The Center at a Glance Kansas State University (KSU) leads the consortium comprising the Great Plains/Rocky Mountain Hazardous Substance Research Center, which serves Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regions VII and VIII. Other member universities are Colorado State University,* Haskell Indian Nations University, Lincoln University, Montana State University, South Dakota State University, Utah State University, and the Universities of Iowa, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Northern Iowa,* Utah, and Wyoming. All are located in EPA Regions VII and VIII. The center was established in February 1989 to conduct research pertaining to the identification, treatment, and reduction of hazardous substances resulting from agriculture, forestry, mining, mineral processing, and other activities of local interest. In 1994 efforts of center principal investigators were broadened to include programs for minority academic institutions, technical outreach services for communities, and research and re-education for displaced military and Department of Defense personnel. The center is headed by Dr. Larry E. Erickson, professor of chemical engineering at Kansas State University (KSU). Dr. Erickson is responsible for coordinating all of the center's activities. He is assisted by Dr. Stanley C. Grant, who is the associate director, and by Dr. Richard B. Hayter, associate dean for extension and outreach and director of engineering extension programs, who oversees the conduct of the center's training and technology transfer program. The center benefits from guidance supplied by a 16-person Science Advisory Committee and an 18-person Training and Technology Transfer Advisory Committee. Researchers and extension faculty from diverse academic programs interact through the center, bringing a diversity of perspectives to address complex problems associated with hazardous substances. This included key personnel from each participating consortium institution and related non-consortium universities. Key investigators at non-consortium institutions include Tissa H. Illangasekare, University of Colorado; Joseph B. Hughes, Rice University; Carl G. Johnston, Mycotech Corporation; and Joel R. Coats and Todd A. Anderson, Iowa State University. EPA Regions VII and VIII have a curious diversity of interests resulting from the grouping of mineral-rich states such as Colorado, Montana, and Utah, with the states of the Great Plains whose economic foundations rest on agriculture and animal husbandry. The center defined its original mission in terms of these wide-ranging activities and has undertaken research in the following areas: Studies of soil and water contamination by heavy metals and mining wastes. Research on soil and ground water contamination from a variety of sources. Development of incineration, biodegradation, and immobilization technology. Development of simplified and inexpensive methods for analyzing contaminated soil. Hazardous waste minimization. Determination of safe concentration levels of hazardous substances in soils and in water. A decision was made in May 1990 to assign the highest priority to risk reduction research on soil and processes to clean up contaminated soil. Research proposals were requested based on the following needs and problems which are listed here in order of their priority based on the current mission of the center: Soil and water contamination by heavy metals such as cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, and zinc associated with mining wastes and other industrial activities. Mine tailings from past mining operations have resulted in contaminated surface and ground water. The heavy metals listed are very similar to the heavy metals that contaminate DOE sites, except that DOE must also deal with some heavier metals. Soil and ground water contamination by organic chemicals from a variety of sources. Wood preservatives including pentachlorophenol and creosote, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, carbon tetrachloride, trichloroethylene, vinyl chloride, and other chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and dioxin have been identified as priority substances contaminating ground water. Numerous pesticides have been identified to be hazardous substances; the fate and transport of pesticides are of particular interest because of the agricultural orientation of Regions VII and VIII. A general need exists for research to develop treatment technologies to clean up contaminated soil. Development of improved technologies and methods for characterization and analysis of contaminated soil. Simple inexpensive methods are desired. DOE is interested in developing improved and innovative technologies, including real time and non-intrusive evaluation and characterization of sites. Development of innovative treatment technologies for remediation of contaminated soil and ground water and for rendering wastes nonhazardous. Technologies that will lead to an in situ resolution of the problem are emphasized. Development of waste minimization and pollution prevention methods and technologies. The highest priority in this category is assigned to application of these methods to site characterization and remediation processes. The center has supported research projects at non-consortium institutions through contracts. Less than 10% of the center's funds are allocated for projects at non-consortium institutions. Diversity of interests in Regions VII and VIII and the large geographic area represented are further reflected in the training and technology transfer program the center currently supports. Much of the center's efforts are dedicated to the support of activities which can reach large audiences with a minimum of resources. For example, issues of the center newsletter HazTech Transfer have been widely disseminated across the nation; an information clearinghouse at the Kansas State University Farrell Library has been established and contains over 1,000 publications, including center-funded theses, dissertations, reports, and videos; the center has held annual conferences on hazardous waste research since 1986 with more than 70 papers presented at each conference; and general public environmental information activities are ongoing. Proceedings of the 1995 and 1996 conferences have been published on the Internet and in print form. Many center publications are now available on the World Wide Web at http://www.engg.ksu.edu/HSRC/home.html. These activities, augmented by some carefully selected special audience functions, appear to provide the most effective means of disseminating necessary technical information across this large and varied area. The center's base support comes from EPA. Participating schools have all made substantial contributions as well. The U.S. Departments of Defense and Energy have partially supported several research projects. Contributions in support of the center have been received from individuals. Additional funding is also being sought through private industry and other public sector organizations; Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, Conoco Inc., Dupont, and Phytotech have contributed to the center through the Kansas State University Center for Hazardous Substance Research Industrial Partnership Program. Montana State University also has an industrial partnership program. Summary of Center Funding *Pending