The next step in the implementation of CSUN's Environmental management System EMS) is to establish Environmental Objective(s). An Environmental Objective is a campus-wide goal aimed at improving the University's impact on the environment. Objectives will be established periodically as part of maintaining the EMS. In July 2005, the EMS Advisory Board selected the first Environmental Objective:

ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVE I

Ensure adequate hazardous materials management programs are in place.

SUMMARY OF OBJECTIVE:

• Evaluate the existing hazardous materials management programs with the    goal of identifying best practices and areas for possible improvement.

• Establish best practices for key hazardous materials management programs.

• Ensure best practices are being followed consistently across the campus and    any variances are identified and corrected.

BENEFITS OF OBJECTIVE

• Improved environmental compliance.

• Ensures adequate controls are in place to reduce or avoid pollution from    University operations.

• Provides opportunity for the continuous improvement of the University's    EMS.

RESOURCES

Resource requirements (labor) for this Environmental Objective are anticipated to be minimal because most departments currently have adequate hazardous materials management programs in place. The EMS Advisory Board estimates that it will take 0-12 additional man hours/year for areas that use hazardous materials, and 0-2 additional hours/year for areas that do not use hazardous materials.

IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH

Environmental Objective I will be divided into the following three (3) elements, which represent the "life-cycle" of hazardous materials on Campus.

• Procurement

• Storage and use (Inventory)

• Hazardous waste generation, management and disposal.

Responsibility for managing the implementation of each element will be assigned to individual working groups. Each working group will be led by a member of the EMS Advisory Board and will have representation from the following functional areas (as appropriate for each working group):

• Professor conducting research with grant funds

• Chemical stockroom manager/technician

• Technician who handles hazardous waste

• PPM

• Purchasing

• Receiving

• University Corporation

• Technician from Art or Theatre who handles hazardous materials

The working groups will then determine the best practices within each of the three (3) objective elements. Working groups will use the following to guide their selection of best practices:

• Legal requirements

• Hazardous materials user needs and limitations

• Use of existing programs and systems

In cases where a best practice does not exist, the current programs will be modified or new programs will be developed.

Once best practices have been established, the EMS Advisory Board will communicate the requirements for any new or revised procedures to applicable hazardous materials users. The Board will also develop and implement a mechanism to ensure variances from best practice programs are identified and addressed.

To help measure the progress towards achieving the Objective, measurable targets will be established. Progress towards these targets will be reviewed at each EMS Advisory Board meeting.