EPA Research in Virginia

Explore EPA's research across the United States.

EPA researchers are working hard to protect communities across the nation. Learn about some of the work EPA researchers are doing in Virginia.

Cleaning Up a Subway Contaminated with Anthrax
Assessing Conditions at Bristol Landfill to Determine the Source of Local Odors
River Spill Model
Stream Monitoring Network
Cleaning Up After a Natural Disaster
Lessons Learned from Citizen Science Research Projects

For more EPA work, see EPA in Virginia.

Cleaning Up a Subway Contaminated with Anthrax

A large yellow device sits on a wooden platform on a small metro track.

EPA's Office of Research and Development is a leader in improving the nation’s ability to cleanup buildings contaminated with anthrax or other biological agents. In recognition of the complexities that would be involved, and the number of cities that have underground rail system, EPA along with Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and several national laboratories turned their attention to the cleanup of subway systems contaminated with anthrax. At Fort A.P. Hill, researchers evaluated decontamination technologies that could be used in the event of an anthrax incident in a subway system.

Assessing Conditions at Bristol Landfill to Determine the Source of Local Odors

In 2022, residents in Bristol, VA and Bristol, TN were complaining of odors suspected of originating from the Bristol Landfill, a likely culprit given the visible geysers of gas and leachate (landfill wastewater) as well as steaming chimneys observed from the landfill and its quarry sidewalls. To address these issues, the Virginia DEQ assembled an expert panel to review temperature and composition data from landfill gas wells and leachate composition. EPA Office of Research and Development attended the expert panel and reviewed the documents provided at the meeting.

River Spill Model

EPA researchers developed a web-based River Spill Modeling System (RSMS) software that enables accurate 2-D modeling of spills in rivers. Water utilities can use RSMS to decide if they temporarily should close an intake, add additional treatment, or access alternative water supplies, if available. RSMS has been used by the Ohio River Valley Water Sanitation Commission (ORSANCO), an interstate commission representing eight states including Virginia, on spills that have occurred on the Ohio River and its tributary system for many years.

Stream Monitoring Network

EPA's Office of Research and Development is working with EPA regions, states (including Virginia Department of Environmental Quality), Tribes, river basin commissions and other entities to establish Regional Monitoring Networks for freshwater wadeable streams. The objectives are to collect long-term biological, thermal, hydrologic, physical habitat and water chemistry data to document baseline conditions across sites and detect long-term changes. This data can be used for many purposes, including informing water quality and biological criteria development and setting protection planning priorities, refining lists of biological, thermal and hydrologic indicators, and detecting trends in commonly used water quality and biological indicators.

Cleaning Up After a Natural Disaster

Following a natural disaster, communities can face an unexpected challenge: what to do with the tons of waste and debris left behind. To help manage waste after disasters, EPA researchers and partners developed a suite of tools to assist in both urban and rural waste management planning and emergency response. Part of this work included a study for the city of Norfolk, VA using the MSW DST and I-WASTE to understand the impact of extreme weather events on solid waste infrastructure and develop more resilient and sustainable waste management plans. Read EPA Tools Help Local Decision-Makers Deal with Waste Resulting from Major Natural Disasters.

Lessons Learned from Citizen Science Research Projects

Environmental Health Assessments (EHAs) are used to better understand the range of possible effects of environmental factors on a community’s health and wellbeing. These assessments are even more effective when researchers involve the community through citizen science. Using decades of experience conducting citizen science-based EHAs, EPA scientists have recently published paper on advice and frequently asked questions to help other communities conduct these assessments. In the study, researchers analyzed two case studies of citizen science-based EHAs; a citizen science air quality sensor project in Newark, NJ, and an assessment of possible environmental stressors in Newport News, VA. Read EPA Researchers Share Lessons Learned from Citizen Science Research Projects.