Among the biggest challenges facing colleges and universities is the sheer number of environmental regulations that govern their activities. Universities are particularly challenged by these regulatory requirements because they tend to be highly decentralised, have significant student and researcher turnover, and generate a wide variety of chemical wastes. Addressing these challenges requires innovative management strategies.

MIT developed the original "Environmental Virtual Campus" ("EVC") to assist students, staff, and researchers with campus environmental management practices, including both regulatory compliance and non-regulatory "green" environmental practices. The site is organized around nine typical areas on a campus that are normally subject to environmental regulations. These featured areas include:

• A laboratory,
• A central hazardous waste storage area (for generators storing waste for less than ninety days),
• A power/heating plant,
• An auto and grounds maintenance area,
• A residential area,
• A food service area,
• A graphic arts/theatre department
• Drains and sewers
• A medical facility

Within each area, content is presented that discusses generally the federal environmental regulations that might commonly apply. In addition, "best practices" are included that cover additional (non-regulated) practices. In some cases the "best practices" and regulatory requirements overlap.

This project was undertaken by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in connection with the settlement of an enforcement action brought by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the United States Department of Justice for alleged violations of the Federal Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

The original site is hosted by the Campus Consortium for Environmental Excellence and can be viewed at www.c2e2.org/evc/home.html

The Environmental Virtual Campus was conceived and funded by MIT and produced under the direction of James T. Curtis, P.E., LSP. The regulatory and "best practices" content and database integration services were provided by CDM Inc., with Matthew D. Dentch, P.E., LSP serving as CDM Project Manager. Myriad Inc. provided illustration and web design services under the leadership of Ted Groves and Manjari Prashar.

Contributors to the EVC include the following:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
http://web.mit.edu/environment/

Mr. James T. Curtis, Project Director, Environment Health and Safety Office
Ms. Maryann Czerapak, Publishing Services Bureau
Ms. Zhanna Davidowitz, Environment Health and Safety Office
Mr. Brian Foti, Environment Health and Safety Office
Ms. Deborah Levinson, Web Communication Services
Ms. Suzanna Lisanti, Web Communication Services
Mr. James Repa, Information Systems
Mr. Chris Sherrill, Web Communications Services
Ms. Laurie Veal, Environment Health and Safety Management System

Executive Review Committee:

Ms. Jamie Lewis Keith, Managing Director for Environmental Programs/Senior Counsel
Mr. William Van Schalkwyk, Director of Environmental Health and Safety Programs
Mr. William Wohlfarth, Chief Project Manager, Environmental Health and Safety Management System Project

Mr. Richard Christian, Quality Review
Mr. Matthew Dentch, Project Manager
Mr. Kevin Eagar, Compliance Content Developer
Mr. Lawrence P. Kelley, Content/Database Integration
Mr. Kevin Molloy, Technical Review
Mr. Tom Pedersen, MIT EHS-MS Program Manager
Mr. Kevin Riley, Project Officer
Mr. James Skrabak, Compliance Content Developer
Mr. William Sedewitz, Compliance Content Developer
Ms. Erica Stevens, Compliance Content Developer

Ms. Akiko Chizawa, Designer
Mr. Theodore Groves, Creative Direction
Mr. Vasily Ivashin, Designer
Ms. Tracie Lee, Designer
Ms. Manjari Prasher, Project Manager
Ms. Hannah Smith, Technical Designer
Mr. Nick Switalski, Database Programmer

Ms. Pamela Schweppe

George Olson, Esquire
Palmer & Dodge
101 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA 02111