Emergency Response Research Webinar Series

Free webinars typically held on the second Wednesday of the month. Special webinars on COVID-19 research are conducted as research results become available. 

EPA hosts this webinar series to share current research activities and results. This webinar series covers the latest information on research supporting EPA's response to chemical, biological, and radiological incidents, as well as natural disasters. This forum allows EPA to communicate directly with partners and stakeholders to foster collaboration and dissemination of information. 

NOTE: Attendees have the option of receiving a certificate of attendance. Acceptance of certificates is contingent on organization requirements—EPA cannot guarantee acceptance. Closed-captioned recordings of the webinars are provided below for later viewing and as a training resource; certificates cannot be provided for viewing webinar recordings. 

Webinar dates and topics are subject to change.

On this page:

• 2026 Schedule
• 2025 Webinar Recordings
• More Webinars by Topic Area

Upcoming Webinar

Remediating and Reducing PFAS in Fire Suppression Systems

Wednesday, June 10, 2026, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET

Registration Open

There are over 10,000 military and civilian aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) delivery systems in aircraft hangars and firefighting vehicles that may require prudent remediation to avoid ongoing environmental impacts from residual per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) within those systems. While fluorine free alternatives for AFFF are being introduced, PFAS persistence and rebound within AFFF systems will likely result in continued PFAS discharge long after initial cleaning attempts. Anecdotal and vendor supplied cleaning methods can be insufficient for PFAS levels of concern. Therefore, current operations may need adjustment to meet challenges presented by PFAS.

Researchers from EPA and the U.S. Air Force Institute of Technology evaluated PFAS remediation scenarios and developed site-specific strategies through a combination of bench-scale studies, a simulated hangar system, and hydraulic modeling. This webinar will provide data and information to refine existing cleanup guidance for remediating PFAS contaminated foam delivery systems, specifically those in hangars and Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting vehicles, potentially leading to substantial cost savings.

About the Presenters

Matthew Magnuson is a Research Chemist for EPA’s Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions – Emergency Response Science Branch. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1994 from the University of Oklahoma (Norman) and is currently involved in emergency response research related to analysis and environmental fate of chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) contaminants. A major focus of his work is management and treatment of large volumes of CBR contaminated water and wastewater, as well as resuspension and stabilization of radiological contaminants. Collaborations include U.S. Department of War, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and National Institutes of Justice. 

Willie F. Harper, Jr. is a Distinguished Professor in the Systems Engineering and Management Department at the Air Force Institute of Technology. He received a B.S. (Civil Engineering) from UCLA, a Meng (Environmental Engineering) from Cornell University, and Ph.D. (Civil and Environmental Engineering) from UC Berkeley where he studied enhanced biological phosphorus removal under David Jenkins. Dr. Harper has also served as visiting faculty at the Technical University of Denmark, the Tokyo University of Agricultural and Technology, and the University of Lomé (Togo). Dr. Harper’s research interest is water quality, and ongoing projects focus on advanced oxidation, bioremediation, atmospheric water harvesting, and AFFF decontamination. He has published numerous peer-reviewed articles and has been honored with many awards, including the AEESP Board of Directors Distinguished Service Award, the John L. McLucas Basic Research Award, the Fulbright Scholar Award, and the NSF Faculty Early CAREER Award. Dr. Harper is a native of North Long Beach, CA.

2026 Schedule

If you are interested in being notified when new webinars are scheduled, please sign up to receive email notifications here: Receive emails for upcoming webinars.

Topic and presenters are subject to change. Additional information and registration links will be provided in advance of each webinar.

Date	Topic
June 10, 2026	Fire Suppression Systems Contaminated with PFAS
July 8, 2026	Sample Recovery Methods from Vegetation
August 12, 2026	Remote Sensing and Geographic Imagery Tools