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National Risk Management
Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
26 West Martin Luther King Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45268
Phone: 513-569-7418
FAX: 513-569-7680
E.Timothy Oppelt
Laboratory Director
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National Risk Management
Research Laboratory
Mission
Advance the scientific understanding
and the development and application
of technological solutions to prevent,
control, or remediate important
environmental problems that threaten
human health and the environment.
Vision
To be world leaders in developing
sound technological solutions for
reducing environmental risks.
Description
One of five national laboratories/centers
within the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency's Office of Research and
Development, the National Risk
Management Research Laboratory
(NRMRL) is headquartered in
Cincinnati, OH. Other NRMRL research
facilities are located in Research
Triangle Park, NC; Ada, OK; and Edison,
NJ. A Technology Coordination Office for
NRMRL is in Washington, DC.
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Mission
Advance the scientific understanding,
development and application of
technologies and methods for
prevention, removal and control of
multimedia environmental risks to
human health and ecology.
Description
The Sustainable Technology Division
(STD) is one of six divisions within
NRMRL Through its three branches,
STD plans, coordinates, and conducts
a national program of multimedia
research, development, and
demonstration of cleaner technologies
and tools for integrated pollution
management for industrial processes,
with the priority to reduce or eliminate
hazardous, toxic and other pollutant
waste generation through pollution
prevention. Research includes
development of computer based
multi-media decision tools for process
or product selection and cost-benefit
analyses, development of generic
process tools (or modular
technologies) for cleaner
manufacturing, such as green
chemistry and engineering, separa-
tions technologies, and demonstration
and verification of cleaner integrated
environmental technologies.
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The Division collaborates closely with
other NRMRL Divisions, Program
Offices, Regions, and other Federal
Agencies to develop solutions for cost
effective, pollution management
alternatives for current and expected
compliance issues. STD maintains a
close working relationship with trade
and professional organizations,
industry and academia, to design and
develop innovative pollution
management methodologies. The
Division is also engaged in several
international clean technology devel-
opment projects.
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
(e.g., USDA, DOE, DOI); cooperative
research and development
agreements (CRADAs) with the
private sector under the Federal
Technology Transfer Act of 1986; and
contracts with environmental
consultants and for-profit companies.
Division Director:
Subhas K. Sikdar, Ph.D.
(513) 569-7528
Acting Senior Advisor:
Gordon M. Evans
(513) 569-7684
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Mission
The mission of the Systems Analysis
Branch (SAB) is to develop and
demonstrate cost-effective decision
making tools which integrate
environmental solutions, life cycle
concepts, value engineering,
environmental engineering economics,
measurement and pollution prevention
(P2) factors. The major technical areas
encompassed within the Mission are:
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Efforts in LCA are focused on the
development and demonstration of
LCA inventory, impact and
improvement methodologies. Projects
include development and validation of
LCA tools for decision makers, and
are integrated with other research,
development and demonstration within
NRMRL. Current projects are in both
the Federal and private sectors.
Related LCA projects and issues such
as P2 factors, standards, and
integrated design are included in the
LCA program.
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Environmental Engineering
Economics (E3)
Engineering economic principles are
being applied to 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 being
developed and applied across the
Laboratory and various costing tools
are being 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.
Chemical Simulation and
Measurement
Developing and demonstrating com-
puter-based approaches to
achievement of environmentally
beneficial changes in processes and
products and measuring progress
achieved is the focus of this area.
Current simulation work includes
methods for developing P2, including
assessment modules that can be
incorporated into process simulators.
PARIS II, a program to custom design
solvents with desired properties while
simultaneously minimizing
environmental impacts is being
developed. The P2P measurement
work is primarily contained in other
software under development.
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Tools Integration for Sustainable
Development
Development and application of
environmental decision-making tools
to assist the users in determining what
each tool does, who should use the
tool, where and when the tool should
be used, and how to best use the tool
is the focus of this area. Problem
solving issues for sustainable
development require a myriad of
environmental tools with other
decision-making tools for developing
the best solutions. Working with the
private and public sectors as "test
beds," the demonstration and
application of environmental tools will
encourage P2 and provide an
opportunity for decision-makers to
become partners in the development
of new and existing environmental
tools and methods.
