- Success Stories, Uncategorized
- Emergency Preparedness & Response
Assisting with Design and Validation of Mobile Chemical Analysis Laboratory
Portable High-throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification System (PHILIS) is the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) suite of mobile laboratories designed to provide on-site analysis of chemical agents. CSS employee owners support the PHILIS team with on-site responses and chemical analysis. CSS PHILIS teams recently supported the technical design and integration of state-of-the-art emergency response mobile laboratory units engineered for the rapid detection and quantification of hazardous materials. CSS PHILIS teams in Castle Rock, Colorado and Edison, New Jersey collaborated with EPA and MRIGlobal — a research- and technology-focused contract company — representatives to orchestrate the configuration of Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry, and preparatory systems to ensure benchtop-level performance under mobile conditions. CSS staff validated all critical support systems, including electrical, information technology (or IT), climate control system (or HVAC), vibration isolation, fume hoods, cabinetry and chemical storage, plumbing, power, fire, lighting, vacuum, and high-purity gas delivery systems. CSS chemistry staff upgraded and organized the current facility to best support the new laboratory units by implementing a transition and decontamination plan, installing an upgraded electrical system with higher voltage and amperage power supplies, and training staff on safe practices in use and movement of the new labs and equipment. CSS staff ensured that the laboratory adhered to safety standards while optimizing workflow for the hazardous material sample receiving, preparation, processing, analysis, and review while deployed to support EPA emergency response activities.
Visit EPA’s website to learn more about PHILIS.
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Monitoring Air Quality in California’s San Joaquin Valley
CSS employee owners supported the deployment and operation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) air quality monitoring trailer (WEAVE COM – Western Enhanced Air quality VEhicle for COmmunity Monitoring) in California’s San Joaquin Valley in during late fall and early winter of 2024. Elevated particulate matter (PM2.5) is frequently found throughout the valley during…
Contributing to Wind Energy Area Designations
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently announced two Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) in the Gulf of Mexico. The WEAs are located off the coasts of Galveston, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana and have the potential to power nearly three million homes. BOEM collaborated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to identify…
Revamping Coral Reef Conservation Program Website
NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program is a cross-NOAA program that focuses on resilience-based management of U.S. coral reef ecosystems and provides scientific data and information to coral reef managers, scientists, educators and the interested public. CSS employee owners recently played an integral role in updating the website with a fresh new look and reorganizing content…