upcoming events

Sep 20, 2016

Upcoming Events at EPA

By Michaela Burns

A new school semester means more learning! Not in school? You can still learn about science at EPA from some of our upcoming events.

Science To Achieve Results Tribal Grantee Progress Review Meeting
Tuesday, September 20^th at 9 a.m. ET—Wednesday, September 21^st at 5 p.m. ET

Don’t miss EPA’s Science to Achieve Results (STAR) Tribal Grantee Progress Review Meeting where we will receive research progress updates from the grantees awarded under the 2013 Request for Applications, Science for Sustainable and Healthy Tribes. EPA researchers will also share their work and present tools that can be applied to improve tribal health and well-being. Grantees, EPA, and other partners will discuss future opportunities for collaboration. Register now.

Food-Use Chemicals in ToxCast: Identification, Curation, and Evaluation
Thursday, September 22^nd at 11 a.m. ET

In this month’s CompTox Communities of Practice webinar, Agnes Karmaus, of Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., will discuss recently published research on food-relevant chemicals using the publicly available ToxCast high-throughput screening program. Tune in and learn more.

Microbiomes in the Built Environment
Thursday, September 22^ndat 11:00 a.m. ET

A vast number of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa can live in built environments such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. These microbial communities or “microbiomes” are influenced by interactions with humans, animals, and plants and factors such as air flow, temperature, humidity, chemical exposures, and building materials. In this upcoming webinar, Dr. Brent Stephens, Associate Professor of Architectural Engineering at the Illinois Institute of Technology, will present an overview of the current science on microbiomes and the built environment. Register now!

Perfluorinated Chemicals: Analytics, Occurrence, and Treatment
Tuesday, September 27^th at 2:00 p.m. ET

This month’s Small System’s webinar will focus on perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) with an emphasis on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Jody Shoemaker will present EPA’s analytical method for PFCs. This will cover the approach, performance data, holding time studies, and contamination issues. Marc Mills will present source water issues for PFCs, including the impact of wastewater effluents. Thomas Speth will cover what is known from the literature regarding PFOA and PFOS treatment for the technologies commonly employed by drinking water facilities. Register to learn more.

I-WASTE
Wednesday, September 28^th at 3:00 p.m. ET

This month’s EPA Tools and Resources Webinar is on I-WASTE, a web-based decision support tool that organizes information related to managing waste resulting from natural disasters or terrorist attacks. It can be used by emergency response authorities, property owners, planners, treatment managers, as well as tribal, state, and local agencies responsible for making disposal decisions. Register for the webinar.

For more events head on over to the EPA research event page.

About the Author: Michaela Burns is an Oak Ridge Associated Universities contractor and writer for the science communication team in EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

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EPA is providing this link for informational purposes only. EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of non-EPA information provided by any third-party sites or any other linked site. EPA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies, internet applications or any policies or information expressed therein.

Aug 26, 2016

This Week in EPA Science

arsenic, back to school, living shorelines, nitrogen deposition, presidential environmental education awards, research recap, Researchers at work, upcoming events 0 Comments

By Kacey Fitzpatrick

Heading back to school? Get a little science refresher by checking out some of our research! Here’s the latest at EPA.

We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Shore
Sengekontacket Pond—the same pond where Jaws was filmed 41 years ago—and the adjacent salt marsh habitat at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary are threatened by both impaired water quality and negative environmental changes, which have eroded almost ten feet of marsh in recent years. EPA teamed up with a several other organization to build a living shoreline as a natural approach to salt marsh restoration. Find out more about living shorelines in the blog The Use of Living Shorelines.

From Grasslands to Forests, Nitrogen Impacts all Ecosystems
To date, most U.S. biodiversity studies on the effects of nitrogen deposition had been focused on individual sites, where fertilizer was applied and small plots were monitored through time. That’s why EPA researcher Chris Clark and a team of scientists from EPA and collaborators are exploring the effects of nitrogen deposition in a first-of-its-kind study focused on multiple ecosystems across the nation. The study was recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Read more about it in the blog From Grasslands to Forests, Nitrogen Impacts all Ecosystems.