Branch Chief:
James S. Bridges
Phone: (513) 569-7683
Fax:(513)569-7111
E-mail: bridges.jim@epamail. epa.gov
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Mission
The mission of the Clean Processes and
Products Branch (CPPB) is to develop
and demonstrate clean technologies for
pollution prevention, recycling and
remediation, in areas of special interest
and competency. These include:
Separations for Removal and
Recycling
Membranes for Pervaporation and Vapor
Permeation:
Bench and pilot scale demonstration
of solvent and other organics recovery
from liquid aqueous and vapor phase
streams is the objective of this in-
house research program. Elucidation
of fundamental variables affecting the
process as well as the practical
application of the technology in
remediation and industrial P2 settings
are goals. Predictive software to assist
potential users in identifying
opportunities for using the technology
is also being developed using EPA
and other pervaporation databases.
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Low Cost Metals Adsorption:
In this in-house program, we are
identifying and modifying low cost,
primarily naturally-occurring materials
for adsorbing metals from
contaminated groundwater, mining
runoff, and industrial processes. We
are developing these materials as
lower cost alternatives to ion
exchange technology. To date, bench
scale testing and a pilot test at a
military firing range site have been
conducted. Copper and lead are target
metals. Future work will emphasize
recovery and pollution prevention
applications (in-process recycling) for
the developed adsorbents.
Green Engineering for Chemical
Synthesis
Pollution prevention alternatives for
the chemical process industry are
being investigated through a
combination of extramural and in-
house projects. Improvements to
oxidation chemistry which include
better catalysts, biosynthesis/chemical
synthesis combination pathways, and
photoreactions, are special areas of
concentration. In addition, the use of
supercritical carbon dioxide as
reaction media, solvent and extractant
are being explored.
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Solvent and Coatings Alternatives
Substitutes for chlorinated solvents
are being sought through a largely
extramural program. Applications of
concern include parts cleaning,
painting and depainting. Aqueous
cleaners, low VOC and powder
coatings, mechanical substitutes, and
supercritical carbon dioxide are some
of the substitutes being investigated.
Branch Chief:
Teresa M. Marten
Phone:(513)569-7565
Fax: (513) 569-7677
E-mail: harten.teresa@epamail.epa.gov
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MISSION
The Multimedia Technology Branch's
(MTB) 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 research areas
for the MTB are:
Common Sense Initiative (CSI)
This initiative is directed toward finding
better, cheaper and faster ways of
achieving environmental improvement
through a stakeholder-based dialogue
in six specific industrial sectors.
Metal Finishing Prevention
Technology
The Research and Technology
Workgroup of the Metal Finishing
Subcommittee of the EPA Common
Sense Initiative is focusing much of its
attention on the development and
demonstration of innovative, low cost
technologies designed to improve the
performance of the industry and
achieve cost-effective pollution
prevention results with regard to
chrome emissions. Also, work is
ongoing for the Approaching Zero
Discharge project where
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technologies are evaluated in metal
finishing shops.
Technology Verification Work
The Environmental Technology
Verification Program (ETV) is
evaluating the feasibility of a private-
sectorapproach to "technology
verification" in an attempt to reduce
the risk to small business of adopting
new environmental control processes.
One of the pilot programs funded
under ETV is a fully private-sector
approach, administered by the Civil
Engineering Research Foundation and
overseen by the Multimedia Branch.
Rapid Commercialization Initiative
(RCI)
The Rapid Commercialization Initiative
(RCI) is part of the Administration's
efforts to build cooperative interactions
between the private sector, states, and
federal agencies to advance the
national environmental technology
strategy and to bring environmental
technologies to market more rapidly
and efficiently. Agencies/Associations
participating in RCI are: Dept. of
Commerce, Dept. of Defense, Dept. of
Energy, Environmental Protection
Agency, Southern States Energy
Board, Western Governors
Association, California Environmental
Protection Agency. RCI is an attempt
to address impediment(s) that
innovative environmental technologies
encounter when going from
demonstration to commercialization
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and thus, to speed up the process.
RCI is focusing on four technology
areas: 1) Avoidance;
2) Control; 3) Monitoring and
Assessment; and 4) Remediation.
Butte Mine Waste Technology
Program
The Butte 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
MTB.
