ST. THOMAS - The University of the Virgin Islands will host a series of free environmental health and safety workshops on its St. Thomas Campus later this month.

The workshops are being conducted as part of an agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency which requires it to provide community outreach to schools and small businesses.

The workshops will be held over the course of the day Nov. 17. The day will start with a morning session from 9 a.m. to noon targeting schools and students on the junior high and high school levels. The afternoon session, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., is for UVI faculty and staff and the evening session, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., is for small businesses.

"We wanted specifically to offer an evening session for businesses, because we wanted to attract small businesses. But we also wanted to be mindful of the fact that many of these businesses might not be able to spare employees during the active business day," LilyMae Durante, UVI's acting St. Thomas campus executive administrator, said in a prepared statement.

The workshops focus on activities that can adversely impact the environment, such as the maintenance of science laboratories and art programs in schools which require the use of paints, solvents and other chemicals, and in small businesses like automotive repair shops, dry cleaners, gas stations, marine industry operators and printing shops. Participants will learn about important environmental regulations as well as requirements for hazardous waste, solid waste, solid waste recycling and wastewater treatment.

The workshops are offered in conjunction with a national consultant, Prizim, which specializes in environmental health and safety. The workshop also will feature presentations from local government agencies including the Department of Planning and Natural Resources and the V.I. Waste Management Authority. Representatives of the Environmental Protection Agency also will present regulatory information essential for keeping businesses in compliance with the law.

The workshops are free of charge and include meals and snacks. Anyone interested can contact UVI at 693-1266 by 4:30 p.m. Thursday to register for the workshops.

If you go:

What: UVI environmental health and safety workshop

Where: UVI St. Thomas Campus

When: Nov. 17

Junior high and high schools - 9 a.m. to noon Classroom Administration Building, CAB Room 305

UVI faculty and staff - 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Administration and Conference Center, first floor

Small businesses - 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Administration and Conference Center, first floor.

Cost: Free