IMPORTANT NOTICE: Environmental Health & Services has introduced a new on-line system for managing chemical inventories. For further information, please see the new Updating On-line Chemical Inventories section below.
> Overview of the Right-to-Know Program
> NYC List of Hazardous Substances (PDF)
> Chemical Inventory Requirements
> Updating On-line Chemical Inventories
> NYU Recommended Inventory Format (Sample XLS)
> Department of Homeland Security
Overview of the Right-to-Know Program
According to the Rules of the City of New York (Title 15, Chapter 41), if you store or handle any chemical listed on the New York City List of Hazardous Substances (PDF) at or above its threshold reporting quantity, you must annually file a Facility Inventory Form with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection and the New York City Fire Department. EHS will file your inventory but requires you to follow the Chemical Inventory Requirements.
NYU maintains an inventory of all hazardous substances in its facilities. On March 1st of every year, NYU Environmental Health & Services reports the names and quantities of all substances on the New York City List of Hazardous Substances that are present in NYU facilities.
Timeline for Updating Inventories
It is important to update your inventories between December 1st and December 15th of every year in order to provide enough time to prepare the reports.
Chemical Inventory Requirements
In order to facilitiate the annual submission to NYCDEP and FDNY, Environmental Health & Services requires that all areas that store or use hazardous substances maintain an up to date inventory of all such materials.
The Inventory must include, at a minimum:
- Substance Name (in the same format or nomenclature as is used on the NYC List of Hazardous Substances (PDF), where possible)
- CAS#
- Maximum Amount stored (i.e., container size multiplied by number of containers present)
- Units (lb, g, kg, L, ml, gal, etc.) and
- Location (building name and room number).
EHS has introduced ChemTracker. A Consortium of more than 25 colleges, universities and not-for-profit organizations. ChemTracker is a web-based chemical inventory system that the University has begun implementing at the University for inventory management within research laboratories and facilities. ChemTracker was piloted for the 2007 NYC Right-to-Know Annual Inventory Filing. Going forward, all those responsible for the storage and use of chemicals will be required to update their chemical inventories using ChemTracker. For information and training on how to use ChemTracker, please read on.
ChemTracker Set Up and Training
Prior to adding or editing an inventory, it is recommended that you click on the Training link above and receive an overview of how to use Chemtraker and follow the instructions or use the tips below.
Once someone is logged into ChemTracker, please click the "New! V3 Training Docs" button in the upper right to get to all the instructions, including the Quick Guides and html pages, and a Glossary at the bottom.
ChemTracker is working on short videos (Login, Add Inventory, Find Inventory, Change Inventory) and "One Slide Wonders" (a tip or function explained in one slide), as well as other documentation, so please click the button "New! V3 Training Docs" as you will always have access to the latest materials.
Updating On-line Chemical Inventories
All those who have previously submitted chemical inventories, or who are now required to submit an inventory, will need to receive a password through Chemtraker. If you have not received a password, please email Environmental Health & Safety or call extension 81450.
To log into ChemTraker and to edit or update your inventory, please go to Log In Page and log-in using your Username and Password (this must be provided by Chemtracker)
If there are additional individuals in the lab who may need access to the inventory, please email ChemTracker directly by going to the log in page and clicking on "email ChemTracker support button" with the name and NetID of the individuals who need access. It is the responsibility of the PI to ensure that only authorized individuals have access to their inventories.
All inventories are maintained in the NYU Recommended Inventory Format (XLS) to ensure consistency within the University-wide inventory database and ease of import/export of data for analysis or reporting.
If you have any questions about this process, or if you store or handle hazardous subtances and do not currently have an inventory but think you may be required to maintain and submit one, please email Environmental Health & Safety or call extension 81450.
Department of Homeland Security Inventory
On November 2, 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued its final listing of chemicals, "Appendix A – Chemicals of Interest", for the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard (CFATS). Appendix A contains a list of approximately 300 chemicals of interest (COI) that, if possessed by a college or university in certain excess of set quantities, requires submittal of an analysis report (Top Screen).
Fact Sheet: Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards: Appendix A
Frequently Asked Questions: Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards: Final Appendix A