EPA chief reappoints S&T environmental engineering professor to Science Advisory Board – Missouri S&T News and Research

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the 11 members of the Science Advisory Board (SAB) and invited Missouri S&T professor Dr. Joel Burken to serve another three-year term.

I am grateful to be able to serve the EPA forseveral more years, says Burken, Curators Distinguished Professor and chairof civil, architectural and environmental engineering at Missouri S&T.Ibelieve our role to provide sound scientific advice especially in my area ofstudy in environmental engineering and water quality and reuse is vital tothe mission of the EPA to protect human health and the environment. Imcurrently on the Waters of the U.S., or WOTUS, workgroup and look to finishthat work this year.

EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced thenames after he said the agency vetted members for potential conflicts ofinterest and financial independence from EPA grants while they serve.

After an open and transparent public process,EPA has appointed or reappointed experts from a wide range of scientificdisciples who reflect the geographic diversity needed to ensure the SABrepresents all 10 EPA regions, Wheeler said.

Wheeler named three new members, reappointed sevenfrom academia who were all appointed originally by President Barack Obama, andgranted an incumbent a one-year extension to complete a research project.

The EPAs Science Advisory Board now includes:

Burken is known internationally in the environmentalengineering field. He has served as president of the Association ofEnvironmental Engineering and Science Professors. He joined Missouri S&T in1997 and served as director the Missouri S&T Environmental Research Center,now part of the Center for Research in Energy and Environment, where researchersfocus on the effects of contaminants in natural and engineered systems.

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EPA chief reappoints S&T environmental engineering professor to Science Advisory Board - Missouri S&T News and Research