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EPA Fines Drew University for Hazardous Waste Violations

Release Date: 01/05/2011
Contact Information: John Senn, (212) 637-3667, senn.john@epa.gov John Martin, (212) 637-3662, martin.johnj@epa.gov

(New York, N.Y.) Drew University has agreed to pay $145,000 to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to properly manage hazardous waste at its Madison, N.J. campus. In 2007, the university had self-reported violations to EPA and corrected the violations.

"EPA's self-audit policy is intended to help institutions recognize violations of federal environmental laws and take action to correct them," said EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck. "We expect institutions that conduct their own audits to maintain compliance with the regulations. Drew’s failure to do so is not consistent with this policy.”

During its 2009 investigation, EPA discovered that Drew University had:

• Haphazardly stored dozens of containers of paint, wood stains, enamels and adhesives in a manner that failed to minimize releases to the environment. These containers were being stored outside and on the ground, some of which were in close proximity to residential housing and a pond. Many containers were open and could have easily spilled their contents or leaked into the ground.
• Failed to properly identify discarded materials such as mercury, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, formic acid, and nitric acid as hazardous wastes.
• Stored hazardous waste without a permit authorizing and regulating such storage.

After EPA issued a complaint to Drew, the university agreed to pay a $145,000 fine for the violations, and comply with applicable federal and state laws and regulations governing the management of hazardous waste.

For more information on how EPA regulates hazardous waste, visit www.epa.gov/region02/waste/csummary.htm.

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