As part of the recent Chemical Reduction Project that identified no longer needed chemicals for disposal, the Lab Waste Management team will be working with a specialized vendor to treat the identified chemicals on site this weekend. After this step, the chemicals will be stored at the Lab’s permitted hazardous waste handling facility, with subsequent transportation offsite to an approved hazardous waste disposal facility.
There are no safety concerns for Lab employees or the community associated with this process, but the work means that some parking lots will be closed and some buildings will be closed or have limited access for varying periods this weekend.
Here is the treatment schedule and affected Lab areas:
Closed parking lots
- Building 1 parking lot – Friday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. to Saturday, Jan. 16 at noon
- Building 80 – Y parking lot – Friday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. to Saturday, Jan. 16 at 3 p.m.
- Buildings 74/84 – U1 and U3 parking lots – Friday, Jan. 15 at 5 p.m. to Saturday, Jan. 16 at 5 p.m.
- Buildings 26/30/33 parking lot – Saturday, Jan. 16. at 5 p.m. to Sunday, Jan. 17 at 1 p.m.
Buildings and treatment times
- Building 1 – Saturday, Jan. 16 from approximately 7:30 a.m. to noon
- Building 1 will remain open, however, some first floor labs will be inaccessible during the removal of containers to the treatment zone.
- Treatment zone is located in the B1 parking lot, which will be closed
- Building 2 – Saturday, Jan. 16 from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Building 2 will be closed to all except project personnel during the treatment window.
- Treatment zone is located in the B80 Y parking lot, which will be closed.
- Building 74 – Saturday, Jan. 16 from approximately 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
- Building 74 will remain open, however, access to labs surrounding 74-229 may be restricted during the removal of containers to the treatment zone.
- Treatment zone is located in the U1 parking lot, which will be closed.
- Buildings 30/33 – Sunday, Jan. 17 from approximately 7:30 a.m. to noon
- Buildings 30/33 will remain open, however, the third floors will be inaccessible during the removal of containers to the treatment zone.
- Treatment zone is located near the B26/B30/B33 parking lot, which will be closed.
- Building 85 – Sunday, Jan. 17 from approximately noon through Monday, Jan. 18
- Building 85 is controlled by Waste Operations.
- All other containers on the approved emergency permit will be treated at this location.
What Lab employees need to know
- Building 2 will be closed and inaccessible on Saturday, Jan. 16, from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Occupancy is allowed in all other buildings above, except in the specified areas, during the removal of the chemical containers to the treatment zone.
- When containers are being removed from the listed buildings, lab occupants may be asked to remain in their respective labs or work areas until the containers have been removed from the building.
- Building occupants requiring further clarification should contact their Division Safety Coordinator or Building Manager.
The Berkeley Lab Waste Management Group routinely handles thousands of chemicals and substances in need of disposal following specific procedures and protocols to keep themselves and Lab personnel and property safe.
This Chemical Reduction Project was initiated as a unique proactive program that required the cooperation of multiple scientific divisions. Environment, Health and Safety contacted those who might have chemicals or stores of older chemicals that might need removal, identifying as many substances for removal as possible. The disposal of these chemicals increases the Lab’s chemical safety and reduces risk across the Lab.
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) issued a permit that approves the Lab’s plan. In addition to DTSC, the Alameda County Fire Department, the UC Police Department, and the Berkeley police and fire departments have all been notified.
There are no safety concerns for Lab employees or the community associated with this process. The Lab is dedicated to protecting the safety of our staff, our facilities, and our community and environment.