National Risk Management Research Laboratory
EPA’s research program is centered on an important organizing principle called the “risk paradigm.” The risk paradigm consists of two interrelated processes: risk assessment and risk management. Risk management is the identification and prioritization of environmental and health risks (actual or potential threat of adverse effects on living organisms and our environment by effluents, emissions, wastes, resource depletion, etc., arising out of activities), followed by coordinated and economical application of resources to sustainably minimize, monitor, and control the adverse impact events or to maximize the realization of opportunities.
Risk management entails determining whether and how risks are to be managed or reduced. It is based on the results of the risk assessment, as well as on social, economic, and public health and environment factors. Risk management options include pollution prevention or control technologies to reduce or eliminate the risk to humans and the environment. Risk management actions must then be monitored so that any necessary adjustments can be made.
The NRMRL applies risk management research in the following areas (for more information, see http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/national-risk-management-research-laboratory-nrmrl):
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Research Program Area |
Research Program |
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Air, Climate, & Energy (ACE) |
Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation |
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Air Quality Management |
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Green Buildings and Indoor Contaminants/Asthma |
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Mercury and Other Persistent Pollutants |
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Source-Based Strategies |
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Near Roadway Research |
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Safe and Sustainable Water Resources (SSWR) |
Aging Drinking Water Infrastructure |
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Aging Wastewater Infrastructure |
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Distribution Systems Water Quality |
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Drinking Water Treatment Technologies |
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Non-Point Source Characterization and Control |
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Source Water Protection |
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Watershed Management |
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Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS) |
Ecosystems: Place-Based Valuation and Decision Support Studies |
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Material Management, Waste to Energy, and Resource Conservation of Land Wastes |
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Mitigation, Management, and Long-Term Stewardship of Superfund Contaminated Sites and Wastes |
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Nanotechnology |
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Environmental Systems Management/Sustainable Metrics Development |
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Environmental Technology Assessment and Verification |
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Technology Assessment |
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Environmental Technology Verification |
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Sustainable & Healthy Communities (SHC) |
Development and Evaluation of Pollution Prevention (P2) Tools |
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Homeland Security |
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Safe Pesticides/Safe Products and Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals |
