DRAFT US EPA 

Region 4

Adaptation Implementation Plan
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Disclaimer

To the extent this document mentions or discusses statutory or regulatory authority, it does so for 

informational purposes only. This document does not substitute for those statutes or regulations, 

and readers should consult the statutes or regulations to learn what they require. Neither this 

document, nor any part of it, is itself a rule or a regulation. Thus, it cannot change or impose 

legally binding requirements on EPA, States, the public, or the regulated community. Further, 

any expressed intention, suggestion or recommendation does not impose any legally binding 

requirements on EPA, States, tribes, the public, or the regulated community. Agency decision 

makers remain free to exercise their discretion in choosing to implement the actions described in 

this Plan. Such implementation is contingent upon availability of resources and is subject to 

change.
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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 anticipating 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 to 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 ensure 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 the 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 goals and objectives.

Taken together, the Implementation Plans demonstrate how the EPA will attain the 10 agencywide 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 organization’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 identifies 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 most 

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.
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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 includes 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 2013
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CONTRIBUTORS

Energy & Climate Change Coordinator Bryan Myers

Lead Writer Beth Walls

Office of Regional Administrator Kedesch Altidor (Environmental Justice), Lisa Berrios 

(Tribal)

Air, Pesticides & Toxics Management Division Christine Fortuin (Pesticides), Wayne Garfinkel 

(Children’s Health), Rick Gillam (Air Modeler), 

Joel Huey (SIPs), Ana Oquendo (Air/Tribal), Henry Slack 

(Indoor Air)

Gulf of Mexico Program John Bowie

Office of Environmental Accountability Vera Kornylak, Leah Ettema

Office of Policy and Management Division Ravi Rao (Elderly), Bill Waldrop, Sharon Weeks

Resource Conservation & Recovery Act Division Jay Bassett, Thornell Cheeks, Margaret Olson

Science & Ecosystem Support Division Laura Ackerman, Pete Kalla

Superfund Division Benjamin Franco, Pam Scully, Sharon Thoms

Water Protection Division Bob Howard

ADDITIONAL WRITING AND EDITING

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Cory Berish

Scott Davis

David Lloyd

Jon Johnston

Gail Mitchell

Jeff Pallas

Don Rigger

Linda Rimer

Special Recognition is given to Dr. Ken Mitchell whose foresight and drive initiated adaptation planning 

for the Region.
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PART 1

INTRODUCTION & BACKGROUND
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Table of Contents

I. BACKGROUND AND DIRECTION..................................................................................................................... 9

II. DESCRIPTION OF EPA REGION 4 .................................................................................................................... 9

A. CLIMATE PATTERNS .............................................................................................................................................10

1. Climate Factors ..........................................................................................................................................10

B. EPA REGION 4’S ECOSYSTEMS...............................................................................................................................11

1. Overview of Ecosystems.............................................................................................................................12

2. Determining Climate Change Impacts to Aquatic Ecosystems...................................................................13

C. EPA REGION 4’S COMMUNITIES ............................................................................................................................16

1. Social Vulnerability.....................................................................................................................................17

III. OBSERVED AND PROJECTED CLIMATE CHANGE IN REGION 4....................................................................... 17

A. TEMPERATURE ....................................................................................................................................................18

1. Observed ....................................................................................................................................................18

2. Projected ....................................................................................................................................................19

3. Extreme Heat Events..................................................................................................................................17

B. PRECIPITATION....................................................................................................................................................20

1. Observed ....................................................................................................................................................20

2. Projected ....................................................................................................................................................21

3. Extreme Events...........................................................................................................................................21

C. SEA-LEVEL RISE IN REGION 4..................................................................................................................................22

D. DROUGHT TRENDS IN REGION 4 .............................................................................................................................24

1. Watersheds................................................................................................................................................24

2. Population Effects ......................................................................................................................................24

3. Dams and Basins........................................................................................................................................24
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I. Background and Direction

Pursuant to Executive Order 13514, Federal Leadership in Environmental and Energy 

Performance, all federal agencies are tasked with evaluating agency climate-change risks and 

vulnerabilities to manage short- and long-term climate-change effects on each agency’s mission, 

programs, and operations.1 Federal agencies are required to evaluate climate risks, identify 

program vulnerabilities, and prioritize activities to reduce their climate risk.2

Consistent with EO 13513, EPA issued its first Policy Statement on Climate-Change 

Adaptation in June 20113 calling for EPA to develop and implement an agency-wide Climate 

Change Adaptation Plan to integrate climate adaptation into its programs, policies, rules and 

operations. Every EPA Program and Regional Office was directed to develop their own, 

independent, stand-alone Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan to identify how 

priorities will be met and the agency-wide plan implemented. These Program and Regional 

Office-identified priorities are to be reflected in annual budget submissions.

The Agency’s draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan includes a national-level qualitative 

assessment of EPA-program vulnerabilities. The Regions are tasked with using this plan to 

guide their adaptation planning.

4

 Each Region is to capture its regional uniqueness, identify 

vulnerabilities of greatest importance including its vulnerable people and places. EPA expects 

the severity and importance of identified program vulnerabilities to vary reflecting projected 

regional climate-change impact projections. The Regions’ plans are expected to describe how 

climate change adaptation is to be integrated into their planning and work in a manner consistent 

and compatible with their own circumstances and objectives. The following provides Region 4’s 

texture called for in the Agency’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan.

II. Description of EPA Region 4

The eight states comprising Region 4 make it EPA’s most southeasterly region. 

Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, North and South Carolinas, and Tennessee plus six 

federally-recognized tribes comprise Region 4, see Figure 1 below. EPA Region 4’s borders are 

primarily large water-bodies: the Mississippi River to the west, the Ohio River to the north, the 

South Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. The Region is dissected 

by several major river basins. Nine of these basins drain into the South Atlantic while eight 

drain into the Gulf of Mexico. Consequently, the Region is rich with aquatic ecosystems, barrier 

islands, beaches, estuaries, and wetlands supporting important industries of fishing, recreation, 

transportation, and tourism. The Region has numerous coastal and inland ports with associated 

transportation hubs. Every state has a port. The Region has more river ports than sea ports, for 

example the State of Mississippi has four Gulf ports and 12 river ports.5

 Florida has 15 seaports, 

the most of any Region 4 state.6
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A. Climate Patterns

Region 4’s climate is predominately mild, humid, and subtropical, with southern Florida 

being primarily humid subtropical to tropical savanna. The Region is characteristically hot and 

humid in the summer with mild winters. The Central Appalachian, Western Allegheny, and 

portions of the Blue Ridge and the Ridge and Valley ecoregions (see the next section, EPA 

Region 4’s Ecoregions) can experience cold winters and have the least number of frost-free days, 

ranging from 125 - 200. 

For most of Region 4, the number of frost-free days ranges from 170 to 360, with the coastal 

areas experiencing the most. The southern part of Florida is nearly frost free and is the only 

ecoregion in the continental U.S. to have the climate, hydrology, vegetation, and terrain 

characteristics of tropical wet forests.7 The annual mean temperature for Region 4 ranges from 

55 to 77°F with the more mountainous ecoregions having the coolest, ranging from 55 to 63°F. 

Precipitation ranges from 35 to 59 inches in the Piedmont, Ridge and Valley, and Western 

Allegheny ecoregions, to between 43 and 65 inches for the rest of the Region.

1. Climate Factors

a) Weather Phenomena

(1) The Bermuda High

The Bermuda High is a semi-permanent high-pressure area usually centered in the vicinity of 

Bermuda during the spring and summer. Prolonged heat waves in the East are attributed to the 

Bermuda High. Weather fluctuates in response to its east - west migrations. The Bermuda High

can move high-moisture tropical air masses west over land causing showers and thunderstorms. 

When it is east over the Atlantic Ocean, hurricanes tend to curve out to sea avoiding land. When 

it is west toward land, hurricanes tend to impact the nation’s East and Gulf Coasts. 

(2) El Niño-Southern Oscillation

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation is a cyclic Pacific Ocean weather pattern in which the seasurface temperature cycles between abnormal warming (El Niño) and cooling (La Niña)

conditions, influenced by changes (oscillations) in atmospheric pressure between the tropical east 

and west Pacific (the Southern Oscillation (SO)). 

(3) North Atlantic Oscillation

The North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) describes fluctuations in atmospheric pressure

differences between permanent low- and high-pressure systems. While the NAO directly

influences Western Europe’s climate, it may impact much of eastern North America’s weather. 

b) Large water bodies

(1) Mississippi and Ohio Rivers

The Mississippi and Ohio Rivers delineate EPA Region 4’s western and most of its northern 

geographic borders, respectively. Two major coastal water bodies, the Atlantic Ocean and the 
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Gulf of Mexico, delineate its eastern and southern borders, respectively. These water bodies 

strongly influence the Region’s climate. Large water bodies take longer to heat up and cool 

down than land, such that land areas in the vicinity of large water bodies remain cooler in 

summer and warmer in winter. 

(2) Gulf Stream

The Region’s climate is strongly influenced by the Gulf Stream, which flows seven hundred 

miles north from Key West, FL, to Cape Hatteras, NC. It is a strong, fast moving, warm ocean 

current. The Gulf Stream’s surface temperature ranges 80°F and above due to the solar heating 

of tropical Atlantic and Caribbean waters. The Gulf Stream system’s warm surface-temperature 

causes Florida and much of the Southeast to be mild all year round. The warm sea-surface 

temperature also aids the formation and strengthening of hurricanes moving through the Gulf of 

Mexico. 

c) Topography

Lastly, the Region’s topography is highly diverse, ranging from the Mississippi River Valley 

Plain to the west, the southeastern and southern coastal plains of the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, 

the interior Piedmont’s rolling low plateaus, the Southern Appalachian Mountains, and the

inland, elevated, and severely eroded Cumberland Plateau extending from Alabama through 

Tennessee to Kentucky. Various weather patterns intersect with this diverse topography to 

create numerous microclimates, facilitating the variety of ecosystems and species diversity 

characteristic of EPA Region 4.

B. EPA Region 4’s Ecosystems

Because of its climate, proximity to large water-bodies, and topography, EPA Region 4 has 

tremendous aquatic ecosystems and associated biodiversity. It is overlain by fourteen 

ecoregions.8 Half are in the Southern Appalachians where the mountains interact with local 

weather patterns in complex ways, creating numerous local microclimates. Precipitation

responses are especially sensitive to the shape of mountain ranges and wind flow direction.9

 

Two of the Region’s ecoregions are riverine in character: one is the Piedmont, and the other 

coastal, including the Everglades’ subtropical wetlands.
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Figure 1. – EPA Region 4. Figure – 2. Map of Region 4’s fourteen-ecoregions

1. Overview of Ecosystems

Most of EPA Region 4’s land area lies within the Piedmont, Southeast Plains, and the 

Southern Coastal Plain ecoregions, see Figure 2.10 Three ecoregions, the Piedmont, Mississippi 

Alluvial Plain, and the Southern Florida Coastal Plain (the Everglades) have undergone 

extensive land-use changes. The Piedmont has experienced several major land-cover 

transformations over the past 200 years: forest to farm, back to forest, and spreading urban- and 

suburbanization. The Mississippi Alluvial Plain is one of the nation’s most altered ecoregions, 

extensively cleared for cultivation where bottomland hardwood forests once dominated. The 

Everglades, or the Southern Florida Coastal Plain, has undergone extensive hydrological and 

biological alterations.

