NYSSPE

City Halts Non-essential Construction : UPDATE

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City halts non-essential construction

Please see here for guidance on how DOB is implementing the ban on non-essential construction during the COVID-19 outbreak:

As part of the citywide response to the Coronavirus, the Department of Buildings (DOB) is continuing its efforts to immediately limit the amount of walk-in traffic to DOB offices. Effective immediately, the following mandatory operational changes have been implemented:

Drop off boxes are available for the following services:

Application Processing

  • After Hours Variances
  • Certificates of Occupancy
  • Data Entry Corrections
  • Letters of Completion
  • Letters of No Objection
  • New and subsequent job filings
  • Permits and Permit Renewals
  • Post Approval Amendments (PAA)
  • Supersede Requests
  • Temporary Certificates of Occupancy
  • Temporary Use Permits
  • Withdrawal Requests

[Read more…]

State Education Department reports on Continuing Education: COVID-19

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CLICK HERE for the full report from State Education Department: COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
The Office of the Professions (OP) continues to license nurses, doctors, physician assistants and other healthcare providers as expeditiously as possible. The State Education Department (SED) is working closely with the Governor and other state agencies as the COVID-19 emergency evolves. Guidance will be announced through these agencies and posted on this webpage.

In regards to Continuing Education:
Some regulations restrict licensees to a certain percentage of self-study for continuing education requirements. In response to the evolving situation with the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), and for those licensees whose registrations are due to renew March 1-June 1, 2020, the Department will grant an adjustment to all licensees to complete up to 100% of the continuing education as self-study, so long as it is taken from a Department-approved provider and is in an acceptable subject area for the specific profession. SED is working closely with other New York State agencies and the Governor’s Office to tackle issues relating to COVID-19. Please continue to monitor the Department’s website for updated guidance.

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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product

 

Governor Cuomo Issues Guidance on Essential Services Under The ‘New York State on PAUSE’ Executive Order

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CLICK HERE for full order from Governor Cumo:

Earlier today, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced he is signing the “New York State on PAUSE” executive order, a 10-point policy to assure uniform safety for everyone. It includes a new directive that all non-essential businesses statewide must close in-office personnel functions effective at 8PM on Sunday, March 22. Guidance on essential services under the executive order is as follows:

ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES OR ENTITIES, including any for profit or non-profit, regardless of the nature of the service, the function they perform, or its corporate or entity structure, are not subject to the in-person restriction.

(Essential Businesses must continue to comply with the guidance and directives for maintaining a clean and safe work environment issued by the Department of Health).

This guidance is issued by the New York State Department of Economic Development d/b/a Empire State Development and applies to each business location individually and is intended to assist businesses in determining whether they are an essential business and steps to request such designation. With respect to business or entities that operate or provide both essential and non-essential services, supplies or support, only those lines and/or business operations that are necessary to support the essential services, supplies, or support are exempt from the restrictions.

For purposes of Executive Order 202.6, “Essential Business,” means:

1. Essential Health Care Operations, Including:

  • research and laboratory services
  • hospitals
  • walk-in-care health facilities
  • emergency veterinary and livestock services
  • elder care
  • medical wholesale and distribution
  • home health care workers or aides for the elderly
  • doctor and emergency dental
  • nursing homes, or residential health care facilities or congregate care facilities
  • medical supplies and equipment manufacturers and providers

2. Essential Infrastructure, Including:

  • utilities including power generation, fuel supply and transmission
  • public water and wastewater
  • telecommunications and data centers
  • airports/airlines
  • transportation infrastructure such as bus, rail, or for-hire vehicles, garages
  • hotels, and places of accommodation

3. Essential Manufacturing, Including:

  • food processing, manufacturing agents, including all foods and beverages
  • chemicals
  • medical equipment/instruments
  • pharmaceuticals
  • sanitary products
  • telecommunications
  • microelectronics/semi-conductor
  • agriculture/farms
  • household paper products

4. Essential Retail, Including:

  • grocery stores including all food and beverage stores
  • pharmacies
  • convenience stores
  • farmer’s markets
  • gas stations
  • restaurants/bars (but only for take-out/delivery)
  • hardware and building material stores

[Read more…]

UPDATE: The 2020 New York City Energy Conservation Code (NYCECC)

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See below for the New York State E-Bulletin regarding the Notices of Adoption for the rules amending and updating the Uniform Code and Energy Code.

