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For Immediate Release
March 6, 2007

News Release

U.S. EPA and Smithsonian: Strengthening Americans' Access to
Environmental and Scientific Information

Contacts:
Melissa Anley-Mills, EPA ORD 202 564 5179 or anley-mills.melissa@epa.gov
Carolyn Martin, Smithsonian, 202-633-5197 or MartinCL@si.edu

(Washington, D.C. - March 6, 2007) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has partnered with the Smithsonian Institution to bolster their common interest of sharing and advancing scientific knowledge, enabling both to reach new audiences with vital information regarding the environment. The partnership, formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed today by Dr. George Gray, Assistant Administrator of EPA's Office of Research and Development and Dr. David Evans, Under Secretary for Science at the Smithsonian Institution, builds upon current ongoing collaborations between the two organizations.

”This agreement promotes the efficient use of resources and recognizes the strengths and assets that each brings to environmental protection, public education and providing vital scientific information necessary for decision-making“ said Dr. Gray.

”The Smithsonian has a long tradition of doing basic research and communicating our results in our world-famous museums. This partnership with the EPA will allow the public to benefit from the practical applications of the research,“ Dr. Evans said.

Through this MOU, the staff and facilities of both EPA and the Smithsonian have the structure and basis for implementing and expanding joint research activities. The Smithsonian has already collaborated with EPA to convene important scientific discussions attracting academia, practitioners, and decision-makers on topics such as biodiversity and the health outcomes associated with human impacts on ecosystems; and harmful algal blooms. These discussions help share cutting-edge scientific research, identify important information gaps, and develop strategies for advancing the body of scientific knowledge.

Other current collaborations include research to improve our fundamental understanding of environmental systems and therefore take protective action for our natural resources such as the Chesapeake Bay, coral reefs and use available technologies to give us more tools for environmental decision-making. The two organizations are currently collaborating on the "Barcode of Life" initiative that uses DNA to better identify most animal species with great speed and accuracy. This technique has been used to conclusively identify invasive organisms, and led to the recent announcement of the quagga mussel in the Duluth-Superior Harbor. Another current collaboration involves The Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), which aims to provide a "dashboard for the planet" that will provide better information to support environmentally sustainable decision-making.

Future collaborative undertakings may include digitizing scientific information and data, the detection, assessment and control of non-native and invasive species; and promoting greater understanding of the science behind environmental issues allowing the American public to take their own steps toward greater environmental stewardship.

The Smithsonian is the world's largest museum and research complex, with 19 museums and galleries, the National Zoological Park, nine research centers and more than 150 affiliate museums around the world. The U.S. EPA, part of the executive branch of the U.S. Government, responsible for protecting human health and the environment, has offices in Washington, DC, ten regional offices, and more than a dozen labs located across the country.

For more information:

EPA relies on quality science as the basis for sound policy and decision-making. EPA's laboratories and research centers, and EPA's research grantees, are building the scientific foundation needed to support the Agency's mission to safeguard human health and the environment.

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