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Labs, Centers & Offices
EPA's Office of Research & Development (ORD) is organized into three national laboratories, four national centers, and two offices located in 14 facilities around the country and in Washington, D.C. These labs, centers, and offices provide information and technical support to EPA program offices, regions, state/municipal/tribal governments, and other agencies performing environmental research, assessment, and risk management. ORD scientists also collaborate with private-sector partners to address important environmental issues.
[ Labs | Centers | Offices | Maps ]Laboratories
National Exposure Research Laboratory (NERL)
The National Exposure Research Laboratory provides information to increase the accuracy of EPA´s exposure and risk assessments for factors that stress the environment, including chemicals, living organisms, radiation, changes in land and water use, and changes in climate. NERL also evaluates innovative technologies to improve exposure assessment and provides information on stressor sources, pollutant transport and fate, and human exposure to pollutants.National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL)
The National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory is EPA´s focal point for scientific research on the effects of contaminants and environmental stressors on human health and ecosystem integrity. NHEERL´s research is used by EPA and other government agencies to identify and understand the processes that affect our health and environment. The research helps to evaluate the risks that pollution poses to humans and ecosystems.National Risk Management Research Laboratory (NRMRL)
The National Risk Management Research Laboratory conducts research on ways to prevent and reduce risks from pollution that threaten human health and the environment. NRMRL investigates methods to prevent and control pollution to air, land, and water, and to protect water quality in public water systems. NRMRL also assesses methods to clean up contaminated sites, sediments, and groundwater, prevent and control indoor air pollution, and restore ecosystems.
Centers
National Center for Computational Toxicology (NCCT)
The National Center for Computational Toxicology provides scientific expertise and leadership in the application of mathematical and computational tools and models to help the Agency improve data reporting requirements for environmental fate and transport and for toxicity testing; set priorities for the acquisition of those data based upon predictive models; and understand toxicity and risks posed by environmental agents. The NCCT staff work closely with the other ORD Laboratories and Centers to establish stronger linkages between individual components of the source-to-outcome paradigm, to develop strategies for prioritizing chemicals for screening and testing, and to improve quantitative risk assessment.National Center for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)
The National Center for Environmental Assessment is EPA´s national resource center for human health and ecological risk assessment. NCEA develops new methods for risk assessment, and applies those methods to the cutting-edge issues that the Agency faces. NCEA functions as a critical link between researchers within ORD and EPA decision makers. As a result, NCEA plays an important role as a consultant to EPA programs and regions on the use of science in environmental decision making.National Center for Environmental Research (NCER)
The National Center for Environmental Research supports innovative environmental research by scientists in the academic community. NCER´s Science to Achieve Results (STAR) program funds competitive research grants and graduate fellowships in numerous environmental science and engineering disciplines to complement ORD´s in-house research. Through this same competitive process, NCER helps small businesses address critical technology needs through its Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) program.National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC)
The National Homeland Security Research Center manages, coordinates, and supports homeland security research and technical assistance efforts. This research develops the scientific foundations to prevent or manage threats. Efforts focus on developing methods to clean up contaminated buildings (the Safe Building Program), protecting the nation´s drinking water supply (the Water Protection Program), and improving risk assessment techniques (the Rapid Risk Assessment Program).
Offices
Office of Science Policy (OSP)
The Office of Science Policy is responsible for science integration, coordination, and communication in areas that include providing science support to EPA in the regulatory decision-making process and management of ORD´s multi-year research planning. OSP also manages the ORD Regional Science Program, staffs the EPA Science Policy Council, and integrates tribal and environmental justice issues into ORD´s decision-making process.The Office of Resources Management Administration (ORMA) ensures that ORD´s laboratories and centers have the resources necessary to conduct world-class environmental research. ORMA provides management and administrative services and independently evaluates and measures progress in meeting ORD´s strategic goals. ORMA also manages ORD's Web site—www.epa.gov/ord—which is a useful portal for finding information about ORD and its products and research activities.
The Office of Science and Information Management is charged with the planning, policy, management, and implementation of ORD's information management (IM) program, applications development program, information technology (IT) infrastructure, and the business processes supporting those functions. OSIM will fulfill the responsibilities of EPA's SIO policy in direct support of the EPA's Chief Information Officer (CIO) and is ORD's primary interface with the Office of Environmental Information (OEI).