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Mission
To advance the scientific understanding, development and
application of technologies and methods for prevention, removal and
control of environmental risks to human health and ecology.
The Sustainable Technology Division is one of six divisions within the National Risk Management
Research Laboratory located in Cincinnati, Ohio. There are four branches within STD that plan,
coordinate, and conduct a national program of multimedia research, development, and demonstration of
cleaner technologies and tools for integrated pollution management for industrial processes. Our priority
is to reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous, toxic and other pollutant waste through pollution
prevention.
The Division conducts program activities through a variety of mechanisms including: in-house research,
cooperative agreements with academia and nonprofit organizations, interagency agreements with other
federal entities, cooperative research and development agreements with the private sector under the
Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, and contracts with environmental consultants and for-profit
companies.
Sustainable Technology Division
Office of the Director
Subhas K. Sikdar
Industrial Multimedia Branch
Roger C. Wilmoth
Sustainable Environments Branch
Heriberto Cabezas
Clean Processes Branch
Teresa M. Marten
Systems Analysis Branch
Gordon M. Evans
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The mission of the Clean Processes Branch (CPB) is to develop and demonstrate clean
technologies for pollution prevention, recycling and reuse, and to estimate their
environmental consequences through industrial ecology approaches such as life cycle
assessment. In addition, an effort to make findings place-based at the watershed and
community level are incorporated where possible. The major research emphases are as
follows:
Green Chemistry and Engineering for Chemical Synthesis
Pollution prevention (P2) alternatives for the chemical process industry are being investigated through in-house
projects. Improvements to oxidation chemistry using better catalysts and photo oxidation processes have been
our original areas of interest. In addition, alternative solvents such as water, carbon dioxide and ionic liquids are
' being explored for improved synthesis efficiency and environmental benefits. Alternative energy sources for
chemical synthesis such as microwave, solar and sonication are also the subjects of investigation. Chemists and
chemical engineering staff work closely to make early determinations as to the feasibility of scaled-up processes.
Pervaporation for Organ ics Recovery
Membranes for Pervaporation: Bench- and pilot-scale demonstrations of solvent and other organics recovery
from liquid streams are the objectives of this in-house research program. Understanding the role of fundamental
variables affecting the process as well as the practical application of the technology in industrial P2 settings are
goals. Recovery of alcohols is an active area of pursuit and it is expected that improvements in pervaporation
technology for this purpose will have positive implications for its use in bioprocessing industries. Predictive software
to assist in identifying opportunities for using the technology has also been developed with" EPA and other
pervaporation databases. -
Green Chemistry and Engineering
for Chemical Synthesis:
Pervaporation for Organics Recovery:
Pervaporation Prediction Software:
Key Research Area Contacts
Rajender Varma, varma.rajender@epa.gov
Endalkachew Sahle-Demessie, sahle-demessie.endalkachew@epa.gov
Michael Gonzalez, gonzalez.michaei@epa.gov
Leland Vane, vane.leland@epa.gov
Franklin Alvarez, aivarez.franklin@epa.gov
Johnny Springer, Jr., springer.johnny@epa.gov
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The mission of the Sustainable [Environments Branch (SEB) is to construct a strategy for
sustainable environmental systems management using economics on approaches, water
resource and land use planning, physical and ecological theory, law, technological methods
and knowledge implemented through computer based tools, and field data and human
experience to reduce risks to human health and the ecology. The major technical areas
encompassed within the mission are:
Environmental Economics
Design and analysis of market approaches for environmental systems management including a program of tradable
credits for management of environmental stressors. Applications to impervious surface for controlling urban storm
water runoff, with a focus on stream quality and combined sewer overflows, a serious problem in many regions.
Sustainable Systems Theory
Construction of a basic theory of sustainable systems using principles from ecology, physics, law, and economics
to uncover the underlying principles of sustainable systems, and provide guidance on the viability of different
environmental systems management strategies.
