United States Research and EPA/600/R-96/059


Environmental Protection Development May 1996


Agency (8101)


1EPA	 Strategic Plan for the 

Office of Research and 

Development 

2 Printed on paper that contains at least 20% postconsumer fiber. 
ORD’s Strategic Plan

Office of Research and Development

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

Washington, DC 20460 

May 1996 
Foreword 

I

am very pleased to present this new Strategic Plan for environmental research at the U.S. 

Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Research and Development (ORD). In 

recent years, many important groups—including EPA’s Science Advisory Board and blue 

ribbon panels convened by the National Academy of Public Administration and the 

National Research Council—have made many excellent suggestions for improving science at

EPA. This plan incorporates and builds on these ideas to provide a blueprint for charting a course

of strong, credible science at EPA into the next century.

This plan is the culmination of a number of strategic changes to institute a more effective,

risk-based research program at ORD. For example, we reorganized our nationwide system of

laboratories to conform to the fundamental components of the widely used risk assessment and

risk management processes. With this Strategic Plan, we have instituted a new system for

determining research priorities based on risk assessment and risk management principles. We

will use this system to sharpen the focus of our research by directing our resources where we can

contribute most effectively to understanding and solving environmental problems, while also

fully supporting EPA in fulfilling its mandates.

By providing clear mechanisms and opportunities for stakeholder involvement, this plan promotes

greater partnership between ORD and its primary clients—EPA’s Program and Regional Offices—

as well as the external scientific community. And, by clearly delineating ORD’s research planning

process, goals, and objectives, this plan is a tool our stakeholders can use to measure our success in

providing practical, credible, and timely information and tools for risk-based decision-making. To

ensure the utmost transparency, this plan also includes a detailed description of how ORD translates

its research priorities into a research program, as well as a discussion of our commitment to providing

the infrastructure needed to conduct high quality research.

This plan is a foundation for the future. We have designed this Strategic Plan to endure and yet

be dynamic in the face of continually advancing scientific knowledge and understanding. That is

why we have selected time-tested risk-based organizing and decision-making principles that

transcend economic and political changes. At the same time, we have designed the plan to be

flexible, providing capacity for our planning mechanisms to constructively adapt to changing

EPA and national priorities over time.

We invited other EPA offices and Regions as well as numerous external organizations to peer 

review a draft of this plan. This final version of the plan now incorporates many of their useful

suggestions. We will periodically revisit and, as necessary, modify this Strategic Plan to ensure

the continued productivity of ORD’s research and development efforts to meet EPA and national

environmental goals.

I firmly believe that this Strategic Plan, coupled with the other strategic changes we have

instituted at ORD (listed on the back inside cover), offer unparalleled opportunities for ORD to

improve the overall quality and relevancy of EPA research and development. I am confident that,

in the coming years, these changes will serve as essential catalysts for moving EPA into the 

highest echelon of leadership in environmental science.

Robert J. Huggett

Assistant Administrator, Office of Research and Development
Contents 

List of Acronyms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . v

Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Strategic Principles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

ORD’s Vision, Mission, and Long-Term Goals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii

Setting ORD Research Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

High-Priority Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

Looking Ahead . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

ORD’s Reinvention Around the Risk Paradigm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Audiences for This Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Critical Players and Linkages for Implementing ORD’s Strategic Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Evolution of the Strategic Plan Over Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

A Roadmap for This Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Part A: ORD’s Research Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

ORD’s Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

ORD’s Mission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

ORD’s Long-Term Goals and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Identifying Specific Research Topics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Identifying Emerging Issues, Anticipatory Research, and Exploratory Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

ORD’s Priority-Setting Process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Criteria for Setting ORD Research Priorities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Strengths of ORD’s Priority-Setting Process and Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Translating ORD’s Strategic Plan Into a Research Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Measures of Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Mechanisms for Evaluation and Accountability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Closing Out Completed Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Human Resources and Infrastructure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Challenges for the Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D iii 
Part B: ORD’s Long-Term Goals and Objectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Goal 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Goal 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Goal 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Goal 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Goal 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Goal 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Appendix I: ORD’s High-Priority Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Appendix II: The ORD Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Appendix III: Management Structure for 

Implementing ORD’s Strategic Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Appendix IV: Relationship of Fiscal Year 1996 Requests 

for Applications to ORD High-Priority Research Topics . . . . . . . . . . 59

iv S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
List of Acronyms 

CRADA Cooperative Research and Development Agreement 

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 

IRIS Integrated Risk Information System 

NAE National Academy of Engineering

NAPA National Academy of Public Administration

NAS National Academy of Sciences

NCEA National Center for Environmental Assessment

NCERQA National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance

NERL National Exposure Research Laboratory

NHEERL National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory

NRC National Research Council

NRMRL National Risk Management Research Laboratory

ORD Office of Research and Development

ORMA Office of Resources Management and Administration

ORSI Office of Research and Science Integration

OSP Office of Science Policy

RCC Research Coordination Council

RCT Research Coordination Team

R&D research and development

RFA Request for Application

ROPE Research Opportunities and Priorities for EPA

SAB Science Advisory Board

STAR Science to Achieve Results

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D v 

Executive Summary

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 

Office of Research and Development 

(ORD) has undertaken some of the most 

dramatic changes in its organizational 

history, setting the vision and direction for the 

research that will provide the scientific foundation 

to support EPA’s mission: 

ORD realigned its organizational structure to use 

risk assessment and risk management as organizing principles for its nationwide laboratory 

system. 

ORD strengthened its interaction with the larger 

scientific community by expanding its competitive extramural grants and graduate fellowship 

programs. These programs stimulate research in 

areas vital to EPA by involving universities and 

other not-for-profit institutions. 

ORD intensified its peer review process to ensure 

that all science meets our standards for excellence. 

And, most importantly, ORD instituted a new 

strategic planning and management process by 

which we identify and select our research priorities. This new process sets us on a course that will 

allow us to more clearly define the next generation of environmental needs and identify the 

research to address those needs. 

Describing this strategic planning and management 

process, and providing the framework for research 

priorities, is the ORD Strategic Plan. 

Strategic Principles 

The ORD Strategic Plan is based on nine strategic 

operating principles, summarized below, which 

draw on the many recommendations ORD has 

received from outside groups in recent years: 

Focus research and development on the greatest 

risks to people and the environment. 

Focus research on reducing uncertainty in risk 

assessment. 

Balance human health and ecological research. 

Infuse ORD’s work with a customer/client ethic. 

Give priority to maintaining strong and viable 

core capabilities. 

Nurture and support the development of outstanding scientists, engineers, and other 

environmental professionals. 

Increase competitively awarded research grants. 

Require the highest level of independent peer 

review and quality assurance. 

Provide the infrastructure to achieve and maintain an outstanding R&D program. 

Most important of these principles is the explicit use 

of the risk paradigm to shape and focus our 

organizational structure and research agenda. 

ORD’s Vision, Mission, and 

Long-Term Goals 

ORD’s commitment to develop a risk-based research 

agenda has required us to rethink our vision, mission, 

and goals and to develop a risk-based process for 

selecting and ranking those research areas of primary 

importance to EPA. ORD’s vision and mission for the 

future arise from a consideration of the key role that 

ORD science plays within EPA and in the broader 

context of our nation’s environmental research 

agenda. Our vision is that ORD will provide the 

scientific foundation to support EPA’s mission. Our 

new mission statement is divided into four main 

components: research and development, technical 

support, integration of scientific information, and 

anticipatory research. This translates into six 

long-term, overarching goals—broad areas of 

research and development where we believe ORD 

can and must make important contributions to 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D vii 
ORDs own researchers and staff, in helping us 

set research priorities. The Research Coordination Council, the Science Council, Research 

Coordination Teams consisting of senior representatives from ORD’s new National Laboratories 

and Centers and EPA’s Program and Regional Offices identify the most important and relevant 

areas for our research efforts. We also work with 

EPA’s Science Advisory Board, the National Research Council, and the private sector early in the 

planning process to obtain recommendations 

from the external scientific community regarding 

the major scientific directions and priorities for 

our research program. Based on this input, we 

identify potential research topics. 

We then narrow the pool of potential topics by 

selecting areas that clearly will contribute to 

fulfilling Agency mandates. 

To these remaining areas falling within ORD’s 

mission and goals, we apply a series of human 

health, ecological health, and risk management 

criteria to set priorities according to their potential to support effective risk assessment and 

enhance risk reduction—for example by reducing 

the uncertainties in risk assessment. We use comparative risk analyses, as needed, to ascertain the 

most pressing problems. We also consider 

whether the research would develop broadly applicable methods and models needed by EPA 

programs. We then ascertain whether ORD can 

make a significant contribution. Through this 

screening process, we set priorities among the 

research topics. 

We then define our specific R&D projects by considering each topic area in totality. For each topic 

area, we systematically examine the research 

needs within each component of the risk paradigm: effects, exposure, assessment, and risk 

ORD has used the process described above to e

our research priorities for the next few years. U

our new risk-based planning process and criter

ORD has identified six high priorities that will 

special, expanded attention within the broader 

program. These high priorities include three dis

research topics and three broad-based areas th

incorporate many additional specific topics: 

Drinking water disinfection 

Particulate matter 

Endocrine disruptors 

Research to improve ecosystem risk assess

Research to improve health risk assessmen

Pollution prevention and new technologie

Looking Ahead 

The Strategic Plan provides a blueprint for 

designing and implementing a research prog

produce the sound science needed to support 

mission. In the years to come, ORD will place 

continuing priority on providing the 

communication, infrastructure, and support 

necessary for successful implementation of th

For ORD’s stakeholders, including the EPA P

and Regional Offices, academia, the private s

and other government agencies, the plan serv

roadmap that explains ORD’s research plann

implementation process, defines how our stakeh

contribute to this process, and specifies the go

objectives, and products they can use to hold 

accountable for our progress in environmenta

research. This plan is intended to serve as a p

tool for ensuring the constructive involvemen

our stakeholders in establishing and executin

ORD’s research agenda during the coming ye

v i i i S t rat e g i c P l an fo r ORD 
Introduction Introduction 

I

n recent years, a convergence of thinking has 

occurred about science at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Agency’s 

own Science Advisory Board (an independent 

group of engineering and science advisors to EPA) 

and expert blue-ribbon panels convened by the 

National Academy of Sciences (NAS)

1

 and the 

National Academy of Public Administration 

(NAPA)2

 all have emphasized the importance of 

science at EPA and made many recommendations 

concerning its role and direction. 

As these groups affirmed, science provides the 

foundation for credible environmental 

decision-making. It is vital to achieving a healthy 

population, thriving environment, and robust 

economy. Only through adequate knowledge about 

the risks to human health and ecosystems, and 

innovative solutions to prevent pollution and 

reduce risk, can we continue to enjoy a high quality 

of life. In July 1994, EPA published a Five-Year 

Strategic Plan 3 that adopts strong science and 

credible data as one of seven guiding principles to 

Science is one of the soundest investments 

the nation can make for the future. Strong 

science provides the foundation for credible 

environmental decision-making. With a 

better understanding of environmental 

risks to people and ecosystems, EPA can 

target the hazards that pose the greatest 

risks, anticipate environmental problems 

before they reach a critical level, and 

develop strategies that use the nation’s, 

and the world’s, environmental protection 

dollars wisely. 

Expert Panel on the Role of Science at 

EPA 

Safeguarding the Future: Credible 

Science, Credible Decisions 

fulfill the Agency’s mission to protect human health 

and environmental quality. While all of EPA uses 

science for policy and regulatory decision-making, 

and various EPA offices perform research, the 

responsibility for leadership in science at EPA and 

for the bulk of EPA’s research and development 

work resides in EPA’s Office of Research and 

Development (ORD). 

ORD’s Reinvention Around the 

Risk Paradigm 

In the past two years, we at ORD have substantially 

changed our organization and operation so that we 

1 Interim Report of the Committee on Research and Peer Review at EPA. 

National Academy of Sciences Board on Environmental Studies 

and Toxicology. 1995. National Academy Press. 2 Setting Priorities, Getting Results. A New Direction for EPA. National Academy of Public Administration. 1995. Washington, DC. 3 The New Generation of Environmental Protection. A Summary of 

EPA’s Five-Year Strategic Plan. U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency. 1994. EPA200-2-94-001. Washington, DC. 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 1 
I n t r oduction 

can strengthen EPA’s science base and improve the 

Agency’s and our nation’s ability to effectively 

respond to the complex environmental challenges of 

the future. These changes represent a significant 

departure from the past. They are based on a set of 

strategic principles we have developed (Table 1) that 

draw upon the many recommendations we have 

received from outside groups in recent years. The 

most important of these principles is the explicit use of 

the risk paradigm to shape and focus our 

organizational structure and research agenda. 

The risk assessment paradigm has been defined many 

times over the years, most notably in 1983 by the NAS 

(Figure 1), which consolidated and gave context to 

Focus research and development on the greatest 

risks to people and the environment, taking into 

account their potential severity, magnitude, and 

uncertainty. 

Focus research on reducing uncertainty in risk 

assessment and on cost-effective approaches for 

preventing and managing risks. 

Balance human health and ecological research. 

Infuse ORD’s work with a customer/client ethic 

that breaks down organizational barriers and 

ensures responsiveness to ORD’s internal and 

external customers. 

Give priority to maintaining the strong and viable 

scientific and engineering core capabilities that 

allow us to conduct an intramural research and 

technical support program in areas of highest 

risk and greatest importance to the Agency. 

Through an innovative and effective human 

resources development program, nurture and 

support the development of outstanding scientists, engineers, and other environmental 

professionals at EPA. 

Take advantage of the creativity of the nation’s 

best research institutions by increasing competitively awarded research grants to further EPA’s 

critical environmental research mission. 

Ensure the quality of the science that underlies 

our risk assessment and risk reduction efforts by 

requiring the very highest level of independent 

peer review and quality assurance for all our 

science products and programs. 

Provide the infrastructure required for ORD to 

achieve and maintain an outstanding research 

and development program in environmental 

science. 

Table 1. ORD’s Strategic Principles 

terms that had been defined in different ways up to 

that point. Risk assessment is the process that 

scientists use to understand and evaluate the 

magnitude and probability of risk posed to human 

health and ecosystems by environmental stressors, 

such as pollution or habitat loss or change. The 

resulting risk characterization, together with other 

public health, statutory, legal, social, economic, 

political, and technical factors, provides the critical 

input for deciding whether and how to manage the 

risk associated with a particular stressor. Risk 

management options may include both regulatory 

programs and voluntary activities (e.g., recycling) to 

reduce or eliminate production of the stressor. 

The risk assessment process is one component of the 

overall process of risk management. The risk 

management process begins when a potential new 

Work on this Strategic Plan began in 1995 by a task 

force comprised of staff from ORD’s National Laboratories and Centers, as well as our headquarters 

Offices. As we developed the plan, we consulted 

with our clients in EPA’s Program and Regional Offices to ensure that the plan would enable ORD to 

effectively meet their needs and maintain good customer relations. We also relied heavily on the 

advice of the National Research Council and EPA’s 

Science Advisory Board. In late 1995, we distributed 

a review draft of the plan to solicit comments from 

our external partners and stakeholders. Based on 

peer reviewer comments, we refined and expanded 

our plan to produce this final version. Major 

changes reflected in the final plan include: 

Clarification of our vision, mission, and research 

goals. 

Better linkage between our research planning process and our criteria for setting 

research priorities. 

A better balance of health and ecological concerns. 

Clarification of our approach to anticipatory 

research and emerging environmental problems. 

Discussion of ORD’s role in providing enhanced 

technical support to EPA’s Program Offices. 

A more complete discussion of our grants 

process. 

A brief discussion of "Challenges for the Future" 

that peer reviewers brought to our attention and 

to which we plan to devote further study. 

History of This Document 

2 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
I n t r oduction 

Risk Assessment 

Dose-Response 

Assessment 

Hazard 

Identification 

Exposure 

Assessment 

Statutory and Legal

Considerations 

Risk

Management

Options 

Economic

Factors 

Political

Considerations 

Risk Management 

Decision 

Social 

Factors 

Risk 

Characterization 

Risk Management 

*Adapted from: 

Risk Assessment in the � 

Federal Government: � 

Managing the Process.  

National Academy of  

Sciences. 1983.

Science and Judgement � 

in Risk Assessment.  

National Research  

Council. 1994. 

Public Health

Considerations 

Figure 1. The Risk Assessment/Risk Management Paradigm 

The risk assessment process consists of four steps: 

During hazard identification, scientists describe the adverse effects (e.g., short-term illness, cancer, reproductive effects) that might occur due to exposure to the environmental stressor of concern. To identify potential 

hazards, scientists use the results of experimental studies on test organisms, reports about accidental exposure, and epidemiologic research. 

During dose-response assessment, scientists determine the toxicity or potency of a stressor. The doseresponse assessment describes the quantitative relationship between the amount of exposure to a stressor 

and the extent of injury or disease. 

During exposure assessment, scientists describe the nature and size of the population(s) or ecosystem(s) 

exposed to a stressor and the magnitude and duration of exposure. Exposure assessment includes a 

description of the pathways (e.g., air, food, water) by which the stressor travels through the environment; 

the changes that a stressor undergoes en route; the environmental concentrations of the stressor relative to 

time, distance, and direction from its source; potential routes of exposure (oral, dermal, or inhalation); and 

the distribution of sensitive subgroups, such as pregnant women and children. 

During risk characterization, scientists use the data collected in the three previous steps to predict the 

effects of human or ecological exposure to the stressor of concern. They estimate the likelihood that a 

population will experience any of the adverse effects associated with the stressor, under known or expected 

conditions of exposure. This estimate can be qualitative (e.g., high or low probability) or quantitative (e.g., 

one in a million probability of occurrence). 

The NAS paradigm was developed specifically to define risk assessment and risk management for human 

health. While ORD recognizes that there are distinctions for ecological risk assessment and that scientific approaches to risk assessment have evolved and expanded since development of the NAS paradigm, the general 

principles set forth in the NAS paradigm are still useful as an organizing focus for ORD’s strategic thinking. 

risk comes to light and authorities decide or are 

mandated to respond to concern about the risk. It 

involves risk assessment as well as a series of other 

scientific and technical activities, illustrated in 

Figure 2, to provide the scientific and technical data 

for making and implementing a risk management 

decision. The risk management process ends when 

the selected risk management option(s) is 

implemented and the resulting environmental 

and/or public health improvements are monitored. 

