# U

. S

. E n vir onm e n tal P r o te c ti o n A g e n c y

Offi c e o f R e s ear c h a n d D e v e l o p m e n t

Cl i m ate A d a p tati o n Im p l e m e n tati o n P l a n

P r e p a re d b y t h e O RD C li m a t e A d a p t a t i on I m pl e m e n t a t i on P l an T e a m

6 / 18 / 2013



## DRAFTORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3



### D i s c l a i mer

T o t h e e xte n t t h is d o c u m e n t m e n t i o n s o r d isc u s s e s st a t u t o ry o r r e g u la t o ry a u t h o ri t y

, it d oe s so

f o r i n f o r m a t i o n al pu r p o s e s o n l y

. T h is d o c u m e n t d oe s n o t s ub s t i t u t e f o r t h o se s t a t u te s o r

r e g u la t i o n s, a n d r e a d e rs s h o u ld c o n s u lt t h e s t a t u t e s o r r e g u la t i o n s t o l e arn w h a t t h e y

r e qu i r e

. N e i t h e r t h is d o c u m e n t

, n o r a n y p a r t o f i t

, is i t s e l f a r u l e o r a r e g u la t i o n

. T hu s, it ca nn o t

c h a n ge o r i m p o s e l e gally b i nd i n g r e qu ir e m e n t s o n E P A, S t a t e s, t h e pub lic, o r t h e r e gu la te d

c o mm un i t y

. Fu r t h e r, a n y e x p r e ss e d i n te n t i o n

, s u gg e s t i o n o r r e c om m e nd a t i o n d oe s n o t i m p o se

a n y l e gally b i nd i n g r e qu ir e m e n t s o n E P A, S t a t e s, t ri b e s

, t h e pub lic, o r t h e r e g u la t e d c o m m un i t y

.

Ag e n cy d e c is i o n m a ke rs r e m ain fr e e t o exe rci s e t h e ir d isc r et i o n in c ho o si n g t o i m p l e m e n t t h e

a c t i o n s d e scri b e d in t h is P la n

. Su ch i m p l e m e n t a t i o n is c o n t i n g e n t u p o n a v aila b ili t y o f r e s o u rc e s

a n d is s ub j e ct t o c h a n g e

.ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

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### Preface

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is committed to identifying and responding to

the challenges that a changing climate poses to human health and the environment.

Scientific evidence demonstrates that the climate is changing at an increasingly rapid rate, outside

the range to which society has adapted in the past. These changes can pose significant challenges

to the EPA’s ability to fulfill its mission. The EPA must adapt to climate change if it is to continue

fulfilling its statutory, regulatory and programmatic requirements. The Agency is therefore

a nticipating and planning for future changes in climate to ensure it continues to fulfill its mission

of protecting human health and the environment even as the climate changes.

In February 2013, the EPA released its draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan t o the public for

review and comment. The plan relies on peer

- reviewed scientific information and expert

judgment to identify vulnerabilities to EPA’s mission and goals from climate change. The plan also

presents 10 priority actions that EPA will take to en sure that its programs, policies, rules, and

operations will remain effective under future climatic conditions. The priority placed on

mainstreaming climate adaptation within EPA complements efforts to encourage and mainstream

adaptation planning across th e entire federal government.

Following completion of the draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan , each EPA National

Environmental Program Office, all 10 Regional Offices, and several National Support Offices

developed a Climate Adaptation Implementation Plan to provide more detail on how it will carry

out the work called for in the agency

- wide plan. Each Implementation Plan articulates how the

office will integrate climate adaptation into its planning and work in a manner consistent and

compatible with its go als and objectives.

Taken together, the Implementation Plans demonstrate how the EPA will attain the 10 agency

wide priorities presented in the Climate Change Adaptation Plan . A central element of all of EPA’s

plans is to build and strengthen its adaptive capacity and work with its partners to build capacity

in states, tribes, and local communities. EPA will empower its staff and partners by increasing

their awareness of ways that climate change may affect their ability to implement effective

programs, and by providing them with the necessary data, information, and tools to integrate

climate adaptation into their work.

Each Program and Regional Office’s Implementation Plan contains an initial assessment of the

implications of climate change for the organiz ation’s goals and objectives. These “program

vulnerability assessments” are living documents that will be updated as needed to account for

new knowledge, data, and scientific evidence about the impacts of climate change on EPA’s

mission. The plan then iden tifies specific priority actions that the office will take to begin

addressing its vulnerabilities and mainstreaming climate change adaptation into its activities.

Criteria for the selection of priorities are discussed. An emphasis is placed on protecting the mostORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3



### vulnerable people and places, on supporting the development of adaptive capacity in the tribes,

and on identifying clear steps for ongoing collaboration with tribal governments.

Because EPA’s Programs and Regions and partners will be learning by experience as they

mainstream climate adaptation planning into their activities, it will be essential to evaluate their

efforts in order to understand how well different approaches work and how they can be

improved. Each Implementation Plan therefore i ncludes a discussion of how the organization will

regularly evaluate the effectiveness of its adaptation efforts and make adjustments where

necessary.

The set of Implementation Plans are a sign of EPA’s leadership and commitment to help build the

nation’s adaptive capacity that is so vital to the goal of protecting human health and the

environment. Working with its partners, the Agency will help promote a healthy and prosperous

nation that is resilient to a changing climate.

Bob Perciasepe

Deputy Administrator

September 2013ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

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## C o n t e n t s

ORD C l i m a t e A daptat i o n I m pl e me n ta t io n Plan T e a m

Ch apt e r 1. I n tr o d u c t i o n

................................................. . .................................................. . ........................ . 1

T h e E P A Cl i m a t e C h a n ge A d a p t a t i o n P lan

........... . .................................................. . ................................ . 1

OR D ’s M i s si o n a n d A d a p t i n g t o Cl i m a t e C h a n ge

..... . .................................................. . ............................ . 3

R e la t i o n s h ip o f cli m a t e a d a p t a t i o n t o O R D ’s R e s e a r c h P r o gr a m s

....................................... . ................... . 4

C o m p o n e n t s o f t h e I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan

............ . .................................................. . ............................... . 4

Ch apt e r 2. A s s e ss me n t o f ORD V u l n e ra b i l i t i e s a n d C h all e ng e s to C l i m ate C h a n g e

............................. . 5

O p e ra t i o n al V u l n e ra b ili t i e s

...................... . .................................................. . ............................................ . 5

S ci e n t ific C h all e n g es

............................. . .................................................. . ................................................ . 6

U nd e rst an d p a rt n er n ee d s an d r e g io na l d iffe r e n c e s

................................................. . ......................... . 6

I n co r po r a t e cli m a t e s c i e n ce, s t r e ng t h en cli m a t e ad ap t a t ion s cie n ce, an d d evelop c r o ss

- A g e n cy

r e s e a r ch p r i o r i t ies

................................................. . .................................................. . ........................... . 9

I m p r ove f l e x i b ili t y t o add r e s s e m e r g i n g an d un e x pe c t e d p r o b le m s

................................................. . .. . 9

C o mm un ic a t e cl i m a te

, a d a p t a t i o n

, a n d m i t ig a t i o n s c i e n ce

............................................. . ...................... . 9

Ch apt e r 3. OR D ’ s P r io r i ty A c t io n s fo r C l i m ate A dap t at io n

................................................. . ................. . 1 0

I d e n t ify v u l n e ra b le r e s e a rc h r e s o u r c e s a n d d eve l o p re s p o n se p la n s

