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March 2026 Spotlight

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Spotlight

Spotlight: Drain Discharge Application Review Committee

This month's spotlight is on the Drain Discharge Application Review Committee comprising of several staff across multiple NIH locations. The Drain Discharge Application Review Committee handles the review of drain discharge requests for the Bethesda campus (and local facilities), the Bayview campus and the Research Triangle Park campus. Each application is assigned to a reviewer, who will then investigate the processes and substances used to generate the waste proposed for discharge, including a lab visit to see the waste generation set up. Once the reviewer has gathered all the information, they will present the application to the entire committee, who will debate whether it should be approved or disapproved until a consensus is reached. Approved applications are valid for one calendar year, at which point they must be renewed by the committee for continued drain discharge.

• Joshua Haines (lead)
• Craig Upson
• Crispin Hernandez
• Timothy Adkins
• Alexander Hoffer
• Eduardo Mejias
• Joseph Stefan
• Surakshya Pathak
• James Pitt (Bayview)
• Bill Steinmetz (RTP)
  
• Paul Johnson (RTP)
  
  

Featured Article

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Water Conservation in Labs: Protecting Chesapeake Bay Tributaries Start at the Sink From glassware rinsing to buffer prep, labs use a lot of water—and can unintentionally dispose of pollutants into the same waterways they are trying to protect. LEARN MORE

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Water Conservation Efforts for Drain Disposal in Labs Drain disposal at NIH is strictly regulated because chemicals can interfere with wastewater treatment processes, impacting water used for recreation and consumption. LEARN MORE

Fun Fact
Did you know:Laboratories can use five times as much potable water as similarly size commercial buildings. 1 Laboratory water conservation practices are important to help NIH reduce its water consumption.

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