Figure 2 expands on the “Risk Management 

Options” portion of the original NAS paradigm 

to show the many scientific and technical 

activities, in addition to risk assessment, that are 

essential to risk management. These include 

characterizing the sources of environmental 

problems; identifying risk management options 

and evaluating their performance, cost, and 

effectiveness; and monitoring improvements in 

environmental quality and public health that result 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 3 
I n t r oduction 

Dose-Response 

Assessment 

Hazard 

Identification 

Exposure 

Assessment 

Identification of Future Problem, 

Initiating Event, or Public Policy Mandate 

 Define the Problem

 Define Risk Management 

Objectives 

Identify and Evaluate

Risk Management Options

 Risk Management Decision

 Implement Option(s) 

Monitor Environmental  

and Public Health  

Improvement 

Risk 

Characterization 

Develop Measures of 

Environmental and 

Public Health  

Improvement 

Develop Compliance 

Assurance Models and Methods 

Risk Assessment 

Risk Management 

Reduced Environmental 

and/or 

Public Health Risk 

• Public Health

Considerations

• Statutory and Legal 

Considerations

• Social Factors

• Economic Factors 

• Political Considerations 

Figure 2. The Scientific and Technical Contributions to Risk Management 

Scientific and technical activities contribute to every stage of the risk management process. Environmental risk 

management is initiated when a potential new environmental risk comes to light (such as an unusually high disease 

rate in a particular population) and authorities decide or are mandated to investigate it. 

The first step is to define the problem. This involves such activities as determining which stressor(s) (e.g., pollutants, 

habitat loss) is causing the problem, characterizing the sources of the stressor(s), how these stressors reach target 

populations, and which human or ecological populations are affected. Once the problem has been sufficiently characterized, the risk assessment process can begin. 

If sufficient information is available at this stage, scientists and engineers can also begin to define risk management 

objectives (i.e., the degree to which the risk should be managed or reduced) and identify risk management options 

that can meet the objectives. Frequently, however, these steps must await further information, provided by the risk 

assessment, on which populations are at risk and how great that risk is. Once potential options have been identified, scientists and engineers evaluate the options to determine their performance and cost. Risk management 

options may include, for example, pollution control technologies, banning or controlling the use of certain chemicals, cleaning up or preventing access to contaminated areas, implementing educational programs to encourage 

voluntary behavior changes on the part of the public or industry, and redesigning industrial processes to reduce or 

eliminate toxic waste production. 

The resulting information on the feasibility of potential risk management options, together with the risk characterization (and public health, statutory, legal, social, economic, and political factors), is used to make a risk 

management decision. Typically, this will involve selecting one or more of the potential risk management options 

and designing a regulatory and/or nonregulatory strategy for implementing the chosen option(s). 

Once a risk management strategy has been selected, scientists and engineers then develop compliance assurance 

models and methods (if the strategy is regulatory) and measures of environmental and public health improvement 

to monitor the success of the strategy in reducing risk to humans or ecosystems. Once the selected option(s) is implemented, scientists and engineers monitor the environmental and public health improvement. Monitoring data 

provide feedback to the risk management decision-makers about whether the risk management strategy is achieving the desired goals. Decision-makers may then amend the strategy, as necessary, based on these results. The final 

outcome of a successful risk management process is reduced environmental and/or public health risk. 

4 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
I n t r oduction 

Vision 

Mission 

Long-Term 

Goals 

Objectives 

Activities To 

Meet the 

Objectives 

Strategic 

Principles 

PrioritySetting 

Process 

and 

Criteria 

Role of 

Science 

at EPA 

HighPriority 

Research 

Topics 

Figure 3. ORD’s Strategic Plan 

from risk management activities. ORD contributes 

to many of the areas depicted in Figure 2. In this 

way, ORD not only identifies and characterizes 

environmental problems but also helps to find and 

implement efficient, cost-effective solutions to these 

problems. 

The first major step in ORD’s reinvention was to 

reorganize ORD so that its new structure mirrors the 

risk paradigm shown in Figure 1. This new structure 

is described in Appendix II. ORD’s new Strategic 

Plan—described in this document and illustrated in 

Figure 3—is the second major step. This Strategic 

Plan is the blueprint for ORD’s risk-based research 

program. 

Audiences for This Document 

This Strategic Plan is an important document for 

many different groups: 

Internally at ORD, the plan provides ORD staff 

with a blueprint for designing and implementing 

ORD’s research program in the years to come. 

Also, it enables ORD staff to relate the individual 

research projects for which they are responsible 

to ORD’s strategic goals and objectives, as well as 

to the Agency’s environmental goal of "ensuring 

that the nation’s environmental policies are based 

on the best science and information available." 

For our many stakeholders, including EPA’s Program and Regional Offices, academia, the private 

sector, and other government agencies, the plan 

serves as a roadmap that: 

•	 Explains how we plan research and translate 

our plans into a research program. 

•	 Defines an explicit role for stakeholders in 

crafting and reviewing ORD’s research agenda. 

•	 Specifies goals, objectives, and products that can 

be used to measure and hold us accountable for 

our progress in environmental research. 

Critical Players and Linkages for 

Implementing ORD’s Strategic Plan 

The success of ORD’s Strategic Plan relies on the 

contributions of many individuals, institutions, and 

sectors, as described below. 

ORD Staff 

First and foremost, ORD staff are crucial to the plan’s 

success. ORD’s scientists and engineers, in particular, 

are the repository of the core scientific and engineering 

capability in the Agency, as well as a vital conduit for 

the needs and potential contributions of ORD’s 

research clients and partners. 

Successful implementation of the Strategic Plan 

will depend on the success of ORD managers in 

communicating the plan to all our staff and in 

evoking a sense of ownership of the plan and a 

shared vision of the work to be accomplished. While 

leadership for communicating this plan must 

cascade through ORD’s management to our 

scientific, engineering, professional, and support 

staff, ownership and implementation of the plan 

will depend on the strength of our work force. ORD 

will place a continuing priority on internal 

communication and support to enable and inspire 

effective implementation of this plan. 

EPA Program and Regional Offices 

Linkages between ORD and its primary clients— 

EPA’s Program and Regional Offices—are essential 

to successful implementation of this plan. One 

important linkage is the day-to-day contact that 

ORD scientists and engineers have with EPA’s 

Program and Regional Offices. This ongoing 

informal contact helps ensure that the ORD 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 5 
I n t r oduction 

scientists and engineers involved in our planning 

process understand our client’s needs. 

In addition, this Strategic Plan establishes formal 

areas of linkage to ensure client input during 

research planning. As Part A of this plan describes, 

we directly solicit input on priority needs and 

products from the Program and Regional Offices 

during the planning process. 

ORD’s Research Planning Advisors 

As described in Part A of this document, our planning 

process also relies on the contributions of many other 

groups who provide crucial input for formulating and 

executing our research program and priorities. These 

include other federal agencies (both directly and 

through the National Science and Technology Council 

and its Committee on Environment and Natural 

Resources), as well as the National Research Council 

and EPA’s Science Advisory Board. 

ORD’s Research Partners 

Successful plan implementation also relies on ongoing 

partnerships between ORD and other research 

organizations in academia, the private sector, and 

other government agencies. These partnerships benefit 

all parties. They provide a common sense and 

cost-effective way for ORD to utilize the special 

expertise residing outside our organization, while also 

reducing overlapping and duplicative work. Our 

partners enrich our research planning process and 

help ensure that our research products are 

appropriately targeted to stakeholder needs. ORD 

accesses and involves partner organizations in 

implementing our research program through a variety 

of competitive, grant, and contractual mechanisms. 

Shared Leadership 

In the context of environmental science, ORD serves 

both as a team leader for research planning within 

EPA and as a national leader within the larger 

scientific community for conducting our nation’s 

environmental science. ORD implicitly shares 

responsibility for this leadership through our peer 

review protocols, which ensure both internal and 

external vetting of each critical step in our research 

process, from identifying research priorities to 

evaluating our eventual success. 

Looking Ahead 

As ORD implements its Strategic Plan in the years to 

come, we will strengthen our links with our clients 

and partners. We will work to expand our 

partnerships with other agencies, universities, and 

the private sector and to integrate our planning 

efforts with EPA’s overall planning based on the 

Agency’s Strategic Plan. Also, we will strive to forge 

links with the planning efforts of other federal 

agencies and other nations as appropriate. 

Evolution of the Strategic Plan 

Over Time 

ORD’s Strategic Plan is designed to be a robust 

"living" document. The plan provides a solid 

underpinning for ORD research that will allow us to 

maintain continuity and momentum in our work in 

the coming years, while also constructively adapting 

to changing EPA and national priorities over time. 

We will periodically revisit and, as necessary, 

modify our Strategic Plan to ensure the continued 

productivity of ORD’s research and development 

efforts to meet EPA, national, and international 

environmental goals. At the same time, we will 

work to ensure that, as the plan evolves, it continues 

to reflect goals and objectives that are communally 

derived and universally shared throughout ORD. 

A Roadmap for This Document 

Part A of the plan defines strategic directions 

(including ORD’s vision, mission, and goals) for 

ORD research; lays out an approach to identifying emerging issues; establishes a risk-based 

process for determining our research priorities; 

describes how we translate this Strategic Plan 

into a specific research program (including research plans, operating plans, laboratory 

implementation plans, and Requests for Applications); describes how we determine who does the 

work and when to close it out; describes how we 

will determine priorities for technical support; 

presents approaches to measuring success; and 

describes ORD’s commitment to our human resources and infrastructure that are essential to 

implementing the Strategic Plan. Finally, Part A 

identifies challenges for future consideration by 

ORD. 

6 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
I n t r oduction 

Part B expands on ORD’s goals and lists the 

specific research objectives and activities ORD 

will pursue to achieve its goals. 

Appendix I describes the six high-priority 

research topics and areas selected when we applied our new priority-setting process (described 

in Part A) to our long-term objectives and activities (described in Part B). 

Appendix II describes ORD’s new organization 

around the risk assessment/risk management 

paradigm. 

Appendix III describes ORD’s management structure for implementing the Strategic Plan. 

Appendix IV shows how ORD’s extramural investments (in the form of Requests for Applications 

for research grants) relate to the high-priority 

research described in Appendix I. 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 7 

Part A 

ORD’s 

Research 

Strategy 

Part A 

ORD’s 

Research 

Strategy 

ORD’s commitment to develop a 

risk-based research agenda has required 

us to rethink our vision, mission, and 

goals and to develop a risk-based 

process for selecting and ranking those research 

topics of primary importance to ORD and EPA. 

ORD’s vision and mission for the future arise from a 

consideration of the importance of science at EPA 

and in the broader context of our nation’s 

environmental research agenda, and of ORD’s key 

role in environmental science. Our vision, described 

below, represents the overall level of achievement 

that we will strive for in all our research and 

development work. Our mission statement, 

described below, defines the broad areas of research 

and development where we believe ORD can and 

must make important contributions to EPA’s 

mission and mandates and to our nation’s overall 

environmental research agenda. 

[A] strategic plan should consist at a 

minimum of a vision statement, a 

mission statement, and a plan for 

achieving them. [It] should be robust and 

specific enough to enable [evaluation of] 

the intended role of ORD and its 

organizational components in providing 

scientific and technical knowledge to 

support national environmental 

programs, policies, and decisions, as well 

as to identify unnecessary geographical 

and functional duplication and 

significant gaps in ORD activities. 

National Research Council 

Interim Report of the Committee on 

Research and Peer Review in EPA 

(March 1995) 

ORD’s Vision 

ORD will provide the scientific foundation to 

support EPA’s mission. 

ORD’s Mission 

ORD’s mission is to: 

Perform research and development to identify, 

understand, and solve current and future 

environmental problems. 

Provide responsive technical support to EPA’s 

mission. 

Integrate the work of ORD’s scientific partners 

(other agencies, nations, private sector organizations, and academia). 

Provide leadership in addressing emerging environmental issues and in advancing the science 

and technology of risk assessment and risk management. 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 9 
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h Str a t e gy 

ORD’s Key Role Identifying Specific Research

Public and private sector institutions have long 

Topics 

been significant contributors to our nation’s environ- The objectives and activities listed in Part B of this 

mental and human health research agenda. EPA’s plan provide detail about how ORD will go about 

Office of Research and Development, however, is meeting its goals. Each objective and activity still 

unique among scientific institutions in this country represents a relatively broad research area. ORD, in combining research, analysis, and the integration therefore, has developed a priority-setting process of scientific information across the full spectrum of

health and ecological issues and across both risk and criteria, illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 and

assessment and risk management. This broad described below, for identifying specific research 

scope has resulted in scientific and engineering topics within the objective and activity areas that are 

expertise, physical facilities, and equipment that of primary importance to our vision, mission, and 

permit and encourage integrated multimedia and goals. Each year, we will use this priority-setting 

multidisciplinary research on environmental issues. process and criteria to identify high-priority

As part of a regulatory Agency that establishes national research topics that will help us achieve ORD’s

priorities and sets national standards, ORD research goals and objectives. is conducted to protect human and ecosystem

health in a cost-effective manner and to provide a We applied our new priority-setting process and

firm scientific and technical foundation for environ- criteria for the first time in 1995, when we used

mental decisions and standards. them to reexamine our ongoing research and 

identify important new initiatives. Based on this 

first application, we identified six high-priority 

ORD’s Long-Term Goals and research topics—some specific and others broadObjectives based—for the next few years. These six topics are 

described in Appendix I. 

ORD’s four mission areas translate into six Many topics will remain a high priority for several 

long-term, overarching goals that we will strive to years. Each year, working with our program 

meet in order to fulfill our mission (Table 2). Part B partners and external advisory bodies, we will 

of this plan describes these goals in detail and examine the previous year’s topics to add new 

breaks each goal down into a series of specific topics as appropriate and remove previous topics 

research objectives and activities that ORD will for which sufficient research has been conducted. pursue to achieve its goals. 

Table 2. ORD’s Long-Term Goals 

Mission Area Goals 

Perform research and development to identify, To develop scientifically sound approaches to assessing and 

understand, and solve current and future characterizing risks to human health and the environment. 

environmental problems. To integrate human health and ecological assessment methods into a 

comprehensive multimedia assessment methodology. 

To provide common sense and cost-effective approaches for 

preventing and managing risks. 

Provide responsive technical support of EPA’s To provide credible, state-of-the-art risk assessments, methods, 

mission. models, and guidance. 

Integrate the work of ORD’s scientific partners. To exchange reliable scientific, engineering, and risk assessment/risk 

management information among private and public stakeholders. 

Provide leadership in addressing emerging To provide leadership and encourage others to participate in 

environmental issues and in advancing the science identifying emerging environmental issues, characterizing the risks 

and technology of risk assessment and risk associated with these issues, and developing ways of preventing or 

management. reducing these risks. 

10 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h St r a t e gy 

Is the 

Topic Clearly 

Mandated?1 

Is 

the Topic 

Within ORD’s 

Mission and 

Goals? 

Apply Evaluation Criteria: 

• Human Health/Ecological Health 

(Use Comparative Risk Analyses 

as Appropriate) 

• Risk Management 

• Methods/Models 

Prioritized Research Topics 

Can 

ORD Make 

a Significant 

Contribution? 

Reject for 

ORD 

Funding2 

Reject for 

ORD 

Funding2 

No Yes

Determine Research Needs: 

• Effects 

• Exposure 

• Risk Characterization 

• Risk Management 

Conduct Research 

(In-house, Grant, Coop, Contract, etc.) 

Research Products 

No 

Yes 

No 

1If so, EPA may have no discretion to reject or delay this research. 2EPA program offices and regions may still choose to fund, using ORD labs, grants, contracts, etc., or a research source outside of ORD. 

Yes 

External Scientific Community Input: 

•EPA Science Advisory Board 

• National Research Council 

• Other Government Agencies 

•Private Sector 

• ORD National Laboratories and Centers 

• EPA Program Offices 

•EPA Regional Offices 

•Research Coordination Council 

Identify Research Topics and 

Evaluate Research Products 

Conduct External 

Peer Review of 

Extramural 

Research Proposals 

Figure 4. Setting Research Priorities 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 1 1
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h Str a t e gy 

Identifying Emerging Issues, 

Anticipatory Research, and 

Exploratory Research 

In recent years, EPA has begun moving beyond 

environmental regulation to environmental 

protection in its broadest sense, including 

anticipating and preventing problems before they 

mushroom into major concerns. To support EPA in 

this endeavor, ORD is evaluating the best means to 

anticipate tomorrow’s environmental problems and 

provide EPA with the necessary information to 

evaluate findings, interact with other agencies and 

organizations, and possibly act on early warnings of 

emerging environmental issues. 

The EPA Science Advisory Board’s January 1995 

report Beyond the Horizon: Using Foresight to Protect 

the Environmental Future suggests many useful 

measures we will evaluate for possible implementation. One measure we are currently 

considering is the creation of "lookout panels" 

comprised of individuals from inside and outside 

the federal government to identify, screen, evaluate, 

and prioritize emerging issues. As a first step in this 

direction, the National Research Council has 

established, at ORD’s request, a Committee on 

Research Opportunities and Priorities for EPA 

(ROPE). This committee is tasked with thinking 

creatively about ORD’s research areas and 

identifying high-priority research topics key to 

solving some of our nation’s most pressing current 

and future environmental problems. Such research 

could spark entirely new approaches to environmental management in the future. Each year, we 

will consider any high-priority topics related to 

anticipatory research as we review and revise our 

research agenda. 

• Have the problem's source(s) and risk been 

characterized sufficiently to develop risk 

management options? 

• Do risk management options (political, legal, 

socioeconomic, or technical) currently 

exist? If so, are they acceptable to 

stakeholders, implementable, reliable, and 

cost-effective? 

• Could new or improved technical solutions 

prevent or mitigate the risk efficiently, costeffectively, and in a manner acceptable to 

stakeholders? 

• Are other research organizations (e.g., 

agencies, industry) currently investigating/ 

developing these solutions or interested in 

working in partnership with ORD on these 

solutions? 

Risk Management Criteria 

• How broadly applicable is the proposed 

method or model expected to be? 

• To what extent will the proposed method or 

model facilitate or improve risk assessment 

or risk management? 

• How large is the anticipated user community 

for the proposed method or model? 

Methods/Models Criteria 

F 

O 

Po 

Apply When Appropriate 

Apply When Appropriate 

• What type of effect would the research 

investigate/mitigate and how severely 

might this effect impact humans or 

ecosystems? 

