Superfund Research Program
Research Translation Core
Project Leader: Monica Ramirez-Andreotta
Co-Investigators: Mark L. Brusseau, Janick F. Artiola, Raina M. Maier
Grant Number: P42ES004940
Funding Period: 2005-2020
Project-Specific Links
Hazardous Waste Sites
Final Progress Reports
PublicationsConnect with the Grant Recipients
Final Progress Reports
The University of Arizona SRP Research Translation Core (RTC) is dedicated to learning and meeting stakeholder needs. In the past year, the RTC collaborated with three global mining companies: KGHM International, Rio Tinto and Grupo Mexico/ASARCO to accelerate technological advances in mining reclamation. Helping the town of Dewey-Humboldt (home to the Iron King Mine and Humboldt Smelter Site (IKMHSS), listed in 2008) formed its first Community Advisory Board (CAB) with the help of the RTC. Multi-organizational teleconferences are held quarterly with all government and/or environmental community organizations working at two sites: ASARCO Hayden-Winkelman Superfund Alternative site and the IKMHSS. These calls ensure transparency of efforts and data sharing. The University of Arizona SRP provided written and oral testimony for a senate field hearing (chaired by Senators Barrasso and McCain) related to the Gold King Mine spill that occurred April 22, 2016. University of Arizona SRP also participated on a panel in the Capitol Hill Policy Briefing “An Emerging Diverse Workforce to Reclaim Abandoned Mine Lands; Increasing Hispanic Participation” April 26, 2016.The core also held Homeowner Well Water workshops in seven Arizona counties, impacting nearly 800 stakeholders since 2009. “Gardenroots: A Citizen Science Garden Project” was launched, and over 60 households submitted water, soil, plant, and/or dust samples which is co-generating a robust dataset and informing the safe production of food sources in underserved communities. Director Raina Maier, Ph.D., helped organize three major international conferences on topics ranging from “Earth Microbiome and Human Health” to “Developing a Pan American Hub for Environmentally and Socially Compatible Mining” to “Sustainable Exposure Prevention through Innovative Detection and Remediation Technologies”.