Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2009

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Information Systems (MSIS)

First Advisor

Ronghua Shan

Second Advisor

Richard Christoph

Third Advisor

Stephen Krebsbach

Abstract

The improper management of hazardous waste poses a serious threat to human health and the environment. Since the early 1980s, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has managed a comprehensive "cradle to grave" program to ensure that hazardous waste is managed safely from the moment it is generated until the time in which it is finally disposed. Treatment, storage and disposal facilities (TSDF) are the last link in this cradle-to-grave hazardous waste management system and represent the companies (landfills, incinerators, etc.) who handle and ultimately dispose of waste generated by public and private sector entities. To protect again t potential liabilities arising from possible mismanagement of wastes (e.g., the Love Canal incident), many companies perform audit of the TSDFs they plan to use to ensure that the facility(ies) are in compliance with federal and state regulations. The audits typically include a review of the environmental performance history, health and safety practices and financial standing of the facility. This project includes the development of a TSDF Audit System that companies can use to ensure that the facilities they contract to dispose their waste streams manage their operations responsibly and are financially solvent. The goal of the TSDF Audit System is to provide company plant production staff and supply chain managers with information that they can use to ensure that the facilities they use (or plan to use) have been audited and approved for use. In support of this goal, the system tracks the following relevant information about the audits of the TSDF facilities: Facility name, address and associated; information; Date of audit; Auditor performing the evaluation; Audit result (Approved, Conditionally Approved, Not Approved); Next scheduled audit date; and Audit tracking history. The system is designed for deployment on the company's corporate intranet where it will be accessible to all manufacturing facilities responsible for managing waste materials as part of its process operations.

Comments

dsu-th-206

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