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Special Projects
Orimulsion® Research Study
In response to a 1998 congressional request, APTB began research as part of a study to evaluate the environmental impacts of Orimulsion®. Orimulsion® is a fossil fuel composed of 70% bitumen (a very heavy naturally occurring petroleum material), 28% water, and surfactants and emulsifying agents. The fuel is produced in Venezuela and has been used for electric power generation in several locations throughout the world.
Real-Time Monitoring of Dioxins and Other Trace Organics
In 1996 President Clinton directed EPA to create a new program to bring to people up-to-date environmental information they could understand and use every day. Thus, the EMPACT program was created. EMPACT is jointly administered by EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Center for Environmental Research and Quality Assurance (NCERQA), and the National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA).
An EMPACT research project begun by APTB in FY 1998 is "Real-Time Monitoring of Dioxins and Other Trace Organics." This project involves development of the application of an on-line, real-time, trace organic air toxic monitor, with special emphasis on dioxin-related compounds. Research efforts will demonstrate the utility and usefulness of the Resonance Enhanced Multi-Photon Ionization (REMPI) analytical method for trace organics control, monitoring, and compliance assurance.
For further information on this project, click here, or for additional EMPACT program information, click here.
Environmental Technology Verification
APTB manages an extramural center for evaluation of Environmental Technology Verification (ETV) projects. The Agency's ETV program supports the broad use of credible, efficient, and cost-effective environmental technologies. The program's goal is to promote the development and use of environmentally beneficial technologies through obtaining independent and credible performance evaluations of commercially-ready pollution control technologies. Each center uses non-profit organizations through the use of multi-year cooperative or interagency agreements as independent third parties to evaluate private sector technologies at the pre-commercial scale of development. Under EPA oversight and with stakeholder input, promising air pollution control technologies are selected and prioritized for verification testing using approved protocols. APTB is responsible for one of six centers - the Air Pollution Control Technology Verification Center. The centers are tasked with obtaining and disseminating credible performance results to users, which include buyers, technology consultants, designers, regulators, environmentalists, and financial and insuring entities. Verification reports and statements provide test results on the technologies tested, and those that have not be removed because of "sunsetting" provisions may be accessed at http://www.epa.gov/etv/.