11 

Mountain top, surface, and underground bituminous coal mining occurs within four of the 

southern Appalachians ecoregions. Mining is extensive in the Interior River Valleys and Hills

and the Western Allegheny Plateau ecoregions, common in the Central Appalachians, and occurs 

in several parts the Southwestern Appalachians ecoregion. Significant habitat loss and waterquality degradation, particularly sedimentation and acidification of many the ecoregions’ water

bodies are coal mining’s legacy.

12 Within Region 4, the Interior River Valleys and Hills and the

Western Allegheny Plateau ecoregions only occur within the Commonwealth of Kentucky.13
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Agriculture occurs in 11 of the Region’s ecoregions in the form of pulpwood and lumber 

pine plantations, beef pasture, cropland (planted with wheat, blueberries, corn, cotton, soybeans, 

peanuts, onions, sweet potatoes, melons, tobacco, or rice), citrus groves in the south, poultry and 

hog livestock, and dairy farming. In the Mississippi Alluvial Plain, extensive agricultural landuse occurs with most of the ecoregion planted in soybeans, cotton, corn, rice, wheat, and pasture, 

and some sugarcane in the south. Pine plantations are common in the Southeast Plains and the 

Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain ecoregions, and occasional in the Ridge and Valley. The Middle 

Atlantic Coastal Plain has a high density of chicken, turkey, and hog production in some areas, 

with North Carolina the second-largest hog producing state in the nation. The Southeast Plains

ecoregion also supports poultry and hogs.14

The 2007 Census of Agriculture counted 6,409 farmers and ranchers reporting aquaculture 

sales in the United States; the three states with the largest number of operations with sales were 

Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi. Catfish and crawfish are commercially produced in ponds in 

the Mississippi Alluvial Plain.

15 More than 50 percent of the total value of sales from 

aquaculture come from the top five states, including Mississippi ($237.9 million).16

The Region’s forests are mostly located within 5 ecoregions. The Blue Ridge ecoregion

contains one of the richest temperate broadleaf forests in the world, with a high diversity of 

plants within the large areas of National Forest, National Parks and state-owned lands. The 

Western Allegheny Plateau ecoregion is mostly forested, with public national forest lands, and 

logging a predominant activity. Forest uses prevail within the Central Appalachians and 

Southwestern Appalachians ecoregions. The Mississippi Alluvial Plain’s floodplain forest 

ecosystems include river and hardwood swamp forests. The ecoregion is still a major bird 

migration corridor despite the widespread loss of forest and wetland habitat. The Interior River 

Valleys and Hills ecoregion is partially forested.17

Between 1973 and 2000, the Southeast Climate Region had the highest rate of change due to 

active forest timber harvesting and replanting. 18 In this region, forests, not cropland, are

expected to be lost. 19 Projected land-use and land-cover changes likely will depend upon 

population rates and economic growth.20 The exurban and suburban areas generally are 

projected to expand by 15 to 20 percent between 2000 and 2050.21 Climate change will 

cumulatively impact the existing and projected land-use changes to the Region’s ecoregions. 

Aquatic ecosystems in those ecoregions where mining already provides significant stress and 

where forests are converted to other uses may likely be less resilient to climate-change impacts.

2. Determining Climate Change Impacts to Aquatic Ecosystems

EPA and its state partners use aquatic bio-assessments to evaluate biological criteria to 

determine whether CWA-regulated surface waters are maintaining their biological integrity 

consistent with their designated use, e.g., cold-water fishery.22
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To monitor stream health, states are delineated into bioregions to organize similar

sampling sites together; i.e., those having similar stream physical, chemical, and 

biological attributes. These bioregions often mirror ecoregion boundaries. Since all of the 

streams within a bioregion generally have similar attributes, the differences in aquatic 

organism assemblages between reference sites (which receive high biological index 

scores) and stressed sites (which receive low index scores) are typically expected to reflect

human impacts, e.g., land-use changes. 

Table 1. The Number of Ecoregions and Bioregions by State

State Level III 

Ecoregions1

Level IV 

Ecoregions2

Macroinvertebrate 

bioregions

Fish 

Bioregions

Algae 

Bioregions

AL 6 29 2 (high and low 

gradient streams)

NA3 NA

FL 3 16 3 NA NA

GA 6 28 24 4 NA

KY 7 25 4 6 4

MS 4 21 4 NA NA

NC 4 28 3 5 NA

SC 5 12 3 NA NA

TN 8 31 15 NA 3

1: Ecoregions along the coast (Southern Florida Coastal Plain (76), Southern Coastal Plain (75), Mississippi 

Alluvial Plain (73), and Middle Atlantic Coastal Plain (63)) do not have aquatic communities that currently 

support index development and are not included in any bioregions. 

2: Level IV Ecoregions are subunits of Level III, see: 

http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions/level_iii_iv.htm#Level IV

3: All “Not Applicable” cells represent a state that does not use that index for making regulatory decisions (though 

most states are in the process of developing new indices or may use that assemblage for other monitoring 

purposes, like evaluating best management practices.) Information was gathered from Standard Operating 

Procedures for biomonitoring and index development papers that states operated under in 2011. 

If climate change were to cause streams in the same bioregion to become dissimilar, it could 

hinder EPA and the states’ ability to determine low index-score causes, i.e., human versus 

climate-change induced impacts. Biological monitoring and assessment program success will 

require an understanding of what and how climate-associated changes are occurring and how 

monitoring programs can account for them.23 Likely climate-change impacts to Region 4’s 

freshwater aquatic ecosystems are described below but further research is necessary to determine 

actual impacts.

a) Climate-Change Induced Temperature Impacts

In EPA Region 4, climate change-associated warmer water temperatures are expected to 

drive aquatic species to cooler waters, either north or to higher elevations. Local extinctions are 

expected where migration barriers exist, e.g., dams, reservoirs, logging, mountain-top mining, 
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etc., and a lack of higher elevations. In Region 4, cold-water habitat is generally associated with 

its mountain and high-elevation plateau ecoregions of the Southern Appalachians, i.e., the 

Piedmont, Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, Central Appalachian, Western Allegheny and Interior 

Plateau, Interior River Valley and Hills ecoregions.24 For example in North Carolina, the 

mountain ecoregion and higher elevation sites generally have the highest cold-water taxa 

richness, which are expected to shift either north or to higher elevation as temperatures 

increase.25 While the cold-water tax either migrate to cooler water conditions or are subject to 

local extinctions, those species thriving in warm temperatures or which are tolerant to warmer 

temperatures, will likely increase their populations at their current location and extend their 

range into formerly colder-water habitat.

26

At this time, it is uncertain where the greatest climate change-induced impacts to aquatic 

organisms and their ecosystems within the Region may occur: in the transitional areas aquatic 

species may already be close to their temperature tolerance limits, while species may be more 

sensitive in those coldwater habitats expected to experience warming. Within Region 4, the 

Piedmont (the transitional area) and Mountain (coldwater habitat) ecoregions are expected to see 

the greatest climate-change impacts to its aquatic ecosystems.

27 Predictions are further 

confounded by the probability that temperature change likely will not occur evenly across the 

Region. The Region finds it difficult to predict how warm- and cold-water taxa will respond to 

changing water temperatures since other environmental factors, e.g., land-use changes, also 

strongly influence species’ population densities and geographic distributions

b) Climate-Change Induced Water Flow Impacts

Biological integrity is strongly correlated with stream flow.28 Expected climate changerelated impacts to the Region 4’s aquatic ecosystems include longer durations of low summer 

stream flows, average stream flow decreases, higher flooding incidences, and increased periods 

of extremely high and low flows (greater flashiness), with resultant scouring. Scouring and 

sedimentation already negatively impact habitat and biota in Piedmont streams, and more 

frequent severe precipitation events may exacerbate those impacts. 

Insect-rich habitat-diversity tends to decrease with decreasing flow.29 Under lower flow 

conditions, non-flowing (lakes and ponds) fish and insect community populations tend to 

increase while those requiring flowing water to survive decrease. Additionally, drought or floodrelated stream-flow changes can change nutrient and sediment loadings and habitat availability.

30 

Moreover, lower flow results in less dilution facilitating higher in stream concentrations of 

potentially harmful chemicals and aquatic toxicity. Overall, climate change-induced flow 

changes are expected to cause significant changes to the Region’s aquatic communities.31

At a reduced flow of 20-90%, the Region could lose 3 to 38% of its fish species.32 The North 

Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) researched invertebrate 

responses to the 1999 to 2002 drought experienced by both North and South Carolina. The study

found a decline in invertebrate communities. NCDENR found stream flow, drainage area, 
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underlying geology, and the tributary stream type and size appeared to influence invertebrate 

species’ degree of impact and resiliency, i.e., speed of recovery to drought.33

NCDENR also studied tropical and hurricane storm-related flooding impacts to invertebrate 

species and stream health. In 2004, North Carolina experienced five tropical Storms (Bonnie, 

Frances, Gaston, Ivan, and Jeanne) and two hurricanes (Alex and Charley) during a two-month 

period (August 3 – September 27). During its study, NCDENR documented a decline in 

biological index scores associated with the invertebrate species’ responses to the storm-related

flooding.34

C. EPA Region 4’s Communities

Region 4’s mild climate, extensive coasts, and large river basins attract people, both for 

residential and recreational purposes. Within its geographic borders, the Region is home to a 

population of 61,762,344.35 The State of Florida’s population, 19,057,542, is greater than the 

individual populations of four EPA regions (see figure 3 below). The Region’s population of 

children and elderly comprise approximately 6.1 and 14 percent, respectively, of the Region’s 

total population. The Region is home to six federally-recognized tribes, with a population of 

33,500 enrolled members.

All eight states had positive growth from 2000 through 2010, with the overall regional 

population growing by 8.9 million people, about 13%.36 The population grew fastest in North 

Carolina (18.5%), Georgia (18.3%), Florida (17.6%), and South Carolina (15.3%). Most of this

growth has been in urban and peri‐urban areas. Population growth is expected to compound 

climate-related impacts. For example, increasing urban and suburban competition for finite 

water resources likely will affect agriculture, aquatic ecosystems, energy production, fisheries, 

and natural ecosystems.37

 Figure-3. EPA Region population comparisons.

By 2030, Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina are projected to have some of the largest 

elderly American populations.38 All three states are in the top ten projected to have the largest 

numbers of Americans aged 60 and older. Florida, with 9,737,256 elderly, is projected to be 

second only to the State of California, with a projected elderly population of 10,595,771 by 

2030.

0 20,000,000 40,000,000 60,000,000 80,000,000

R 4

R 5

R 9

R 6

R 3

R 2

Florida

R 1

R 7

R 10

R 8

Population
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Most of Region 4’s population lies within the Piedmont, Southern Coastal Plain, 

Southeastern Plains, Interior Plateau, and Southern Florida Coastal Plain ecoregions. Within 

the Southern Florida Coastal Plain (the Everglades), urban areas are extensive along the Atlantic 

Coast and include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, and other adjacent coastal cities.39 

The Southeast Climate Region (see the following section, Observed and Projected Climate 

Change in Region 4) includes 28 of the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas by population, and 

is the second most urbanized region after the Northeast, having 131 persons-per-square mile. 

Miami (#8), Atlanta (#9), Tampa (#18), and Orlando (#26) all rank in the top 30 of U.S. urban 

centers.40 The Region has three of the ten fastest-growing areas: the Florida areas of Palm Coast

and Cape Coral-Fort Meyers, and Myrtle Beach, SC.

41 All three areas are along the coast and 

vulnerable to sea-level rise and storm surge.

42 Since 1980, the Southeast has had more billiondollar weather disasters (hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes) than any other region.43

 

 Figure 4.44 

III. Observed and Projected Climate Change in Region 4

This section summarizes climate change impacts anticipated for EPA Region 4. The climate 

change literature defines the Southeast Climate Region differently than EPA defines its 

southeastern region. The Southeast Climate Region is defined to include all of the EPA Region 

4 states plus Arkansas, Louisiana, two of EPA Region 6 states, and Virginia, one of EPA 

Region3’s states.

Billion Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters (1980-2011). This map 

summarizes the number of weather and climate disasters over the past 30 

years that have resulted in more than a billion dollars in damages.
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The Southeast Climate Region is exceptionally vulnerable to sea-level rise, extreme heat 

events, and decreased water availability. Within this Region the spatial distribution of these 

impacts and vulnerabilities is uneven, since it encompasses a wide range of ecoregions, from the 

Appalachian Mountains to the coast.45 The high variability of the Region’s climate makes it 

difficult to assess the impacts of variability from climate change. 

The Southeast Climate Region is home to more than 80 million people, drawing hundreds of 

million visitors every year.46 Located in low-lying coastal areas particularly vulnerable to 

flooding, extreme storms, and sea-level rise, this Region has a disproportionate number of the 

country’s fastest growing metropolitan areas and important economic sectors.47 Palm Coast, FL, 

Cape Coral-Fort Meyers, FL, and Myrtle Beach, SC, are all vulnerable to sea-level rise and 

storm surge.48

Sea-level rise and temperature and precipitation changes are expected to be the most severe 

and widespread anticipated impacts to the Region, which ultimately may affect water 

availability.49 The vulnerable Gulf and Atlantic coasts are major producers of seafood and home 

to several ports.50 The Southeast Climate Region is a major energy producer of coal, crude oil, 

and natural gas, and the highest energy user of any of the National Climate Assessment regions.

51 

Changes in land use and land cover, more rapid in the Southeast than most other areas of the 

country, often interact with and serve to amplify the effects of climate change on southeastern 

ecosystems.52 

A. Temperature

1. Observed

Average annual temperature during the last century cycled between warm and cool periods 

across the Southeast Climate Region.53 A warm peak occurred during the 1930s and 40s, 

followed by a cool period in the 60s and 70s, and warmed again from 1970 to the present by an 

average of 2°F, with more warming occurring during summer months.54 Since 1970, the number 

Figure 11. - Map of EPA Region 4 Figure 12. – Map of the Southeast Climate Region
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of days above 95°F and nights above 75°F have increased, while the number of extremely cold 

days has decreased.55

2. Projected

Temperatures across the Southeast Climate Region are expected to increase during this 

century, fluctuating over time because of natural climate variability (annually and decade-todecade).56 Major warming consequences include significant increases in the number of hot days

exceeding 95°F and decreases in freezing events.57 Projections for the region by 2100 include 

increases of 10°F for interior states of the Region with a regional average increase ranging from

2°F to 6°F.58

Figure 14. Projected Number of Nights below 32°F59

Figure 13. The projected number of days exceeding 95°F.
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Figure 15. Projected annual number of days with temperatures less that

32°F for 2041-3 2070 compared to 1971-2000, assuming emissions 

continue to grow (A2 scenario). 60

Summer heat stress is projected to reduce crop productivity, especially when coupled with 

increased drought. The 2007 drought cost the Georgia agriculture industry $339 million in crop 

losses, and the 2002 drought cost North Carolina $398 million.61 A 2.2oF increase in temperature 

could reduce overall productivity for corn, soybeans, rice, cotton, and peanuts across the South –

although rising CO2 levels might partially offset these decreases, based on a crop yield simulation 

model. 62 In Georgia, climate projections indicate corn yields could decline by 15% and wheat yields 

by 20% through 2020.63 

3. Extreme Heat Events

Rising temperatures and the associated increases in frequency, intensity, and duration of 

extreme heat events are expected to affect public health, natural and built environments, energy, 

agriculture, and forestry.64 The negative effects of heat on human cardiovascular, cerebral, and 

respiratory systems have been established.65 Within EPA Region 4, Atlanta, Miami, and Tampa 

have already seen increases in the number of days with temperatures exceeding 95oF, during 

which the number of deaths was above average.66 The expected increase in elderly population of 

the Region enhances the health risks of extreme heat events. By 2100, the Southeast Climate 

Region is expected to have the highest increase in heat index, the measure of comfort combining

temperature and relative humidity, of any region of the country.67 Additionally, higher 

temperatures can contribute to the formation of harmful air pollutants and allergens, with 

associated health impacts.68 Ground-level ozone is projected to increase in the Southeast Climate 

Region’s largest urban areas, potentially leading to increased deaths. 69 Hospital admissions for

respiratory illnesses, emergency room visits for asthma, and lost school days may increase. 70

B. Precipitation

1. Observed

The Gulf Coast regions of Mississippi, Alabama, and the Florida Panhandle receive over 60 

inches of precipitation, while much of northern Kentucky, the central sections of the North and 

South Carolinas, and Georgia receive between 40 and 50 inches of precipitation annually.71 

Higher amounts of precipitation are found along the Atlantic coast and across the Florida 
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Peninsula due in part to the lifting of the air associated with sea breeze circulation.72 Tropical 

cyclones also contribute significantly to annual precipitation totals in the Region, especially over 

the Southeast Atlantic coast.73 The Southeast Climate Region’s wettest locations occur in 

southwestern North Carolina.

74 The Region’s daily and five-day rainfall intensities have 

increased while summers have been either extremely wet or increasingly dry.

75 Only along the 

northern Gulf Coast has precipitation increased during the last 100 years.

76

Across the Southeast Climate Region’s northern tier, the average annual snowfall ranges 

from 5 to 25 inches, except at the higher elevations of the southern Appalachians in North 

Carolina and Tennessee.77 These locations can receive up to 100 inches of snowfall annually, 

comparable to annual snowfall amounts experienced in New England.78 The Region’s southern

extent experiences very little snowfall (i.e., less than 1 inch per year) and several years may 

elapse before any measurable snowfall occurs.

79 

2. Projected

Future precipitation-pattern projections are more uncertain than temperature projections.

80

Under a high greenhouse-gas-emission scenario, average changes in annual precipitation range 

from nearly 10% reduction in the far southern and western portions of the Region – with most of 

that reduction in the summer – to about 5% increases in the northeastern part of the Region by 

later this century.

81 Average annual precipitation is projected to decrease by 2% to 4% over 

South Florida, while increases in precipitation of up to 6% are projected across North Carolina.82 

Precipitation is expected to increase across most of the Southeast Climate Region in all seasons 

except summer, where a decrease of 15% is noted for South Florida.83

3. Extreme Events 

a) Precipitation

The extreme-precipitation-event frequency has been increasing across the Region, 

particularly pronounced over the last two decades.84 This increase is pronounced across the 

lower Mississippi River Valley and along the northern Gulf Coast.85 Despite a long‐term 

increase in extreme precipitation events, no discernible trend exists in flood magnitude for the 

Region.86 An increased risk of flooding of the Region’s urban areas is expected from increases 

in extreme-precipitation events and the associated increased runoff, compounded by the 

magnitude of impervious surface that has resulted from increased urbanization.87 

The annual number of days with extreme precipitation is expected to increase across most of 

the Region by the mid-21st century, particularly along the southern Appalachians as well as parts 

of Tennessee and Kentucky.

88

b) Severe Thunderstorms & Tornadoes

Thunderstorms are frequent across the Southeast Climate Region, especially during the 

warmer months. Severe thunderstorms, i.e., characterized by winds in excess of 58 mph, hail a 
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minimum one inch in diameter, or a tornado, occur most frequently in the late winter and spring 

months. 

Within EPA Region 4, damaging winds and large hail occur most frequently across Alabama, 

Mississippi, and western Tennessee.89 These states also experience the highest number of strong 

tornadoes (F2 and greater) and experience more killer tornadoes than the notorious “Tornado 

Alley” of the Great Plains.

90

Cloud‐to‐ground lightning is a significant hazard. The greatest lightning-strike frequency

within the nation occurs across the Gulf Coast and the Florida Peninsula.91 Additionally, eight of 

the eleven states comprising the Southeast Climate Region rank in the top 20 for lightningrelated fatalities from 1959 to 2006.92 Cloud‐to‐ground lightning has started house fires and 

wildfires.

c) Tropical Storms and Hurricanes

In the Southeastern Climate Region, tropical storms and hurricanes frequently make landfall 

along North Carolina’s Outer Banks and south Florida and rarely appear to land along the

concave portions of the coastline, the western bend of Florida and the Georgia coast.

93 Major 

hurricane (categories 3 to 5) landfalls have been most frequent in South Florida (once every 15 

years) and along the northern Gulf Coast (once every 20 years).

94 While these storms primarily

impact the coast, significant effects are experienced several hundred miles inland.95 Storms with 

wind gusts exceeding 75 mph have occurred every five to 10 years across portions of the 

Region’s coastal plain and every 50 to 75 years across portions of the Carolina Piedmont, central 

Alabama, and Mississippi.

