In early August 2022, the Executive Office of the President of the United States announced a National Emerging Contaminant Research Initiative (NECRI)[1] to “improve the identification, analysis, monitoring, and treatment methods of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), and develop any necessary program, policy, or budget to support the implementation of the initiative.” The NECRI will concentrate on drinking water and will also consider other media, where appropriate.
NCERI’s vision is focused on access to clean and plentiful drinking water for every person in the nation. To advance this vision, NECRI outlines a Federal strategy addressing “critical research gaps” related to the detection and evaluation of CECs in drinking water to identify potential adverse health effects and mitigate risk from exposure. Five strategic goals were identified, as summarized below.
Goal 1: Decrease the time from drinking water CEC identification to risk mitigation
Contaminant profiles will be generated to accelerate contaminant identification and exposure characterization, human health effects assessment, risk characterization, risk mitigation and risk communication. Advancements in exposure assessment and resulting risk characterization are outlined to focus on key factors: geographic areas, personal behavior, the effect of climate change on CEC release and toxicity and the impact to communities with higher risk. The emphasis will be on risk mitigation and prevention of CEC use, risk communication and messaging to fit community needs.
Goal 2: Promote technological innovation in tools to discover, track and mitigate drinking water CECs
Measurement and analysis tools will be developed to thoroughly establish the type and magnitude of a contaminant exposure, as well as potential effects. This goal will also encourage researchers to develop and deploy cost-effective and broadly applicable and accessible next-generation tools to aid in understanding CEC exposure and to also accelerate understanding of health effects.
Goal 3: Develop and deploy tools and approaches for drinking water CEC decision making
Research and analytical tools to support planning, research and policy decisions through data collection is a component that will be detailed through a decision framework. Anticipated use of advanced computational approaches to maximize understanding of the data, and provide feedback for further research, decision making and mitigation, is emphasized. Two specific tools are outlined for use: (1) tools to reduce uncertainty in decision making and (2) frameworks for decision making.
Goal 4: Coordinate transdisciplinary drinking water CEC research activities among Federal and non-Federal partners
Coordination of a network of CEC research centers to advance research and reduce the potential for duplicative efforts, as well as increase communication among collaborators. Ideally, the research centers would be linked to share data fully through a data repository.
Goal 5: Foster transparency and public trust when communicating information about drinking water CECs
It is important to establish transparency and build public trust among all collaborators and partners. CEC risk communication priorities include engagement and inclusion, communications research and incorporation of communications research into the CEC research network.
These five goals are laid out as the foundation of a plan for establishing research networks that can address the ongoing identification of emerging contaminants. Finally, a set of metrics are presented to measure and document the program’s progress and activities. Metrics for process, research, tools, coordination and health are outlined.
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New Executive Order 14096 Broadens Environmental Justice Initiatives
May 9, 2023
Executive Order 14096, Revitalizing Our Nation’s Commitment to Environmental Justice for All, seeks to deepen the Biden administration’s “whole-of-government” approach to environmental justice (EJ) by fully integrating the consideration of unserved and overburdened communities and populations into all aspects of federal agency planning and delivery of services.
TRC Companies Inc. welcomes the Founder and Key Principals of ESG Advisory Firm Enzo Advisors, LLC
September 27, 2022
TRC Companies announces the expansion of its Climate Solutions offering and ESG capabilities with the addition of the Founder and CEO, and key members of Enzo Advisors, LLC
Climate Action and Environmental Justice are at the Forefront of EPA’s Strategic Plan
June 14, 2022
The EPA issued its Fiscal Year 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. Although the strategic plans emphases often change with administrations, we can be reasonably certain that the Plan reflects priorities through 2024.
Why Are ESG Frameworks Important?
April 13, 2022
ESG standards significantly impact long-term growth, leading many companies to integrate ESG reporting into their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies. ESG frameworks are broad and diverse, and establishing a reporting system that covers your industry’s most relevant metrics can be challenging.
10 Takeaways from the COP26 Climate Meeting
November 17, 2021
There are compelling reasons to be optimistic about the outcomes of the COP26 meeting. Notably, agreement among all nations that more needs to be done, by both private and governmental bodies, to contain and mitigate climate change.
Wisconsin PFAS Status & Regulatory Update
September 10, 2024
The awareness and emphasis on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as an “emerging contaminant” have led to the rapid and on-going evolution of the regulatory landscape at both the federal and state level.
Treatment of PFAS to Allow for Beneficial Use of Impacted Dredged Sediments
July 18, 2024
Approximately 200 to 300 million cubic yards of sediment are dredged each year by the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and other federal interests (USEPA, 2007).
Coming at You Fast – The Latest on RCRA and PFAS Regulations
March 1, 2024
The EPA published its Proposed Rule for Listing of Specific PFAS as Hazardous Constituents under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).
New EPA Rule Impacts PFAS TRI Reporting and Supplier Notifications
November 20, 2023
What Affected Facilities Need to Know About Applicability, Reporting Changes and Deadlines
EPA Proposes Changes to Air Emissions Reporting Requirements (AERR)
August 30, 2023
The EPA is proposing updates to their Air Emissions Reporting Requirements (AERR) through amendments to 40 CFR Parts 2 and 51.
How Does PFAS Contamination Impact the Environment?
August 11, 2023
PFAS are widely used in the production of numerous products. Some PFAS chemicals are the by-product of manufacturing processes. As a result, PFAS contamination is widespread, with PFAS being found nearly everywhere in the world.
Helping Airports Identify and Mitigate PFAS Risks
May 30, 2023
This white paper focuses on some unique strategies and situations we have encountered at some airport sites.
EPA Finds Trichloroethylene Presents Unreasonable Risk in Final Risk Evaluation
April 6, 2023
On Jan 9, 2023, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revised the Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA) to reflect a new risk determination for trichloroethylene (TCE).
Proposed Use of a Hazard Index for PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR)
April 4, 2023
The Proposed MCL and MCLG for the four PFAS, PFNA, PFHxS, GenX, and PFBS, considers their toxicity as additive. The EPA has proposed a HI of 1.0 as the MCL and MCLG for the four PFAS combined.
Proposed MCLGs and MCLs for PFAS
March 15, 2023
Final Regulatory Determination for Contaminants on the Fourth Drinking Water Contaminant Candidate List
QA and Chemistry Services
February 23, 2023
TRC offers many QA and Chemistry services including data usability assessments, limited and full data validation reports, quality assurance project plan preparation, selection of appropriate analytical methodologies and laboratory audits.
PFAS Fate and Transport
February 23, 2023
Understanding PFAS properties and behavior is key to effective detection and remediation.
PFAS Fate and Transport: Conceptual Site Models
February 23, 2023
The conceptual site model describes site-specific sources, release and transport mechanisms, exposure media, exposure points, exposure pathways and routes and potential human and/or ecological receptor populations.
EPA Announces $2 Billion in Funding to Address Emerging Contaminants in Drinking Water
February 14, 2023
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan announced $2 Billion in infrastructure funding to help the nation’s rural water supplies.
EPA Publishes Effluent Guidelines Program Plan 15
February 14, 2023
The EPA announced updated effluent limitations guidelines under Plan 15, focusing on the evaluation and rulemaking process for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) discharges.
PFAS: Remedial Approaches
February 8, 2023
Remediating Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the soil and water requires effective techniques and innovative technologies. TRC’s experts are well versed in several remediation strategies intended to remove PFAS and prevent re-exposure.
TRI PFAS Reporting Requirements Continue to Expand
January 25, 2023
The list of PFAS for TRI reporting has increased to a total of 189 for reporting year 2023.