................................... . ............... . 1 0

D e ve l o p an a pp r o a ch t o i d e n t ify Ag e n c y

- w i d e r e s e ar c h p ri o ri t i e s

..................................... . ................. . 1 0

Wo rk w i t h E P A p ar t n e rs t o d eve l o p e f f e c t i v e ve n u e s t o c o mm un ic a t e a d v a n c e s i n cli m a t e i m p act

a n d a d a p t a t i o n r e s e a r ch

.......................... . .................................................. . .......................................... . 1 0

De sign e xt r a m u ral r e s e ar c h e ff o r t s t h at a pp r o p ria t e ly i n c o r po ra t e cl i m a t e c h a n ge a d a p t a t i o n

qu e s t i o n s a n d m e as u r e s

........................... . .................................................. . ......................................... . 1 1

Ch apt e r 4. M e a su r i n g a n d E v al u at i n g P e r f o r m a n c e

................................................. . ........................... . 1 2

Ag e n cy sc i e n ce p ri o ri t i e s

........................ . .................................................. . ........................................... . 1 2

I n c o r p o r a t i n g cli m a t e a d a p t a t i o n i n t o ext r a m u ral r e s e arch

........................................... . ..................... . 1 2ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3



## OR D Cl i m at e A d ap t at i o n I m p l eme n t a t io n P l a n T e a m

C. A nd r e w M ill e r ( Le a d ; Ai r

, Cli m a te

, a n d E n e rgy R e se arch P r o gr a m )

Pe t e r B ee d l o w ( N a t i o n al H e al t h a n d E n v ir o n m e n t al E f f e c t s L a b o r a t o r y )

T im B e nn e r ( Office o f S ci e n ce Po li c y )

J o h n D a w s o n ( N a t i o n al C e n te r f o r E n v ir o n m e n t al R e s e arc h )

A nd r e w Gill e s p i e ( N a t i o n al E x p o s u re R e s e arch L a b o r at o r y )

J a m e s G o o d rich ( N a t i o n al Risk M a n ag e m e n t R e s e ar c h L a b o r a to r y )

A nn e Gra m b s ch ( N a t i o n al C e n te r f o r E n v i r o nm e n t al A s s e s s m e n t )

Alan L i ndqu ist ( N a t i o n al Ho m e la n d S e c u ri t y R e s e arch C e n te r)

J e nn if e r S c o la (Offi c e o f A d m i n is t ra t i v e a n d R e s e a r ch Supp o r t )ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3

1 

## C ha p t er 1. I nt r od u c t i o n

As t h e cl i m a t e c h a n g e s, it a ff e c t s t h e a b ili t y o f E P A t o ac h i ev e i t s b a sic m iss i o n t o p r ot e ct h u m an h e al t h

a n d t h e e n v ir o n m e n t

. M a n y o f t h e o u t c o m e s E P A is w o r k i n g t o a tt ain ( e

. g

. , c l e a n air, safe d ri n k i n g

w a te r) are s e n si t i v e t o c h a n g e s in w e a t h e r a n d cli m at e

. U n t il r e c e n t l y

, E P A h as b ee n a b le t o ass u m e t hat

cli m a t e is r e la t i ve l y s t a b l e a n d f u t u re cl i m a t e w ill m ir r o r p ast cl i m a te

. H o w e v e r, w i t h cl i m a t e c h a n gi n g

m o r e ra p i d ly t h an s o ci e t y h as ex p e r i e n c e d in t h e p a s t

, t h e p ast i s n o l o n g e r a g oo d p r e d ic to r o f t h e

f u t u r e

. Cli m a t e c h a n ge is p o si n g n e w c h all e n g e s t o E P A’s a b ili t y t o f u lfill i t s m iss i o n

.

T o a dd r e ss t h e se c h all e n g e s, E P A d e v e l o p e d i t s fir s t A g e n c y

- w i d e p lan f o r a d a p t i n g t o t h e c h a n gi n g

cli m a t e in 2 0 12

. E P A w as on e o f o ve r 6 0 f e d e r al ag e n c i e s t h at we r e r e qu ir e d t o d eve l o p cl i m a t e

a d a p t a t i o n p la n s und e r E xe c u t i v e Or d e r 1 3 5 14

, sig n e d b y P r e si d e n t Bara c k O b a m a in 2 0 0 9

. T h at o r d e r

r e qu ir e d e ach f e d e ral ag e n cy t o “ e v al u a t e ag e n c y cl i m a te

- c h a n ge ri s k s a n d v u l n e r a b ili t i e s t o m a n age t he

e ff e c t s o f cl i m a t e c h a n ge o n t h e ag e n c y ’s o p e r a t i o ns a n d m iss i o n in bo t h t h e s h o r t a n d l o n g t e r m

... . ” 1

On Jun e 2

, 2 0 1 1

, A d m i n is t r a to r L isa J a c k s o n iss u e d t h e “ E P A Po li c y S t a t e m e n t o n Cli m a t e

- C h a n ge

A d a p t a t i o n. ” T h e P o licy S t a te m e n t r e c o g n i z e s t h at c l i m a t e c h a n ge can p o s e sig n i fica n t c h all e n g e s t o

E P A’s a b ili t y t o f u lfill i t s m i s si o n a n d calls f o r t h e A g e n c y t o a n t ici p a t e a n d p lan f o r f u t u re c h a n g e s in

cli m a t e a n d i n c o r p o r a t e c on si d e ra t i o n s o f cli m a t e c h a n ge i n t o i t s a c t i v i t i e s. T h e f i rst ac t i o n cal l e d o u t in

t h e P o li c y S t a t e m e n t is t o “ D e ve l o p a n d pub lish t h e E P A Cli m a t e

- C h a n ge A d a p t a t i o n P la n

, ” w h ich w a s

c o m p l e t e d a n d s ub m i tte d t o t h e C o un cil o n E n v i r o nm e n t al Q u ali t y ( C E Q ) in la t e Jun e 2 0 12

.



### T h e E P A C l i m at e C h a nge A d a p t a t i o n P l a n

T h e E P A Cl i m a t e C h a n ge A d a p t a t i o n P lan is t h e fir s t s t e p in m eet i n g t h e r e qu ir e m e n t s o f E x e c u t i v e

Or d e r 1 3 51 4 ( F e d e ral L e a d e rs h ip in E n v i r o nm e n t al, E n e rg y

, a n d E c o n o m i c Pe r f o r m a n c e ) t o i m p l e m e n t

cli m a t e c h a n ge a d a p t a t i o n p la nn i n g acr o ss t h e Ag e ncy

. T h e P lan w as d e ve l o p e d b y a c r o ss

- Ag e n cy

wo r k i n g g r o u p l e d b y t h e O ffice o f Po li c y a n d i n clu d i n g e ach n a t i o n al p r o gram a n d r e gi o n al o ffic e

, a n d it

r e p r e s e n t s a t r u e E P A

- w i d e p e rs p e c t i v e o n cli m a t e c h a n ge a d a p t a t i o n

, Ag e n cy v u l n e ra b ili t i e s t o cli m a t e

c h a n g e

, a n d p ri o ri t y a c t i o n s n ee d e d t o e n s u re t h at E P A a n d i t s p ar t n e r s at t h e t r i b al, s t a t e

, a n d l o c a l

l eve ls are a b le t o f u lfill E P A ’s m i s si o n t o p r o t e ct hu m a n h e al t h a n d t h e e n v i r o n m e n t e ve n a s w e fa c e t h e

i m p ac t s o f a c h a n gi n g cl i m a te

.