• Over what time scale might this effect 

occur? 

• How easily can the effect be reversed, 

and will it be passed on to future 

generations? 

• What level of human or ecological 

organization would be impacted by the 

effect? 

• On what geographic scale might this 

effect impact humans or ecosystems? 

Human Health and 

Ecological Health Criteria 

Figure 5. ORD Criteria for Evaluating and Ranking Potential Research Topics 

12 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h St r a t e gy 

ORD’s Priority-Setting Process 

ORD’s new priority-setting process, depicted in 

Figure 4, involves the following steps: 

First, we seek input from all parts of EPA, including ORD’s own researchers and staff. The 

Research Coordination Council, the Science 

Council, and Research Coordination Teams (see 

Appendix III) consisting of senior representatives 

from ORD’s National Laboratories and Centers, 

the EPA Program Offices, and EPA’s Regional Offices identify the most important and relevant 

areas for our research efforts. (As state and local 

governments play a larger role in environmental 

protection, their research needs must also be considered at this stage.) We also work with EPA’s 

Science Advisory Board, the National Research 

Council, and the private sector early in the planning process to obtain recommendations from the 

external scientific community regarding the 

major scientific directions and priorities for our 

research program. Finally, we consider the status 

and results of our recent research activities. Based 

on this information, ORD identifies potential research topics, for both intramural and extramural 

investments. 

We then separate the pool of potential topics into 

two categories: 

•	 Those that are clearly mandated because of 

statutory requirements or court orders (i.e., 

EPA may have no discretion to reject or delay 

the research). 

• All other topics. 

For all other topics, we narrow the pool by retaining only those that are within ORD’s mission and 

goals. 

•	 We then apply a series of human health, ecological health, and risk management criteria 

(Figure 5) to compare the mission-related 

topics according to their potential to support 

effective risk reduction. We use comparative 

risk analyses to help ascertain the most pressing environmental problems. We also apply 

criteria to consider whether the research 

would develop broadly applicable methods 

and models needed by EPA programs. 

Through this screening process, we set priorities among the research topics. 

•	 We then further narrow this pool of topics by 

retaining only those areas where ORD can 

make a significant contribution to environmental science. Factors we consider at this 

stage include: Is the work feasible from a scientific and resource perspective? Does ORD 

have access to the appropriate expertise? 

What contributions are other research organizations making to this area of research? 

For these remaining topics where ORD can 

make a significant contribution, as well as all 

nondiscretionary topics, we then define specific 

research and development projects by considering each topic in totality. For each topic, we 

determine what the research needs are within 

each component of the risk paradigm: effects (hazard 

identification and dose-response assessment), exposure assessment, risk characterization, and risk 

management. At this stage, we give priority to 

research that will make the greatest contribution 

to reducing the uncertainty associated with risk 

characterization, or will improve the effectiveness 

of risk management. 

This approach to strategic planning clearly indicates 

the following areas where ORD will reduce or 

eliminate resources: 

Exposure or effects research in areas of low risk. 

Risk reduction research in areas of low risk. 

Routine measurements and monitoring where 

R&D has been completed or that does not support R&D efforts. 

Criteria for Setting ORD Research 

Priorities 

A key component of ORD’s new planning process is 

the criteria we will use to set priorities among 

research topics. Three sets of criteria are used: 

human and ecological health criteria, risk 

management criteria, and methods/models criteria 

(Figure 5). These criteria, described below, are not 

set in concrete, nor are they universally applicable to 

all research areas. We will periodically revisit the 

criteria, and they likely will evolve with use and 

experience. Additional or alternative criteria may be 

used in some cases as appropriate. 

Human and Ecological Health Criteria 

ORD’s human and ecological health criteria are 

based on five broad categories outlined in the EPA 

Science Advisory Board’s 1990 report, Reducing Risk: 

Setting Priorities and Strategies for Environmental 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 13 
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h Str a t e gy 

Table 3. ORD’s Human Health and Ecological Health Criteria 

Ecological Health Human Health 

Severity of Response/ • Mortality • Mortality 

Function of Stressor • Morbidity • Morbidity 

• Degree of physical disruption 

Time Scale of Response • Immediate effects • Acute effects 

• Effects that will occur in the future • Subchronic effects 

• Chronic effects or effects with a long 

latency period 

Permanence of Response • Irreversible effects • Transgenerational effects 

• Effects that can be reversed only by human • Nontransgenerational effects 

intervention 

• Temporary effects that reverse naturally over 

a long time 

• Temporary effects that reverse naturally over 

a short time 

Level of Organization • Effects on an entire ecosystem/community • Effects on the general population 

• Effects on a single species • Effects on a subpopulation 

• Effects on a population within a single species • Effects on individuals 

• Effects on individual animals or organisms 

Extent of Response • Global effects 

• Ecoregional effects

1 

• Global effects 

• International effects 

• Effects on several localities • National effects 

• Localized effects • Effects on several localities 

• Localized effects 

1 An ecoregion is a geographic area that has similar topography, climate, and biota across the entire area. 

Protection: the severity, time scale, and permanence 

of the response; the level or organization where the 

response is expected to occur; and the geographic 

extent of the response. Table 3 lists the criteria that 

ORD has developed for each of these five categories. 

Risk Management Criteria 

Risk management criteria are applied to those 

research topics that concern risk management. 

These criteria, listed in Figure 5, are designed to give 

priority to research that will produce the most 

effective and useful risk management options. The 

criteria consider whether sufficient risk 

characterization information is available to set 

meaningful objectives for the risk management 

research; the availability, acceptability to 

stakeholders, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of 

existing options; the potential benefits of the 

proposed research; and whether other research 

organizations are already conducting or interested 

in this type of research. 

Methods/Models Criteria 

The methods/models criteria are applied to 

research concerning the development or application 

of methods or models for gathering or analyzing 

risk-related data. These criteria give priority to 

research that will likely produce the most useful 

results. The criteria consider how broadly the 

method or model would be used, the size of the 

anticipated user community, and the degree to 

which the method or model would improve risk 

assessment or risk management. 

14 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h St r a t e gy 

Strengths of ORD’s 

Priority-Setting Process and 

Criteria 

Our new process and criteria for setting research 

priorities have many strengths. They encompass 

both scientific and stakeholder priorities. They 

ensure that ORD will continue to fully support EPA 

in fulfilling its mandates. They focus our resources 

where we can make the most significant 

contributions. And, they enable ORD to generate 

practical, credible information and tools for 

risk-based decision-making. 

Translating ORD’s Strategic Plan 

Into a Research Program 

The steps involved in translating ORD’s Strategic 

Plan into a research program are illustrated in 

Figure 6. Once we have identified our high-priority 

research topics, we develop and implement a 

research program based on these topics. This 

involves: 

Developing science research plans. 

Deciding whether the work will be conducted inhouse or extramurally. (ORD’s research program 

is comprised of intramural and extramural research; however, resources for these two areas are 

kept separate.) 

For intramural research, developing budget operating plans and laboratory implementation plans. 

For extramural research, selecting and implementing the appropriate mechanisms to access the 

external scientific community. 

Developing Science Research Plans 

For each selected research topic, Research 

Coordination Teams composed of ORD scientists 

and engineers as well as representatives of EPA’s 

Program and Regional Offices develop science 

research plans that: 

Lay out the major research components and directions we will pursue over the next few years. 

Describe how these components fit into the risk 

assessment/risk management paradigm. 

Delineate the major outputs to be produced over 

the next three years. 

Research plans are important tools for measuring 

accountability because they make clear to our clients 

and stakeholders the rationale for and intended 

products of our research. They also enable ORD to 

clearly track its progress toward achieving its goals, 

as required by the Government Performance and 

Results Act of 1993. 

We consult ORD’s main research clients—the EPA 

Program and Regional Offices—to ensure that the 

final research plans clearly include the research 

products they will need to fulfill their responsibilities. 

In addition, all our research plans are subjected to 

rigorous external peer review. 

Deciding Who Will Do the Work 

After modifying the science research plans in 

response to peer reviewer comments, ORD then 

decides whether the work would best be 

accomplished internally at ORD or externally 

through one of several mechanisms: grants to 

universities or nonprofit centers; Cooperative 

Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs) 

with the private sector; cooperative agreements with 

another government agency or universities; or by 

contract. Many factors influence this decision, 

including: 

Which organization has the most appropriate expertise? 

What type of work is called for (risk assessment 

and regulatory support work are generally retained in-house, whereas research work may be 

done externally)? 

How urgently are the research products needed 

(since some mechanisms are faster than others)? 

Would there be value in involving multiple institutions? 

To what extent can we specify what is needed 

(contracts)? To what extent must we rely on the 

creativity and insight of the researcher (grants)? 

What is our available in-house capacity? 

What are the opportunities for leverage? 

Internal Research 

Development of budget operating plans. For internal 

research, ORD integrates the science research plans 

with budgetary decisions in order to allocate 

resources to the selected research topics by 

laboratory program and research component. This 

helps ensure that our priority-setting decisions 

(guided by science) also reflect budgetary realities. 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 15 
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h Str a t e gy 

ORD’S STRATEGIC PLAN 

Science 

Research 

Plans 

Budget 

Operating 

Plans 

Laboratory 

Implementation 

Plans 

Program 

Review and 

Evaluation 

Vision 

Mission 

Long-Term 

Goals 

Objectives 

Activities To 

Meet the 

Objectives 

Strategic 

Principles 

Role of 

Science 

at EPA 

PrioritySetting 

Process 

and 

Criteria 

= EPA Program and Regional Office Involvement 

= External Scientific Community Involvement 

Requests for 

Applications 

Peer Review 

of Proposals 

Award of 

Grants or 

Cooperative 

Agreements 

Intramural 

Research 

HighPriority 

Research 

Projects 

Figure 6. Translating ORD’s Strategic Plan Into a Research Program 

Development of laboratory implementation plans. 

Based on the science research plans and budgetary 

decisions, ORD’s Laboratories and Centers develop 

detailed plans for implementing each area of 

research to be undertaken internally. These 

laboratory implementation plans provide a 

blueprint for Laboratory and Center work and form 

the basis for managerial oversight and guidance. 

Extramural Research 

Extramural research is conducted via grants, 

cooperative agreements, CRADAs, or contracts. 

Rigorous external peer review is a key mechanism 

we use to evaluate both the proposals for and 

results of external research. 

One of ORD’s primary mechanisms for involving 

external scientists is the Science to Achieve Results 

16 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h St r a t e gy 

(STAR) program. STAR targets the best scientists 

from universities and nonprofit centers because 

they are an integral and important part of the 

environmental research community. STAR consists 

of focused Requests for Applications (RFAs), 

investigator-initiated exploratory research grants, 

graduate fellowships, and several "critical mass" 

environmental research centers. 

The bulk of the STAR program derives from RFAs 

that focus on specific research needs to support 

the Agency. Working with EPA’s Program and 

Regional Offices, Research Coordination Teams 

write these RFAs to be consistent with ORD’s 

Strategic Plan and science research plans, and 

complementary to ORD’s in-house work. The 

RFAs are announced annually to scientists at U.S. 

academic and nonprofit institutions. Proposals 

from the external scientific community are 

peer-reviewed and projects are then selected for 

funding through grants or cooperative 

agreements. ORD leverages the STAR program 

resources by jointly funding research with other 

federal agencies. Appendix IV shows how the 

fiscal year 1996 RFA topic areas relate to ORD’s 

high-priority research topics. 

Measures of Success 

In general, the success of a research organization 

can be measured in several ways: by the number 

of articles published in prestigious scientific 

journals, by the number of times that articles 

written by the organization’s scientists are cited in 

other journal articles, and so on. However, for a 

mission-oriented organization like ORD, measures 

of the extent that we help and support EPA in 

meeting its goals are equally crucial. In measuring 

the success of this Strategic Plan, the quality of 

ORD’s work, and the usefulness of our research 

products, we will use the following measures of 

success. 

Significance: Is ORD Working on 

the Right Issues? 

This is a measure that the EPA Program Offices 

and Regions and the broad scientific community 

can help us judge. For our research, development, 

and support efforts to be useful, we must work on 

the most important environmental issues and 

target areas for research that will significantly 

improve risk assessment and/or risk management 

in the Agency and elsewhere. Peer review by 

scientists in the external scientific community will 

assist us in judging significance. 

Relevance: Is ORD Providing Data 

That the Agency Can Use? 

This question can best be answered by the rest of 

the Agency and is best judged by the degree to 

which ORD’s contributions support EPA 

decisions. ORD will strive to ensure that its work 

is useful to the Agency and has a positive impact 

on advancing EPA’s mission. 

Credibility: Is ORD Doing Research 

of the Highest Quality? 

ORD’s credibility can best be judged by the external 

scientific community through such mechanisms as 

peer review of ORD products, reviews of programs 

at the ORD Laboratories, peer-reviewed journal 

articles, scientific citations, and external recognition 

of both ORD and its people. 

Timeliness: Is ORD Meeting EPA’s 

Expert Consultation and Assessment 

Needs in a Timely Manner, Providing 

Research Products According to 

Schedule, and Addressing Long-Term 

Issues With Adequate Forethought 

and Preparation? 

The first part of this question can best be answered 

by EPA’s Program Offices and Regions as they 

determine whether ORD consultations and 

assessments are being provided in time to be 

optimally useful for Agency decisions. The middle 

part of this question can be answered by ORD 

managers and EPA’s Program Offices and Regions 

through annual program reviews and other 

activities. The final aspect of timeliness is more 

subjective and therefore more difficult to assess. 

ORD has accepted the challenge of anticipating 

important environmental issues that are just 

emerging and may not become critical problems 

until well into the next century. The U.S. public is 

the ultimate judge of how successful ORD has been 

in this effort. ORD will strive to regularly gather the 

public’s view on this issue. 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 17 
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h Str a t e gy 

Mechanisms for Evaluation and 

Accountability 

ORD has implemented, or plans to implement, 

several mechanisms for evaluating its performance, 

communicating progress and results, and measuring 

success. These include: 

Annual research program reviews, jointly organized by ORD’s Research Coordination Teams and 

EPA’s Program and Regional Offices, that present 

to EPA senior managers the entire EPA research 

portfolio in a given area. These joint reviews 

focus on the status and accomplishments of the 

ORD research program to ensure that ORD’s 

research continues to meet ORD and client objectives. They also present the ongoing research 

being conducted by the Program Offices and 

Regions so that the total research agenda can be 

viewed. The objectives of these reviews are to 

evaluate progress in completing planned research 

projects, to track and evaluate research results, 

and to generally obtain feedback on ORD’s work 

and any adjustments that may be needed to help 

us better meet our clients’ needs. These reviews 

complement, rather than supplant, external peer 

reviews (see below). 

Annual ORD review of its science research plans. 

ORD examines its research plans annually and adjusts them if warranted by our research results, 

by changes in EPA or national priorities, or by 

emerging issues and concerns. 

External peer reviews of ORD science research 

plans and products and overall progress in meeting our goals and objectives. These reviews are 

conducted at key steps in our research planning 

and implementation process. 

External peer reviews of research proposals received from extramural research scientists in 

response to the Requests for Applications. 

External peer reviews of ORD Laboratories and 

of ORD’s use of peer review through our Board of 

Scientific Councilors under the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act. 

Annual science workshops designed to make the 

progress and results of all ORD research (including the external grants program) accessible to 

EPA’s Program Offices and Regions. 

A data tracking system, part of ORD’s Management Information System, which tracks resources 

and progress. 

Through these mechanisms, ORD will strive to 

develop and conduct the most responsive, 

scientifically justifiable research program possible 

within the constraints of our available resources. 

Closing Out Completed Work 

Through the continuing involvement of the 

Research Coordination Teams and the annual 

program reviews mentioned above, ORD will assess 

ongoing research to evaluate: 

Whether the research is on track for meeting its 

goals and schedule. 

When the research should be concluded. 

Prudent management of evolving priorities and 

declining resources requires that we clearly define 

our research and conclude it within an appropriate 

timeframe, so we can begin work on new priorities 

without delay. 

Technical Support 

ORD is refining its process for providing technical 

support to EPA’s Program Offices. Using an 

Interoffice Management Work Group and the 

Environmental Monitoring Management Council, 

we are working to: 

Define technical support/assistance. 

Create a plan for new and existing technical assistance. 

Create transition and exit strategies for some technical assistance areas where appropriate. 

Areas where technical support will continue include 

development of new methods, models, and 

measures or approaches; litigation; regulatory 

support; and scientific advice. ORD will not 

continue to conduct routine monitoring and quality 

assurance/quality control for studies other than its 

own, but will design transition and exit strategies so 

that the Program Offices and Regions are prepared 

to assume these responsibilities. 

Human Resources and 

Infrastructure 

The success of ORD’s Strategic Plan depends on an 

adequately funded and well-managed 

infrastructure, including ORD’s work force, systems, 

and equipment. ORD’s recognition of the 

importance of our infrastructure is reflected in our 

strategic principles (Table 1), which highlight the 

18 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h St r a t e gy 

critical role of infrastructure “to achieve and 

maintain an outstanding research and development 

program in environmental science.” 

Because we recognize that scientific excellence must 

be built on a strong foundation, we are committed 

to constant improvement of our organization and 

infrastructure. As we implement this Strategic Plan, 

we will continue to devote leadership and resources 

to developing and fostering our work force, 

modelling effective management, and creating a 

supportive work environment. 

ORD’s Work Force 

By far the most important component of ORD’s 

infrastructure is our work force of scientists, 

engineers, managers, other environmental 

professionals, and support staff. ORD can achieve 

its vision of providing the scientific foundation to 

support EPA’s mission only if we can attract, 

nurture, and support a productive work force. 

ORD’s strategic principles (Table 1) emphasize the 

importance of nurturing and supporting “the 

development of outstanding scientists, engineers, 

and other environmental professionals at EPA.” 

The cutting edge nature of research and 

development at ORD places great demands on our 

scientists and engineers to continually upgrade their 

skills and knowledge in response to and 

anticipation of new scientific developments. 

Therefore, our work force support must include an 

effective human resources program that encourages 

an increasingly diverse cadre of employees to 

continuously learn new skills and a career 

development program that promotes career 

development in directions congruent with ORD’s 

mission. In addition, we must anticipate work force 

needs and recruit new, culturally diverse employees 

with the appropriate skills and experience to 

support ORD’s mission. 

ORD’s recent reorganization has introduced a new 

organizational structure (see Appendix II) and 

staffing pattern into ORD. For example, our new 

organization eliminates certain mid-level 

management positions and broadens the control 

span of many supervisors. This flattened 

organizational structure will require a team-based, 

matrix-management approach to replace our former, 

more hierarchical approach to management. 

ORD is addressing these needs and challenges by 

taking several steps to ensure a productive, effective 

work force. These include: 

Developing and implementing innovative, effective management approaches to accomplishing 

ORD’s mission, such as matrix management and 

team-based operation. 

Supporting senior managers, via training and 

other mechanisms, in implementing these new 

management approaches. 

Developing tools to accurately assess current job 

effectiveness and determine development needs. 

Providing training and development programs to 

advance the knowledge and skills of ORD’s staff. 

Providing effective career management support 

with an emphasis on self-directed career planning (e.g., through mentoring, in-placement and 

out-placement services, and career counseling 

and development services). 

Creating opportunities for professional and personal growth. 

Taking measures to maintain and enhance the scientific and technical competence and quality of 

ORD staff. 

Building and maintaining solid linkages to the external scientific community, with an emphasis on 

scientist-to-scientist interactions (e.g., through 

ORD-sponsored scientific workshops). 

Providing opportunities for ORD scientists and 

engineers to contribute, as respected members of 

the scientific community and leaders in the environmental sciences, to the general scientific 

literature and community (e.g., through publication of scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals 

and participation in national and international scientific conferences). 

Systems and Equipment 

For our work force to successfully implement the 

Strategic Plan, we must provide them with: 

Safe, environmentally sound, well-maintained, 

state-of-the-art laboratories, equipment, and 

supplies. 

Environmental data management systems and 

advanced communications systems. 

Upgraded technical and fiscal information systems to support the conduct of research, 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 19 
O R D ’ s Re s e a r c h Str a t e gy 

management, planning, budgeting, and accountability functions. 

A host of other management, administrative, and 

systems support. 

As we implement our Strategic Plan, we will 

monitor work force needs and strive to provide 

other programs, mechanisms, and support as 

necessary to ensure that our work force has the tools 

and equipment it needs to achieve ORD’s vision and 

goals. 

Challenges for the Future 

The 1995 peer review of the Strategic Plan 

produced many useful recommendations that 

ORD incorporated in this final version of the plan 

(see History of This Document on page 2). ORD is 

continuing to study other peer reviewer 

recommendations for possible use in future 

updates of our Strategic Plan. Recommendations 

we are considering include: 

Periodic reexamination of the plan in light of 

changes in the risk assessment/risk management 

framework. Reviewers recommended that ORD 

periodically re-examine the basis for the Strategic 

Plan to accommodate ongoing changes in risk assessment concepts generally, and in the risk 

assessment/risk management framework in particular. Such reexamination is a central feature of 

the process envisioned by this plan, and ORD is 

committed to the concept that its risk-based priority-setting system will evolve with evolving risk 

assessment and risk management concepts. 

Reviewers also commented that the risk 

assessment paradigm has limited applicability for 

some EPA programs, thus limiting the utility of a 

plan based on the paradigm. ORD recognizes the 

validity of this comment in particular cases. As we 

implement this Strategic Plan, we will be working 

in close collaboration with EPA’s Program and 

Regional Offices to ensure that our research agenda 

is tailored to the particular programs and priorities 

of each EPA office. Based on this experience, we will 

consider modifications to the plan over time to 

accommodate these special circumstances, as 

necessary. 

Attention to cost-benefit considerations. Reviewers recommended that ORD give more attention 

to using information on economics and potential 

costs and benefits in its research prioritization 

process. 

Value of information analysis. Reviewers recommended that EPA undertake a "value of 

information" analysis and conduct a pilot project 

on a selected research topic to determine where 

to make our best time and resource investments, 

and to identify potential customers. 

Expansion of strategic goals. Reviewers recommended that ORD expand its strategic goals to 

give additional attention to economics, costbenefit analyses (including incentives), 

community-based environmental protection, 

cumulative risk, environmental justice, and 

multi-pathway analyses. 

Capacity and incentives for long-term research. 

Reviewers recommended that ORD give more attention to building capacity and incentives for 

long-term environmental research. 

Each of these areas warrants special attention and 

study. 

20 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
Part B 

ORD’s 

Long-Term 

Goals and 

Objectives 

Part B 

ORD’s 

Long-Term 

Goals and 

Objectives 

To help focus selection of research priorities, 

ORD has defined a set of long-term 

research objectives within each of the six 

broad ORD goal areas listed in Table 2. 

Variations in the specificity of the objectives listed 

below reflect differences in the maturity and 

complexity of the science underlying each objective. 

Many of the objectives include a set of activities 

(listed under the objective) that ORD intends to 

undertake to achieve the objective given sufficient 

resources. This detail allows ORD’s internal and 

external stakeholders to understand specifically 

how ORD plans to accomplish its objectives. 

Designed to be robust and stable, the goals and 

research objectives described here will guide 

decisions about research directions for years to 

come. Each year ORD senior management, working 

with the Research Coordination Teams, will apply 

ORD’s priority-setting process (described in Part A) 

to review current topics and identify specific new 

research topics that best further these objectives. We 

would not expect to make major changes in 

priorities every year, but we will evaluate the 

The Agency must improve the 

scientific data and analytical 

methodologies needed to make 

sound decisions; to set risk-based 

priorities for protecting health and 

the environment; to support a new 

emphasis on protecting the health 

of the nation’s ecosystems (such as 

forests, lakes, and wetlands); and to 

contribute to international 

environmental efforts. 

The Expert Panel on the Role of 

Science at EPA 

Safeguarding the Future: Credible 

Science, Credible Decisions 

continuing timeliness and importance of our 

research topics on an annual basis. The resulting set 

of research topics will constitute the basis for ORD’s 

research program. Appendix I describes the first set 

of high-priority research topics that resulted from 

applying this process. 

Goal 1: To Develop Scientifically 

Sound Approaches to Assessing and 

Characterizing Risks to Human Health 

and the Environment 

Risk assessments and the associated risk 

management decisions are often based on limited 

data obtained in species or under exposure 

conditions that differ from real-world 

circumstances. Inevitably, scientists must extrapolate 

from these data sets to the human or environmental 

setting of concern to characterize human health or 

ecological risks. Extrapolation injects uncertainty 

into risk characterizations, which EPA relies on to 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 21 
O R D ’ s Long-Te r m Goals and O b j e ctives 

develop risk management strategies and research 

priorities. 

Greater certainty in risk assessment would improve 

the efficiency and effectiveness of EPA’s risk 

management efforts and provide a better foundation 

for establishing the Agency’s research priorities. 

ORD, therefore, will work to improve existing risk 

assessment data, methods, and models and to 

develop new methods for high-risk areas where 

data currently are inadequate. Already, for example, 

the science has advanced sufficiently to warrant 

more refined approaches to risk assessment in 

several areas, including ecological impacts, effects 

on vulnerable subpopulations of people or 

environmental species, and noncancer effects in 

humans. As ORD develops improved methods, we 

will work with other parts of the Agency to ensure 

that these methods are credible and used in ways 

that are scientifically sound. 

In recent years, we have begun to recognize the 

interdependence of ecosystems and to understand 

that we must consider the landscape as a whole to 

maintain the integrity of vital ecosystems into the 

next century. While continuing to develop and 

refine scientifically sound approaches to assessing 

risks to human health, we intend to expand our 

ecological research. For example, we intend to study 

concurrent impacts of multiple anthropogenic and 

natural stressors and to develop techniques to 

examine nonchemical stressors. The results of this 

research—including enhanced data on and 

understanding of ecosystems at multiple levels of 

organization and geographic and temporal 

scales—will provide a scientific foundation for 

developing risk assessment/risk management 

strategies and techniques for restoring vital 

ecosystems (see Goal 3). 

Objectives 

Within this goal area, ORD will work to: 

Replace the current approach to assessing noncancer health risks with more scientifically 

grounded, biologically plausible approaches and 

models. This will include: 

•	 Studying the heightened sensitivity/susceptibility of certain subpopulations (e.g., children). 

•	 Studying the predictive relationship between 

toxicologic endpoints and human disease (e.g., 

to facilitate animal-to-human extrapolation). 

•	 Developing integrated mechanistic information to support biologically credible health 

assessments. 

Develop methods and models founded on measurement data and sound theoretical concepts that 

can be used to better characterize, diagnose, and 

predict total human exposures to chemical and 

microbial hazards, to improve and validate 

exposure models, and to reduce uncertainties in 

exposure assessments, risk assessments, and risk 

management decisions. This will include: 

•	 Determining the relationship between exposure sources and multiple exposure pathways, 

including characterizing the sources and determining the influence of transport, 

transformation, and fate on exposure. 

•	 Developing and evaluating an integrated 

mass-balance/multimedia/multipathway 

exposure model that incorporates state-of-thescience pollutant fate and transport process 

descriptions for use in risk assessment. 

•	 Developing and applying exposure measurement methods to reduce the uncertainty in 

exposure-dose relationships, especially analytical methods for identifying and enumerating 

microbial pathogens and biomarker and 

chemical marker methods for estimating sitespecific exposures. 

•	 Continuing activity pattern research to reduce 

uncertainty in models and assessments that 

predict exposure levels, frequencies, and distributions in populations. 

•	 Delineating and quantifying the role of 

exposure in the development of effects in 

individuals and populations, including 

susceptible populations. 

Establish approaches to characterizing and understanding risks to ecosystems and, in cooperation 

with other agencies, develop a national, multiscale, integrated environmental status and trends 

program. This will include: 

•	 Developing indicators of the condition of representative ecosystems. 

•	 Supporting hypothesis-driven, long-term 

monitoring of important exposure and effects 

indicators at national reference sites. 

•	 Characterizing national land-cover/land-use 

patterns and developing measures of land22 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
O R D ’ s Long -Te r m G o a l s a nd O b jective s 

scape condition at multiple scales for specific 

sites, watersheds, landscapes, and ecoregions. 

•	 Conducting pilot studies in ecologically important regions (e.g., the mid-Atlantic Highlands) 

to evaluate alternative monitoring designs 

and to develop techniques to integrate data 

across geographic scales. 

Understand and predict ecosystem exposures, 

responses, and vulnerabilities to high-risk chemical and nonchemical stressors at multiple levels 

of biological organization and geographic scales. 

This will require: 

•	 Developing ecological criteria for water (both 

freshwater and marine), air, soil, and sediment 

quality (1) as needed for the Agency’s risk 

assessment and risk reduction efforts, and (2) 

to measure progress toward meeting environmental goals. 

•	 Developing diagnostic tools at all levels of 

biological organization for retrospective 

assessments and for characterizing the key 

sources and stressors in multistressed ecosystems. 

•	 Developing tools for predicting the vulnerability of ecosystems at multiple geographic and 

temporal scales to ecosystem stressors (e.g., 

climate change, altered land use, changes in 

air, soil, or water quality). 

Goal 2: To Integrate Human Health 

and Ecological Assessment Methods 

Into a Comprehensive Multimedia 

Assessment Methodology 

Human health risk assessments and ecological risk 

assessments have different histories at EPA and have 

traditionally been thought of as involving different 

disciplines. As a result, EPA has developed and used 

separate methodologies for those assessments. As 

we have begun to take a more integrated view of 

risk, however, we have noted that human health 

and ecological risk assessments actually make use of 

similar types of data and science. We have realized 

that we must use a more integrated, multimedia 

approach to risk assessment if we are to understand 

and reduce many current and future risks. We will 

therefore conduct research to develop an accessible, 

seamless, common methodology for combined 

human health and ecological risk assessments so 

that we can provide decision-makers at all levels 

with the integrated view of risk that they need to 

make sound decisions. 

Objectives 

Within this goal area, ORD will work to: 

Integrate fate and transport modeling techniques 

with biologically based models needed in human 

health and ecological risk assessment. 

Integrate human health and ecological exposure 

and trends monitoring research. 

Better understand the relationship between 

human health and the condition of ecosystems 

(e.g., to assess the impact of human consumption 

of contaminated fish or wildlife or the influence 

of landscape characteristics and climate interactions on disease vectors such as mosquitos, ticks, 

and rodents). 

Develop tools and techniques to facilitate the 

assessment of relative risks to human health and 

the environment. 

Harmonize extrapolation methodologies for relating data on toxicity mechanisms for endocrine 

disruptors, immunotoxins, developmental hazards, and other chemicals with effects in sensitive 

human subpopulations, wildlife, and aquatic 

organisms. 

Improve extrapolation models by integrating 

toxicologic and mechanistic data obtained in 

laboratory and field investigations (epidemiology 

and ecology). 

Identify and validate wildlife species as sentinels 

for human health risks. 

Goal 3: To Provide Common Sense, 

Cost-Effective Approaches for 

Preventing and Managing Risks 

To enhance the practicality and cost-effectiveness of 

the products of ORD’s risk management research, 

we are changing the way we study pollution control 

and prevention, contaminated site and spill 

remediation, and technology development. To the 

extent possible, we are integrating our air, water, 

and waste-related research, and we are increasingly 

focusing on emerging, high-risk problems—all so 

that we can better help regions, communities, and 

the private sector analyze pollution problems and 

achieve risk reductions efficiently and costeffectively. This common sense approach will seek 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 23 
O R D ’ s Long-Te r m Goals and O b j e ctives 

to maximize the health and environmental benefits 

of risk management by focusing risk management 

research on those aspects of a process or situation 

that cause the greatest risks. 

To that end, our pollution prevention and control 

research will now focus on multimedia life-cycle 

analyses, “green” technologies, and pollution 

prevention methods that small- and medium-sized 

companies can use to achieve significant reductions 

in risk across media. Our maturing site and spill 

remediation program will concentrate on 

developing cleanup options for complex risk 

situations and faster, lower cost natural recovery 

systems. In addition, we will continue forging 

partnerships with the private sector to analyze 

high-risk needs and to develop, evaluate, and verify 

new pollution prevention and risk reduction 

technologies. 

We have also begun efforts in ecosystem restoration 

and cost-benefit assessment. Our ecosystem 

restoration research (connected to that described 

under Goal 1 above) will focus on developing and 

demonstrating principles, technologies, and 

guidance materials that regions and communities 

can use to help restore local ecosystems. Our 

cost-benefit assessment research will focus on 

developing a systematic approach to identifying and 

reporting the benefits and costs of risk management 

technologies and alternatives. Such an approach is 

needed to satisfy the rapidly growing demand for 

cost-benefit analyses to support environmental 

decision-making—a demand engendered by the 

rising cost of environmental protection in an era of 

limited resources. 

Objectives 

Within this goal area, ORD will work to: 

Provide cost-effective risk management technologies and approaches for high-risk threats to 

human health and the environment. This will 

include: 

•	 Characterizing sources of fine-particulate 

emissions, air toxics, and ozone precursors, 

and identifying, adapting, and developing risk 

management approaches that control emissions to acceptable levels. 

•	 Providing cost-effective, reliable technologies 

and management approaches that reduce 

drinking water exposures to disinfectant 

by-products while protecting water supplies 

from microbial contamination. 

•	 Providing communities with proven technologies for wet weather flow watershed 

management, wellhead protection, and restoration of contaminated areas. 

Provide pollution prevention approaches and 

analytical tools to the private sector. This will 

include: 

•	 Providing risk-based systems and tools to 

analyze options for multimedia pollution 

prevention for major industrial sectors. 

•	 Identifying and evaluating the performance 

and costs for pollution prevention options for 

small- and medium-sized businesses. 

Develop advanced air quality simulation models 

that relate sources, emissions, and receptors. This 

will include: 

•	 Developing models based on high-performance computing systems to predict the fate of 

pollutants through the multimedia pathways 

leading to human and ecosystem exposure to 

these pollutants. 

Catalyze the development and use of cost-effective risk management approaches for the most 

difficult and costly environmental management 

problems. This will include: 

•	 Developing cost-effective techniques for remediating soils and ground water contaminated 

with nonaqueous-phase liquids, chlorinated 

and other hazardous organics, and toxic 

metals. 

•	 Developing cost-effective techniques for remediating contaminated sediments. 

•	 Verifying the performance of innovative risk 

reduction technologies and accelerating their 

commercial use. 

Provide cost-estimating/engineering assessment 

tools and methods for more accurate and meaningful cost-benefit analyses. This will include: 

•	 Developing data standards and cost reporting 

protocols. 

•	 Developing methods and cost analyses for 

emerging, high-risk environmental problems 

(e.g., fine particulates, drinking water, wet 

weather flow controls). 

24 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
O R D ’ s Long -Te r m G o a l s a nd O b jective s 

Develop and provide risk management alternatives to maintain and/or restore ecosystems. This 

will include: 

•	 Developing diagnostic and characterization 

methods and protocols for use in determining 

appropriate ecosystem restoration goals and 

requirements for specific sites, watersheds, 

landscapes, and ecoregions. 

•	 Identifying, testing, and providing risk management approaches and technical guidance 

for restoring riparian zones, remediating contaminated soils and sediments, and applying 

best management practices to restore or maintain ecosystems in urban, suburban, and 

urbanizing areas. 

•	 Developing methods to restore and maintain 

soil ecosystems. 

Goal 4: To Provide Credible, 

State-of-the-Science Risk Assessments, 

Methods, Models, and Guidance 

ORD continues to be a national leader in the field of 

risk analysis of human health and ecological effects 

and will continue to serve as a catalyst for advances 

in the science of risk assessment. ORD will achieve 

this goal by working to facilitate cooperation and 

the exchange of ideas between and among federal, 

state, and local scientists as well as scientists in the 

environmental, industrial, and academic 

communities. In addition, ORD will focus on three 

primary activities: 

Using an open and participatory process, ORD 

will conduct timely, state-of-the-art risk assessments. These assessments either will serve as 

prototypes demonstrating new approaches to risk 

assessment or will respond to Agency needs by 

assessing multimedia, multiprogram, or contentious or sensitive issues. 

ORD will support other risk assessment efforts by 

providing guidance, consultation, training, and 

information products to assist colleagues, both 

inside and outside EPA, in conducting their own 

risk assessments. These efforts will respond 

directly to the needs of the risk assessment 

community and will target areas of uncertainty in 

the science and conduct of risk assessment. 

ORD will improve the state-of-the-science of risk 

assessment by developing scientifically sound 

and defensible approaches for incorporating and 

integrating data and models developed by ORD 

and the general scientific community into risk 

assessment efforts. 

