1. Mechanisms to Bring Genomic Tools to Address Regional Issues. James M. Lazorchak ORD/NERL/EERD/MIRB

2. Examples - Regional Applied Research Effort (RARE) - In House and On Site Training -Technical Assistance and Guidance/SOPs - Collaborations -Regional Research Partnership Program Training Opportunity- Cincinnati, OH

3. RARE Santo Domingo, J.W. (Project Officer) RARE project on MST – Region 1. Application of a library-independent method of bacterial source identification in the Lower Charles River Watershed, Massachusetts In House Training Regions 3 & 10 – Gene Expression Training In Cincinnati. On Site Training Region 7 – ORD Trained Regional Lab Personnel in Microbial Source Tracking Methods

4. Technical Assistance Regions 3, 5, 8, 9 – ORD has or is providing assistance in addressing EDC and other emerging chemical issues in such ways as reviews of proposals submitted to the regions, consulting and evaluations using genomic techniques. Region 10 Direct consultation on Microbial Source Tracking issues. Collaborations Regional Labs, University Labs, and other Federal Agencies (USGS, USFWS) – sharing samples and SOPs and helping with data interpretations

5. Regional Research Partnership Program Training Opportunity- Cincinnati, OH Application of Genomic Methodologies to Environmental Monitoring 1)Quantification of exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) by real-time PCR of gene expression products. This method measures the level of vitellogenin (Vg) gene expression in fish as an indicator of exposure to EDCs. 2) Identification and quantification of eukaryotic taxa in aquatic monitoring programs using “DNA barcoding” techniques. This method allows more accurate assessment of biological integrity by using DNA sequences to identify native and introduced larval invertebrates recovered from benthic and planktonic sampling. 3) Use of DNA amplification technologies as an aid in determining sources of fecal inputs in a body of water or watershed. These methods are used to monitor for the presence of bacterial DNA sequences that are considered to be primarily associated with specific fecal sources (e.g. human, livestock, wildlife...).