Document J3Qa12qjMLE6N9VGEOBGn8OeO

Overview of EPA's Office of Research and Development Region 4 State Commissioners" Visit to ERA RTF August 30#2017 Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270539-00001 Provide the science, technical support, technology and tools to inform EPA's mission to protect public health and the environment. i Htuspitl, Hi # mm Hi* m Piir m rmm mr' llll* il %$mmmHi*HI m UM: < III Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 2 ED 002061 00270539-00002  of the Assistant Administrator National Research Programs Office of the Science Advisor Office of Science Information Management Office of Program Accountability and Rsout ce Office of Administration and Research Support Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270539-00003 EPA's research provides science that is authorized by nearly 50 environmental laws including: - Toxic Substances Control Act: "conduct such research, development, and monitoring as is necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. The Administrator may enter into contracts and may make grants for research, development, and monitoring under this subsection." - Safe Drinking Water Act: "conduct research, studies, and demonstrations relating to the causes, diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of physical and mental diseases and other impairments of man resulting directly or indirectly from contaminants in water, or to the provision of a dependably safe supply of drinking water." - Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act: "shall assure the initiation of a program of research designed to determine the health effects (and techniques for development of methods to determine such health effects) of such substance...and in combination with other substances with which it is commonly found." - Clean Air Act: "shall establish a national research and development program for the prevention and control of air pollution." ^ Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270539-00004 ORD provides the scientific foundation for EPA to execute its mandate to protect human health and the environment. :L Longer Term Research: Conducts innovative and anticipatory research applied to a range of EPA program and regional needs to solve longer term environmental challenges and provide the basis of future environmental protection. 2, Research on Specific Environmental Challenges: Experts provide research support to EPA program and regional offices, as well as states, tribes and communities, to help them respond to contemporary environmental challenges. 3, Technical and Emergency Support: Because of our expertise, local, state and national officials come to us for technical support to respond to environmental crises and needs, large and small. Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 5 ED 002061 00270539-00005 Research Program Air, Climate & Energy Air pollution Global climate change Sustainable & Healthy Communities Ecosystem services Human health Sustainable materials management Homeland Security Water system security Resilience and remediating wide areas Chemical Safety for Sustainability * Computational toxicology and exposure Evaluation of risk across life cycle of manufactured chemicals, materials and products Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Human Health Risk Assessment Risk assessments for specific chemicals Risk assessment methods Tier 10 Safe & Sustainable W ater Resources Drinking water treatment systems I Surface water quality | Green infrastructure 6 ED 002061 00270539-00006 EPA ORD's Research Triangle Park Campus Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270539-00007 Research at EPA's RTP Campus Largest facility ever built by EPA -- ORD conducts world-class research that impacts decision making at local, regional and national levels -- 1.2 million square feet of labs and offices -- Home to 591 ORD employees and a total of 1,230 EPA employees Wide range of research activities, including the following signature research capabilities to address science challenges -- Air Research; Characterizing impacts of air pollutants across the "source to effects" continuum -- Chemical Safety; Developing and applying rapid methods to characterize chemical exposures and hazards for thousands of chemicals -- Homeland Security Research; Responding to clean-up needs after a natural or man made disaster -- Community-Focused Research; Supporting and enhancing decision making and problem solving for human and ecosystem communities 8 Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270539-00008 Air Research Nation's hub for interdisciplinary air pollution research in support of Clean Air Act Emissions Measurement and Control - Mobile sources: Effects of alternate fuels, driving conditions using heavy and light duty dynamometers, and on-road testing. -Advanced measurement methods: Next generation real time monitoring, technology demonstration to enhance compliance monitoring. Air Pollution Exposure - Air Quality Modeling (e.g., CMAQ): Enhances and evaluates air quality modeling tools used by the EPA and state/local organizations. - New monitoring approaches: Air Sensor citizen science research where low-cost and portable sensors are developed and evaluated for use by states and communities. Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 Air Research (cont.) Public Health - Multidisciplinary Effects Research: Multiple emission combustion systems and a photochemical smog chamber that can produce different atmospheric mixtures to understand the health effects of air pollutants. - Wildfires: Effects of emissions from natural wildfires and prescribed burns, including education and outreach to reduce exposure and public health impact. Direct Support for NAAQS - Integrated Science Assessments: Creating evaluations and syntheses of the most policy-relevant science for reviewing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 10 ED 002061 00270539-00010 Homeland Security Research Studies what approaches are best for cleanup of wide areas after a natural or man-made disaster (e.g., terrorist incident). Decontamination Technology Research Laboratories - Includes an 800 cubic foot enclosed stainless steel chamber - used to determine the best methods for decontaminating and sampling indoor spaces such as an office space contaminated with anthrax spores Aerosol Test Facility - One of only a few large aerosol wind tunnel research facilities in the nation - used to increase the understanding of aerosol particle behavior in the environment to