ukansas: bad for the environment

EPA says University of Kansas is a Repeat Offender

http://www.nbcactionnews.com/content/news/kansas/story.aspx?content_id=b109c2e6-c9a6-47a1-9654-578eb0ec4a79

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – The University of Kansas has violated Environmental Protection Agency regulations for the second time in three years, the federal agency says. Now, the EPA says it may fine the university.  (the epa should know by now vague threats/weak penalties won’t put ukansas back in line…after all, compliance doesn’t sell tickets) “When you find the same things, it shows there is a pattern,” said David Bryan, a spokesman for the EPA’s regional office serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. “It shows there really haven’t been institutional things done to correct the problem.” (lack of institutional control? seems to be a theme at this school) According to a 321-page report obtained by the Lawrence Journal-World through an open-records request, multiple possible violations were found at various university labs during a Dec. 12, 2007, inspection. The potential violations include failing to determine if some wastes produced by the school were hazardous; allowing incompatible chemicals to be stored on the same shelf; and operating as a hazardous waste treatment facility without a permit. The report says that an EPA inspector found several open jugs of improperly labeled waste in a science building at the Lawrence campus. Inspectors also found chemicals being stored near each other that, if mixed, could lead to a fires and explosions, and a professor disposing of a couple of liters of 50 percent methanol cleaning solution into the city sewers. Methanol can be toxic to humans if ingested, according to the EPA.   (people should probably steer clear of all lakes/rives…who knows what might be living down there…) University spokeswoman Lynn Bretz said university officials took the report seriously and were working with the EPA to fix any problems. However, Bretz said that the school would not comment on the specifics of the 2007 inspection report or the EPA’s charge that the university is a repeat offender. Although the EPA has notified the university of 24 observed violations during the 2007 inspection, a final, official report has not been issued and no fines have been levied. “It wouldn’t be responsible to discuss these issues at this point in time,” Bretz told the Journal-World. The university was cited in 1994, 2000 and 2005 for failing to determine if some wastes were hazardous, something that was also cited in the 2007 inspection. In its response to the EPA after the 2005 citation, university officials tested the waste and everything was proven to be nonhazardous. Bryan said the university needs to test and label items immediately to avoid confusion or harm. Bryan said university officials were negotiating with the EPA on the extent of penalties the school will face. He said the EPA’s main concern is that the university fix the problems. Mike Russell, director of Environment, Health and Safety for the university called the inspection and negotiations fairly common. No timeline has been set for negotiations and an official filing of violations.©2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————— this can’t be good news for all the enviro left wing loons that live/attend school in lawrence.  UKANSAS: once again proving to be a huge detriment to the state of Kansas.