science in ACTION
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
www.epa.gov/research
3
THE REGIONAL SCIENCE PROGRAM
Program Background
EPA's Regional Science Program
plays a vital role in linking ORD with
EPA's regional offices. The program,
managed by ORD's Office of Science
Policy, is implemented by a small
headquarters staff and two teams of
scientists and engineers located
across the EPA regions: Regional
Science Liaisons (RSL) and
Superfund and Technology Liaisons
(STL). The Regional Science Program
builds networks and partnerships
between ORD and the regions, as
well as with state, local and tribal
partners to ensure EPA applied
science is useful and practical for
environmental decision making.
Regional Applied Research Effort
(RARE) Program
The RARE program provides a
mechanism for ORD and the regions to
collaborate on high-priority, near-term
research needs of the regions, states
and tribes. RARE research addresses a
wide range of environmental issues,
from human health concerns to
ecological effects of various pollutants.
The RSLs coordinate RARE activities and
ensure that research results are
effectively communicated and used
within the regions.
Regional Research Partnership
Program (R2P2)
R2P2 provides short-term training
opportunities for regional technical
staff to work directly with ORD
scientists in ORD laboratories,
centers, and offices. The program
builds technical capacity in the
regions, enhances the skills and
knowledge of regional and ORD
staff, and promotes the
development of stronger ties
between ORD and the regions. The
RSLs and headquarters staff
facilitate the process of soliciting
applicants and helping candidates
establish the necessary contacts
throughout ORD.
Regional - ORD Community of
Science Networking (ROCS-Net)
Program
ROCS-Net is an ORD orientation and
networking program for regional
and state scientists and engineers.
It provides an opportunity for
regional and state staff who have
limited familiarity with ORD to visit
an EPA research facility and discuss
collaborative research
opportunities, regional and state
priorities and cross-cutting issues
with ORD scientists. ROCS-Net
builds ties between ORD and the
regions and helps develop
emerging regional science leaders.
Note: Another research partnership
program, administered by ORD's
Sustainable and Healthy Communities
Research Program, is the Regional
Sustainable Environmental Science
(RESES) program. RESES supports
community efforts to assign value to
ecosystem goods and services through
the use of the best available scientific
tools and information.
The Regional Science
Program addresses high-
priority regional science
needs through collaborative
research activities and
technical support.
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Regional Technical Support
The STLs help regional hazardous
waste program managers make
scientifically defensible decisions by
providing direct technical support or
coordinating assistance through
ORD's five Technical Support
Centers. Technical support may
involve site assessments, remedial
investigations, document review,
remedial design, environmental
cleanup technology demonstrations,
optimization, five-year reviews, and
aerial photo interpretation. Regional
staff can access this support by
calling their regional STL.
REGIONAL SCIENCE PROGRAM
HEADQUATERS CONTACTS:
MAGGIE LAVAY
Regional Science Program Chief
(202) 564-5264
lavav.maeeie@epa.eov
VALERIE BLANK
Program Coordinator
(202) 564-1720
blank.valerie@epa.eov
www.epa.eov/aboutepa/about-office-
science-policv-osp
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency Office of Research and
Development
July 2017

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