Lehigh Cement Co. Gets DEC Permission To Use Alternative Fuel Source For Production

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Lehigh Cement Co. received state approval for a modification to its state air emissions permit.
Courtesy of Lehigh Cement Company LLC

by Christine Graf
Lehigh Cement Co. LLC in Glens Falls received state approval in July for a modification to its state air emissions permit.
The company said it allows them to begin using an alternative fuel in addition to natural gas and coal.

The application was submitted in November to the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

According to company spokesman John Brodt, “We had asked for a modification to our state air emissions permit that would allow us to begin using an alternative fuel in addition to our current fuel sources which are natural gas and coal. This is fuel that is used to fuel our cement kiln to produce our product. We have the ability to burn either one of those fuels or both at the same time. We make our selections based on cost, market price, and availability.”

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Business Report: Changes To NYS SEQRA Regulations

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Sarah Lewis Belcher is senior counsel with Bond, Schoeneck & King.

By Sarah Lewis Belcher, Esq.
Anyone who has undertaken a project in New York State since 1978 has at least some familiarity with the state Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA). All state and local governments must comply with SEQRA by considering the environmental impacts of projects before they are approved.

So, if your project must be approved by a governmental entity, the SEQRA process must be completed.

The regulations implementing SEQRA were recently revised by amendments that took effect Jan. 1. These were the first amendments since 1996 and will change the landscape of SEQRA review in some significant ways that projects applicants should understand.

The SEQRA process differs depending on how a project is classified. A Type I project requires a Full Environmental Assessment Form (FEAF) and if, based on that form, the project is likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment, an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be prepared. Type II projects are not subject to the SEQRA process, so the time to obtain governmental approvals can be substantially reduced.

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ADK To Do A Project With Common Energy

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The Lake George-based ADK (Adirondack Mountain Club) has entered into a new partnership with Common Energy, a leading community solar provider based in New York.

With a shared interest in the environment, Common Energy has made a generous investment in ADK’s mission to protect New York state’s public lands and waters, officials said.

Common Energy and ADK will work together to publicly promote steps that individuals can take to reduce their carbon footprint, decrease the community’s dependence on fossil fuels, and lower emissions and pollution across New York state.

Neil Woodworth, executive director of the ADK said, “We are excited to work with Common Energy to educate the public about the positive benefits of renewable solar energy. This partnership furthers ADK’s mission to protect New York state’s environment and address climate change.”

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Grant Allows Washington County To Create A Position To Help Increase Cybersecurity

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By Christine Graf
In November 2018, Washington County was the recipient of one of just 10 grants given out by the state Cybersecurity Grant Program to shore up cybersecurity at county offices.

State Homeland Security and Emergency Services made the funding available to local governments to “enhance and sustain their cybersecurity posture as well as ensure that their information systems are secure and protected from cyber incidents.”

The grant was written by Karen Pratt, who has worked for Washington County for more than 20 years. Before being named the county’s cybersecurity officer approximately one year ago, she served as director of informational technology (IT).

In June, she was one of just three people chosen to receive the state Cybersecurity Champion Award. The award was presented by the Office of Information Technology Services. Pratt and the others were honored for their significant contributions to support and enhance cybersecurity in New York.

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Keeping Employees Interested, Challenged Is Important To A Strong Workplace Culture

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Brian Rollo, is the owner of Speak Up Solutions Training.
©2019 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Christine Graf
According to a recent Gallup poll, approximately 70 percent of employees consider themselves “not engaged” or “actively disengaged” at work. In many instances, their disengagement is directly related to their company’s culture.

Culture can be defined in simple terms as a company’s personality. It is reflected in everything from dress code to office setup. Culture often develops organically over time, based on the traits of the people the company hires, experts say.

The importance of culture is often overlooked by many businesses. Yet it is culture that sets a company apart from its competition and enables it to attract the best talent, according to experts in the field. Because 30 percent of today’s workforce is made up of Millenials, culture has become especially important. According to Pew Research Center, Millenials want to work for companies that share their values. They also want to feel that their work has purpose and meaning.

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State Enacts New Laws To Further Protect People, Businesses From Security Breaches

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New York state now has legislation to protect New Yorkers against security breaches.

The Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security—or SHIELD Act—imposes stronger obligations on businesses handling private data to provide proper notification to affected consumers when there is a security breach.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo also signed legislation requiring consumer credit reporting agencies to offer identity theft prevention and mitigation services to consumers who have been affected by a security breach of the agency’s system.

“As technology seeps into practically every aspect of our daily lives, it is increasingly critical that we do everything we can to ensure the information that companies are trusted with is secure,” Cuomo said. “The stark reality is security breaches are becoming more frequent and with this legislation New York is taking steps to increase protections for consumers and holding these companies accountable when they mishandle sensitive data.”

Atty. Gen. Letitia James said the SHIELD Act is now “the law of the land and provides better protections for consumers’ private information. New Yorkers deserve the peace of mind that companies will be held accountable for securing their information.

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Personnel Briefs: Common Shredding Methods

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Rob Shauger is director of sales and development at ConfiData.

There are many shredding options out here, however not all are created equal.

Some shredders are fairly simple and ideal for everyday bits of paperwork, but not ideal for sensitive documents. Other shredding methods are ideal for destroying highly sensitive or classified documents, but are considered overkill for everyday paperwork.

If you are comparing document destruction services, it is important to understand the common types of shredding methods in order to determine the best method for your needs.

Strip-cut shredding

The most common example of strip-cut shredding is found in your basic office shredder. For this reason, strip-cut shredding is the most common method of document destruction. With this method, paper is cut into long parallel strips.

While it is the most common, and most economical method of destruction, it is also the least secure. The long strips can be carefully reconstructed in order to restore the confidential document.

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Personnel Briefs

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The Chazen Companies announced two new employees to its expanding Environmental Services team in Troy and Glens Falls.

Beth Clements joins Chazen as a senior environmental scientist. Clements graduated from SUNY Cobleskill with an Associate of Science and Bachelor of Technology degree in Plant Science-Environmental Studies/Technology.

Previously, she worked for Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc. in Northern Virginia as an associate environmental scientist where she specialized in wetlands and water resource management. Clements is a certified professional wetland scientist and certified arborist.

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Saratoga Wine And Food Festival At SPAC Will Focus On Sustainable Culinary Practices

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A food station caters to attendees at last year’s Saratoga Wine and Food Festival.
Courtesy SPAC

Saratoga Performing Arts Center announced that its Saratoga Wine and Food Festival will return for the harvest season on Oct. 4-5 with a focus on sustainable culinary practices and cultural experiences.

Celebrating the bounty and talent of the region from the Hudson Valley to the Adirondacks, the destination event will feature a new farm-to-table dinner centering around the theme of “Forest Magic.”

The 2019 festival will feature live music curated by Caffè Lena, sculptures by The Hyde Collection, photography by Terri-Lynn Pellegri, food tastings and culinary talent curated by John Sconzo of Rascal & Thorn and Kim Klopstock of Lily and the Rose, chef demonstrations on sustainability, VIP experiences, and design by Colin Cowie Lifestyle.

Presented annually at the end of its classical season, the festival is an epicurean showcase featuring two days of gourmet events highlighting fine international wines, innovative chef-prepared menus, cooking demonstrations and wine seminars, tastings, and art and performance.

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GlobalFoundries Eyes Growth, More Hiring At 10th Anniversary In Saratoga County

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Employees of GlobalFoundries formed the number ‘10’ in the plant parking lot in Malta at an event celebrating the 10th anniversary of the chip plant in Saratoga County.
Courtesy GlobalFoundries

GlobalFoundries Executive Director Tom Caulfield said this is the first year its plant in Malta has stabalized its business model.
He said GlobalFoundries has hired 517 employees at its Malta manufacturing complex this year and the company is searching for another 200 engineers, technicians and support staff.

The hiring spree comes less than a year after the computer chip maker eliminated 450 jobs in the Albany region amid a strategy shift focused on attracting more customers and increasing profitability.

The remarks were made at an event in late July, attended by local officials and business people, to mark the 10th anniversary of the computer chip factory in Saratoga County.

The event was held under a tent in the Fab 8 parking lot and led by Ron Sampson, head of the company’s U.S. manufacturing operations.

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