The Center for Hazardous Substances
in Urban Environments (CHSUE) Outreach Program is a collaborative effort
between The Johns Hopkins University (lead institution), University of
Connecticut (representing EPA Region 1), New Jersey Institute of
Technology (representing EPA Region 2), and University of Maryland and
Morgan State University (representing EPA Regions 3).
The goal of the
HSRC Outreach program is to transfer knowledge and technology resulting
from the research programs and expertise of the HSRC principal
investigators throughout the region. The initial outreach components for
the Center are grouped into two types of activities. The first is to use
the World Wide Web and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to
communicate ongoing activities and accomplishments and catalog
environmental data. The second is to partner with stakeholders to
encourage two-way flow of information regarding urban environmental
issues and decisions concerning risk management.
Efforts will include Technical Outreach Services for Communities (TOSC)
and Technical Assistance to Brownfields Communities (TAB). Under TOSC,
Center personnel will help community groups understand the technical
issues involving the hazardous waste sites in their locale.
Our educational and technical resources will be used to empower
communities to participate substantively in the decision-making process
regarding hazardous substance problems in their neighborhoods.
Under TAB,
Center personnel will help communities with technical and scientific
expertise to clean and redevelop properties that have been damaged or
undervalued by environmental contamination.
These properties are typically called Brownfields and are
abandoned, idled, or underused industrial and commercial facilities where
expansion or redevelopment is complicated by real or perceived
environmental contamination.
The interactions with regulators, consultants, and citizens foster a
decision-making process that is open and accessible. This results in
decisions that address public values and concerns, are technically and
economically feasible, are environmentally sound, and are health and
safety conscious. Each of the
participating institutions will devote Center resources to Outreach
activities.
Click on the links below to review
outreach activities currently undertaken by each region:
