Technology Innovation News Survey

U.S. EPA, Office of Acquisition Management, Region III, Contracts Branch (3PM10).
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-4151, Solicitation RFQ-PA-13-00016, 2013

The Government intends to award a fixed-unit-price, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, including one 12-month base period and four 1-year option periods, for hazardous waste removal and emergency response services for the U.S. EPA Environmental Science Center, located at Fort Meade, Maryland. This procurement is a 100% woman-owned small business set-aside, NAICS code 562112, with a size standard of $35.5M. The quotation due date (closing date) is April 24, 2013, by 5:00 pm ET, via e-mail. https://www.fbo.gov/spg/EPA/OAM/3PM10/RFQ-PA-13-00016/listing.html

Air Force Materiel Command, ESG - Enterprise Sourcing Group, Wright Patterson AFB, OH.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-4144, Solicitation FA8903-12-R-0050, 2013

The 772 ESS/PKJ, Base Realignment and Closure Branch, is issuing an RFP for the NM-AZ PBR requirement. This is a major source selection for PBR in support of DoD installations in New Mexico (Cannon AFB, Holloman AFB, and Kirtland AFB) and Arizona (Luke AFB). The intent of this PBR effort is to maximize the number of site closeouts (SCs) or advance sites as close to SC as practicable during the period of performance (POP) in a cost-effective manner for 88 Installation Restoration Program sites and 21 Military Munitions Response Program sites at the above installations. This procurement is solicited as a total small business set-aside envisioned as a single stand-alone "C" contract with a firm-fixed-price arrangement at a range of $35 to $42 million and a POP of 120 months. The NAICS code for this acquisition is 562910. Proposals are due by 1600 hrs CDT on April 29, 2013. https://www.fbo.gov/notices/7f18f634d29cee9fd87d8cd62a786aee

U.S. EPA, Office of Acquisition Management, Region VII, Kansas City, KS.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-4143, Solicitation SOL-R7-13-00011

EPA requires professional architect and engineering services to support RAC III remedial planning and oversight activities at Superfund Sites in Region 10, which covers Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. This procurement envisions the award of up to two fixed-rate, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, award-term RACs under a small business set-aside. The base period of performance will be three years, with two award terms of four years and three years, for a potential total period of 10 years. Work will be issued by task orders. The RFP for SOL-R7-13-00011 is expected to be released on or about May 1, 2013. NAICS code 562910 applies. The solicitation, amendments, and other information related to this procurement will be posted at http://www.epa.gov/oam/regions/index.htm#solam. FBO notice: https://www.fbo.gov/spg/EPA/OAM/RegVII/SOL-R7-13-00011/listing.html

U.S. EPA Region 5, Chicago, IL.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-4138, Solicitation SOL-R5-12-00006, 2013

U.S. EPA's Region 5 contracting office intends to issue an RFP on or about April 6, 2013, to obtain technical support services for the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) IV in EPA Region 9 (i.e., Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Guam, and U.S. Trust Territories). Support services will include emergency response, removal, site assessment, training, data management, and related technical and administrative services. The Government intends to award one fixed-rate, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, with work assigned through the issuance of task orders. The solicitation anticipates a 24-month base period with two 18-month award-term option periods for a total contract length of 60 months. The acquisition will be conducted on the basis of full and open competition. Additional information, including a draft SOW, can be located at www.FedConnect.net using the search interface. https://www.fbo.gov/spg/EPA/OAM/MMC-10J/SOL-R5-12-00006/listing.html

U.S. EPA, Office of Acquisition Management, Region VII, Kansas City.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-4127, Solicitation SOL-R7-13-00008, 2013

The purpose of the Superfund Technical Assessment and Response Team (START) contract is to provide nationally consistent advisory and assistance services to EPA On-Scene Coordinators and other federal officials implementing EPA's responsibilities under the National Response System. The contractor will fulfill these responsibilities within and outside the region on a backup regional response, cross-regional response, national response, and international response. The technical requirements under this unrestricted procurement include response, preparedness and prevention, assessment and inspection, technical support, data management and training. The contract will consist of a 3-year base period and two 1-year option periods. The total estimated ceiling for the contract is over $40 million if all options (both quantity and term) are exercised. EPA is issuing this presolicitation notice to advise that the RFP should be posted some time after March 27, 2013 at both epa.gov and fbo.gov. https://www.fbo.gov/spg/EPA/OAM/RegVII/SOL-R7-13-00008/listing.html

NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk, Portsmouth, VA.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-4127, Solicitation N0018913RE037, 2013

The NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Norfolk intends to negotiate an indefinite-delivery, firm fixed-price, requirements-type contract on an unrestricted basis in support of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programs (NNPP) requirement for contractor services for the transportation, treatment, and disposal of NNPP mixed-waste materials. The waste materials may have both a hazardous component and a radioactive component. In addition, some waste material may contain TSCA-regulated PCBs, asbestos, or state-identified hazardous waste. The period of performance for the resulting contract will be for one 12-month base period and two 12-month option periods under NAICS code 562211, with a small business standard of $35.5 million. Requests for quote will be available for download some time after March 2013 at https://www.neco.navy.mil under solicitation number N00189-13-R-E037. https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DON/NAVSUP/N00189/N0018913RE037/listing.html

Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, USACE District, Alaska.
Federal Business Opportunities, FBO-4136, Solicitation W911KB-13-R-0014, 2013

This acquisition is a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 562910, Remediation Services, which has a size standard of 500 employees. A solicitation is anticipated to be available in electronic format only at FBO.gov on or about April 5, 2013. The Government intends to award three small-business indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity, multiple-award task-order contracts (MATOC), consisting of a 3-year base period and 2-year option period. The overall capacity of this small business MATOC will be $180 million shared among all MATOC awardees. The objective of this MATOC for environmental remediation services is to provide the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) with the capability to execute a full range of environmental remediation services for the Alaska District, USACE. https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/COE/DACA85/W911KB-13-R-0014/listing.html

Kleiser, H.
Military Engineer, Vol 104 No 675, 49-50, 2012

The site investigation of the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Independence, Missouri, revealed about 1 million pounds of soil, groundwater, and sediments contaminated with chlorinated solvents, metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, and explosive chemicals. The remediation approach incorporated up to 12 different remediation technologies, ranging from sustainable, state-of-the-art in situ approaches to conventional remedial technologies. Innovative techniques included bioremediation employing a patented in situ reactive zone groundwater remediation technology; a combination of enhanced reductive dechlorination, monitored natural attenuation, and zero-valent iron-clay soil mixing; mobile, solar-powered recovery of free-phase liquids; and a phytoremediation plantation of >1,000 trees. This paper provides a brief overview of the performance-based remediation effort. http://themilitaryengineer.com/2012toulmin/jan-feb/SuccessfulRemedyforComplexRemediation.pdf

U.S. EPA Region 7 News Release, 4 Jan 2013

The 2005 ROD for the 10th Street Superfund Site in Columbus, Nebraska, selected the following remedies for PCE and TCE contamination: (1) continued operation of the air sparge-soil vapor extraction and groundwater extraction and treatment (GET) systems, (2) in situ chemical oxidation (ISCO) in the upgradient portion of the groundwater contaminant plume, and (3) institutional controls in all three source areas: the former One Hour Martinizing dry cleaner, the former Jackson Services, and the former Liberty Cleaners. EPA's amendment to the 2005 ROD for all three contaminated source area soils calls for building demolition, soil excavation, and off-site disposal. The excavated area will be backfilled with non-contaminated soil. The amended remedy to address contaminated groundwater at the former Jackson Services and former Liberty Cleaners source areas includes continued operation of the GET system and limited ISCO. The remedy for contaminated groundwater at the former One Hour Martinizing dry cleaner is ISCO and/or biological remediation.

