Description

Landscape contractors storing equipment at UTMB MDock parking area wash down equipment after each day's work. After spraying off equipment, effluent mixed with oil, mower debris, and detergent of unknown quality is washed directly into the bay.

Comment from Galveston Bay Foundation: GBF contacted the Environmental Health and Safety department (EHS) of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) about this report and received the following information: All UTMB contractors are trained and UTMB jobsites are inspected on a weekly basis. Upon hiring this specific landscaping contractor, EHS spoke with them about pollution and the storing/maintenance of their equipment – to which they have been very respectful. After hearing about this report, EHS spoke with the superintendent of the contractor in question and verified that the company has not been doing any oil changes on campus and that they will no longer wash mower decks on UTMB property. For more information, please contact the Galveston Bay Foundation at (281) 332-3381 x217 or EHS at (409) 747-0515.