Interagency Steering Committee

On Multimedia Environmental Modeling

(ISCMEM)

Memorandum of Understanding

Among

THE UNITED STATES NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION

OFFICE OF NUCLEAR REGULATORY RESEARCH

THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS

ENGINEER RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

OFFICE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT

THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION

GEOSCIENCES DIRECTORATE
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I. Purpose

a. The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is to continue and strengthen a 

framework for facilitating cooperation and coordination among the United States Nuclear 

Regulatory Commission (NRC), Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research (RES); the United States 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD); the 

United States Department of Defense, Army Corps of Engineers (COE), Engineer Research and 

Development Center (ERDC); the United States Department of Energy (DOE), Office of 

Environmental Management (EM); the United States Department of the Interior (DOI), United 

States Geological Survey (USGS); the National Science Foundation (NSF), Geosciences 

Directorate (collectively, the “cooperating Federal agencies”) in research and development 

(R&D) of multimedia environmental models, software and related databases, including 

development, enhancements, applications and assessments of site-specific, generic, and processoriented multimedia environmental models as they pertain to human and environmental health 

risk assessment. This MOU does not include agency work directly in support of licensing 

activities. 

b. This MOU is intended to provide a mechanism for the cooperating Federal Agencies to pursue 

a common technology in multimedia environmental modeling with a shared scientific basis.

c. This MOU is intended to reduce redundancies and improve the common technology through 

exchange and comparisons of multimedia environmental models, software and related databases. 

By entering into this MOU, the cooperating Federal Agencies seek mutual benefit from their 

respective R&D programs related to multimedia environmental model development and 

enhancement activities, and seek to encourage and ensure effective exchange of information 

between their technical staff and contractors. The R&D programs referred to in this MOU

include development and field applications of a wide variety of software modules, data 

processing tools, and uncertainty assessment approaches for understanding and predicting 

contaminant transport processes including the impact of chemical and non-chemical stressors on 

human and ecological health.

d. This MOU focuses on exchanging information related to multimedia environmental modeling 

tools and supporting scientific information for environmental risk assessments, joint efforts to 

improve the scientific basis for implementing multimedia environmental models, protocols for 

establishing linkages between disparate databases and models, review and endorsement of multiagency projects that advance the science of multimedia environmental modeling, and 

development and use of a common model-data framework.

e. This MOU is intended to facilitate the establishment of working partnerships among the 

cooperating Federal Agencies' technical staff and designated contractors in order to enhance 

productivity and mutual benefit through collaboration on mutually-defined research studies such 

as the development of a common model-data framework.

f. A proposal has been made to change the name of the Interagency Steering Committee on 

Multimedia Environmental Models (acronym: ISCMEM) to the Integrated Environmental 

Modeling and Monitoring Steering Committee, to be referred to as the IEMM Steering 
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Committee. Should the proposal be adopted at the next ISCMEM Annual Meeting, the present 

MOU will apply for all matters to the newly named Steering Committee.

II. Authorities

Nothing in this MOU will be construed to alter the statutory authorities and/or limitations of the 

cooperating Federal Agencies. The authorities for NRC to enter into this MOU are Section 205 

of the Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. § 5845) and the Economy Act of 1932 as 

amended (31 U.S.C. § 1535). The authorities for DOE to enter into this MOU are sections 

646(a), 102(11) and 102(13) of the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 

§§ 7256(a), 7112(11), and (13), respectively). The authority for the COE-ERDC to enter into the 

MOU is DoD Instruction 4000.19 “Interservice and Intragovernmental Support.” The legal 

authorities for the USGS to enter into this MOU are the Organic Act of March 3,1879, as 

amended (43 U.S.C. § 31 et seq.) and the authority which allows the USGS to prosecute projects 

in cooperation with other Federal, State or private agencies (43 U.S.C. § 36). The legal authority 

for the NSF to enter into the MOU is the National Science Foundation Act (42 U.S.C. § 1861 et 

seq), and Pub. L. No. 88-426 as amended and codified. The authorities for the EPA to enter into 

this MOU are Section 103(b)(2) of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7403(b)(2)), Section 

104(b)(2) of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1254(b)(2)), Section 20 of the Federal 

Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. § 136), Section 10 of the Toxic Substances 

Control Act (15 U.S.C. § 2709), and Section 8001 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery 

Act (42 U.S.C. § 6981). The legal authority for the other cooperating Federal Agencies to enter 

into this MOU is also the Economy Act of 1932, as amended (31 U.S.C. § 1535). This MOU 

does not supersede or void existing memoranda of understanding or other agreements among the 

cooperating Federal Agencies.