Law
Analysis of the interface between law identification of and sustainability to identify legal methods or avenues for
establishing sustainable practices; law as a process, equal to and intertwined with physical, chemical, economic,
and other social processes involved in sustainability; and consideration of law and other behavioral aspects of
society as potential stressors that affect sustainability.
Hydrology & Land Use .
Development of a CIS-linked hydrologic impact assessment and decision support tool; development of
methodologies for creating multi-scale land use classifications from disparate remote sensing data; and development
of correlations linking hydrologic impacts to measurable ecological indicators.
Sustainabie Technology . ' •'
Evaluation and design of new sustainable technologies using Life Cycle approaches and other risk management
analysis methodology to assist the development of sustainable technology systems and stimulate the invention of new
technological approaches.
Key Research Area Contacts
Environmental Economics:
Sustainable Systems Theory:
Law:
Hydrology & Land Use:
Sustainable Technology:
Haynes C. Goddard, Ph.D., goddard.haynes@epa.gov
Heriberto Cabezas, Ph.D., cabezas.heriberto@epa.gov
Theresa Hoagland, J.D., hoagland.theresa@epa.gov
David Szlag, Ph.D., szlag.david@epa.gov
John Glaser, Ph.D., glaser.john@epa.gov
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The mission of the Systems Analysis Branch (SAB) is to develop and demonstrate cost-
effective decision making tools for use by the private and public sectors. Such tools integrate
environmental solutions, life cycle concepts, value engineering, environmental engineering,
economics, trade-offs and pollution prevention factors. The major technical areas
encompassed within the mission are:
Cost Engineering
Application of engineering economic principles and cost estimating approaches guide NRMRL research investments
in technology. Projects include the survey of costing data and tools that can be applied to making environmental
decisions. Cost engineering techniques are developed and applied across the Laboratory, and various costing
tools are integrated into private and public sector decision-making. This area strengthens in-house research
activities, supports the program and regional offices, and undertakes fundamental research in the areas of interest
to the scientific community.
Life CycSe Assessment (LCA).
The program applies LCA in environmental research through in-house and extramural programs focused on three
objectives: developing the conceptual model and methodology for conducting LCA (including efforts to make life
cycle data more readily available to LCA practitioners through the development of a web portal called LCAccess);
advancing the state-of-the-practiee through various forums, such as conferences, workshops, and publications;
and employing LCA tools and techniques as support to environmental decision-makers in real world operations. In
addition, researchers are closely involved in the international development process, including the International
Standards Organization (ISO 14000), the Society for Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) and the
United Nations Environment Programme (LINEP).
Chemical Process Simulation and Measurement
Development and demonstration of computer-based approaches to achieve environmentally beneficial changes
in manufacturing processes and products, and measuring the process achieved. Current simulation work includes
methods for developing P2 including assessment modules for chemical process simulators and solvent design
software. The major projects are:
• Computer Aided Chemical Process Design Methodologies for Pollution Reduction
• Computer Aided Solvent Design for Pollution Prevention: PARIS II
• Chemical Process Simulation for Waste Reduction: WAR Algorithm
• Industrial Ecology Based Hierarchical Process Design
Environmental Impact Measurement
Impact assessment and measurement focusing on the research, development and application of environmental
impact assessment and progress measurement for environmental decision-making. Current projects include
development of impact assessment methodologies, tools, and supporting data in the areas of chemical and non-
chemical environmental impacts, and the measurement of progress in preventing pollution. The major project in
this area is the development of a software tool for environmental impact measurement, called TRACI (Tool for the
Reduction and Assessment of Chemical Impacts).