Golden, T., M. McVey, G. Peterson, and J. Doesburg.
IPEC 2012: Proceedings of the 19th International Petroleum & BioFuels Environmental Conference, October 29 - November 1, 2012, San Antonio, Texas. 23 slides, 2012

During dewatering activities for construction of an underground parking structure, the contractor encountered groundwater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. Remediation was challenged by tight quarters at the site's downtown location, other ongoing construction activities, input from multiple stakeholders, and an accelerated timeline for achieving remedial goals. The remedial strategy consisted of completing a grout barrier around the site and implementing thermally enhanced soil vapor extraction to remove the hydrocarbon LNAPL. The grout barrier (22 ft high) consisted of 600 linear ft of high-pressure jet-grouted elements that overlapped with the ends of a 185-ft slurry wall. Key features of the extraction system included vertical wells, horizontal wells beneath existing buildings, natural-gas-fired thermal oxidizers, and a hot-air injection system. Subsurface temperature increases of 10 to 30°F accelerated the removal and treatment of more than 22,000 gal of gasoline. http://ipec.utulsa.edu/Conf2012/Papers_Presentations/Golden.pdf

Harp, T.A.
IPEC 2012: Proceedings of the 19th International Petroleum & BioFuels Environmental Conference, October 29 - November 1, 2012, San Antonio, Texas. 25 slides, 2012

Rapid in situ remediation of on- and off-site petroleum hydrocarbon impacts associated with a gas plant located in central Texas was accomplished using BOS 200®. The compound is a granular activated carbon injectant inoculated with consortia of facultative microorganisms, electron acceptors (nitrate and sulfate), and nutrients (phosphorus and nitrogen) designed to biodegrade BTEX compounds. During pre-design delineation of the vertical and horizontal distribution of BTEX, impacts were found within 8 to 9 feet of stiff clay and the underlying weathered limestone. The site was subdivided into six regions, based on BTEX concentrations. Treatment was implemented in three phases over a 15-month period in which ~4,800 injections were completed at 1,230 locations throughout the 66,000 ft² plume. The remedy consisted of 185,875 lbs of carbon slurry, 5,650 lbs of supplemental sulfate (gypsum), and 352 gals of microbes. The primary petroleum constituent, benzene, was reduced from concentrations of >50,000 µg/L (i.e., free-phase product) to <1 µg/L. Following 24 months of post-treatment groundwater monitoring, the Railroad Commission of Texas issued a No Further Action determination for the site. http://ipec.utulsa.edu/Conf2012/Papers_Presentations/Harp.pdf

U.S. Navy, 16 pp, Feb 2013

The Navy's preferred alternative for cleaning up contaminants (PCE, TCE, cis-1,2-DCE, vinyl chloride, pentachlorophenol, arsenic, 3,3-dichlorobenzidine, and barium) at OU-14 consists of enhanced bioremediation of the overburden and bedrock source zone, installation of two overburden permeable reactive barriers (PRBs), monitoring, engineering controls, and land-use controls. For the bioremediation option, a soluble electron donor, such as sodium lactate, would be injected in both the overburden and bedrock target treatment zones through grids of injection points. Mulch PRBs would provide an organic source for microorganisms to stimulate anaerobic degradation of chlorinated VOCs. Pilot treatability studies will be performed prior to design to determine the details of remedy construction. http://www.bracpmo.navy.mil/base_docs/south_weymouth/documents/enviro_docs/SRA_ProposedPlan_final.pdf

Banasiak, L. and B. Indraratna, University of Wollongong.
GeoCongress 2012: State of the Art and Practice in Geotechnical Engineering. American Society of Civil Engineers, ISBN (print): 978-0-7844-1212-1, 3523-3432, 2012

In 2006, the first pilot permeable reactive barrier (PRB) using recycled concrete for the remediation of acidic groundwater (~pH 3) was deployed in acid sulfate soil (ASS) terrain in southeast New South Wales, Australia. While monitoring has confirmed the PRB is successfully neutralizing the acidic groundwater to ~pH 7.3 and removing ~95% of Al and Fe, technology challenges remain. This paper presents details on the process of screening for reactive materials; PRB installation; experiments to simulate the flow of acidic groundwater through the PRB to study the predominant neutralization reactions; PRB long-term performance (including the potential for chemical armoring and possible clogging of the recycled concrete by Al and Fe oxy/hydroxide precipitates); and the current research strategy for investigating the PRB's longevity. http://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=7522&context=engpapers

