Oil and Natural Gas
Every place where there is oil there is the possibility for a spill. Any oil that touches the ground on campus eventually makes its way to the nearest stream, finds its way to the coast, and enters Buzzards Bay. UMass Dartmouth has thousands of gallons of oil stored on campus, most in conjunction with emergency generators, which every building must be equipped with by law for local backup power.
To eliminate the number of points on campus vulnerable to spills we have removed many underground storage tanks, which can be sources of hidden pollution. Over the next several years we will switch to natural gas-fired turbines for several generators and plan to retrofit all diesel generators on campus.
The advantages of changing from oil to natural gas include:
- The elimination of environmental vulnerability and liability;
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Significantly reduced administrative and engineering costs associated with the current Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plan (SPCC), which has mandatory monthly inspections, updates, and reporting.
- The protection of water resources within the region.
- Setting an example of responsible operational practices.
This is just one way the University is striving to be environmentally responsible. By limiting the impact our operations have on the region we are leading by example and showing students, faculty, and the community our commitment to sustainable practices.
Last Updated On: 11/25/05