Researchers at Work
Research engineer Michael Tryby develops and evaluates engineering processes for EPA tools that are used to protect public health and the environment. He currently works on our Stormwater Management Model, which is a widely-used tool that supports Green Infrastructure initiatives around the Nation and the world. Meet EPA Research Engineer Michael Tryby!

EPA Water Research Paper Earns Top Rank
A journal article by EPA’s Tom Sorg was ranked #1 on the Top 20 list of published papers on arsenic science in the journal Water Research. Read the journal article Arsenic species in drinking water wells in the USA with high arsenic concentrations.

Presidential Environmental Education Awards
EPA and the White House Council on Environmental Quality recognized 18 teachers and 63 students from across the country for their outstanding contributions to environmental education and stewardship. Read more about the recent awards ceremony in this press release.

Need more science? Check out some of these upcoming events at EPA.

About the Author: Kacey Fitzpatrick is a writer working with the science communication team in EPA’s Office of Research and Development. She is a regular contributor to It All Starts with Science and the founding writer of “The Research Recap.”

Aug 23, 2016

Upcoming Events at EPA

Adverse Outcome Pathway, EPA drinking water workshop, RETIGO, small systems webinar, upcoming events, webinars 0 Comments

By Michaela Burns

Fall is just around the corner and so are these upcoming events at EPA!

13th Annual U.S. EPA Drinking Water Workshop
Tuesday, August 23rd at 8:30 a.m.-Thursday, August 25th at 12 p.m.

EPA, in cooperation with the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, is hosting its annual drinking water workshop to support the efforts of state and local officials to assist small systems. The 13th annual workshop will provide in-depth training and information on various solutions and strategies for handling small system problems and compliance challenges. Register now to attend.

Adverse Outcome Pathway Knowledge Base
Thursday, August 25^th at 11 a.m. ET

EPA and its partners at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s are launching a project to develop the “Adverse Outcome Pathway Knowledge Base” (AOP-KB). The AOP-KB is a combination of individually developed platforms, synchronized and orchestrated in a way that gives users the possibility to capture, review, browse, and comment on adverse outcome pathways shared by the stakeholder community. Attend this event remotely or in person at EPA’s Research Triangle Park.

Removal of Multiple Contaminants: Biological Treatment and Combined Ion Exchange
Tuesday, August 30^th at 2:00 p.m. ET

In this month’s small systems webinar, Dr. Treavor Boyer from Arizona State University will give a presentation on combined ion exchange to remove dissolved organic carbon and hardness in drinking water. Nicholas Dugan from EPA’s Water Supply and Water Resources Division will then discuss capabilities of biological treatment for drinking water. Register now!

Bonus— A certificate will be offered for this webinar.

RETIGO Training Webinar
Wednesday, August 31^st at 1:00 p.m. ET

Curious about EPA’s Real-Time Geospatial Data Viewer, commonly known as RETIGO? Attend this webinar to learn the basics of this interactive tool that allows users to upload field data they have collected while in motion (walking, biking, or on a vehicle) and explore it visually by plotting the data on a map and/or graph to observe air quality trends. Register for the webinar.

Systems View of Nutrient Management-Nutrient Modeling
Wednesday, August 31^st at 2:00 p.m. ET

Check out this month’s Safe and Sustainable Water Resources research program webinar! Dr. Richard Ready of Montana State University will give a presentation on how agricultural best management practices aimed at reducing nutrient and sediment loads play an important role in restoring ecosystem function in the Chesapeake Bay. Register now!

For more events head on over to the EPA research event page.

About the Author: Michaela Burns is an Oak Ridge Associated Universities contractor and writer for the science communication team in EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

Aug 4, 2016

Upcoming Events at EPA

Public Meetings, upcoming events, webinars 1 Comment

By Michaela Burns

Summer is coming to an end and that means no more barbecues, no more beach visits, and no more sandals. But there are more EPA webinars! Check out some of our events in early August.

