Assistance Centers

The Assistance Centers listed below link to web sites created by EPA and other federal and non-governmental entities to provide centrally located technical information on a variety of environmental science issues. Click on the links provided to locate web-based resources in your area of interest.

• American Indian Tribal Portal
  Developed by the American Indian Environmental Office to assist tribes and the public with locating tribal related information within EPA and other government agencies.

Technical Assistance Centers

EPA and a number of public and private entities have developed technical assistance centers to provide web-based information and resources on a range of environmental science issues.

• Environmental Technologies Opportunities Portal (ETOP)
  ETOP links users to programs that help fund development of new environmental technologies and offers information on existing environmental technologies.
• Office of Science and Technology (OST) Office of Water
  The OST provides information resources regarding water quality standards and criteria, water pollution controls, health advisories, guidelines, training, and financial resources.
• The Tribal Air Monitoring Support (TAMS) Center
  The TAMS website contains a clearinghouse of information for: (1) data assessment, (2) emissions inventory, (3) EPA Guidance, (4) PM 2.5, and (5) PM 10 air monitoring.
• Watershed and Water Quality Modeling Technical Support Center
  The Watershed and Water Quality Modeling Technical Support Center provides provide assistance in implementing the Clean Water Act, providing access to technically defensible tools and approaches that can be used in the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads, waste load allocations, and watershed protection plans.

Compliance Assistance Centers

EPA sponsored partnerships with industry, academia, environmental groups, and other agencies to launch sector-specific Compliance Assistance Centers . Through Internet websites, telephone assistance lines, fax-back systems, and e-mail discussion groups, these centers provide information and assistance with federal environmental requirements and pollution prevention techniques for regulated entities, such as agricultural producers and local governments.

Research Centers

EPA, in collaboration with a number of public and private entities, provides information and resources relating to the cutting-edge research and science projects conducted at research centers across the country.

• EPA Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Research Centers provide for multidisciplinary, coordinated research programs in a wide range of scientific areas, such as airborne particulate matter research. The ultimate goals of the STAR research centers are facilitating and accelerating translation of basic science knowledge into clinical applications or intervention strategies.
• Hazardous Substance Research Centers (HSRC) form a national organization that carries out basic and applied research, technology transfer, and training. HSRC activities are conducted regionally by five multi-university centers, each focusing on different aspects of hazardous substance management, such as cleanup of mine wastes and contaminated sediments.