Traveling Through a Historic Storm to Expand EPA Onsite Analytical Capacity During an Emergency

Hurricane Harvey began its historic assault on the Gulf Coast region in late August 2017. While the storm was still slowly churning across Texas and Louisiana, EPA Region 6 requested analytical support from the mobile laboratory units CSS operates for EPA.  We mobilized two analytical units from Castle Rock, CO towards the requested destination of Corpus Christi, TX.  However, EPA’s orders changed over the course of the next day in response to newly emerging needs.  As a result, two CSS chemists flew to Corpus Christi, then drove more than five hours through heavy rain to San Antonio and then to the Region 6 laboratory in Houston before finally meeting up with the redirected mobile laboratory units.  By the following day, the units were ready to receive and analyze samples, handling a total of 67 water samples and 1 soil sludge matrix from 16 different sites over a two-week period. Preliminary results were submitted to EPA within 48 hours, helping the Agency protect the affected communities from volatile and semi-volatile contaminants and speed cleanup efforts.

Additional Projects

Audit and Inspection Support for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)

For more than 35 years, CSS has provided quality control assessment support to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) on studies relating to the toxicological effects of chemicals in the environment.

Supporting EPA’s Emergency Response Efforts following Hurricane Harvey

CSS staff served as lead technical advisors on a multi-agency environmental response team after Hurricane Harvey. 

Cleaning Up the National Anthrax Attack

Challenge CSS working alongside of the U. S. Centers for Disease Control characterized the extent of building contamination and subsequently determined that the entire 100,000 foot building and contents would need to be decontaminated. A novel method needed to be developed and implemented for cleaning the massive number of mail pouches, packages and artifacts destined…

Human Health Risk Assessment

We help advance the understanding of chemical effects on people and the environment.

Environmental Resource Assessment & Management

We apply science to address challenges affecting the nation’s natural resources.

Satellite Data Applications

Helping create a more environmentally sustainable, weather-ready, and secure nation through application of earth observation data  

IT Services

Our IT solutions meet clients’ evolving needs.

Safety, Health, & Environmental

We provide our clients with tools to protect their workforce, the public, and the environment.

Facilities Operations & Maintenance

We understand your facility support needs and deliver customized solutions.

Emergency Preparedness & Response

We help our clients prepare for and protect the health and environment of communities after disasters and hazmat releases.

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