Metal Forming
The MTB is managing several projects
funded under the Agency's ETI
Program that are directed towards the
development of P2-based
manufacturing technologies for metals
forming. These projects include
alternative surface cleaning
technologies to replace hazardous
chemical solvents; reduction/
elimination of casting waste; develop-
ing alternatives to the current process
of demagging with chlorine gas;
intelligent control of the cupola
furnace to optimize operation for
minimum pollution potential; and
establishing best practices for
pollution prevention in the use of metal
working fluids.
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Lead Paint/Lead Soil Abatement
The NRMRL Lead program complies
with one of the ORD Strategic Plan
Objectives, specifically, Provide
Common Sense and Cost-Effective
Approaches for Preventing and
Managing Risks. With a focus on
evaluating lead paint abatement and
lead in soil removal technologies, this
program continues to seek 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. Lead paint abatement
research will continue on residential
housing in Ohio. NRMRL is also
conducting bench scale in-house
studies to adapt gravity separation
processes and a flotation process for
lead particle removal from urban soils.
In addition, study on the feasibility of
in-situ fixation of lead for reduced
bioavailability is being conducted.
Base-Catalyzed Dechlorination
The base-catalyzed decomposition
(BCD) process is a chemical
dehalogenation technology developed
by NRMRL in Cincinnati, OH. Its
effectiveness continues to be
demonstrated around the world in
various pilot-scale and semi-
commercial plants.
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Source Reduction Review Program
(SRRP)
This research is a continuation of the
efforts first identified in the Agency's
Source Reduction Review Project.
Now, with the Common Sense
Initiative and general Agency policy, all
regulatory efforts must first consider
the pollution prevention opportunities
and possibilities while maintaining
strict environmental standards. This
research will be conducted in direct
consultation with the various Common
Sense Initiative Industry
Subcommittees. Beyond the Common
Sense Initiative industrial categories,
the research will focus on needs within
the pulp and paper industry and the
industrial laundries industry. The
identification of research needs will be
a collaborative one with inputs from
several sources, largely outside the
government. The focus of all research
to be conducted in this area will be in
pollution prevention, i.e., source
reduction and/or recycle/reuse with
treatment options considered lastly.
Branch Chief:
Roger Wilmoth
Phone: (513) 569-7509
Fax: (513) 569-7787
E-mail: wilmoth.roger@epamail.epa.gov
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E-mail address:
iastname.firstname@epamail.epa.gov
FAX: (513) 569-7111
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
Mary Ann Curran
(513)569-7782
Environmental Engineering
Economics (E3)
Gregory Carroll
(513)569-7948
Chemical Simulation and
Measurement
Heriberto Cabezas
(513)569-7350
Tools Integration for Sustainable
Development
Terri Hoagland
(513)569-7783
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Chemical Environmental Impact
Assessment
Jane C. Bare
(513)569-7513
Life Cycle Engineering and Design
Kenneth Stone
(513)569-7474
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FAX: (513) 569-7787
Common Sense Initiative (CSI)
Roger Wiimoth
(513)569-7509
Metal Finishing Pollution Prevention
Technology Program
Dave Ferguson
(513)569-7518
Petroleum Manufacturing CSI
Support
Alva Edwards
(513)569-7693
Electronics CSI Support
Glenn Shaul
(513)569-7408
Technology Verification
Norma Lewis
(513)569-7665
Green Engineering for
Chemical Synthesis
S. Garry Howell
(513)569-7756
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Rapid Commercialization
Initiative (RCI)
Alva Edwards
(513)569-7693
Butte Mine Waste Technology
Program
Roger Wilmoth
(513)569-7509
Metal Forming
John Burckle
(513)569-7506
Industrial Wastewater
Glenn Shaul
(513)569-7408
Lead Paint/Lead Soil
Abatement
Alva Edwards
(513)569-7693
Base-Catalyzed Dechlorination
George Huffman
(513)569-7431
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FAX: (513) 569-7677
Solvent and Coatings Alternatives
Johnny Springer, Jr.
(513)569-7542
Membrane Pervaporation Removal
and Recycling
Leland Vane
(513) 569-7799
Separations Using Low Cost
Sorbents Adsorption
David Szlag
(513)569-7180
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