PCB Changes a Win for Labs & Stakeholders
Have you heard? One of the most significant changes to the Federal PCB Program since its inception was implemented last month. If you are involved in PCB cleanup and disposal, be sure to understand the amended PCB regulation and how the changes may affect your work.
EPA’s “Alternate PCB Extraction Methods and Amendments to PCB Cleanup and Disposal Regulations” took effect on February 26, 2024, providing more cost effective, efficient, and environmentally favorable options for PCB contaminated properties. The EPA has added amendments to improve process while reducing errors and ambiguity. Here at ARA, we are particularly excited about the revised extraction and determinative methods for PCBs.
Prior to these new rules in the Federal Register for example, EPA had required that Soxhlet extraction (Method 3540C) be performed for TSCA sites. This decades-old rule was the standard, despite the availability of greener and less cumbersome laboratory methods such as microwave extraction.
Some of you have been advocating with ARA for years to make these changes a reality. Thank you! We are thrilled to now be able to provide our customers with quality data they expect, while utilizing greener, faster, cheaper analytical alternatives. If you have questions about what all of this means for your projects, give us call.
Work for Water
“ChatGPT can’t fix a water main break. And Siri can’t run a water filtration plant.”
– Jennifer Pedersen, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Water Works Association, addressing the looming Water Worker shortage in the US.
The aging workforce issues we’ve been hearing about in the skilled trades extends to many industries, including Water Treatment.
The average age of employees in the water sector is 48 years, and 30 to 50 percent of those workers will be eligible to retire within the next 5 to 10 years. (Dickerson and Butler, 2018).
As our water stewards continue to age and retire, there is growing concern that many water systems will be left understaffed and vulnerable unless something is done to recruit young workers to the industry.
In an effort to correct the assumption that a career in water means being surrounded by wastewater and sewers all day, a nationwide campaign has begun to educate youth about the hundreds of different career opportunities that exist in the Water Industry.
In addition to efforts by EPA and nonprofit-led groups such as workforwater.org, many municipalities and high schools across the US have embarked on campaigns to recruit more young adults to the profession with promises of great pay, job stability, paid training programs, and many entry level pathways with appealing growth potential.
Those of us in the industry recognize the vital importance of strong, stable water management and infrastructure, but many in the general population don’t often give it much thought. Recruiting and maintaining a strong water workforce will ensure our citizens continue to have access to clean water well into the future.
For more information or to learn ways to help, visit
EPA’s “Americas Water Sector Workforce Initiative: A Call to Action
Meet the IAQ Team
If you’ve needed our Indoor Air Quality services over the past several years, you have likely met Jason or Alison. If you’re a regular, you are probably lucky enough to have worked with them both!
Jason is our IAQ Manager, overseeing all activities related to helping clients with indoor air quality concerns. Jason is an ACAC Certified Indoor Environmentalist (CIE), Asbestos Inspector, Asbestos Consultant, and Certified Lead Inspector. He celebrated 10 years with ARA in 2023, and has earned a reputation with our clients and industry partners as a smart, efficient, professional, easy going IAQ problem solver.
Alison has been with ARA since 2006! An ACAC Certified Mold Investigator (CMI), Asbestos Inspector, Lead Inspector, and Field Analyst for Mold and Asbestos, Alison loves helping customers tackle their IAQ issues and being out in the field. Prior to joining the IAQ Team, Alison was an analyst in our lab, which makes her a doubly valuable asset to Team ARA and our clients. Her smart, friendly demeanor puts everyone at ease and our customers often ask for her by name.
If you’d like a free quote for mold, asbestos, hazmat inspections, lead, legionella, or other IAQ concern, give Jason or Alison a call.
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