What We Do

OSP is the lead organization for integrating, coordinating, and communicating scientific and technical information and advice across EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), and between ORD and the agency's programs, regions, and external parties.

OSP integrates scientific knowledge across ORD and the agency by:

• incorporating ORD science and technology into regulatory and non-regulatory actions taken by the agency 
• merging tribal environmental needs into ORD research programs
• including regional priority science needs in the ORD research planning process

OSP coordinates high visibility efforts with internal and external partners by:

• bringing ORD and the program and regional offices together to address critical science issues
• building partnerships between scientists in the regions and ORD
• organizing ORD’s international activities
• managing EPA’s Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources
• facilitating Environmental-Justice-related efforts across ORD and the agency
• managing EPA’s Tribal Science Council – a forum for interaction between tribal and agency representatives

OSP facilitates information flow by:

• representing ORD to tribal, state, and local communities
• sponsoring external and internal colloquia, workshops, and scientific meetings on topical science issues
• communicating regional priority science needs to ORD

Organization

Fred Hauchman, Director

• Phone: (202) 564-3151

Mimi Dannel, Deputy Director

• Phone: (202) 564-9944

Programs and projects managed by the Office of the Science Policy

• Board of Scientific Counselors

  The EPA Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC) provides advice, information, and recommendations to EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) on technical and management issues of its research programs. More information

• Regional Science Program

  The Regional Science Program links EPA's Office of Research and Development with 10 regional offices located throughout the country. The Program is implemented by headquarters staff and regional scientists and engineers, which includes a Regional Science Liaison (RSL) and a Superfund and Technology Liaison (STL) in EPA’s regional offices. The program builds networks and partnerships, provides technical assistance, and delivers research results on high-priority science issues in support of environmental decision makers. More information

• Tribal Science Program

  The tribal science program builds bridges between Tribal and EPA programs by collaborating on priority tribal science issues through the Tribal Science Council (TSC). The TSC, established in 1999, is a forum for interaction between Tribal and Agency representatives to work collaboratively on environmental science issues. The Council is comprised of EPA representatives from across the Agency, a tribal representative from each of the EPA regions with federally recognized tribes, and a representative of the Alaska Native Villages. The TSC is committed to the development of sound scientific approaches to meet the needs of Tribes. More information

• Research Supporting Environmental Justice

  The goal of EPA's environmental justice research program is to provide the scientific foundation needed for informed EPA decision making on environmental justice issues. Research efforts focus on understanding and developing solutions to the human health and environmental issues facing overburdened communities in the United States.

• Program Support

  The Program Support staff provide information and expert judgment on the application of science and science policy in Agency regulations and other program activities.

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