1 / 39

Surviving the EPA Multimedia Audit for Colleges and Universities

Surviving the EPA Multimedia Audit for Colleges and Universities. Robin M. Izzo Assistant Director for Lab Safety Princeton University. Presenting Points. The Announcement Preparation The Audit, Part I The Audit, Part II The Audit, Part III The Aftermath Best Practices .

issac
Download Presentation

Surviving the EPA Multimedia Audit for Colleges and Universities

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Surviving the EPA Multimedia Audit for Colleges and Universities Robin M. Izzo Assistant Director for Lab Safety Princeton University

  2. Presenting Points • The Announcement • Preparation • The Audit, Part I • The Audit, Part II • The Audit, Part III • The Aftermath • Best Practices

  3. The Announcement • Happy New Year! • Letter to college and university presidents • Environmental Advisory Committee • EHS • Facilities • Legal • University Research Board • Treasurer • Senior VP • Risk Management

  4. Preparing for the Audit • University EHS Audit Experiences • Web Information • EPA Meetings • Region 3 • Region 2

  5. Preparing for the Audit • Internal Audit • Led by Environmental Advisory Team • Princeton Plasma Physics Lab • Federal facility multimedia audit 1999 • External Audit

  6. Preparing for the Audit • Legal Interpretations • Training • Accumulation Date • Waste Determination • Fines • Environmental Accomplishments • Inspection Strategy

  7. Preparing for the Audit • Outreach • Faculty meetings • Lab group meetings • The Waste Paper • Continued Vigilance Inspections • Training Audit • Letter from President • Communications Plan

  8. Preparing for the Audit • Faculty/Group Meetings • Review compliance issues • Storage, packaging, labeling • Include potential fines • Preparation • Self-audit • Prompt disposal • Training • Emergencies • Pollution Prevention

  9. Preparing for the Audit • Faculty/Group Meetings • Conduct during inspections • Inspector must be accompanied by EHS • Don’t argue with the inspectors • Don’t complain about the regulations • Don’t be evasive • Don’t lie to the inspectors • Don’t engage in speculation • If a problem is found, correct it immediately

  10. The Audit: Part I • June 25, 2001 • Unannounced arrival at Facilities • Opening conference • Schedule – unable to change • Total of 7 inspectors • 3 full days • Everything except RCRA (waste)!

  11. Part I, Day 1 • Underground Storage Tanks • Brought NJDEP inventory • Reviewed permits • Reviewed inspection records • Looked at systems • Interviewed users • Minor problems noted • No environmental impairment

  12. Part I, Day 1 • Air Emissions • Title V Permit • Interviewed Environmental Compliance Manager • Cogen Plant • Continuous emission monitoring • Log books of daily maximum heat output of boilers • Rolling day average calculations of fuel burning • CFC repairs and equipment • No problems noted

  13. Part I, Day 2 • PCBs (TSCA) • Uses of PCBs in research • PCB annual summaries, last 3 years • Did not like format of our report • Completed 2000 report in recommended format • Visited vault • Waste manifests and certificates of destruction

  14. Part I, Day 2 • PCB Documentation Requested • List of PCB transformers disposed or retrofilled • Name, serial number, disposal date, electrical rating, amount of fluid • Copies of manifests for the disposed transformers • Current list of all oil-filled transformers • Name, serial number, electrical rating, amount of fluid

  15. Part I, Day 2 • Underground Injection Control • Federal regulation to protect underground sources of drinking water pertains to • “bored, drilled or driven shaft or dug hole, where the depth is greater than the largest surface dimension, that is used to discharge fluids underground” • Region 2 interpretations include floor drains, sink drains, sumps, etc. • Conveying fluid to a septic tank, drywell, etc.

