EPA Support

In 2003, the U.S. EPA’s Sector Strategies Program (SSP) chose Colleges and Universities to join its innovative program. SSP promotes widespread improvement in environmental performance in sectors.

The partnership is an exciting opportunity for U.S. EPA and colleges and universities to work together to achieve sector-wide environmental gains through innovative actions. A Sector Strategies liaison is working with the following six Colleges and Universities sector partners to develop sector-specific approaches to develop environmental management systems, reduce regulatory performance barriers, and measure environmental progress.

• American Council on Education
• Association of Higher Education Business Officers
• Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence
• Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• National Association of College and University Business Officers

The SSP for Colleges and Universities is currently focusing on three priority areas: EMS development; regulatory innovation; and performance measurement.

EMS Development

Through SSP, an EMS Work Group was developed that is currently working to develop tools and resources necessary to promote EMSs on campuses. The group is focusing on strategies to address colleges and universities that have:

• No previous consideration of implementing an EMS;
• Made EMS considerations, but require assistance; and
• Already begun the EMS development and implementation process but could benefit from specific and more quantitative EMS strategies.

A number of colleges and universities have already begun EMSs on their campuses. For more information, please visit these Web sites of colleges and universities with EMSs currently in place:

• Washington State University
• Michigan State University
• University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
• University of Missouri - Rolla
• University of Massachusetts - Lowell
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Regulatory Innovation

The SSP and sector partners are working to address the most significant regulatory barriers to sector-wide environmental performance. The Colleges and Universities Sector Regulatory Innovation Work Group is currently working on developing a strategy to address RCRA/Lab waste issues specific to the Sector.

The Office of Solid Waste's Federal Register Notice announced the public stakeholder meeting held in June of 2003. The meeting provided a forum for discussion of hazardous waste management in research and/or academic labs.

To view position statements from our Colleges and Universities Sector Partners, please visit the Campus Safety Health and Environmental Management Association and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Web sites.

Performance Measurement

The SSP and sector partners are exploring creative ways to measure sector-wide environmental and economic progress using performance indicators, success stories, and other tools.

The Colleges and Universities Sector Performance Measurement Work Group is exploring the value of and challenges involved in campus performance measurement. The Work Group is currently participating in an initial project to analyze the process of measuring the following key environmental indicators on their campuses: energy and greenhouse gas emissions, hazardous waste, water, solid waste and recycling rate.