EPA Research Laboratories
EPA’s research laboratories conduct applied research designed to inform and enhance EPA ’s ability to meet its statutory and regulatory obligations and mission essential functions.
Andrew W. Breidenbach Environmental Research Center
Cincinnati, Ohio
EPA’s Cincinnati laboratory is distinguished by its capabilities in water quality, hazardous waste, and emergency response. This facility tackles environmental challenges around drinking water protection, chemical risk management, and watershed health. Its advanced laboratories enable rapid testing and analysis, supporting swift response to issues like lead contamination and harmful algal blooms.
EPA Research Triangle Park Facility
Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina
EPA's Research Triangle Park Facility is the agency's largest research laboratory. Among many different areas of study, RTP has several unique research capabilities, including decontamination technology research laboratories, the high-throughput toxicology program to rapidly and cost effectively screen new chemicals, rainbow furnace and rotary kiln incinerators to study thermal treatment of PFAS, and air pollution research facilities that can simulate different types of air emissions under varying meteorological conditions.
The Atlantic Coast Environmental Science Laboratory
Narragansett, Rhode Island
The Atlantic Coast Environmental Science Laboratory conducts leading edge science to protect and sustain coastal ecosystems, delivering actionable insights, and innovative methods that strengthen coastal resilience and inform effective management. Research involves developing environmental monitoring and ecological assessment techniques to evaluate the condition of coastal and aquatic ecosystems and how they advance heath ecosystems and the communities they support; conducting field, laboratory, and modeling studies to quantify the effects of a range of chemical and non0chemical stressors to evaluate and advance restoration approaches and ecosystem recovery and resilience; and integrating high-frequency monitoring, innovative sampling devices, remote sensing, toxin analyses, and modeling to assess the spatial and temporal dynamics of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms.
The Great Lakes Coast Environmental Science Laboratory
Duluth, Minnesota
The Great Lakes Coast Environmental Science Laboratory is a national leader in freshwater science, driving innovation in monitoring, chemical safety, and ecosystem restoration for the Great Lakes and U.S. water resources. Its research advances environmental protection through cutting-edge tools to assess water quality, chemical hazards, and impacts on aquatic life. Duluth operates one of only two EPA research vessels, the Lake Explorer II, which is a 90-foot vessel with full oceanographic capability. The lab also has a fleet of 7 small research vessels and a suite of autonomous underwater gliders and underwater remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) to study water quality.
Research includes:
- Conducting lake-wide monitoring to evaluate the condition of Great Lakes coastal and nearshore environments
- Advancing contaminant remediation and ecosystem restoration effectiveness
- Developing and enhancing interdisciplinary methods and tools for environmental monitoring and management
The Gulf Coast Environmental Science Laboratory
Gulf Breeze, Florida
The Gulf Coast Environmental Science Laboratory leads advancements in ecosystem modeling, toxicity prediction, and crisis response for events like hurricanes and oil spills. The lab houses a 14,000 square foot wet laboratory for studying both fresh and saltwater species, a large chemistry and molecular lab, a research fleet with offshore and nearshore vessels, and a specialized Unit Dive Team for scientific dives and training.
Research includes:
- Conducting integrated field, lab, and modeling studies on ecological effects of pollutants to advance water quality standards and environmental management frameworks;
- Developing methodologies, computational models, and diagnostic tools to evaluate the effectiveness and societal benefits of ecological restoration and environmental remediation;
- Designing ecological indicators, analytical models, and data-driven tools to support the National Aquatic Resource Surveys (NARS), biocriteria development, and comprehensive ecological risk assessment. The lab houses a 14,000 square foot wet laboratory for studying both fresh and saltwater species, a large chemistry and molecular lab, a research fleet with offshore and nearshore vessels, and a specialized Dive Team for scientific dives and training.
The Pacific Coast Environmental Science Laboratory
Corvallis and Newport, Oregon
The Pacific Coast Environmental Science Laboratory's is a recognized leader in advancing scientific knowledge concerning the health of our nation’s freshwater, terrestrial, and coastal ecosystems in support of EPA's statutory obligations. Unique facility features include labs for stable isotope analysis, greenhouse facilities for environmental testing, a deployable air quality monitoring lab, a fleet of 7 research vessels, and a dive team.
Research includes:
Assessing ecological responses to environmental drivers, such as harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia;
Developing indicators and approaches to assess condition of aquatic resources;
Conducting field, laboratory, and modeling studies to quantify the effects of a range of chemical and non-chemical stressors to evaluate and advance restoration approaches and ecosystem recovery and resilience.
The Robert S Kerr Environmental Science Laboratory
Ada, Oklahoma
The Robert S. Kerr Environmental Science Laboratory stands as EPA’s sole research facility devoted to tackling the nation’s groundwater quality and quantity challenges. Kerr Lab’s expertise spans a wide array of critical areas, including characterization and remediation of PFAS, heavy metals, rare earth minerals, nutrient contaminations, coal combustion residuals, and enhanced aquifer recharge. The Kerr Lab has a rich history of partnering with Native American tribes, working together on common research interests. It has also developed EPA’s first and only partnership with a coal powered plant to improve efficiencies. Through these efforts, Kerr Lab has become a trusted partner to federal agencies, tribal nations, industry, and academia—collaborating to advance innovative solutions for groundwater management across the country.