The Notices of Adoption will appear in the February 2020 edition of the State Register and the rules will become effective on May 12, 2020.

As mentioned before, New York City’s Energy Code must have the same effective date as the State’s Energy Code, which will become effective on May 12, 2020.

Please continue to check the DOB Energy Conservation Code webpage for updates on Intro 1816 and more on the effective date and see links below for more supporting documents:
Buildings Bulletin 2020
Proposed Int. No. 1816-A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

_______Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

NSPE Executive Director Update to the Board of Directors – February 2020

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Mark J. Golden, FASAE, CAE, Executive Director of NSPE highlights the following in the most recent Executive Director Update: February 2020

In this report, covering January 15–31, you’ll read about an important new addition to NSPE staff, our ongoing work to turn back attacks on the PE license, and the importance of the unified brand across all states.
• ‘New Thinking, New Ideas, and New Energy’
• Survey: Overwhelming Support for Licensing
• Alliance Brings Clarity to Misleading Messages
• Gain New Perspectives with Upcoming Webinars
• FEYA Finalists Announced

FULL REPORT

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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

NSPE Executive Director Update to the Board of Directors – January 2020

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Mark J. Golden, FASAE, CAE, Executive Director of NSPE highlights the following in the most recent Executive Director Update: January 2020.

As we kick off the New Year, I’d like to wish all of you much success and fulfillment in the months ahead. Today’s update covers the last two weeks of 2019, and although the holidays kept us busy, so too did our NSPE projects.

  • Licensure Videos Launched
  • State Societies Take Action on Pipeline Safety
  • Upcoming Webinars Announced
  • Conference Session Proposals Roll In
  • MATHCOUNTS Alumni Honored

FULL REPORT 

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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

 

Request for NYSSPE’s Members Comments To Proposed Revisions to NYC Fire Code

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Attention:  NYSSPE Members:

The NYC Fire Department is requesting written comments to the proposed changes or revisions to the Fire Code outlined below.  Please provide your comments (if any) in the blog comments/reply space below by December 19, 2019.  In the alternative, you may email your comments to rachel@nysspe.org by December 19, 2019.

The NYC Fire Commissioner, Daniel Nigro has recently invited NYSSPE to be represented on the Advisory Committee to the Fire Department’s 2018 Fire Code Revision Project.  Our NYSSPE’s member Bob Naro PE volunteered to participate in the FDNY Advisory Committee and report on the progress to NYSSPE’s members.  The Advisory Committee will be concluded and the deadline for submitting written comments to the proposed revisions of the Fire Code is December 19, 2019.

Please find the links below to the proposed underlined changes in the NYC Fire Code:

FC Chapter 32 HIGH-PILED COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE (AC 11-14-19)

FC Chapter 35 WELDING AND OTHER HOT WORK (AC 11-14-19)

FC Chapter 40 Distilleries for  Advisory Committee Review (12-3-2019 )

FC Chapter 50 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS (AC 11-14-19)

FC Chapter 51 AEROSOLS (AC 11-14-19)

FC Chapter 53 COMPRESSED GASES (AC 11-14-19)

FC Chapter 57 FLAMMABLE AND COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS (AC 11-14-19)

FC Chapter 58 FLAMMABLE GASES (AC 11-14-19)

FC Chapter 61 LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES (AC 11-14-19)

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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

NSPE Executive Director Update to the Board of Directors – December 2019

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Mark J. Golden, FASAE, CAE, Executive Director of NSPE highlights the following in the most recent Executive Director Update: December 2019

In this update for November 15–30, we have a number of items on legislative and regulatory actions involving professional engineers. Highlights include….
• New pipeline safety bill includes PE requirement
• Red flags in FL sunset review bill
• More legislative news from Philly, NY, MN, MI
• ‘They’ve put technology advancement here before saving lives’
• Celebrate top colleagues with Honor Awards

NY Update:  New York bill promotes PE oversight
A bill that has passed the New York State Senate and is awaiting approval by the State Assembly would greatly enhance public safety and require a professional engineering license.  The legislation (S.B. 2935), sponsored by Senator Todd Kaminsky, passed the upper house last May. The bill would require certain engineering plans for work or services that could pose a material risk to public safety—for example, gas transmission lines—to bear a professional engineer’s seal. The legislation also authorizes the public services commission to set rules and regulations relating to the requirement. When the New York State Assembly reconvenes on January 8, they will consider the companion bill (A.B. 6557), sponsored by Assemblyman Michael Cusick.