T h e E P A Cl i m a t e C h a n ge A d a p t a t i o n P lan calls f o r ea c h o ffice t o d e ve l o p an o ffi c e

- s p e cific p lan f o r

i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e p ri o r i t y ac t i o n s as a pp r o p ri a t e f o r t h at o ffi c e

. T h e se i m p l e m e n t a t i o n p la n s h a v e b ee n

d eve l o p e d in c o o r d i n a t i o n acr o ss E P A t o e n a b le a d e q u a t e fl e x i b ili t y t o a dd r e ss t h e c h all e n g e s a n d

si t u a t i o n s fac e d b y e a ch o f f ice w i t h o u t l o si n g t h e s t r e n g t h o f c o lla b o ra t i o n t o a d d r e ss c o m m o n

v u l n e ra b ili t i e s.

T h e A d a p t a t i o n P lan o u t li n e s t h e k no w n v u l n e ra b ili t i e s o f E P A carr y i n g o u t i t s m i ssi o n du e t o cl i m a t e

c h a n g e

, i d e n t ifi e s a pp r o a c h e s t o “ m ai n s t r e a m i n g” c l i m a t e c h a n ge a d a p t a t i o n in E P A t h r o u gh a s e ri e s o f

te n p ri o r i t y a c t i o n s ( s e e te x t b o x ), a n d d e s cri b e s m e as u r e s t o e v al u a t e p e r f o r m a n c e

.

1 E x ec u t i v e O rde r 135 1 4

, “ F edera l L eader sh ip i n En v i ron m e n t a l, E n e r g y

, a n d Eco n o m ic P er f o r m a n ce, ” O c t obe r 5

, 2009

.ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3

2 A m o n g t h e Ag e n c y p r i o ri t i e s f o r

i m p l e m e n t i n g m e a s u r e s t o a d a p t t o

cli m a t e c h a n ge i s p ar t n e ri n g w i t h

t ri b e s. E P A w o r k s w i t h f e d e rally

r e c o g n i z e d t ri b e s o n a g o v e r n m e n t

to

- g o ve r n m e n t b asis t o p r o te ct t h e

la nd

, air, a n d w a t e r in I nd i a n

c o un t r y

.

Supp o r t i n g t h e d e ve l o p m e n t o f

a d a p t i v e ca p aci t y a m o n g t r i b e s is a

p ri o ri t y f o r t h e E P A. T ri b e s are

p ar t ic u larly v u l n e ra b le t o t h e

i m p ac t s o f cli m a t e c h a n ge du e t o

t h e i n te gral n a t u re o f t h e

e n v ir o n m e n t w i t h in t h e ir t r a d i t i o n al

life w a y s a n d c u l t u r e

. T h e r e is a

s t r o n g n e e d t o d e ve l o p a d a p t a t i o n

s t ra te gi e s t h at p r om ot e

s u s t ai n a b ili t y a n d r e du ce t h e i m p a c t Ag e n c y

- w i d e Cli m a t e C h a n ge A d a p t a t i o n P r i o ri t i e s

1

. Fu lfill S t ra te gic Me as u r e s i n F Y 2 0 1 1

- 2 0 1 5 E P A

S t ra te gic P lan

2

. P r o te c t Ag e n c y facili t i e s a n d o p e ra t i o n s

3

. F ac to r l e gal c o n si d e ra t i o n s i n t o a d a p t a t i o n e ff o r t s

4

. S t r e n g t h e n a d a p t i v e ca p ac i t y o f E P A s t aff a n d

p ar t n e rs t h r o u gh t rai n i n g

5

. D e ve l o p d e cis i o n

- s upp o rt t oo ls t h at e n a b le E P A s t a f f

a n d p ar t n e rs t o i n t e gra t e c l i m a t e a d a p t a t i o n p la nn i n g

i n t o t h e ir w o rk

6

. I d e n t ify c r o ss

- E P A s ci e n ce n ee d s r e l a te d t o cli m a t e

a d a p t a t i o n

7

. P ar t n e r w i t h t ri b e s t o i n cr e ase a d a p t i v e c a p aci t y

8

. F o c u s o n m o s t v u l n e ra b le p eo p le a n d p la c e s

9

. Me as u r e a n d e v al u a t e p e r f o r m a n ce

10

. D e ve l o p p r o gr a m a n d r e gi on al o ffice I m p l e m e n t a t i o n

P la n s

o f cl i m a t e c h a n ge o n t ri b e s a n d t ri b al la nd s.

E P A e n ga g e d t ri b e s t h r o u g h a f o r m al c o n s u l t a t i o n p r o c e ss in t h e d e ve l o pm e n t o f t h e Ag e n c y ’s Cl i m a t e

C h a n ge A d a p t a t i o n P la n

. Tr i b e s i d e n t ifi e d s o m e o f t h e m o st p r e ssi n g iss u e s as e r o si o n

, t e m p e ra t u re

c h a n g e

, d r o u g h t a n d v ar i ou s c h a n g e s in a c c e ss t o and qu ali t y o f w a te r. T ri b e s r e c o mm e nd e d a n u m b e r

o f t o o ls a n d s t r a te gi e s t o a dd r e ss t h e s e iss u e s, incl ud i n g i m p r o v i n g ac c e ss t o d at a a n d i n f o r m a t i o n ;

s upp o r t i n g b as e li n e r e s e ar ch t o b et t e r t r a ck t h e e ff e c t s o f cl i m a t e c h a n g e ; d e v e l o p i n g c om m un i ty

- l e v e l

e du ca t i o n a n d a w a r e n e ss m a t e rials; a n d p r o v i d i n g f i n a n cial a n d te c hn ical s upp o r t

. At t h e s a m e t i m e

,

t ri b e s c h all e n g e d E P A t o c o o r d i n a t e cli m a t e c h a n ge a c t i v i t i e s a m o n g f e d e ral a g e n ci e s s o t h a t r e s o u r c e s

are b e t te r l e v e rag e d a n d a d m i n is t ra t i v e bu r d e n s are r e du c e d

.

T h is I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan i d e n t ifi e s s p e cific s te p s t h at w ill b e t a ke n t o p ar t n e r w i t h t ri b e s o n an o n g o i n g

b asis t o und e rs t a nd

, i n c r e a s e

, a n d a dd r e ss t h e ir ada p t i v e c a p aci t y a n d a d a p t a t i on

- r e la te d p r i o ri t i e s.

T h e se c o lla b o ra t i v e e ff o r t s w ill b e n e fit fr o m t h e ex p e r t ise p r ov i d e d b y o u r t ri b al p ar t n e rs a n d T ra d i t i o n al

Ec o l o gical K n ow l e d ge ( T E K )

. T EK can b e a v al u a b le b o d y o f k n ow l e d ge in as s e ssi n g t h e c u r r e n t a n d

f u t u re i m p a c t s o f cl i m a t e c h a n ge a n d h as b ee n u s e d b y t ri b e s t o a d a p t t o c h a n gi n g s u rr o und i n gs.

C o n sis t e n t w i t h t h e p ri n ci p l e s in t h e 1 9 8 4 I nd ian P o li c y

, T E K is v i e we d a s a c o m p l e m e n t ary r e s o u rce t h at

can i n f o r m p la nn i n g a n d d e cisi o n

- m a k i n g.

