Author: Andrew J. Scholz

Garbage pile in trash dump or landfill. Pollution concept.
Climate Change / Emissions
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Waste Reduction Programs to Take on Climate Change

In 2015, California’s former governor Edmund Brown Jr. set methane emissions-reduction targets for the state. Senate Bill 1383 requires that California reduce organic waste disposal 75 percent by the year 2025. Although most Californians did not begin to understand what these targets meant, 2022 marked the beginning of new waste disposal requirements for many statewide. These requirements include organics curbside-collection services and new waste collection bins designed specifically for organic waste (including, in some areas, bins designed to go inside residential refrigerators for food waste.)

Each city …

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COVID-19 / Emerging Issues / Water Contamination
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Amid Covid-19 Concerns, Premises Owners and Managers Should Not Forget about Legionella

It would be hard to imagine there is anyone in the country who is unaffected, let alone unaware, of the dramatic steps imposed by federal, state, and local governments to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. However, government restrictions prohibiting the operation of many “non-essential” businesses, bans against large gatherings, “stay at home orders,” and mandatory remote employment have a major impact beyond the obvious immediate economic hardships. They also have caused thousands of buildings and facilities to remain unoccupied or at best occupied …

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Emerging Issues / New York
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Legionella Strikes Again In New York City

As we recently reported, New York City recently increased its enforcement of regulations for treating cooling towers, particularly given that the increased risk of legionella from cooling towers during the warmer summer months.

Legionnaires’ disease is caused by pathogen known as legionella. Legionella is a water-borne bacteria, transmitted through aerosolized droplets of water, e.g., the mist or condensation by-products of HVAC cooling towers on top of buildings. While a relatively common bacteria, legionella, when not properly treated in a water system, can …

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General
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CMS Clarifies Legionnaires Infection Control Requirement For Nursing Homes

In early July, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a clarifying memorandum to certified healthcare facilities regarding CMS’s “expectations” for mitigation of legionella risks. Specifically, CMS’s letter revises a prior memorandum and clarifies expectations related to legionella risk mitigation.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious type of pneumonia caused by a waterborne pathogen known as legionella. It is contracted when susceptible individuals inhale water droplets or mist containing elevated levels of legionella bacteria. The number of legionnaires cases reported to CDC has …

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Water Contamination
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CDC Reports Outbreaks Associated With Untreated Recreational Water on the Rise: An Overview of the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) is a weekly epidemiological digest for the United States published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is considered by many practicing in the public health sector to be the primary publication for sharing public health information and recommendations that have been received by the CDC from state health departments.

Recently, The Environmental Law Monitor reported on the May 18, 2018 CDC Report: “Outbreaks Associated with Treated Recreational Water – United States, 2000-2014. The …

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Water Contamination
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CDC Reports Outbreaks Associated With Treated Recreational Water on the Rise: An Overview of the CDC’s MMWR

The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) is a weekly epidemiological digest for the United States published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is considered by many practicing in the public health sector to be the primary publication for sharing public health information and recommendations that have been received by the CDC from state health departments.

On May 18, 2018 the CDC published “Outbreaks Associated with Treated Recreational Water – United States, 2000-2014. (MMWR May 18, 2018/67(19); 547-551). This report …

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