National Ambient Air Monitoring Conference
Monday, August 8^th at 7:00 a.m. CT—Thursday, August 11^th at 12 p.m. CT

EPA in conjunction with the National Association of Clean Air Agencies (NACAA) is holding the National Ambient Air Monitoring Conference in St. Louis, Missouri on August 8th – 11th. The conference will provide people with air monitoring experience with training, tools, and information to help prepare them for the future of air monitoring. State, local, tribal, and international air quality staff as well as health researchers, dispersion modelers, data analysts, and air quality policy staff are encouraged to attend to gain additional perspectives on how air monitoring data are collected and utilized. The best part is that it’s free! Register at the conference to attend and learn more about air monitoring.

Toxic Substances Control Act Public Meetings: Risk Evaluations and Chemical Prioritization
Tuesday, August 9^th at 9:00 a.m. ET—Wednesday, August 10^th at 4:30 p.m.

EPA will hold two public meetings to obtain input on the processes that will be used to prioritize and evaluate chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act as amended by the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act. The input obtained during these meetings will be considered as EPA develops its proposed procedural regulations for risk evaluation and chemical prioritization.

The public meeting on August 9^th will discuss EPA’s proposed rule on conducting risk evaluations to determine whether a chemical presents an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. The meeting on August 10^th will discuss EPA’s proposed rule to establish a risk-based process for chemical prioritization. Register today to attend!

EPA Tools and Resources Webinar: Health Impact Assessment
Wednesday, August 17^th at 3:00 p.m. ET

EPA is hosting a webinar on Health Impact Assessment, a decision-making approach that helps stakeholders and policy makers understand the public health consequences associated with planned projects, or policies. As both a health protection and health promotion approach, a Health Impact Assessment suggests potential actions that could minimize adverse health impacts and optimize beneficial health outcomes. Register to hear EPA researcher Florence Fulk provide an overview of the process.

For more events head on over to the EPA research event page.

About the Author: Michaela Burns is an Oak Ridge Associated Universities contractor and writer for the science communication team in EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

Jul 14, 2016

Upcoming Events at EPA

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By Michaela Burns

The month may be half over, but there are many more things to do! Here are the events we’re sending your way in late July.

Environmental Justice Technical Guidance: Presentation and Discussion
Thursday, July 14^th at 3:00 p.m. ET

EPA invites you to participate in a webinar on the Technical Guidance for Assessing Environmental Justice in Regulatory Analysis, also known as the EJ Technical Guidance. This webinar will present an overview of the content of the guidance, including information on the best practices, recommendations, and questions that are included to guide the EJ analyses that are conducted for national regulations. Register for the webinar now!

Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities Research
Wednesday, July 20^th at 1:00 p.m. ET

How does poverty contribute to indoor and outdoor air pollution in residential settings? How do sustainable approaches reduce disproportionate health burdens and build community resilience? EPA, the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), and the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences are supporting the establishment of the Centers of Excellence on Environmental Health Disparities (EHD) research program to help answer these questions. The EHD centers will investigate conditions that are known to be a significant burden to disadvantaged population groups, neighborhoods, and individuals.

EPA and partners are hosting a kickoff meeting that will feature presentations from each of the five funded centers highlighting their proposed research. Register now to attend!

RETIGO Training Webinar
Tuesday, July 26^th at 3:00 p.m. ET

Learn how to use EPA’s Real-Time Geospatial Data Viewer, commonly known as RETIGO, at this upcoming webinar. RETIGO is an interactive web-based tool that allows users to upload field data they have collected while in motion (walking, biking, or on a vehicle) and explore it visually by plotting the data on a map and/or graph to observe air quality trends. Their local data can be integrated with air quality data available on AirNow, an online resource provided by EPA and others that offers air quality data and the Air Quality Index. Register now!

