FY2008-09 ORD EJ Action Plan

The mission of the Office of Research and Development (ORD) is to conduct leading-edge research and foster the sound use of science and
technology to fulfill EPA's mission. This mission commits ORD to conduct its research in a way that will have a direct and meaningful impact on
EPA's decisions and programs. ORD provides EPA, and the at-large public, with scientific and technical information to make informed decisions
about risks to human health and the environment. ORD provides much of the scientific foundation for EPA's regulatory programs and decisions by
assessing the state of the environment, identifying new issues of potential concern, and providing guidance and tools to customers and stakeholders.

The FY2008-09 EJ Action Plan is representative of the ORD activities that meet the Agency's EJ objectives. ORD recognizes the vital role of
science in supporting the protection of public health. Sound science is at the core of understanding and adequately addressing the needs of
disproportionately affected communities by helping communities of concern, and all communities, make informed decisions about their health and
well-being. ORD brings environmental justice concerns to bear, either directly or indirectly, through its research, expert advice, and leadership in the
development of Agency science policies. Through coordinated efforts with the Agency's Program and Regional offices, ORD provides scientific
information and expertise in support of the Agency EJ activities.

ORD is committed to strengthening its EJ program by broadening the lines of communication, both internally and with our external stakeholders and
environmental partners. By incorporating an EJ component into our research programs and initiatives, we seek to more effectively address these
challenging issues. ORD has initiated a multi-year planning effort to plan the direction of our research program in selected topic areas over five or
more years. This approach promotes ORD's focus on the highest priority issues and provides coordination for achieving our research goals. The
purpose of the MYPs is to provide a framework that integrates research across ORD's laboratories and centers and Government Performance and
Results Act (GPRA) goals in support of the Agency's mission to protect human health and the environment. The MYPs identify long-term goals and
present annual performance goals (APGs) and associated annual performance measures (APMs) for a planning window of approximately 5-10 years.
By helping to identify the impact of potential annual planning decisions, MYPs aid in the evaluation of research options. The MYPs also foster the
integration of strategic risk-based environmental protection and anticipation of future environmental issues by communicating our research approach
and timing for responding to environmental issues. The MYPs are intended to be living documents and are updated as needed to reflect the current
state of the science, resource availability, and Agency priorities.

ORD has developed MYPs in a number of program areas to describe the research ORD proposes to accomplish over the next several years. The MYP
is intended to provide a vision of the research program and the programmatic rationale for its intended directions. In addition, the MYP provides an
up-to-date, structured listing and description of the significant expected outputs from its research, which serves to communicate across ORD and with
stakeholders, clients, and reviewers. Multi-year planning permits ORD to consider the strategic directions of the EPA and how research can evolve to
best meet the EPA's mission of protecting public health and the environment.

1

-------
The MYPs include two major components: (1) a narrative description of the plan, and (2) a matrix of goals and measures. The narrative provides an
introduction and background to the topic of the plan, describes the long-term goals, provides the logic/thinking used to array performance goals to
achieve long-term goals, and describes the integration between goals and organizations. The matrix is used to indicate annual goals and measures
needed to meet the long-term goals identified in the plan. These goals and measures are arrayed across time (i.e., fiscal years) and laboratories/centers
and are based on total annual resource levels for the MYP topic area that will not exceed the resource level proposed in the most recent President's
Budget. The following narrative is representative of those efforts. For a fuller, more detailed description of ORD's programs, see our multi-year
research plans (MYP) at http://www.epa.gov/osp/myp.htm. We have updated this Action Plan to be reflective of our most current programs.

ORD is currently engaged in a myriad of activities with particular relevance to environmental justice communities. Two of our more current
activities are detailed in the following paragraphs. These programs are representative of the types of activities in which ORD is currently involved.

Project Name: Environmental Risk and Impact in Communities of Color and Economically Disadvantaged Communities

One Sentence Summary: This project directly impacts the communities by providing community-specific exposure data for environmental
pollutants of concern and develops an Environmental Science program that will train future leaders and experts in community exposure research.

