NJAPPA News
UPCOMING NJAPPA ELECTIONS
WHY NOT THROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING?
It is nice to be part of a winning team. We are asking you to help us continue to grow our organization. If we want to be the premier higher education authority we need talented facilities professionals to step up and serve as officers and directors.
If you were present at a recent meeting, you immediately noticed how we have grown over the past few years. We continue to seek ideas and program suggestion from our fellow institutions. The only way we can be successful is for volunteers to get involved and supply the talent that we need to continue our promise of quality and informative meetings.
This year the following positions will become available and we would like to fill them.
Secretary – A two year term
Director for Membership – A two year term
President Elect - This is a six year commitment, two as President Elect, two as President, two as Past President (time flies)
If you have any interest, and I hope you do, or would like additional information please give me a call at (732) 255-0363 or you can email me at kolsen@ocean.edu. We will be accepting nominations and voting on these openings at our Spring Meeting on May 7, 2010 at Rowan University.
Can I count on you?
Ken Olsen, Past President
New EPA Regulation
Makes it Easier for School Laboratories
To Manage Lab Waste
Craig Gorczyca, CHMM
Director, Operations and Waste Management Services
Chemical management is one of many issues facing schools today. From preschool all the way through university affiliated teaching hospitals, a wide variety of chemicals are being stored and used. In response to chronic mismanagement and prolonged storage issues, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently adopted new regulations concerning hazardous waste in educational institutions. These regulations provide allowances and flexibility to eligible academic entities in dealing with their unwanted and/or hazardous material. Under this new law, the waste determination decision will be shifted to RCRA (Resource Conservation and Recovery Act) trained personnel.
The new EPA regulations, identified as Subpart K of 40 CFR (Code of Federal Regulations), Part 260, were promulgated December 31, 2008 and permit certain academic laboratories, if they so choose, certain allowances in the manner they handle their hazardous waste. Institutions eligible to take advantage of the new Subpart K include: 1) colleges and universities, and 2) college or university affiliated nonprofit research institutes and teaching hospitals.
The new regulations allow lab waste (used or unused) to be managed outside of the formal hazardous waste regulations until properly trained personnel determine if it is first, a solid waste, and then if the solid waste is a hazardous waste. With these new regulations, the waste identification and coding responsibility has been shifted from the students to more appropriately trained personnel.
Laboratory Management Plan
Although colleges and universities may be perceived to have been given more lax regulations when it comes to their hazardous waste management, Subpart K is more involved. For instance, a formal laboratory management plan must be developed. This site specific plan will identify individual roles and responsibilities. It should also include, at minimum, relevant contact information and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s) for daily management of lab waste.
Free Disposal
Another vital aspect of the new Subpart K regulation allows a once/year disposal event of unused chemicals. The waste generated during this event would not be counted towards the facility’s hazardous waste generator status. This can not only be financially beneficial by maintaining less stringent generator status, but also it allows for removal of potentially dangerous chemicals that have been sitting idle on the science lab shelves for decades.
Primary and Secondary Schools
Not to be left out, primary and secondary schools (K-12) also have government assistance with regards to their waste. The EPA, prior to Subpart K, initiated the Schools Chemical Cleanout Campaign (SC3). The goal of SC3 is to minimize the hazards associated with chemicals in schools by instituting an effective chemical management program. This could be compared to the Laboratory Management Plan previously discussed for colleges and universities.
Regardless of whether it is classified as hazardous waste, the fact remains that children and/or young adults spend a significant amount of time within close proximity to extremely dangerous chemicals. At some level, it may appear that the newly adopted Subpart K may exacerbate the problem by allowing primary schools to store hazardous materials/wastes longer on site. However, under these new regulations the responsibility of decision making is now shouldered by trained personnel. In addition, the requirement for Lab Management Plans and the inclusion of incentives for disposal are significant aspects of the regulation that will ultimately moderate the potential for disaster (fire, explosions, etc.).
Mr. Gorczyca is with EWMA’s Headquarters Office in Parsippany, NJ. He manages the transportation and disposal of all wastes generated during investigation and remediation activities as well as large-scale remediation projects. For additional information or to provide comments on this article please contact Mr. Gorczyca at 800-969-3159 ext 145, Craig.Gorczyca@ewma.com, or visit our website at www.ewma.com.
Submit your story to NJAPPA
NJAPPA is now accepting relevant articles from our membership and Business Partners that highlight new achievements and innovation in higher education facilities or facilities management. To submit your article, use the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page.
