BAC Contacts;
General Information
Mr. Kurt Jakobson, EPA/ORD
(202-260-5747)
BAC Executive Director
Mr. Stephen Lingle, EPA/ORD
(202-260-4073)
Regulatory/Permitting Issues (Wastes)
Dr. Walter Kovalick, EPA/OSWER
(703-308-8800)
Ms. Elizabeth Milewski, EPA/OPPTS
(202-260-6900)
Bioremediation Field Initiative
Dr. Fran Kremer, EPA/ORD
(513-569-7346)*
Ms. Nancy Dean, EPA/OSWER
(703-308-8797)
Communications
Dr. Fran Kremer, EPA/ORD
(513-569-7346)
Data and Information
Mr. James Solyst, National Governors' Assoc.
(202-624-7739)
Protocols
Dr. Edgar Berkey, NETAC
(412-826-5511)
. Spill Response
Mr. Stephen Luftig, EPA/OSWER
(202-260-2180)
Education
Dr. Rashalee Levine, DOE
(301-903-7920)
Research
Dr. Martin Alexander, Cornell University
(607-255-1717)
Pollution Prevention
Dr. George Pierce, American Cyanamid
(908-862-6000 - ext 415)
Dr. Laura Meagher, Rutgers University
(908-932-6571)
ATTIC Systems Operator
(301-670-6294)
February 1993
United States
. Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Research and
Development
Washington, DC 20460
EPA/600/F-93/001
Following the successful application of
bioremediation on oil-contaminated
beaches at Prince William Sound, Alaska,
the BAC has been an effective instrument
in fostering the expansion of bioremediation
technologies for the prevention and
treatment of hazardous pollutants.
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Representative BAG Accomplishments /
« Developed "Interim Guidelines for Preparing'
Bioremediatiofc Spill Response Plans," distributed to
response officials through National and Regional
Response Teams, ' ,^ -
» Completed lie "EPA Region 6 Biojemediation SpjJl
Response Plan,1' a contingency plan for evaluating?
implementing, and monitoring bioremediation in
response to oil spills along the Gulf of Mexico.
* Developed kset of protocols for testing Iheeffec- -
Syeness of oijt spill bioremediatiQn products fot-use
on open water, beaches, and marshes.
**
* Published a report on "States Ifseol ,
Bioremediation: Advantages, Constraints, and
Strategies." -
« Published "BioremediaQon Case Studies,* a
compeadium'bf private sector bioremediation;
activities. , , ., ^
« Developed ^.database on bioremediation including
over 150 sites where progress toward use is Mug ,
monitored and updated.
Sponsored a workshop with U,SL EPA, state
environmentaTagency. officials, an.djfetrole,
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Education
Reviews existing approaches to bioremediation
education and promotes training that adequately
prepares scientists, engineers, and technicians for the
field. Consults with academia to develop curricula
integrating biological sciences, chemistry, and
engineering to provide the diverse knowledge re-
quired.
Research
Identifies priority areas of research needed to provide
the scientific basis for future growth in bioremediation
technology. Reviews current federal, state, academic,
and industrial bioremediation research to determine
consistency, overlap, and additional needs. Informa-
tion gathered is used to develop recommendations on
which topics should be further investigated.
Pollution Prevention
Investigates and promotes applications of biotechnol-
ogy that reduce or eliminate toxic wastes generated by
industrial processes. Working closely with industry,
evaluates industry-specific technology demonstrations
and field applications and prepares case studies
documenting how biotechnology is being used to
prevent pollution at the source.
EPA Affiliated Activities
Regulation and Permitting Issues
The BAG serves as a forum to exchange information
between EPA and other interested parties on develop-
ments and issues regarding regulations and permitting
affecting bioremediation. This is an issue and
information sharing activity, not one of consensus
recommendations to EPA.
Bioremediation Field Initiative
The Bioremediation Field Initiative is an EPA
program intended to assess and document the perfor-
mance of full-scale bioremediation field applications,
in coordination with the Regions and states, and to
create a database on progress in bioremediation.
The Bioremediation Action Committee (BAG)
The Bioremediation Action Committee is a partner-
ship of experts from government, industry, academia,
and the public dedicated to expanding the use of
bioremediation in the treatment, control, and preven-
tion of environmental contamination. Chaired by
EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD),
the BAG provides a proactive forum to facilitate the
advancement of both the science and practical field
application of bioremediation.
The BAG was established in 1990 on the recommen-
dation of more than 100 leaders in the field of
bioremediation at an EPA/Industry meeting on
environmental applications of biotechnology. It is a
working body where participating individuals and
organizations collaborate to reach objectives defined
by the committee. Membership is open to any
interested party.
Addressing participants at the Second EPA/Industry
Meeting on Environmental Applications of Biotech-
nology in 1991, former EPA Administrator William
K. Reilly expressed the charge of the BAG as follows:
"I think we should develop, to the extent we can, a
national bioremediation response capability for oil
spills,...we should continue to develop aggressively
the full potential of bioremediation to treat our
hazardous wastes and clean up our abandoned sites,...
and we should creatively develop the potential of
biotechnology to prevent or reduce pollution in the
industrial and agricultural sectors through product and
process improvements."
BAG Functions
The BAG advances the development of bioremedia-
tion through a variety of functions, including:
Coordinating activities across organizations
Transferring information
Identifying priorities
Conducting projects to accomplish committee goals
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Spill Response
BAG
Executive
Committee
"\-i Bioremediation
pollution
Prevention
Regulation and
ermliiing ^ ,v,,,>
Issues
The work of the BAG is carried out principally through the nine action areas shown above.
BAG Subcommittees
Communications
Actively promotes the increased acceptance and use of
bioremediation. Informs technical and nontechnical
communities of the latest processes and technological
advancements. Conveys the accomplishments of the
BAG to the user community.
Data and Information
Collects and reviews information about bioremedia-
tion for inclusion in a central database accessible to
state and federal waste cleanup decision makers,
industry, and the public. Information includes
technical, performance, and cost data from various
research, field applications, and case studies. The
information resides in EPA's Alternative Treatment
Information Clearinghouse (ATTIC) database, an on-
line, key word searchable repository.
sting the applicabil-
ity, effectiveness, and safety of bioremediation
products and treatment techniques for oil spill
response and hazardous waste cleanups. Works with
EPA and its ORD laboratories to develop and validate
test methods and QA/QC procedures that assist
decision makers evaluate and select bioremediation
products and applications.
Spill Response
Promotes and coordinates the incorporation of
bioremediation in oil and hazardous substance spill
contingency response plans across the United States.
Subcommittee members collaborate with national and
regional response teams and area committees to
develop interim guidance and bioremediation response
plans tailored to their unique needs.
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