Council on Regulatory Environmental Modeling (CREM)

1. Council on Regulatory Environmental Modeling(CREM)

2. History of the CREM • Establishment of the CREM responds to Science Advisory Board recommendations over the past ten years for enhanced Agency attention to regulatory environmental models • In 1994, an Agency Task Force on Environmental Regulatory Modeling (ATFERM) recommended training and technical support of models, development of model user acceptability criteria and Agency guidance for conducting external peer review, and establishment of a CREM • More recently, the Agency sponsored the Agency-wide Models-2000 Workshop in Athens, GA (1997) to renew support for the ATFERM recommendations and address new and emerging issues related to regulatory environmental modeling • Responding to recommendations from these EPA groups and the SAB, in June, 1999, the Science Policy Council (SPC) agreed to establish and oversee a CREM • An Ad Hoc SPC workgroup proceeded to draft a Framework document setting forth principles and procedures for the CREM and in February, 2000, the Administrator signed the Framework formally establishing a models Council

3. Proposed Activities for FY’ 00/01 and Beyond Action Team for Development of Models Clearinghouse—FY’00/01 Model Evaluation Action Team Workshops—FY’00/ 01 Additional Action Team Activities • Continue EPA models inventory • Investigate use of EIMS for model clearinghouse • Develop static CREM website • Design EIMS catalog and query engine • Improve dictionary for data elements of Environmental Data Registry (EDR) • New Modeling Paradigm • Variability and Uncertainty analyses • Multimedia modeling • TMDL modeling • Microbiology and Toxicology • Series of Agency workshops to develop peer reviewed model evaluation guidance - tool boxes for sensitivity and uncertainty analyses - calibration/history matching - define QA/Peer review roles

4. CREM Framework Principles and Procedures: • • Promoting consistency in model development and application • • Providing a central point of focus to address cross-Agency modeling issues • • Providing an initial point of inquiry regarding the Agency’s development and utilization of models (websites with links to program and region specific information) • • Strategic planning and priority setting, in consultation with the SPC, regarding possible development of cross-Agency guidance, policies and activities, e.g., model development/application guidance, peer review, training, etc. • Oversight of the activities of cross-Agency Action Teams charged to address specific modeling issues, e.g., models clearinghouse

5. Structure of the CREM SCIENCE POLICY COUNCIL The Council reports to the Deputy Administrator through the SPC CREM Members Composed of: Chair—Appointed by Deputy Administrator Representatives from each Agency Office and a Regional Office (Division Level or higher) Team Leader Staff Proposals/Activities of the Action Teams Feed Into CREM for Approval and Support New Modeling Paradigm, Training , etc. Action Teams Models Evaluation Action Team Models Clearinghouse Action Team