Environmental Council
February 25, 2003
Minutes
Present: Nan Jenks-Jay, Diane Munroe, Gail Smith, Connie Leach Bisson, Helen Young, David West, Andi Lloyd, JS Woodward, Jesi Warren, Ben Wessler, Doug Dagan, and Suzanne Nagi, Andrea Hamre
Missing: Charlotte Tate, Megan Smith, Mandy Helwig, Nick Benjamin
Guests: Ed Sullivan
1. Ed Sullivan ~ Environmental Health & Safety Coordinator
Nan introduced Ed Sullivan and provided a brief history explaining that with Ed's development of the environmental compliance component of his job, the Environmental Council has focused much less on regulatory and compliance issues in recent years and more on areas referred to as "beyond compliance".
Ed has worked for the College for about 8 years and has a background in occupational safety in the private sector. He was first hired to undertake VOSHA compliance and training for Facilities Management (FM). The College also provided Ed's services as a consultant to Porter Hospital to assist them with their compliance issues. It became clear that staff had limited knowledge of their responsibilities in reporting environmentally related information so Ed began a needs assessment. About three years ago, Ed attended a meeting in Maine where US EPA officials sent a clear message that colleges and universities were not in compliance. Soon after that BU, UNH, MIT and University of Rhode Island received large fines by the EPA, sending a stronger message to all colleges of the need to improve their environmental management systems. Ed hired a private consulting firm from Vermont (Marin Environmental) to provide an internal audit identifying areas needing improvement. Partially through this process, EPA Region 1 (New England) encouraged colleges and universities to undertake a voluntary audit, agreeing to forgive non-compliance while strategies for gaining compliance were developed, and to keep such institutions off inspection roles until January 2003. 180 colleges & universities came on board. Middlebury has developed a good working relationship with EPA, has had to correct a few minor things and also went beyond requirements in several areas. The College has installed test wells around the 50,000-gallon underground concrete container that stores the #6 fuel oil and checks these annually. It has installed berms around the fuel tanks and provides annual training to FM and Snow Bowl staff on how to identify and manage a spill. Boston College and UVM are involved in an XL Project that over five years will likely develop a set of rules more appropriate for institutional labs. Currently, the rules are those expected of industry and institutions need their own set of regulations.
In the first part of every new calendar year, Ed spends time filing reports documenting the previous year with the appropriate entities. He provides on-going training, policing and inventorying for the College. Ed commends FM and particularly Norm Cushman for innovative ideas, providing the example of the contaminated rag recycling program that was extended from FM to the entire campus. While still on a learning curve with environmental issues, Ed felt the audit, which covered air emissions, water, wastewater, RCRA, spill prevention control and counter measures and Tier 2, has greatly aided his and the institution's expertise. Ed actively shares Middlebury's process with staff from other colleges in the state who don't have an environmental health and safety staff person.
Nan thanked Ed for sharing some of the details of his work with the Environmental Council. She provided additional history by recounting a past situation where reporting was limited and led to a fine. The State worked with the College to develop progressive education as part of the subsequent action required of the College, which included the lease of an electric vehicle. Ed noted that though mistakes have been made, the staff is very proactive and trying to do the right thing and stay educated. Regulations or reporting requirements are constantly changing and Ed works to stay up to speed. The College recognizes the importance of compliance.
Nan referenced the hydraulic spill that occurred when a contractor was removing the elevator from the old science building during the deconstruction. Ed was involved. The contractor was responsible and paid for the proper disposal of the spill but since it occurred on our site the hazardous waste went out under our number but it was not tracked as generated by the College in year end tallies. Ed also does initial safety discussions at each construction project and reported that there is increased information on safety and disposal guidelines in the on-site notebooks, including the construction and demolition best practices for recycling and managing hazardous waste developed out of the Office of Environmental Affairs.
2. Briefing by Land Use Subcommittee
Andi shared with the Env. Council the collaborative process of developing the letter that was sent by the Subcommittee to President McCardell and the open dialogue that occurred during their meeting with President McCardell, Ron Liebowitz and Bob Huth. During the meeting they discussed why a lands policy was important and its educational components, and emphasized that they did not wish to create something that would tie hands nor create undue expense. They did not fully define the scope of the policy, though they excluded lands in Europe, but left it vague beyond that. President McCardell asked if it would be a prescriptive or philosophical statement and the reply was that the subcommittee wanted to create a policy that encourages people to do things (in an environmentally sound manner). Regarding the chain of command with respect to lands, Bob Huth echoed the subcommittees desires that development of the policy be a participatory process, especially including the College Forester and Assistant Treasurer. Bob Huth felt that the advisory nature would assist him in some of the decisions he makes regarding land, rather than something that was dictating decisions that had to be made. Nan and Ron both agreed that standing policies can be useful. Chain of command issues should be revisited once a draft policy is developed.
Ron also noted that the College does not have an audit of how the College actually uses all its lands. It would be helpful to have an evaluative process of use alternatives. President McCardell noted the need for diplomacy with adjacent landowners and to be cognizant of zoning issues. The subcommittee emphasized that they see the policy more as a general statement than identifying specific practices for specific pieces of land.
The subcommittee will reconvene with President McCardell in early May.
3. Grants Update (continuation from previous EC mtg)
- Yellow Bikes – Doug Dagan reported that the Yellow Bikes were collected and stored in the Ross bike room for winter. Surveys of members have been completed and data is being analyzed. Maintenance is taking place on the bikes. Doug had not heard back from Nate as to whether or not Public Safety would be funding the YB coordinator position. Yellow Bikes (EQ?) will be making a recommendation to the EC for using some of the grant funds for the purchase of some additional bikes. They are also developing a business plan to ensure long-term viability of the program.
- Green Room – Connie reported that she had met collectively in November with the two grant recipient groups who had requested funding for generating electricity through exercise bikes. Both were willing to think about combining their projects and were encouraged to take the next step in developing a budget and plan to do so. In requesting updates from the grantees in January, neither of the "green power" groups had moved forward with the project. Connie met independently with each entity and learned that Chris Howell was studying abroad for spring semester. His request was that the Environmental Council earmark the $5000 for investment in the Green Room at Atwater, which he would work on upon his return in the fall. Mike Unger and Mike Romankiewicz were moving in to their final semester at Middlebury. While still interested in seeing the project come to fruition, they were willing to support Chris Howell's request but requested another opportunity to respond if the Environmental Council were not able to carryover the funds for this project into the next year.
The Environmental Council recommended that Connie challenge Mike and Mike to undertake the project, working with the Fitness Center and their faculty advisor Rich Wolfson to resubmit a revised budget and work plan. The final report connected with the finished project should address issues of continuity – who is responsible for the equipment after their graduation, who has ownership of the equipment.
4. Environmental Council meeting schedule to year end
Nan asked members to note that only four meetings remain in this academic year and that subcommittees should be focused on prioritizing their goals and outputs.
March 11 - agenda to be announced
April 1 – Environmental Policy
April 15 – President McCardell (invited); Grant Presentations
April 29 – CRI Working Group report; Subcommittee reports and wrap up
The next meeting should include an update of plans for Earth Day/ Environmental Fair.
The meeting adjourned at 5:40 p.m.