  16. Part I, Day 2 • UIC Documentation requested • Maps or other evidence showing where all drains discharge • Sewer permits • Right to Know Survey and R&D Exemption • Invoices from chemical waste contractor • Drain disposal policy • Full chemical inventory (satisfied with summary) • Open groundwater cases

  17. Part I, Day 2 • UIC Site Visit • Originally every building • Bookbinding operation • Mechanical room • Lab, preferably with chem, rad and bio waste • Environmental chemicals storage (pesticides) • Art studio • Vehicle maintenance shop • Car wash area • Maintenance shop • Paint shop • Cogen/Chilled Water Plants

  18. Part I, Day 3 • UIC Prep • Pulled together documentation related to drain paths • Placed removable plugs in all floor drains in labs and areas where chemicals are stored • “No Chemical Storage” signs • UIC • Most time-consuming part of audit and overlapped PCB • Outcome • No evidence of UIC • Post dry wells with “Rainwater Only” signs

  19. Part I, Day 3 • EPCRA/Risk Management Plan • Requested copy of EPCRA inventories • Asked about use of chlorine or ammonia outside research lab • Confirmed no Risk Management Plan needed • No site visit • No problems noted

  20. Part I, Day 3 • SPCC Plans • Requested copy of plan for review • Visited • Fuel filling areas • Detention basins • Cogen plant – substations, etc. • Storm drain discharge into lake • Warned to expect numerous comments, but unlikely to receive fines if fixed • None, completely inadequate or fair

  21. Closeout • Closing conference with lead inspector • Considered end of “multi-media audit” • Expect letter in 3-4 weeks • Received letter one month later

  22. The Audit, Part II • December 4, 2001 • Unannounced EPA audit – RCRA only • Classes not in session in June • 4 inspectors, 3 days, 2-3 teams • Planned on EVERY lab and chemical use area

  23. RCRA Audit • Inspectors were prepared • Copy of our Lab Safety Manual • Hazardous Waste information from EHS web site • EPA ID numbers for all entities with “Princeton” in name • Campus maps • Started immediately • Two teams accompanied by 1-2 EHS staff

  24. RCRA Inspection • Princeton University Research • >500 labs • >100 PIs • 10 science and engineering departments • Visited at least one lab for each PI, usually all labs • Visited all three 90-day storage areas

  25. RCRA Audit • Lab Audits • Interviewed lab occupants – students, faculty, etc. • Emergency response • Most hazardous materials • How to dispose of waste • What goes down the drain • Physical inspection

  26. RCRA Audit • Other areas visited • Visual Arts department • Maintenance shops • University Health Services • All campus darkrooms • Print Shop • Cogen Plant • Fluorescent bulb recycling

  27. RCRA Audit • Records Reviewed • All manifests from 1998 – 2001 • 1999 Biennial Report • Contingency Plans for 90-day storage areas • Job descriptions of people involved in program • Training outlines/attendance records for EHS, 90-day storage area staff and chemical users • Letters to emergency responders and local hospital • Summary of chemical waste program • Pollution Prevention/Waste Minimization Goals • Training manuals for lab workers, chemical workers and Visual Arts faculty, staff and students

  28. Audit Part II - Closeout • Closing Conference • Findings • No environmental impairment • Minor issues – very much “the exception, not the rule” • Closeout letter received one month later • No fines

  29. Audit Part III • July 11, 2002 • Follow-up PCB Inspection • Two inspectors from June 2001 audit • Review of records – an administrator recommended violations/fines • Reviewed most of the same records, plus latest annual report • Minor violations and fine

  30. The Aftermath • All involved have better understanding of comprehensive environmental program • Raised awareness of EHS issues in general • Troublesome groups have developed better habits • Continued vigilance • DEP inspections

  31. The Aftermath • The Decision Not to Self-Disclose • EPA noted issues that other auditors had not • Increased credibility of our program • Timing • Negative Press • “Previous complaints with penalties totaling more than $1.5 million have been filed over the past fifteen months against Pratt Institute, Manhattan College, Princeton University, Columbia University, Long Island University's Brooklyn campus, New Jersey City University and Raritan Valley Community College.”

  32. Best Practices • Visual Arts training program and guide • Lab Safety Training Guide • Hazardous Waste Information on the web • The Waste Paper • Waste posters • Funnel caps • Written Hazardous Waste Disposal Program • Secondary Containment

  33. Visual Arts Training • Annual training required for all faculty, staff and students • General and specific information • Quiz • Mostly adjunct faculty, changes yearly Did Van Gogh Die for His Art?

  34. The Waste Paper • Monthly newsletter • Announces next pickup • Articles • Waste minimization • Pet Peeves • Contacts

  35. Waste Posters • Simple instructions • Packaging • Storing • Labeling • Disposing • Holder for waste labels

  36. Waste Posters • Waste Stream Coding

  37. Funnel Caps • Nalgene

  38. Secondary Containment • Sink covers • Plastic bins • Party tubs

  39. Questions?

More Related