III. Responsibilities

The cooperating Federal Agencies agree to:

a. Designate staff-level points of contact for the cooperating Federal Agencies. For the NRC, the 

staff-level point of contact will be at NRC Headquarters, within the Office of Nuclear Regulatory 

Research. For EPA, the staff-level point of contact will be within the Office of Research and 

Development. For COE, the staff-level point of contact will be from within the Environmental 

Processes and Engineering Division, Environmental Laboratory. For DOE, the staff-level points

of contact will be with the Office of Environmental Management. For USGS, the staff-level 

point of contact will be within the Water Mission's National Research Program. For NSF the 

staff-level point of contact will be within the Engineering Directorate. The designated points of 

contact will promote technical coordination, identify joint R&D programs of mutual interest for 

the Federal Agencies and funding for such programs, and will assist in arranging for 

supplemental interagency agreements for R&D projects on multimedia environmental models, 

software and related databases at appropriate sites and laboratories.

The designated points of contact also intend to facilitate the coordination and exchange of R&D 

data and technical information related to environmental risk assessment modeling among the 
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cooperating Federal Agencies. They intend to represent their individual agency's R&D programs 

and facilities conducting R&D as it pertains to modeling of human and ecological health 

impacts.

The designated points of contact are to be responsible only for research activities and technical 

information exchanges identified in this MOU and not those directly in support of licensing 

activities.

The cooperating Federal Agencies further agree that the designated points of contact are to serve 

as members of ISCMEM. Alternates may be designated by the Federal Agencies to represent 

specific technical interests. The purpose of this committee is to coordinate joint research efforts 

under this MOU. The committee is to meet at least quarterly or more frequently as determined by 

the Steering Committee either via teleconference call or at a designated meeting place. At least 

one of these quarterly meetings is to be a public meeting at a designated meeting place as 

determined by the Steering Committee members. Participation in technical working groups 

established by the Steering Committee, and at technical meetings called by the Steering 

Committee, will be determined by the cooperating Federal Agencies. Organizational details 

regarding the steering committee, agency representatives and technical working groups are 

outlined below.

b. Participate in selected R&D programs of the other cooperating Federal Agencies by providing 

resources, information and technical expertise for review (outside of the conventional research 

peer review process) or consultation in areas of multimedia environmental model development, 

enhancements, applications, and assessments subject to program priorities and budget 

constraints. 

c. Support the exchange of technical information through databases, information systems, 

clearinghouses, conferences, workshops, activities for developing a common model-data 

framework, collaboration on scientific projects supporting the modeling framework, and other 

means pertaining to multimedia model development, enhancements and applications focusing on 

environmental risk assessments, subject to program priorities and budget constraints.

d. Support approved research at selected sites by providing services, facilities, utilities and other 

supporting resources as appropriate and subject to program priorities and budget constraints. 

Details of such support will be more specifically identified in supplemental interagency 

agreements (IA's) prepared in accordance with applicable requirements, and subject to the 

availability of funds. Nothing in this MOU, in and of itself, obligates Federal Agencies to expend 

appropriations or to enter into any contract, assistance agreement, interagency agreement, or 

incur other financial obligations.

e. Support competitive research solicitations jointly funded by member organizations, depending 

on interest and availability of funds. Priority research topics are to be collaboratively selected by 

participating Agencies. Eligible entities may include institutions of higher learning, not-for-profit 

institutions, and tribal, local, state and Federal governments. All proposals are to undergo 

external peer review and final selections are to be made by each Agency to reflect relevancy to 

its respective mission. 
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f. Develop specific IA's among the cooperating Federal Agencies pursuant to this MOU 

whenever appropriate to define specific undertakings. Such IA's may provide for cooperative 

projects, or other efforts deemed appropriate, subject to applicable laws and regulations 

pertaining to the respective agencies and the availability of funds.

Details of support for specific cooperative work including funding, project plans, designation of 

cooperative work, and details of program management and execution would be contained in the 

IA's. The cooperating Federal Agencies' program officials are to communicate directly with one 

another during the planning and execution of these IA's.

IV. Administration

It is the policy of the cooperating Federal Agencies to make the results of the R&D work

contemplated by this MOU available to the public consistent with applicable security and other 

applicable regulations.

a. Technology transfer: The participating Federal Agencies intend to establish procedures for 

sharing multimedia environmental models, software, related databases and supporting scientific 

information with the other cooperating Federal Agencies. The participating Federal Agencies 

have statutory authority through the Federal Technology Transfer Act of 1986, as amended and 

codified at 15 U.S.C. §3701, et seq. to conduct technology transfer activities. Since the Federal 

Agencies may have specific patent and data policies regarding inventions and data funded in 

whole or in part by the Federal Government, the policies of the agency conducting the work shall 

apply to agreements executed between the parties to the MOU as well as to contracts they are 

under where such agreements or contracts are funded in whole or in part by the cooperating 