Description of Issue: In many past studies in environmental justice (EJ) communities, scientists have often needed to use surrogate measures of
exposure because of the lack of monitoring data on actual exposures. The environmental issues examined in this project included exposures to
waterborne contaminants in small local streams and air quality concerns in an area where a number of manufacturing facilities were concentrated.

Description of Communities Involved: Two communities were selected for study under this project. The studies were conducted in Durham and
Moncure, NC.

Organizations Involved: In 2001, North Carolina Central University (NCCU) received Congressional funding for a research and training initiative.
Date/Time Span of Project: The project was conducted over the period of 2001 to 2007.

Action Taken: The research infrastructure of the North Carolina Central University (NCCU) Environmental Sciences Program, including the
laboratory required to support work in the community exposure studies, was developed during the project. An Environmental Sciences and
Technology Seminar Series was also developed for training researchers and students. In support of the work under the EPA cooperative agreement,
NCCU hired environmental faculty and support staff, developed environmental studies coursework, acquired required state-of-the-art scientific
instrumentation, developed sampling and analytical methods for the contaminants to be measured including metals and selected organic compounds,
and developed the study designs and quality assurance project plans for the exposure studies.

For the Durham community exposure study, site screening was performed in local streams where children might play, involving collection and
analysis of sediment and water samples for a number of different classes of chemicals. Results of the screening measurements were provided to local

2

-------
community groups who participated in the community-based participatory research study. Results were also presented at scientific conferences and
published.

The study in Moncure, NC, involved screening level air quality measurements in the winter and summer of 2007. Results from the screening
measurements were compared with regulatory standard values, TRI data, and results from previous modeling studies. Results of the screening
measurements were shared with the local community groups interested in this community-based participatory research study. Results were also
presented at scientific conferences and published.

Environmental and Public Health Results: In addition to establishing an analytical laboratory, the NCCU infrastructure efforts also resulted in
two new courses in Environmental Sciences and work began toward an accreditation with the National Environmental Health Sciences and
Protection Accreditation Council.

In central Durham, housing and commercial properties are intermingled creating a concern for increased pollution and poor water quality in area
creeks and streams. To determine if current or past commercial practices impacted creeks, a screening study was performed in which
organochlorines (pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals were quantified in water and
sediment samples collected during the summer of 2007 from nine creeks located in the study area. Water quality measurements and contaminant
concentrations were compared to regulatory values. Based on the limited number of screening measurements that could be performed during this
study contaminant concentrations were not above regulatory levels. The results have been shared with members of community organizations at
community functions.

Data from the screening air quality study in Moncure did not indicate elevated air concentrations of criteria air pollutants as compared to the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards. Comparisons of other pollutants measured in air samples were compared to other available published data. The
results have been shared with members of community organizations and local action groups concerned with local air quality.

Project Name: Southern Center on Environmentally Driven Disparities in Birth Outcomes

One Sentence Summary: The central mission of the Southern Center on Environmentally-Driven Disparities in Birth Outcomes is to determine how
environmental, social, and host factors jointly contribute to health disparities in birth outcomes.

Description of Issue: Low birthweight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and fetal growth restriction (FGR) all exhibit documented disparities across
subpopulations. Survivors of LBW and PTB are at significant risk for both, short-term neonatal morbidity, as well as long-term disabilities, including
respiratory distress syndrome, variable heart rate, cerebral ventriculomegaly, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, blindness, deafness, learning
disabilities, behavioral disabilities, and motor impairment. Of similar importance is the impact of lower birth weight on increased risk of diabetes,

3

-------
obesity, cardiovascular disease and other health problems in adulthood. Thus, understanding, and eventually intervening, to prevent these adverse
birth outcomes is of critical importance to the overall health of the nation.

Description of Communities Involved: The Southern Center on Environmentally-Driven Disparities in Birth Outcomes will achieve the central
mission and specific goals through the organization of an Administrative Core; three Research Projects (Research Project A: Mapping Disparities in
Birth Outcomes; Research Project B: Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby: Studying Racial Disparities in Birth Outcomes; and Research Project C:
Perinatal Environmental Exposure Disparity and Neonatal Respiratory Health); one Facility Core (Geographic Information Systems and Statistical
Analysis Core); and a Community Outreach and Translation Core. Synergies and complementarities exist across all research projects and cores.
Overlap exists between each pair of research projects, as well as among all three research projects. The Geographic Information Systems and
Statistical Analysis and Administrative Cores support all three research projects, and the Community Outreach and Translation Core serves as a bi-
directional bridge between the center and all its component parts and the community.