Key, K., K. Sublette, E. Sullivan, J. Duba, G. Davis, D. Ogles, B. Baldwin, and A. Biernacki.
IPEC 2012: Proceedings of the 19th International Petroleum & BioFuels Environmental Conference, October 29 - November 1, 2012, San Antonio, Texas. 35 slides, 2012

Six aerobic in situ bioreactor (ISBR) units were installed into treatment wells within the contaminant source area in a pilot study conducted in northern New Jersey at a former industrial site contaminated with significant concentrations of toluene and benzene in groundwater, as well as free-product toluene. The ISBR unit is designed to enhance the natural attenuation process by stimulating microbial growth and enhancing contaminant degradation to achieve cleanup goals. This approach builds on existing Bio-Sep® bead technology, which provides a substrate that can be colonized rapidly by the active members of the microbial community, serving to concentrate indigenous degraders. Oxygen and nutrients are also delivered to the bioreactor to maintain conditions favorable for growth and reproduction. Not only is the contaminated groundwater treated as it circulates through the bed of beads, groundwater leaving the system also transports degraders released from the beads away from the bioreactor, thus increasing biodegradation rates in the aquifer. Bio-Trap® samplers and molecular biological tools were used to assess system performance. http://ipec.utulsa.edu/Conf2012/Papers_Presentations/Key_IPEC_2012.pdf

Xu, J.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, Project ER-1603, 45 pp, 2012

The objective of project ER-1603 was to develop a prototype sensor based on membrane extraction-ion mobility spectrometry (ME-IMS) for in situ or ex situ use, e.g., for characterizing the extent of groundwater plumes, conducting compliance monitoring around waste facilities or at the leading edge of a plume, and monitoring remedial actions. A preliminary field test of the ME-IMS groundwater monitor was conducted on high and low concentrations of TCE at NASA's Stennis Space Center. The instrument also could be used to monitor chlorinated hydrocarbons in the vapor phase. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/18081/201618/file/ER-1603-FR.pdf

Alvarez-Cohen, L.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, Project ER-1587, 85 pp, 2012

Project ER-1587 applied 16S rRNA- and mRNA-based microarray and quantitative PCR tools to monitor Dehalococcoides (Dhc)-containing microbial communities capable of reductive dechlorination of chlorinated solvents. The work focused on the following areas:

• Application of 16S rRNA based molecular tools (e.g., clone libraries, qPCR, and PhyloChip, to different TCE dechlorinating communities.
• Construction of a robust consortium of D. mccartyi strain 195 with other bacteria.
• Design, validation, and application of a genus-wide microarray targeting all four known Dhc genomes (strain CBDB1, BAV1, 195 and VS).
• Investigation of the correlation among certain biomarkers, growth phases, dechlorination performance, and corrinoid availability.

The combination of microarray (i.e., GeneChip and PhyloChip) analyses of DNA and RNA with clone library construction provided insights into the in situ microbial ecology and population dynamics during biostimulation-bioaugmentation at a TCE-contaminated site. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/17860/197884/file/ER-1587-FR.pdf

Wang, P.F., R.D. George, W.J. Wild, and Q. Liao.
SPAWAR Technical Report 1999, SERDP ER-1453, 130 pp, 2013

The objectives of this study were to develop a basic understanding of the release rate and subsequent fate and transport of MCs in water and sediment. With the ability to characterize, assess, and predict potential MC source loading and distribution, DoD will gain critical information for making scientifically defensible risk management decisions about underwater ordnance leave-in-place mitigation and blow-in-place versus removal options. In addition to explosive blast (safety) considerations, future regulatory emphasis likely will require an assessment of potential underwater ordnance contamination and mitigation efforts that could include water and sediment quality issues. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/18166/202199/file/ER-1453-%20FR.pdf

Sunahara, G.
Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, Project ER-1416, 289 pp, 2012

Studies using three plant and three soil invertebrate test species exposed in sandy loam soils established new ecotoxicological data for 2,4-DNT, 2-ADNT, 4-ADNT, HMX, and nitroglycerin under conditions of very high relative bioavailability for organic chemicals in soil. The data were used to derive draft ecological soil screening level concentrations for each energetic material. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/17859/197874/file/ER-1416-FR.pdf

Crocker, F.H., K.J. Indest, C.M. Jung, et al.
ERDC/EL TR-12-33, SERDP Project ER-1609, 175 pp, 2012

Genome annotation and functional characterization of the plasmid pGKT2 in KTR9 revealed that xplA gene is both necessary and sufficient for RDX degradation. Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 was shown to degrade RDX efficiently and anaerobically via two initial routes: (a) sequential N-NO₂ reduction to the corresponding nitroso (N-NO) derivatives; and (b) monodenitration followed by ring cleavage. The qPCR molecular tools described in this report have the potential to be used by remediation specialists for site characterization, treatment recommendations, and evaluation/optimization of treatment processes for RDX constituents. http://www.serdp-estcp.org/content/download/18082/201628/file/ER-1609-FR.pdf

Cappai, G., G. De Gioannis, A. Muntoni, D. Spiga, and J.J.P. Zijlstra.
Chemosphere, Vol 86 No 4, 400-408, 2012

A reactive barrier (RB) of transformed red mud (TRM), a by-product of the refinement of bauxite in alumina production, was placed adjacent to the anode of an electrokinetic (EK) system with the aim of enhancing removal of chromium or arsenic added singly to a low-permeability clayey soil, and favoring entrapment. The study focused on evaluation of the synergic interaction between the EK system and the RB, as well as the efficiency of the pairing compared to EK remediation alone. Results indicated successful treatment of the Cr(VI)-contaminated soil, while the combined treatment was much less effective on As-contaminated soil, at least under the operative conditions applied. Low initial As concentration and interference from iron oxides in the soil likely were the reasons underlying the low As decontamination efficiency. Details are available in D. Spiga's Ph.D. thesis (http://veprints.unica.it/621/1/PhD_Thesis_D.Spiga.pdf) and in "Re-use Options for Mineral Processing Waste: A Case Study," a presentation from the Workshop 2012 Sardegna, which was held to discuss remediation, operating procedures, and potential redevelopment of abandoned mine sites. Please note that the compiled Sardegna presentations are graphics-heavy and may load very slowly. The case study is available on PDF pages 22-66 at http://www.sardegnaambiente.it/documenti/18_330_20120503101048.pdf.

Randall, P.M., U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, OH.
Science of the Total Environment, Vol 420, 300-312, 2012

An investigation on the treatment and encapsulation of arsenic-containing materials by Portland cement with ferrous sulfate and lime (PFL) and Terra-Bond™ was conducted on chromated copper arsenate (CCA)-containing wood materials; scorodite-rich mine tailings from the La Trinidad Mine in California; and a soil/smelter dust mixture from the Anaconda Superfund site. The smelter dust mixture was spiked with monosodium methyl arsenate (MSMA) to simulate an organoarsenic soil material. In the CCA-containing samples, arsenic has a predominant pentavalent form (As +5), and PFL treatment did not alter the arsenic oxidation state. In the untreated and PFL-treated scorodite-rich mine tailings, however, the arsenic coordination structure changed from a mixture of As (+3/+5) to exclusively As (+5). In most cases, Terra-Bond™ treatment decreased the amount of arsenic released from wastes over that achieved using PFL. Cost analysis indicates that the PFL process is in the $200-400/ton range, and the Terra-Bond™ process is in the $325-525/ton range. Refinement of technology recipes will be needed to ensure long-term containment of the arsenic.

Yuan, S., X. Mao, and A.N. Alshawabkeh.
Environmental Science & Technology, Vol 46, 3398-3405, 2012

This paper outlines the use of iron ions (Fe(II)) with a palladium (Pd) catalyst to enhance oxidative degradation of TCE, which typically occurs as a side reaction during traditional TCE hydrodechlorination. The authors applied mixed-metal oxide electrodes to simulated TCE-contaminated groundwater to generate H₂. They added Pd powder to catalyze the reaction, which degraded TCE into ethane and other by-products. Application of Pd alone degraded 40% of the TCE within 80 minutes, but the addition of Fe(II) degraded 95% of the TCE within the same amount of time, shifting the TCE decontamination process from hydrodechlorination (a reduction process) to a more rapid oxidative reaction. This shift was most effective when high concentrations of iron (about 10 mg/L) were present and the pH of the water was low. For sustained treatment, the researchers are developing an in-well solar-powered system.