N et w o r k s a n d p ar t n e rs h i p s alr e a d y in p lace w ill b e u se d t o a ssist t ri b e s w i t h cl i m a t e c h a n ge i ss u e s,

i n cl ud i n g t h e N a t i o n al T ri b al Ca u c u s o f E P A’s N a t i o n al T ri b al O p e r a t i o n s C om m i t t ee

, R e gi o n al T ri b al

O p e ra t i o n s C o m m i t te e s, a n d E P A

- t ri b al p ar t n e rs h ip g r o up s. E P A can al s o u s e f u n d i n g t h r o u gh t h e I nd ian

G e n e ral Assi s t a n ce P r o gr a m (IG A P ) t o s upp o rt cli m a t e c h a n ge ca p a ci ty

- bu il d i n g e ff o r t s. A dd i t i o n al l y

,ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3

3 e ff o r t s w ill b e m a d e t o c oo r d i n a t e w i t h ot h e r r e g i o n al a n d p r o gr a m o ffic e s in E P A, si n ce cl i m a t e c h a n ge

h as m a n y i m p ac t s t h at t ra n sc e n d m e d ia a n d r e g i o n al b o und ari e s. T ra n s p a r e n cy a n d i n f o r m a t i o n s h ari n g

w ill b e a f o c u s

, in o r d e r t o l eve ra g e a c t i v i t i e s al r e a d y t a k i n g p lace w i t h in E P A o ffi c e s a n d t ri b al

g ov e r nm e n t s.

An a dd i t i o n al p ri o r i t y f o r all r e gi o n al a n d p r o gr a m o ff i c e s is t h e n e e d t o f o c u s o n v u l n e ra b le p o pu la t i o n s

a n d l o ca t i o n s. C e r t ain p ar t s o f t h e p o pu la t i o n

, s u c h as c h il d r e n

, t h e e l d e rl y

, m i n o r i t i e s, t h e po o r, p e r s o n s

w i t h und e rl y i n g m e d ical c ond i t i o n s a n d d isa b ili t i e s

, t h o se w i t h l i m i t e d ac c e ss t o i n f o r m a t i o n

, a n d t r i b al

a n d i nd ig e n o u s p o pu la t i o n s, can b e e s p e c i ally v u l n e r a b le t o t h e i m p a c t s o f cl i m a t e c h a n g e

. Al s o

, c e r t ain

g eo gra ph ic l o ca t i o n s a n d c o m m un i t i e s are p ar t ic u la r l y v u l n e r a b l e

, s u ch as t h o se l o ca t e d in l o w

- l y i n g

c o as t al ar e as. O n e o f t h e p ri n ci p l e s g u i d i n g E P A’s e f f o r t s t o i n te gr a t e cli m a t e a d a p t a t i o n i n t o i t s

p r o gra m s

, p o lic i e s a n d r u l e s calls f o r i t s a d a p t a t i o n p l a n s t o p r i o ri t i z e h e l p i n g p e op l e

, p lac e s a n d

i n fras t r u c t u re t h at a r e m o s t v u l n e ra b le t o cl i m a t e i m p ac t s a n d t o b e d e sig n e d a n d i m p l e m e n t e d w i t h

m e a n i n gf u l i nv o l v e m e n t f r o m all p ar t s o f s o ci e t y

.

T h is I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan i d e n t ifi e s k e y p r o gr a m m a t ic v u l n e ra b ili t i e s a n d t h e p ri o ri t y a c t i o n s t h at w i l l b e

t a ke n t o a dd r e ss t h o se v u l n e ra b ili t i e s o v e r t i m e

. As t h e w o rk c all e d f o r in t h is P l an is c o ndu c te d

, t h e

c o mm un i t i e s a n d d e m o gr a ph ic gr o up s m o s t v u l n e ra b le t o t h e i m p a c t s o f cl i m a t e c h a n ge w ill b e

i d e n t ifi e d

. T h e A g e n cy w ill t h e n w o rk in p a r t n e rs h i p w i t h t h e se c o m m un i t i e s t o i n cr e ase t h e ir a d a p t i v e

ca p aci t y a n d r e sili e n c e t o c l i m a t e c h a n ge i m p ac t s. T h e se e f f o r t s w ill b e i n f o r m e d b y ex p e ri e n c e s w i t h

p r ev i o u s e x t r e m e w e a t h e r eve n t s ( e

. g

. , Hu rrica n e K a t r i n a a n d Sup e rs to r e S a nd y ) a n d t h e s ub s e qu e n t

r e c o ve r y e ff o r t s.

T h e A d a p t a t i o n P lan al s o i n cl ud e s a list o f c o m m e n t a r e as o f f o c u s f o r t h e o f fic e

- s p e cific i m p l e m e n t a t i o n

p la n s, w h ich w ill b e a dd r e s s e d in t h e te x t b e l ow

. T h e E P A A d a p t a t i o n P lan s et s t h e s t age f o r t h e

i m p l e m e n t a t i o n p la n s f o r e ach o ffi c e

, i n cl ud i n g O R D

.



### O R D ’ s M i ss i o n a n d A d ap t i n g t o C l i m at e C h a n g e

OR D ’s m i ssi o n i s t o p r ov i d e t h e s o lid und e r p i nn i n g o f s ci e n ce a n d te c h n o l o g y f o r t h e Ag e n c y

. O R D h as

b ee n i nv o l v e d in cl i m a t e c h a n ge r e s e a rch f o r ov e r 2 0 y e ars, w i t h a s t r o n g f o c u s o n c o ndu c t i n g r e s e arch

t o i n f o r m t h e Ag e n cy r e ga r d i n g t h e i m p a c t s o f cl i m a t e c h a n ge o n air qu ali t y

, w at e r qu ali ty

, a n d hu m an

a n d e c o s y s te m h e al t h

. T h e se e f f o r t s

, at t h e ir c o r e

, h a v e b e e n d e sig n e d t o i n f o r m E P A’s p r o gr a m a n d

r e gi o n al o ffic e s as t h e y s e t a n d i m p l e m e n t p o lic i e s t h a t w ill r e m ain e ff e c t i v e in a c h a n gi n g cli m a te

.

T h e p ace a n d scale at w h i c h cli m a t e i m p ac t s are o c c u rri n g cr e a t e a c h al l e n ge f o r ORD b y i n c r e asi n g t h e

ra t e at w h ich n e w i s s u e s a r ise a n d n e w sci e n t ific a n d t e c hn ical i n f o r m a t i o n is n e e d e d b y t h e Ag e n c y

.

T h e i m p ac t s o f cli m a t e c h a n ge are n o w ill u s t ra t i n g t h e n ee d t o a dd r e ss i m p a c t s t h at t h e Ag e n cy is li k e ly

t o f a ce in t h e f u t u r e

, w h i l e m ai n t ai n i n g fl ex i b ility t o re s p o n d t o iss u e s t h at m a y a r ise as cli m a t e cha n ge

i m p ac t s o c c u r in un ex p e c t e d w a y s.ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3

4 

### R e l a t i o n s h ip o f c l i m a t e a d ap t a t i o n t o OR D ’ s R e s e ar c h P ro g r a ms

OR D ’s r e s e arch m u st b e c ondu c te d in t h e c o n t ex t o f a c h a n gi n g cli m a t e

. Su ch c h a n g e s w ill o cc u r a cr o ss

all o f OR D ’ s r e s e arch p r o g r a m s a s w e l e arn m o re a bou t e n v i r o nm e n t al c o nd i t i o n s a n d as w e r e s p o n d t o

E P A p r o gra m s a n d r e g i o n s a n d t h e ir n ee d s t o a dd r e ss t h o se c h a n gi n g c o nd i t i o n s.

