Abstract |
The Office of Science and Technology (OST) is one of five offices within EPAs Office of Water. OST has the privilege of bringing sound science, engineering and public policy to bear in the pursuit of protecting and restoring the quality of America's waters. OST leads a wide range of activities to advance water quality, public health and environmental protection under the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts. OST is responsible for setting national goals for the quality of America's waters and providing tools to measure progress toward achieving those goals. Additionally, OST helps ensure that federal and state water programs reflect the latest scientific knowledge about how water becomes polluted and the impacts of water pollutants on human health and ecosystems. OST produces technology-based regulatory guidelines and analytical test methods; water quality-based standards and criteria recommendations; health-based advisories for beach swimming, fish consumption, and drinking water; risk assessments and special studies to determine the need for regulations; and models and other tools. Collectively, these help water program managers protect aquatic environments and human health. Ultimately, OSTs standards, guidelines and methods serve as the foundation upon which EPA water programs are built and progress is measured. |