Dedicated to understanding new threats, challenges and solutions to the changing environmental remediation industry, the Environmental Contractors Association (ECA) held their Second Annual Environmental Conference entitled, "How Infection Control and the Changing Environmental Remediation Landscape Affects Your Business." This year's conference was held on Thursday, October 20. The conference included a keynote address by Caswell Holloway, the New York City deputy mayor for operations. A special post-panel address was delivered by councilman James Gennaro, chairman of the environmental committee of the New York City Council. The conference also featured a special presentation on emerging infectious diseases in the environment. The presentation was delivered by Kerry Schwartz, MD FACC FACP, who is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease, and is a patient safety officer for infection control at the Florida Hospital in Orlando, Fla. A panel discussion was led by Marlene Linders, RN MS associate AIA, who is an ASHRAE Distinguished Lecturer as well as president and CEO of the Philders Group International Inc., The Linders Health Institute. A panel discussion on "Present Environmental Challenges," was led by Paul O'Brien of Pinnacle Environmental, Frank Garito of the Asbestos Corp. of America, and Richard Tobin who is the assistant chief of Fire Prevention, New York City Fire Department. The second panel discussed "Future Environmental Remediation Affecting Safety and Health of the Public in Diversified Industries." The discussion focused on hotels, building owners, healthcare facilities and training centers. It was led by Morris Napolitano of Degmor Inc., Douglas Glorie - P.E., of STV Incorporated, Robin Kelleher of Willis Environmental Practice, David Mullins, AIA ACHA of Health Care Studio and Gary DiPaolo, the vice president of Safety for Structure Tone. This conference also included a presentation and signing of the Manhattan Area OSHA Alliance with Kay Gee and the DEP Alliance with the ECA and Labor with Carter Strickland. For more information about the ECA, please contact Joyce Nastasi, executive director, ECA, at (212) 682-0062 or [email protected]. The ECA is one of New York's premier trade associations of environmental contractors. The ECA has grown from just a handful of contractors in 1996 to over fifty member firms today that specialize in hazardous materials removal, emergency response, asbestos removal and infectious detection and clean-up among other environmental services. The ECA works with a wide range of clients and has built a strong reputation through partnerships with public agencies that shape environmental policy.