Source: http://www.businessinsurance.com, November 22, 2011 Insurance rates for construction contractors, architects and engineers could be on the rise, according to new market reports from Lockton Cos. L.L.C. released this week. Unprecedented property losses stemming from natural catastrophes, anemic interest rates and worsening workers compensation results may conspire to drive up construction contractors’ premium rates on […]

Source:  http://www.rmmag.com By:  Jeff Slivka, New Day Underwriting Managers Sustainable construction is rapidly expanding with the continued development of green codes and eco-friendly building materials. Championing the movement is the United States Green Building Council, whose Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification system has become the benchmark for energy efficiency and environmentally safe […]

Source: http://www.natlawreview.com, November 21, 2011 Bed bugs may be making fewer headlines these days, but that does not mean the critters — or the problems they present for companies — have been eradicated. Discovering an infestation is only the beginning; the legal fallout can last for years. Courts have recognized that state and local governments […]

Read here about a lawsuit regarding pollution concerns against a poultry farm in Maryland.

Read here about a $10 million settlement that has been made in a Missouri asbestos case.

Read here about how the city of Los Angeles settled a contamination lawsuit with a school district.

Source: http://www.businessinsurance.com, November 13, 2011 By: Judy Greenwald Still-evolving needs driven by increased design involvement New approaches to building projects, as well as new techniques, are leading to increased demand for professional liability insurance for contractors, say many observers. While such coverage for architects and engineers has been around for many years, it is only […]

Read here about numerous sites in Indiana that require clean up from leaking underground storage tanks.

Source: The New York Times, November 12, 2011 Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com For those who have ever stalked deer, turkey and bear here in “God’s Country” in north central Pennsylvania, this hunting season is like no other. For one thing, it is louder. The soundtrack of birds chirping, thorns scraping against a hunter’s brush pants and […]

Source: http://www.newsobserver.com, November 6, 2011 By: Joun Murawski To appreciate the promise and betrayal of the nation’s natural gas rush, look no further than this rural community in southwestern Pennsylvania where the 957 residents barely outnumber the dairy cows. Like dozens of farming communities in the state, the countryside here is dotted with drill pads, derricks, […]

Source: http://www.mininggazette.com, November 4, 2011 By: Garrett Neese Over the next year-and-a-half, crews will be removing asbestos and contaminated soil from the former Calumet & Hecla Mining Power Plant in Lake Linden. The contamination, which includes heavy metals such as lead, arsenic and copper, dates back to the mining days. Honeywell, Inc., the current owner […]

Source: Thomson Reuters News & Insight, November 4, 2011 As New York inches closer to approving the controversial gas-drilling method known as hydro-fracking, environmental groups and some state lawmakers are pushing for legislative changes to traditional tort litigation to assist property owners seeking damages if their water or soil is contaminated. State lawmakers are mulling […]