96

Tropical storm and hurricane-associated precipitation contribute significantly to the 

Southeast Climate Region’s precipitation, surface and ground water levels, water supply, and soil 

moisture.97 Heavy rainfall also periodically causes deadly inland flooding, especially when a 

storm is large or is stalled by a weather front.98 Hurricane landfalls appear to have declined 

slightly over the past century from a decadal frequency perspective.99

C. Sea-level rise in Region 4 

The National Water Level Observation Network’s 150-years database consistently depicts a 

rise in sea level. From this data, a 0 to 3 millimeter-per-year sea-level rise rate has been 

estimated off the west Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi coasts.100 Two data sources, the 

historical tide-gauge records over the past century and geologic evidence over the past several 

centuries, indicate steadily rising sea level off North Carolina’s coast. The NC Coastal 

Resources Commission’s Science Panel on coastal hazards recommended a projected sea-level 

rise of one meter by 2100 be adopted for policy development and planning purposes.101

Large portions of the Region are highly vulnerable to sea-level rise, although how much sealevel rise is experienced in any particular place depends upon whether and how much the local 

land is sinking (i.e., subsidence) or rising, and offshore-current changes.

102 Global sea-level rise
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over the 20th century has averaged approximately eight inches. The rise rate is expected to 

accelerate through the end of this century.103

Figure 16 below depicts the relative risk, as determined by the Coastal Vulnerability Index,

that physical changes will occur as sea-level rises. The Coastal Vulnerability Index is based on 

tidal range, wave height, coastal slope, shoreline change, landform and processes, and historical 

rate of relative sea-level rise. The index estimates a coastal system’s susceptibility to change and

its natural ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions to formulate an estimation of a 

system’s natural sea-level rise vulnerability or risk.

104

Figure 16. 105 The Southeast Climate Region’s Vulnerability to Sea-Level Rise

In the Southeast Climate Region, numerous cities, roads, railways, ports, airports, oil and gas 

facilities, and water supplies are in low-elevation areas, making them vulnerable to sea-level rise. 

The North Carolina Department of Transportation is raising U.S. Highway 64’s roadbed by four 

feet; 18 inches of which is to address sea-level rise projections.106 The major cities of Miami and 

Tampa, FL, are among those most at risk. 107

 

Sea-level rise impacts upon agriculture may decrease freshwater availability and increase

land loss and saltwater intrusion. Salt-water intrusion is projected to reduce the availability of 

groundwater for irrigation, thereby limiting crop production in some areas.108 Agricultural areas 

around Miami-Dade County with shallow groundwater tables are at risk of enhanced inundation 

and associated cropland loss; an estimated 37,500 acres in Florida are projected to be lost to 

production with a 27-inch sea-level rise.

109

Additionally, higher sea levels are expected to accelerate saltwater intrusion into rivers, 

streams, and groundwater sources of freshwater in coastal areas. In areas with porous aquifers,

groundwater is particularly vulnerable to saltwater intrusion. Salt water intrusion impacts water 
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quality for agriculture, drinking water, and industrial purposes. In the City of Hallandale Beach, 

FL, officials have already abandoned six of the city’s eight drinking water wells due to salt-water 

intrusion.

110

D. Drought trends in Region 4

1. Watersheds

Several watersheds within EPA Region 4 cross multiple state boundaries with growing 

populations needing water for agriculture, energy production, navigation, drinking, and other 

needs. Alabama shares most of its major streams with neighboring states.111 Five rivers 

originate in Alabama and flow through Florida before draining into the Gulf of Mexico. Both 

the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers originate in Georgia and flow into Alabama where they join the 

Alabama River. The Tombigbee River originates in Mississippi and flows into Alabama,

becoming a tributary to the Mobile River. The Escatawpa River originates in southwest 

Alabama and becomes a tributary to the Pascagoula River, straddling the AL-MS state line 

before draining into the Mississippi Sound. The Tennessee River, the largest tributary to the 

Ohio River, is formed at the confluence of the Holston and French Broad Rivers in northeast 

Tennessee. It flows through Alabama forming a small section of the AL – MS border before 

flowing back into Tennessee via Kentucky, then discharging into the Ohio River. Additionally, 

the Catawba River originates in North Carolina eventually forming approximately 10 miles of 

the NC-SC border before becoming a tributary to the Wateree River of SC. The Savannah River 

flows along the GA – SC border before draining into the Atlantic Ocean. 

2. Population Effects

The Region’s rapid population growth and development has greatly increased water demand 

and drought vulnerability. Yet, drought is a normal component of the Region’s climate system. 

EPA Region 4, its state, local and tribal government partners and stakeholders face 

challenges in managing drought conditions in light of the Region’s growing population and the 

anticipated climate change impacts.

3. Dams and Basins

Within EPA Region 4 the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and the U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers (US ACOE) operate a number of dams on significant waterways. According to US 

ACOE’s National Inventory of Dams,112 the federal government operates 404 dams within

Region 4. The TVA operates 47 dams for hydropower within a region primarily encompassing 

Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee (see figure 23 below). 
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Figure 23. Map of TVA’s reservoirs and dams.113 The red boxes identify 45 of the 47 hydro dams. The yellow 

boxes identify coal-power plants. The purple boxes identify nuclear-power plants.

.

a) Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin

The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River (ACF) Basin is an important part of the 

socioeconomic structure of Georgia, Alabama, and Florida’s urban population, agriculture, 

power generation, recreation economy, and North Florida’s commercial fishery. This Basin 

overlies 19,800 square miles of southwestern Georgia and southeastern Alabama. The 

Centerpiece of the Basin is the Chattahoochee River. Its headwaters are in northeast Georgia in 

the Blue Ridge Mountains. It flows southwest to Columbus, GA, then south along much of the 

AL-GA border, before crossing into Florida where it confluences with another Georgia river, the 

Flint River, creating the Apalachicola River which discharges into the Gulf of Mexico at the 

Apalachicola Bay. 

Despite human alterations to most of the ACF Basin, it still supports a rich and abundant 

diversity of plants and animals. The Chattahoochee’s headwaters (the Blue Ridge ecoregion) are 

the only cold-water fishery habitat. The Apalachicola Bay lies within the Southern Coastal 

Plain ecoregion while the rest of the Basin is within the Southeastern Plains ecoregion. These 

ecoregions represent areas where unique and localized natural processes have facilitated the 

Basin’s noteworthy aquatic biodiversity: amphibians, fish, reptiles, and invertebrate fauna 
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(crayfish, insects, mussels, worms).114 Ninety-nine species of breeding birds, including 

migratory water fowl and 52 species of mammals depend upon its water resources.115

The Basin has the largest fish-species diversity of all the river basins draining into the Gulf of 

Mexico east of the Mississippi River.

116 Seven fish species live only in the Basin (endemic).

Sixteen fish species have been listed for protection by Federal or State agencies. And the

Apalachicola River Basin has the largest freshwater-fish assemblages in Florida. 117 

Living in the Basin are 16 species of freshwater aquatic turtles, 21 species of salamanders, 26

species of frogs, and the American alligator. All require freshwater to complete or sustain their 

lifecycles.118 Numerous snake and lizard species inhabit streams and wetlands. Fifteen species 

of amphibians and reptiles are noteworthy because of their rarity or protected status: two are 

designated as threatened and five are designated Endangered Species Act candidate species.119 

The Apalachicola River Basin’s upper reaches have the highest amphibian and reptile species 

density on the continent north of Mexico, and 116 plant species are found; 17 are listed as 

endangered, 28 threatened, and 30 are rare; with 9 plant endemic species.120

The source of the Apalachicola River’s flow is primarily the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers 

(80 percent), the Chipola River (11 percent) and the remaining from groundwater and overland 

flows. Because of rainfall-distribution patterns, the Chattahoochee River’s average annual 

runoff exceeds the Flint and makes a greater contribution to the Apalachicola River’s peak flows 

than the Flint. During droughts because the Flint River’s base flow is sustained by groundwater, 

it contributes the greater flow into the Apalachicola River.121 However, agriculture is the 

primary land use within the Flint, which depends heavily upon groundwater. Agricultural 

irrigation can and has depleted the lower Flint River’s base flow. Drought combined with high 

irrigation demand, e.g., high crop prices, can cause the Flint River’s component of the 

Apalachicola River’s flow to be nonexistent.

Apalachicola Bay produces 90 percent of Florida’s and 13 percent of the Nation’s oyster 

harvest. It is a nursery for shrimp, blue crab, and a variety of fish species. The largest National 

Estuarine Research Reserve is located in the Bay. The State of Florida has declared both the 

Apalachicola River and Bay to be an Outstanding Florida Water. The United Nations has 

designated Apalachicola Bay as an International Biosphere Reserve.

122
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 Figure 11.123 - The ACF Basin in Georgia.

b) Alabama, Coosa, and Tallapoosa Basin

The Alabama, Coosa, and Tallapoosa (ACT) Basin has 16 reservoirs of significance. Its

series of dams are operated by the Corps of Engineers and the Alabama Power Company 

primarily to meet for navigation and hydropower production. Lake Martin, managed by the 

Alabama Power company, is the largest reservoir with 60.6 percent of the conservation storage. 

Lake Allatoona, managed by the Corps, is the second largest reservoir in the ACT basin with 

11.4 percent of the conservation storage.124 

The ACT has been called a hotspot of aquatic biodiversity but it has lost some of its

diversity. The Coosa River in Georgia historically included 36 native mussel species; today the 

US Forest Service knows of only four. The Etowah River once included 43 mussel species, now 

none are known. The Oostanaula River once included 43 mussel species, now only 12 are 

known. The Conasauga River once included 43 mussel species, now only six are known. The 

Coosawattee River once included 20 mussel species, today only 11 are known.

125 Changes in the 

Coosa Basin are just as dramatic. The extinction rate in freshwater snails in the Coosa Basin is 

second only to some of the rainforest in South America.126 Since the early 1900’s, more than 40 

species of freshwater snails and several mussel species are now presumed extinct. Other species 

being affected by the 2007 – ongoing drought include striped bass fishery, a world-class spotted 

bass fishery, and in Mobile Bay, recreational fisheries and commercial shrimp and oyster 

fisheries.127 Since the ACT’s 16 reservoirs and associated dams are operated primarily to meet 

navigation and hydropower production needs, the ACT Basin’s aquatic ecosystems may not 

prove resilient to climate change.
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1 http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/adaptation

2 Chapter 28 – Adaptation (V. 11 Jan. 2013, p. 987) in the U.S. Global Change Research Program draft 2013 

National Climate Assessment.

3 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Policy Statement on Climate-Change Adaptation (Washington, DC, June 

2, 2011). Available at http://www.fedcenter.gov/programs/climate/

4 Final draft U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Adaptation Plan (June 29, 2012).

5 http://www.mississippi.org/assets/docs/library/ms_port.pdf

6 http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/index/USA_FL.php

7 North American Terrestrial Ecoregions – Level III (April, 2011) Commission for Environmental Cooperation, 

available at ftp://ftp.epa.gov/wed/ecoregions/pubs/NA_TerrestrialEcoregionsLevel3_Final-2june11_CEC.pdf

8 These are defined in: Ecoregions of North America as Level III ecoregions, see: 

http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions/na_eco.htm#Downloads. The focus here is on the Level 3 subecoregions. Level 3 ecoregions are a subset of Level 2 ecoregions which are in turn a subset of a broader Level 1 

Ecoregion.

9 Christensen, J.H., B. Hewitson, A. Busuioc, A. Chen, X. Gao, I. Held, R. Jones, R.K. Kolli, W.-T. Kwon, R. 

Laprise, V. Magaña Rueda, L. Mearns, C.G. Menéndez, J. Räisänen, A. Rinke, A. Sarr and P. Whetton, 2007: 

Regional Climate Projections. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working 

Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, 

M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, 

Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA., available at http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessmentreport/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-chapter11.pdf

10 These are defined in: Ecoregions of North America as Level III ecoregions, see: 

http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions/na_eco.htm#Downloads. The focus here is on the Level 3 subecoregions. Level 3 ecoregions are a subset of Level 2 ecoregions which are in turn a subset of a broader Level 1 

Ecoregion.

11 North American Terrestrial Ecoregions – Level III (April, 2011) Commission for Environmental Cooperation, 

available at ftp://ftp.epa.gov/wed/ecoregions/pubs/NA_TerrestrialEcoregionsLevel3_Final-2june11_CEC.pdf

12 Id.

13 Id.

14 Id.

15 Id.

16 http://www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Online_Highlights/Fact_Sheets/Practices/aquaculture.pdf

17 Id.

18 Chapter 13 – Land Use and Land Cover Change (V. 11 Jan. 2013, p. 423) in the U.S. Global Change Research 

Program draft 2013 National Climate Assessment.

19 Id.

20 Id.

21 Id.

22 CWA section 101(a) states: “The objective of this Act is to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and 

biological integrity of the nation's waters.”

23 Id., pp. 1-2.
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24 Ecoregions of North America as Level III ecoregions, see: 

http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions/na_eco.htm#Downloads.

25 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). (2012) Implications of climate change for bioassessment 

programs and approaches to account for effects. Global Change Research Program, National Center for 

Environmental Assessment, Washington, DC; EPA/600/R-11/036A. Available from the National Technical 

Information Service, Springfield, VA, and online at http://www.epa.gov/ncea. pp. 7-21.

26 Id., pp. 7-21.

27 Id., pp. 5-69.

28 Id., pp. 1-11.

29 Id.

30 Id.

31 Id.

32 Id.

33 Id.

34 Id., pp. 5-23.

35 April 2011 US Census estimates (http://quickfacts.census.gov).

36 P. 3.

37 Id.

38 Aging, Administration on. “projected future growth of the older Population .” 

http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Aging_Statistics/future_growth/future_growth.aspx#age

39 Ecoregions of North America as Level III ecoregions, see: 

http://www.epa.gov/wed/pages/ecoregions/na_eco.htm#Downloads.

40 Regional Climate Trends and Scenarios for the U.S. National Climate Assessment, Part 2. Climate of the 

Southeast U.S., NOAA Technical Report NESDIS I42-2. Available at 

http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/technical_reports/NOAA_NESDIS_Tech_Report_142-2-

Climate_of_the_Southeast_U.S.pdf

41 U.S. Census Bureau 2010.

42 Id.

43 Chapter 17, Southeast and the Caribbean, of the Federal Advisory Committee Draft Climate Assessment Report 

Released for Public Review (volume 11 Jan 2013) see: http://ncadac.globalchange.gov/

44 Id.

45 The Southeast and the Caribbean (Chapter 17) of the Federal Advisory Committee Draft Climate Assessment 

Report released for public review (volume 11, January 2013), see: http://ncadac.globalchange.gov

46 Id.

47 Id.

48 Id.

49 Id.

50 Id.

51 Id.

52 Id.
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53 Id.

54 Id.

55 Id.

56 Id.

57 Id.

58 Id.

59 Id.

60 Id.

61 Id.

62 Id.

63 Id.

64 Id.

65 Id.

66 Id.

67 Id.

68 Id.

69 Id.

70 Id.

71 Southeast Region Technical Report to the National Climate Assessment (Revised July 23, 2012) available at 

http://downloads.usgcrp.gov/NCA/Activities/NCA_SE_Technical_Report_FINAL_7-23-12.pdf

72 Id.

73 Id.

74 Id.

75 The Southeast and the Caribbean (Chapter 17) of the Federal Advisory Committee Draft Climate Assessment 

Report released for public review (volume 11, January 2013), see: http://ncadac.globalchange.gov

76 Southeast Region Technical Report to the National Climate Assessment (Revised July 23, 2012) available at 

http://downloads.usgcrp.gov/NCA/Activities/NCA_SE_Technical_Report_FINAL_7-23-12.pdf

77 Id.

78 Id.

79 Id.

80 Id.

81 Southeast Region Technical Report to the National Climate Assessment (Revised July 23, 2012) available at 

http://downloads.usgcrp.gov/NCA/Activities/NCA_SE_Technical_Report_FINAL_7-23-12.pdf

82 Id.

83 Id.

84 Id.

85 Id.
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86 Id.

87 Id.

88 Southeast Region Technical Report to the National Climate Assessment (Revised July 23, 2012) available at 

http://downloads.usgcrp.gov/NCA/Activities/NCA_SE_Technical_Report_FINAL_7-23-12.pdf

89 Id.

90 Id.

91 Id.

92 Id.

93 Id.

94 Id.

95 Id.

96 Id.

97 Southeast Region Technical Report to the National Climate Assessment (Revised July 23, 2012) available at 

http://downloads.usgcrp.gov/NCA/Activities/NCA_SE_Technical_Report_FINAL_7-23-12.pdf

98 Id.

99 Id.

100 Id.

101 North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources report, North Carolina Sea-level rise

Assessment Report (2010) P. 12 and available at http://dcm2.enr.state.nc.us/slr/NC%20SeaLevel%20Rise%20Assessment%20Report%202010%20-%20CRC%20Science%20Panel.pdf

102 Id.

103 Id.

104 The Southeast and the Caribbean (Chapter 17) of the Federal Advisory Committee Draft Climate Assessment 

Report released for public review (volume 11, January 2013), see: http://ncadac.globalchange.gov

105 Id.

106 Id.

107 Id.

108 Id.

109 Id.

110 Id.

111 Water Management Issues In Alabama, by the AL Water Agencies Working Group (August 1, 2012) available at 

http://www.adem.state.al.us/programs/water/waterforms/WaterIssueReport.pdf

112Available at http://geo.usace.army.mil/pgis/f?p=397:12:

113 http://www.tva.com/sites/sites_ie.htm

114 Couch, C.A., Hopkins, E.H., and Hardy, P.S., Influences of Environmental Settings on Aquatic Ecosystems in the 

Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. (1995) USGS Water-Resources Investigations Report 95-4278. 

Available at www.pubs.usgs.gov/wri/1995/4278/report.pdf

115 Id.

116 Id.
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117 Id.

118 Id.

119 Id.

120 Id.

121 Id.

122 Id.

123 The Southeast and the Caribbean (Chapter 17) of the Federal Advisory Committee Draft Climate Assessment 

Report released for public review (volume 11, January 2013), see: http://ncadac.globalchange.gov 124 Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa Basin, US FWS, available at 

http://www.fws.gov/southeast/drought/archive/pdf/ACT-BasinQ-A.pdf 125 Id. 126 Id. 127 Id.
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PART 2

VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................... 36

II. GOAL 1: TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPROVING AIR QUALITY......................................... 36

A. OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS................................................................................................36

1. Ozone .........................................................................................................................................................37

2. Particulate Matter (PM).............................................................................................................................38

3. Indoor Air ...................................................................................................................................................39

III. GOAL 2: PROTECTING AMERICA’S WATERS ................................................................................................. 39

A. OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS................................................................................................40

B. PROGRAM-SPECIFIC VULNERABILITIES AND POTENTIAL ACTIONS...................................................................................41

1. Watershed Management...........................................................................................................................41

2. Water Quality Standards............................................................................................................................42

3. Monitoring, Assessing, and Reporting .......................................................................................................42

4. Total Maximum Daily Loads.......................................................................................................................42

5. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System......................................................................................43

6. Nonpoint Source Management..................................................................................................................43

7. Wetlands....................................................................................................................................................44

8. Dredging/Ocean Dumping .........................................................................................................................44

9. National Estuary Program and South Florida.............................................................................................45

10. Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Infrastructure..............................................................45

11. Drinking Water Quality ..........................................................................................................................46

IV. CLEANING UP COMMUNITIES AND ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.......................................... 47

A. OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS................................................................................................47

1. Sea Level Rise .............................................................................................................................................48

2. Extreme Storm Events................................................................................................................................48

3. Temperature Change..................................................................................................................................49

4. Wildfires.....................................................................................................................................................49

5. Ocean Acidification ....................................................................................................................................49

6. Increased Water Temperatures..................................................................................................................49

B. PROGRAM-SPECIFIC VULNERABILITIES AND POTENTIAL ACTIONS...................................................................................49

1. Longer-term Cleanups (e.g., Superfund Remedial, Superfund Time-Critical Removal, Superfund RCRA 

Corrective Action, TSCA, Brownfields Cleanup Sites, and Polychlorinated Cleanup) ...................................49

2. Impacts on Longer-term Cleanups: ............................................................................................................49

3. Emergency Response Programs.................................................................................................................52

4. RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Facilities........................................................................................55

5. Oil Program and Underground Storage Tanks...........................................................................................57

6. Brownfield Program ...................................................................................................................................58

V. GOAL 4: ENSURING THE SAFETY OF CHEMICALS AND PREVENTING POLLUTION.......................................... 59

A. PESTICIDES .........................................................................................................................................................59

B. IMPACTS ON PESTICIDES PROGRAM.........................................................................................................................60

VI. GOAL 5 - ENFORCING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS WITHIN REGION 4 .............................................................. 61
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VII. FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS ...................................................................................................................... 61

A. SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS ..........................................................................................................................61

B. OVERVIEW OF POTENTIAL CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS................................................................................................63

C. REGION 4 PROPERTY DETAILS ................................................................................................................................63

1. The SNAFC Building/Complex.....................................................................................................................63

2. SESD Laboratory.........................................................................................................................................63

3. SESD FEC.....................................................................................................................................................64

4. ERRB Warehouse........................................................................................................................................64

5. WPD S. FL Office .........................................................................................................................................64

6. Gulf of Mexico Program .............................................................................................................................64

7. EPA’s Gulf Ecology Division Laboratory campus ........................................................................................64

VIII. CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE............................................................... 65

A. CHILDREN ..........................................................................................................................................................66

1. Air Quality ..................................................................................................................................................67

2. Indoor Air ...................................................................................................................................................67

3. Infectious Diseases.....................................................................................................................................67

4. Flooding......................................................................................................................................................67

5. Clean Water ...............................................................................................................................................68

6. Safe Drinking Water...................................................................................................................................68

7. Impacts on Region 4 Children’s Environmental Health (CEH) Program......................................................68

B. ELDERLY POPULATION ..........................................................................................................................................68

C. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE .....................................................................................................................................70

D. TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS.........................................................................................................................................71

1. Resources ...................................................................................................................................................73

2. Education and Outreach.............................................................................................................................73

3. Communication and Collaboration ............................................................................................................73

IX. VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT TABLE (APPENDIX A) .................................................................................... 74
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I. Introduction

The Agency’s draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan has defined “vulnerability” as the 

degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate 

change, including climate variability and extremes.

