EH&S protected our campus and community environments through programs that minimized Iowa State University’s environmental impact.

EH&S’ commitment to improved environmental protection was a perfect match to ISU’s strategic commitment to improved infrastructure and facilities. EH&S provided weekly construction site inspections to assure storm water runoff and soil stability systems remain intact throughout the construction process. Storm water runoff management prevented over 30 cubic yards of topsoil erosion from ISU construction sites. That saved 3.2 dump truck loads of soil from entering area surface waters and helped prevent maintenance issues for storm sewers.

 

 

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are toxic, persistent and bioaccumulating chemicals that were commonly used in the 20th century.  PCB-contaminated electrial equipment could be found in just about every campus building in previous decades. In 2014, the last known PCB-contaminated electrical transformer was removed from campus for disposal.

 

 

 

 

 

Underground storage tanks (USTs) responsible for soil and groundwater contamination once numbered over one hundred on the ISU campus. Today there are just two safe and modern USTs remaining after the removal at the Knapp-Storms Dining Complex. Over the past 25 years, EH&S has coordinated the safe removal and disposal of countless PCB transformers and USTs.

EH&S continued to provide environmental auditing and impact reporting services for university real estate transactions.