Environmental Protection Agency
Overview
What is your agency’s mission and how does supporting research in the Arctic advance that mission?
The mission of is to protect human health and the environment. is committed to producing research results that address real-world problems, inform implementation of environmental regulations, and help partners and communities make timely decisions. Engagement during research planning and implementation ensures a collaborative, transparent, and highly coordinated portfolio that delivers data, information, and resources to address identified research needs.
Where would one go to find out what research is being funded by your agency in the Arctic?
Information can be obtained through the in Alaska website and the Office of Research and Development’s strategic research action plans. There is currently no consolidated funding list of funding opportunities for Arctic research.
Where would one go to read about scientific research results from your agency?
's research website provides descriptions and results of research projects and events. Research products are available through the agency’s Science Inventory, which is a searchable database that provides product descriptions, contact information, and links to available printed material or websites. In addition, the Science Matters Newsletter highlights the latest research and results.
In terms of budget, approximately how big is your agency’s investment in Arctic research?
Since research is delineated by topic instead of geographic region, ’s investment in the Arctic is not tracked.
What are your agency’s funding priorities over the next two years?
’s Region 10 has identified the following science priorities that relate to the Arctic, which the Office of Research and Development is helping the region address:
- Water and air quality, including impacts from immediate and emerging contaminants and wildfire.
- Improved waste management, including household hazardous waste programs, and treatment techniques in Alaskan Tribal Communities.
- Assessment of health risks from soil, sediment, and water contamination related to disposal sites (landfills) near Alaskan federally recognized Tribes.
- Climate change impacts on permafrost and resilience to environmental change.
- Harmful algal blooms, including early detection techniques, understanding causes, and reduction of nutrient loading.
- Fairbanks air quality, including improving existing models and reducing emissions that form PM 2.5.
’s Office of Research and Development’s fiscal years 2023-2026 funding priorities are outlined in its strategic research action plans, and include the following Arctic-related research:
- Impacts and risks of melting permafrost on unlined landfills in Alaskan Native Tribal lands.
- Consequences to ecosystems undergoing rapid change, such as the effects of methane on Arctic permafrost.
- contamination, transport, and sorption behavior within the unique conditions of the Arctic environment.
- Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation in communities in Alaska Native Villages.
How does your agency coordinate and collaborate with other agencies and organizations to advance your mission in the Arctic?
collaborations with other agencies are formed on a topic-by-topic basis, and sometimes project by project. For example, the has partnered with Canada, as well as the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and U.S. Coast Guard, to evaluate oil spills in cold water.
We also have partnerships with Arctic and Alaska-based agencies, such as the state of Alaska, and non-profit organizations, such as the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. These partnerships provide expertise and funding for activities, such as sanitation projects, research projects, and environmental program capacity building and development.
Activities in Alaska
Does your agency have office(s) in Alaska?
has an Alaska Operations Office in Anchorage. Alaska is served by 's Region 10 Office located in Seattle.
Does that office support research?
Several environmental programs are administered out of the Alaska Operations and Region 10 offices, including the Performance Partnership Agreement with the state of Alaska and the Indian Environmental General Assistance Program grants to Tribal governments and Tribal consortia in Alaska. Some of the activities funded through these programs include monitoring transboundary contaminants, compilation of observational science, monitoring of emerging contaminants, and baseline environmental monitoring.
In addition, the Region 10 office collaborates with ’s Office of Research and Development to address near-term research needs specific to the region.
Where can one go to learn more about your agency’s presence in Alaska?
Information is provided on the in Alaska webpage.