ORD will integrate human health and ecological 

concerns into all these activities. 

Objectives 

Within this goal area, ORD will work to: 

Prepare risk assessments for those stressors currently considered of high risk to humans and the 

environment. This will include: 

•	 Assessing ubiquitous pollutants in the air that 

affect human health (e.g., fine particles, ozone). 

•	 Assessing the risks associated with highly 

toxic and persistent environmental contaminants (e.g., chlorinated dioxins, mercury). 

•	 Assessing the risks to ecosystems from nonchemical stressors (e.g., habitat loss and UvB 

due to stratospheric ozone depletion). 

•	 Conducting comparative risk assessment of 

competing risks (e.g., those posed by microorganisms in drinking water versus those posed 

by disinfection by-products). 

Complete development of new cancer risk guidelines and other guidelines and provide support to 

the Program Offices and Regions to facilitate their 

implementation. This will include: 

•	 Developing and supporting the implementation of guidelines for assessing the ecological 

impacts of environmental stressors. 

•	 Supporting the implementation of new guidelines for cancer, neurotoxicity, and 

reproductive risks. 

Provide expert advice and technical support to 

EPA staff, other agencies, and EPA stakeholders. 

This effort will include: 

•	 Integrating scientific and technical information from ORD Laboratories and other sources 

to provide a sound scientific base and technical support for Agency decisions and policy. 

•	 Developing and supporting the implementation of guidelines for assessing the ecological 

impacts of environmental stressors. 

•	 Supporting the implementation of new 

guidelines for cancer, neurotoxicity, and 

reproductive risks. 

•	 Supporting chemical- and site-specific risk 

assessments for criteria air pollutants, 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 25 
O R D ’ s Long-Te r m Goals and O b j e ctives 

•	 hazardous air pollutants, waste sites, and 

drinking water. 

•	 Providing training in risk assessment to state 

and local stakeholders. 

•	 Continuing to support and improve the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) and 

expert systems such as Risk Assistant. 

•	 Assuring adequate quality assurance for all 

research, testing, and applications. 

Develop methods and assess methods developed 

by others for providing quality-assured data for 

environmental assessment. This will include: 

•	 Supporting the development of models that 

can be readily used by Regions and states. 

Goal 5: To Exchange Reliable 

Scientific, Engineering, and Risk 

Assessment/Risk Management 

Information Among Private and Public 

Stakeholders 

Effective risk assessments and risk management 

decisions depend on the availability of accurate 

sources of scientific and engineering data and 

information, risk assessments, analytical methods, 

and guidance. As a leader in the development of 

such methods and information, we are committed to 

providing, coordinating, and exchanging expertise 

and information to decision-makers inside and 

outside EPA. We will work to identify and fulfill 

user needs by providing appropriate tools and 

information through interconnected communication 

and technical support networks. 

Our goal is to facilitate information that is impartial, 

up-to-date, and relevant to user needs. To that end, 

we must improve and update existing information 

systems and develop new systems and information 

transfer solutions to meet future needs. Working 

with other EPA offices, we will help to develop an 

operational communication and information 

transfer system for on-line scientific, engineering, 

and risk information that can be accessed by 

professionals or by members of the public who are 

involved in community-level analysis and 

decision-making. 

Objectives 

Within this goal area, ORD will work to: 

Provide current and relevant technical information to a broad user community. This will include: 

•	 Developing plain-language guidance and 

training that adequately and clearly communicate the appropriate use of technical 

information and that describe limitations and 

inappropriate applications. 

•	 Developing electronic communication and 

other information dissemination systems that 

can be accessed and understood by broad and 

diverse user communities. 

Complete the development of the new cancer risk 

guidelines and provide support to the program 

offices and regions to facilitate their implementation. 

Maintain and increase support for existing scientific, engineering, and risk information systems. 

This will include: 

•	 Ensuring that current information resources 

are accurate, relevant, and up-to-date. 

•	 Developing electronic and other methods of 

bringing databases (e.g., IRIS, ECOTOX) to 

state and local governments and other stakeholders. 

•	 Developing data management systems that 

make data readily available to all ORD Labs 

and Centers, EPA Program Offices and 

Regions, and states. 

Goal 6: To Provide Leadership and 

Encourage Others To Participate in 

Identifying Emerging Environmental 

Issues, Characterizing the Risks 

Associated With These Issues, and 

Developing Ways of Preventing or 

Reducing These Risks 

With our very broad missions, we in ORD and the 

Agency as a whole must have some means of 

evaluating, comparing, and setting priorities for 

competing needs. We use risk as the common 

26 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
O R D ’ s Long -Te r m G o a l s a nd O b jective s 

denominator for comparing divergent issues and 

making decisions. Our focus on relative risks and 

risk-based decision-making demands that we look 

beyond the obvious problems of yesterday and 

today to identify and assess issues just over the 

horizon; we must determine the potential risks that 

these issues pose and work to solve them. Often, 

however, few data exist to support assessments of 

emerging issues. Thus, we must develop and 

disseminate data and methods to permit credible 

decision-making in the face of very high uncertainty. 

At ORD, we are committed to working with other 

groups within EPA, the Agency’s Science Advisory 

Board (SAB), the National Academies of Science and 

Engineering (NAS and NAE), and others to develop 

new ways of analyzing emerging issues. We 

recognize that ORD cannot and should not assume 

leadership in every area of environmental science. 

Our challenge is to be cognizant of where others are 

already leading and where ORD should undertake 

that role. 

EPA’s general approach to environmental 

management—assessing risks, evaluating the 

potential benefits of risk reduction, and devising 

risk management and risk reduction strategies 

accordingly—is increasingly being adopted by 

others in this country and abroad. More than any 

other organization, ORD has been in the forefront of 

developing the risk assessment and risk 

management methods that undergird this 

risk-based approach to environmental management. 

More than any other organization, therefore, we 

should be expected to provide leadership in the 

development of new, more credible ways of 

comparing and ranking risks. In providing this 

leadership, we renew our commitment to 

encouraging and enabling others in the public and 

private sectors to participate in identifying, 

characterizing, and resolving emerging 

environmental issues. 

Objectives 

Within this goal area, ORD will work to: 

Collaborate with other parts of the Agency, the 

SAB, the NAS, and others to develop methods of 

identifying emerging issues and assessing their 

potential risks. 

Develop partnerships (via research grants, 

cooperative agreements, CRADAs, and other 

mechanisms) with other federal agencies, the 

White House Committee on Environment and 

Natural Resources, industry, and academia. 

Provide national and international leadership in 

risk assessment and its application for risk reduction and risk management. 

Conduct/sponsor workshops and symposia that 

will provide forums for stimulating interest and 

discussion on current or emerging environmental 

issues (e.g., endocrine disruptors), reaching consensus on crucial research needs, and defining 

the role of ORD and others in addressing those 

needs. 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 27 

Appendix I 

ORD’s High-Priority Research 

The goals and objectives listed in Part B of this plan 

define an ambitious research program for ORD. 

Within this program, however, the extent of research 

we can actually perform will be limited by the 

available resources. Therefore, in consultation with 

EPA’s Program Offices, ORD uses the prioritysetting process (described in Part A) to select from 

its overall program those topics that are of highest 

priority for research. Priorities to be emphasized for 

the next few years are (in no particular order): 

Drinking water disinfection 

Particulate matter 

Endocrine disruptors 

Research to improve ecosystem risk assessment 

Research to improve health risk assessment 

Pollution prevention and new technologies 

These areas will receive more intense research 

attention (and resources). Intramural efforts will be 

supplemented with the talents of extramural 

scientists through external grants, cooperative 

agreements, interagency agreements, and contracts. 

Proposed research for the six high-priority areas is 

summarized in Table I-1. Tables I-2 through I-7 

provide a breakout, by risk assessment/risk 

management area, of the strategic issues and 

proposed research tasks, products, and applications 

in each of the six topic areas. 

Other areas of high importance that will continue to 

be a major part of ORD’s research program include: 

Air pollutants 

Indoor air 

Global change 

Drinking water (in addition to disinfection issues) 

Waste site risk characterization 

Waste management and site remediation 

ORD’s research agenda also includes additional 

topics necessary to help the Agency fulfill its 

nondiscretionary mandates. 

Other topics were considered during the planning 

process but they did not meet the criteria to be 

included in ORD’s research program. In general, 

these include exposure or effects research in areas of 

low risk, risk reduction research in areas of low risk, 

and routine measurements and monitoring where 

R&D has been completed. In addition, ORD will not 

pursue research in areas where other research 

organizations are capable of making a more 

significant impact. 

ORD’s entire research program will be captured in 

more detail in the science research plans being 

developed by the Research Coordination Teams. 

These research plans will be finalized after a 

rigorous peer review. Interested readers should 

consult these documents. 

ORD also uses the principles and priorities of this 

Strategic Plan as a basis for developing its annual 

budget requests to fund our research agenda. Our 

fiscal year 1997 budget request was based on this 

plan, as will be our fiscal year 1998 budget 

proposals. 

Evolution of ORD Priority Areas 

Over Time 

The six high-priority areas intentionally are a 

mixture of: 

Research targeted at specific pollution problems 

(i.e., drinking water disinfection, particulate 

matter, and endocrine disruptors). 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 29 
Appendix I 

Broad-based fundamental research in risk assessment and risk management (i.e., research to 

improve ecosystem and health risk assessment, 

and pollution prevention and new technologies). 

The tables in this appendix reflect the differences in 

these two areas of research. Tables I-2 through I-4, 

which describe the more specific research areas, tend 

to have more details than Tables I-5 through I-7, which 

describe the broad-based, fundamental areas. 

We will evaluate progress on all research targeted at 

specific pollution problems annually to ensure that 

our research program continues to focus on the 

most significant problems. As work on problemspecific topics progresses and moves toward 

closure, we will redirect our research focus and 

resources to emerging high-priority areas. For 

example, as we successfully completed work in one 

of our former priority areas (the health risks of 

ozone), we shifted resources to particulate matter, 

one of our current high-priority topics. In the future, 

the particulate matter research likely will give way 

to other topics of emerging priority. 

We will also evaluate progress on our broad-based 

fundamental research annually. These broadbased areas, which reflect ORD’s fundamental 

risk assessment and risk management research 

programs, will remain high-priority topics. 

However, the individual projects within these 

areas will change to reflect research progress and 

emerging concerns. As the individual projects 

change, we will revisit and revise research plans 

for these areas. 

Selection of the Six High-Priority 

Topics 

The following summaries illustrate how application 

of the selection criteria described in Part A gave rise 

to the six high-priority research topics. 

Drinking Water Disinfection 

Disinfection of drinking water has been one of the 

greatest public health success stories of the 

twentieth century. Nevertheless, some public health 

concerns still remain. For example, hundreds of 

people have died and many hundreds of thousands 

have become ill during recent outbreaks of exposure 

to the protozoan Cryptosporidium in drinking water. 

Recent studies demonstrate that there is a low 

threshold of infectivity for Cryptosporidium and that 

people with compromised immune systems—such 

as the elderly, HIV-positive individuals, and persons 

receiving chemotherapy—may be at greater risk. In 

addition, other microorganisms exist in drinking 

water that may also have serious adverse effects. 

There still is a high degree of uncertainty about how 

to measure microorganisms in water and what their 

infectivity level is. Additionally, there is a high 

degree of uncertainty about whether disinfection 

by-products—the chemical by-products that result 

when disinfectants react with organic matter in 

drinking water—pose a significant human health 

threat. Because of the high uncertainty, the 

widespread human exposure to drinking water, the 

severity of the known effects from certain microbes, 

and the potentially high costs of further regulation 

of drinking water, this issue is of high priority to 

EPA’s Office of Water and to ORD’s research agenda. 

Particulate Matter 

Recent publications in the scientific literature 

indicate that exposure to particulate matter poses a 

high potential human health risk. At the same time, 

however, there is a high degree of uncertainty about 

the size and composition of the particles that may be 

responsible for these effects, the biological 

mechanisms of action, and the dose-response 

relationships at low levels of exposure. In addition, 

control costs are potentially very high. For all these 

reasons, this area is of high priority to EPA’s Office 

of Air and Radiation and of high priority for ORD’s 

research agenda. 

Endocrine Disruptors 

Evidence has been accumulating that humans and 

wildlife have suffered adverse health consequences 

resulting from exposure to environmental chemicals 

that interact with the endocrine system. Several 

reports of declines in the quality and quantity of 

sperm production in humans over the last four 

decades, and reported increases in the incidence of 

certain cancers that may have an endocrine-related 

basis, have led to speculation about environmental 

causes. 

There is considerable scientific uncertainty 

regarding the causes of these reported effects. 

However, we do know that endocrine factors 

regulate the normal functions of all organ systems 

and that small disturbances in endocrine function— 

especially during certain stages of the life cycle such 

as development, pregnancy, and lactation—can lead 

to profound and lasting effects. The critical issue is 

30 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
Appe ndix I 

whether there are sufficiently high levels of 

endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the ambient 

environment to exert effects in the general 

population. 

Given the potential scope of the problem, the 

possibility of serious effects on the health of 

populations, and the broad occurrence and 

persistence of some endocrine-disrupting agents in 

the environment, this area is of high priority for 

ORD’s research agenda. Research will focus on the 

most critical gaps in our knowledge base to promote 

more informed decisions on public health, 

ecosystem effects, and related management options. 

Research To Improve Ecosystem Risk 

Assessment 

We have made considerable progress in reducing 

the most egregious harm to our environment from 

air and water pollution and from areas of 

devastation around industrial plants. Much remains 

to be done, however, if we are to avoid potential 

disasters on a tragic scale—such as forest decline, 

widespread epidemics of toxic microorganisms in 

estuaries, reproductive failure of wildlife because of 

global pollutant transport or destruction of critical 

habitat, the reappearance of vector-borne epidemic 

diseases, and global climate change. 

Ecological research has the potential to significantly 

reduce many of the uncertainties associated with 

our understanding of ecosystems. In particular, it is 

critical that EPA develop: 

Techniques for quantitative risk assessments so 

that decisions about where to focus ecological 

research and what solutions are most appropriate 

can be based on sound science. 

Risk management strategies that take maximum 

advantage of pollution prevention and the selfpurifying potential of natural systems. 

To accomplish these goals, research in ecosystem 

monitoring, processes, modelling, risk assessment, 

risk management, and restoration is needed for 

chemical and nonchemical stressors, multiple scales 

of effects and exposures, and multiple levels of 

biological organization. Because of the broad 

applicability of these methods and their significant 

potential for enhancing ecological risk assessment 

and risk management, ORD has selected research to 

improve ecosystem risk assessment as a high 

priority for its research agenda. 

Research To Improve Health Risk 

Assessment 

Health risk assessment is the process EPA uses to 

identify and characterize environmental health 

problems. The results of health risk assessment 

are crucial to decisions on health protection 

measures. ORD’s research to improve health risk 

assessment addresses major deficiencies and 

uncertainties in health risk assessment (including 

both problem- or agent-specific risk assessment, as 

well as cross-cutting or generic risk assessment). For 

example, ORD’s research to improve health risk 

assessment includes: 

Developing state-of-the-art testing approaches for 

noncancer and cancer endpoints. 

Conducting mechanistic and toxicokinetic 

research to improve the exposure and doseresponse steps in the risk assessment process. 

Identifying biomarkers that can be used to measure genetic and other biological events. 

Determining how individuals vary in their response to toxic insults, so that EPA can better 

identify sensitive groups. 

Research to improve health risk assessment 

provides the essential foundation for reliable and 

scientifically strong risk assessments based on new 

science and state-of-the-art methods. In addition, 

this research area supports the development of: 

Computer-based tools to assist risk assessors at 

the federal, state, and local levels. 

Information management databases that EPA 

uses to effectively communicate risk information 

to stakeholders. 

Ultimately, the results of this research will enhance 

risk assessments to support national environmental 

goals, such as safe drinking water, safe indoor 

environments, clean air, and safe food. Because of 

the broad applicability of improved methods for 

health risk assessment to many user communities, 

research to improve health risk assessment is a high 

priority for ORD’s research agenda. 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 31 
Appendix I 

Pollution Prevention and New 

Technologies 

Pollution prevention, or anticipating and stopping 

problems before they occur, is a valuable risk 

management tool because it is far more 

cost-effective and protective of the environment 

than solving environmental problems after they 

have been created. Pollution prevention, supported 

by objective scientific and technical data, can 

actually reduce or eliminate the need for legal 

actions and regulatory standards, which can be 

costly and difficult to implement. 

Pollution prevention will be the first strategy 

considered for all EPA programs and EPA will lead 

the nation in efforts to reduce and eliminate 

pollution at the source. Because of the broad 

applicability of pollution prevention strategies and 

the potentially large economic and environmental 

benefits of this approach to risk management, 

pollution prevention and new technologies are of 

high priority for ORD’s research agenda. This 

research builds on ORD’s commitment to support 

and respond to EPA’s Program Offices’ and Regions’ 

needs for prevention options and information on 

how to best implement them. 

32 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
Appendix I (Conti

nued) 

strategies.

Reports on research needs, 

To prioritize research needs, review

M

orbidity/mortality, dose-response, To i

mprove criteria d

ocuments and Particul

ate 

Matter is associated with low PM effects; reanalyze past epi

demi

ology and mechanistic data; dosimetric risk assessments in support of 

P

M

emissions composition; improved 

alternative P

M control strategies. 

Research ToImprove ecosystem risk and capacity stressor-response relationships; i

dentify ecosystem effects/risks, national ecosystem protection, ecosystem

R

ese

arch Topics 

Drinking Water Wh

at is the comparative Develop methods for measuri

ng Data on effects, d

ose-response, 

To su

p

p

ort D

B

P/microbial risk 

analytical metho

ds, risk assessment test g

uidelines, and cond

uct 

methods, data from field 

h

azard/effect and preliminary 

model; methods for measuring PM National Ambient Air Quality 

Ecosystem criteria, models to predict To inform stakeholders ab

out 

Ecosystem RiskAssessment What are the chemical and distri

bution an

d chemical exposures; 

d

ocu

menting future changes, 

planning, and ecosystem risk

mass/species; i

mproved human Stand

ards review; to 

provide 

Disinfection 

microbial disease and the w

ater, determine effects and dose-resp

onse treatment for pathogens/DBPs. rulemaking an

d compliance 

eco-effects, an

d risk conduct field measurements of 

E

DCs, 

and measurements, an

d cause-effect exp

osure/risk assess

ments. 

assessment? assess effects on highly exposed cohorts. data. 

