Stensel The problems in environmental engineering and science have become broader, more complex and more sophisticated over the past 10-15 years. Water and waste water treatment issues have been joined by concerns about ground water contamination, sediment contamination, pollution prevention and recycle, handling of toxic and hazardous substances, drinking water quality, sludge reclamation and disposal, nutrient removal and air quality. Thus, environmental engineering problems are multi media requiring knowledge of the behavior of contaminants and their interaction in air, soil and water. The University of Washington has first class research and research training programs that focus on these environmental engineering issues. This award will support the renovation of their environmental engineering laboratories which is an area of about 9500 square feet. The renovation will reorganize lab areas, provide improved ventilation for toxic compounds and reaction studies, improve the heating and air conditioning systems, improve bench tops and cabinets, and provide proper areas for analytical equipment. This renovation project will impact about 15 faculty and 100 graduate students. Finally, this more modern facility will add capability and capacity to researchers involved in biotransformation and bioremediation research, research integral to understanding environmental transformations.