Federal Agencies. The cooperating Federal Agencies shall attempt to resolve any conflicts in 

their patent and data polices on a case-by-case basis when they enter into implementing IA's. In 

all other circumstances it is agreed that the governing patent and data policies will be determined 

in accordance with the policy of the sponsoring agency.

b. Information release: All data and information originating from these cooperative research 

studies is to be published and made available to the public as required by law through the 

cooperating Federal Agencies’ requirements and described in their public information and 

publishing procedures. This information and data will not be disseminated to anyone, except the 

cooperating Federal Agencies, until such time as it is made available to the public by the 

originating Federal Agency. All requests for information and data under the Freedom of 

Information Act will be referred to the originating Federal Agency for processing as described in 

paragraph (e). The parties will seek to ensure that their contractors will disseminate such 

information in accordance with this agreement and the cooperating Federal Agencies' 

procedures. The cooperating Federal Agencies agree to share any press releases or other public 

affairs information related to joint efforts or projects for review and concurrence prior to release.

c. Financial policy: It is recognized that the cooperating Federal Agencies have specific statutory 

requirements and limitations that dictate their financial policies. Therefore, the cooperating 

Federal Agencies agree to consider and specifically to address the financial policies to be applied 
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to each project under the authority of this MOU as a term of the individual IA's detailing each 

such R&D project.

d. Program funding: Although this MOU is neither a fiscal nor a funds obligating document, 

each cooperating Federal Agency intend to seek to ensure sufficient funding via IAs to carry out 

projects that are mutually agreed upon as a result of this MOU. The details of the levels of 

funding to be furnished to one agency by the others are to be developed in specific IA's. The 

cooperating Federal Agencies are to provide mutual support in budget justifications to the Office 

of Management and Budget and in hearings before Congress with respect to programs on which 

they collaborate. The cooperating Federal Agencies agree that this MOU does not involve the 

exchange of funds, and further that any correlated IA's entered by two or more of the cooperating 

Agencies will be subject to the availability of funds appropriated by the Congress for such 

purposes.

e. Public information coordination: Disclosure of information to the public regarding projects 

and programs implemented under this MOU will be made in accordance with the Freedom of 

Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552) and other applicable law and regulations. Consultation among 

the cooperating Federal Agencies' representatives will occur consistent with applicable law.

f. Amendment and termination: This MOU may be modified and amended by written agreement 

among the cooperating Federal Agencies or terminated by mutual written agreement of the 

cooperating Federal Agencies. An individual agency may withdraw from the MOU upon 90-day 

written notice to the other agencies. Additional Federal agencies may become parties to this 

MOU by petitioning the Steering Committee and signing an Addendum to the MOU. The 

Addendum will commit the new Federal cooperating organization to assume the obligations and 

rights of MOU membership as specified in this MOU. The parties to the MOU agree to delegate 

to the Steering Committee the authority to review requests for MOU membership, and to 

approve additional parties. The Steering Committee Chair will sign the requester’s Addendum to 

indicate approval of the agencies that are parties to this MOU. 

g. Quality assurance: An important goal of the MOU and subsequent IA's is high- quality 

research and modeling products. The cooperating Federal Agencies commit to following their 

established quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) procedures in the development and 

use of these research and modeling products. Specific QA/QC issues are to be resolved during 

the development of the specific IA's. 

h. ISCMEM website: The information exchange and collaborative efforts which are the 

objectives of this MOU can be substantially enhanced through the evolving use of internet based 

resources. Internet-based outreach to the public is to be facilitated via the ISCMEM website

such as might be developed or provided access to through member agency resources. 

Notwithstanding the Steering Committee’s role, this MOU is not intended to make any resource 

commitments without each agency’s approval.

i. Limitations to applicability: This MOU does not create any right or benefit, substantive or 

procedural, enforceable by law or equity, by persons who are not party to this agreement, against 

any Federal Agency, their officers or employees, or any other person. This MOU does not direct 

or apply to any person outside any Federal Agency.
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V. Organization

a. Steering Committee

The steering committee is composed of representatives from each participating agency as 

established in Section IIIa of this MOU. Upon activation of the MOU, the steering committee 

will elect a committee chair to serve for a period of one year. A vice chair is also to be elected by 

steering committee members and will assist and succeed the current Chair after the one year 

period of service. Thereafter, a new vice chair is to be elected annually to assist and succeed the 

current Chair. The Chair will be responsible for coordinating/consolidating future directions for 

ISCMEM activities in consultation with the steering committee members, setting the agenda for 

steering committee meetings, recording the minutes of each meeting, disseminating ISCMEM 

information, organizing an annual public meeting of the steering committee, coordinating 

committee business in the formation of new working groups, and representing (and advocating 

for) ISCMEM at all levels of government. The vice chair is to assist in all of these tasks.

