Dear Colleagues,
Columbia University Medical Center has agreed to conduct an Environmental self-audit - to begin this fall - of all facilities and research laboratories. Fifteen buildings will be involved in the audit, which will include staff interviews and inspections of labs and other facilities throughout the campus. This effort will be done in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency College and University Compliance Initiative.

The self-audit, to be conducted in three phases over a period of 18 months, requires CUMC to identify violations and correct them in a timely manner. In return, the EPA has agreed to make CUMC a low priority for inspection during the agreement period and to waive any civil fines that might have been imposed for violations discovered during the audit.

An independent consultant will assist CUMC's Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) staff and conduct the audits using inspection teams. Phase I, in October and November, will focus on the handling of hazardous waste in the 1,000 labs throughout CUMC. Phases II and III will focus on facilities, residential buildings and clinical practice areas. Upon completion of the on-site audit, a report will be prepared that will identify areas that require improvement and corrective action.

During Phase I, teams will inspect CUMC research laboratories in Russ Berrie, Vanderbilt Clinic, P&S, Black Building, Hammer, Eye Institute and Annex, Kolb, Lasker, Milstein Hospital, Children's Hospital of New York, Presbyterian Hospital, Neurological Institute, NYSPI Building 5 (new PI), 722 (School of Public Health building), and Irving Cancer Research Center (Audubon III).

Columbia University Medical Center is dedicated to excellence in research education and patient care to ease the burden of human disease.  We have long embraced and supported a commitment to excellence in Environmental stewardship.  Our Environmental health and safety programs reflect our deep concern for our neighbors and for the quality of our surrounding pictures/environment.  We are delighted to partner with the Environmental Protection Agency to continue to improve our Environmental programs.

Further details of the self-audit and inspection schedule will be provided soon. Your cooperation with the inspection is critical to ensure that it proceeds smoothly. At the time of the inspection, please ensure that the PI and/or lab safety manager is available to respond to any questions the auditors may have regarding laboratory practices. If you have any questions, please contact Kathleen Collins, Environmental Safety Officer (koc4@columbia.edu) or Kathleen Crowley, Director, Environmental Health & Safety (kc298@columbia.edu).

Thank you for your support and cooperation in this issue that is of major importance to everyone at CUMC.

Gerald D. Fischbach, M.D.
Executive Vice President for Health and Biomedical Sciences
and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine