Download or read book Sustainability and the U S EPA written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-09-08 with total page 162 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Sustainability is based on a simple and long-recognized factual premise: Everything that humans require for their survival and well-being depends, directly or indirectly, on the natural environment. The environment provides the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the food we eat. Recognizing the importance of sustainability to its work, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been working to create programs and applications in a variety of areas to better incorporate sustainability into decision-making at the agency. To further strengthen the scientific basis for sustainability as it applies to human health and environmental protection, the EPA asked the National Research Council (NRC) to provide a framework for incorporating sustainability into the EPA's principles and decision-making. This framework, Sustainability and the U.S. EPA, provides recommendations for a sustainability approach that both incorporates and goes beyond an approach based on assessing and managing the risks posed by pollutants that has largely shaped environmental policy since the 1980s. Although risk-based methods have led to many successes and remain important tools, the report concludes that they are not adequate to address many of the complex problems that put current and future generations at risk, such as depletion of natural resources, climate change, and loss of biodiversity. Moreover, sophisticated tools are increasingly available to address cross-cutting, complex, and challenging issues that go beyond risk management. The report recommends that EPA formally adopt as its sustainability paradigm the widely used "three pillars" approach, which means considering the environmental, social, and economic impacts of an action or decision. Health should be expressly included in the "social" pillar. EPA should also articulate its vision for sustainability and develop a set of sustainability principles that would underlie all agency policies and programs.
Download or read book Evaluating Research Efficiency in the U S Environmental Protection Agency written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2008-07-17 with total page 152 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A new book from the National Research Council recommends changes in how the federal government evaluates the efficiency of research at EPA and other agencies. Assessing efficiency should be considered only one part of gauging a program's quality, relevance, and effectiveness. The efficiency of research processes and that of investments should be evaluated using different approaches. Investment efficiency should examine whether an agency's R&D portfolio, including the budget, is relevant, of high quality, matches the agency's strategic plan. These evaluations require panels of experts. In contrast, process efficiency should focus on "inputs" (the people, funds, and facilities dedicated to research) and "outputs" (the services, grants, publications, monitoring, and new techniques produced by research), as well as their timelines and should be evaluated using quantitative measures. The committee recommends that the efficiency of EPA's research programs be evaluated according to the same standards used at other agencies. To ensure this, OMB should train and oversee its budget examiners so that the PART questionnaire is implemented consistently and equitably across agencies.
Download or read book Briefing Book written by United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Research and Development and published by . This book was released on 1978 with total page 363 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Office of Research and Development strategic plan written by United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Research and Development and published by DIANE Publishing. This book was released on 2001 with total page 48 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Rethinking the Components Coordination and Management of the U S Environmental Protection Agency Laboratories written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2014-09-03 with total page 247 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) applies scientific results that have been provided by various parts of its own organization and by external organizations. The agency requires substantial high-quality inhouse scientific expertise and laboratory capabilities so that it can answer questions related to regulation, enforcement, and environmental effects of specific chemicals, activities, and processes. It is also usually faced with situations in which research or analytic work is time-critical, so it maintains dedicated laboratory staff and facilities that can respond quickly to such needs. In recent years, EPA has made several changes to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its laboratories, such as the designation of national program directors to align the work of research laboratories with the needs of the agency's regulatory program offices. The agency is currently undertaking an integrated evaluation of it laboratories to enhance the management effectiveness and efficiency of its laboratory enterprise and to enhance its capabilities for research and other laboratory-based scientific and technical activities. The results of EPA's evaluation are expected to include options for colocation and consolidation of laboratory facilities. Rethinking the Components, Coordination, and Management of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Laboratories assesses EPA's highest-priority needs for mission-relevant laboratory science and technical support, develops principles for the efficient and effective management of EPA's laboratory enterprise to meet the agency's mission needs and strategic goals, and develops guidance for enhancing efficiency and effectiveness now and during the next 10 years. EPA's laboratories play a vital role in the agency's work. The findings and recommendations of this report will help EPA to develop an implementation plan for the laboratory enterprise.
Download or read book Environmental Research Outlook written by United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Research and Development and published by . This book was released on 1975 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book United States written by the] United States and published by . This book was released on 1973 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Proposed Legislation to Reauthorize the Environmental Protection Agency s Research Development and Demonstration Programs written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Environment and Public Works. Subcommittee on Toxic Substances, Environmental Oversight, Research and Development and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book EPA Research Program Guide written by United States. Environmental Protection Agency and published by . This book was released on 1989 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Program Guide Office of Research and Development written by United States. Environmental Protection Agency. Office of Research and Development and published by . This book was released on 1976 with total page 180 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Manpower for Environmental Pollution Control written by and published by National Academies. This book was released on 1977-01-01 with total page 474 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Federal interagency energy environment R D program written by Steve Stryker and published by . This book was released on 1977 with total page 24 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book 1980 Authorization for the Office of Research and Development Environmental Protection Agency written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science and Technology. Subcommittee on Natural Resources and Environment and published by . This book was released on 1979 with total page 418 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Science for Environmental Protection written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2012-12-21 with total page 188 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In anticipation of future environmental science and engineering challenges and technologic advances, EPA asked the National Research Council (NRC) to assess the overall capabilities of the agency to develop, obtain, and use the best available scientific and technologic information and tools to meet persistent, emerging, and future mission challenges and opportunities. Although the committee cannot predict with certainty what new environmental problems EPA will face in the next 10 years or more, it worked to identify some of the common drivers and common characteristics of problems that are likely to occur. Tensions inherent to the structure of EPA's work contribute to the current and persistent challenges faced by the agency, and meeting those challenges will require development of leading-edge scientific methods, tools, and technologies, and a more deliberate approach to systems thinking and interdisciplinary science. Science for Environmental Protection: The Road Ahead outlines a framework for building science for environmental protection in the 21st century and identified key areas where enhanced leadership and capacity can strengthen the agency's abilities to address current and emerging environmental challenges as well as take advantage of new tools and technologies to address them. The foundation of EPA science is strong, but the agency needs to continue to address numerous present and future challenges if it is to maintain its science leadership and meet its expanding mandates.
Download or read book Strategic Plan for the Office of Research and Development information Management Component written by and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Science and Decisions written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-03-24 with total page 422 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Risk assessment has become a dominant public policy tool for making choices, based on limited resources, to protect public health and the environment. It has been instrumental to the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well as other federal agencies in evaluating public health concerns, informing regulatory and technological decisions, prioritizing research needs and funding, and in developing approaches for cost-benefit analysis. However, risk assessment is at a crossroads. Despite advances in the field, risk assessment faces a number of significant challenges including lengthy delays in making complex decisions; lack of data leading to significant uncertainty in risk assessments; and many chemicals in the marketplace that have not been evaluated and emerging agents requiring assessment. Science and Decisions makes practical scientific and technical recommendations to address these challenges. This book is a complement to the widely used 1983 National Academies book, Risk Assessment in the Federal Government (also known as the Red Book). The earlier book established a framework for the concepts and conduct of risk assessment that has been adopted by numerous expert committees, regulatory agencies, and public health institutions. The new book embeds these concepts within a broader framework for risk-based decision-making. Together, these are essential references for those working in the regulatory and public health fields.
Download or read book Research to Protect Restore and Manage the Environment written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 1993-02-01 with total page 255 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book assesses the strengths and weaknesses of current environmental research programs, describes the desirable characteristics of an effective program, and recommends cultural and organizational changes to improve the performance of environmental research. Research areas in need of greater emphasis are identified, and overall directions for environmental research are recommended. The book also comments on the proposal to establish a National Institute for the Environment and on the elevation of the Environmental Protection Agency to cabinet status.
