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 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 IUSGS Prepnmd i n ceopniflSion with itoc U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Collection of Pyrethroids in Water and Sediment Matrices: Development and Validation of a Standard Operating Procedure IPD — ** i L I ¦ ¦ pi Scientific Investigations Report 2009—5012 U.S. Sunrf Regional Science Liaison Contact Information Regional Science Program Chief Washington, DC Maggie LaVay. 202-564-5264 lavav.maggie@epa. gov Program Coordinator Washington, DC Valerie Blank, 202-564-1720 blank, vale rie@epa. gov Region 1-Boston, MA Robert Hillger, 617-918-1071 Mllgei.robeit@eDa.gov Region 2-New York, NY Marie O'Shea, 212-637-3585 oshca.marie// cpa. gov Region 3-Phiiadelphia, PA Ronald Landy, 410-305-2757 landv.ronald@epa. gov Region 4-Atlanta, GA TomBaugh, 404-562-8275 baugh.thomasl@epa.gov Region 5-Chicago, IL Carole Braverman, 312-353-7359 bravennan.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 tvler.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 For more information on the RSL Program, please visit: http://epa.aov/osp/reaions/ rslmap.htm 1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development Continued, next page January 2014 ------- 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/National Exposure Research Laboratory (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 . The SOP has 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. Keeping Beaches Safe—Region 5 Beaches are complex ecosystems where certain conditions can sometimes lead to hazardous concentrations of particular types of bacteria. Typically found in sewage, these bacteria can multiply in the water and pose health threats to swimmers. When bacteria levels reach dangerous conditions, swim advisories are issued and beaches are closed. Unfortunately, water sampling and analysis can take over 24 hours, meaning an existing contamination might go undetected until lab results are available. In response to efforts to study issues associated with pathogens and human health, EPA scientists in Region 5 and NRMRL. have developed a faster laboratory method to test water for bacterial indicators. This method is called quantitative polymerase chain reactions (qPCR), which can cut the lab time needed down to only a few hours. State and local officials in the Great Lakes region have begun to use qPCR in tandem with Virtual Beach, a software program developed by ORD to create models that can predict contamination in real-time or even before the contamination occurs. The ultimate goal is to use the Virtual Beach model to predict bacteria exceedances, and then confirm those results with qPCR, resulting in cost savings and accurate and timely beach advisories. Developing Monitoring Tools for Headwater Intermittent Streams - Regions 1, 2, 3,4, 5,8, 9 & 10 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 A headwater stream drains an agricultural small mplicate the USe area watershed. Photo by Eric Vance, USEPA. _ ... 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 abundant running waters in the nation. Through this project, scientists at ORD/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 perennial 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" For more information about the Regional Methods Program, please visit: http://epa.gov/osp/regions/ rni. lit in 2 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development January 2014 ------- |