For years, few people seem to have given much thought to the pervasiveness of hazardous materials in institutional and commercial facilities. Most probably followed the lead of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which focused its efforts on industrial facilities, landfills and dump sites, which tend to feature larger quantities of such materials than schools, universities, hospitals, and commercial buildings.

Generally, that's true. But it doesn't mean occupants of and visitors to institutional and commercial facilities have nothing to worry about. In fact, just the opposite is true. These facilities often contain relatively small but still dangerous amounts of hazardous materials. And the threat might be even greater in these facilities because in many cases, the materials haven't been properly stored, catalogued, handled or disposed of.

Five years ago, the EPA changed course. It expanded its audit and enforcement efforts to focus on colleges, universities and hospitals, primarily in the Northeast. It even established a College and Universities Sector at its headquarters - www.epa.gov/sectors/colleges - to oversee enforcement activities. The EPA's efforts began with letters sent to facility officials reminding them of their compliance responsibilities, followed up with informational meetings and continued with inspections, self-audit programs, and fines.

The action has caught the attention of officials in these institutions. In the EPA's New England region, for example, about one-half of the 331 colleges and universities have participated in the EPA's audit initiative.

Now, the EPA is turning its attention to colleges and universities in the Southeast. The EPA last month announced it has launched a compliance incentive program for eight states in that region.

The message seems clear. Participate on the front end of the EPA's program by complying and auditing, or run the risk of paying heavily later.