The $2.4 million, 11,000-square-foot Environmental Quality Management Center (EQMC) opened in March of 1998. This convenient, centralized facility houses the university's Environmental Management (EM) operations. It has approximately 1,000 square feet of office space and 10,000 square feet of waste storage area.

EM is charged with handling all of the hazardous waste generated by the campus, associated farms, and research centers in strict compliance with all federal, state and local environmental regulations. EM provides waste pick up service and brings the waste to the EQMC for processing. The various operations performed at the EQMC include: unloading, segregating and bulking waste,

• analyzing unknown chemicals,
• treating certain wastes to render them nontoxic,
• recycling good chemicals to campus users,
• recycling fluorescent light bulbs and all types of batteries, and
• preparing and shipping waste to approved off-campus disposal sites.

Numerous engineering controls were incorporated into the design of the facility enabling it to operate safely with no impact on the surrounding environment. Floors and walls are 12-inch thick reinforced concrete. Floors are sealed and sloped toward the center of the facility to keep liquids from migrating to the exterior. The facility has sophisticated fire and vapor monitoring systems and several fire suppression systems, all designed to quickly mitigate any releases. The waste area is kept locked at all times to prevent unauthorized entry. There are motion detectors and intrusion alarms throughout. All systems are continuously monitored. EM is on call to respond to emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Exhaust from the waste storage section and the chemical fume hoods is routed through an elaborate ventilation system to induced-draft fans on top of the Garrigus building adjacent to the EQMC. The air changes an average of 6 times per hour and can be increased to 14 changes per hour if necessary.

The staff performs daily, weekly, and monthly safety inspections of the operating areas and systems. The EQMC is inspected periodically by federal and state EPA personnel who review our operations and disposal records to verify compliance with regulations. The university has not received any fines or violations for facility operations. In conclusion, the EQMC is a state-of-the-art waste management facility that has received high marks from our college and university peers.