science in ACTION INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE '< REGIONAL RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM The Regional Research Partnership Program (RRPP) is an Office of Research and Development (ORD) program administered by the Office of Science Policy. The program provides short-term (up to six months) training opportunities for regional technical staff to travel to ORD laboratories or centers and work with ORD scientists on top regional priorities. Each year, ORD can fund up to 10 regional technical staff to participate in the program. Selected program participants should complete their assignments by the end of the calendar year. Goals of the Regional Research Partnership Program Establish short-term collaborative research opportunities between regional staff and ORD colleagues in ORD laboratories and centers to foster long-term relationships that help link regional science needs with ORD research objectives Establish a formal professional development opportunity for regional staff to perform field or laboratory research in their discipline Sample RRPP Projects Region 6 Mobilization and Fate and Transport of Minerals in Aquifer Storage and Recovery Systems Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) technology is used in Texas and New Mexico to assist with water quantity issues. Little information is currently available about the effects of aquifer storage 011 mineral mobilization and the role of water conditioning on the fate and transport of contaminants in treated wastewater effluent. RRPP Process Each year regional offices, in collaboration with ORD, solicit RRPP candidates to work with an ORD mentor at an ORD laboratory or center. The Regional Science Liaisons facilitate early communication between regional office scientists and ORD scientists, ensure the projects are within the scope of ORD's mission, and secure regional and ORD management support for the nominated candidates and their projects. Applications must include a description of the proposed project, products, the project's importance to the regional office, a work plan, and measurements of success. Regional Science Liaisons Contact Information 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 Continued on page 2. April 2013 ------- Region 6 Mobilization and Fate and Transport of Minerals in Aquifer Storage and Recovery Systems, continued from page 1. Angela Restivo from Region 6 worked with Jeff Yang at ORD's National Risk Management Research Laboratory to develop a better understanding of the utility of ASR as a national water storage option, particularly in areas experiencing water quantity issues. Soil column tests were used to assess the effect of water conditioning on metal mobilization in ASR systems. Fate and transport of arsenic were compared in one column simulating natural groundwater flow and one simulating ASR using reclaimed and secondary wastewater treatment effluent after chlorination. Concurrent bench- scale studies used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to quantify the dissolution of pyritc and subsequent mobilization of arsenic in reclaimed water. The information gathered from this project is available to the Office of Water, as well as state and local water utilities that are considering ASR technology. Experimental results have cost- reduction implications in areas where mineral mobilization could prevent the use of ASR technology due to levels in excess of the Maximum Contaminant Levels. Region 10 Aquatic Toxicology and Endocrine Disruptors, Technology Transfer The environmental impact of endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) is of great interest to regulators, public health officials, and many other stakeholders. Many chemicals have the potential for endocrine disruption. Chemicals regulated individually may act synergistic ally and lead to impacts greater than the sum of those from the individual chemical constituents. To better understand the impact of EDCs, this project aimed to transfer real- time, quantitative PCR (qPCR) technology from ORD's National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL) to the EPA Region 10 Laboratory. This newly developed qPCR technique uses both fathead and sheepshead minnows to detect EDC exposure in fresh and marine waters, respectively. This project gave Region 10 scientists Stephanie Harris and Stephanie Bailey the opportunity to train with Dr. David Lattier of NERL and learn how to perform qPCR technology. During this one-week training, the scientists learned to culture and raise fathead minnows and expose them to potentially impacted water; sacrifice and dissect the minnows; extract and purify RNA; and use qPCR to detect expression of a gene marker indicative of EDC exposure. This project will enable Region 10 to evaluate surface waters for biologically active levels of EDCs. It will allow a comparison of the efficiency of removal techniques for estrogenic compounds through joint efforts with the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits unit and wastewater treatment plant operators. Finally, Region 10 is collaborating with Regions 5 and 8 and ORD to develop a standardized biological method for measuring the estrogenicity of effluents that will be applicable nationwide. For more information on the Regional Research Partnership Program, please visit: http://www.epa.gov/osp/regions/rrpp.htm. 2 ------- |