25 Years of HSRC at LSU

The Hazardous Substance Research Center (HSRC) South/Southwest region recently celebrated 25 years of continuous EPA funding at LSU, which gives LSU a unique distinction among U.S. universities. More so, as relates to our department, we have played a pivotal role in the center’s life as three chemical engineering professors have served as director for the program: Douglas Harrison for half a year in 1984, Louis Thibodeaux, 1984-95, and Danny Reible, 1995-present; civil engineering professor E. J. Dantin was director from 1981-84. The following is a brief history of the life and purpose of HSRC.

In 1981 the EPA named LSU as a Center of Excellence in hazardous waste research and began funding a research center to coincide with this topic. Since that time the center has successfully competed on a national level for funding by the EPA with the current award continuing through 2006. The primary focus of HSRC involves fundamental and applied research on assessment and remediation of contaminated soils and sediments as well as technology transfer and outreach programs to translate this research to resolve problems at specific sites. These activities have:

• Attracted research funding in excess of $35 million
• Created a framework of at least 75 faculty members to participate in interdisciplinary environmental problems
• Educated more than 450 students on environmental problems and solutions
• Fostered the creation of LSU’s environmental engineering program, one of fewer than 35 in the country
• Directly led to the publication of more than 360 peer-reviewed publications in learned journals and more than 70 books or chapters in books
• Investigated and developed a variety of environmental technologies currently at use in contaminated sites throughout the world
• Developed and improved an understanding of the process critical to assessing and remediating contaminated sites

In addition to the center’s role as a technical resource for the professional community, it has a growing role in direct support of communities faced with hazardous substance issues. Two noteworthy programs are Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC) and Technical Assistance for Brownfields (TAB). TOSC assists communities in understanding the technical issues associated with hazardous waste sites in their vicinities and empowers communities so they can participate in the decision-making process. On the other hand, TAB helps communities clean up and redevelop damaged and/or undervalued properties.
The celebration honoring the success of HSRC was held May 1-2, 2003, at the Lod & Carol Cook Conference Center. Danny Reible presided over the ceremonies, which included many presentations on research currently being conducted by HSRC.