Kev Research Area Contacts
Cost Engineering:
Life Cycle Assessment:
Chemical Process Simulation:
Environmental Impact:
John Abraham, abraham .john@epa.gov
Mary Ann Curran, curran.maryann@epa.gov
Douglas Young, young.douglas@epa.gov
Jane Bare, bare.jane@epa.gov
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The Industrial Multimedia Branch (1MB) mission is to develop, demonstrate and evaluate timely
and integrated innovative engineering and scientific approaches to reduce air, water and land
toxic pollution generated by the production, processing, and use of materials. The major re-
search areas for trie-Industrial Multimedia Branch are:
8V88ne Waste Technology Program
The Mine Waste Technology Program evaluates and demonstrates new and innovative technologies for abating the
environmental consequences of ore mining and milling activities. This program is a joint effort with the Department of
Energy's Western Environmental Technology Office in Butte, Montana. The multimillion-dollar program receives technical
direction from the 1MB. In addition, the 1MB has a significant in-house research program on economical recovery
options for metals from the mine waste water in the Berkeley Pit in Montana.
Technology Verification Work
The Environmental Technology Verification Program (ETV) evaluates the feasibility of a private-sector approach to
technology verification in an attempt to reduce the risk to small business of adopting new environmental control processes.
The 1MB manages the Pollution Prevention Center for the Environmental Technology Verification Program. One of the
pilot programs funded under ETV is a private-sector approach administered by the Civil Engineering Research Foundation
and overseen by the 1MB. Another is the Metal Finishing ETV pilot.
SVSetaS Finishing GSt Support
The Research and Technology Workgroup of the Metal Finishing Subcommittee of the EPA Common Sense Initiative
focuses much of its attention on the development and demonstration of innovative, low-cost technologies designed to
improve the performance of the industry ana achieve cost-effective pollution prevention with regard to chrome emissions.
Also, work is ongoing for the Approaching Zero Discharge project where technologies are evaluated in metal finishing
shops. Additionally, the 1MB is modifying an airborne risk-prediction computer model for metal finishing to include all
media of wastes.
Lead Paint/Lead Soil Abatement
The NRMRL Lead program focuses on evaluating lead paint abatement and lead in soil removal technologies. This
program seeks out the most cost-effective of these technologies without compromising the protection of public health.
Proof of concept(s) demonstrations evaluating lead paint abatement technologies have been conducted in and around
residential housing in Buffalo, NY, Ravenna, KY, Elgin, IL, and in Butte, MT.
Base-Decataiyzed Dechiorination
The base-catalyzed decomposition process, a chemical dehalogenation technology developed by NRMRL, is
demonstrated by 1MB around the world in various pilot-scale and semi-commercial plants.
Source Reduction Regulatory Program
This research, conducted in direct consultation with the various Common Sense Initiative Industry Subcommittees,
focuses on needs within the pulp and paper industry and the industrial laundries industry. The identification of research
needs is a collaborative one with inputs from several sources, largely outside the government. The focus of all research
conducted in this area is in pollution prevention, i.e., source reduction and/or recycle/reuse with treatment options
considered lastly.
Fuel Cell Environmental! Effectiveness Program - •
This research involves efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of various fuel cell options on a Life Cycle Assessment
basis for minimizing environmental impact while providing a cost-effective energy alternative.
Mine Waste Technology Program:
Technology Verification Work:
Metal Finishing GSI Support:
Lead Paint/Lead Soil Abatement:
Base-Decataiyzed Dechiorination:
Fuel Cell Program:
Pulp and Paper P2 Research Program:
Computer Modeling:
Key Research Area Contacts
Roger C. Wilmoth, wilmoth.roger@epa.gov and Diana Bless, bless.diana@epa.gov
Alva Daniels, daniels.alva@epa.gov and Norma Lewis, lewis.norma@epa.gov
Dave Ferguson, ferguson.david@epa.gov
Alva Daniels, daniels.alva@epa.gov
George Huffman, huffman.george@epa.gov
George Huffman, huffman.george@epa.gov and ivars Licis, licis.ivars@epa.gov
Glenn Shaul, shaul.glenn@epa.gov
Paul Harten, harten.paul@epa.gov
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Sustainable Technology Division
National Risk Management Research Laboratory
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 West Martin L. King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45263
Phone: 513-569-7528
513-569-7787
EPA/600/F-01/019
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