EPA/601/F-16/002
July 2016
&EPA
www.epa.gov/research
science in ACTION
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
err Environmental
Research Cent
aAda, OK
Introduction
The Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center
(RSKERC) in Ada, Oklahoma, is EPA's center of expertise
for groundwater remediation and ecosystem restoration
research. RSKERC provides critical research in response
to EPA office, partner, and stakeholder needs. This
research is led by the Ground Water and Ecosystems
Restoration Division (GWERD), an EPA research and
development division headquartered in RSKERC.
GWERD directly supports three of EPA's six National
Research Programs that provide the scientific foundation
needed to protect public health and the environment:
Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
Chemical Safety for Sustainability
GWERD scientist analyzing water samples for nitrate/nitrite
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Facility and Staff
Main campus: The 16-acre main campus includes the
RSKERC building, the annex, and an addition containing
the library and conference center. It also includes facilities
for storing compressed gases, bulk chemicals and
hazardous waste. Combined it contains over 80,000 ft2 of
laboratory, office, storage, and support space.
Gaar Corner: RSKERC's 110-acre field site, located 14
miles west of the main campus, provides an additional
3,000 ft2 of research, laboratory, shop and storage space.
Staff: RSKERC houses 46 federal employees and about
45 contractors, students, and post-docs. Over 80% are
research staff. The remainder provide critical technical and
administrative support.
Capabilities
RKSERC contains state-of-the-science laboratories,
analytical equipment, instrumentation, and field equipment
used to study the transport and transformation of
contaminants in soil, groundwater, and surface water.
Field equipment for specialized subsurface
investigations are maintained for subsurface
investigations of soil, subsoil, vadose zone, and
groundwater. These include geotechnical probes for rotary,
direct-push, and percussion techniques to explore and
sample the subsurface environment.
General Parameters Laboratory is equipped with capillary
ion electrophoresis and flow injection analyzers used to
analyze water samples and soil extracts for nutrients and
other constituents. It contains mass spectrometers used to
measure stable isotopes and employs automated techniques
for carbon analysis of solid and liquid samples.
-------
RSKERC Capabilities (Cont.)
Technical Support and Assistance
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Laboratory
houses SEM/Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX)
microscopes used to examine a wide range of sample
types and element concentrations and their spatial
distributions in solid samples.
Trace Gas Laboratory is equipped with gas
chromatographs and mass spectrometers used to
analyze water samples for dissolved gases and soil and
water samples for greenhouse gases.
Metals Laboratory contains inductively coupled
plasma (ICP)-optical emission spectrometry and ICP-
mass spectrometry instruments used to analyze aque-
ous and solid samples for trace metals and metalloids.
Gaar Corner includes a mixture of woodlands, open
fields, and ponds for ecosystem and groundwater
research studies. It contains three logging wells, a
calibration well, three monitoring wells, and a leak
test well for testing equipment to assess well integrity.
Science Contributions
The Ground Water Technical Support Center (GWTSC),
headquartered in RSKERC, provides technical support and
assistance on remediation of groundwater and subsurface
contamination to EPA and EPA partners. GWTSC technical
assistance activities focus on assessing and cleaning up
groundwater, aquifer materials, and soils. GWTSC's field
scientists and technicians travel nationwide to drill and in-
stall monitoring wells, gather soil core samples, and sample
groundwater. Model expertise is provided to EPA and other
users by the Center for Subsurface Modeling Support.
GWERD scientists installing monitoring wells in Rhode Island
RSKERC's research supports the development of strategies and technologies to protect and restore groundwater, surface
water, and ecosystems affected by human-made and natural events. RSKERC researchers develop technologies and
strategies that lay the groundwork for new policies and procedures needed to assess, protect, and cleanup contaminated
water resources and ecosystems.
Active research topics include:
Private drinking water well vulnerability to
contamination from leaking underground storage tanks.
Tools to estimate contaminant concentrations and
movement to improve site cleanup.
Effects of green infrastructure stormwater controls on
the subsurface environment.
Improved guidelines for aquifer exemptions granted at
subsurface mining systems.
New and improved technologies and strategies to
assess and clean up contaminated sites.
Models to understand potential sources of nitrogen
enrichment in watersheds.
Decision support systems and models to understand
and quantify final ecosystem goods and services.
Fertilizer management effects on nitrate in
groundwater.
Fate and transport of nanomaterials in the subsurface.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
Notable scientific products and achievements include:
Case studies addressing hydraulic fracturing impacts
on drinking water at five sites.
Pioneering or testing many of the modern techniques
used to clean up Superfund sites and other
contaminated environments.
Improved cleanup techniques for non-aqueous
phase liquids in subsurface environments.
Advances in the use of chemical oxidation,
chemical raduction, bioremediation, thermal
treatment, and nanomaterials.
- Permeable reactive barriers and monitored natural
attenuation to remediate metal, chlorinated solvent,
and other organic pollutant contamination.
Pioneering or testing new techniques to achieve Clean
Water Act Goals.
Pinpointing the effects of concentrated animal
feeding operations on groundwater quality.
New stream, floodplain, and riparian zone
restoration techniques.
RSKERC Contact:
Rebecca Foster, foster.rebecca@epa.gov
------- |