| I. |
It is the responsibility of the faculty member or supervisor in charge
of a University facility to assure that federal and state laws on the use,
storage, and disposal of Regulated (Hazardous) Materials (RHM) are obeyed.
In the case of teaching labs and facilities, the departmental chair is
responsible. Each University facility should have updated policies
in place to govern these matters. |
| II. |
It is the responsibility of the College or School dean or the director
of an administrative department to assure that these obligations are met.
The Office of Environmental Health and Safety (OEHS) is available to explain
the scope and content of applicable laws and to assist deans, department
chairs, laboratory directors, and directors of administrative departments
with the development of policies. |
| III. |
Subject to the limitations recited below, OEHS will arrange for the
disposal of unwanted or unneeded RHM at no cost to the laboratory, department,
College, or School. |
| IV. |
There will be a temporary amnesty for the disposal of unwanted or unknown
materials currently located in University facilities. Any unknowns
reported to OEHS prior to January 15, 2000, will be disposed of by OEHS
at no cost to the facility or department. If unknowns are reported
to OEHS after that date or are discovered by inspections after that date,
the cost of disposal will be paid by the department occupying the space.
To avoid being responsible for unknowns left behind by graduate and undergraduate
students, it is advisable that persons responsible for all places where
RHM are used develop a system to assure that students do not leave the
facility before their RHM are properly labeled, identified, and placed
in closed containers. |
| V. |
Before a facility where RHM have been utilized is vacated for remodeling,
for new occupants, or upon the retirement of faculty members, the department
responsible for the area must notify OEHS. Staff from OEHS will meet
with individuals who are departing the facility to assist them in determining
any appropriate packaging or shipping requirements. They will also
evaluate any RHM that will be left behind, and if necessary arrange for
the packaging and removal of wastes by a waste contractor. They will
also assist in coordinating any renovation projects, and if necessary alert
planners and contractors to any asbestos-containing materials. There
will be no cost for waste removal services if OEHS is notified well in
advance (at least 30 days before the facility is to be vacated) and if
the occupants are able accurately to identify wastes and other RHM.
If OEHS is not notified in a timely manner and is forced to make arrangements
with a waste contractor for emergency services, or if materials in a facility
cannot be identified, the department will be required to pay the cost of
disposal services (including identification of unknowns, which currently
costs about $250 per container; the current cost for a typical facility
clean out can exceed $10,000). If renovations are made or new occupants
move into an area that contains old or unwanted RHM or unlabeled waste,
the department will be held responsible for any disposal costs. Facilities
Management must notify OEHS if they encounter RHM or unlabeled waste in
an area to be renovated. New occupants who move into a facility and
find RHM left by their predecessors must contact OEHS as soon as possible. |
| VI. |
As required by an Executive Compliance Agreement with the Department
of Environmental Quality, OEHS will conduct inspections of all University
facilities on unannounced schedules. If RHM are not capped, stored,
and labeled in a proper manner, occupants will be cited for a RHM violation
and the responsible individual, the department chair or supervisor, the
dean or director of an administrative department, and the appropriate vice
president will be notified. The Virginia Department of Environmental
Quality, the federal Environmental Protection Agency, and/or the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission will also inspect facilities from time to time.
Financial penalties resulting from violations of state or federal law for
which they cite the University can be very serious. Such penalties
will not be paid from central University resources but must be borne by
the laboratory, department, College, or School. |