A historic partnership began Tuesday when Chancellor Kenneth A. Shaw signed an agreement between the Environmental Protection Agency and Syracuse University, making it the first private university in the country to enforce environmental standards independently.

SU will hire a third party auditing firm to inspect everything from science and engineering labs to the disposal of paint and toxic substances, said Jane Kenny, an EPA administrator. After the audit, the results will be disclosed to the EPA, as well as the measures taken to correct any infractions.

The audit will begin 2003 and take between 16 and 18 months, focusing on waste disposal, labs and workshops, pesticides and underground tanks, said David Pajak, director of the risk management department at SU.

Shaw described the project as a campus-wide monitoring system that would continue indefinitely.

“This touches mainly science and engineering,“ Shaw said, “but gets down to what kinds of things you use to clean.”

If SU has violations, they will carry significantly less or none financial penalty under the new agreement.

“It commits SU to audit itself, and act promptly should a violation be found,” Kenny said.

Patrick Harvey, chief of Compliance Assistance and Program Support at the EPA, pointed out SU could have eliminated the third party monitor if the proper staff were employed. He described the system as a “structured program” under which SU would review, fix and report any infractions within 36 hours, and the EPA would waive penalties. The EPA could still do random inspections.

Students had general concerns about the power given to the school. However, third party involvement and the possibility of financial penalties made students more confident about the deal. Others voiced concern about the environment.

“Obviously this area of Central New York has had more than its fair share of environmental mishaps. The current system failed, and I think that bringing in people with know-how, motivation, incentive and accountability is a good way to see improvements. No price is too high to protect our environment,” said Brian Hecht, a freshman in The College of Arts and Sciences.

Recent environmental reforms on college campuses began in 1999 with the EPA’s Colleges and Universities Initiative, Kenny said. Self-auditing in Region 2 began with public universities Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and the State University of New York system, Kenny said.

In her address, Kenny pointed to the safe atmosphere of the college setting as a leading cause for university pollution.

“I think until recently, very few universities saw themselves in this way,” he said. “I think this will be a model for universities across the country, public and private.”

She described the arrangement as allowing universities to come forward about environmental infractions without fear of a fine or other penalty.

The new agreement shouldn’t interfere with current university activities.

“We always try very hard to comply with EPA regulations,” Shaw said, pointing out simulations of EPA inspections, the use of third party evaluators to remove bias.

“I truly believe this is a win-win for everyone,” Shaw said.

Published on November 19, 2002 at 12:00 pm