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.
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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.
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Voting will open on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 for the 2017-2018 LSP Association (LSPA) Board of Directors election. Board positions will take effect July 1, 2017.
Ballots will be sent by email to all LSPA members, both Full and Associate. We encourage all members to vote.
The LSPA's 9-member Board of Directors is composed of LSPA members who combine experience in environmental work with a passion for supporting and promoting the LSP practice. Current LSPA Board members are shown here.
Provided below are the candidates on this year's ballot. There were no members who petitioned to be on the election ballot.
Three 3-year positions, from 2017 - 2020:
The Board of Directors believes that these three candidates have demonstrated their commitment to the Association and are well-positioned to ensure its continuing success.
To view the candidates' statements of interest and photos, click here.
New Board members will be announced at the LSPA monthly membership meeting on Thursday, June 8, 2017 at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough, MA, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM.
If you have questions or comments, please contact Wendy Rundle, LSPA Executive Director at [email protected] or 617-484-4027.
Thank you for your participation,
Michael A. Penzo, LSP
LSP Association President
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For the second year in a row, representatives of the LSPA presented a workshop at the annual training conference of the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards (MAHB). This conference is specifically targeted to elected and appointed Board of Health members in Massachusetts. Many health agents and public health nurses also attend.
On November 5, 2016, and again on November 12, 2016, the LSPA program, “Case Study of a Hazardous Waste Site Cleanup” was delivered in Taunton and Marlborough, respectively, as part of the Community and Environmental Health section of the conference. Presenters for the LSPA were Cosmo Gallinaro, LSP, LSPA Board Member, and Isaac Anderson, former Chair of the Technical Practices Committee (Nov. 5th), and Mike Penzo, LSP, LSPA President and Marilyn Wade, LSP, LSPA President Elect (Nov. 12th). Each session drew about a dozen engaged registrants with real, immediate issues and concerns.
Incremental Sampling Methodology, Growing into an Everyday Tool
Live Webinar via Zoom
2.0 Technical LSP Credits (#1848)
CT LEP, NY PE/PG Credits PENDING
High Viscosity LNAPL Recoverability Assessment
OnDemand Course
1.0 Technical LSP Credit (#1794)
NY PE/PG (#20239469)
LNAPL Regulatory Change, Guidance and Progress
OnDemand Course
4.0 DEP Regulatory Credits (#1676A)
Brownfields and Environmental Justice, Guidance and Progress
OnDemand Course
1.5 DEP Regulatory Credits (#1811A)
1.0 NY PE/PG Credit (#20239813)
LSPA activities and initiatives typically begin at the committee level. LSPA committees are actively involved in all aspects of the association.
Education
Emerging Professionals
Legislative
Loss Prevention
Regulations
Technical Practices
Western Massachusetts