T h e r e c e n t r e s t r u c t u ri n g o f OR D ’s r e s e arch p r o gr a m s p lac e s O R D in a g o o d p o si t i o n t o e f f e c t i ve l y a d a p t

t o cl i m a t e c h a n ge a n d m a i n t ain o u r a b ili t y t o p r ovi d e t h e sc i e n t ific a n d t e c hn ical i n f o r m a t i o n n ee d e d b y

o u r p r o gr a m a n d r e gi o n al o ffice p ar t n e rs. T h e ex p a n d e d a n d o n

- g o i n g i n t e rac t i o n s w i t h o u r E P A

p ar t n e rs f o rm a g oo d f o u n d a t i o n f o r und e rs t a nd i n g th e ir c o n c e r n s r e gar d i n g cli m a t e a d a p t a t i o n a n d

e n a b le u s t o c om m un ica t e n e w r e s e arch n ee d s as t h e y d e ve l o p

. T h e c u rr e n t p r o gram s t r u c t u re a l so

p r ov i d e s a s t r o n g m e a n s f o r d e v e l o p i n g r e s e arch t h at c u t s ac r o ss t h e O RD r e s e a r ch p r o gr a m s t o b ri n g t o

b e ar t h e rig h t m i x o f e x p e r t ise n e e d e d t o a dd r e ss iss u e s i d e n t ifi e d b y o u r p ar t n er s.



### C o m p o n e n t s o f t h e I m p l e m e n t at i o n P l a n

T h is i m p l e m e n t a t i o n p lan h as t h r e e m ain c o m p o n e n t s : ( 1 ) an ass e s s m e n t o f OR D ’ s v u l n e ra b ili t i e s t o

cli m a t e c h a n ge i m p a c t s; ( 2 ) p ri o ri t y ac t i o n s f o r O R D t o t a k e t o a d a p t t o cl i m a t e c h a n ge a n d r e du ce i t s

v u l n e ra b ili t i e s ; a n d ( 3 ) a d i s c u ssi o n o f p e r f o r m a n c e m e as u r e s t o b e d e v e l o p e d t o ev al u a t e p r o g r e ss

to w ard m eet i n g k e y g o a l s.ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3

5 

## C ha p t er 2. A s s e ss me n t o f OR D V u l n e r a b i l i ti e s a n d C h a l l e ng e s t o C l i m a t e

C h a n g e

In t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e E P A C l i m a t e C h a n ge A d a p t a t i o n P la n

, ORD s e ek s t o und e rs t a n d t h e cl i m a te

- r e la t e d

v u l n e ra b ili t i e s a n d c h all e n g e s t o p r ov i d i n g n ee d e d sc i e n t ific a n d t e c hn ical s upp o rt t o E P A ’ s p r o gr a m a n d

r e gi o n al o ffic e s

, a n d ho w t o a d a p t t o t h o s e v u l n e r a b i l i t i e s a n d c h al l e n g e s. E P A’s p r o gram a n d r e gi o n al

o ffic e s h a v e d e ve l o p e d i n i t i al v u l n e ra b ili t y as s e s s m e n t s o f t h e ir p r o gra m s t o cl i m a t e c h a n g e

, w h ich w ill

i n f o rm O R D ’s v u l n e ra b ili t i e s. OR D ’s v u l n e r ab ili t ies r e f e r t o t h e d e gr e e t o w h ich O R D ’s ca p aci t y t o ca r ry

o u t i t s m issi o n i s s u s c e p t i b le t o t h e i m p a c t s o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e

, i n cl ud i n g cli m a t e v aria b ili t y a n d

ext r e m e s. T h e se c o u ld i n c l ud e d a m age o r li m i te d a c c e ss t o f a cili t i e s, w o r k e r sa f et y o r s e c u ri t y

, o r la c k o f

f und a m e n t al r e s o u r c e s s u c h as w a t e r o r e n e rg y

. T o e f f e c t i v e ly

V u l n e r ab ili t ies r e f e r t o t h e d e gr e e t o

w h ich O R D ’s ca p aci t y t o c a rry o u t i t s

m iss i o n is s u s c e p t i b le t o t h e i m p a c t s

o f cl i m a t e c h a n g e

, i n cl ud i n g cli m a t e

v aria b ili t y a n d e x t r e m e s.

C ha lle ng es d o n o t p o se ph y sical,

cli m a t e

- r e la t e d c o n s t rai n t s o n o u r

a b ili t y t o c o ndu ct a n d d e li v e r

r e s e arc h

, bu t c o u ld r e qu ire c h a n g e s

in o u r r e s e arch p o r t f o lio t o a dd r e ss

cli m a t e c h a n ge i m p a c t s. s upp o rt t h e E P A p r o gr a m s a n d r e gi o n s, cli m a t e c h a n ge

p r e s e n t s ORD w i t h nu m e r ou s c ha lle ng es t h at d o n o t p o se

ph y sical, cl i m a t e

- r e la t e d c on s t rai n t s o n o u r a b ili t y t o c o ndu ct

a n d d e li ve r r e s e arc h

, bu t c o u ld r e qu ire c h a n g e s in o u r

r e s e arch p o r t f o l i o t o a dd r e ss cli m a t e c h a n ge i m p ac t s,

c o m p ar e d t o w h at w e w o u ld h a v e d o n e in t h e a b s e n ce o f

t h o se i m p a c t s. O R D ’s c h al l e n ge is t o b e fl e x i b le and

r e s p o n s i v e t o t h e c h a n gi n g sci e n ce n ee d s o f o u r E P A p ar t n e rs

as t h e y w o rk t o m ai n t ain a n d i m p r o v e e n v i r o n m e n t al

p r ote c t i o n in t h e f a ce o f a c h a n gi n g cli m a te

.



### O p e ra t i o n a l V u l n e r a b i l i t i e s

OARM h as p ri m a r y r e s p o n s i b ili t y f o r o p e ra t i o n a n d m a i n te n a n ce o f t h e r e s e arch f acili t i e s u s e d b y OR D

,

i n cl ud i n g a dd r e ssi n g t h e v u l n e ra b ili t y o f t h e se f a c ili t i e s t o t h e i m p a c t s o f cl i m a t e c h a n g e

. T h e k e y

o p e ra t i o n al v u l n e ra b ili t i e s are lis t e d in T a b le 1 b e l o w ( w i t h O A R M ’s ass e s s m e n t o f t h e l e ve l o f

v u l n e ra b ili ty ). G i ve n O R D ’s k no w l e d ge o f t h e se fa c ili t i e s, O R D s t aff w ill w o rk c o l l a b o ra t i ve ly w i t h O A R M

t o i d e n t ify p ote n t ial p r o b l e m s a n d d e ve l o p p r o ac t i v e a d a p t a t i o n m e a s u r e s f o r f a cili t i e s a n d t h o s e w h o

u se t h e m

. E v e n t h o u gh O A RM h as p r i m a r y r e s p o n si b i l i t y f o r facil i t y p r o t e c t i o n a n d r e s p o n s e

, O R D w ill

carry sig n ifica n t r e s p o n si b ili t y f o r un i qu e r e s e ar c h e qu i p m e n t

, c o n t i nu i t y o f ex p e r i m e n t s

, arc h i ve d

sa m p l e s, a n d h is t o rical d a t a w i t h in t h o se facili t ies w h i ch m a y b e v u l n e ra b le t o cl i m a t e c h a n ge i m p ac t s

.

