Texas Tech University

Environmental Protection

The Environmental Protection program focuses primarily on compliance with environmental regulations associated with the Federal Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act, Toxic Substances Control Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as well as other city and state related rules. In addition to the compliance requirements, Environmental Protection provides several activities and services, which include the following:

  • Chemical management
  • Chemical and infectious waste disposal
  • Surplus chemical redistribution
  • Universal Waste and electronic equipment recycling
  • Pollution prevention and waste minimization
  • Training and education related to waste

Responsibilities involving air compliance include the permitting, emissions testing, and reporting of air pollution sources associated with the Texas Tech University Federal Operating Permit and annually reporting the quantity of greenhouse gas emissions from the campus. Water compliance activities include the inspection, permitting, and reporting associated with storm water, fuel storage tanks, municipal storm water and sanitary sewers.

Hazardous material assessment, sample collection, and analysis are valuable services that are provided in support of construction, renovation, and demolition projects having regulatory requirements. These materials include asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyl compounds (PCBs), lead based paint, mercury, petroleum products, etc. Emergency spill response, cleanup, project oversight and reporting are other compliance activities performed by Environmental Protection.

Additional services provided include the review of planning and design documents involved with construction, renovation, and demolition. This is a service that is provided to ensure compliance with the various air, water, and waste regulations, safety regulations, as well as sustainability initiatives associated with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Also, guidance in the storage, application, cleanup, and disposal of restricted use pesticides is provided by Environmental Protection.