Brown EHS provides technical guidance to ensure campus activities comply with federal, state and local requirements as well as minimize the impact of these activities on the environment. EHS provides assistance for compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and permitting and acts as the primary liaison with environmental regulatory agencies. EHS monitors the University's environmental performance through inspections and audits, recordkeeping and reporting and minimizes potentially harmful impacts through University-wide hazardous waste management contracts. Areas covered include air permitting, chemical management and reporting, chemical inventory database management, hazardous wastes, oil spill prevention, stormwater management and wastewater discharge permitting.
EHS manages the disposal of hazardous waste generated in all University-owned buildings. EHS has developed extensive guidance and training on the proper management of hazardous waste from the point of generation to ultimate disposal off-site.
Universal Wastes are a subset of the Hazardous Waste regulations that require recycling for certain devices as the only EPA approved method of disposal. These devices are banned from landfill disposal. Universal Wastes are often referred to as “e-waste” which comprises the majority of products in this classification.
University operations create air emissions that are regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM). EHS provides the University with the support and tools necessary to ensure that regulated activities with the potential to create air emissions are properly designed, operated and permitted in accordance with the requirements of the RIDEM and EPA. The University has been issued as Air Operating Permit by the RIDEM for its operations. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) staff work with faculty and staff to ensure compliance with this permit and all air emission regulations.
Wastewater discharges from the University are regulated by the RI Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) Office of Water or the Narragansett Bay Commission (NBC) depending on the ultimate destination of the wastewater discharge. EHS provides support to the University to ensure that the required permits are obtained prior to water discharge and performs oversight and sampling to ensure compliance with the requirements of the permits.
Brown University manages oil on campus to minimize the potential risks of oil spills. The University maintains a Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasures (SPCC) plan that contains an accurate up‐to‐date inventory of oil‐containing devices and spill prevention procedures. There is also an inspection, maintenance and training program. EHS provides support to the University to ensure compliance with oil storage regulations as well as the SPCC plan.
The Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 was enacted by Congress to test, regulate, and screen all chemicals produced or imported into the United States. Many thousands of chemicals and their compounds are developed each year with unknown toxic or dangerous characteristics. To prevent tragic consequences, TSCA requires that any chemical that reaches the consumer marketplace be tested for possible toxic effects prior to commercial manufacture. EHS has developed a guidance for compliance with the TSCA requirements and how they apply on campus.
Brown University is committed to minimizing the use of mercury in campus operations and has developed policies and programs that limit the purchase of new elemental mercury containing devices.