EPA Office of Research and Development Publishes Draft Strategic Research Action Plans FY2023-2026

April 21, 2022 Kevin Letterly

EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) has developed drafts of its fiscal years 2023-2026 Strategic Research Action Plans (StRAPs), which outline the leading-edge research strategies necessary to provide the scientific foundation for EPA to execute its mandate to protect human health and the environment. The plans are organized around each of ORD’s six national research programs, and were developed through a series of listening sessions, workshops, and consultations with Agency partners; state, tribal, and local partners; and community groups. The Board of Scientific Counselors Executive Committee will be reviewing these research plans on May 4, 12:00-5:00 pm (Eastern) and May 5, 12:00-5:00 (Eastern) – click here to register (must register before May 3). Public comment is invited for this meeting, and more general information and information on providing comment can be found here.

Of particular interest to the water sector is the Safe and Sustainable Water Resources (SSWR) Draft, which includes:

Evaluation of climate change impacts like drought, floods, and wildfires;
Improvement of natural disaster resilience;
Water reuse research;
Expanding on HABs research;
Research on DBPs, lead and copper, PFAS and addressing unknown PFAS.

The SSWR program supports three projects with solutions-driven research that assist communities in 1) achieving their nitrogen reduction targets and associated water quality goals, 2) identifying lead service lines, and 3) utilizing wetlands, sea grass, and tidal marshes for long-term carbon sequestration and coastal resilience.

The additional five draft action plans include: