diff --git a/web/spec/support/utilities.rb b/web/spec/support/utilities.rb
index f755a6e48..a4578efa4 100644
--- a/web/spec/support/utilities.rb
+++ b/web/spec/support/utilities.rb
@@ -29,39 +29,18 @@ def cookie_jar
   Capybara.current_session.driver.browser.current_session.instance_variable_get(:@rack_mock_session).cookie_jar
 end
 
-#these S3 functions copied from ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb
-JAMKAZAM_TESTING_BUCKET = 'jamkazam-testing' # cuz i'm not comfortable using aws_bucket accessor directly
-
-def app_config
-  klass = Class.new do
-    def aws_bucket
-      JAMKAZAM_TESTING_BUCKET
-    end
-
-    def aws_access_key_id
-      'AKIAJESQY24TOT542UHQ'
-    end
-
-    def aws_secret_access_key
-      'h0V0ffr3JOp/UtgaGrRfAk25KHNiO9gm8Pj9m6v3'
-    end
-  end
-
-  return klass.new
-end
 
+#see also ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb
+JAMKAZAM_TESTING_BUCKET = 'jamkazam-testing' #at least, this is the name given in jam-ruby
 def wipe_s3_test_bucket
-  test_config = app_config
-  s3 = AWS::S3.new(:access_key_id => test_config.aws_access_key_id,
-                   :secret_access_key => test_config.aws_secret_access_key)
+  s3 = AWS::S3.new(:access_key_id => Rails.application.config.aws_access_key_id,
+                   :secret_access_key => Rails.application.config.aws_secret_access_key)
   test_bucket = s3.buckets[JAMKAZAM_TESTING_BUCKET]
-
   if test_bucket.name == JAMKAZAM_TESTING_BUCKET
     puts "Web - Pretending to delete all contents of #{test_bucket.name}"
     #test_bucket.delete_all
   end
 end
-# --end of S3 methods copied from ruby/spec/support/utilities.rb
 
 
 def sign_in(user)