Region/ORD Emerging Pollutants Workshop
Paul Gilman, Ph.D. Assistant Administrator Office of Research and Development U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
August 11, 2003
Research and Development at EPA
• 2,000 employees • $700 million budget • $100 million extramural research grant program • 13 lab or research facilities across the U.S. • Credible, relevant and timely research results and technical support that inform EPA policy decisions
• Making decisions with sound • science requires..
Relevant, high quality, cutting-edge research in human health, ecology, pollution control and prevention, and socioeconomics Proper characterization of scientific findings
Appropriate use of science in the decision process
• Research and development • contribute uniquely..
Health and ecological research, as well as research in pollution prevention and new technology In-house research and an external grants program
Problem-driven and core research
High Priority Research Areas
• Human Health
• Particulate Matter
• Drinking Water
• Clean Water • Global Change • Endocrine Disruptors
• Ecological Risk
• Pollution Prevention • Homeland Security
Regions/ORD Science Topic Workshops
• Topics - identified by the Regions • Planning - Regions (lead), ORD, and interested Program Offices • Past workshops (e.g.) – cumulative risk, asthma, nonindigenous species, pesticides, aquatic criteria, air toxics • Next – Inhalation Risk Assessment: A Superfund Focus, Sept. 9 – 12, 2003 in Washington, DC
General Workshop Objectives
• • Create cross-Agency science networks Identify:
Opportunities to integrate EPA science into Regional decisionmaking Critical science uncertainties, and Needed science products
“Anticipate Future Environmental Issues”
• “ORD will evaluate opportunities for and, as appropriate, will conduct research to anticipate and assess future environmental stressors --- whether human health or ecological -- before their effects adversely impact people or the environment.” (ORD Goal 5, 2001)
Moving Ahead
• The “emerging pollutants” taken up at this Workshop are mostly unregulated. • Appropriate to consider data needed to properly address the concerns. • An opportunity to recommend solutions ahead of negative environmental or human health impacts.
Good Luck
• With the wide range of participants here today, we anticipate broad contributions to our goals. • I welcome Janet Raloff of Science News --- we are eager to hear her perspective. • I wish you good luck in addressing these “emerging pollutants.”