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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (June 23, 1994)
NU to face EPA fines for waste violations By Brain Sharp Staff Reporter The University of Nebraska has nowhere else to go. And the Environmental Protection Agency will soon come knocking once again. That’s how officials from both sides de scribed the coming year for a relationship that’s become somewhat tiresome. Last week, NU finalized its latest settlement with the EPA at a cost of $580,000. It marked the third fine NU has received in the last four years. The June 15 agreement came after NU was cited for violating federal environmental regu lations. Included in the violations was NU’s storage of hazardous waste. James Rhone, NU director of hazardous waste, said that while the university has now gotten itself in compliance will all EPA guide lines, it may not last. In one week, the only facil ity where NU ships its low-level radioactive waste will close its doors to the state. EPA guidelines say the waste must be shipped within 90 days. “We’re going to have to sit on it (the waste),” Rhone said. “That could be a violation, even though there’s no place else to send it. The South Carolina facility is shutting Ne braskans out because they haven’t held up their end of the deal, Rhone said. When Nebraska entered into a five-state radioactive waste pact along with South Caro lina several years ago, it was agreed that a facility to similar to South Carolina’s would be built in Boyd County. Recent reports show the developer, US Ecology, is farming the land. “South Carolina is saying ‘We only opened to give you an opportunity to get things start ed,’” Rhone said. “In other words, they’re try ing to force us to do what we should have done ^^ Jason LevkuHch/DN Wharehouse #1 is one of two buildings UNL uses to keep hazardous materials until they can be shipped out to various centers for refining, incinerating or burial. live years ago. Now, NU is left to wait and wonder — wonder if the EPA will hit them with more fines for not getting rid of the radioactive waste. Dale Armstrong, EPA spokesman forregion VII, said the EPA will be back, NU can count on that. “The university can expect repeated inspec tions,” Armstrong said. “The whole purpose of this system is not to go out and fine people, but to make sure the hazardous waste is handled safely.” Armstrong said that, ideally, a university would be the place that sets an example when it comes to following the environmental regula tions. That’s why when the hazardous waste laws were changed (around 1986), NU was allowed interim status for six years, Armstrong said. The change in law required all companies to get a permit, he said. To handle the numerous appl icants, the EPA first issued Part A permits, equalling interim status. They then notified permit holders indi vidually to send in the paperwork for a Part B, or final, permit. Armstrong said EPA officials worked their way down the list, starting with those they felt were of most concern. NU was close to the bottom. But when they got to NU. Armstrong said, the documents for the final permit were never received. That’s because they were never sent. Rhone said NU officials decided they didn’t need the permit, figuring they could handle shipping the hazardous waste themselves. Rhone said that now, after further review, they have filed for the permit. If nothing else, NU can take comfort in the fact that they’re not alone. Armstrong said similar violations have been found in other Big Eight schools, noting the University of Missouri in particular for viola See HAZARDOUS on 2 Financial aid fails to keep up with rising tuition costs Funding drops as student eligibility increases By Sean McCarthy Stall Report* _ s the cost of tuition continues to rise, federal aid programs aren’t keeping up with rising costs, said John Beacon, Director of Scholarships and Financial Aid. Proposed tuition rales for the 1994 95 school year include a 6.2 percent rise in rates for resident students and a 6 percent rise for nonresident stu dents. In a 1991 surveybyGallupPoll,87 percent of Americans believed that college costs are rising at rate that would make college out of reach for most people. The cost of attending college rose 77 percent for four-year colleges from 1980 to 1990 according to a report by the Office of Scholar ships and Financial Aid. That same report estimates that college costs will consume approximately 20 percent of an average median family income. “People come in and grumble at the financial aid office about the lack of money, but they never take the time to write their congressman about getting more money,” Beacon said. Federal State Student Incentive Grants experienced a drop in the 1993 94 school year. They moved from $190,856 in the 1992-93 school year to $180,122 for 1993-94. “As department budgets continue to grow tighter, they are not able to provide students with enough mon ey,” said Beacon. Federal Pell Grants also experi enced a drop, from $8,342,387 for the 1992-93 school year to an estimated $6,000,000 for the 1993-94 school year, according to the financial aid office. “What we have is an increase in the eligibility for students to receive aid, but not an increase in money,” Beacon said. “Federal funds arc not able to stretch the money for the time peri od.” Programs that experienced increas es in the 1993-94 school year included Federal Perkins Loans and Federal Subsidized Loans. According to the financial aid office, Stafford Loans also increased from $17,120,794 in 1992-93 to $21,700,000 in 1993-94. One of the reasons for this increase is bigger loan limits. Beacon said. In 1992-93, the limit that a junior could borrow from the programs was $4,000. In 1993-94 that limit increased to The Cost of College Average Cost of Median Family Income $2,701 $19,587 $6,117 $34,213 % of Median Family Income used for college 14% 18% 1994 Projected cost and family income indicates that college expenses will consume 1/5 of family income. Source: 1991 Gallup Poll $5,500, Beacon said. “Undergraduates can now borrow as much as $23,000 in loan debts, but you’re going to have to pay it off sometime,” said Beacon. “Don’t feel Amy Schmidt/DN compelled to*takc the full amount of money you are eligible for.” A new way for students to pay off See STUDENT AID on 2