What research still needs to be done? 

land-cover map, 

b

aseline d

ata for 

assessment, environmental 

exp

osure, comparative risk, and 

assess

ment/risk reduction 

exposure estimates; d

ata on information for evalu

ating 

ecosystem exposure profiles, 

and reduction/restoration. 

disinfection byproducts for them, develop/apply a microbial risk monitoring. (DBPs) formed during 

assessment framework, i

mprove DBP risk 

drinking w

ater disinfection? assessments, and ev

alu

ate altern

ative 

How can both be treatment processes for DBP/microbial 

control. simultaneously controlled? 

Products Uses 

emissions to an 

acceptable

level? emissions. cost-effectiveness of PM control

information on risk red

uction the most sensitive systems? 

approaches for ecosystems. 

demonstrate techn

ologies to reduce PM risk estimates; an

d d

ata on 

Summary of EPA/ORD Research Program for Six High-Priority Research Topics 

Review existing literature on 

E

DCs, conduct What is 

known about 

available to red

uce PM exp

osure stu

dy; and ev

alu

ate, develop, and 

What morbidity/mortality 

C

ond

uct clinical/epidemiology stu

dies of 

Disru

ptors 

exposure, human/ 

QSAR/PB

PK/BBDRa methods/models, 

to tolerate stress? eco-effect measures; characterize habitat risk between waterborne pathogen/

DBP exposure from drin

king 

nonchemical exposures to develop/apply eco-risk assessment methods; and study eco-risk reduction. 

end

ocri

ne disruptor (EDC) 

w

orksh

ops on research needs, 

develop 

ambient levels 

of p

articulate studies; conduct pharmacokinetic and 

effective methods are size/species of PM; conduct a human 

How can we determine Study ecosystem v

ulnerability and 

matter (

P

M), and what cost- bi

ological stu

dies; characterize the 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

H

ow can we reduce risk in 

a cost-effective manner? Which ecosystems are v

ulnerable? Where? 

Table I-1. 

Endocrine 

S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 33
Appendix I models for predicting chemical test gui

delines, provide guid

ance for 

R

ese

arch Topics

Research To How can we better Develop or i

mprove methods for screeni

ng 

H

azard screening/testing protocols, To rank/screen chemicals, develop

and assessment metho

ds, m

odels, during risk-b

ased decision-making 

P

ollution 

Preventio

n and prevention be integrated pollution prevention; 

develop technologies; protocols, cost data, technol

ogy pollution prevention approaches. 

Improved exposure measurement 

To support exposure assessment 

Improve Health Risk Assessment improve d

ose extrapolation, interpreting hazard data; develop m

odels to disposition in the body, and test risk assessment, and identify 

Pollution prevention cost accounting 

To evaluate an

d i

mplement 

protocols/models for mixtures mixtures toxicity. 

Products Uses 

identify audiences needi

ng technical transfer pro

d

ucts, life-cycle an

alysis 

assistance; develop life-cycle an

alysis/audit tools, audit procedures, pollution 

to

ols; and assist in disseminating prevention technol

ogies, 

and 

techn

ologies to the commercial sector. performance d

ata. 

Summary of EPA/ORD Research Program for Six High-Priority Research Topics (

Continued) 

factors. Develop total human exposure and data. exposure? 

Wh

at are the mo

dels, which i

nclu

de source/pathway 

source-exposure-d

ose contributions to total exp

osure. 

relationships? 

those d

oses; and develop meth

o

ds/mo

dels toxicity. 

and better u

nderstand esti

mate target tissue d

ose and resp

onses to 

distri

bution of total age, lifestyle, behavior, and socioeconomic 

What is the population Determine how exposure is influenced by 

H

ow can pollution Study engineering/performance costs for 

define/

predict hazards, hazard data, collecting toxicity data, and 

mixture toxicity? 

for assessing mixtures toxicity. 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

aQSAR = quantitative structure-activity relationships. 

PBPK = physiologically based pharmacokinetic. B

B

D

R = 

biologically based 

dose-response. 

into environmental decision-making? 

Table I-1. 

New Tech

n

ologies 

34 S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 
Appendix I (Continued) 

Practical analytical methods for Survey tool for developing occurrence data; basis for 

for waterborne treatment rules. microbial disease?

What are the relative Conduct epidemiology studies on Qualitative/quantitative data on To assess the risks of different disinfection processes,

risks of disinfection reproductive/developmental effects cancer, reproductive effects, and combining epidemiology, toxicity, and mixtures byproducts (DBPs) and, if feasible, on cancer. other effects. information, to support DBP rules. 

SubtopicHealth What dose levels of Conduct dose-response studies on Data for risk assessment models To provide health effects data for risk assessment to

to predict disease incidence. support upcoming surface water and ground-water 

Indication of magnitude of risks To provide health effects data for risk assessment to and verification of risk models. support upcoming surface water and ground-water 

procedures and risk estimates assessments for surface water treatment rules and 

drinking water. 

Improved risk assessment To provide a comparative risk framework for risk 

Improved practical field and To support exposure assessments for DBPs from research methods for DBPs in different treatment processes; provide basis for 

Identify sources of pathogens and

factors affecting occurrence levels in in source waters. pathogen occurrence in drinking water under

Analyses of pathogen occurrence To support exposure assessments to predict 

Exposure 

pathogens are people detect viable/infective organisms. pathogens. compliance methods for water utilities. 

drinking water. compliance methods for water utilities. 

surface and ground waters. different treatment processes. 

Information on pathogen exposures in drinking water. 

treatment rules. 

Assessment 

from DBPs and dose-response models. for microbes. DBP rules. 

Products Uses 

Conduct toxicity studies on Risk assessments for individual 

water supplies. different disinfection practices. 

Data on DBP exposure from 

Apply advances in cancer and Improved risk assessment noncancer risk assessment to procedures and risk estimates individual DBPs and mixtures of DBPs. for DBPs. 

water.Study the level of DBPs in drinking Identity of new DBPs under

disinfection processes? individual DBPs and mixtures if DBPs. 

Develop appropriate risk assessment 

What are endemic and Conduct epidemiology studies for 

comparative risks paradigm for microbes, including 

What levels of Develop analytical methods that 

What levels of DBPs Develop methods for measuring are people exposed to? occurrence of DBPs in drinking 

epidemic illness rates pathogen-caused disease. 

pathogens cause waterborne pathogens. 

feasible. 

Strategic Focus Tasks 

Drinking Water Disinfection 

illness in exposed 

from different 

populations? 

What are the 

exposed to? 

microbes? 

Table I-2. 

Effects 

Risk 

Strategi c Plan fo r OR D 35
Appendix I 

different processes. regulatory strategies for reducing DB

P and microbial 

DBPs? of treatment effectiveness, 

techn

ologies for s

mall systems, and 

To provide guid

ance for operation of treatment 

control of bacteri

al growth in 

plants 

and 

distributi

on systems. 

distributi

on systems. 

Simultaneously ev

aluate processes 

for controlling DBPs (including chlorine vs. altern

ative disinfectants) 

and practices for removing DBP precursors (granular activated carbon, membrane filtr

ation). 

SubtopicRisk Which technol

ogies 

E

v

aluate treatment processes for Data on the effectiveness of 

To evaluate different treatment options and

Products 

Uses 

risks. control pathogens 

and identification of surrogate measures 

can si

multaneously pathogen control, includi

ng 

Drinking Water Disinfection (

Continued) 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

Table I-2. 

Management 

36 S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 
Appendix I (Continued) 

data. regulatory development and epidemiologic study 

SubtopicHealth Effects What health effects are caused Conduct epidemiologic studies of Qualitative and To provide health effects data for risk assessment

Dose-response data To provide health effects data for risk assessment 

Dosimetric model To provide health effects data for risk assessment 

Methods for measuring To serve as a Federal Reference Method for new (e.g., acid aerosols, To provide PM methodology for atmospheric inorganic and organic chemistry research and total exposure research. species).

PM characterization To assess PM size and concentration levels for

describing biochemical (Criteria Document) to support PM NAAQS. 

linking animals to (Criteria Document) to support PM NAAQS. 

by particulate matter (PM) and mortality and morbidity coupled with quantitative data on (Criteria Document) to support PM National its components? improved exposure characterization. mortality and/or Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). 

To identify sources of PM and address PM formation, transport, and fate. To help develop control strategies for implementing PM regulation(s). 

Exposure 

concentration levels are present methodology capable of discriminating fine-particle mass and fine-particle NAAQS. 

characterization studies. 

design. 

Products Uses 

with preexisting disease). 

explain/support epidemiologic

observations? induced by PM and their

initiated by PM and its components. and physiologic events 

relationship to disease. 

in ambient air? particles by size and species. characterizing species effects in sensitive subpopulations (e.g., subpopulations? children, individuals 

respiratory diseases. 

exposure and population conditions. humans and normal dose? 

What is the role of dose for humans to sensitive 

What are the causal Conduct animal and clinical studies of 

Conduct clinical studies of respiratory 

between PM exposure and deposition in the lungs under various What is the relationship Develop dosimetric model of particle 

effects in controlled human studies. 

mechanisms/particles that biochemical and physiologic events 

What PM species and Develop ambient PM measurement 

Conduct PM size and species 

Strategic Focus Tasks 

Particulate Matter Table I-3. 

Strategi c Plan fo r OR D 37
Appendix I 

(Continued) 

SubtopicExposure What PM species and Conduct prospective epidemiol

ogic and 

Verification of current To determine the effects of ambient fine 

and coarse

Q

uantitative data 

To provide health effects d

ata for risk assessment 

epi

demi

ologic P

M on ad

ults’ lung fu

ncti

on and daily mortality. 

Improved estimates of 

To evaluate an

d extend findings on size-specific 

Technical reports and 

To provide emissions data to focus regulatory 

RiskAssessment uncertainties associated with epidemiologic d

atab

ases to further analyses providing (Criteria Document) to support PM NAAQS. 

characteristics of fine particles

from sources that pose the combusti

on systems, 

other stationary composition, and 

To provide methods and models for states to

greatest risk to p

ublic health? sources). quantity of fine-particle develop fine-particle emissions i

nventories. 

emissions from key mobile and station

ary 

sources. 

RiskManagement physical and chemical sources of concern (e.g., heavy duty 

d

ata on the size strategies on the most critical sources.

human exposure to PM. PM exposure and daily mortality. 

Products 

Uses 

characterize: red

uced uncertainties in 

Red

uced uncertainty 

reg

arding the size and 

physical properties of P

M that 

may cause 

health effects. 

diesel trucks, fugitive sources, distribution, chemical 

estimates of the PM

m

ortality/

m

orbidity risks at –The shape of exposure-response PM risk estimates.

(Co

ntinued) 

exposed to? observ

ations. 

What are the emission rates and Characterize fine-particle emissions from 

How can we red

uce Conduct statistical reanalyses of existing 

low ambient levels? relationships (possible ’threshol

ds’). 

–The influence of synoptic weather 

patterns. 

–The size/chemical composition of key 

PM components. 

concentration levels are people human exposure studies. 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

Particulate Matter (Continued) Table I-3. 38 S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 
Appendix I 

data on the performance strategies, cost/benefit analyses, and development 

SubtopicRisk What options (e.g., process Investigate options for reducing Technical reports and To support evaluations of competing regulatory

technologies) are available that

both reduce fine-particle of existing control equipment for management approaches. To provide guidance to states and the regulated

emissions to acceptable levels combustion systems can further reduce User-friendly computer community on the performance and cost of 

models and other competing fine-particle risk management 

Management(Continued) controls, application of new –Demonstrate the extent to which and cost-effectiveness of of guidance documents.

technical assistance tools approaches. 

Products Uses 

information to key users. stationary sources. 

technologies (e.g., improved that transfer risk improved operation and maintenance competing risk electrostatic precipitators and fabric management filters) to control fine particles from 

–Develop advanced, more cost-effective –Determine the effectiveness of indoor 

air cleaners for reducing personal exposure to fine particles. 

Compare the costs of these and other approaches. 

changes, upgrades of existing fine-particle emissions: and are cost-effective? emissions. 

Strategic Focus Tasks 

Particulate Matter (Continued) Table I-3. 

Strategi c Plan fo r OR D 39
Appendix I 

(Continued) 

To develop remedi

al actions 

w

here ad

verse effects effects in less 

hig

hly exp

osed of EDCs in the environment have been confirmed. 

in 

wildlife exposed to potential field stu

dies and to improve u

nderstan

ding 

of the 

Datab

ase on end

ocri

ne function 

To improve interpretation of end

ocri

ne data from 

Develop QSARb models for 

QSA

R m

odels to identify 

and 

As first-tier comp

uter m

odels to predict hazard. 

What are the shapes of the

d

ose-response curves for E

DCs models th

at include relev

ant comparative exp

osure levels 

assessments and relative p

otency comparisons.

To reduce uncertainty in chemical-specific risk 

Do our current testing 

and Devel

op in vivo an

d in 

vitro Recommend

ations for 

To revise testing guidelines and improve d

ata 

m

onitoring approaches test procedures 

and 

biomarkers mo

difying the testing guidelines interpretati

on. 

adequ

ately ev

alu

ate and assess to detect the acti

on of E

DCs and for potential ad

verse ecological 

ED

Cs. magnitude of the EDC problem in wildlife 

regions.Assess spectrum of effects in Delineation of causes and effects To conduct preli

minary risk assessments.

SubtopicIdentify What d

o we know about the Conduct w

orkshops invol

ving Reports on the research needs To develop prioritized research needs.

v

ari

ous life stages, seasons, and popul

ations. 

Products Uses 

principal stakeholders in for (1) reproductive, neurologic, developing consensus on the immunologic, and carcinogenic 

putative EDCs. 

Develop PBPKc and BBDRd Increased un

derstan

ding of the 

research needs for exposure, effects of EDCs, (2) ecological an

d health an

d environmental risk, an

d (3) exposure 

binding and transcription

al define d

ose-response effects. 

Effects 

chemical classes for interaction 

hormone receptor-li

g

and 

prioritize in vivo research to 

Field and laboratory tools to 

What are health outcomes

experienced by populations highly exp

osed coh

orts, th

at can set the bou

n

ds on

better quantitate effects of 

to identify critical life stages at and hu

man health effects. 

tissue levels are resp

onsible for Define potency of 

E

DCs in Red

uced uncertainty in inducing ad

verse effects? 

at relevant exp

osures, and what species-specific p

arameters. associated with risks. 

extrap

olating effects. 

popul

ations. 

assessment. 

profile in target wildlife species 

determine normal profiles for 

effects on the end

ocri

ne system? 

multiple phylogenetic levels. 

on a seasonal and regional b

asis? endocrine function during 

ED

Cs? develop

mental exp

osures. 

What is the normal endocrine Study populations 

and 

receiving high-level exp

osure to particularly those with 

target species. 

with the endocrine system, 

and 

w

h

at is their range of potency? 

activati

on. 

g

aps in our knowledge base? effects. 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

ecological an

d human effects of 

ED

Cs,a and 

w

here are the major 

properties, transport pathways, sources, chemical 

and physical 

What are the important 

Endocrine Disruptors Table I-4. 

Research Needs 

40 S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 
Appendix I (Continued) 

Assess

ment 

of the p

otential for To improve effects assessment for environmentally 

Database on EDC levels in the Prelimi

n

ary environmental exposure assessments. 

SubtopicEffects F

or wildlife species, what Develop models for Models for predicting 

To facilitate ecological risk assessment based on

A

nalytical metho

ds adequ

ate to 

To improve source 

and receptor models and 

modes of action.

Develop source-receptor 

Validated models to assess 

To improve source-receptor relationships

non-additivity among E

DC important multiple exposures to E

DCs. 

Do we have adequate (sensitive, Develop biomarkers for 

Field and laboratory tools to 

To improve d

ata interpretati

on. 

reliable, and inexpensive) tools exposure of E

DCs 

applicable to 

better quantitate the exp

osures 

popul

ation-level effects from effects observed in indi

viduals. 

indi

vidu

al to p

op

ulati

ons? 

What are the status and trends Identify an

d periodically Early warning indicators 

of For environmental monitoring. 

exposure to EDCs. determined via hybrid 

m

o

dels. 

characterize ED

Cs in 

assessments of E

DC exposure. 

Products Uses 

phase equili

brium. provide i

nput to source-receptor 

to characterize exp

osure multimedia, to assess transport, 

concentrations of EDCs in 

all

principal media? various ecosystems to assist in

the phylogenetic levels 

and effects of putative EDCs. 

designing future exposure 

p

hase equilibrium and 

dep

osition mechanis

ms), half-life, speci

ation, uptake, 

and fate, an

d exposure, an

d to 

measure hig

h-priority E

DCs. 

human environment and 

contamination 

by EDCs. 

calcul

ate E

DC exposure. 

Improved algorithms to to EDCs. 

capacity in 

wildlife popul

ations. 

biological org

anization. 

(Co

ntinued) 

extrapol

ating effects of the in indi

viduals to reproducti

ve stu

dy 

at lower levels 

of 

of sentinel and keystone species conduct censusing of sentinel environmental quality, 

and keystone species. especially in terms of 

within and am

ong vari

ous health endp

oints. 

strategies. 

persistence, bioaccumulation, 

an

d biomag

nification of EDCs? models. 

exposure of E

DCs? models to assess exposure from 

multi

media transp

ort (inclu

ding exposure to EDCs an

d methods 

to monitor populations for

exp

osures to ED

Cs? considered to be at greatest risk

specific sources via 

multi

media 

pathw

ays. 

procedures are av

ailable for extrap

olating effects measured 

Do we adequately understand Develop methods to monitor 

to multiple EDCs? synergis

m or p

otentiati

on 

What are the environmental C

ond

uct field stu

dies to 

What are the effects of exposure Determi

ne potential for 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

Endocrine Disruptors (Continued) 

in the various ecological areas? 

What are the pathw

ays of 

Table I-4. 

Exposure 

S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 41
Appendix I 

To develop remedi

al actions 

w

here ad

verse effects effects in less 

hig

hly exp

osed of EDCs in the environment have been confirmed. 

SubtopicExposure What exposures are experienced 

Q

uantitate exposure in Delineation of causes and effects To conduct preli

minary risk assessments.

To 

develop reg

ulatory p

olicy on ED

Cs. biological effects i

nformation. 

develop

mental exp

osures. 