EPA Tribal ecoAmbassadors Program
Tuesday, July 26^th at 3:00 p.m. ET

EPA’s Tribal Science Webinar Series provides a forum for discussion of the complex environmental issues facing many tribal and indigenous communities, and features a wide variety of expert guest speakers from government, academic institutions, and other organizations. This month’s webinar focuses on the 2016-2017 EPA Tribal ecoAmbassadors Program, which partners EPA scientists with Tribal Colleges and Universities professors to address environmental problems. The Tribal ecoAmbassadors Program has given more than 150 students the opportunity to work directly with professors and scientists. Register to learn more.

Non-Targeted Chemical Exposure Screening
Thursday, July 27^th at 11:00 a.m. ET

This month’s Computational Toxicology Communities of Practice Meeting webinar will focus on non-targeted chemical exposure screening. Most exposure sampling techniques are designed to test for a specific chemical that is suspected to be present. EPA researchers are developing “Non-Targeted Screening” methods to test indoor environmental samples for all chemicals present in the home. Contact Cameron Clark (clark.cameron@epa.gov) to register and learn more.

* This webinar was originally scheduled for June 23^rd

Near Roadway Pollution and Mitigation Strategies
Wednesday, July 27^th at 3:00 p.m. ET

More than 45 million people in the United States are estimated to live, work, or attend school within 300 feet of a major road, airport, or railroad. Studies show an increase in the incidence and severity of health problems related to air pollution near roadway traffic, including higher rates of asthma onset and aggravation, cardiovascular disease, impaired lung development in children, and other health effects.

EPA researchers Richard Baldauf and Jan Dye will present the latest science on the health impacts from near roadway exposures and discuss solutions and programs that states as well as community and transportation planners can consider to protect public health. Register for this month’s EPA Tools and Resources webinar now.

For more events head on over to the EPA research event page.

About the Author: Michaela Burns is an Oak Ridge Associated Universities contractor and writer for the science communication team in EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

Jul 7, 2016

Upcoming Events at EPA

EJSCREEN, transform tox testing challenge, upcoming events, webinars 0 Comments

By Michaela Burns

Don’t limit the festivities to just the fourth! Here are some EPA events you can enjoy in the first few weeks of July.

Transform Tox Testing Challenge Semi-Finalist Workshop
Friday, July 8^th at 8:00 a.m. ET

EPA, NIH’s National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, and the National Toxicology Program launched the Transform Tox Testing Challenge: Innovating for Metabolism in January. The goal of the challenge is to develop a practical design that will help the cells in toxicity lab test behave more like the human body when evaluating chemical’s toxicity. Currently, the cells used in lab test do not break down or metabolize chemicals like they would in a human body. The successful design will offer information that can be used to review and evaluate lab results, and will also ensure better quality data, transparency, and overall confidence in assay results.

On July 8^th, Transform Tox Testing Challenge organizers are hosting a workshop at Research Triangle Park, North Carolina to bring together Stage 1 winners, agency experts, and other leaders in the field. The workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss the Tox21 and ToxCast programs, the semi-finalist proposals, and feasible expectations for the remainder of the challenge.

EJSCREEN July 2016 Public Release Webinar
Monday, July 11^th at 3:00 p.m. ET

What is the pollution like on your block compared to other neighborhoods? How close is your house to a hazardous waste site or a noisy highway? Learn about a tool that can help answer these questions at this upcoming webinar.

EPA is releasing the latest version of EJSCREEN, an environmental justice tool that highlights locations that may have higher environmental burdens and vulnerable populations. The new EJSCREEN has an abundance of new features— all of which were requested by the public – including (to list a few):

The inclusion of the National Air Toxic Assessment environmental indicators for cancer risk, respiratory, and diesel PM
Scalable maps, that summarize data at the Census block group, tract, or county-level
The ability to save sessions and print maps from the home screen
A feature that allows you to look at two maps, side-by-side
The addition of Puerto Rico

Participate in the webinar online or email olp.kevin@epa.gov to request a conference line!

