US EPA

HSRC Technology Transfer, Training, and Outreach

EPA Grant Number: R828773C005
Subproject: this is subproject number 005 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R828773
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC (1989) - South and Southwest HSRC
Center Director: Reible, Danny D.
Title: HSRC Technology Transfer, Training, and Outreach
Investigators: Fitzpatrick McCook, Leigh , Ford, Denise Rousseau , Schmitter, Bob
Current Investigators: Schmitter, Bob , Ford, Denise Rousseau
Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology , Rice University
Current Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology , Louisiana State University - Baton Rouge
EPA Project Officer: Lasat, Mitch
Project Period: October 1, 2001 through September 30, 2006 (Extended to September 30, 2007)
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Land and Waste Management

Objective:

The S&SW Center's Technology Transfer, Training, and Outreach program is designed to disseminate research advances and technical information and assistance to public and private sector audiences. These audiences encompass those who are responsible for management and oversight of hazardous substance clean-up projects and those community members living in and around these sites. Targeted audiences include environmentally troubled communities, state environmental regulatory staff, public officials, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional staff, environmental contractors, industry, other research institutions, and private sector organizations involved in hazardous substance management.

The S&SW Center utilizes a variety of methods to disseminate this information, including: the Internet and world wide web, training workshops, research symposia, conferences, traditional publications, site assistance visits, environmental exhibitions, and public hearings. This Center has historically developed partnerships with organizations including ATSDR, AEPI, the Sediment Management Workgroup, and the Army Corps of Engineers to meet the goals of sharing information and knowledge with other relevant communities.

Approach:

The technology transfer activities will include the continued development and promotion of an online Sediments Research Community, which will be maximized to reach as many of the participants as possible while engaging them in meaningful interaction through chats where appropriate and on-line learning materials. Additional technology transfer activities include further development of web-based resources such as workshops and fact sheets, particularly as they relate to new research and information regarding the management of contaminated sediments, sponsorship of regular workshops and conferences, distribution of Research Briefs ? one page fact sheets summarizing research objectives and progress, and development and dissemination of an electronic newsletter. The Center also proposes to transfer technology developed in research projects through field demonstration activities, coordinated by the Center Director. Separate funding will be sought in order to leverage these resources.

The Center's outreach activities to environmentally troubled communities will assist those communities in understanding the contaminants that threaten them so they may participate fully in site remediation efforts. The outreach program maintains a toll-free hotline for use by community members to access HSRC outreach assistance, and disseminates this number and information regarding the assistance activities to EPA regional offices, community action networks, and local municipalities. This programmatic activity includes site visits, evaluation of technical documents, participation in public meetings, and development of web and printed resources.

The outreach component will continue to serve long-term TOSC communities in Regions 4 and 6, while assisting with new communities and needs. In addition, TOSC will increase its presence and assistance abilities by hosting a forum for similarly situated communities to exchange information and resources via the Internet, developing technical documents addressing community-specific environmental issues, and developing a network of expertise capable of responding to localized needs in a timely manner. This network will encompass technical assistance providers at the primary institutions (GTRI, Rice, LSU, and Texas A&M), plus affiliated Minority Academic Institutions and Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Other proposed projects include partnering with Howard University to provide training for the U.S. Conference of Black Mayors. The S&SW Center will continue to work with the Technical Outreach Services to Native American Communities in an effort to gain increased interaction with tribal communities, particularly in Region 6, as a focus for year one of this effort.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 11 publications for this subproject | View all 279 publications for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

TOSC, TAB, empowerment, stakeholders, education., RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Waste, Health Risk Assessment, Risk Assessments, Hazardous Waste, Ecological Risk Assessment, Ecology and Ecosystems, Hazardous, outreach material, contaminant transport, contaminant dynamics, human exposure, technology transfer, human health risk, technical outreach, web development, community support

Progress and Final Reports:

2002 Progress Report
2003 Progress Report
2004 Progress Report

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R828773    HSRC (1989) - South and Southwest HSRC

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R828773C001 Bioturbation and Bioavailability of Residual, Desorption-Resistant Contaminants
R828773C002 In-Situ Containment and Treatment of Contaminated Sediments: Engineering Cap Integrity and Reactivity
R828773C003 Phytoremediation in Wetlands and CDFs
R828773C004 Contaminant Release During Removal and Resuspension
R828773C005 HSRC Technology Transfer, Training, and Outreach