University's Center for Hazardous Substance Research receives $5 million to continue brownfield restoration work
Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2016
MANHATTAN — The Kansas State University Center for Hazardous Substance Research has been awarded a five-year, $5 million cooperative agreement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to continue assistance to local governments and tribes in U.S. EPA Regions 5, 6, 7 and 8.
The first installment of the grant, "Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities — U.S. EPA Regions 5, 6, 7, 8 and National," totals $1,636,364. Blase Leven, associate director of the Center for Hazardous Substance Research in the College of Engineering, is the principal investigator.
Working to restore brownfield areas — locations where environmental issues pose liability concerns for land owners and businesses resulting in inactive and abandoned properties that contribute to blight, crime and economic stagnation — grant activity will focus on reuse of these properties as businesses, or as community amenities such as parks or trails, creating quality places to live and work, as well as jobs and other economic benefits.
Leven and his team, involving both Kansas State University undergraduate and graduate students, and more than 15 experts in other locations, will provide online web resources; more than 30 workshops per year; and planning, environmental and economic development expertise for more than 100 cities and tribes per year, to help these communities re-purpose brownfield properties to meet economic, social and environmental needs.
"This grant will contribute to K-State's land-grant service mission, as well as further the university's reputation nationally as a premier provider of this type of service," Leven said.
