science in ACTION INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE REGIONAL APPLIED RESEARCH EFFORT PROGRAM The Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) is an Office of Research and Development (ORD) program administered by the Office of Science Policy. RARE provides opportunity for ORD and regional staff to collaborate on research that addresses near-term priorities for regions, states, tribes, and local communities. RARE projects can address a wide range of environmental issues, from human health concerns to ecological effects of pollutants. The Regional Science Liaisons (RSLs) coordinate RARE activities and ensure that research results are effectively communicated and applied within the regions. Goals of the Regional Applied Research Effort Program • Provide near-term research (1-2 years) to address high- priority, regional, state and tribal applied science needs • Foster collaboration between EPA's regional offices and the ORD laboratories and centers • Build a regional/ORD network for future scientific interaction • Provide opportunities for ORD scientists to apply their expertise to regional, state, tribal and local issues and explore new research challenges RARE Process ORD conducts an annual solicitation for RARE projects that support science priorities in the regions and ORD. Proposals must be developed in partnership with ORD scientists. The RSL in each region coordinates the solicitation process and works with ORD to ensure projects align with ORD programs. For information about the next RARE solicitation, contact the RSL in your region. RARE Project Examples Developing a Screening Tool for Urban Hazardous Waste Sites ORD, Region 4, and state officials recently completed a collaborative sampling effort in five cities across Region 4 (Louisville, KY; Lexington, KY; Memphis, TN; Raleigh, NC; and Winston- Salem, NC). Soil sample data will be assembled into a robust urban background database that will be used as a screening tool by states and EPA to make quicker and more cost-effective cleanup decisions at urban hazardous waste sites, ultimately improving public health protection. Based on the success of this project, ORD and Region 4 supported additional sampling efforts in Gainesville, FL, and Chattanooga, TN, that will contribute to the urban background database tool. Partnering to Reduce Nitrate Levels in Drinking Water Thousands of homes in Oregon's Southern Willamette Valley are impacted by high levels of nitrate in their drinking water due to agricultural practices that deposit nitrogen into the groundwater. ORD, Region 10 scientists, the Oregon Departments of Environmental Quality and Agriculture partnered with local stakeholders to examine the impact of current crops and nutrient management practices on nitrate leaching. The team measured site-specific nitrogen contributions and shared this information directly with Southern Willamette Valley farmers. This partnership helped local stakeholders to adopt new best management practices that will maximize their crop yield while also reducing nitrogen contributions to leached nitrate. Regional Applied Research Effort Contact Information Regional Science Program Chief Maggie LaVay, 202-564-5264 lavav.maggie@epa. gov RARE Program Coordinator Valerie Blank, 202-564-1720 blank. valerie@epa. gov Regional Science Liaisons Region 1 - Boston, MA Robert Hillger, 617-918-1071 hillger.robert@epa. gov Region 2 - New York, NY Marie O'Shea, 212-637-3585 oshea. marie Vv.cpa. gov Region 3 - Philadelphia, PA Regina Poeske (Acting), 215-814-2725 poeske.regina@epa. gov Region 4 - Atlanta, GA Dawn Taylor, 404-562-8575 tavlor.dawn@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 Amy Shields, 913-551-7396 shields.amy Vv.cpa. gov Region 8 - Denver, CO Alfred Basile, 303-312-6551 basile.alfred@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 about the RARE Program, visit: https://intranet.ord.epa.gov/regional- science/regional-applied-research- effort-rare 1 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Research and Development March 2018 ------- |