Deputy Presiding Officer Richard Nicolello and the Nassau County Legislature recently passed a law to protect both the environment and consumers. The law imposes licensing requirements on the environmental hazard remediation industry in order to protect consumers from unqualified providers. The need for the law arose in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, when unscrupulous contractors were taking advantage of victims ravaged by the storm.
The local law provides for the licensing of both environmental hazard remediation providers and technicians. Applicants for both licenses would be required to supply Nassau County Consumer Affairs with background information, and applicants for a hazard remediation technician license will have to prove they have attended specific educational courses in order to qualify for the license.
Additionally, the law provides for the evaluation of allegedly hazardous sites with the owner of the site receiving written reports and estimates prior to the commencement of any work.