The Geographic Information Systems and Statistical Analysis Core: (1) provides support for the development of environmental and social data layers
needed to implement the various data analyses required for the research projects and the Community Outreach and Translation Core; (2) provides
statistical analysis, advice, and consulting on the broad range of statistical issues that arise in conjunction with the research projects, with a particular
emphasis on data reduction methods and modeling spatial and spatio-temporal data within a Bayesian framework; and (3) provides analysis for the
unique needs of genetic data arising from the clinical and animal studies of the center. This support core facilitates the development of innovative
quantitative methodology for children's environmental health research associated with the projects and cores.

The Community Outreach and Translation Core: (1) conducts environmental health outreach and education directed at low income and minority
women and their children; (2) enhances the capacity of disadvantaged communities to understand threats posed by environmental contaminants; and
(3) provides a bridge between campus research, communities, and policy makers. The Community Outreach and Translation Core's activities utilize
center expertise to promote the development of preventive outreach and education with the goal of enhancing the lives of those most vulnerable in
our communities.

Organizations Involved: Several researchers at Duke University will be conducting the research.

Date/Time Span of Project: The project period runs from May 2007- September 2011.

Actions Taken: Research Project A, "Mapping Disparities in Birth Outcomes" uses a geographically-based nested study design and high-end
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications in combination with Bayesian spatial hierarchical modeling and other advanced spatial statistical
approaches to: (1) spatially link detailed birth record, fetal death certificate, socioeconomic, environmental exposure, tax assessor, community-based,
and clinical obstetric data at highly resolved scales for the State of North Carolina from 1990-2003; (2) refine the conception of fetal growth
restriction by developing a joint distribution for birthwcight and gestation using bivariate modeling for live births and fetal deaths — both separately
and jointly; and (3) determine whether and to what extent differential exposures to both socioeconomic and environmental stressors help explain
health disparities in fetal growth restriction among different ethnic and social groups.

4

-------
Research Project B, "Healthy Pregnancy, Healthy Baby: Studying Racial Disparities in Birth Outcomes" is a cohort study of pregnant women in
Durham, NC designed to: (1) correlate birthweight, gestational age, and birthweight x gestational age with individual-level measures of
environmental, social, and host factors; (2) partner with local community groups to inventory neighborhood quality and the built environment in
order to develop community-level measures of environmental and social factors; (3) create a comprehensive data architecture, spatially resolved at
the tax parcel level, of environmental, social, and host factors affecting pregnant women by linking data from the cohort study and neighborhood
assessments with additional environmental and socioeconomic data; and (4) determine to what extent differential exposures explain health disparities
by applying innovative spatial and genetic statistical methods.

Research Project C, "Perinatal Environmental Exposure Disparity and Neonatal Respiratory Health" uses an animal model to: (1) determine whether
maternal exposure to airborne particulates (PM) and/or ozone restricts fetal growth and/or postnatal growth, and impairs lung development/function
in newborn mice; (2) determine whether PM and/or ozone exposure 'reprograms' maternal inflammatory responses; (3) determine whether postnatal
ozone exposure further impairs postnatal somatic and lung development/function following maternal PM and/or ozone exposures; and (4) determine
whether genetic or developmental susceptibility to airway hyperreactivity exacerbates maternal and/or postnatal exposure effects on postnatal
somatic and lung development/function.

Environmental and Public Health Results: The Southern Center on Environmentally-Driven Disparities in Birth Outcomes will produce important
new knowledge to disentangle the complex etiology of birth outcomes. This new knowledge will point the way to effective interventions to achieve
better pregnancy outcomes among all population groups.

The attached matrix is organized following the EJ Action Plan format from the EPA Office of Environmental Justice (OEJ) and focuses on the
Agency's eight EJ priorities. The matrix uses OEJ's definitions for the following terms to maintain consistency with other EJ Action Plans:

Goal - The five goals identified in the EPA Strategic Plan 2006-2011 and the Cross Goal Strategies.

Objectives - Any of the 8 national environmental justice priorities or other priorities identified by a Headquarters Program Office or Region
to accomplish a goal.

Activity - Action undertaken in order to address an Objective
Output - What was accomplished under each Activity
Outcome - Description of the impacts resulting from an Activity

The eight Agency EJ priorities are:

Goal 1: Clean Air and Global Climate Change

Objective 1: Reduction in number of asthma attacks
Objective 2: Reduce exposure to air toxics
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water

Objective 1: Safe fish/shellfish

5

-------
Objective 2: Clean and safe drinking water
Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems

Objective 1: Reducing elevated blood lead levels

Objective 2: Collaborative problem-solving to address environmental justice issues
Objective 3: Revitalizating of brownfields and contaminated sites
Goal 5: Compliance and Environmental Stewardship

Objective: Ensuring compliance
Goal 6: Cross Cutting Strategies

Objective: Internal Capacity Building (e.g., training, internal program management)

The matrix illustrates ORD's approach to integrating environmental justice priorities within the context of our MYPs. The "Activities" column lists
MYPs that address the listed EJ priority Goal/Objective and the long-term goals of the MYP. All MYPs that provides relevant research to the EJ
Goal/Objective are included in the matrix, even if that MYP is not formally under that Goal number in the Agency Strategic Plan structure. The
MYP title and long-term goals are repeated each time the MYP is listed to aid readers who are only interested in a particular area. The volume of
relevant research products and results from the MYPs is too extensive to detail in this plan. A small number of the expected outputs from each
MYP are included in the matrix for illustrative purposes, but are not inclusive of the full breadth of ORD's work. Please refer to the MYPs for
further details regarding ORD's research program.

6

-------
Goal 1: Clean Air and Global Climate Change

Clean Air Research Multi-Year Plan (http://www.epa.gov/ord/npd/pdfs/Air-MYP-narrative-final.pdf)

Air pollution continues to have adverse impacts on the human and environmental health of the United States, despite clear evidence that overall
air quality has improved. The EPA Strategic Plan 2006-2011 (Strategic Plan) identifies Clean Air and Global Climate Change (Goal 1) as a
primary goal for environmental protection with its first objective being Healthier Outdoor Air, and its second objective, Healthier Indoor Air.
EPA's Strategic Plan Goal 1 also establishes an objective to provide and apply sound science to support the goal of clean air by conducting
leading-edge research to support regulatory decisionmaking. This research provides the scientific foundation to develop regulations and
advanced tools and models to implement air quality standards and controls by the States, EPA Regions, and tribes. At the same time, the
research program strives to develop better ways to track progress in achieving health and environmental improvements under this goal. The
Clean Air Research program targets this first objective by providing the science needed to review, attain, and maintain ambient air quality
standards required to protect public health. This research, together with the rest of the Clean Air Research program, has the added benefit of
addressing risk reduction from a number of toxic air pollutants, and increases in the number of Americans experiencing healthier indoor air in
homes, schools, and office buildings. Although the Clean Air Research program considers within its overall goal the reduction of air pollution
impacts on ecosystems and visibility, research specific to the protection of public health remains the top priority of ORD's clients.

This MYP supports the goal of Clean Air by defining the research needed to answer key questions regarding the development and
implementation of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)-primarily targeting PM and ozone as high-risk pollutants. In addition, it
also supports, although secondarily, the goals of managing hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). This MYP includes a major shift in the Clean Air
Research program by combining several program areas that previously had targeted air pollutants individually (e.g., PM, ozone, HAPs).
Although it is essential to provide support for the various NAAQS pollutants that continue to be regulated individually, a multipollutant
research program better reflects the complexity of real-world air pollution problems and parallels the evolving scientific and regulatory context.
The Clean Air Research program uses the science-based framework, developed by the National Academy of Sciences' (NAS's) National
Research Council (NRC) in 1998 and modified by the Air Quality Research Subcommittee (AQRS) of the Committee on Environment and
Natural Resources (CENR) in 2007, to identify those pollutants and sources responsible for the greatest health risk. Critical components of this
research are used to develop an understanding of how pollutants from sources impact ambient concentrations, how these concentrations relate
to exposures, and, in turn, how exposures relate to health outcomes. This information provides the fundamental linkages for evaluating health
impacts, ascertaining which sources are most egregious in terms of health risk, and in developing effective mitigation strategies.

