EPA/600/R-97/015 1997 Update to ORD's Strategic Plan Office of Research and Development U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Foreword am pleased to present the 1997 Update to the Strategic Plan for the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Research and Development (ORD). This plan summarizes the basis for the actions we have taken to respond to recommendations of numerous expert advisory groups committed to improving science at EPA. The plan serves as a framework for ORD to provide the highest possible quality environmental science to meet today's needs and lead us into the next century. Central to our strategy is a system for determining research priorities based on risk assessment and risk management principles. We use this system to direct our resources to the nation's most important environmental issues-those areas with the greatest risk to people or the environment, those areas of greatest uncertainty in characterizing risk, and those areas with the greatest need to improve the efficacy of, or reduce the cost of, risk management. We continue to enhance the quality of ORD's science products through independent peer review of all major aspects of the program, including research plans and proposals, science products, and even our own organization. We augment the efforts of our in-house cadre of experts through our expanding Science to Achieve Results program, which engages the best environmental scientists and technologists from United States universities and laboratories outside EPA. The plan also promotes greater partnership between ORD and our primary clients, EPA's Program and Regional Offices, as well as the externa! scientific community. This plan is the foundation for ORD's future. We have designed our strategy to endure and yet be dynamic in the face of advancing scientific knowledge and understanding. While the plan details our current research planning process, long-term research goals and objectives, and near-term priority research topics, these components continue to evolve Thus, this 1997 Update presents a snapshot of ORD's scientific and management evolution at this point in time. We are continuing to hone our strategic goals and objectives to better focus our work and align ORD's mission and activities with Agency priorities under EPA's new strategic planning process. Also, we have already begun to consider how advances in the state of environmental science and new human health and ecological issues on the horizon provide important perspectives for our 1998 planning efforts. I take tremendous pride in being part of the team that is keeping ORD a strong and cogent scientific organization. I look forward to achieving ORD's vision for providing the scientific foundation to support EPA's mission guided by the continuing evolution of our Strategic Plan 1 Appendix A: ORD's Long-Term Goals and Objectives Appendix C: Management Structure for Implementing Appendix D: Relationship of Fiscal Year 1997 STAR Focused Appendix E: Relationship of Fiscal Year 1997 and 1998 .25 26 26 .55 .63 .67 .71 ... .73 |