Exploring Two Decades of EPA's Homeland Security Research: A Retrospective and a Forecast
The events of September 11, 2001, marked a turning point in the world's view of homeland security, and the United States was no exception. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) responded by expanding its focus to include emerging threats related to national security, particularly environmental and public health risks from chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) hazards.
In 2002, EPA developed a Homeland Security Strategy, utilising its scientific and technical expertise to support potential CBRN attacks. This strategy led to the establishment of the EPA's Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) within the EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD). The HSRP has since evolved as a key component in EPA’s strategic research framework, alongside other major environment and health-related research areas.
Evolution of the HSRP
The EPA, established in 1970, initially focused on consolidating federal environmental protection efforts. Over time, the agency expanded its focus to include homeland security-related environmental risks. The HSRP emerged as a specialized branch within ORD to apply scientific research and innovation to protect communities and infrastructure from deliberate attacks or disasters involving hazardous substances.
Impact and Role of the HSRP
The HSRP supports regional offices like Region 7 by contributing research that underpins policy and operational decisions related to environmental hazards linked to homeland security. Its research encompasses tool and method development to detect, mitigate, and respond to contamination or attacks impacting water, air, soil, and public health systems.
Future Plans
The inclusion of Homeland Security in the ORD’s FY23-26 StRAP indicates ongoing commitment to advancing the program’s research priorities aligned with national needs. However, recent policy decisions to close EPA’s research arm may influence its future trajectory. This decision could potentially impact future research, monitoring, and protective actions related to homeland security threats.
The HSRP has been instrumental in responding to current events such as the COVID-19 pandemic, fentanyl contaminations, and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure. The program has also built capability through research to assist emergency responders and decision-makers in various incidents, such as ricin contamination, water contamination, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, and the Ebola outbreak of 2014.
In the event of a terrorist attack, the EPA provides federal emergency response and recovery support. The EPA's National Homeland Security Research Center, established in 2004, performs applied research and provides technical assistance for first responders and decision-makers. The agency also safeguards its employees and facilities nationwide and provides forensic evidence collection assistance to law enforcement.
The HSRP's role was particularly evident in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the subsequent Amerithrax events, involving letters containing anthrax being mailed to the Senate Hart Building in Washington, D.C., and news media organizations in several cities. The program continues to develop capabilities to respond to large-scale contamination incidents and improve the ability of water utilities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to water contamination that threatens public health.
For a full history of EPA's Homeland Security Research Program, visit "Milestones in EPA's Homeland Security Research History". The program looks to the future to apply what is known now to potential future events and ensure the United States is prepared to respond to any events that threaten public health.
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initially focused on consolidating federal environmental protection efforts in 1970, but later expanded to include homeland security-related environmental risks.
- The HSRP, a specialized branch within the EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD), emerged to apply scientific research and innovation to protect against deliberate attacks or disasters involving hazardous substances.
- The HSRP supports regional offices like Region 7 by contributing research that underpins policy and operational decisions related to environmental hazards linked to homeland security, such as detecting, mitigating, and responding to contamination or attacks impacting drinking water, air, soil, and public health systems.
- The HSRP's future research plans, as indicated by its inclusion in the ORD’s FY23-26 StRAP, aim to advance research priorities aligned with national needs, but recent policy decisions to close EPA’s research arm may potentially impact its trajectory.
- The HSRP has been instrumental in responding to current events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, fentanyl contaminations, and cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, and it has built capability through research to assist emergency responders and decision-makers in various incidents.
- In the event of a terrorist attack, the EPA provides federal emergency response and recovery support, and its National Homeland Security Research Center performs applied research and provides technical assistance for first responders and decision-makers.
- The HSRP's role was particularly evident in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks and the subsequent Amerithrax events, involving letters containing anthrax being mailed, and it continues to develop capabilities to respond to large-scale contamination incidents and improve the ability of water utilities to prevent, prepare for, and respond to water contamination that threatens public health, a vital aspect of health-and-wellness.
