October 27, 2004—The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has formed a new Environmental Technology Council to apply new technologies to address complex environmental problems. This year, the Council will select at least 10 priority environmental concerns needing new technology approaches to develop more cost-effective, timely solutions.
The Council will consist of representatives from EPA, the states, and tribes. For each problem, the Council will bring in experts from other federal agencies, industry, and other stakeholders. Selection of problems will be based on risk, connection to regulatory requirements, and potential for significant cost reduction.
One example the Council may address is the limitations and cost of conventional methods of emissions monitoring by states and private companies for regulatory compliance. Remote sensing (RS) technology, which has greatly improved in the last decade, can currently detect a number of pollutants simultaneously, thus reducing the amount of time and resources needed to accomplish monitoring objectives.
