InnCon provides seed money in amounts up to $20,000 to innovators who develop energy efficient technology and processes that increase industrial productivity. The program also supports innovators by publicizing their concepts and by introducing them to potential sponsors. The program, in its sixth year, has provided $11.5 million in funding for innovative environmental technology.

EPA Technology Innovation Office. This office promotes new cleanup methods for problems such as contaminated soils or groundwater. In 1991 EPA conducted 21 pilot and fullscale field demonstrations of new technologies prior to commercialization and scheduled 74 new technologies for demonstration. Among the techniques tested in 1992 were soil washing, chemical dechlorination, underground vacu

um extraction, and the forcing of airstreams through water to evaporate volatile organic compounds. EPA also evaluated bioremediation-the use of microbes to break down organic contaminants at demonstration cleanups across the country.

U.S. Bureau of Mines, Division of Environmental Technology. This office conducts research on innovative ways to achieve the following objectives: • Reduce the volume and toxicity of mining and minerals-processing wastes;

• Identify hazardous waste sites contaminated with heavy metals and other toxic constituents; and

• Mitigate the environmental impacts resulting from active and abandoned coal and other mining.

Recent work has applied biotechnology to remediate toxic and hazardous waste

country to highlight opportunities for partnerships among federal agencies, universities, and the private sector on cooperative R&D, financing, and manufacturing. Five additional conferences are scheduled, and, in response to industry interest, DOE and EPA are organizing follow-on workshops.

Cooperative Research Centers/ Engineering Research Centers. Funded by the National Science Foundation, this program has established a network of cross-disciplinary centers at major research universities, linking academia and industry. Currently, 23 centers are in operation at 21 universities in 16. states around the nation. The centers focus on environmental problems and technology solutions in fields such as microelectronics, telecommunications, biotechnology, energy resources and recovery, and design and manufacturing.

International Cooperation. As world leaders in science and technology, Americans are working with their counterparts in other nations to develop and share technological advances. In particular, the United States supports an active program of environmental technology cooperation with developing nations and those making the transition to market economies. Cooperation takes the form of information exchange, training and technical assistance, and financial assistance for selected projects. A sampling of current efforts follows.

United States-Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP). This coalition of U.S. and Asian businesses, government agencies, and community groups seeks to protect the environment and promote economic progress in the Asia-Pacific region. US-AEP is establishing centers in Hong Kong, Taiwan,

the Philippines, and India. Additional
sites are under consideration for
Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indone-
sia, and Korea. The US-AEP program
has the following components:
• Technology cooperation;
Environmental fellowships and
training,

· Environmental infrastructure, and
A regional biodiversity conserva-
tion network.

Technology cooperation fosters opportunities through trade, investment, and business exchanges. The partnership is establishing environmental business centers in Asia to support trade and investment linkages. The Agency for International Development (USAID) administers U.S. efforts in the program with input from 20 other federal agencies.

U.S. Environmental Training Institute (USETI). This joint effort of U.S. industry and seven federal agencies provides training to professionals from public and private sectors of developing countries. In 1992, its first year of operation, the institute offered five courses at U.S. facilities on such topics as advanced landfill management, bioremediation, and restoration of nuclear sites. Attending the courses were environmental professionals from Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Morocco, South Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico.

Climate Country Studies. The United States has committed $25 million over two years to assist developing nations with needs assessments and reporting obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Country studies will facilitate future U.S. assistance to developing nations in taking actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

National Environmental Technology Applications Corporation (NETAC). Established in 1988 at the University of Pittsburgh's Applied Research Center with funding from EPA and the private sector, NETAC is accelerating the application of environmental technologies at home and abroad. NETAC has undertaken 11 cooperative technology projects in

Eastern and Central Europe and the former Soviet Union, involving such organizations as USAID, the U.S. Information Agency, and the private, nonprofit World Wildlife Fund. In one example, NETAC conducted an independent evaluation of a biological remediation process, which the client was able to use to successfully market the technology.

Transportation

the system grows and operates in a manner compatible with the environment.

During this century and especially since the 1950s, the U.S. transportation system has come to be dominated by petroleum-powered automobiles and trucks, especially for personal travel. As part of this shift to motor vehicle travel, other significant changes have occurred. For example, in 1992 the Department of Transportation (DOT) issued a report on commuting, which indicated that from 1980 to 1990, the number of vehicles on the road grew 17.4 percent, almost twice as fast as the 9.7 percent increase in the number of workers. The number of drive-alone commuters increased faster than any other mode of travel, while carpooling declined, and most carpools involved only two people. Commuting by transit declined slightly, and those working at home increased slightly.

Trends in highway travel and fuel consumption diverged in recent years.