7

-------
Activities/ Resources/
/Partners

Output

A

Short-term

(awareness)

pplicable Outcome Measi

Intermediate

(behavior)

ire

Long-term

(condition)

Point of Contact

-Protect public health through
the development and
attainment of appropriate,
protective air quality
regulations

-Reduce emissions and
exposures to 188 specified
HAPs

-Conduct Near-road/traffic
exposure research

-Support Air Quality
Management Decisions

-Assess health and
enviromnental improvements
attributable to EPA actions

-Study infiltration of outdoor
air with its diverse pollutants
into the indoor enviromnent

-Conduct Ecological Research

-Conduct Global Climate
Research.

-Conduct research to support
the Regions, States, and
Tribes

-Development of the
NAAQS and other air
quality regulations

-Implementation of air
pollution regulations

-Leverage ORD research
activities

-Develop a multi-pollutant
approach to research

-Identify specific source-to-
health linkages, using
"near-roadway" as the
prototype

-Assess health and
enviromnental
improvements due to past
regulatory actions

-Evaluate exposure to
different PM size fractions
and determine the role of
those fractions in particle-
associated health effects

-Evaluate exposure to PM
components and the role of
those components in
particle-associated health
effects

-Elucidate the
susceptibility and
vulnerability factors that
increase risk of adverse
health outcomes associated
with air pollutants

-Provide exposure-based
evidence for systemic
effects of air pollutants,
other than those on the
cardiopulmonary system

-Provide assessment of
long-term exposures to
fine particulate matter and
gaseous co-pollutants

-Evaluate the importance
of key biologic pathways
in explaining how air
pollutants cause adverse
health outcomes

-Characterize the ambient
concentration and
exposure-dose-response
relationship for PM and
other priority air pollutants

LTGl-In accordance with
EPA's legislated mandate
for periodic NAAQS
assessments and assessment
of HAP risks, advances in
the air pollution sciences
will reduce uncertainty in
standard setting and air
quality management
decisions.

LTG2-Air pollution
research will reduce
uncertainties in linking
health and enviromnental
outcomes to air pollution
sources to support effective
air quality management
strategies

Name: Dan Costa
Org: ORD
Tel: (919) 541-2532
E-mail:

costa.dan@eoa.sov

Name: Jason Edwards
Org: ORD/OSP
Tel: (202) 564-5568
Email:

cdwa rds. i a so n a c oa. a
ov

8

-------
Goal 2: Clean and Safe Water

Drinking Water Research Plan

The Drinking Water Research Program in ORD supports the Agency's responsibilities to apply sound science for regulatory decisions under the
Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). ORD's research is used to characterize and manage public health risks associated with exposure to
waterborne contaminants. The research is also used to provide input for EPA's review, revision, development, and implementation of SDWA
rules.

The multi-year plan for drinking water research addresses the safety, reliability, and sustainability of public drinking water systems. Research
is focused on protecting supplies of drinking water sources; investigating treatment strategies for reducing health risks from waterborne
pathogens and chemical contaminants; preventing water quality deterioration in drinking water distribution and storage systems; and
developing tools to assess potential health benefits of regulations. The Drinking Water Research Multi-Year Plan is currently under revision.

The Water Quality Research Program in ORD provides the research to protect human health and the environment in support of the Clean Water
Act. The research program is addressing the need for new or improved methods, approaches, and tools to assess, restore and protect aquatic
systems and provide measurable improvement in water quality.

The multi-year plan for water quality research defines the research needed to protect and restore our nation's drinking water sources. Research
is focused on water quality management, watershed management and source control management. The Water Quality Multi-Year Plan is
currently under revision.