C oo r d i n a t i o n b e t w ee n o n

- s i t e O R D s t aff a n d O A RM w i l l s ub s t a n t ially i m p r o v e t h e ev al u a t i o n o f

v u l n e ra b ili t i e s, p ar t ic u larly cli m a t e

- r e la t e d e n v i ro n m e n t al c h a n g e s s u ch as t e m p e ra t u re a n d ext re m e

p r e ci p i t a t i o n e ve n t s, a n d t h e p o ssi b le a pp r o ac h e s t o m i t iga t e t h e m

.

ORD w ill al s o h a v e r e s p o n s i b ili t y f o r t h o se s y s te m s t h a t m a y b e v u l n e ra b l e t o t h e i m p ac t s o f cli m a t e

c h a n g e

, s u ch as f i e ld s a m p l i n g s y s t e m s, t h at d o n o t fa l l und e r t h e h e a d i n g o f “ fac i li ty

. ” Su ch s y s t e m s

m ay b e v u l n e ra b le t o t e m p e ra t u re o r p r e ci p i t a t i o n e x t r e m e s o r ot h e r cli m a te

- as s o cia t e d i m p a c t s.ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3

6 T a b le 1

. K e y o p e r a t i o n al vu l n e ra b ili t i e s po s e d b y cl i m a t e c h a n ge

Ar e a o f V u l n e ra b ili t y OARM Es t i m a t e d L eve l o f V u l n e ra b ili t y

E n e rgy S e c u ri t y H igh

W a te r Q u ali t y a n d Supp ly H igh

S eve r e W e a t h e r o r F l o o d i n g D a m age Me d i u m ( W ill v a r y w i t h l o c a t i o n

. G u lf Br ee z e

,

E d is o n

, a n d N arraga n s e t t a re li ke l y t o f a ce h ig h e r

l eve ls o f v u l n e ra b ili t y t o s e ve re w e a t h e r a n d

fl oo d i n g t h an ot h e r O R D l o ca t i o n s

. )

S af et y o f F i e ld W o r k e rs Me d i u m

S e c u ri t y O p e ra t i o n s, E m e r g e n cy C om m un ica t i o n s Me d i u m

Pe r s o n al P r o p e r t y L o w

R e al P r o p e r t y L o w

Sh ift in E m e rg e n c y R e s p o n se P e r s o nn e l L o w

C o n t i nu i t y o f O p e ra t i o n s P l an (i n cl ud e s t rai n i n g o f

e ss e n t ial p e r s o nn e l) L o w



### S c ie n t ific C h a l l e n g e s

Un d e r s ta nd p a r t n e r n e e d s a nd r e g io n a l d i ff

e r e n ce s

T h e sc i e n t ific c h al l e n g e s, t o a large d e g r ee

, h a v e b ee n we ll c o mm un ic a te d t o O R D

, p ar t ly a s a

c o n s e qu e n c e o f t h e i n cr e a s i n g i n te rac t i o n s w i t h E P A p r o gram a n d r e g i o n al o f fic e s du ri n g t h e

d eve l o pm e n t o f O R D ’ s p r o gra m

- f o c u s e d r e s e arch p o r t f o l i o s. A p r i m ary f o c u s o f t h e c o n s o li d a t i o n o f

OR D ’s r e s e arch i n t o s i x n a t i o n al r e s e arch p r o gr a m s h a s b ee n t o ex p a n d t h e o p p o r t un i t i e s f o r p r o gram

a n d r e gi o n al o ffic e s t o i d e n t ify t h e ir n ee d s f o r s c i e n t if i c a n d te c hn ical i n f o r m a t i o n a n d s upp o r t

, w h i ch is

t h e n i n c o r p o ra t e d i n t o t h e d eve l o pm e n t o f O R D ’ s r e se arch ag e nd a. Su ch i n te r a c t i o n s are n o t n e w in t h e

ar e a o f cl i m a t e c h a n ge a n d a d a p t a t i o n

– d isc u ss i o n s t o i d e n t i f y p ar t n e r o f fice n e e d s r e la t e d t o cl i m a t e

a d a p t a t i o n h a v e l o n g b e e n a c o r e c o m p o n e n t o f O R D ’s Gl o b al C h a n ge R e s e arch P r o gram ( no w p art o f

t h e Air, Cl i m a t e

, a n d E n e r g y R e s e arch P r o gra m ) a n d t h e W a t e r Q u ali t y a n d D ri n k i n g W a te r r e s e a rch

p r o gra m s ( no w i n c o r p o r at e d i n t o t h e S a f e a n d Su s t a in a b le W a t e r R e s e arch P r o g ra m ).

T h e cl i m a t e a d a p t a t i o n r es e arch n ee d s i d e n t ifi e d in p ast a n d c u rr e n t d isc u ss i o n s are c o n sis t e n t w i t h t h e

v u l n e ra b ili t i e s t o E P A’s m i s si o n i d e n t if i e d b y E P A ’ s p r o gram a n d r e g i o n al o ffic e s i n t h e d e ve l o pm e n t o f

t h e ir A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P la n s. T h e o n

- g o i n g i n te rac t i o n s b e tw e e n O R D a n d t h e p r o gr a m a n d

r e gi o n al o ffic e s h a v e p r o v i d e d ORD w i t h a h e ad s t a r t to w ard m eet i n g t h e s ci e n t i fic c h all e n g e s p o s e d b y

o u r p ar t n e r s ’ p r o gr a m m a t i c v u l n e ra b ili t i e s. E x a m p l e s o f r e s e arch r e s u l t s t h at a d d r e ss v u l n e r a b ili t i e s t o

cli m a t e c h a n ge i n cl ud e t h e ass e s s m e n t o f air qu ali t y i m p ac t s as s o cia t e d w i t h cl i m a t e c h a n g e 2 a n d

d eve l o pm e n t a n d r e l e a s e o f sc e n ar i o s f o r la n d u se c h a n ge und e r d iff e r e n t p o ssi b l e f u t u re c o nd i t i o n s,

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, 2 0 1 3

7 T h e k e y p r o gr a mm a t ic v u l n e ra b ili t i e s i d e n t ifi e d b y t h e p r o gram a n d r e gi o n al o ff i c e s are lis te d b e l o w in

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, w i t h t h e und e r s t a nd i n g t h at t h is list w ill ve r y li ke ly c h a n ge as E P A’s a d a p t a t i o n p la nn i n g e f f o r t s

p r o gr e ss a n d o u r und e r s t a nd i n g o f t h e s ci e n c e o f c l i m a t e c h a n ge a n d i t s i m p ac t s ex p a nd s.

