In this annual report for 1973 attention is focused on the research activities of NERC-RTP and their relationship to specific legislative acts applicable to NERC-RTP. The following topics are discussed: Introduction--(Mission, NERC-RTP research program); Legislative mandates; Special features--(Automotive oxidation catalysts; Energy and the environment; Substitute pesticide chemicals); Research activities--(Special Studies Staff, Human Studies Laboratory, Experimental Biology Laboratory, Pesticides and Toxic Substances Effects Laboratory, Chemistry and Physics Laboratory, Quality Assurance and Environmental Monitoring Laboratory, Meteorology Laboratory, and Control Systems Laboratory). Color illustrations will reproduce in black and white.