Goal 4: Healthy Communities and Ecosystems

Human Health Risk Assessment Multi-Year Plan (http://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/cfm/recordisplav.cfm?deid=161757)

Human Health risk assessment research is a process by which information is analyzed to determine if an environmental hazard might cause
harm to exposed persons. It is the essential intermediary means by which primary data and published literature are compiled, analyzed and
summarized for application to decision-making in real-world situations. Risk assessment in the federal government is based on the tenets
outlined by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS 1983, 1994), namely hazard identification, dose-response assessment, exposure
assessment, and risk characterization, as a foundation for subsequent risk management decisions. This science-based framework for decision-
making is central to the U.S. EPA's implementation of its statutory responsibilities and to its mission to protect human health and the
environment. The Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA) MYP serves as a primary EPA mechanism to implement this process, linking
laboratory and field science with the use of this information by EPA Programs, Regions and the broader community. To achieve this goal, the
HHRA program directs efforts toward by: 1) providing qualitative and quantitative health hazard assessments of priority environmental

9

-------
contaminants for incorporation in applied risk assessments (these assessments are exemplified by the Integrated Risk Information System
(IRIS) Toxicological Reviews and Summaries, reference doses (RfDs), reference concentrations (RfCs), oral cancer slope factors (CSF) and
cancer inhalation unit risks and Provisional Peer Reviewed Toxicity Values (PPRTVs)); 2) preparing Integrated Science Assessments (ISAs;
formerly Air Quality Criteria Documents (AQCD)) for criteria air pollutants as a mandated component of EPA's review of National Ambient
Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); 3) conducting environmental risk assessments of national importance, such as potential health impacts in the
aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and Rita, the attack on the World Trade Center, and the reassessment of the health risks posed by dioxin; 4)
developing models, methods and guidance to incorporate the latest scientific advances into EPA risk assessment practice, thereby maintaining
the scientific quality and objectivity of EPA assessments consistent with the state-of-the-science; and 5) identifying, evaluating and conveying
to the scientific community key uncertainties and research needed to improve health risk assessments through laboratory, field and methods
research.

The principal purposes of ORD's MYPs are planning and communication - communication among ORD laboratories and centers, and
communication between ORD and the EPA Programs, Regions, and broader science community. The risk assessment MYP differs from other
ORD MYPs in that it does not describe plans for conducting or funding primary research. Rather, the HHRA program draws on data and
research for developing primary methods generated under other ORD MYPs. Activities under the HHRA program also receive substantial
information from the published literature and other federal, private, and international organizations. This information is then analyzed and
prepared for use by EPA Programs and Regions to respond to their regulatory and decision-making needs in a timely manner.

10

-------
Activities

Output

Applicable Outcome Measure

Point of Contact





Short-term

(awareness)

Intermediate

(behavior)

Long-term

(condition)



-Model development and
application of the integrated
exposure and uptake
biokinetic model (IEUBK) for
lead and other metals

-Conduct independent reviews
of the scientific validity of
intentional dosing human
pesticide studies to assist the
Office of Pesticide Programs
in their re-registration
evaluation of the scientific and
ethical attributes of these
studies

-Improve the
quality and timeliness of
assessments; focus
development and
incorporation of scientific
advances into risk
assessment methods and
products

-Improve the aligmnent of
ORD laboratory and center
research and programs

-Increase technical support
to Program offices and
Regions.

Decisions on the type
and extent of external
peer review and
finalization
procedures are often
made late in the
assessment process as
the science unfolds
and areas of
controversy become
apparent. These late
decisions are not
amenable to advance
planning on a
chemical-specific
basis in the Agency
multi-year planning
process. Recognizing,
however, the
importance of these
individual, major
assessments, the
HHRA program has
sought to maximize
information on
individual substances
without compromising
its ability to define
ambitious, yet
realistic, future APG
targets.

Decisions on the type
and extent of external
peer review and
finalization
procedures are often
made late in the
assessment process as
the science unfolds
and areas of
controversy become
apparent. These late
decisions are not
amenable to advance
planning on a
chemical-specific
basis in the Agency
multi-year planning
process. Recognizing,
however, the
importance of these
individual, major
assessments, the
HHRA program has
sought to maximize
information on
individual substances
without compromising
its ability to define
ambitious, yet
realistic, future APG
targets.