128 EPA’s systems are the various programs 

implementing its strategic plan goals and statutory mandates. Region 4 is an extension of these 

systems into the nation’s southeastern eight states and the fourteen ecoregions described earlier. 

This chapter contains an assessment of the vulnerabilities of key EPA Region 4 Programs to the 

impacts of climate change. It builds on the work presented in Part 2 of EPA’s agency-wide Plan, 

and is structured by the goals in EPA’s FY 2011-2015 Strategic Plan. The following begins the 

discussion of Region 4’s program vulnerabilities to climate change in context of the Agency’s 

five strategic plan goals:129

Goal 1 - Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality within Region 4 

Goal 2 - Protecting EPA Region 4’s Waters

Goal 3 - Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Development within Region 4

Goal 4 - Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution within Region 4

Goal 5 - Enforcing Environmental Laws within Region 4

Note that EPA Region 4 has not conducted a quantitative vulnerability assessment, but 

has qualitatively evaluated the nature and magnitude of risks associated with climate change 

impacts.

II. Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air Quality

A. Overview of Potential Climate Change Impacts

Communities within the Southeast face public health and environmental challenges from 

ambient and indoor air pollution. Climate change will increase these challenges. EPA Region 4

partners with federal, state, tribal and local agencies to protect public health and the environment 

by directly implementing programs that address air quality (indoor and outdoor), toxic pollutants, 

climate change, energy efficiency, pollution prevention, industrial and mobile source pollution, 

radon, acid rain, stratospheric ozone depletion, and radiation protection. Several program areas 

are vulnerable to future climate conditions that may be characterized by elevated baseline 

temperatures, increased frequency and duration of heat waves, more extreme swings in weather 

conditions (drought and precipitation events), and more severe hurricanes and coastal storms. 

These future conditions will present challenges to EPA to achieve its core mission.
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The Clean Air Act (CAA) requires EPA to establish National Ambient Air Quality Standards 

(NAAQS) for six criteria pollutants. EPA is required to review and consider revisions to these

criteria pollutant standards every five years. Once a NAAQS has been established or revised, the 

CAA requires states to develop specific plans, State Implementation Plans (SIPs), to attain the 

standards for each area designated as “nonattainment” for that NAAQS. In other words, the 

states must demonstrate how its areas will achieve and maintain compliance with standards.

Two criteria pollutants, ozone and particulate matter (PM), appear to be at risk for future 

ambient level increases caused by a warming climate. Tropospheric (ground-level) ozone 

pollution is likely to increase due to meteorological conditions that would become more 

favorable to ozone formation, particularly in the southeastern U.S. Ambient particulate matter 

levels would likely be affected in some areas by an increase in frequency or intensity of 

wildfires. Another area of vulnerability to climate change is indoor air quality.

1. Ozone 

The current health-based ozone NAAQS is 0.075 parts per million (ppm) on an 8-hour 

average. While most areas of Region 4 currently meet that standard, the EPA is set to 

begin considering an even more protective ozone standard sometime this year (2013), 

which would be followed by a new round of area attainment/ nonattainment designations.

Impacts on ozone programs

• A warming climate could induce ambient ozone level increases, which would in turn 

require more stringent pollution controls to attain and maintain the ozone NAAQS than 

would be necessary under the present-day climate. 

• Ground-level ozone is projected to increase in the largest urban areas of the Southeast 

(Chang et al. 2010).

130 

• Emissions of ozone precursors, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), are expected to increase 

from fossil-fuel burning power plants due to increased demand that accompanies 

increased ambient temperatures. 

• Complying with the ozone NAAQS may become more difficult for some Region 4 states, 

especially those with areas already facing existing ozone problems. Figure 8 presents the 

results of a modeling study which predicts increases of ground-level ozone concentrations across the southeast up to approximately 3 parts per billion in some urban areas. 
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(Adapted from Tagaris et al. 2009)131

2. Particulate Matter (PM)

The current PM NAAQS comprise standards for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and 

coarse particulate matter (PM10). The existing health-based PM2.5 NAAQS are a short-term (24-

hour average) standard of 35 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3

) and a long-term (annual 

average) standard of 15 μg/m3. In December 2012 the EPA strengthened the annual PM2.5

NAAQS by finalizing a new standard of 12 μg/m3

.

132 The health-based PM10 NAAQS is a shortterm (24-hour average) standard of 150 μg/m3

. All areas of Region 4 currently meet the existing 

PM2.5 and PM10 NAAQS. EPA will designate areas as being in attainment or nonattainment with 

the 2012 PM2.5 NAAQS in December 2014.

While the impact of climate change on ambient PM levels remains somewhat uncertain, 

existing evidence suggests that climate change may cause increasing frequency or intensity of 

wildfires.133 This potential is particularly important in Region 4, where the Southeast leads the 

nation in the rate of wildfire occurences, averaging approximately 45,000 fires per year from 

1997 through 2003.134 Wildland fires contribute an estimated 15 percent of total PM and 8

percent of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions over the southeastern USA.135 An increase in wildfire 

activity would cause more frequent elevated PM events, which would be hazardous to human 

health. For example, a study conducted in the Carolinas showed that peat bog wildfires pose a 

health hazard, with even brief exposure to smoke associated with these types of wildfires has 

being associated with negative respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes.136

Impacts on PM program

• The potential for greater PM concentrations due to wildfire activity may need to be 

considered when preparing SIPs to demonstrate attainment with the PM NAAQS. For 

example, increasing background PM2.5 levels when modeling future PM2.5 concentrations

may need to be assumed.

• More information is needed with regard to the potential for increases in both short-term 

exposure and long-term exposure to PM due to an increase in wildfires. 

o For a short-term exposure assessment, more data is needed on the human 

population in areas that are most likely to be in close proximity to wildfire 

activity. 

Figure 8. Map showing projected 

increases in ground level ozone pollution 

in 2050 as compared to 2001, using a midrange emissions scenario (A1B, assuming 

some decrease from current emissions 

growth trends).
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o To assess the vulnerability to long-term exposure, additional data is needed on 

how many wildfires per year can be expected, the expected total PM2.5 emissions 

from those wildfires, and modeling to estimate the impact of those emissions on

ambient PM2.5 levels. This data gap has been identified as a research need by the 

federal land management agencies. 

o Funding has been made available by the federal Joint Fire Science Program 

(JFSP) for research on the potential increases in wildfires and resulting air 

pollution and human health impacts at a regional level. The results of this 

research are expected to be available in 2015.137

3. Indoor Air

The Agency’s Indoor Air Program is a non-regulatory program. While Program staff share 

information, there are no metrics of control and few methods of monitoring results. In Region 4, 

Program staff largely focus on mold, radon, and asthma, and work with state and local agencies 

with indoor air quality interest or legislation. Regional staff also tries to be aware of emerging 

issues in indoor air quality.

Due to the nature of Region 4’s hot and humid climate and the nature of the work place, 

the Region estimates most its population spends 92 percent of its time indoors, consistent with 

the national population.138 The anticipated climate change attributes of heavy rains, increased 

temperatures and high humidity cycles will likely facilitate this trend to continue whereupon the 

population will be exposed to increased dampness, moisture, and flooding during periods of 

heavy precipitation and storms, while anticipated periods of drought may serve to alleviate these 

indoor air quality issues. 

Impacts on Indoor Air program

• The Region expects its population to have increased exposure with identified indoor air 

agents of concern: heat, ultraviolet penetration, biological materials – pollen, molds and 

infectious agents associated with climate change and associated health concerns.139 See 

also the section on impacts to vulnerable populations.

III. Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters

Region 4’s waters include the Gulf Coast; Florida Keys; South Atlantic Coast; and the 

Coastal Plain, Southern Appalachian Mountains, Tennessee River, lower Ohio River, and the 

southeastern Mississippi River watersheds. The region includes a wealth of ecological and 

economic resources, such as rivers and streams, barrier islands, extensive estuaries, coral reefs, 

coastal and freshwater wetlands, busy shipping ports, major metropolitan cities, extensive 

agricultural production and important commercial and recreational fishing resources. The 

Southeast has over 434,000 farms on more than 80 million acres, over 138 million acres of 

timberland, and is home to over one third (1,935 miles) of the lower 48-states’ continental 
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coastline, 33 percent of U.S. coterminous estuaries, and nearly 30 percent of all U.S. 

wetlands.140,141,142,143,144 Pressures from the continuing population and business growth in the 

southeastern states on the coastal, piedmont and mountain zones of this region are compounded 

by increased incidence of drought as well as increased flooding, sea level rise, intense tropical 

storms and heat-related stress on aquatic ecosystems and human health.

A. Overview of Potential Climate Change Impacts

In March 2012, EPA published the draft 2012 National Water Program Climate Change 

Strategy,145 which described impacts that were documented in reports of the 

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These impacts are relevant to the 

Southeast and can be summarized as follows. 146

● Increases in Water Pollution Problems: Warmer air temperatures will result in warmer 

water that will hold less dissolved oxygen making instances of low oxygen levels and 

hypoxia more likely, foster harmful algal blooms and change the toxicity of some 

pollutants, and could cause an increased number of waters to be recognized as 

“impaired”.

● More Extreme Water-Related Events: Heavier precipitation in tropical and inland storms 

will increase the risks of flooding, expand floodplains, increase the variability of stream 

flows (i.e., higher high flows and lower low flows), increase the velocity of water during 

high flow periods and increase erosion. These changes will have adverse effects on water 

and wastewater management facilities as well as water quality and aquatic system health. 

For example, increased intense rainfall will result in more nutrients, pathogens, and 

toxins being washed into water bodies.

