On Friday, April 3, 2020 the LSPA submitted comments to the MA Department of Revenue on Working Draft Regulation 830 CMR 63.38Q.1, the Massachusetts Brownfields Tax Credit. Read our cover letter and the accompanying spreadsheet which presents our comments in more detail. Many thanks to the LSPA's Regulations Committee for compiling comments and to the many LSPA members who shared their feedback on the Working Draft regulation.
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Hardly the title for a stellar course, right? WRONG!
These two smiling, smart people received rave reviews from course participants:
While we can't comment on the specifics of this Blackstone property, we can say that Licensed Site Professionals (LSPs), attorneys, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), and the LSP Association (LSPA) hear regularly from homeowners who are overwhelmed and desperate about how they will afford to clean up home heating oil releases on their properties to meet the requirements of the State’s environmental regulations. Home heating oil spills are emotional and difficult for all involved.
Many homeowners do not have the financial means to pay for costly cleanups, and MassDEP does not have the public funds to do this itself. The backing of homeowners' insurance companies is critical to make cleanups financially viable. The LSPA is working with state legislators to mandate that insurance companies provide coverage to homeowners using oil heat - just like they do for homeowners using electric, gas, and other energy sources, and just as most homeowners would expect when purchasing insurance.
On December 3, 2018, LSPA Board Member Jeanine Grachuk, Principal at Beveridge & Diamond, spoke about “How Geologists and Environmental Consultants Interact with Lawyers” to 20 students at a meeting of the Student Chapter of the LSP Association at Bridgewater State University. Always great to connect practitioners with students, and possible future LSPs (or attorneys!).
The LSP Association (LSPA) recently announced leadership changes to the Board of Directors as well as the election of two new Board members. These changes went into effect on July 1, 2018 and were announced to the membership at the LSPA monthly meeting, which was held on June 13, 2018 in Taunton, MA.
Officers for this fiscal year are:
The LSP Association (LSPA) is pleased to announce that two new At-Large members were elected to the Board of Directors: David Leone, LSP, Associate Principal, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Norwood and Charles Young, LSP, Associate and Senior Environmental Project Manager, Stantec, Quincy were elected by LSPA members in early June. Their three year terms begin on July 1, 2018.
(Shown on Left: David Leone, Shown on Right: Charles Young)
LSPA’s Western Massachusetts Committee had a record-breaking number of attendees at its membership meeting on Monday, January 29.
We would like to thank our speakers of the evening: Mr. Jason Barroso, Waste Management, Inc.; Mr. Hugo DelRosso, US Ecology and Ms. Eva Tor, Bureau of Waste Site Cleanup, MassDEP’s Western Regional Office. The speakers addressed the topic of Waste Management Considerations for MCP Projects to an audience of 60+.
The LSP Association’s Board of Directors hosted over 300 attendees at this year’s LSPA Annual Dinner at the Lowell Inn & Conference Center in Lowell, Massachusetts. It was a wonderful night and great to see so many LSPA members, clients, and friends. The LSPA received impressive sponsorship support, presented a thought-provoking speaker, and the LSP Association Scholarship Fund was the recipient of generous donations through its silent auction.
Click here to see the photograph album from the evening. Special thanks to Elliot Steinberg, LSP and photographer from Haley & Aldrich.
LSPA Members Fill Two Vacancies at LSP Board of Registration
Congratulations to long-time LSPA members, Gregg McBride and Marc Richards, for their recent appointments to the LSP Board of Registration of Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup Professionals (aka The LSP Board). Gregg McBride fills the LSP in manufacturing seat and Marc Richards was appointed to the LSP at large seat. Please see below for more information on our new Board members! With these two new appointments, one vacant seat remains on the 11 member Board of Registration. Three Board members must be members of "statewide organizations that promote the protection of the environment" at the time of appointments and who are knowledgeable with respect to issues involving responding to releases of oil and hazardous materials." One of these environmental seats is vacant and has been for over three years. |
The LSPA is preparing to testify on S. 534, an act relative to the remediation of home heating oil releases. Senate Bill #534 was authored by the LSPA to enhance the current law by requiring coverage be provided to homeowners and raising coverage limits to keep pace with rising remediation costs. This bill will be heard by the Joint Committee on Financial Services in mid-October.
And now, we are asking for your help! Here are a few ways that you can support S. 534:
Marilyn Wade, LSP, Managing Engineer for Brown and Caldwell, has been appointed President of the LSP Association (LSPA). Wade is currently serving a second term on the LSPA Board of Directors. During her previous term, she served as President-Elect and Treasurer.
Jeanine Grachuk, Esq, a Partner and Environmental Attorney with Beveridge & Diamond, P.C. of Wellesley, MA, will begin serving her second 3-year term on the Board of Directors and will continue to serve as Clerk.