Yes, Penn State University has a set of interrelated policies and plans to prevent and reduce marine pollution.

To prevent and reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, the university has:

  • Policy SY40 Disposal of Pollutants in University Sanitary Systems outlines the following practices related to disposal of pollutants:
    • prohibits the disposal of materials that could adversely affect the general public or wastewater personnel in the course of their work;
    • prohibits the disposal of materials which could interfere with the operation of the University Sanitary Sewer system;
    • prohibits the disposal of materials which could pass through inadequately treated into the environment or otherwise be incompatible with the University Sanitary System; or
    • prohibits the disposal of materials which interfere with the safe reuse and recycling of wastewater and sludge from the University Sanitary System or local Sewer Authority providing sanitary sewer service to the Campus.
  • a Stormwater Master Plan that defines where current stormwater problems exist at the University Park Campus and where upgrades will be required in the future to correct these problems.
  • as part of the Susquehanna River basin, followed the Susquehanna River Basin Commission permitting for water withdrawals to protect downstream water flows.
  • the Joint Pollutant Reduction Plan, which provides a contractual obligation for the continued monitoring of the existing Regional Chesapeake Bay Pollutant Reduction Plan and Impaired Waters Plan.
  • Penn State Extension’s Saving the Chesapeake initiative brings together farmers, industry, and government agencies to come up with science-based solutions for reducing pollutants in Pennsylvania’s watersheds impacting the Chesapeake Bay
  • the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Pollution National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit regulates nutrient discharge into surface streams that flow to the Susquehanna River and to the Chesapeake Bay

Penn State’s stormwater philosophy is that the University promotes foremost the use of conservation design practices that preserve and use natural critical hydrologic areas, including, but not limited to, floodplains, wetlands, streams, minor drainageways, natural recharge areas, carbonate closed depressions and sinkholes.

Learn more about Penn State’s Progress on SDG 14 HERE.