science in ACTION
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
REGIONAL METHODS PROGRAM
The Regional Methods (RM) Program is an Office of Research and
Development (ORD) program administered by the Office of Science Policy
that responds to high-priority, near-term methods development needs of EPA
Regions. RM projects focus on developing methods necessary for the Regions
to meet monitoring and enforcement objectives. Past RM research projects
have developed assessment protocols, biological and diagnostic indicators,
toxicity evaluation methods and improved sampling methodologies.
Goals of the RM Program
•	Provide near-term research (1-2 years) on high-priority, region-specific
science needs
•	Provide opportunities for ORD scientists to apply their expertise to
regional issues and explore new research challenges
•	Foster collaboration between EPA regions and ORD laboratories
•	Build a regional/'ORD network for future scientific interaction
The Regional Science Liaisons (RSLs) manage the RM program within the
Regions. They engage ORD scientists early in project development to secure
regional and ORD management support and ensure that projects are within the
scope of ORD's mission. RSLs also play a role in preparation and delivery of
RM project results to regional scientists and managers.
Sample RM Projects
Developing Monitoring Tools for Headwater Intermittent Streams -
Regions 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9 & 10
Regional Science Liaison
Contact Information
Acting Regional Science Program
Chief-Washington, DC
Maggie LaVay
202-564-5264
lavay,maggie@ epa.gov
Program Coordinator,
Washington, DC
Valerie Blank
202-564-1720
blank.valerie@epa.gov
Region 1 - Boston, MA
Robert Hillger
617-918-8660
hillger.robert@epa.gov
Region 2 - New York, NY
Marie O'Shea
212-637-3585
oshea.marie@epa.gov
Region 3 - Philadelphia, PA
Ronald Landy
410-305-2757
landy.ronald@epa.gov
Region 4 - Atlanta, GA
Tom Baugh
404-562-8275
baugh.thomasl@epa.gov
Region 5 - Chicago, IL
Carole Braverman
312-353-7359
braverman.carole@epa.gov
Region 6 - Dallas, TX
Michael Morton
214-665-8329
morton, michael@epa.gov
Region 7 - Kansas City, KS
Brenda Groskinsky
913-551-7188
groskinsky.brenda@epa.gov
Region 8 - Denver, CO
Patti Tyler
303-312-6081
tyler.patti@epa.gov
Region 9 - San Francisco, CA
Matthew Small
415-972-3366
small.matthew@epa.gov
Region 10 - Seattle, WA
Bruce Duncan
206-553-0218
duncan.bruce@epa.gov
Headwater streams lie at the aquatic-terrestrial interface and represent much of
the stream miles in the United States. Little is understood about the
consequences that alteration and loss of headwater streams impose on larger
downstream water bodies. Because headwater streams drain smaller areas with
less variable types of land use than
larger water bodies, they provide a
better assessment of land use effects.
However, headwater streams are
subject to drying, which may
complicate the use of traditional
assessment methods. Understanding
associations between stream
permanence and organisms living in
the streams is the first step in
developing biocriteria for the most
A headwater stream drains an agricultural small abundant running waters in the nation.
area watershed. Photo by Eric Vance, USEPA.
June 2013

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Through this RM project, scientists at
ORD/National Exposure Research Laboratory
(NERL) collaborated with scientists from several
Regions to develop field protocols for assessing the
hydrological permanence of headwater streams.
Several biological and physical indicators were
identified to distinguish ephemeral, intermittent,
and perenni al stream reaches. The results of this
RM project have gained interest from many states
as they work to understand the small area watershed
drained by headwater streams. The EPA Science
Advisory Board has recognized the collaborators
with EPA's Scientific and Technology
Achievement Award for notably excellent research,
"Providing Science to Address the Jurisdictional
Determination of Headwater Streams under the
Clean Water Act"
(http://www.epa. gov/ncer/staa/annual/2010/201 Olev
el2.html).
Collection of Pyrethroids in Water and Sediment
Matrices: Development and Validation of a
Standard Operating Procedure- Region 9
Pyrethroid insecticides, which are highly toxic to
aquatic organisms, have become the most
commonly used class of insecticides in agricultural
and urban marketplaces. They are often detected in
surface waters and sediments and concentrations
must be accurately measured.
Pyrethroids tend to collect on the walls of sampling
vessels during sample collection and storage. Loss
of pyrethroids from the sample onto these surfaces
can invalidate analytical and toxicity test results.
The tendency of pyrethroids to associate to
container walls depends upon the type of sample
collection device, container material and other
chemicals and organic matter in the water. In
addition, collection and transfer of samples through
multiple containers or pieces of equipment can also
increase the potential for pyrethroid loss.
Scientists from ORD/NERL, Region 9, and US
Geological Survey (USGS) collaborated to evaluate
pyrethroid sample containers and sampling methods
and to develop sampling procedures that minimize
pyrethroid loss to walls and tubing in sampling
apparatus.
The results of this project were used to create
standard operating procedures (SOPs) for collecting
water and sediment samples that may contain
pyrethroids. These protocols are critical for accurate
and consistent measurement of pyrethroid
concentrations, and for assessment of potential
effects on the environment. Results were also used
to prepare a USGS Scientific Investigations Report
that included new SOPs for pyrethroid sampling
(http://pubs.usgs.gov/sir/2009/5012/). The SOPs
have been used by wastewater treatment systems in
Region 9 and nationwide to study the fate of
pyrethroids and by the State of California for its
general pesticide permit monitoring program.
For more information about the Regional Methods Program,
please visit: http://intranet.ord.epa.gov/science/regional-
science/rm
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