EPA Initiative

Background

In the late 1990’s, the Federal EPA began an enforcement initiative against colleges and universities by conducting multimedia (air, water, waste) inspections of campuses to ensure compliance with federal and state environmental regulations.  The inspections began in New England (EPA Region 1), resulting in fines in the range of $600,000.  The initiative then moved south to New York and New Jersey (EPA Region 2), which caused the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) to seek a way to avoid potential fines for its colleges in EPA Region3 (See EPA Region Map). 

The solution was a “peer environmental audit” program, approved by EPA, which allowed each institution to self-audit using college personnel trained on environmental regulations and armed with auditing software.  This program was such a success in Pennsylvania and New Jersey that it is now being implemented in the six states in southeast (EPA Region 4) three states in Region 5, and one state in Region 7.  Texas and Arkansas are the two newest staes to join and represent Region 6.