The Environmental Advisory Group (EAG) is comprised of representatives of the Institutions and various offices of The University of Texas System (the UT System). Each Institution is represented by the individual with institutional responsibility for environmental safety.
Mission
Under the guidance and approval of the Environmental Health and Safety Advisory Committee, the EAG will create and sustain programs and practices that protect our environmental and natural resources in support of The University of Texas mission of excellence in educational opportunities, research, and health care. To fulfill this mission, the EAG will seek to:
- Serve as a mechanism for the free exchange of information, cooperation and collaboration among the Institutions and various UT System offices on environmental related issues
- Emphasize and enhance communication and cooperation among the component Institutions and various UT System offices with regard to environmental issues
- Support the hiring, retention and training of high-quality, dedicated, and diverse environmental health and safety staff
- Develop and implement uniform Systemwide policies to comply with rules, regulations, and best practices pertaining to the protection of the environment and encourage timely resolution for any non-compliance
- Anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and recommend strategies to control risks that have the potential to adversely impact the environment
- Serve as a model to students, faculty, staff, patients, visitors and our surrounding communities with our commitment to environmental stewardship
- Develop partnerships within the campus community, and also with regulatory agencies and the surrounding communities to promote protection of the environment
Organizational Guidelines
The Environmental Advisory Group (EAG) is a standing subcommittee of The University of Texas System (the UT System) Environmental Health and Safety Advisory Committee (EHSAC). Each Institution will be represented on the EHSAC by the Environmental Officer for the Institution or a delegate appointed by the Environmental Health and Safety Director. The UT System will designate an additional representative.
The EAG will select from its membership a chairperson to serve for a period of two consecutive years. The Chairperson's term of office shall begin on January 1 of an even numbered year. Concomitantly, the EAG will select from its membership a Chairperson-elect who will serve for a period of two years and succeed the Chairperson for a two-year term. The Chairperson-elect will serve as the Vice-Chairperson of the EAG and shall not be from the same component Institution. The selection of the Chairperson and Chairperson-elect shall be subject to approval of the EAG.
The EAG will meet at least two times each calendar year at the call of the Chairperson. The Chairperson will give notice of the proposed agenda and meeting details to the Chair of the EHSAC not less than ten days prior to the distribution of the meeting notice. Meeting minutes will be taken and distributed to the membership of the EHSAC and the Chair of the EHSAC by the Recording Secretary within twenty working days after the meeting. Meetings may be held by teleconference, video teleconference, or in person.
The UT System representative on the EHSAC will be the principal liaison between the EHSAC and UT System. Recommendations of the EAG will be brought to the EHSAC by the Chair of the EAG and, as necessary and appropriate, will be brought to the attention of the UT System by the UT System representative. At each meeting of the EHSAC, the Chair of the EAG or the Chair's delegate, shall present a report of the activities of the EAG. The report may be given in person, in writing, by teleconference, or by video teleconference at the discretion of the Chair of the EAG. A presentation of the report in person may be requested by either the Chair of the EHSAC or the Chair of the EAG.
The EAG will develop a mission statement to support the need and desirability of maintaining the EAG as a standing subcommittee of the EHSAC. The EAG will have subcommittees necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the group.
At the October 2006 EHSAC meeting it was determined that all subgroups would use the EHSAC Guidelines since they include guidelines for the subgroups.