Convene E

PA w

orking group to Report of literature review. To refine ORD’s research strategy. 

Products Uses 

popul

ations showi

ng effects of which can set the bou

nds on 

popul

ations. 

ED

Cs? E

DCs, particularly those with 

are present in 

assessment of critically review existing 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

Endocrine Disruptors (Continued) 

What strengths and weaknesses and related topics? 

aED

C = endocrine-disrupti

ng chemical. bQSAR = quantitative structure-activity relationship. cPBPK = physiologically based pharmacokinetic. 

existing i

nformation on E

D

Cs 

by populations 

affected by 

d

B

B

D

R = 

biologically based 

dose-response. 

Table I-4. 

(Co

ntinued) 

Assessment 

42 S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 
Appendix I (Conti

nued) 

can ecosystems tolerate an

d

still be sustained/ changing stressors at multi

ple Criteria for maintaining 

To provide information to ev

alu

ate comparative risks an

d

regi

onal landscapes and 

Assess

ments of hig

hly 

To i

dentify 

v

ulnerable systems at w

atershed and regional 

of ecosystem effects? of effect th

at correspond 

as effect. risk assessment models and as measures of con

dition for 

closely 

as p

ossible to status and trends 

m

onitoring. 

assessment endpoints. 

To support objective ev

aluation of success in risk 

man

agement decision-making. 

complex and cascading effects ecosystem protection; to provide information to support 

stressors?What are the best measures Identify indicators (measures) Eval

u

ation of indicators of To provide indicators th

at can serve as state variables in

relev

ant stress

ors. As components of expert systems to predict exposure. 

SubtopicEffects What levels of 

U

nderstand and develop 

Q

uantitative models predicting 

To inform debate on societal values with respect to

of multiple stressors at multiple future community-based ecosystem protection. 

ecoregi

ons of the United 

States?What is the extent and Develop methods to Baseline d

ata for regi

onal To support relative risk assessments.

Meth

ods for characterizing 

As to

ols for exp

osure assess

ments. 

ecosystems. drive strategic research planning. 

Q

uantitative models relating 

To support ecological effects 

components respond to assessment. 

scales. vulnerable ecosystems, within 

Products Uses 

man

agement practices and 

geograp

hic and temp

oral scales. 

quantitatively understand levels of exposure to effects for 

A national land-cover map of the United States. an

d among ecoregions. 

Exposure 

significant sources of characterizing sources of sources of exposures. 

changing exp

osures to stressor-response single stress

ors. 

assessments. 

Develop screening and testing meth

o

ds to assess viability 

an

d sustainability at multiple 

levels of 

biological 

anthrop

ogenic stress models to predict ecosystem 

(chemical and nonchemical) v

ulnerability to alternative 

distri

bution of highly efficiently characterize 

Wh

at are the m

ost Develop methods for 

H

ow d

o ecosystem Conduct research to 

vul

nerable systems based

on predicted changes in habitat distribution.

Research to Improve Ecosystem Risk Assessment 

relati

onships. 

organizati

on. 

maintained? scales. 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

stressors at multiple scales? stressors in various 

Table I-5. 

S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 43
Appendix I 

(Continued) 

(Continued) 

these stressors across fate of stressors to exposure to To identify vulnerable systems at watershed regional and 

predicting future sources of To assist in avoiding the unintended consequences of our 

To support environmental planning at multiple scales. 

concern to local, watershed, system. To conduct comparative ecological risk assessments to 

prioritize research and ecological protection efforts. 

exposures? To identify sources for risk reduction technology 

development. 

Data systems to support risk To support ecological risk assessment. management. 

SubtopicExposure What is the current Develop models to link Methods for assessing exposure. To support relative risk assessments.

25, and 50 years? 

stressors. Data for predictive models. current management decisions. 

temporal scales. Develop diagnostic tools for Indicators of source/exposure To apportion source strengths. ecosystems at appropriate national scales. 

Products Uses 

Link landscape and pollutant Predictive models for use by models to predict future community-based ecosystem environments. protection planners. 

Predictions of future pollutant and stressor distributions 

Conduct demographic and Documentation of highest How will current patterns

of exposure change in 5, 10, economic studies to assist in priority stressors.

What sources are now

causing the most significant retrospective assessments. relationships.

Research to Improve Ecosystem Risk Assessment (Continued) 

distribution of exposure to transport, transformation, and 

Assessment 

endpoints of primary ecological data management 

Support an interagency exposure reference site network. Conduct exposure vulnerability assessments at multiple geographic and 

What are the assessment Develop an ORD-wide 

vulnerable ecosystems? 

time and space scales. 

Strategic Focus Tasks 

and regional communities? 

Table I-5. 44 

Strategi c Plan fo r OR D 
Appendix I 

Quantitative/qualitative To support regional and local community-based ecosystem 

economic implications. regional, comparative risk protection plans. 

assessments. 

To assist in prioritizing research and ecological protection 

efforts. 

assessments. 

Identify and evaluate Risk management technologies As tools to select and implement approaches for reducing 

of alternative management strategies at multiple scales. To assist in environmental management and planning at Conduct comparative risk multiple scales. 

As a tool for environmental management at watershed 

single/multiple resources and To conduct comparative ecological risk assessments. 

To restore ecosystems. To provide manuals and guidance on management practices. 

SubtopicAssessment What are the comparative Develop risk assessment and Improved risk assessment As tools for ecological risk assessment.

ecosystems? stressors. To avoid an ecological “train-wreck.” 

Data on technology effectiveness. Recommendations on optimal ecosystem management approaches. 

Restoration techniques. To improve restoration techniques. 

for contaminants, sediments, ecological risk. 

and ecological risks. scales. 

Products Uses 

Develop an expert system for Links between human health 

Management 

ways to reduce risk to reduction. hazardous wastes, and other 

characterization methods for methods. 

Research to Improve Ecosystem Risk Assessment (Continued) 

assessing ecological benefits 

cost-effective and efficient promising options for risk 

ecosystems from multiple stressors.stressors? Assess the risks and their

How are degraded Conduct field restoration ecosystems best restored? projects. 

Strategic Focus Tasks 

risks to populations, communities, and 

What are the most 

Table I-5. 

(Continued) 

Risk 

Strategi c Plan fo r OR D 45
Appendix I 

(Continued) 

Multimedia/pathway exposure To identify at-risk subpopulations for risk 

assessment and 

Models of relative intakes of 

To identify the pathways that contribute most to risk 

and 

each pathw

ay?

How can we Develop methods an

d models for Models for predicting disposition 

To improve the scientific basis for cancer and noncancer

SubtopicExposure What is the Develop verified models that trace Verified source-exposure models To identify the most effective risk management targets.

p

harmacokinetic models). To red

uce u

ncertainty in risk assessment and risk 

total exposure. 

Develop quantitative total hu

man Improved methods for exposure To su

p

p

ort health risk assessments; to measure What is the

popul

ation exp

osure mo

dels 

b

ased on sou

nd measurements: effectiveness of risk management decisions.

data for disadvantaged to ensure adequacy of rules/regulations. 

Dose Estimation exposure-dose 

p

athways, determine the persistent chemicals from 

hence require mitig

ation.

species and exposure scenarios? man

agement decisions. 

improve dose estimating 

d

ose to target tissues of chemicals in the b

o

dy from 

all risk assess

ments. 

routes. estimations across (i.e., physiologically b

ased 

Products Uses 

increase exp

osure to p

oll

utants; populations, children, the elderly, 

- Field stu

dies of p

op

ulations 

with a variety of exposure risk 

factors. 

- Computer-based exposure 

model pl

atform. 

information. - Microenvironmental exposure 

exposure? 

determine the relationship of 

age and persons living near selected 

routes 

b

ased on measurement 

Exp

osure m

odels for highly 

quantitative contribution 

of each inhalati

on, oral, and dermal 

- Activity p

attern d

atabase. 

(young an

d old) 

and preexisting sources (e.g., pesticide use). 

exp

osed su

b

p

op

ulations. 

the prospective an

d retrospective th

at incorp

orate fate and 

transport processes. 

measurements. 

target-site d

ose. data. 

determinants of socioeconomic, or lifestyle factors source-exposurerelationship? relationship 

between sources 

and

What is the F

or poll

utants having 

multiple 

p

ollutants from 

p

athway to total exp

osure and 

What are the Determine w

hich beh

avioral, 

distribution of theoretical and experimental 

Research to Improve Health Risk Assessment 

disease to exp

osure. 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

exposures from 

all 

relationship for 

media? 

Table I-6. 

46 S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 
Appendix I 

Develop improved empirical

d

ose-response models (e.

g., models and guidelines for thereby improve the b

asis for risk management decisions.

Valid

ated and standardized 

To identify chemical 

mixtures likely to have synergistic or 

environmental

exp

osures in default, primarily empirical risk 

assess

ment 

ap

pro

aches.

Validated benchmark dose To improve reference d

ose concentration procedures and 

Valid

ated and standardized 

To i

dentify chemical mixtures with potential toxicity that 

To improve risk management decisions concerning risks posed 

by mi

xtures. 

Models for predicting toxicity 

To provide critical examples of development an

d use of 

can be modified 

and 

applied in models for repl

acing default approaches for cancer and 

To 

assess site-specific relative risk; to support pollution 

preventi

on and risk 

management decisi

ons. 

SubtopicHazard How can we Develop screening methods to set Validated screeni

ng protocols 

To identify and rank existing 

pesticides and industrial

To support regul

atory activities (e.g., TSCAa test rules 

Dose-ResponseRelationship 

u

ncertainty in 

predicting tissue and organism 

d

ue to chemical exposures, w

hich 

mechanistic m

o

dels; to ev

alu

ate the p

otential of these

relationship (SAR) methods. To screen new chemicals as they enter the regul

atory 

assessments. 

To provide a state-of-the-science b

asis for replacing 

For incorp

oration into risk 

assess

ment 

g

uidelines. 

and consent agreements, FIFRAb data call-ins). 

using, for example, in viv

o, in chemicals in terms of potential toxicity. 

New and revised stand

ard 

To develop 

A

gency test g

uidelines. 

Ch

aracteriz

ation 

system; to assess relati

ve toxicity. 

Develop models to predict the 

toxicity of chemical mixtures. predictive models. su

pra-additive toxic effects. 

chemical-specific risk noncancer risk 

assessment. 

Special Problems 

associated with toxicity of chemical mixtures. testing protocols. is other than 

ad

dictive. 

Products Uses 

How can we betterinterpret toxicity 

d

ata interpretati

on. For example, interpretati

on of toxicity data.

Identification and to detect hazards? 

vitro, and structural activity 

Develop cost-effective methods

for toxicity 

d

ata collecti

on. toxicity testing protocols.

Develop improved methods for Guidance document on 

benchmark 

d

ose m

odels). applications. 

d

ata to predict and identify biomarkers of exposure 

define hazards? and effect and v

alidate the use of 

biomarkers in hu

man populations. 

extrap

olations (e.g., response to target tissue d

ose (i.e., 

Research to Improve Health Risk Assessment (Continued) 

How can we red

uce Develop quantitative models for 

from 

hig

h doses in 

biologically based dose-response 

What toxicities are Develop methods to assess the 

improve our ability testing pri

orities. 

bFIFRA = Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. 

animals to models). 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

= Toxic Substances Control Act. 

humans)? 

mi

xtures? 

Table I-6. 

aTSCA 

S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 47
Appendix I 

(Continued) 

Generic and specific LCA case To establish partnerships to demonstrate risk-based pollution for process design. To provide technol

ogy transfer to the private sectors through 

Cooperative Research an

d Development Agreements and 

licensing agreements. 

Pollution prevention As tools for measuring 

and estimating “

poll

ution prevented” 

Pollution prevention and 

To improve technical and cost 

d

ata and designs for pollution 

technol

ogies for technical

performance and 

verification org

anizations, and technology options emphasizing b

oth performance and cost.

enablers and users. 

As a basis for developing scientifically credible and 

Performance an

d cost data for commercially available p

ollution prevention and i

nn

ov

ati

ve 

pollution prevention and technologies for both U.S. and foreign markets. inn

ovative technol

ogies. 

and ecological impacts. multi

media p

oll

ution preventi

on and risk 

management that 

protocols, third-party 

decision-makers about pollution prevention an

d i

n

nov

ative 

industrial plant, product, public sector partners. and process design Mathematical models and 

F

or commercial plant and process design methods, models, 

businesses. Audit procedures for 

To provide technical guid

ance for regulatory programs and 

industrial sectors. 

including information on prevention 

and in

nov

ative technol

ogies for a wide array of 

Develop pollutionprevention modules for studies with private and prevention design an

d process simulation opportunities.

sectors and high-risk problems, To provide a basis for commercially available p

ollution 

state, and priv

ate sector

decisi

on-making? As objective, scientifically credible LCA procedures for

regulatory and pri

v

ate sector use. 

How can p

oll

ution be

prevented? and enabling polluti

on inn

ovative technol

ogies for prevention 

and in

nov

ative technol

ogies keyed on CSI

technology costs. 

U.S. industrial sectors and 

hig

h-risk problem 

areas. 

E

n

hanced and more credible information to inform 

SubtopicRisk How can pollution Develop life-cycle LCA to

ols that i

nclu

de health 

To demonstrate how 

L

CA can ev

aluate options for

prevention and innovative Common Sense industries and other hig

h-risk needs. 

technol

ogies for major Initiative-related industrial 

Management 

integrated into federal, models. are keyed to the greatest risks. 

pollution prevention. private sector needs. 

Develop pollutionprevention measurement accou

nting meth

o

ds and in small businesses.

computer-based simulators 

an

d procedures. 

Products Uses 

Eval

u

ate an

d verify these Technology verificati

on 

cost-effectiveness. outreach to technology 

and 

audit to

ols for small models. 

prevention strategies 

be assessment (

L

C

A) to

ols and 

Develop precompetitive 

Pollution Prevention and New Technologies 

procedures. 

Strategic F

ocus 

Tasks 

Table I-7. 

48 S t rategi c Plan f o r OR D 
Appendix I 

Cost data for pollution For cost-benefit assessments by EPA and other regulatory and 

demonstrations). 

To support widespread use of applicable pollution prevention 

and innovative technologies that maximize risk reduction. 

Industry-targeted information To improve environmental compliance and reduce 

dissemination products that compliance costs. 

will include technical and cost data and performance To encourage the private sector to value and routinely use analyses. pollution prevention and innovative technologies as the first 

or only preference for environmental protection and compliance. 

SubtopicRisk How can reliable and Develop process cost Cost estimating and reporting To improve cost estimating tools for use in cost-effectiveness

innovative technologies.

Identify specific industry A variety of technology To increase the awareness and knowledge of environmental How can pollution 

prevention and and government audiences transfer products professionals and others about the validity and benefits of innovative technologies worldwide, their needs for disseminated via the Internet, pollution prevention and innovative technologies, thereby be disseminated to effect information, and teleconferencing, electronic leading to their increased application and broader use. a reduction in appropriate products to bulletin board, and other more 

conventional means (e.g., To improve decision-making among innovative technology 

prevention and 

innovative technologies? Develop cost data reporting packages for environmentally preferable approaches and 

technologies. To provide reliable, scientifically credible cost-estimation 

protocols and standards. and cost-benefit methods development. 

Develop engineering andperformance costs for prevention and innovative nonregulatory decision-makers.

reports, workshops). users and permitting officials. 

standards and protocols for technologies. 

Products Uses 

pollution prevention and technologies. 

Pollution Prevention and New Technologies (Continued) 

Management(Continued) generated for pollution prevention and innovative

environmental risk meet those needs (e.g., 

appropriate cost data be models for pollution 

worldwide? seminars, bulletins, 

improved cost comparability. 

Strategic Focus Tasks 

Table I-7. 

Strategi c Plan fo r OR D 49

Appendix II 

The ORD Organization 

ORD’s new organization, depicted below, mirrors Centers, and Offices are described on the following

the risk assessment/risk management paradigm. pages.

The functions of ORD’s National Laboratories, 

Office of Resources 

Management and 

Administration 

Assistant Administrator for Research and Development Office of Science Policy 

Office of Research and 

Science Integration 

National Center 

for Environmental 

Assessment 

National Center 

for Environmental 

Research and 

Quality Assurance 

National Risk 

Management 

Research 

Laboratory 

Water Supply and 

Water Resources 

Division 

(Cincinnati, OH) 

Land Remediation 

and Pollution 

Control Division 

(Cincinnati, OH) 

Sustainable 

Technology Division 

(Cincinnati, OH) 

Air Pollution 

Prevention and 

Control Division 

(RTP, NC) 

Subsurface 

Protection and 

Remediation Division 

(Ada, OK) 

Technology Transfer 

and Support Division 

(Cincinnati, OH) 

Technology 

Coordination Staff 

(Washington, DC) 

Environmental 

Engineering 

Research Division 

(Washington, DC) 

Environmental 

Sciences Research 

Division 

(Washington, DC) 

Quality Assurance 

Division 

(Washington, DC) 

Peer Review Division 

(Washington, DC) 

Deputy Assistant 

Administrator for Science 

Deputy Assistant Administrator 

for Management 

National Health and 

Environmental Effects 

Research Laboratory 

Reproductive 

Toxicology Division 

(RTP, NC) 

Experimental 

Toxicology Division 

(RTP, NC) 

Environmental 

Carcinogenesis 

Division (RTP, NC) 

Neurotoxicology 

Division (RTP, NC) 

Human Studies 

Division (RTP, NC) 

Gulf Ecology Division 

(Gulf Breeze, FL) 

Mid-Continent 

Ecology Division 

(Duluth, MN) 

Western Ecology 

Division 

(Corvallis, OR) 

Atlantic Ecology 

Division 

(Narragansett, RI) 

NCEA RTP, NC 

Office 

NCEA Washington, 

DC Office 

NCEA Cincinnati, 

OH Office 

National 

Exposure 

Research 

Laboratory 

Atmospheric 

Processes Research 

Division (RTP, NC) 

Air Measurements 

Research Division 

(RTP, NC) 

Atmospheric 

Modeling Division 

(RTP, NC) 

Air Exposure 

Research Division 

(RTP, NC) 

Human Exposure 

Research Division 

(Cincinnati, OH) 

Ecological Exposure 

Research Division 

(Cincinnati, OH) 

Characterization 

Research Division 

(Las Vegas, NV) 

Ecosystems Research 

Division 

(Athens, GA) 

ORD’s New Risk-Based Organization 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 51 
Appendix I I 

National Health and 

Environmental Effects Research 

Laboratory 

ORD’s National Health and Environmental Effects 

Research Laboratory (NHEERL) performs 

laboratory and field research to help EPA answer 

two fundamental questions: 

What are the health and/or ecological effects of 

exposures to man-made stressors? 