● Changes to the Availability of Drinking Water Supplies: In some parts of the Southeast, 

droughts, changing patterns of precipitation, and increased water loss due to evaporation 

as a result of warmer air temperatures will result in changes to the availability of water 

for drinking and for use for agriculture and industry. In other areas, sea level rise and salt 

water intrusion will have a similar effect. Warmer air temperatures may also result in 

increased demands on community water supplies and the water needs for agriculture, 

industry, and energy production are also likely to increase.

● Water body Boundary Movement and Displacement: Rising sea levels will move ocean 

and estuarine shorelines by inundating lowlands, displacing wetlands, and altering the 

tidal range in rivers and bays. Changing water flow to lakes and streams, increased 

evaporation, and changed precipitation in some areas, will affect the size of wetlands and 

lakes.

● Changing Aquatic Biology: As waters become warmer, the aquatic life they now support 

will be replaced by other species better adapted to the warmer water (i.e., cold water fish 

will be replaced by warm water fish). This process, however, will occur at an uneven 

pace disrupting aquatic system health and allowing non-indigenous and/or invasive 
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species to become established. In the long-term (i.e., 50 years), warmer water and 

changing flows may result in significant deterioration of aquatic ecosystem health in 

some areas.

● Collective Impacts on Coastal Areas: Most areas of the Southeast will see several of the 

water-related effects of climate change, but coastal areas are likely to see multiple 

impacts of climate change. These impacts include sea level rise, increased damage from 

floods and storms, changes in drinking water supplies, and increasing temperature and 

acidification of the oceans. These overlapping impacts of climate change make 

protecting water resources in coastal areas especially challenging.

● Indirect Impacts: The Southeast is susceptible to impacts due to unintended 

consequences of human response to climate change, such as those resulting from carbon 

sequestration and other greenhouse gas reduction strategies.

B. Program-Specific Vulnerabilities and Potential Actions

1. Watershed Management

EPA Region 4, working with its state, local and tribal partners, is responsible for managing 

regulatory and non-regulatory programs to protect and improve water quality in the Southeast’s 

watersheds and estuarine, coastal and ocean waters. As better information is developed for local 

decision making, changes may be needed in how EPA Region 4 and our partners implement 

water quality programs, including Water Quality Standards, monitoring and assessment, Total 

Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL), Effluent Guidelines, National Pollutant Discharge Elimination 

System (NPDES), nonpoint pollution control programs, stormwater management and other 

watershed management programs. Potential vulnerabilities to Region 4 Watershed Management

efforts include:

• Higher air and water temperatures combined with nutrient pollution may result in 

increased growth of algae and microbes that threaten aquatic ecosystems.

• Higher air and water temperatures may increase pollutant concentrations and lower 

dissolved oxygen levels, potentially resulting in additional water bodies not meeting 

water quality standards and being listed as impaired.

• Areas experiencing periods of less precipitation, drought, lower stream flow and limited 

ground water recharge may result in less water flow for dilution of permitted discharges, 

alterations of aquatic environments, and increased impairments. 

• Areas with increased intensity of drought or that may experience increases in events such 

as wildfires may see alterations in the structure and function of watersheds potentially 

affecting regional and state wetlands delineation and protection programs.

• Increased intensity of rainfall events and storms may cause an increase in the number of 

sewer overflows and wastewater bypasses, fouling streams and requiring increased water 

quality enforcement.
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2. Water Quality Standards

Water Quality Standards are the foundation of the Clean Water Act – they designate the 

goals and uses for water bodies, setting criteria to protect those uses, and establishing provisions 

to protect water bodies from pollutants. States, territories, and authorized tribes establish water 

quality standards, and EPA reviews and approves those standards. Potential vulnerabilities to 

Region 4 Water Quality Standards efforts include:

• Warmer waters and other ecological shifts will threaten aquatic habitats and aquatic 

species, such as cold water fisheries and potentially requiring changes in State stream 

classifications. Rising stream temperatures could significantly reduce viable habitat for 

several species of cold-water fish in North Carolina, including brook trout.

• Salinity changes due to seal level rise may create a need to reclassify some water bodies 

from fresh to salt water. Sea-level rise may also result in a shifting from fresh water 

communities to salt water communities, such as is happening in the Chassohowitzka 

River System in Florida. Increased anthropogenic use of freshwater upstream may be a 

significant contributor in converting fresh to salt water. 

3. Monitoring, Assessing, and Reporting

Our nation's waters are monitored by state, federal, and local agencies, universities, 

dischargers, and volunteers. Water quality data are used to characterize waters, identify trends 

over time, identify emerging problems, determine whether pollution control programs are 

working, help to direct pollution control efforts to where they are most needed, and respond to 

emergencies such as floods and spills. Potential vulnerabilities to Region 4 Monitoring efforts 

include:

• Stream ecosystems will be affected directly, indirectly, and through interactions 

with other stressors. Biological responses to these changes will vary regionally

and could include altered community composition, interactions, and functions. . 

• Monitoring locations may need to be re-located in order to effectively monitor and assess 

changes in stream ecology or water quality.

• Timing of monitoring may need to change in order to pick up seasonal shifts and the full 

range of climate vulnerability, especially for recreational and aquatic life uses.

4. Total Maximum Daily Loads

Under section 303(d) of the Clean Water Act, states, territories, and authorized tribes are 

required to develop lists of impaired waters. These are waters that are too polluted or otherwise 

degraded to meet the water quality standards set by states, territories, or authorized tribes. The 

law requires that these jurisdictions establish priority rankings for waters on the lists and develop 

Total Maximum Daily Load (“TMDLs”) for these waters. A TMDL is a calculation of the 

maximum amount of a pollutant a waterbody can receive and still safely meet water quality 

standards. Potential vulnerabilities to Region 4 TMDL efforts include:
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• Some areas may experience periods of less precipitation, drought, lower stream flow and 

limited ground water recharge resulting in less water flow for dilution of permitted 

discharges, alterations of aquatic environments, and increased impairments; these 

considerations will need to be taken into account in the development of new TMDLs, and 

potentially result in the need for revision of existing TMDLs. 

• Some areas may experience episodes of increased intense precipitation resulting in 

increased runoff of pollutants; these considerations will need to be taken into account in 

the development of new TMDLs, and potentially result in the need for revision of 

existing TMDLs. 

5. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System

Water pollution degrades surface waters making them unsafe for existing uses, including 

drinking water, fishing, swimming, and other water recreation. As authorized by the Clean Water 

Act, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program controls 

water pollution by regulating point sources that discharge pollutants into waters of the United 

States. NPDES permits have a five-year permitting cycle. Potential vulnerabilities to Region 4 

NPDES efforts include:

• Areas experiencing periods of less precipitation, drought, lower stream flow and limited 

ground water recharge will result in less water flow for dilution of permitted discharges, 

alterations of aquatic environments, and increased impairments. National Pollutant 

Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits will need to take these factors into 

consideration during permit renewal or new permit issuance. These precipitation changes 

are compounded in certain areas by increased human uses of the water resources.

• Increased intensity of rainfall events and storms may cause an increase in the number of 

sewer overflows and wastewater bypasses, fouling streams and requiring increased water 

quality enforcement.

• Increased aquatic temperatures may result in the need to modify existing discharge limits.

6. Nonpoint Source Management

Nonpoint source pollution comes from many diffuse sources and is caused by rainfall runoff 

that picks up natural and human made pollutants and deposits them in lakes, rivers, wetlands, 

coastal waters and ground water. State nonpoint source programs, developed under the Clean 

Water Act (CWA) Section 319 Program, are working to meet this challenge. Potential 

vulnerabilities to Region 4 Nonpoint Source Management efforts include:

• Increased intensity of rainfall events and storms will cause increased pollutant loads in 

runoff, and the velocity of runoff will scour and erode creek beds.

• Accounting for greater quantities of runoff and pollutants, with more variability, from 

both urban and suburban stormwater and agricultural sources will stress existing nonpoint

source best management programs.
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• Decreasing frequency of precipitation days and more concentration of runoff in intense 

storms, which is likely to be more damaging to aquatic habitats, and carry more erosionrelated pollutants into water bodies will stress existing nonpoint source best management 

programs. 

7. Wetlands

Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires EPA concurrence before the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers may issue permits to allow dredging or filling of wetlands. Wetlands function to 

protect ecosystems, streams and other aquatic resources. Wetlands provide crucial climate 

change functions including: 1) coastal protection in the face of sea level rise and increased 

hurricane intensity, including the ability to reduce wave energy; 2) protection of water supplies 

in the face of increased drought conditions by providing groundwater recharge and maintaining 

minimum stream flows; 3) flood mitigation in the face of increased precipitation and storm 

frequency; and 4) carbon sequestration. The capacity of wetlands and headwater streams to 

reduce flood peaks, detain stormwater, and filter pollutants is critical to the protection of life, 

property, and water quality. Potential vulnerabilities to Region 4 Wetlands Program efforts 

include:

• Areas with increased intensity of drought or that may experience increases in events such 

as wildfires may see alterations in the structure and function of wetlands and watersheds 

potentially affecting regional and state wetlands delineation and protection programs.

• Sea-level rise combined with coastal development will challenge the ability of coastal 

wetlands to migrate, potentially affecting coastal wetland protection programs. This 

migration will likely result in loss of coastal wetlands where development has encroached 

on natural migration pathways. 

• Drying out of seasonal wetlands with increased drought could affect wetland delineations 

and programs. 

• Physical damage or elimination of wetlands and dune structures that protect them due to 

hurricanes and other seasonal changes could affect wetland delineation and restoration 

efforts.

8. Dredging/Ocean Dumping

The Ocean Dumping and Dredged Materials Management programs established by Congress 

in 1972 prohibit ocean dumping of materials that would unreasonably degrade or endanger 

human health or the marine environment. Potential vulnerabilities to Region 4 Dredging/Ocean 

Dumping efforts include:

• Increased need and frequency of ocean dumping due to increased precipitation and 

rainfall intensity that cause erosion and sedimentation of rivers, channels and harbors. 

• Shifting sediments and forming of shoals due to higher intensity storms that impede safe 

navigation in harbors and channels may require increased use of emergency dredging.

• Need for dredged materials to protect shorelines, beaches, dunes and marshes from sea 

level rise may stress existing regulatory programs.
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9. National Estuary Program and South Florida

The National Estuary Program (NEP) was established in 1987 to restore and protect the 

physical, chemical, and biological integrity of “estuaries of national significance” by focusing 

our Clean Water Act authorities in these highly productive ecosystems. There are 28 NEPs 

across the country, six of which are entirely or partially within EPA Region 4. Region 4 NEPs 

promote collaborative actions and best management practices to accelerate and embellish 

implementation of “core” Clean Water Act programs. Lessons learned by the NEPs are shared 

across the network of 28 programs nationally, as well as with other coastal watersheds facing 

similar water pollution and water quality impairments. This approach has proven to be a success 

over the past 25 years and the NEP is seen as a model for other comprehensive watershed and 

community-based programs. 

