EMS Guidelines for Contractors

Purpose

• ISO 14001 requires all persons working on behalf of the University to be familiar with the environmental impacts that can result from their work.
• Contractors shall know their roles and responsibilities in achieving conformance to Missouri S&T’s Sustainability Policy and regulatory requirements.

Missouri S&T's Sustainability Policy

• http://ems.mst.edu/sustainabilitypolicy/

Regulatory Requirements

• Missouri S&T contractors are responsible for ensuring compliance to all federal, state and local environmental regulations.
• Missouri S&T endeavors to comply with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations including:
  • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
  • Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR).
• Noncompliance with federal and state statutes and their associated regulations can result in significant penalties and fines to the University.
• Applicable statues include, but are not limited to:
  • Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA),
  • Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA),
  • Clean Air Act (CAA),
  • Clean Water Act (CWA)
• The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) protects human health and the environment from the potential hazards of waste disposal, conserves energy and natural resources, reduces the amount of waste generated, and ensures that wastes are managed in an environmentally sound manner. (http://www.epa.gov/superfund)
• The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), also known as Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (SARA) Title III, provides an infrastructure at the state and local levels to plan for chemical emergencies.  Facilities that store, use, or release certain chemicals, may be subject to various reporting requirements under EPCRA. Reported information is then made publicly available so that interested parties may become informed about potentially dangerous chemicals in their community.
• The Clean Air Act (CAA) restricts the types and amounts of pollutants that may be released into the air and requires permits for large, and sometimes small, polluters.
• The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law that protects our nation's waters, including lakes, rivers, aquifers and coastal areas.

Spill Prevention

• Despite the best efforts, spills will occur.  For this reason, it is essential that contractors working for the University include appropriate procedures and materials to adequately contain and clean up potential spills.
• The following information should be used as a guide to help contain and clean up spills:
  • Spill control equipment such as absorbent pads, booms, pillows or mats should be readily available at all times.
  • At a minimum, there should be adequate supplies to respond to a spill of 30 gallons.
  • Spill kits are commercially available and provide the appropriate inventory of materials for the collection of oil.
• Upon observing a spill, personnel on the scene will take immediate steps to contain the spill if it is not contained by secondary containment structures or poses a safety risk.
• Personnel should prevent any product from a spill from reaching drains, (e.g., floor drain or storm-water drain) using available spill control equipment.
• Immediately call the 24-hour emergency telephone number:
  
                             (573) 341-4252
                             Physical Facilities
  
  This phone number will connect you with personnel who will initiate the appropriate response and make the necessary University contacts.

Environmental Aspects and Impacts

• Missouri S&T is required under ISO 14001 to identify environmental aspects and impacts that result from all University activities.
• Missouri S&T defines an environmental aspect as an element of our daily work activities that interact with the environment.  Environmental aspects may be positive or negative.
• Missouri S&T defines an environmental impact as any change to the environment, adverse or beneficial, wholly or partly resulting from our daily work activities.

Significant Environmental Aspects

• Missouri S&T has identified its significant environmental aspects that are a result of University activities.
• http://ems.mst.edu/planning/environmental/significant_environmental_aspects.html

Objectives & Targets Summary

• By setting objectives and targets, Missouri S&T can implement changes to show measurable improvement in how we carry out our daily activities.
• The designated objectives and targets take into account legal requirements and identified significant environmental aspects.
• http://ems.mst.edu/planning/environmentalaspects/fysignificantenvironmentalaspects/