Fuss & O'Neill, Inc. - News Release Archive
23 December, 2008
On December 1, 2008 EPA finalized regulations that provide eligible college and university laboratories an optional set of provisions that address the many of the challenges that the academic community faces when managing hazardous wastes generated in laboratories under the current RCRA regulations.
Eligible academic entities are:
- Colleges and universities
- Affiliated teaching hospitals
- Affiliated nonprofit research institutes
The final rule reduces the regulatory burden on many academic laboratories by providing flexibility to make hazardous waste determinations and incentives for annual laboratory cleanouts of old and expired chemicals. The EPA has also expanded their definition of “laboratory” to include areas that provide a support function to teaching or research such as:
- Photo laboratories
- Art studios
- Field laboratories
- Chemical stockrooms
- Preparatory laboratories
Eligible colleges and universities that seek to implement these new rules must notify the EPA and develop a Laboratory Management Plan (LMP) which is expected to result in safer laboratory practices and increased awareness of hazardous waste management. College and university entities located in RCRA authorized States will only be eligible for these new rules after the rules are adopted by their State hazardous waste agency.
Fuss & O’Neill can help you assess your eligibility requirements, assess if this program is suitable for you and develop your Laboratory Management Plan.
For more information, contact:
800-286-2469 Ext 6114, in the Fuss & O’Neill EHS Engineering Business Unit
Additional details regarding this final rule can be found at EPA’s Lab Waste at Educational Institutions website: http://www.epa.gov/osw/hazard/generation/labwaste/
