KU News Release

KU, Environmental Protection Agency reach agreement

LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas and Environmental Protection Agency have reached a settlement for alleged violation of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act involving waste disposal practices in university laboratories.

As part of the settlement, KU will undertake a project to identify and provide information about opportunities to reduce the use, production and generation of toxic and hazardous materials and other wastes in 301 laboratories on the Lawrence campus. The project is expected to take two years to complete.

“By undertaking this project we hope to identify ways to reduce the use of chemicals and hazardous materials and the production of waste in our labs,” said Don Steeples, senior vice provost for scholarly support. “We’re pleased the EPA has worked with us to make such a project possible, because we believe it will result in improved laboratory waste handling procedures.”

KU will spend at least $41,585 carrying out the waste management project. In addition, the university will pay a penalty to the EPA of $39,431.

The violations alleged in the settlement agreement involved labeling, closing and making waste determinations for 19 waste containers and allowing solvents and two to three solvent soaked rags per month to evaporate under a hood in an equipment repair and fabrication room prior to disposal as solid waste.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.