The Center for Hazardous Substance Research

Welcome

International Outreach GP/RM HSRC NEER NILMT

The Center for Hazardous Substance Research was established in 1989 and is part of the College of Engineering at Kansas State University. The purpose of the center is to conduct research, education, and service pertaining to environmental topics, where a reputable, neutral organization is needed to develop technically sound, consensus-based solutions for diverse groups of stakeholders.

Topics of research and other activities include sustainability; environmental assessments and remediation; technical assistance to communities, defense agencies and other organizations; and international programs. Environmental assessment work involves proposed nonlethal defense technologies, and software tools for environmental decision making. Remediation research has focused on contaminated soil and water from agriculture, forestry, mining, and mineral processing, and other industrial activities. Service activities include providing free technical assistance to citizens and other stakeholders who are providing input on cleanup and re-use of EPA Superfund, Brownfield, tribal and other types of sites.

CHSR Featured Projects and Initiatives

Urban Gardening and Brownfields
The Center for Hazardous Substance Research (CHSR) at Kansas State University (KSU) is leading several existing and proposed projects that aim to address children’s health issues at brownfields and/or urban gardening sites. Drs. Sabine Martin and Ganga Hettiarachchi are leading a research project that characterizes and monitors metals in soils and vegetables at several urban gardening sites on brownfields across the United States. The CHSR recently hosted an urban gardening on brownfields workshop on this topic. Dr. Martin also leads the EPA Technical Assistance to Brownfields program, which helps communities redevelop blighted, underutilized properties with environmental issues.

Additional persons and partner organizations involved with these, or related CHSR efforts, include Drs. Wendy Griswold, Larry Erickson, Rhonda Janke, and DeAnn Pressley, and Blase Leven< and Terrie Boguski (with the CHSR and KSU); Katherine Kelley ( Kansas City Center for Urban Agriculture); Heidi Holliday ( Rosedale Healthy Kids Initiative); and Nozella Brown ( Wyandotte County K-State Extension Service).

BIT
The Brownfield Inventory Tool (BIT), a Free, web-based, comprehensive brownfields management tool, was completed and released in 2010. Cities, regional coalitions, and Tribes can use BIT to create site inventories; submit reports such as the multiple property profile form (in excel); and to log administrative information about brownfields and other environmental programs. The tool was created with EPA funding by the Technical Assistance to Brownfields communities program. Go to http://tab-bit.org/ to access BIT.

TAB EZ
A free on-line tool to facilitate writing EPA brownfields assessment and cleanup grant proposals developed by the Technical Assistance to Brownfields communities program. Go to www.tabez.org to access TAB EZ.

We are host to several research programs, listed below:

Sustainability Initiatives
The CHSR provides educational programs on sustainability, participates in related research at KSU, and is home to the Consortium for Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability (CESAS). The purpose is to provide reliable information to all types of people and organizations to promote informed, sustainable intentions and actions.

Community Outreach (EPA TAB)
The Center for Hazardous Substance Research provides technical assistance to communities affected by hazardous substance issues at EPA, Brownfield, tribal, and other types of sites. This is achieved by working with all stakeholders and agencies to provide educational information, technical review services, and assistance with community outreach efforts.

International Programs
Kansas State University, with partners Haskell Indian Nations University, University of Kansas, The Civil Society Group, LLC., and University of Gorno-Altaisk, act to advance further collaboration between the United States and Gorno-Altaisk State University. The international programs promote cultural, educational, and research cooperation in all fields of academic endeavor. Kansas State Univeristy is working cooperatively with the National Biotechnology Development Agency in Nigeria, also.

The Great Plains/Rocky Mountain Hazardous Substance Research Center (GP/RM HSRC)
The grant funding period for the GP/RM HSRC has concluded, but information regarding the center's research projects is still available online. The center was established in 1989 to conduct research pertaining to hazardous substances produced through agriculture, forestry, mining, mineral processing, and other activities. It served EPA Federal Regions 7 and 8 from 1989 - 2003.

The National Environmental Evaluation and Remediation Consortium (NEER)
The National Environmental Evaluation and Remediation (NEER) Consortium performs environmental research, training, assessments, product development, and community assistance projects, where a reputable, neutral organization is needed to coordinate technically sound, consensus-based solutions for diverse groups of stakeholders. NEER consists of the following partners, Kansas State University, Center for Hazardous Substance Research, NanoScale Materials, Inc., CABEM Inc., and M2 Technologies, Inc.

The National Institute for Land Management and Training (NILMT)
The National Institute for Land Management Training (NILMT) provides nationwide technical support for the U.S. Army Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) program and related activities. It provides natural resources conservation and management services, GIS assistance, R&D for land management systems, and creates educational materials using video, computer-based multimedia training, and distance learning.

If you have any questions or believe the center can help you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Please note: Portions of this website are still under construction, and some links may not function properly. Questions regarding this website may be sent to chsr@ksu.edu.