You are here:
PARTICULATE MATTER MULTI-YEAR PLAN
Citation:
Impact/Purpose:
The purpose of the MYPs is to provide a framework that integrates research across ORD's laboratories and centers and Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals in support of the Agency's mission to protect human health and the environment. The MYPs identify long-term goals, and present annual performance goals (APGs) and associated annual performance measures (APMs) for a planning window of approximately 5-10 years. By helping to identify the impact of potential annual planning decisions, MYPs aid in the evaluation of research options. MYPs also foster the integration of strategic risk-based environmental protection and anticipation of future environmental issues by communicating our research approach and timing for responding to environmental issues. MYPs are intended to be living documents and are updated as needed to reflect the current state of the science, resource availability, and Agency priorities.
MYPs include two major components: (1) a narrative description of the plan, and (2) a matrix of goals and measures. The narrative provides an introduction and background to the topic of the plan, describes the long-term goals, provides the logic/thinking used to array performance goals to achieve long-term goals, and describes the integration between goals and organizations. The matrix is used to indicate annual goals and measures needed to meet the long-term goals identified in the plan. These goals and measures are arrayed across time (i.e., fiscal years) and laboratories/centers and are based on total annual resource levels for the MYP topic area that will not exceed the resource level proposed in the most recent President's Budget.
Description:
EPA's research on particulate matter (PM) represents the largest portion of the Clean Air research program. In building this program, EPA has been guided by expert advice from the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences, and from several other organizations outside the Agency. PM research goals are being addressed through the use of in-house laboratory resources and partnering with numerous academic institutions, including five PM Research Centers around the Nation. The PM research program focuses on reducing scientific uncertainties related to the exposure and health effects of PM to support statutory review under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and promote cost-effective implementation of NAAQS. From FY 2003 to FY 2007, research will focus on developing data and tools needed for implementation of the current PM standard, while continuing efforts to better understand how exposure to PM from different sources leads to adverse health effects. To support the scientific needs for the 5-year NAAQS review cycle ending in 2009, research in later years will focus on the information needed to determine whether standards should be retained or revised. Research will also continue to develop the data and tools required to implement the standards. Under its multi-year plan for PM research, EPA has established five long-term goals to support development and implementation of PM NAAQS. Within the scope of this MYP, EPA will: 1. By 2006, develop and transfer new data and tools needed by OAR and the states and tribes to predict, measure, and reduce ambient PM and PM emissions to attain the existing PM NAAQS. 2. By 2009, develop and transfer to ORD and OAR new exposure, epidemiological, toxicological, and clinical data for improved assessments of health risks associated with short term exposure to PM in the general and select susceptible populations. 3. By 2010, integrate and assess new findings in atmospheric, exposure, biological, and environmental sciences and regularly communicate the state of science to OAR to improve environmental decision-making for the PM NAAQS. 4. By 2012, develop and transfer improved data and tools needed by OAR and the states and tribes to attain the PM NAAQS, especially in areas that remain in nonattainment after initial control strategics are implemented, and by ORD and other scientists to refine the environmental factors related to health risks associated with PM exposure. 5. By 2014, develop and transfer to ORD and OAR new exposure, epidemiological, toxicological, and clinical data for improved assessments of health risks associated with short- and long-term exposure to PM, especially in susceptible populations.