inform environmental response Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270539-00011 Chemical Safety and Exposure Science # Develops and applies cutting-edge technologies to efficiently and economically evaluate the safety of thousands of chemicals currently in use # TSCA implementation - provide expertise to evaluate specific chemicals 11 TSCA implementation - develop and use innovative, non animal approaches to prioritize thousands of chemicals to determine those in most need of further testing # Publicly available data and tools for use by states, companies and the scientific community # Tox21 partnership with NIH (NCATS and NIEHS/NTP) and FDA has screened ~10,000 chemicals # Endorsed by National Academy of Sciences reports Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 12 ED 002061 00270539-00012 Chemical Safety and Exposure Science RTP scientists are supporting tools to translate and interpret science results such as the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) WIKI and Knowledge Database; single authoritative source for AOP descriptions - Working closely with Organization for Economic Co operation and Development and international community Guidance Training Workshops - Internationally harmonized AOP-wiki Animal study facilities support unique capabilities including: - Measuring sensory perception/function (hearing, seeing, touch, neuromuscular strength) and cognitive function (learning, memory, attention) from chemicals - Assessing impacts on reproductive competence, later in life, and subsequent generations; reproductive tract development; cumulative risk models Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 A d verse O utcom e Pathway W ik i tittaii Pathways, Mataaalar Scfwnufc orni Tcx<rugn<uiit\N If ED 002061 00270539-00013 Community-Focused Research R TF scientists are developing tools to supports decision making by communities EnviroAtlas: Easy-to-use, online decision support tool to view, analyze and download high-quality, consistent, research-based maps and other resources: https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas -Includes Eco-Health Relationship Browser 4 ecosystems (forests, urban ecosystems, wetlands and agro-ecosystems 6 ecosystem services (nature's benefits) 30 health outcomes Health promotional services and buffering services Community-Focused Exposure and Risk Screening Tool (C -FER ST): Web-based tool to assist communities in characterizing and prioritizing potential risks and in identifying possible solutions: https://www.epa.gov/c-ferst Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 14 ED 002061 00270539-00014 ORD Support for States Some Recent Examples AK - PFAS ID Modeling for agriculture, energy, water and air .systems interactions O R-W ater nitrate contamination; Tools to help communities identify environmental issues; Ocean acid ificatlon research; .Reducing methyl mereury levels. Advanced monitoring technologies WA - Managing nutrients in riparian ecosystems; Habitat suitability models CA - Evaluating chemicals; Population and land use projections; Synthetic turf field safety; !>acomamimating subway railcars; irrisi n support tools to advance communities' priority projects; Risk assessment training; Advanced monitoring technologies N - Groundwater characterisation and remediation 0 CO-Simulating conditions in dranking water utilities; Advanced monitoring t-aeknotogtes MT - SldS assessment for Lihby Amphihole Asbestns; Asbestos exposure following forest fires UT~ fine particle air pollution; Emissions measurement methods 0 A - High ammonia levels in drinking water ICS- Prairie rangeiand burning; Communtty air quality monitoring MO - Models and tools to reduce sewer overflows $>. i Al\>t7V8i; (WS 0 LA - Cancer risk assessments OK and TX --Community air quality monitoring OK -Chemical composition analysis; Evaluating water internerions at Superfund sire TX - Chemical contamination risks V M .........i!.i.li.ii.i.*l.l.ip.v.`.Ci^^*$f*V'! iirn tm w /"o &) 0 C * Cornniunky -ar rufty monitoring.; C , M A, ME MH, R V I - :i m iii m i'. . et: network; Pfnnkig for norgy ond sir rnfoslofis C l 'f NH A .AH ' j'l'M f ' i f t'lt' : ^E-^Triboi risk ssso-s&rnotu {$&ment s tid wst$ VT***mporvoos covor cisss for wstot&hods NJand NY-Stream monitoring network; Planning for energy and air emissions NJ-PFAS NY - Management of bio-hazardous wastes; Planning for biological incident; Simulating conditions in drinking water utilities QE, MD. PA, VA WV an. m- n : n u r , Mi>- Managing stormwater treatment systems; Advanced monitoring technologies; Reducing harmful air pollutants; Management of bio-hazardous wastes MD. PAancIVA ." "i.m >>n m ' pl.'i i m . PA -CASJDiS causal assessment; Community air monitoring Ml - Lead contamination technical support; Simufating conditions in drinking water utilities MN - Suf e e standard development support; Modeling hioaccumulation of PCRsand mercury in fish OH --Harmful algal blooms limiting drinking water; Managing algal toxins; Small drinking water systems; Simulating conditions in drinking water utilities Wi - Predicting water quality at beaches C iC . rw 1 .! - m ...... r an- . ---.vi :F Ft, GA, KY, NC,SC, TN I - u a : -loi-, ...h .! background ieivete for contaminated site cleanup iavaix K , KV - -.h>i- i.B- .:m n - .m s u l l - . , - : i . i i i. ilf a GKYA--AGdrveaePndeindfrfeMstribueJrtiuPrRelnteAchtlnaonltoag'siePsrtscfor Creek MS - Reca bacteria! and virai indicators NC~communityair qualitymonitoring; $tem education; Wright Chemical Suparfund Site X ~ Food s reduction https://www.epa.aov/research/us-epa-office-research-and-development-and-environmental-council-states-partners-meeting 15 Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 ED 002061 00270539-00015 EPA research web page www.epa.gov/research - ERA Science Matters newsletter https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters - States and ORD: Partners to Meet State Research Needs https://www.epa.gov/research/states-and-ord-partners-meet-state-research-needs - EPA Tools and Resources webinar series https://www.epa.gov/research/epa-tools-and-resources-webinar-series - EPA Strategic Research Action Plans http://www.epa.gov/research/strategic-research-action-plans - ORD list of models, methods, tools and databases https://www.epa.gov/research/methods-models-tools-and-databases It All Starts with Science blog http://blog.epa.gov/science/ Join more than 21,000 followers on Twitter https://twitter.com/EPAresearch Sierra Club v. EPA 18cv3472 NDCA Tier 10 16 ED 002061 00270539-00016