Region 7 Science Program

What is the Regional Science Program?

The Regional Science Program links EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD) with EPA's Regional Offices and emphasizes building networks and partnerships between Regional and ORD scientists, effectively transferring research results on high-priority regional science issues and conducting science outreach to the states, tribes, and communities.

On this page:

Success Stories
ORD Research and Small Business Funding Opportunities
Upcoming ORD Events, Webinars and Training
ORD Publications, Products, Resources and Toolkits

EPA Region 7’s Science Priorities are currently being updated to reflect Administration Priorities.

Success Stories

Region 7 Science Program Research – ROAR 2674

A contaminated stream (rust colored with an orange-rust film floating on the top) in the Center Creek sub-watershed where the Region 7 Superfund Remedial Project Managers and the Office of Research & Development studied the effectiveness of the vegetation buffers to remove zinc. — A contaminated stream in the Center Creek sub-watershed, where Region 7 Superfund Remedial Project Managers and the Office of Research & Development studied the effectiveness of the vegetation buffers to remove zinc. (U.S. EPA photo)

Managing the environmental impacts of both active and retired mines is a complex challenge. Understanding how trace metals move and spread is essential to developing effective strategies for cleanup and reduction of contamination. In the Tri-State Mining District (TSMD), a region historically affected by lead and zinc mining, experts are working to address these issues across three states, nine tribes, and numerous communities across EPA Regions 6 and 7.

To find the best solutions, the Region 7 Superfund Remedial Project Managers and the Office of Research & Development used a sophisticated modeling tool called the Watershed Analysis Risk Management Framework (WARMF). This tool helps evaluate different remediation strategies, such as re-vegetation, buffer strips, and sediment traps, in the Center Creek area, which is part of the Spring River Subbasin. Their research aimed to identify the most effective methods to reduce zinc contamination in streams and sediments.

They found that re-vegetation could significantly lower zinc levels in streams during the Fall and Summer, potentially reducing the particulate zinc fraction. While there were no significant differences in total and dissolved zinc concentrations or daily zinc loads across all seasons, re-vegetation showed the most promise in reducing zinc during specific times of the year. This work supports ongoing efforts to clean up contaminated sites and helps identify the best strategies for minimizing heavy metal transport to downstream areas. By comparing different remediation scenarios, the team is contributing valuable insights to guide future cleanup efforts and improve environmental health in affected communities.

ORD Research and Small Business Funding Opportunities

EPA Research Grants – EPA’s Research Grants Program aims to stimulate and support scientific and engineering research that advances EPA’s mission to protect human health and the environment.

Research Grant Topics (on left at link above): Air Research, Ecosystems Research, Health Research, Safer Chemicals Research, Sustainability Research, and Water Research
Opens and closes: See “Open Funding Opportunities” at link above
Award amounts: Vary by topic

If you are interested in receiving email Research Grants updates on research funding opportunities, sign up on EPA’s website.

Upcoming ORD Events, Webinars and Training

Tools and Resources Webinar Series – Summary of EPA Research Activities on 6PPD-quinone

Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025, from 2 to 3 p.m. CDT
Register here

ORD posts upcoming events, webinars and training several months in advance, which EPA's research staff is participating in, hosting, or supporting in other ways.

Check out the EPA Research Events page often for updates.

ORD Publications, Products, Resources and Toolkits

Strategic Research Action Plans, Fiscal Years 2023-2026 – ORD published the FY23-26 Strategic Research Action Plans (StRAPs) for these six National Research Programs (NRPs):

Air and Energy (AE)
Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS)
Health and Environmental Risk Assessment (HERA)
Homeland Security (HS)
Safe and Sustainable Water Resources (SSWR)
Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC)

Region 7 had 23 representatives (internal and external) working with ORD to incorporate our science priorities into the StRAP. This is the most involvement Region 7 ever had, and the Region hopes to continue that level of involvement in future StRAPs to address our science needs.

Story Map

Region 7 Science Program’s Research Projects

In this story map, you can learn about the Region’s collaborative research projects that address environmental and health concerns. Extensive details and interactive maps about the 40-plus projects are in six categories: Water, Air, Cleanup and Remediation, Tool/Method Development, Contaminants of Concern, and SBIR/P3/STAR.