LTGl-Agency, state, and local
risk assessors use the state-of-
the science health hazard
assessment information
provided on priority
substances in their decisions
and actions to protect human
health from risks posed by
enviromnental pollutants.

LTG2-EPA programs, states,
and other risk assessors use
the risk assessment models,
methods, and guidance
provided to enhance, through
the incorporation of
contemporary scientific
advances, the quality and
objectivity of their
assessments and decision-
making on enviromnental
health risks.

LTG3-Provide OAR with
information in its review of
the NAAQs to protect public
health and the enviromnent
with an adequate margin of
safety.

Name/Org: John
Vandenberg, ORD/NCEA
Tel: (919) 541-4527
E-mail:

vanderbers.iolin@eBa.sov

Name/Org: Jason Edwards,

ORD/OSP

Tel: (202) 564-5568

E-mail:

edwards.iason@eBa.sov

11

-------
Land Research Program Multi-Year Plan (http://www.epa.gov/ord/npd/pdfs/Land-MYP-Final-07-19F.pdf)

The Land Research Program (LRP) MYP puts forward ORD's strategy for planning and conducting research in response to the Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER) and Regional priorities for the LRP; authorizing legislation (e.g., Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act [SARA] 9660b; resource Conservation and Recovery Act [RCRA]); linkage to the EPA Strategic Plan, appropriate
research areas under the Land Preservation and Restoration Goal; Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) and EPA Science Advisory Board
(SAB) peer reviews; and the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and other resource documents. The LRP MYP is built upon two previous
reports, the Contaminated Sites MYP and the RCRA MYP. The ORD Executive Council and the EPA SAB, in their review of these two plans,
endorsed the combination of the plans and the development of an integrated research program. The LRP has two primary purposes: 1) to
provide improved scientific knowledge and develop and apply more cost-effective tools, models, and methods to inform decisions on land
restoration; and 2) to provide improved scientific knowledge and develop and apply more cost-effective tools, models, and methods to manage
material streams and inform land revitalization decisions.

Activities/ Resources/
/Partners

Output

A

Short-term

(awareness)

pplicable Outcome Measi

Intermediate

(behavior)

ire

Long-term

(condition)

Point of Contact

-Characterize and assess risks
posed by contaminated sites,
resource conservation, and
waste management activities

-Development/assessment of
waste remediation and
management alternatives

-Characterize and assess risks
posed by contaminated sites,
resource conservation, and
waste management activities

-Development/assessment of
waste remediation and
management alternatives

-Data, technical expertise
and knowledge, leading to
publications white papers,
assessments, user guides,
computer models, and
databasses

-Clients use ORD research
products to inform and
issue advice, guidance and
policies about clean-up,
corrective actions and
waste management
decisions

-Provide critical
assessment techniques and
advanced fate and
transport modeling
constructs for
bioaccumulative chemicals
for sites with extensive
contamination, high
remedial costs, or other
complex issues

-Develop tools and
approaches to evaluate

-Program Offices,

Regions, states and other
stake-holder groups use
the advice and guidance to
implement the policies that
are incorporated in ORD's
research products

- Improve the capability to
predict and

manage residuals after
dredging operations

-Evaluate innovative
approaches for
sediment remediation

-Develop site
characterization and
analytical tools for
contaminated ground water

LTG1- Develop research
products and services
needed for mitigation,
management, and long-term
stewardship of
contaminated sites

LTG2- Develop research
products and services
needed to manage

material streams, address
emerging material streams,
and conserve resources

Name/Org: Randy
Wentsel, ORD
Tel: (202) 564-3214
E-mail:

wentsel.randv(@,et>a. s
ov

Name/Org: Jason
Edwards, ORD/OSP
Tel: (202) 564-5568
E-mail:

cdwa rds. i a so n a c oa. a
ov

12

-------
Activities/ Resources/	Output	Applicable Outcome Measure	Point of Contact

