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's Office of Research and Development 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:

• 2025 Schedule
• 2024 Webinar Recordings
• More Webinars by Topic Area

Upcoming Webinar

Lithium-ion Battery Disposal & Emission in an Emergency Response

Wednesday, June 11, 2025, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET

Registration Open

Recent wildfires in Maui and Los Angeles highlight the urgent need for proper lithium-ion battery (LIB) disposal. LIBs are used in nearly every electronic device produced over the last decade, including the rise of electric vehicles. This widespread use increases the potential for LIBs to be involved in natural and manmade disasters.

Damaged LIBs, whether from car accidents, floods, fires, or other traumatic event, pose a heightened risk of ignition. Additionally, improper handling of damaged LIBs can lead to fires that are notoriously difficult to extinguish and release toxic gases, posing significant risks to first responders and communities. Discharging residual energy from LIBs is crucial for safe transport and disposal of these batteries. Traditionally, this is achieved with saltwater brines, but this method results in severe corrosion and complicates disposal efforts.

This webinar will present an evaluation of alternative discharge solutions for improved disposal of LIBs and the characterization of LIB fire emissions. Our goal is to support the safety of first responders and contribute to the development of best practices for handling LIBs in disaster scenarios.

About the Presenter

Dr. Souhail Al-Abed is a research chemist at EPA Office of Research and Development's Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response in Cincinnati, OH. He leads research in the areas of management and beneficial use of materials including plastics, environmental disastrous debris, and lithium-ion batteries prior to recycling to thermal runaway control. His research extends to emission measurements and identification of chemicals from lithium-ion batteries related to fires. He authored and co-authored more than 120 peer-review journal articles and six book chapters and received more than 1,800 citations.

2025 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
Postponed	Mobile Hot Zone Decontamination Cart
June 11	Lithium-ion Batteries
July 9	Foreign Animal Disease Outbreak
August 13	Emergency Response Support from EPA
September 10	20 Years After Hurricane Katrina
November 12	Aerosol Treatment Testing Capability