Gula, Lori

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University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire Scholars' RepositoryMedia Relations Administrative Offices8-6-2003UNH Develops System to Track HazardousMaterialsLori GulaFollow this and additional works at: https://scholars.unh.edu/newsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Administrative Offices at University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. It hasbeen accepted for inclusion in Media Relations by an authorized administrator of University of New Hampshire Scholars' Repository. For moreinformation, please contact nicole.hentz@unh.edu.Recommended CitationGula, Lori, "UNH Develops System to Track Hazardous Materials" (2003). UNH Today. 1959.https://scholars.unh.edu/news/195910/13/17, 10(54 AMUNH Develops System to Track Hazardous MaterialsPage 1 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2003/august/lg_20030806cems.htmlRelated LinksUNH ChemicalEnvironmentalManagementSystemUNHDepartment ofEnvironmentalHealth andSafetyUNH ResearchComputingCenterUNH Develops System to Track HazardousMaterialsNew Online System is Available to UniversitiesNationwideContact Lori GulaUNH Media Relations603-862-0574August 6, 2003DURHAM, N.H. -- With concern about chemical, biological andradiological hazards still on the minds of many Americans, theUniversity of New Hampshire has developed a comprehensive onlinesystem that research universities nationwide can use to manage theirstores of some of the world’s most dangerous substances.The UNH Chemical Environmental Management System(UNHCEMS) was developed by the UNH Research ComputingCenter (RCC) in consultation with the UNH Department ofEnvironmental Health and Safety. The Web-based system allowspublic and private institutions to manage hazardous chemicals storedat multiple locations on their campuses. State and federal guidelinesmandate that such institutions meet hazardous materials safety andcompliance laws.Soon it will be able to track thousands of biological agents andradioactive materials, such as anthrax and the plague.What sets UNH’s system apart from commercial products is it isdesigned for educational institutions and is easily accessible via theWeb. Data and software is securely stored at UNH.“Most universities do not maintain comprehensive, online inventoriesof their hazardous materials. Most universities simply don’t have thatinformation available or up to date,” says Brad Manning, director ofUNH Environmental Health and Safety.UNHCEMS was developed as part of a settlement agreement with theEnvironmental Protection Agency following an EPA inspection atUNH five years ago. At the time, UNH was found to have violatedthe Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regarding wastedisposal in laboratories.10/13/17, 10(54 AMUNH Develops System to Track Hazardous MaterialsPage 2 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2003/august/lg_20030806cems.html “This online chemical management system holds great potential tohelp universities and colleges improve tracking and management ofchemicals and wastes,” says Robert W. Varney, regional administratorof EPA's New England Office, which initiated the enforcement caseagainst UNH and negotiated the settlement that included the project.“We've found in our inspections that many colleges are wastingsignificant amounts of chemicals because they do not have systems inplace for accurately recording the identity, quantity and location ofmaterials. This system holds great promise to reverse this problem,resulting in campuses that are safer and better for the environment.”Two universities, Brown University and the University ofMassachusetts at Amherst, are using UNHCEMS. More universitiesare expected to being using the system by the summer’s end,according to Manning.The need for such a comprehensive system was proven all too realearlier this year when a faculty researcher at Texas Tech reported 30vials of the bacteria that causes the plague were missing. Althoughthe vials had been destroyed, the interim period when officials wereunsure of what had happened to the vials caused concern nationwide.Had Texas Tech been effectively using a system such as UNHCEMS,the university could have known within minutes exactly if, how andwhen those vials had been destroyed.“From the standpoint of Homeland Security and the U.S. Patriot Act,this system dramatically increases the ability of universities to trackcertain hazardous chemicals. For example, if we need to determine ifwe have a particular hazard on campus, we can query the system andfind out within a minute if that substance is on campus and exactlywhere it is located,” Manning says.“We can ensure we have the necessary security measures in place toprevent unauthorized access to these chemicals and ensure that thefaculty member is following all of the required procedures regardingthat particular substance,” he says. “My counterparts at otheruniversities have had to hire people to go out and look in everylaboratory – hundreds of laboratories – to find these hazards.”Manning’s office and RCC worked closely in the development of thesystem over the last three years. “I have not found any of thecompetition coming close to offering what our system provides forhigher education,” says Patrick Messer, associate director of the UNHResearch Computing Center. Institutions wanting to learn more aboutUNHCEMS can visit www.cems-info.sr.unh.edu or contact Messer at603-862-2889.Editors: Brad Manning, director of UNH Environmental Health10/13/17, 10(54 AMUNH Develops System to Track Hazardous MaterialsPage 3 of 3http://www.unh.edu/delete/news/news_releases/2003/august/lg_20030806cems.htmland Safety, is available for press inquiries. He can be reached at603-862-2571. Back to UNH News Bureau

UNH Develops System to Track Hazardous Materials

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UNH Develops System to Track Hazardous Materials

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