For more events check out our EPA Research Events page.

About the Author: Michaela Burns is an Oak Ridge Associated Universities contractor and writer for the science communication team in EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

Jun 14, 2016

Upcoming Events at EPA

EPA Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), IRIS Public Meetings, small systems webinar, upcoming events, water research, webinars 0 Comments

By Michaela Burns

School’s out but EPA webinars are still in session! Check out a few of the upcoming open meetings and webinars we are hosting so that you can spend your summer with science.

Small Business Innovation Research Informational Webinar
Tuesday, June 14^th at 2:00 p.m. ET

Interested in how small businesses can get involved in environmental research and the development of innovative technologies? Check out the informational webinar on EPA’s 2015-2017 Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I solicitation. Attend to learn more about EPA’s SBIR program, this year’s solicitation topics, and how you can apply for an SBIR contract. EPA SBIR program experts will be available to answer questions during a question & answer session following the presentation. Don’t wait to register!

Small Systems Webinar: Disinfection Byproducts Regulatory Issues and Solutions
Tuesday, June 14^th at 3:30 p.m. ET
*This webinar was originally scheduled for April 26^th

Gastrointestinal illnesses with symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, cramps can be caused by pathogens and viruses that are often found in lakes, rivers, and reservoirs. This water must therefore be treated with disinfectant in order to be safe to drink. However, some disinfectants react with naturally-occurring materials in the water to form byproducts that are associated with health risks.

EPA environmental engineer Michael Finn will review the Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule, a series of regulations aimed at limiting public exposure to these disinfectant byproducts. Jolyn Leslie, a regional engineer for the Washington State Department of Health Office of Drinking Water, will discuss the challenges for small systems dealing with disinfectant byproducts in Washington State and the possible solutions.

Bonus—attendees may have the option of receiving a certificate for participating in this webinar. Register now!

Science Advisory Board Meeting for EPA’s Hydraulic Fracturing Drinking Water Study
Tuesday, June 14^th—Wednesday, June 15^th

EPA’s chartered Scientific Advisory Board is hosting a meeting today and tomorrow to discuss the Science Advisory Board’s Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel’s draft peer review report of EPA’s Hydraulic Fracturing Drinking Water Assessment.

The discussion will be webcasted. Here is the call-in information.

Non-Targeted Chemical Exposure Screening
Thursday, June 23^rd at 11 a.m. ET

This month’s Computational Toxicology Communities of Practice Meeting webinar is focusing on non-targeted chemical exposure screening. Most exposure sampling techniques are designed to test for a specific chemical that is suspected to be present. EPA researchers are developing “Non-Targeted Screening” methods to test indoor environmental samples for all chemicals present in the home. Contact Monica Linnenbrink (linnenbrink.monica@epa.gov) to register and learn more.

Revised Total Coliform Rule for Small Systems
Tuesday, June 28^th at 2:00 p.m. ET

Attend this Small Systems webinar to learn about the Revised Total Coliform Rule (RTCR). Mark Verbsky of Ohio EPA will provide a brief glimpse into Ohio EPA’s experience with implementing the rule in Ohio. Cindy Mack of EPA Office of Water will discuss the federal RTCR requirements applicable to small systems serving 1,000 or fewer persons. She will also address sampling requirements and events that trigger a level 1 or level 2 assessment along with the actions public water systems should take. Register now for the webinar.

Contaminants of Emerging Concern in Source and Treated Drinking Water
Wednesday, June 29^th at 2:00 p.m. ET

Tune into this month’s water research webinar to hear about contaminants of emerging concern, a term which encompasses a vast array of chemicals such as pharmaceuticals, perfluoroalkyl substances, and surfactants, as well as microorganisms such as Mycobacteria and Legionella.

Scientists from EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey have collaborated on a study examining the occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern in source water and treated drinking water. Dr. Susan Glassmeyer, lead researcher on the project, will discuss the chemical and microbial contaminants measured in the study, and examine the implications for aquatic life and human health. Register now to stay informed.

Air Quality Monitoring and Community Science
Wednesday, June 29^th at 3:00 p.m. ET

Want to know which low-cost air sensors can best serve your community? Look out for this month’s EPA Tools and Resources Webinar discussing EPA’s online Air Sensor Toolbox. This tool provides a one-stop place for information and guidance on how to evaluate the performance of air sensors available in the marketplace, what to consider before conducting an air monitoring project, and what others are doing to monitor air quality.

Register to hear EPA’s Ron Williams present research that is advancing the development and evaluation of air sensor technology and helping communities learn more about their air quality.

Integrated Risk Information System Public Science Meeting
Wednesday, June 29^th—Thursday, June 30^th

The Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) Program is hosting an event to get input from the scientific community and the public on the draft assessments of tert-Butyl Alcohol (tert-Butanol) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), two substances that pose a risk to human health. Register by June 20^th to attend the IRIS public science meeting at the EPA Conference Center in Arlington, Virginia. Register by June 24^th to attend via webinar.

For more events, head on over to the EPA research event page.

About the Author: Michaela Burns is an Oak Ridge Associated Universities contractor and writer for the science communication team in EPA’s Office of Research and Development.

May 11, 2016

Events to Watch for in May

Children's Centers, computational toxicology, harmful algal blooms, upcoming events, webinars 0 Comments

By Michaela Burns

May is the best month—yes I said it. It’s the month before summer vacation, it’s the month where the weather gets warmer, and it’s the month of my birthday. Here are some public meetings and webinars EPA is hosting this month.

Look out for these events!

Children’s Center Monthly Webinar
Wednesday, May 11^th 1:00 p.m. ET

Up first is the EPA and National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Children’s Center Webinar series. This month’s topic is on the exposome, the measure of exposures in an individual lifetime and how those exposures affect their health. This webinar is bringing together leading experts in this field—Dr. Elaine Faustman from University of Washington, Dr. Roy Gerona from University of California, San Francisco, and Dr. Stephen Rappaport from University of California, Berkeley. After the presentations, Dr. Yuxia Cui of NIEHS will moderate a discussion.
Register now to be a part of the conversation.

Harmful Algal Blooms
Wednesday, May 18^th 3:00 p.m. ET

Most algae species are not harmful, but sometimes certain types can bloom in excessive amounts and cause severe damage to human health, aquatic ecosystems, and local economies. Harmful algal blooms (HABs), algae that produce unhealthy toxins, cause problems across the nation. EPA researchers are looking for ways to eliminate or reduce the negative effects of HABs.
Register to get up to speed.

iCSS Chemistry Dashboard
Thursday, May 26^th 11:00 a.m. ET

Curious about chemistry data for over 700,000 chemicals? Then you can’t miss this month’s Computational Toxicology Communities of Practice webinar. Tune in to learn more about our Interactive Chemical Safety for Sustainability Chemistry Dashboard. This online tool provides access to chemical structures, experimental and predicted data, and additional links to relevant websites and applications. Chemistry information on thousands of chemicals will now be more publicly accessible!
Contact Monica Linnenbrink (linnenbrink.monica@epa.gov) to register.

Responding to Harmful Algal Blooms
Tuesday, May 31st, 2:00 p.m. ET

Harmful algal blooms pose particular challenges for small drinking water systems. In this month’s small systems webinar, EPA Environmental Engineer Nicholas Dugan will review the removal capacities of common processes used in drinking water treatment, present a strategy for evaluating an existing treatment facility, and discuss how to use this information to improve a facility’s performance. Heather Raymond of Ohio EPA’s Division of Drinking and Ground Waters will cover source and finished water monitoring options and their limitations and benefits. Bonus—Attendees have the option of receiving a certificate for one continuing education contact hour for each webinar. Register now!

For more events check out the EPA Research Events page.

About the Author: Michaela Burns is an Oak Ridge Associated Universities contractor and writer for the science communication team in EPA’s Office of Research and Development.