State Environmental Agencies' Research Needs
How are state environmental agencies' research needs incorporated into EPA's research planning?
EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) works in partnership with environmental and public health officials across the country to tailor our research so that it is squarely aimed at their most pressing challenges to deliver the solutions they need. To better align EPA research with states’ science priorities, ORD uses the results of biennial State Research Needs Assessments conducted by ECOS/ERIS, as well as feedback we hear directly from states and territories during various meetings and engagements. This information informed the development of ORD's Strategic Research Action Plans 2023-2026, which outline ORD’s longer-term research programs and shorter-term technical support efforts.
ORD directly engages states in the strategic research planning and implementation process. State environmental and health agency members participate on EPA research planning teams to help identify specific products geared towards states’ science priorities. For the 2023-2026 Strategic Research Action Plans, we developed the State Engagement Focus Product Portfolio which contains 124 research products across all research programs that are most closely aligned with state interests. State Product Portfolio for 2023-2026 Strategic Research Action Plans (pdf)