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The TAMU Stable Isotope Geosciences Facility has various preparation facilities available for use. The prep labs are located in the following areas: Room 406A (O&M Bldg), Room 309 (O&M Bldg), Room 312 (O&M Bldg), and in special circumstances Ethan Grossman's lab in Halbouty. These preparation labs are structured with the intention of serving a broad community of faculty, staff, and students within the TAMU campus, as well as external users. The facilities contain equipment necessary for preparation of samples for isotope analysis. As such, the facility user policy is outlined below:

1. You must have appropriate safety and instrument training to be approved to use the facility equipment by the manager or director. Under no circumstances should you be using the equipment unless that permission has been given.

2. You must sign-up for the particular piece of equipment you intend to use ahead of time. This is particularly important when there are several users that have needs for the same equipment at the same time. You can sign up in the log-books within the lab or e-mail ahead of time.

3. Advance sign-up should not exceed 10 days prior to using a piece of equipment unless there are special circumstances (i.e. external user coming from out of town on a specific day).

4. It is recommended that you sign-up for continuous blocks of time and not break-up days. With many users hiring part-time assistance it is far easier if they can plan on having one day set aside for them to work. There is flexibility to this rule as schedules become more certain over the course of a semester.

5. In the case of a dispute over a preparation line or piece of equipment, the facility manager shall decide the user schedule.

6. If you need to use the laboratories in 406A, 309, or 312 during off-hours (after 5pm M-F or weekends) you will need facility manager or director approval. The doors to O&M require a TAMU ID approved activation for entrance after 5:00PM during weekdays and all weekend. The doors are also locked on University approved holidays.

7. You are responsible for informing the facility manager of any schedule changes, including cancellations.

8. All users are responsible for keeping the work areas clean and the preparation lines and equipment in full working condition. Please report any breakage or malfunctioning equipment. Any breakage (beyond normal wear and tear) is your responsibility and will be billed to your account.

9. You are responsible for knowing the difference between enriched and natural abundance type samples. Enriched or labeled samples can have a detrimental effect on natural abundance preparation equipment and samples. Please see the SIGF manager if you do not know the difference. If you do make this mistake you are responsible for all clean-up efforts. In some cases a fee may be assessed if clean-up procedures are significant.

10. Absolutely no samples will be admitted into SIGF if they have come in contact with a laboratory that performs tracer radiocarbon work. Personnel within the facility routinely perform measurements on naturally abundant levels of radiocarbon and tracer work would contaminate the work area.

11. All users are required to show proof that they have attended a laboratory safety course in accordance with TAMU Environmental Health and Safety (EH&S). Material safety data sheets are available for users. Laboratory safety is of utmost importance for a suitable working environment. These laboratory policies are subject to change. Please contact the facility manager if you have any questions or concerns.