FACTS ON
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY REGION FIVE
1 N. Wacker Dr. Chicago, Illinois 60606 312-353-5800
Office of Research and Monitoring
The Region V Office of Research and Monitoring serves both as a con-
sultant to the Regional Administrator on matters relating with R&M, and
administers research, development and demonstration grants.
R&M is a voice of the Region in expressing its major needs in research
and monitoring to headquarters in Washington and in interpreting technological
developments of the national EPA of particular application to the Region. It
melds the complex national EPA technological management of the Office of
Research and Monitoring. It provides a means for utilization of research
developments within the Region.
The Major functions of R&M in Region V evolve out of its growing, broad
technical liaison, coordinating water, air, pesticides, and other pollutants
technologies. These functions include:
* Definition of regional research and monitoring needs
* Promulgation of research and monitoring results within the
Region
* Coordination of regional policy reviews and stimulation for
submittal of research, development, and demonstration grants
* Assistance to the Regional Administrator in matters related
with headquarters OR&M project monitoring
* Assistance in OR&M project monitoring
. The Region V R&M is in essence responsible for maintaining an overview
of the expanding technological and research needs in the Region and for pro-
viding a focal point to assist other regional operating divisions in defining
and initiating developments to meet their needs.
Definition, Promulgation of Research and Monitoring
Definition of research and monitoring needs and promulgation of devel-
opments in these areas are major functions of R&M.
Within this scope the office has solicited, reviewed, and assigned
priorities to over 500 research needs pertinent to Region V. Important
EPA 905-F-73-005
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research priorities were recognized as needs associated with public health,
instrument reliability; monitoring instrumentation; and methods for deter-
mination of toxic materials.
Plans call for continuing definition of current and future needs. The
nature of research is such that there is traditionally a significant time
lag between recognition of research needs and their development to the point
of field applicability. We plan to shortcut this timetable by making pro-
jections of the future research needs of Region V.
Among its other research and monitoring definition and promulgation
activities, R&M:
* Provides Technology Transfer Committee chairmanship and
guidance to the Region, as a means for dissemination of
pollution control technology and planning information to
industry, states and municipalities
* Assists other divisions in encouraging the establishment
of central research directorates in each State of the Region
* Provides membership participation for research in the Wis-
consin Research Advisory Council
* Has defined current monitoring needs and recommended acti-
vities for the Region
Assistance to the Regional Administator
R&M provides continuing research coordination and planning assistance
to the Regional Administrator on internal regional matters and in liaison with
headquarters.
The Great Lakes and all aspects of their pollution control are areas of
major responsibility to Region V. In this regard R&M has provided initial
research guidance support to the Great Lakes Coordinator in matters associated
with the Great Lakes Initiative and the International Joint Commission (IJC).
The office also provides support for review and development of research grant
proposals pertinent to Section 15 of the Water Quality Act. In addition, the
office plans to provide increasing support in these areas as well as in the
Great Lakes Research Advisory Board.
The office is currently providing a Region V link between OR&M in
Washington and the States of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota in the conduct
of the National Eutrophication Survey of the lakes in these States. The
results of the field survey will be utilized by the Office of Air and Water
Programs in headquarters to determine the needs for municipal waste treatment
facilities to curtail the discharge of phosphorus nutrient into those lakes
found to have high potential for eutrophication.
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E&M has developed a plan for streamlining the regional laboratory system
to provide for increasing laboratory analytical services for water, air,
pesticides and other pollutants.
Proposals Development and Project Monitoring
The Region V Office of Research and Monitoring exercises operating
responsibility for eliciting interest in development and submittal of research,
development, and demonstration (RD&D) grants proposals, reviews of these pro-
posals, and for EPA administration of the resulting grants.
Currently the office administer 66 active grants projects assigned to
universities, municipalities, and industry. These include research or demon-
stration of methods for treatment of food wastes; removal and recycle of
chemical wastes, recovery and recycle of pickling acids from wastes of ferrous
metal processes; and for demonstration of the feasibility of county-wide waste
treatment processes.
R&M plans to elicit interest in submittal of grant proposals for areas
which include means for monitoring and assessment of the environmental effects
of sewage sludge disposal; industrial demonstration of the fibrous bed coalesce
method for collection and concentration of oil droplets in aqueous media; and
others.
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