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Pages 3-11

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From page 3...
... The results of EPA's evaluation may include options for colocation and consolidation of laboratory facilities. THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL COMMITTEE'S STUDY As part of its integrated effort, EPA asked the National Research Council to form a committee to assess the agency's highest-priority needs for mission-relevant laboratory science and technical support, to develop principles for the efficient and effective management of EPA's laboratory enterprise to meet the agency's mission needs and strategic goals, and to develop guidance for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness now and during the next 10 years.2 The committee was not asked to identify the highest-priority needs anew, but to assess needs identified previously and to develop principles that would help EPA meet its scientific obligations over the next 10 years.3 Also, it was asked not to assess the physical space and configuration options of EPA laboratories, because that analysis is being undertaken in a separate effort.
From page 4...
... ORD laboratories may undertake research over a period of 5 years or more, whereas a regional office laboratory might need an immediate answer for a site-cleanup decision and a program office laboratory may be engaged in technical projects on motor vehicle emissions that last for several years. The different kinds of laboratories need different kinds of scientific and technical expertise and approaches, and they report to different managers and policy officials.
From page 5...
... We encourage EPA to develop and strengthen its management processes by using the frameworks to enable the individual types of laboratories to perform better and to synchronize with each other. Agency Strategic Goals ing of ome s get atio n Bud ent m ent Outc and lem ess and nni ng Imp Ass tputs Pla P lan Ou Office of Research & Development Laboratories Laboratory Enterprise Communication Communication Communication Regional Clients: Office Program Offices, Laboratories Regional Offices Program Office Laboratories FIGURE S-1 The overall EPA laboratory enterprise, with an emphasis on lines and directions of communication that should be institutionalized.
From page 6...
... Planning The committee commends EPA on its progress in aligning its research efforts with the needs of its regulatory program and regional offices and ultimately with its strategic goals through ORD's four-year strategic research planning process, which includes multiple reviews and outreach activities. However, it is possible that more can and should be done.
From page 7...
... The committee commends EPA for developing these centers in the laboratory enterprise. EPA should continue to look for innovative ways to address emerging problems and opportunities that create synergies among agency personnel who might encounter similar problems or opportunities within different EPA laboratories within ORD, program offices, and regional offices.
From page 8...
... Although the ORD planning process seeks internal comments on the relevance and utility of the outputs of the ORD laboratories, the committee understands that the program office and regional office laboratories do not undertake systematic internal assessments. EPA's program office laboratories and regional office laboratories should undergo regular internal reviews of their efficiency and effectiveness.
From page 9...
... To the extent practicable under budget constraints, three tools that would provide EPA flexibility in achieving continuing workforce excellence are the agency's training grant and fellowships programs, postdoctoral program, and Title 42 program. An important component of implementing each of these tools is periodic independent review to assess whether the efforts are meeting their intended objectives.
From page 10...
... ADDRESSING FUTURE CHALLENGES Examples of important emerging environmental challenges include human and environmental exposure to toxic chemicals, loss of native biodiversity, and new stressors from climate change that affect human health, the built infrastructure, social institutions, and natural ecosystems. A variety of informal and formal approaches that EPA can use for identifying emerging issues and possible solutions are available,                                                              7 NRC, 2010.
From page 11...
... and advisory bodies established to provide independent expert advice to specific types of EPA laboratories, can also contribute to the process of identifying and evaluating emerging issues. When faced with a serious emerging issue or important opportunity to take advantage of new knowledge or technologies, the agency could marshal the various institutional research tools that it has already developed into a small E-ARPA (an Environmental Advanced Research Projects Alliance)


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