"ANOTHER CRIME BY COLLEGE"

Poughkeepsie Journal

Thursday, November 6, 2003
EPA: College broke hazardous waste rules

The alleged violations date to an EPA inspection in March 2002, when the EPA documented violations of federal and state laws designed to protect human health and the environment from exposure to hazardous waste.

The EPA alleged that Vassar failed to label and dispose properly of hazardous wastes, including laboratory chemicals, paint wastes from art studies and sediment collected from pipes.

Among other violations, the college allegedly did not have required permits, had not alerted emergency response agencies about hazardous wastes stored at its Poughkeepsie campus, had not trained personnel to handle wastes and had not created a hazardous waste emergency response plan.

''The rules are in place for a reason, to protect people and the environment,'' EPA spokeswoman Elizabeth Zimmermann said.

Elizabeth Eisemeier, vice president for finance and administration at Vassar, said the inspection and subsequent fine has helped the college improve its practices and better ensure the health and safety of its students, staff and environment.

''It was a useful exercise -- painful, but useful -- for raising standards, raising the bar and raising everyone's consciousness, and for helping us realize how we could achieve something we're all committed to,'' Eisemeier said.

Nationwide crackdown

The EPA started a program in 1999 to bring colleges, universities and hospitals into compliance with laws that had not been enforced with any regularity. Most institutions were unaware of their legal responsibilities.

Since then, five colleges in New York and New Jersey have escaped fines by conducting a self-audit under EPA guidelines. The EPA has filed complaints against 10 others for a total of $2 million in potential fines.

Jane Kenny, EPA's regional administrator, said in a written statement that ''Vassar could have avoided most, if not all, of the penalties for violations'' if it had participated.

Both the EPA and Vassar agreed the college had made improvements since the inspection. Among the improvements, Vassar has instituted central purchasing, handling and disposal practices for hazardous materials, Eisemeier said.

The college disputes some, but not all, the points in the EPA's six-count charge, she said.

Zimmermann said the fine could be reduced after negotiations, but there is no guarantee. The college has 30 days to respond to the complaint.

Relevant Web link: For information about hazardous waste regulations, visit the EPA's Web site at: www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/index.htm

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