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, o n e o f O R D ’ s c h all e n g e s w ill b e t o

d eve l o p t h e fl ex i b ili t y t o re s p o n d qu ic k ly t o e m e rgi n g a d a p t a t i o n i s s u e s t h a t m ay n o t n o w b e s ee n as

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ca p aci t y t o p r o v i d e r e l e v a n t i n f o r m a t i o n r e l a te d t o t h o se v u l n e ra b ili t i e s. T h e o r d e r o f

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ex p o s u r e m o d e ls a n d t o o ls L o w

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c h all e n g e s P ri m a ry

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T ra d i t i o n al e c o l o gical k no w l e d ge ( T E K ) L o wORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

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a re a

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im pa ct is well e s tab l i s h ed in th e li t er atu re an d h a s cle a r im p lic at i on s f o r th e P r o gr a m ’ s su cce s s ; T ier II: i m pa c t s

a re b ei n g o r ha v e b e en ex p l o r ed b y th e re s e a rch c o m m un i t y

, bu t s ig n i f ic an t un cer ta i nt ies rem a i n ; T ier III: th e

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c h a n g e s, t h e b r o a d e r a n d l o n g e r

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o f cl i m a t e c h a n g e

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p r o gram a n d r e gi o n al o ff i c e s, O R D m u st al s o r e m ain c o g n i z a n t o f t h e a d a p t a t i o n n ee d s o f v ari o u s

exte r n al p ar t n e rs in l o c al, s t a te

, a n d t ri b al g o ve r n m e n t s; ot h e r f e d e ral ag e n ci e s; i n te r n a t i o n al

i n s t i t u t i o n s ; i ndu s t ri e s ; t h e r e s e arch c om m un i t y ; a nd

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t h is s e c t i o n a r e a pp lica b le t o t h is b r o a d e r s e t o f p ar t n e rs a n d w ill r e qu ire t h e ir ac t i v e p ar t i ci p a t i o n

. T h is

b r o a d e r s c o p e w ill a l so r e q u ire i n c o r p o ra t i o n o f r e s e a rch r e s u l t s d e v e l o p e d b y o t h e r sci e n c e p ar t n e rs in

t h e US G l o b al C h a n ge R e se arch P r o gr a m

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, a n d l o cal l eve ls.ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3

9 I n co r p o r at e c l im at e s ci e n c e

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A

g e n c y

r ese a r c h p r i o r i t i e s

T h e iss u e s lis te d a bo v e h i g h lig h t t h e n ee d t o c o n ti nu e t o d e v e l o p t h e s ci e n t ific a n d te c hn ical i n f o r m a t i o n

t o s up p o rt a d a p t a t i o n

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cli m a t e sc i e n ce i n t o t h e d e ve l o pm e n t o f O R D ’s r e s e a r ch p la nn i n g t o e n s u r e t h at t h e a d a p t a t i o n r e s e arch

e ff o r t s are f o c u s e d o n und e rs t a nd i n g ho w t o a d a p t t o c o nd i t i o n s t h at are li ke l y t o b e ex p e r i e n c e d in t h e

f u t u r e

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ot h e rs t o i d e n t i f y t h e iss u e s t h at a r e li k e ly t o p o s e t h e m o st s e r i o u s t h r e a t s t o h u m an h e a l t h a n d t h e

e n v ir o n m e n t a n d t o t h e A g e n c y ’s a b ili t y t o c o n t i nu e t o p r o te c t t h e m

. T h is w ill r e qu ire t h at O RD w o rk

w i t h E P A p r o gr a m a n d r e g i o n al o f fic e s t o i d e n t i f y A g e n cy

- w i d e r e s e a rch p ri o r i t i e s, as o pp o s e d t o a s e t o f

o ffic e

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Gr o u p p r o v i d e t h e m e a n s t h r o u gh w h ich s u ch p r i o ri ti e s can b e d e v e l o p e d

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ORD p r o gr a m b o und ari e s.

I mp r o ve fl ex i b i l i t y t o add r es

s e me r g i ng a nd u n e x

pe c t e d p r o b l e m s

T h e re a r e li k e ly t o b e iss u e s r e la t e d t o cl i m a t e i m p ac t s a n d a d a p t a t i o n t h at arise m o r e ra p i d ly t h an t h e

n o r m al p la nn i n g c y cl e

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. W h e re t h e

m ag n i t ud e o f s u ch i ss u e s is sig n ifica n t e n o u g h

, it m ay b e n e c e s sary t o d i v e rt r e s ou rc e s ( w h et h e r s t aff o r

f und s) t o a dd r e ss t h e e m e r gi n g o r un ex p e c te d p r o b l e m

. Mo r e g e n e ral l y

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c o n t i nu e i t s c l o se i n te ra c t i o n s w i t h p r o gr a m a n d r e g i o n al p ar t n e rs t o e n s u r e c l o se c o m m un ica t i o n is

m ai n t ai n e d s o t h at s u ch is s u e s are qu i c k ly i d e n t if ie d in t h e c o n t e x t o f t h e Ag e n c y ’ s n ee d s. In a dd i t i o n

,

ORD w ill n e e d t o c o n t i nu e t o p r ov i d e ex p e rt p e rs p ect i ve s o n e m e rgi n g iss u e s. T h is r e qu ir e s t h at O RD

c o n t i nu e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s t aff’s sci e n t if i c a n d t e c hn ical ca p a b ili t i e s a cr o s s a b r o ad s p e c t r u m o f

cli m a t e

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O n e n ee d t h at h as b ee n i d e n t ifi e d b y p r o gr a m a n d r e gi o n al o ff i ce p ar t n e rs is t o d eve l o p t h e a b ili t y t o

c o mm un ic a t e c u rr e n t

, r e l e v a n t sc i e n t ific i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t cl i m a t e c h a n ge acr o s s E P A. F o r ex a m p l e

,

gi ve n t h e ra p i d ly g r ow i n g v o l um e o f r e s e arch o n cl i m a t e c h a n g e

, i t s i m p ac t s, a n d r e s p o n s e s, o n e o f

OR D ’s c h all e n g e s r e la t e d t o cl i m a t e a d a p t a t i o n w ill b e t o e f f e c t i ve l y i d e n t i f y a n d c om m un ica t e k e y

sci e n t ific r e s u l t s t h at i m p a c t E P A ’s a b ili t y t o e f f e c t i ve l y a d a p t t o cl i m a t e c h a n ge a n d s upp o rt cl i m a t e

c h a n ge a d a p t a t i o n ac r o ss t h e c o un t r y

. T h e cri t i cal n ee d f o r s u ch i n f o r m a t i o n h as b ee n i d e n t ifi e d as a

p ri o ri t y b y t h e U .S

. G l o b al C h a n ge R e s e arch P r o gr a m

. T h is i n te rag e n c y g r o u p is in t h e p r o c e s s o f

d eve l o p i n g a G l o b al C h a n g e I n f o r m a t i o n Sy s t e m ( GCI S ), w h ich is i n te nd e d t o p r ov i d e a si n gle s o u r c e o f

up

- to

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, cl i m a t e i m p ac t s a n d

a d a p t a t i o n

, a n d m i t ig a t i o n

.

