Present: Eric Foertch, Jerry DeSantis, Phil Gaines, Kristin Gublo, Clair Putala, Bill Rule, Paul Tomascak

Absent: Lisa Clark, Kathy Budd, Frederick Jones, Peter Rosenbaum

Meeting Started at 10:38am

Eric began discussing the results from the September campus wide EPA audit.  He said the campus did very well.  As far as the laboratories, the Hazardous waste program is running well and there were limited findings.  For a campus this size the violations were minor. He noted he has 60 days to fix the violations once the final report is issued.   Eric thanked Kristin (chemistry) and Frederick (biology) for all their help preparing the labs.  The auditors encountered old stock chemicals at nearly every college they audited, however no accumulation of old chemicals were identified at SUNY Oswego.  The college spent ~$70,000 is hazardous waste disposal over the last two years in preparation for this.  The campus got rid of toxic cyanides, mercury, unknown cylinders etc.  Our classrooms are much safer for our employees and our students.

Eric discussed Issue 2 found on the report as they pertained to the laboratories.  Jerry congratulated Eric and Lisa for all their hard work.  These violations were very minor issues.

Eric announced that EPA may come on campus unannounced in the future.  It is important that the employees keep our programs in compliance to avoid hefty violations.  They will have a copy of the report from Woodard and Curran and they would probably hit the labs where violations were mentioned first. 

Eric mentioned the auditors did not visit the geology/earth science labs.

Eric then thanked the committee members for their help and asked them to relay the information we discussed today to their department members.

It is important we do not let waste chemicals accumulate in the future.  There is an annual budget set aside for waste disposal.  Eric’s goal is to someday bring our campus down to a small quantity generator.  This will save us $ in the long run.  Small quantity generators have to dispose of waste every 180 days instead of every 90 days which we are currently under.

The next item discussed was a pregnancy agreement.  Bill asked how this information was to be disseminated to the students, some students do not want to come forward and disclose this information. Since the only real hazard would be in an organic or biochemistry lab (potential of working with mutagens and teratogens).  Kristin agreed to put this item in her safety contracts.

The next CHC will not be until next semester. The focus will be to get the Chemical Hygiene Plan in place.  Eric will be busy the reminder of this semester and early into the spring correcting the EPA violations. 

Clair brought up her concern with the air quality in Wilbur Hall during the construction.  Jerry assured her that air testing has been done and asbestos air sampling has been performed to ensure safe working conditions.

Eric mentioned if anyone has any specific issues/concerns before out next meeting to meet with him individually.

Meeting adjourned: 11:06am