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Basic Information
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
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OverviewAs a one-stop shop, ETOP connects you to programs that:
The Research and Development Continuum There are many support programs that address environmental technology research and development. The programs support different stages of technology development. EPA developed a guide—the Environmental Technology Research and Development Continuum—to the programs and the type of support they provide along the path from research to entry in the marketplace. EPA opportunities have been mapped onto this continuum to encourage academic, and public- and private-sector developers to invest time and money in the creation of new cost-effective environmental technologies.
Successful environmental technologies progress along the continuum, from basic research to full-scale commercialization and use. Technologies that fail to perform or are economically infeasible are dropped. The continuum includes six interdependent stages:
HistoryETOP was created as a result of a Congressional mandate that directed EPA to develop a "one-stop shop" office to coordinate similar programs that foster private and public sector development of new cost-effective environmental technologies. ETOP is an Internet portal, designed to outline and highlight EPA's environmental technology programs and give users direct access to funding and other incentive programs.EPA also facilitates technology development through the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology (NACEPT) Environmental Technology Subcommittee. See AlsoEPA Technology Infrastructure (PDF) (1 p, 12 KB)Environmental Technology Research and Development Continuum Report to Congress, Coordination of Programs That Foster Public- and Private-Sector Development of Environmental Technologies (PDF) (12 pp, 56 KB) Environmental Technology Council (ETC)
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ETC Mission
To provide a network of people inside and outside EPA who will engage in robust information exchange and problem solving in order to:
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ContactMinerva Rojo ResourcesMemo Establishing ETC (PDF) (2 pp, 32 KB) ETC Charter (PDF) (3 pp, 20 KB) Report to Congress (PDF) (12 pp, 56 KB) |
The United States often faces difficult environmental challenges that seem unmanageable or involve high costs. Innovative technologies hold the key to cost-effective timely solutions that minimize adverse environmental effects. Many EPA programs and activities foster the development and use of innovative technologies. By coordinating these programs around priority environmental problems, EPA and its partners can better realize the potential that innovative technology holds for environmental protection.
ETC was established to enhance communication and coordination of all EPA technology activities. The problems addressed by the council are related to EPA’s strategic plans and focused on defined environmental outcomes. The council’s membership is from all EPA technology programs, offices, and regions. It meets regularly to discuss technology solutions, technology needs, and other program efforts.
Scope of Activities
The council's primary activities are:
- Identifying the priority environmental problems for which technology is a critical factor in providing a cost-effective solution
- Screening the problems, using stakeholder input to determine the priorities for the council’s attention
- Organizing temporary Action Teams to evaluate the status of possible technology solutions and recommend actions to address the problem
Additional council activities include:
- Creating a network of technology contacts in EPA and the states in order to regularly share information
- Evaluating the effectiveness of ETC activities to enhance technology progress or adoption
- Serving as a central contact point for analyzing significant new technology proposals recommended by outside organizations or advisory groups, such as the National Advisory Council for Environmental Policy and Technology
Action Teams
Action Teams are composed of members of the council and other personnel from EPA, states, tribes, and other agencies. The teams are intended to be temporary and exist only as long as needed to meet defined objectives regarding particular environmental problems. The council defines the charge for each team, and teams report their progress to the council for discussion and further action. Participation on any Action Team is voluntary.
Action Teams are tasked with the following objectives:
- Identify innovative technologies
- Identify research gaps
- Provide support for the expansion of methods
- Quantify economic and human health benefits for the use of these methods
The five EPA goals are Clean Air and Global Climate Change, Clean and Safe Water, Land Preservation and Restoration, Healthy Communities and Ecosystems, and Compliance and Environmental Stewardship.
See Also
Senior Environmental Technology Officer (SETO)
The SETO is the focal point for key activities of the Environmental Technology Council (ETC). The SETO establishes priorities, chairs the ETC, facilitates cross-agency coordination and information sharing, works with the business community and other stakeholders, and develops metrics for measuring effectiveness.The SETO, who reports directly to the EPA administrator, has these primary responsibilities:
- Being knowledgeable of EPA’s technology programs and needs
- Coordinating program and regional office activities to ensure redundancies are avoided and resources are appropriately allocated to address the most serious problems requiring technological fixes
- Providing the EPA administrator with advice on domestic and international technology issues and policies
- Opening communication channels and partnership opportunities to all outside entities whose assistance can further EPA technology development and deployment goals
- Ensuring that communication functions effectively across the EPA in order to facilitate robust information flow about innovative technologies to the marketplace
Additional duties include:
- Ensuring EPA leadership in environmental technology communications, and ensuring substantial resources for this critical function
- Cultivating EPA partnerships with both public- and private-sector organizations in order to interface with other government agencies and those in the commercial marketplace that have major technology development and deployment responsibilities
- Convening a broadly based external technology advisory board to advise EPA on marketplace realities, communication issues, partnership opportunities, emerging technological challenges and opportunities such as those to be found in the field of nanotechnology, and priority environmental problems needing technology breakthroughs
- Coordinating EPA’s technology partnership strategy and implementation, including identifying the key environmental issues to which it can contribute solutions
- As part of the Regional Environmental Technology Advocacy Network (RETAN), convening appropriate state and regional officials, including enforcement staff, in several pilot cases to explore options for addressing flexible permitting prior to the permitting event
- Working with the Environmental Technology Verification and Assessment Staff (ETVAS) to provide enhanced technology support to EPA on issues such as technology verifications, state-of-the-science assessments, technology development collaborations, and encouraging sustainability
- Assisting with climate change technology planning and research and development
Regional Environmental Technology Advocacy Network (RETAN)
RETAN is composed of a technology advocate in each EPA region. The network ’s purpose is to identify opportunities to use technology to:- Achieve better results
- Share information within EPA and with stakeholders
- Serve as a liaison with technology programs across EPA
- Serve as a member of the Environmental Technology Council