Environmental Compliance

List of Environmental Compliance

Air Quality Management

CSUF endeavors to protect and improve human health and air quality for everyone attending, working and living near CSUF. The EHS office will assist faculty, staff, and students with designing facilities and obtaining equipment that meet requirements of South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and California Air Resources Board (CARB).

Examples of activities the EHS Office can provide support with include:

  • Obtaining SCAQMD air permits for emergency standby generators, boilers, spray booths, etc.
    • Prior to installation of new or relocated equipment, or prior to modification of an existing permitted equipment, CSUF is required to obtain a Permit to Construct (PC) from the SCAQMD.  Once a piece of equipment is installed, modified and/or operated, SCAQMD then processes the application for a Permit to Operate (PO).
  • Registration of CARB Large Spark-Ignition (LSI) and Off-Road Diesel (ORD) engine powered equipment.
    • The LSI regulationPDF File Opens in new window applies to off-road forklifts, floor scrubbers and sweepers fueled by gasoline, propane or compressed natural gas and equipped with engines 25 horsepower or greater.  This regulation also pertains to electric equipment.
    • All self-propelled off-road diesel vehicles PDF File Opens in new window (e.g. tractors and mowers) 25 horsepower or greater are subject to ORD regulations.

Soil Import Program

Soil can contain numerous animal and plant pests, and/or noxious weed seeds, or other propagules.  These pests include bacteria, plant viruses, fungi, nematodes, and life stages of destructive mollusks, acari, and insects.  Some of these contaminants may remain for decades without active mitigation measures, creating a persistent hazard to human health and the environment. 

Foreign and domestic soil samples for research at the University are strictly regulated by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources from the introduction of destructive plant and animal diseases and pests.  Soil from all foreign countries, U.S. territories and areas within states that are under Federal quarantine can be moved into or through the continental United States only if conditions and safeguards prescribed by APHIS are met.

Each soil shipment must be individually permitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) importing the soil material.  The PI has the legal responsibility to comply with USDA, Animal, Plant Health Inspection Service permit requirements and the CSUF USDA Soil Laboratory permit.  Contact the EHS Office for general program questions or assistance with the permit application process.

Also, in order to reduce the potential of contaminated soils on campus, the University has developed guidelines for accepting off campus construction soil (fill).  The EHS Office strongly recommends utilizing native soils when appropriate, but understands that soil import is essential to the successful completion of large construction projects. 

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