Agency representatives on the steering committee are tasked with identifying specific areas of 

collaboration among the participating agencies within ISCMEM and for representing ISCMEM 

projects to their own agencies. Agency representatives are to prioritize, prepare written 

descriptions of and vote on the establishment of working groups/projects to be included in the 

ISCMEM portfolio and/or realignment/dissolution of existing working groups/projects. Agency 

representatives are to serve as points of contact, if not active members, of working 

groups/projects established by the steering committee. This ensures communication between 

working groups/projects and the steering committee. An important role of the Agency 

representative is to act as a liaison between the members of the workgroups and the 

administration of their respective agencies. In this role, they provide a conduit of 

communication for the needs identified by members of the workgroups to the agency hierarchy. 

Funding via IAs of ISCMEM-related activities such as workshops, meetings, publications, travel 

support and expenses related to ISCMEM projects is not mandated by this MOU and will be 

subject to individual agency missions, legal authorities, and availability of funds. 

Joint solicitations for mutually beneficial interagency activities will also be subject to individual 

agency interests and funding availability. Joint solicitations will be for competitive projects in 

areas of mutual interest. One agency within ISCMEM is to take a leading role in posting the 

solicitation and conducting peer reviews of proposals, with ISCMEM support. Agency 

representatives on the steering committee then intend to select from among the favorably 

reviewed proposals those projects that most align with individual agency missions for funding. 

These projects are then to be managed by the funding agency. 

The voluntary nature of funding ISCMEM activities, whether by IAs or joint solicitations,

requires that the agency representatives be advocates for ISCMEM within their own agencies 

and promote those ISCMEM-related, interagency activities that are of mutual benefit to 

ISCMEM members and the Federal Government in general.

b. Working Groups/Projects
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ISCMEM intends to accomplish specific mutually beneficial activities via the establishment of 

working groups and/or specific projects. All potential working groups/projects are to be 

presented to the steering committee via an agency representative or by invitation by the 

committee. For the establishment of working group activities this presentation is to take the form 

of a Phase I proposal that will be considered by the steering committee for approval. Phase I 

proposals are to outline the objective of the working group, a leader and co-leader of the effort, 

its relevance to the participating ISCMEM agencies and alignment with ISCMEM goals. If 

approved by a majority vote of the steering committee, a Phase II proposal is to be solicited from 

the working group lead outlining in more detail the objectives of the working group, activity 

plans, working group membership (including a steering committee contact), timeline (including 

regular meeting schedules), resource estimate, and potential products. The Phase II proposal is 

also to be considered and voted on by the steering committee. 

Specific projects of interest to ISCMEM member agencies are to follow a similar approval path 

within ISCMEM. However, given that some specific projects are likely to be “moments of 

opportunity” and of shorter time duration than working groups, a Phase II proposal process may 

be waived at the steering committee’s discretion upon receipt of a sufficiently detailed Phase I 

proposal.

c. ISCMEM Products

All working groups/projects are to report on their activities as requested by the ISCMEM Chair

at quarterly ISCMEM meetings/teleconferences. Working group/project proposals will be made 

publicly available on the ISCMEM website.

d. Changes

Changes and/or updates to ISCMEM organizational and operating procedures can be 

implemented by a majority vote among Steering committee members.

VI. Signatures

Effective date: This MOU for ISCMEM will become effective upon the signature of four Federal 

Agencies. Official participation on the Steering Committee will be limited to those agencies that 

have confirmed their intent to participate by signing this MOU. Any of the currently 

participating agencies that re-sign will be accepted as if they had signed before expiration of the 

original MOU and will not be required to follow the procedures specified in Section IV(f). 

Agencies not currently participating can become participants by following the procedure outlined 

in Section IV(f). This MOU will remain effective for five years from the date of the fourth 

signature or until modified or terminated by mutual consent. 
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/signed/ 6/7/16

____________________________________________ ____________________________

Michael F. Weber Date

Director of Nuclear Regulatory Research

U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission

/signed/ 7/7/2016

____________________________________________ ____________________________

Thomas A. Burke, Ph.D. Date

Deputy Assistant Administrator

Office of Research and Development

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

/signed/ 9/19/2016

____________________________________________ ____________________________

Jeffrey P. Holland, Ph.D., P.E.

Director

U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

/signed/ 6/27/2016

____________________________________________ ____________________________

Frank Marcinowski Date

Acting Associate Principal Deputy 

Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management

U.S. Department of Energy

/signed/ 6/8/2016

____________________________________________ ____________________________

Donald W. Cline, Ph.D. Date

Associate Director for Water

U.S. Geological Survey

U.S. Department of Interior

/signed/ 5/31/2016

____________________________________________ ____________________________

Roger Wakimoto Date

Assistant Director

Directorate for Geosciences

U.S. National Science Foundation