E ve n w i t h t h e d e ve l o pm e n t a n d d e p l oy m e n t o f t h e G CI S

, c om m un ica t i o n s ac r o s s all E P A o f fic e s o n

cli m a t e sc i e n ce i ss u e s n ee d s t o b e e nh a n c e d t o e n su r e qu ick a n d e f f e c t i v e s h ari n g o f ke y i n f o r m a t i o n

,

i d e n t ifica t i o n o f sci e n c e n e e d s, a n d und e rs t a nd i n g o f s t a ke h o l d e r p e r s p e c t i ve s a n d n ee d s. T o t h e e x te nt

t h at n e w d a t a b a s e s o r i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m s are n ee ded

, ORD w ill n e e d t o r e m ain cl o s e l y i n vo l ve d in h o w

s u ch a pp r o ac h e s are d e v e l o p e d a n d i m p l e m e n t e d

.ORD Cli m a t e A d a p t a t i o n I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P lan Jun e 1 8

, 2 0 1 3

10 

## C ha p t er 3. ORD’ s P r io r it y A ct i o n s f o r Cl i m a t e A d a p t a t i o n

OR D ’s p ri o ri t y a c t i o n s are d e ri ve d fr o m t h e v u l n e ra b ili t i e s a n d c h al l e n g e s d isc u s s e d in t h e p r ev i o u s

s e c t i o n a nd

, t o a sig n ifica n t ex t e n t

, f r o m t h e Ag e nc y

- l e ve l a d a p t a t i o n p r i o ri t i e s p r e s e n te d a bo ve

. ORD

h as alr e a d y m a d e c o n si d e r a b le p r o gr e s s t ow ard m ee t i n g m a n y o f t h e k e y a d a p t a t i o n p r i o ri t i e s i d e n t ifi e d

in E P A’s 2 0 1 2 Cl i m a t e C h a n ge A d a p t a t i o n P la n

. Al t h o u gh m a n y o f t h e se p ri o ri t i e s h a v e b e e n an i n t e gral

p art o f o u r r e s e a r ch p la nn i n g, c o ndu c t

, a n d c om m un i ca t i o n f o r t h e p ast s e ve ral ye ars, t h e r e are s t ill

o pp o r t un i t i e s f o r d e ve l o p i n g a m o re ex p licit a n d r o b u st r e s p o n se t o t h e i m p a c t s o f cl i m a t e c h a n g e

, as

o u t li n e d in t h e p ri o r i t y ac t i o n s b e l ow

.



### I d e n t i f y v u l ne ra b l e r e s e arc h r e s o u rc es a nd d e v e l o p r e s p o n s e p l a n s

ORD m a ke s u s e o f v ari o u s r e s e arch r e s o u rc e s t o ac c o m p lish i t s m iss i o n

, e

. g. la bo ra to ri e s, p il o t

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, m e as u r e m e n t i n s t r u m e n t s, a n d a n i m al ca r e facili t i e s. T h e first p r i o ri t y ac t i o n is t o as s es s t h e

po t en t i a l v u l ne r ab i l i t i e s o f O R D r e s ea rc h s ys t e m s to t h e im pa c t s o f c l im a te c han g e an d to d e v e l o p

app r oa c he s

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ex a m p l e

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m e as u r e m e n t s a n d ex p e r i m e n t s

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n et w o r k s t h at m a y b e l o c at e d at s i te s re m o t e f r o m O R D facili t i e s. A “ s e lf

- a ss e s s m e n t ” o f t h e

v u l n e ra b ili t i e s o f O R D r e se arch r e s o u rc e s can r e s u lt in a d a p t a t i o n a pp r o ac h e s t h at are d e sig n e d t o

p r ote c t n o t o n ly t h e facil i t i e s t h e m s e l v e s, bu t a l s o t h e r e s e a r ch ca p a b ili t i e s as s o c ia te d w i t h t h e f a c ili t y

a n d i t s i n te gra t e d r e s e arch s y s t e m s.



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- wi d e r e s e ar c h p r i o r i t i e s

B e ca u se o f t h e b r o ad i m p lica t i o n s o f cli m a t e c h a n g e

, t h e re is a n ee d t o “ i d e n t ify c r o ss

- E P A sc i e n ce

n ee d s r e l a te d t o cli m a t e a d a p t a t i o n

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a n d cr o ss

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adap t a t i o n r e s ea rc h p r i o r i t i e s

.



### W o r k w i t h E PA p art ne r s t o d e v e l o p e f f

e c t ive v e n u es t o c o m m u ni ca t e a d v a n c e s

in c l im a t e i m p ac t a n d a d a pt a t i o n r e s e a r c h

It w ill b e i m p o r t a n t t o e f f e c t i ve l y i d e n t i f y a n d c o m m un ica t e a d v a n c e s in t h e sci e n ce o f cl i m a t e c h a n ge

a n d a d a p t a t i o n

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c on s o li da t i n g an d c o mm u n ic a t i n g c l im a te c han g e an d adap t a t i o n r e s ea rc h

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t h e i n te ra g e n cy l e v e l, s u ch as w i t h t h e d e ve l o p m e n t o f t h e G l o b al C h a n ge I n f o r m a t i o n Sy s t e m b y t h e

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### De s ign e x t r a m u r a l r e s e arc h e f f o r t s th a t a pp r o p r i ate l y in c o r po r a t e c l i m a t e

c h a n g e a d a pt a t i o n q u e st i o ns a nd m e a s u r e s

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, t h e Office o f P o licy a n d t h e Offi c e o f Gra n t s a n d D e b a r m e n t s e n t a m e mo 4 t o S e n i o r

R e s o u r ce O fficials a c r o ss t h e ag e n c y d ir e c t i n g t h e m t o i n c o r po r a te c r i t e r i a f o r c li m a te c h a n g e

adap t a t i o n i n to t h e gr an t de v e l op m en t p r o c e s s. OR D ’s N a t i o n al C e n te r f o r E nv ir o nm e n t al R e s e a r ch

( N CER) h as alr e a d y m a d e t h is d ir e c t i v e a s t a nd ard co m p o n e n t o f t h e ir p r o c e ss f o r d e ve l o p i n g r e qu e s t s

f o r a pp lica t i o n (R F A s ).

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m e c h a n i s m s.

4 “ I n corpora ti n g C l i m a te Ch a n g e A dap t a ti o n C o ns i dera ti on s i n to A pp li cab le A ss i s t a n c e A gre e m e n t C o m pe ti t i v e

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. D. S c h era g a a n d B

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## C ha p t er 4. M e as ur in g a n d E v a l u a t i n g P e r f o r m a n c e

OR D ’s p e r f o r m a n ce in e ff e c t i ve l y a d a p t i n g t o cli m a t e c h a n ge s h o u ld c o n si d e r t w o p r i m ary ar e a s : ( 1 )

i d e n t if y i n g Ag e n c y

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i n t o e xt r a m u ral r e s e arch e f f o r t s.



### Ag e n c y sc ien c e p r i o r i t i e s

P ri o r i t y 3

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t o cl i m a t e a d a p t a t i o n

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.

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,

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ORD w ill al s o c o n t i nu e i t s e ff o r t s t o d e v e l o p d e ci s i o n s upp o rt t oo ls u s e f u l t o d e ci s i o n m a ke rs at f e d e ral,

s t a te

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ORD i s alr e a d y i n c o r p o r a t i n g cli m a t e a d a p t a t i o n a s a r e qu ir e d fac t o r f o r c o n si d e r a t i o n b y e x t r a m u ral

r e s e arch gra n t a pp lica n t s if a pp r o p ria te

. O n e p o ss i b le m et r i c o f e v al u a t i o n c o u ld b e t o qu a n t ify t h e

nu m b e r o f r e qu e s t s f o r a p p lica t i o n s ( R F As) t h a t i n c l u d e cli m a t e a d a p t a t i o n as a r ev i e w cr i te r i o n

, o r t o

d e m o n s t ra t e c o n sis t e n t u s e o f cl i m a t e a d a p t a t i o n r ev i e w cr i te ria f o r a pp r o p ria t e s o lici t a t i o n s.