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At a Glance
The Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center (RSKERC) in Ada, OK, is a major
federal research facility operated by the Office of Research and Development
(ORD). ORD scientists in Ada conduct research on groundwater, subsurface con-
taminant remediation, and ecosystem restoration. ORD activities have significant
impacts on the Ada region, including advancing science, positively impacting the
economy, and contributing to the regional community.
Science: ORD is a world-class research organization, and the research conducted
by scientists in Ada has broad impacts, including supporting decision making at lo-
cal, regional, and national levels. Among many different areas of study, Ada has
several unique research capabilities, including laboratories, field equipment, and
test wells to perform specialized subsurface investigations on groundwater contami-
nant transport, and develop and assess technologies for remediating groundwater
contamination.
Community Engagement: EPA is a key contributor to the Ada community. Employ-
ees work with local students through a mentoring program at East Central University
(ECU) and Water Fest, an annual interactive educational event for local 5th grad-
ers. EPA scientists work with ECU, the City of Ada, and the Chickasaw Nation in a
water policy and management center - the Oka' Institute (Oka1 is the Chickasaw
and Choctaw word for water).
Economic Impacts: The Ada lab creates $3.4 million in disposable income from fed-
eral jobs and spends an additional $3.7 million on contracts, grants, and supplies
and equipment. These dollars are injected into the local economy
annually as workers buy goods and services in the community, sup-
porting additional jobs and spending and increasing overall eco-
nomic output for the community.
Did you know?
•	In addition to federal scientists, the lab provides 48 on-site jobs to post-doctoral researchers, stu-
dent contractors, and facility staff,
•	The Ada lab is a leader in sustainability. It is EPA's first carbon-neutral lab, and uses geothermal
heat pumps, energy efficient heating and air conditioning, and water efficient plumbing to reduce
energy and water use and reduce GHG emissions.
•	The lab includes a 110-acre field site comprised of woodlands, open fields and ponds for ecosystem
and groundwater research studies.
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Recycled/Recyclable. Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.
EPA/600/F-19/012
ADA, OK LABORATORY
US EPA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
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Ada Laboratory Impacts by the Numbers
Ada (Pontotoc County), OK
95
Total jobs at the
laboratory
23
Post-doctoral, student,
and visiting researchers
on-site
$7.1 million
Annual payroll, on-site
contracts, and grant
dollars supported by lab
8/1/2016
50th Anniversary of
the Lab and signing of
an MOU between ORD
and the Chickasaw
Nation
42
Federal jobs on-site
65.1%
Reduction in water use
since 2.007
$4 million
12.1%
Energy and
Reduction in energy use
maintenance savings
since 2.003
Turn over for more science!

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ADA, OK LABORATORY	US EPA OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
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The Robert S. Kerr Environmental Research Center (RSKERC) is an 87,119
square feet EPA research facility in the National Risk Management Re-
search Laboratory located in Ada, OK, Working closely with states, tribes,
and EPA program and regional offices, the Center's scientists conduct
and apply research to real-world problems. The national mission of the
RSKERC includes a continuing focus on the Southern Plains region and
the unique environmental problems facing state and tribal governments
in the region. Examples of where the Center's science is applied to pro-
tect public health and natural resources in Oklahoma and in other parts
of the country are summarized below:
Aquifer Protection
EPA has a responsibility to protect un-
derground sources of drinking water
(aquifers) from contamination by per-
mitted activities such as underground
injection. Ada scientists are conduct-
ing research on aquifer exemption
decision-making for in-situ uranium
recovery. Through this research, they
will develop enhanced methods to monitor, assess, and model drinking
water contaminants in aquifers. The results of this research will be proto-
cols for regional offices and states to determine if aquifer exemptions
should be granted. Scientists are also working with the State of Oklaho-
ma and the City of Ada to determine best management practices for
the Arbuckle Simpson Aquifer, a drinking water source for 150,000 people
in south central Oklahoma. This ongoing research supports the activities
of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board and Chickasaw Nation. This
research also supports state efforts to understand the effects of ground-
water withdrawals and enhanced aquifer recharge on water quality
and hydrology.
Innovative Remediation Technologies for Contaminated Sites
Ada scientists have developed and applied innovative techniques to
clean up contamination in soil, subsoil, and groundwater. Techniques
such as permeable reactive barriers, in-situ chemical oxidation and re-
duction, and monitored natural attenation have been applied as pilot
studies at sites in all 10 EPA regions. Researchers
are also developing methods for estimating the
potential for contamination of drinking water
wells by subsurface plumes of pollutants using
the state of Oklahoma as a test bed. Addition-
ally, researchers are addressing vapors from
underlying contaminated groundwater or soil
that can migrate into buildings and pose a po-
tential risk to the public. They have developed
models that integrate data from the building
interiors into a screening tool for petroleum va-
por intrusion. These research efforts directly sup-
port state regulators through the Association of
State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials, including the
Leaking Underground Storage Tanks program in each state and territory.
Technical support for communities
Headquartered in Ada, the Ground
Water Technical Support Center
(GWTSC) provides technical sup-
port and assistance to EPA decision
-makers, and State and local gov-
ernments on remediation of
groundwater and subsurface con-
tamination on CERCLA and RCRA sites. These activities focus on as-
sessing and cleaning up groundwater, aquifer materials, and soils. Field
scientists and technicians travel nationwide to drill and install monitoring
wells, gather core samples, and sample groundwater. The GWTSC's ex-
perts assess state-of-the-art information and channel it to users for direct
(site-specific) and general (manuals) applications. An example is the
support provided to the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality
and EPA Region 6 for the Oklahoma Refining Co. Superfuna site in Cyril,
OK. They evaluated the impacts of groundwater/surface water interac-
tions on contaminant migration downstream into the local watershed.
For more information, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/greeningepa/robert-s~kerr-environmental-research-center

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