Read the FULL REPORT here

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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

 

NYSSPE 2020 Legislative Preview

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By Mark Kriss Esq., Legislative Counsel

1. Bachelor’s Degree Bill
At the request of NYSSPE the Chair of the New York State Assembly Higher Education Committee, Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, has agreed to introduce, and advocate for, legislation to require that an applicant seeking licensure as a professional engineer in New York State have a bachelor’s degree in engineering (or its equivalent in accordance with regulations to be promulgated by the New York State Education Department).  The legislation has passed both houses of the Legislature in the past, but unfortunately, it has never passed both houses in the same year.  In addition to the Assembly, this year we anticipate strong sponsorship in the Senate and very hopeful that the legislation will become law in 2020.

Currently, of the learned professions of medicine, law and engineering, only engineering has a path to licensure without a formal education. In reality very few PEs lack a formal education and there are many, and very affordable, means of securing an engineering degree. For example, families with modest means can qualify for the Excelsior Program which provides a complete tuition waiver in many circumstances.  Two-year programs at a community college, combined with an additional two years at a state college or university, also offers an affordable avenue to secure a bachelor’s degree in engineering.  (Individuals currently seeking to secure licensure via the twelve-year ladder will be exempt from the new requirement.)

2. Gas Transmission Lines (Public Safety Enhancement)
S2935a / A6557 (Senator Kaminsky / Assemblyman Cusick)
This bill will require that plans and services relating to gas transmission lines which are determined to pose a material risk to public safety must be provided and overseen by a licensed professional engineer. The New York State Public Service Commission is required by the legislation to promulgate rules and regulations addressing the foregoing requirement.

3. Land Surveying – Modernization of Definition of Practice
NYSSPE and the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors have agreed to legislation which will modernize the definition of practice for land surveying, (including, e.g., express reference to GPS technology and photogrammetry) while ensuring that professional engineers will continue to be authorized to undertake all aspects of the practice of land surveying except for the determination of land boundaries.

(Updates, including bill numbers, will be provided throughout the session.)
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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.

Proposed Suffolk County Charter Amendment by County Executive Steven Bellone Eliminating Professional Engineering Qualification

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As a result of our Memorandum in Opposition crafted by NYSSPE Legal Counsel, Mark Kriss, NYSSPE was invited to speak at the DPW Legislative Committee on May 6, 2019.   Representatives of the Long Island chapter, Tom Petracca, PE and Andrew Haimes, PE addressed the committee sharing the views of both the chapter and the state societies.  The following statement was read by Mr. Haimes.

I am Andrew S. Haimes, P.E. and I am one of the past presidents of the New York State Society of Professional Engineers and past president of the Society’s Suffolk Chapter. NYSSPE represents the interests of the 25,000 licensees in New York State.

As stated in our memo dated 4/3/19, the society is strongly opposed to resolution 1312 that would allow the appointment of a non-licensed person as DPW Commissioner.

It is clear from the DPW Mission Statement and the County Charter that the DPW Commissioner is responsible for the supervision, and has the ultimate responsibility, for all the engineering done by the County, and for the County by consultants.  By State Education Law, this supervision of engineering and responsibility for engineering must be provided by a Licensed Professional Engineer. 

It is unrealistic, and even absurd, to think that a DPW Commissioner could effectively pass all of that engineering supervision and responsibility to others in the department.

The legislative intent of the bill is stated to broaden the qualifications  for the consideration of potential candidates for DPW Commissioner.  What the bill actually accomplishes is to open the position to unqualified candidates.  There are approximately 25,000 licensed Professional Engineers in NYS.  Has the County reached out to them?  It may take a while, but I would think the County could find a licensed PE who can also handle the administrative duties required of a Commissioner.

As a result of our efforts, the motion to install a Non-PE in the role of DPW Commissioner has been tabled and the motion to amend the wording in the charter has also been tabled.

An article quoting Mr. Haimes has been published in Newsday Online.

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Note: NYSSPE facilitates posting on this blog, but the views and accounts expressed herein are those of the author(s) and not the views or accounts of NYSSPE, its officers or directors whose views and accounts may or may not be similar or identical. NYSSPE, its officers and directors do not express any opinion regarding any product or service by virtue of reference to such product or service in this blog.