Singh, A., E.F. Neuhauser, N.A. Azzolina, M. Distler, K.M. Anders, M.A. Doroski, and A.J. Rabideau.
Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, Vol 63 No 2, 219-229, 2013

As part of an ongoing study of soil vapor intrusion (SVI), concentration data for ~2,000 air and vapor samples were assembled from remedial site investigations and stand-alone assessments conducted at manufactured gas plant (MGP) sites in New York state. Vapor samples were collected from ambient outdoor air, indoor air, beneath building slabs, and just outside buildings. Despite the large sample size, the considerable variability in compound and sample-specific censoring limits inhibited the use of conventional tools for statistical interpretation. In addition to methods for calculating population percentiles and associated confidence intervals, methods for comparing the population of MGP-SVI data with a reference population were developed and evaluated via illustrative comparisons with EPA's Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation Study of industrial buildings.

Voyevoda, M., W. Geyer, P. Mosig, E.M. Seeger, and S. Mothes.
CLEAN: Soil, Air, Water, Vol 40 No 8, 817-822, Aug 2012

The effectiveness of different remediation approaches in a constructed wetland for decreasing the amount of TPH (total petroleum hydrocarbons) in contaminated groundwater was evaluated at the site of a former refinery. The most effective hydrocarbon removal approach tested was a planted horizontal subsurface flow gravel filter with 0.1% activated carbon addition. This remediation method allowed the reduction of petroleum hydrocarbon content independently of seasonal conditions. The correlation between the reduction of TPH and BTEX was found to be R=0.8824. Using this correlation coefficient, the time-consuming determination of the BTEX content was no longer necessary.

Courcelles, B.
International Journal of Environmental Pollution and Remediation, Vol 1 No 1, 104-110, 2012

An innovative radial filter for permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) has been designed to reduce the head loss of groundwater flow bypassing the barrier compared to classical filters with axial flow. The design also improves the water/reactive media contact time. The new cylindrical filter is composed of a core of coarse material surrounded by a reactive material and a final ring of coarse material. The radial flow can be centripetal or centrifugal depending on the hydraulic heads applied to the filter. Based on numerical simulations and analytical solutions, the new configuration could improve the lifetime of a PRB, and in a centripetal configuration, improve the contact time where the groundwater is most contaminated. http://ijepr.avestia.com/2012/PDF/015.pdf

Anjum, N.A., M.E. Pereira, I. Ahmad, A.C. Duarte, S. Umar, and N.A. Khan
CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL. ISBN: 9781439875186, 617 pp, 2012

This book provides a conceptual overview of ecosystems approaches and phytotechnologies and their cumulative significance in relation to various environmental problems and potential solutions. Phytoremediation case studies accompany discussions of the tolerance of plant types to different contaminants.

Institute of Medicine, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice.
National Academies Press, Washington, DC. ISBN-10: 0-309-13034-4, 260 pp, 2013

U.S. EPA is one of several federal agencies responsible for protecting U.S. citizens against significant risks to human health and the environment. As part of that mission, EPA estimates the nature, magnitude, and likelihood of risks to human health and the environment; identifies the potential regulatory actions that will mitigate those risks and protect public health and the environment; and uses that information to decide on appropriate regulatory action. Uncertainties, both qualitative and quantitative, in the data and analyses on which these decisions are based enter into the process at each step. Given that uncertainty is inherent in science, including the science that informs EPA decision-making, this summary presents discussions and recommendations for managing risks, considerations in the decision-making process, and approaches to analyzing and communicating uncertainty about human health risks as well as other areas of environmental concern. http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12568

National Research Council.
National Academies Press, Washington, DC. ISBN-10: 0-309-26489-8, 233 pp, 2012

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 NRC committee responsible for this report 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. This text outlines a framework for building science for environmental protection in the 21st century and identifies key areas where enhanced leadership and capacity can strengthen the EPA's abilities to address current and emerging environmental challenges and take advantage of new tools and technologies to address them. http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=13510