149 



THE PRESENT R&D SYSTEM ^, 



Environmental research must be broadened and linkages established 

 in other ways, too. Many of the existing research programs focus on treating 

 symptoms. There is a need to enhance and link basic, long-term research 

 with the applied research of the regulatory agencies. An understanding of 

 environmental processes and technologies can allow problems to be addressed 

 at their source and perhaps mitigated or eliminated before they require re- 

 medial actions. Also, the federal R&D effort must take into account the 

 wriability of geographical regions of the United States. As the EPAs Unfin- 

 ished Buiiness repon recognizes, national priorities do not necessarily reflect 

 local situations. Analysis of problems on the local level is necessary for set- 

 ting environmental research and protection goals and priorities." 



Links with Other Nations and Other Institutions 



Aside from the need to coordinate research and poliq' internally, federal 

 environmental R&D programs would benefit from stronger ties to nongov- 

 ernmental organizations (NGOs), universities, and industries.^' Researchers 

 in these in. .itutions, both in the Ututed States and in foreign countries, 

 often condua the most forward-looking, cutting-edge research, but their 

 work is often not well integrated into the policymaking process. And, be- 

 cause of the increasingly global nature of environmental issues, the federal 

 research effon should create and suppon mechanisms that will connea U.S. 

 scientists and engineers with those of other nations in order to share knowl- 

 edge and allow all parties to take advantage of the best data available. Not 

 only can the United Sutcs benefit from solutions developed in other coun- 

 tries, and vice versa, but the magnitude of impending global environmental 

 problems may require the resources of more than one country. 



Depth and Effectiveness Needed 



The federal envirorunental R&D effort covers a wide range of environmental 

 problems, but the question before this lask Force is less one of breadth than 

 it is one of efficiency and depth. Having been designed for a set of problems 

 that no longer exists in its original form, our current federal environmental 

 R&D effon is not structured in the most cfifectivc and comprehensive way 

 to address either emerging problems or the increasingly complex intene- 

 lation of environmental issues that we face today. Change is needed, and 

 in formulating our recommendations we have sought to pay panicular at- 



