science in ACTION INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE 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 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 enviromnental decision making. Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) Program The RARE program provides a mechanism for ORD, the regions and other partners to collaborate on high-priority, near-term research needs of the regions, states and tribes. RARE research addresses a wide range of enviromnental issues, from human health concerns to ecological effects of various pollutants. The RSLs coordinate RARE activities and help communicate research results 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 facilitate the application process in their regions and help candidates establish connections with ORD. Regional/ORD Community of Science Networking (ROCS-Net) Program ROCS-Net is an ORD orientation and networking program for regional scientists. It provides an opportunity for regional staff who have limited familiarity with ORD to visit an EPA research facility and discuss collaborative research opportunities, regional priorities and cross-cutting issues with ORD scientists. The program includes overviews of ORD research programs, meetings with laboratory scientists, facility tours, research demonstrations and information sharing sessions between participants. 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. Superfund 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, enviromnental 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.maggie@epa.gov VALERIE BLANK Program Coordinator (202)564-1720 blank.valerie@epa.gov www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-ofiice- science-policv-osp U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development April 2018 ------- |