/Partners

Short-term Intermediate Long-term

(awareness) (behavior) (condition)





transport of contaminants
from sediments

-Provide hybrid modeling
approaches using empirical
field data and
bioaccumulation models to
extrapolate BAFs and
BSAFs forPBTs across
ecosystems, species, and
time

-Provide monitoring,
measurement, and
benthic screening methods
and tools to characterize,

assess, and communicate
conditions.

sites

-Develop sampling,
analytical, modeling,
and management
approaches to support
vapor intrusion
assessments

-Complete fuel
composition studies and
enhance capabilities of the
Hydrocarbon Spill

Screening Model





Goal 6: Cross-Cutting Strategies:

(http://www.epa.gov/osp/ei.htm)

(http://www.eDa.gov/osD/tribes.htm)

ORD is engaged in a wide variety of activities designed to facilitate information sharing amongst our various labs, centers, and offices. ORD is
uniquely positioned within EPA in that the Office does not focus in one media area. Rather, ORD uses its personnel and other resources to
address EPA's science and research needs from a cross-media perspective. The activities list in the following section are representative of
some of the programs in which ORD is actively engaged.

13

-------
Activities	Output

Short
-term

(awar
eness
)

Applicable Outcome Measure

Intermediate	Long-term

(behavior)	(condition)

Point of Contact

14

-------
Activities

Output

RD EJ Coordinator will work
more closely with ORD's
National Program Directors
(NPD) in order to ensure EJ-
related priorities are
considered during earliest
stages of ORD strategic
planning.

-	ORD will continue to
support the NEJAC by
providing research products
and expert advice.

-ORD will continue to engage
NEJAC to ensure that research
products/plans address
identified priorities

-	ORD will Co-Chair the
National Community
Involvement Training
Conference, to be held in
Seattle, WA

-	Link current/future research
goals/priorities with EJ
priorities via stronger
communication with the
Agency's Program Offices.

-ORD will continue its efforts
to strengthen the lines of
communication between ORD
and the Program and Regional
Offices.

-Continue to sponsor
operation of the National
EPA-Tribal Science Council
(TSC).

Short
-term

(awar
eness
)

-ORD's internal capacity-building activities
are all designed to facilitate greater, and
more immediate, communication amongst
ORD's laboratories, research centers, and
offices (L/C/O). The ORD EJ Coordinator
leads the ORD Enviromnental Justice
Communication Network (ComNet). The
ComNet was formed for the purpose of
strengthening ORD's internal
communications, as they relate to
enviromnental justice. This group is
comprised of an EJ lead person in each of
ORD's L/C/O; and is charged with keeping
the ORD EJ Coordinator current and
informed, as to activities with particular EJ-
related relevance. The ComNet also
facilitates EJ-related training throughout
ORD, ensuring that all 2900+ ORD
employees understand the importance and
relevance of environmental justice to our
research and other products.

-Develop a better understanding of the
priority science issues of tribes from across
the nation and EPA's ability to address
these issues and consider them as part of its
formal planning process; reach consensus
on collaborative approaches for addressing
priority scientific issues

-Promote partnerships between tribal and
EPA scientists in the development and
application of sound science

-Facilitate coordination with other Agencies
and organizations to more effectively
respond to issues.

Applicable Outcome Measure	Point of Contact

Intermediate

(behavior)

Long-term

(condition)

-ORD employees will gain a
better understanding of the
principles of EJ, so that we
can do a better job of
integrating those principles
into our research and other
programs.

- Closer communication will
facilitate increased timeliness,
and better information-
sharing, to interested parties,
outside of ORD.

Name/Org: Jason Edwards,

ORD/OSP

Tel: (202) 564-5568

Email:

edwards.iason@epa.gov

Name/Org: Monica Rodia,

ORD/OSP

Tel: (202) 564-8322

Email:

rodia. monica@epa. gov

-The NCIC provides ORD,
and EPA staff, with the
opportunity to communicate,
directly, with stake-holders at
the federal, state and local
levels.

-The TSC seeks to increase
tribal involvement in EPA's
scientific activities - building
bridges between tribal and
Agency programs.

15

-------
16

-------