Learn how to identify and handle the more difficult aspects of storm water permitting and SWPPP development. In 1972, Congress enacted the Clean Water Act, which prohibits industries and other "point sources" from discharging pollutants into surface waters unless they obtain NPDES permits and comply with their provisions. Although in 1972 storm water was not regulated-it was considered the quintessential nonpoint source-by 1990 the act had bee...

Get up to date on recent reasonable accommodation laws in California. California employers are frequently confronted with employee requests for work-place disability accommodations and requests for leaves of absences. California and federal law continues to evolve in this area, making it difficult to ascertain the employer's duties and obligations. Courts have seen a steady increase in law-suits alleging disability discrimination and failure t...

Learn the steps that can be taken to address dramatic changes in Massachusetts employment law and pending changes at the EEOC. Massachusetts recently made dramatic changes to its employment laws. New rules govern the interview process, interaction with employees, and pay of men and women. At the same time, changes are looming at the EEOC that will have a far reaching impact on its enforcement of employment laws. This is one of those times when...

Make sure you are in compliance with Vermont's new paid sick leave law. Many employers, particularly multi-state employers, are being asked to comply with a number of paid sick leave laws containing different requirements that are popping up in jurisdictions throughout the United States. For other employers, this is the first time that they will have to implement one of the new paid sick leave laws. This topic helps the persons responsible for...

Are your employees entitled to paid sick leave? Learn everything you need to know about paid sick leave law updates in Maryland. In recent years, many social and political activists have demanded that lawmakers make paid sick leave available to all employees. In light of the rapidly changing state and local laws governing paid sick leave, many employers are unaware of their legal obligations and, accordingly, maintain sick leave policies that...

Learn everything you need to know about paid leave laws in Washington and how they will affect your organization. Sometimes it seems like paid sick leave obligations are changing by the month, the week or even the day. Just when you come up with a proposal and an agreed-upon solution that works for one location, another law in a nearby city gets passed. Surely there must be a compliance solution that works across the board? This topic will dev...

Know the unanticipated issues you may face when submitting bids for contracts. Many contractors and vendors who submit bids for contracts with the City of New York, and those who go on to obtain contract awards, may well face unanticipated issues in connection with the City's VENDEX system and questionnaires for reviewing "responsibility" as part of the process of awarding the contract; and, subsequently, in presenting claims under the City's...

Learn how to run an effective parking system in your community that considers revenue and customer service tradeoffs. An improperly run parking system, perhaps more than any other public asset, has a very real impact on the life of citizens and the success, or not, of a business district. Many public officials do not completely understand the cost of parking, and thus the revenues needed to maintain a healthy, vibrant, and revenue positive pro...

Understand the applicable disclosure regulations and standards that apply to recipients of federal relief funds. Over the past several years, the federal government has required contractors and grant recipients to disclose various noncompliance to the awarding agency or face stiff consequences. These requirements have caused significant unease and tension between the contractor/grant recipient community and the federal government. For this top...

Understand the current Clean Air Act landscape and other current regulatory and enforcement efforts at USEPA. Clean Air Act regulations and possible rule changes affect business and commerce all over the country. They also affect the quality of life. Clients want timely and pertinent information to guide their decision making. Lawyers, engineers and consultants need to understand company specific detail, but they also need to know the "big pic...