Vol. 18, No. 10	Nov. 5, 1998

Vice provost plays major role in EPA reorganization

When Costel Denson called upon Robert Huggett, then research director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington, D.C., in 1996, he had no idea that the visit would spark a close relationship with the agency. Nor did he foresee he would later be testifying about EPA's research programs before the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Energy and Environment.

As part of his responsibilities as the University's vice provost for research, Denson keeps in touch with government agencies to keep current on their programs and to make them aware of the University's research capabilities.

After the initial meeting with Huggett, Denson recalled, he invited him to meet UD environmental scientists during a symposium in Newark. Sometime later, in August 1996, Denson was asked by the deputy to EPA's head, Carol Browner, to chair the newly formed Board of Scientific Counselors (BOSC), which was chartered by Congress to work with EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD).

Huggett, who came to the EPA from the College of William and Mary and has since returned to academia, was a mover and shaker who totally reorganized ORD in EPA, according to Denson.

"It was a Herculean task," Denson said. "Previously, EPA was a series of independent fiefdoms, and some of their research was inappropriate, unfocused and not coordinated. Huggett organized the agency into five mega-labs and centers and mandated peer review of research grants and programs, development of strategic plans, the establishment of goals and an overall plan to coordinate the work of different units."

BOSC's role was to assist in bringing about the reorganization, as the advisory and oversight committee of EPA's research arm. "We first requested and reviewed programmatic self-studies made by EPA lab and center directors. We then made on-site visits to each of the EPA labs and centers and reported back to ORD with recommendations for developing research plans and goals," Denson said.

These recommendations are being implemented by ORD. As another example, BOSC reviewed EPA's "Research Plan for Arsenic in Drinking Water."

"This is a complicated problem, involving scientists, physicians and policy-makers," Denson said. "The goal of the project is to try to determine what is a safe level of arsenic in drinking water. Some areas of the world have high levels of arsenic in drinking water, but the population generally is healthy with a long life span. In other areas with high arsenic levels, the population has a much shorter life span, so there are no easy answers. To completely rid water of arsenic would be prohibitively expensive, so cost is a major factor as well," Denson said.

BOSC's recommendations helped EPA's arsenic research plan establish priorities, focus on short- and long-term research needs and to determine how to make better use of available resources.

Denson, who has been approved for his second two-year term as BOSC chairperson, testified before Congress in March 1998 about BOSC's role in the arsenic research project and its general role in strengthening EPA research. His testimony covered what progress has been made in meeting ORD's research goals, such as permitting the hiring of postdoctoral fellows and initiating programs to enhance skills. He pointed out that ORD is still in the process of implementing suggestions, so more time is needed to review the program's progress.

"Protecting the environment is of paramount importance, and helping EPA to become more effective in developing and carrying out its research programs has been a worthwhile outreach project for the University," Denson said.

"Chairing BOSC also dovetails with being the University's vice provost for research. Since I am involved with EPA research projects from the first levels, I can keep our environmental scientists informed about current proposals and opportunities. At the same time, I represent UD research to a broader constituency and can keep them informed about UD's capabilities, expertise and programs," he said.

-Sue Swyers Moncure