As a supplemental activity, the Committee on Anticipatory Research for EPA's Research and Development Enterprise to Inform Future Environmental Protection will evaluate EPA's use of its Title 42 special hiring authority. On the basis of available information, theory, and experience, the committee will review the utilization of the Title 42 Hiring Authority by EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) during the past decade, its current program, and how utilization of the Title 42 program could be improved in the future. In carrying out its study, the committee will evaluate:

· Efficiency and effectiveness of EPA's Title 42 program, including consideration of:

- Policies and procedures of EPA’s Title 42 operations manual,

- How consistently the hiring practices in the manual are followed,

- Salary competitiveness,

- Implementation of Diversity, Equity Inclusion, and Accessibility plans,

- Networks and outreach for talent search and candidate recruitment,

- Number of job applicants and number accepting job offers, and

- Hiring in priority fields

• Overall quality and impact of the scientific work of past and current Title 42 appointees, taken as a whole.
• Best practices of Title 42 programs in other federal agencies that might be adopted by EPA.
• Potential impacts of EPA being granted permanent Title 42 authority.

The committee will recommend changes to the Title 42 program of EPA ORD that may increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the program and increase the quality and impact of Title 42 appointees. The committee also will provide advice regarding the future use of Title 42 authority by EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
The committee will consider past reports and analyses by NASEM and other organizations, presentations and documentation provided by EPA (e.g., program guidance and policy documents), and EPA's mission and its current initiatives.