleaning, flood recovery and structural drying, fire
damage restoration, asbestos and lead abatement, trauma and crime scene clean up and air scrubbing,
deodorization and duct cleaning.
The ECA has achieved incredible success due to Morris’ dedicated contributions thus far and we look
forward to his leadership in his new role as Chairman.
The ECA Reporter 1
Environmental Advisory Council
We are pleased to announce the formation of the Environmental Advisory Council, an elite group of
environmental remediation professionals working toward advancing the remediation industry by creating
an open dialogue for best practices and advanced methods. The council is independent from the ECA and
will address issues ranging from asbestos abatement to pathogen contamination and reducing risk for all
facilities through effective, safe remediation.
The ECA recognized that pathogen-borne contaminants are an increasingly alarming issue in the built
environment and called on top remediation experts to form a group dedicated to promoting safety,
effectiveness and efficiency in resolving pathogen-borne crises. The advisory council members include:
• Gary DiPaolo, Vice President, Safety, Structure Tone
• Steve Pirovolikos, Safety Director, Structure Tone
• Morris Napolitano, President, Degmor Inc.
• Douglas Glorie, Senior Project Manager, STV Incorporated
• Richard Tobin, Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention, FDNY
• Uday Singh, Industrial Hygiene Consultants
• Denise Holzka, Heidell, Pittoni, Murphy & Bach, LLP
• Robert Avaltroni, ECA Advisor
• Costa Constantinides, Councilman-Elect, New York City Council, 22nd District
The council’s mission is to identify environmental issues and mitigation plans through best practices that
promote environmental wellness.
For more information about the Environmental Advisory Council, please contact Joyce Nastasi,
Executive Director of the Environmental Contractors Association at (212) 682-0062 or via e-mail at
joyeca@earthlink.net.
Frank J. Garito Memorial Scholarship
In memory of Frank J. Garito, dear friend and founding member of ECA, we have established a scholarship
fund to benefit a child of an ECA member. Frank was recognized throughout the New York City construction
community as an industry pioneer and dedicated leader. He was CEO and President of Asbestos
Corporation of America and ACA Environmental Services of Yonkers, NY and was also active in many
construction industry trade and charitable organizations, receiving more than 40 awards for his contributions
and activity in many charitable, benevolent, fraternal, civic and youth organizations over the years.
Frank was president and a member of the Board of Directors of the Environmental Contractors Association of
New York City and served on the Board of Governors of the Building Trades Employers’ Association of New
York City. He was also President of NDR Group, a non-profit housing corporation that built over 1,200 units of
housing in New Rochelle for income-limited families.
Frank resided in Somers, NY and is survived by loving family members Frank, Jr., (Kathy) of Aliso Viejo,
California, Stephen (Maria) of New Rochelle, New York, and Roellen Bishop of Irvington, New York, as well as
grandchildren Stephanie, Leanna and Sam Garito, Weston and Jena Bishop and Isabella Rose Garito.
Please look out for more information on the scholarship this coming January.
The ECA Reporter 1
Refer A Friend to the ECA
As we enter the New Year, the ECA is pleased to announce the 2014 Membership Drive. We encourage all
members to invite other independent environmental contractors to join the association and take advantage
of the many membership benefits. While referring a friend to the ECA, feel free to share the following
advantages to joining the association:
1. ECA members pay lower rates for workers.
2. ECA members aren’t required to use the hiring hall.
3. ECA members have negotiated a special residential recovery rate.
4. ECA members have a “Most Favored Nations” clause in the Collective Bargaining Agreement, protecting
ECA members from the unions entering into a contract with more favorable terms than the ECA.
5. ECA members have no personal liability to the Union Trust Funds.
6. ECA members have access to city agencies regulating the environmental business standards and laws,
and New York City, State and federal policymakers.
7. ECA members benefit from the ECA’s advocacy on key legislative issues facing our industry.
Please direct any interested contractors to Joyce Nastasi, and encourage them to reach out to her at
212.682.0062 or joyeca@earthlink.net.
The ECA is a proud and active member of the New York Building Congress, the Building Trades Employers’
Association, the Restoration Industry Association and the Environmental Information Association.
Grow Your Business In 2014
The Berman Group is pleased to offer all ECA members $500 off marketing, public relations and creative
services through December 2014. Upgrade your website, create a marketing brochure or start sharing
your successes through public relations. Please contact Sarah Berman at sberman@bermangrp.com or
212.450.7300.
A Publication of the Environmental Contractors Association
5 Penn Plaza | 19th Floor | New York, NY 10001 | Phone: 212.682.0062 | Fax: 212.849.6948 | email: joyeca@earthlink.com | www.ecanyc.org
WIN
TER
2014
ECAENVIRONMENTAL CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
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