What is the likelihood that these effects will occur 

under conditions of environmental exposure? 

NHEERL’s research contributes to improving three 

steps in the risk assessment process: 

In the hazard identification area, NHEERL works 

to improve both assessment test methods and the 

interpretation of data developed by these 

methods (i.e., the relationship of effects measures 

to health/ecological outcome). 

In the dose-response assessment area, NHEERL 

performs mechanistic research to address major 

uncertainties, as well as research to develop and 

improve extrapolation and multi-tier models. 

In the risk characterization area, NHEERL 

provides data on carefully selected priority 

problems. 

National Exposure Research 

Laboratory 

The work of ORD’s National Exposure Research 

Laboratory (NERL) forms the basis for the human 

and ecosystem exposure assessments that are part of 

the risk assessment process. NERL researchers 

measure, predict, and apply multimedia data to 

assess with known certainty the multiple routes by 

which humans and ecosystems are exposed to 

environmental stressors. This work includes: 

Characterizing the physical and chemical 

properties that govern exposure in atmospheric, 

terrestrial, aquatic, benthic, and aquifer 

environments in order to identify and quantify 

phenomena that result in exposure. 

Developing, testing, and demonstrating 

mathematical and computerized models to: 

• Predict multimedia exposure routes. 

• Describe the status of ecological systems. 

•	 Evaluate stressor fate and transport 

mechanisms that affect mitigation, restoration, 

prevention, and risk management options to 

minimize exposure. 

Location of ORD’s National Laboratories and Centers 

Research Triangle 

Park, NC 

Washington, DC 

Cincinnati, OH 

Las Vegas, 

NV 

Athens, GA 

Gulf Breeze, FL 

Corvallis, OR 

Duluth, MN 

Narragansett, RI 

Ada, OK 

Grosse Ile, MI 

Newport, OR 

Edison, NJ 

52 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
Appendix I I 

National Center for 

Environmental Assessment 

ORD’s National Center for Environmental 

Assessment serves as a national resource center for 

the overall process of risk assessment: integrating 

hazard, dose-response, and exposure data and 

models to produce risk characterizations. 

National Risk Management 

Research Laboratory 

Research by ORD’s National Risk Management 

Research Laboratory (NRMRL) provides the 

scientific basis for environmental risk management. 

Specifically, NRMRL conducts research to reduce 

the uncertainty associated with making and 

implementing risk management decisions. This 

research focusses on two important areas: 

Characterizing pollutant sources that require 

management. 

Identifying, developing, and evaluating tools and 

technologies for prevention, control, restoration, 

and remediation of environmental problems that 

are high risk, high cost, or that lack effective 

management alternatives. 

NRMRL catalyzes the development and commercial 

application of some of the more cost-effective risk 

management alternatives through joint efforts with 

public and private sector partners, and through 

programs to verify the performance and cost of 

innovative technologies. NRMRL also provides 

technology transfer and technical support to risk 

management stakeholders to encourage improved 

risk management decision-making. 

National Center for 

Environmental Research and 

Quality Assurance 

ORD’s National Center for Environmental Research 

and Quality Assurance (NCERQA) represents a 

major and renewed commitment by ORD to help 

EPA achieve the highest possible quality of science. 

In particular, NCERQA has made a major 

commitment to ensure the high quality of ORD’s 

extramural research by establishing the Science to 

Achieve Results (STAR) program. The primary 

purpose of the STAR program is to access the 

foremost research scientists from universities and 

nonprofit centers around the country to meet the 

specific science needs of the Agency. STAR consists 

of three components—a focused Requests for 

Applications, an Exploratory Research Grants 

Program, and a Graduate Fellowships Program— 

all of which are targeted to issues of importance to 

EPA. All applications to the STAR program must 

pass rigorous external peer review by national 

experts before being considered for funding. A 

portion of the STAR program is conducted jointly 

with other federal agencies. 

In addition to the STAR program, NCERQA 

manages the Environmental Research Centers 

Program and the Hazardous Substance Research 

Centers and provides managerial oversight of EPA’s 

quality assurance programs. 

Office of Resources Management 

and Administration 

The Office of Resources Management and 

Administration (ORMA) provides support services 

and leadership to ORD’s Laboratories and Centers 

in many areas: budgeting, finance, human resources, 

training, information systems and technology, 

administrative procedures, health and safety, facility 

operations, and ORD’s equipment and laboratory 

infrastructure. ORMA also serves as the principal 

staff office to ORD’s Senior Resource Official. In this 

capacity, ORMA oversees all of ORD’s contracting 

and assistance activities and conducts independent 

reviews of ORD Laboratory and Center 

management to ensure efficient operations in 

support of sound science. 

Office of Research and Science 

Integration 

ORD’s Office of Research and Science Integration 

(ORSI) is the bridge between ORD and its many 

constituents: 

ORSI is the key link between ORD science and 

EPA policies and regulation. ORSI coordinates 

ORD input into the policy and regulatory 

development process, as well as ORD feedback 

on proposed policies and regulations. ORSI also 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 53 
Appendix I I 

coordinates ORD’s support to EPA’s Program and 

Regional Offices. 

ORSI coordinates EPA’s research planning 

process, working closely with ORD’s National 

Laboratories and Centers and EPA’s Program and 

Regional Offices to constructively coordinate 

their input into ORD’s research agenda. 

Office of Science Policy 

ORD’s Office of Science Policy administers the 

programs of two standing interoffice committees: 

the Science Policy Council and the Risk Assessment 

Forum. 

The Science Policy Council is an EPA 

organization comprising senior EPA science 

managers and chaired by EPA’s Deputy 

Administrator. Focusing on selected 

environmental issues that go beyond program 

and regional boundaries, the Council develops 

information and policies to guide EPA 

decision-makers in their use of scientific and 

technical information. 

The Risk Assessment Forum is comprised of 

senior agency scientists who study and develop 

guidance on generic risk assessment issues. The 

Risk Assessment Forum program includes 

technical analysis and consensus-building on a 

small set of selected risk science issues, usually 

controversial or precedent-setting, that relate to 

evaluating health and ecological risks. 

In addition, the Office of Science Policy is 

responsible for supporting ORD’s Assistant 

Administrator in selected projects. 

54 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
Appendix III 

Management Structure for 

Implementing ORD’s 

Strategic Plan

S

uccessful implementation of ORD’s Strategic 

Plan requires coordinated input and 

involvement by all ORD Laboratories, 

Centers, and Offices as well as EPA’s 

Program and Regional Offices. Several councils and 

teams, illustrated and described below, provide 

mechanisms for this participation. Collectively, these 

groups involve all levels of ORD senior management from ORD’s Assistant Administrator through 

to ORD’s Assistant Laboratory Directors (see figure). 

The Research Coordination Council and ORD’s 

Research Coordination Teams, described below, 

provide mechanisms for Program and Regional 

Office involvement. One of the important roles of 

the councils and teams is to assure “upward” 

communication from the experts in ORD’s 

Laboratories and Centers. 

Executive Council 

ORD’s Executive Council is chaired by ORD’s 

Assistant Administrator and consists of ORD’s 

Deputy Assistant Administrators for Science and 

Management and the Directors of ORD’s National 

Laboratories, Centers, and Offices. The Executive 

Council serves as the primary decision-making 

body for major planning and management 

decisions. Based on input from the Management 

and Science Councils, Research Coordination 

Council, and Research Coordination Teams, the 

Executive Council coordinates major policy and 

budget issues across ORD, including consensus 

recommendations to ORD’s Assistant Administrator. 

Management Council 

ORD’s Management Council is chaired by ORD’s 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Management 

and includes the Deputy Assistant Administrator for 

Science as an ex officio member, the Director of 

ORD’s Office of Resources Management and 

Administration (who serves as the Vice Chair), and 

the Deputy Directors for Management of ORD’s 

Laboratories and Centers. ORD’s Management 

Council provides senior management leadership for 

developing and implementing effective management policies, procedures, and systems. For 

example, the Management Council is leading the 

development of ORD’s Management Information 

System, a management system to ensure that ORD’s 

resources are efficiently administered. The 

Management Council also provides input, feedback, 

and guidance on issues that significantly affect 

ORD’s overall management operations. 

Science Council 

ORD’s Science Council is chaired by ORD’s Deputy 

Assistant Administrator for Science and includes the 

Deputy Assistant Administrator for Management as 

an ex officio member. Science Council members 

provide a balance between health and ecological 

research. They include the Associate Directors for 

Health and Ecology of ORD’s National Laboratories 

and Centers, the Associate Director for Science of 

ORD’s National Center for Environmental Research 

and Quality Assurance, and the Director of ORD’s 

Office of Research and Science Integration. 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 55 
Appendix I

I I 

Office of Resources 

Management and 

Administration 

Director 

Assistant Administrator for Research and Development 

Office of Science Policy 

Director 

Office of Research and 

Science Integration 

Director 

National Center for 

Environmental Assessment 

Director 

Deputy Director for 

Management 

Assistant Center Directors 

for Air, Water, Waste, 

Toxicology/Pesticides, and 

Multimedia 

National Center for 

Environmental Research and 

Quality Assurance 

Director 

Deputy Director 

National Risk Management 

Research Laboratory 

Director 

Deputy Director for 

Management 

Assistant Laboratory Directors 

for Air, Water, Waste, 

Toxicology/ Pesticides, and 

Multimedia 

Management 

Council 

Science 

Council 

Research 

Coordination 

Teams 

Deputy Assistant 

Administrator for 

Management 

Deputy Assistant 

Administrator for 

Science 

Executive 

Council 

Research 

Coordination 

Council 

Representatives from the 

EPA Program and Regional 

Offices advise ORD on 

research needs and 

priorities. 

National Health and 

Environmental Effects 

Research Laboratory 

Director 

Deputy Director for 

Management 

Assistant Laboratory 

Directors for Air, Water, 

Waste, Toxicology/ 

Pesticides, and Multimedia 

Associate 

Director for 

Health 

Associate 

Director for 

Ecology 

National Exposure 

Research Laboratory 

Director 

Deputy Director for 

Management 

Assistant Laboratory 

Directors for Air, Water, 

Waste, Toxicology/ 

Pesticides, and Multimedia 

Associate 

Director for 

Health 

Associate 

Director for 

Ecology 

Associate 

Director for 

Health 

Associate 

Director for 

Ecology 

Associate 

Director for 

Health 

Associate 

Director for 

Ecology 

Associate 

Director for 

Science 

ORD Management Structure 

56 

Strat e gic Plan for OR D 
Appe ndix I I I 

The Science Council serves as the principal forum 

for identifying, discussing, and providing advice 

and recommendations to ORD’s Assistant 

Administrator on scientific and technical issues that 

significantly affect ORD’s overall scientific and 

technical operations. For example, the Science 

Council had the lead role in developing ORD’s 

Strategic Plan and will review all research plans. 

Research Coordination Council 

The Research Coordination Council comprises the 

Assistant Administrators from key Program Offices 

and the EPA Regional Administrators, supported on 

a day-to-day basis by their senior staff. The Research 

Coordination Council serves as a focal point for 

integration between ORD and EPA’s Program and 

Regional offices. The Council provides ORD with a 

cross-agency perspective, participates in ORD’s 

planning process, and recommends potential topics 

for ORD’s research agenda and extramural grants 

program. 

Research Coordination Teams 

The Research Coordination Teams coordinate 

ORD’s research program with ORD’s clients and 

across ORD Laboratories and Centers. Organized 

by environmental media (air, water, waste, 

toxics/pesticides, and multimedia), the teams 

assess ORD clients’ needs, recommend research 

priorities, monitor ORD progress toward meeting 

these priorities, facilitate integration of intramural 

and extramural research activities, and ensure 

communication of results to ORD clients. Each 

Research Coordination Team includes a Team 

Leader from ORD’s Office of Research and Science 

Integration, the Assistant Laboratory Directors from 

ORD’s Laboratories and Centers, a program analyst 

from ORD’s Office of Resources Management and 

Administration, a representative from ORD’s 

National Center for Environmental Research and 

Quality Assurance to provide input on ORD’s 

grants program, and representatives from EPA’s 

Program and Regional Offices. The Research 

Coordination Teams take the lead in developing 

ORD’s science research plans and in organizing and 

conducting media-based program reviews of ORD 

progress and outputs. 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 57 

Appendix IV 

Relationship of Fiscal Year 

1996 Requests for 

Applications (RFA’s) to ORD 

High-Priority Research Topics 

Drinking 

water 

disinfection 

Particulate 

matter in 

the air 

Endocrine 

disruptors 

Research to 

improve Research to Pollution 

ecosystem improve prevention 

risk health risk and new 

assessment assessment technologies 

Ecological Assessment, 

including regional 

ecosystem protection and 

restoration and global 

climate change 

Exposure of Children to 

Pesticides 

Air Quality, including 

tropospheric ozone, air 

toxics, and indoor air 

Analytical and Monitoring 

Methods, including field 

analytical methods, 

continuous measurement 

methods, and leachability 

prediction 

Drinking Water, including 

microbial pathogens and 

disinfection by-products 

✔ ✔ 

✔ ✔ 

✔ ✔ 

✔ ✔ ✔ 

✔ ✔ 

S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 59 
Appendix I V 

Research to 

improve Research to Pollution 

Drinking Particulate ecosystem improve prevention 

water matter in Endocrine risk health risk and new 

disinfection the air disruptors assessment assessment technologies 

Environmental Fate and 

Treatment of Toxics and 

Hazardous Wastes, 

including fate and mobility 

of contaminants in salts and 

ground water and the 

assessment of risks of 

contaminated soils and 

treatment residuals 

Environmental Statistics 

High Performance 

Computing 

Risk-based Decisions for 

Contaminated Sediments 

Endocrine Disruptors 

Role of Interindividual 

Variability in Human 

Susceptibility to Cancer 

Water and Watersheds 

Technology for a 

Sustainable Environment, 

including green chemistry 

Decision-making and 

Valuation for 

Environmental Policy 

Bioremediation 

✔ ✔ ✔ 

✔ ✔ ✔ 

✔ ✔ ✔ 

✔ ✔ ✔ 

✔ ✔ ✔ 

✔ 

✔	 ✔ 

✔ ✔ ✔ 

✔ 

✔ ✔ 

60 S t rat e gic Plan for OR D 
 O RD Response to Blue-Ribbon Panel Recommendations 

Recommended Action ORD Response 

EPA should take steps to improve science We instituted standard operating procedures for peer review in 1994. 

quality and enhance peer review.

c,i

To engage the nation’s best research institutions, we expanded our program for 

extramural research grants selected from competitive, peer-reviewed proposals. 

We created a Peer Review Division in our National Center for Environmental Research 

and Quality Assurance. 

ORD needs a coherent research-planning We developed the ORD Strategic Plan (this document) and distributed it for comment 

process, a robust mission statement, and a in November 1995. 

vision statement.c,d,i,j 

We implemented a risk-based research planning process. 

We realigned ORD’s organizational structure to use risk assessment and risk 

management as principal priority-setting criteria. 

ORD should enhance environmental We initiated an expanded graduate fellowship program initiated, with 100 awards in

education programs for training the next 1995.

generation of scientists.

a,d,e

ORD should streamline its existing 

laboratory organization by collapsing the 

twelve laboratories into four national 

laboratories.

d,f,h 

We consolidated ORD laboratories into three national laboratories and two centers in 

1995 to align laboratories according to risk assessment and risk management 

components. 

ORD should improve its management We are developing the ORD Management Information System to track resources and 

systems to track planning resources and 

accomplishments.

g,h 

projects on an ORD-wide basis. 

We established a Management Council, a Science Council, and (together with the 

program offices and regions) a Research Coordination Council (see Appendix C of this 

Strategic Plan). 

We will conduct annual research program reviews to evaluate the status and 

accomplishments of our research. 

We are developing research plans to inform internal and external audiences about the 

policy relevance, specific objectives, technical approaches, and expected products of our 

research. 

ORD should balance short-term and In 1995, we created the Science To Achieve Results (STAR) Program of peer-reviewed 

long-term research.a,e,g,j investigator-initiated grants relevant to ORD’s mission. 

As described in this Strategic Plan, we give equal consideration to short- and long-term 

research needs in our priority-setting process. 

ORD should balance health and ecological We have adopted a balance between ecological risks and human health risks as a major 

research.a,c strategic principle (see Table 1 of this Strategic Plan). 

We appointed Laboratory Associate Directors for Health and Ecology for each national 

laboratory. 

EPA should designate ORD’s Assistant The EPA Deputy Administrator appointed the AA/ORD as EPA’s Scientific and

Administrator (AA/ORD) as the Agency’s Technical Activities Planner in March 1995.

Chief Scientific Officer.

j

EPA must improve its capability to EPA signed an agreement in 1995 with the National Research Council to establish a a-c anticipate environmental problems. group to review environmental issues for the next decade and recommend necessary 

research. 

a

Future Risk: Research Strategies for the 1990s. U.S. EPA, Science Advisory Board. 1988. b

Reducing Risks: Setting Priorities and Strategies for Environmental Protection. U.S. EPA, Science Advisory Board. 1990. c

Safeguarding the Future: Credible Science, Credible Decisions. Report of the Expert Panel on the Role of Science at EPA. U.S. EPA. 1992. d

Environmental Research and Development: Strengthen the Federal Infrastructure. The Carnegie Commission. 1992. e

Research to Protect, Restore, and Manage the Environment. National Research Council. 1993. f

Assessment of the Scientific and Technical Laboratories and Facilities of the U.S. EPA. MITRE Corporation. May 1994.

g

An SAB Report: Review of the MITRE Corp. Draft Report on the EPA Laboratory Study. U.S. EPA, Science Advisory Board/Research Strategy 

Advisory Council. May 1994. h

A Review, Evaluation and Critique of a Study of EPA Laboratories by the MITRE Corporation and Additional Commentary on EPA Science and Technology

Programs. National Academy of Public Administration. June 1994. i

Setting Priorities, Getting Results: A New Direction for EPA. National Academy of Public Administration. April 1995. 

j

Interim Report of the Committee on Research and Peer Review in EPA. National Research Council. March 1995. 
1EPA