THE EPA ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGIONAL HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE RESEARCH CENTER

摘要

The Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center (RMRHSRC) for remediation of mine waste sites has recently been formed. The RMRHSRC is funded by the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), represents EPA Region 8 states, and consists of a consortium of participants from Colorado State University, Colorado School of Mines, and several academic and non-academic participants from other regions of the U. S and Canada. The research goal of the RMRHSRC is to develop new and improve existing methods or technologies for remediation of mine waste sites that are cost effective and lead to clean ups that are protective of human health and the environment. Also, the activities of the RMRHSRC include training, technology transfer and outreach programs that will focus on the development of new technologies. A number of issues were considered in establishing an action plan and in choosing the research projects to fund. Some of these issues, such as cost, apply to every possible method of treatment. Others such as whether to concentrate on abandoned or active operations are somewhat mutually exclusive. The issues that were considered, the conclusions that were made, and how these conclusions affected the decision of which research projects to fund is the subject of this paper.