The Florida Keys Water Quality Protection Program (FKWQPP), established in 1994, is 

administered by EPA and FL DEP, and includes a working group consortium of local, state, 

federal agencies and non-government representatives. The FKWQPP works to recommend and 

implement management activities designed to maintain and restore the water quality needed for 

healthy native plant and animal populations in the FL Keys National Marine Sanctuary waters. 

Through the Water Quality Protection Program, water quality, seagrass meadows, and coral reefs 

have been monitored in the sanctuary since the mid-1990s. 

Potential vulnerabilities to Region 4 NEP and South Florida Program efforts include:

• Successful implementation of NEP Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plans 

may be adversely affected. Efforts to restore or enhance water quality, habitat, living 

resources, hydrologic alterations, and human uses may be affected. 

• Increased ocean temperatures and acidification resulting from the absorption of CO2 will 

continue to stress coral reefs potentially affecting coral reef protection programs. 

10. Drinking Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater Infrastructure

Much of the Southeast has enjoyed the benefits of clean and safe water resulting from an 

extensive network of drinking water, wastewater and storm water infrastructure. EPA 

recognizes that this infrastructure is aging and is being further taxed by the impacts of 

climate change. As state, local and tribal governments face more demands for increasingly 

limited resources, the ability to respond to these growing infrastructure pressures becomes 

more complicated. Potential vulnerabilities to Region 4 Drinking Water, Wastewater, and 

Stormwater Infrastructure Program efforts include:

• Higher air and water temperatures combined with nutrient pollution will result in 

increased growth of algae and microbes that affect drinking water treatment needs.

• Increased intensity of rainfall events and storms could contribute to additional 

infiltration/inflow in wastewater conveyance systems, which could cause an increase in 

the number of sewer overflows and wastewater treatment plant overloads, requiring 

expensive modifications and improvements to both wastewater conveyance and treatment 

systems.
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• Increased drought will place demands on both surface and ground water resources 

resulting in water supply problems. 

• Reduction in assimilative capacity of existing surface waters due to reduced stream flows 

and/or increased temperatures could lead to more stringent discharge limits on existing 

wastewater facilities, resulting in the need for expensive improvements or upgrades to 

maintain permit compliance.

• Sea level rise could result in: 1) saltwater intrusion into the collection system of 

wastewater treatment systems; 2) wet wells in pumping systems leading to increased 

corrosion damage to pumping equipment, and treatment plant tankage and equipment; 

and 3) malfunction of gravity conveyance systems and discharges.

• Increases in flooding from extreme precipitation, storm surges, and loss of wetlands 

could cause damage to infrastructure resulting in increased needs for SRF funding.

• Source water intake changes may be needed due to droughts and summertime extreme 

heat. Coastal aquifers may experience salt water intrusion where withdrawals are 

outstripping recharge and increased pressure head from higher sea levels may worsen this 

problem resulting in the need for relocation of water and wastewater facilities. 

• Drinking water and wastewater utilities emergency planning for extreme weather events 

may need to be reviewed and modified to account for climate change. Vulnerable and 

economically deprived communities may be particularly at risk, both for access to clean 

and safe water as well as for their ability to respond to emergencies during extreme 

events. Coastal and mountain communities will be particularly vulnerable. 

• Changes in rainfall patterns may lead to additional water supply infrastructure, with 

associated impacts on ecosystem fragmentation, aquatic life, physical stability, water 

quality, disruption of sediment and nutrient dynamics, downstream users, and system 

losses due to increased evaporation from impoundments. CWA Section 404 permit 

applications for reservoir creation in response to drought have increased in some states. 

11. Drinking Water Quality

The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is the main federal law that ensures the quality of 

Americans' drinking water. EPA sets standards for drinking water quality and oversees the state, 

local, and water suppliers who implement those standards. EPA Region 4 ensures that the public 

water supply systems comply with national drinking water quality standards and underground 

sources of drinking water are protected from contamination. 

Potential vulnerabilities to Region 4 Drinking Water Quality efforts include: 

• Higher air and water temperatures will promote increased growth of algae and microbes, 

which will increase the need for drinking water treatment and potentially affect the 

aesthetic quality of drinking water supplies.

• Increased storm water runoff will wash sediment and other contaminants into drinking 

water sources, requiring additional treatment.

• Sea-level rise could increase the salinity of both surface water and ground water through 

saltwater intrusion, encroaching upon coastal drinking water supplies. Additionally, 

extreme weather events such as hurricanes and extreme droughts could impact and 

potentially permanently affect both the availability and quality of drinking water sources. 

In southeastern areas with saltwater intrusion, Region 4 states may receive more permit 
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applications and issue more permits for Class V aquifer recharge injection wells under 

the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program in an attempt to combat the effects of 

saltwater intrusion caused by sea-level rise.

• Reduced annual precipitation or increased intensity and duration of drought in some 

regions will affect water supplies, causing drinking water providers to reassess supply 

plans and consider alternative pricing, allocation and water conservation options.

• In areas with less precipitation, public water supply systems water demand may rely more 

heavily on underground aquifers or development of underground storage of treated water 

to supplement existing sources. Changes in the salt front of estuaries and tidal rivers due 

to sea level rise and over use of fresh surface and ground water resulting in flow changes 

may result in increased pressure to manage freshwater reservoirs to increase flows and 

attempt to maintain salinity regimes, in order to protect estuarine productivity and 

drinking water supplies. 

IV. Goal 3: Cleaning up Communities and Advancing Sustainable 

Development

Contaminated site cleanup occurs under a variety of EPA programs, most commonly 

Superfund (i.e., remedial, time-critical removal, emergency response programs), the Resources 

Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (e.g., 

PCBs), Brownfields, Underground Storage Tanks (UST)/Leaking Underground Storage Tanks 

(LUST) and the Oil Pollution Act (OPA). A high percentage of cleanups, including most 

brownfields sites, are regulated through State programs. 

The potential climate change impacts described in Section IV.A below broadly apply to each 

of these programs; however, the implications of these climate change impacts may differ by 

program. Potential program-specific focus areas and vulnerabilities are discussed in Section 

III.B.

A. Overview of Potential Climate Change Impacts 

For the Southeast, the impacts that could most likely pose risks to contaminated site cleanups 

and waste management facilities are sea level rise, extreme storm events (precipitation and 

wind), temperature extremes, wildfires, decreasing precipitation days and increasing drought 

intensity. Ocean acidification and increased water temperatures may also pose additional risks to 

coastal facilities and affect the natural bio-degradation of chemicals released to the environment. 

Potential environmental conditions arising from these impacts and specific examples illustrating 

how they could potentially influence contaminated sites are described below. The likelihood and 

severity of climate change impacts can also be expected to vary considerably from site-to-site 

depending on the location, cleanup technologies and approaches, and many other factors. 
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1. Sea Level Rise 

As discussed previously, sea level rise is expected to impact coastal areas affecting every 

state in the Region 4 except for Tennessee and Kentucky. This impact on contaminated sites and 

petroleum storage facilities may be partially mitigated because it is expected to occur gradually 

over the course of several decades. This allows additional time to appropriately plan for and 

respond to sea level rise (e.g., construction of berms, removal of wastes, and completion of 

shorter-term treatment activities). Contaminated sites and petroleum storage facilities located in 

vulnerable areas could experience impacts due to inundation and salt water intrusion. Examples 

include flooding of petroleum storage facilities, long-term waste management areas, and 

uncontrolled (or undiscovered) contamination leading to the release and dispersal of 

contaminants; corrosion of underground tanks, piping, and other equipment; and degradation of 

coastal aquifers that impacts cleanup performance goals. Saltwater intrusion may impair habitat 

restoration efforts of impacted surface areas (like wetlands); and may change soil and water 

chemical and biological properties, thereby impacting toxicity, transport, natural degradation of 

contaminants, and treatment efficacy. For example, intrusion may impact the ability of native 

microorganisms to play a role in bioremediation of petroleum-impacted soils. 

2. Extreme Storm Events

Existing climate studies suggest that Region 4 has been experiencing more intense storm 

events. Unlike sea level rise which predominantly affects coastal areas, extreme storm events 

can impact a much wider range of contaminated sites. These impacts could include: 

• flooding of surface water bodies and surrounding land areas due to heavy precipitation 

events (i.e., regional drainage)

• flooding of coastal areas and rivers from storm surge due to higher intensity hurricanes, 

• increased local surface runoff, 

• increased infiltration of storm water into soils and elevation of water tables, and 

• increased wind damage and dispersion of contaminants. 

Prior to the enactment of environmental laws, industrial wastes were routinely discharged to 

rivers, streams and other water bodies. As a result, many contaminants may exist within the 

layers of sediment that accumulated over the years. One potential impact of extreme storm 

events is the spread of contaminants through erosion, exposure of formerly buried contaminants, 

dissolution or suspension of contaminants, and deposition of contaminated soils or sediments. 

River flooding that breaches dams may result in the spread of contaminated sediment previously 

contained by the dams. Flooding of chemical facilities may mobilize contaminants through 

stormwater runoff. Increased precipitation events and hurricanes can potentially impact sites 

even if they are remote from coastal areas and rivers. 

Extreme weather can delay or impair active removal and remedial operations, and 

complicate a remedy due to such impacts as flotation of tanks or drums, , damage of engineered 

sediment caps, damage to treatment systems, impacts to contaminated structures, and damage to 
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containment systems by the forces of wind and water – all of which can create risks to human 

health and the environment. 

3. Temperature Change

The direct consequence of elevated temperatures on contaminated site cleanups is not 

expected to be significant. However, elevated temperatures could lead to increased 

pressurization of storage containers, volatilization of hazardous materials, and other factors 

which may affect design and operation of remediation systems and emergency response actions. 

Worker health and safety concerns during site operations may also be impacted by higher 

temperatures (e.g., handling of pressurized drums, heat stress to responders). 

4. Wildfires

The increase in wildfires may impact treatment facilities and above ground storage units. The 

disruption of treatment will impact costs and restoration time frames.

5. Ocean Acidification

The acidification of sea water may adversely impact the corrosion and degradation of 

pipelines and construction materials (e.g. concrete pads/berms) used to convey, store, or contain 

petroleum products at coastal facilities. 

6. Increased Water Temperatures

Increased water temperatures may lead to a change in native or endemic organisms available 

for biotic degradation of petroleum released to the environment. 

B. Program-Specific Vulnerabilities and Potential Actions

1. Longer-term Cleanups (e.g., Superfund Remedial, Superfund TimeCritical Removal, RCRA Corrective Action, TSCA, Brownfields Cleanup Sites, 

and Polychlorinated Cleanup)

Longer-term response cleanups such as the Superfund remedial program and the RCRA 

corrective action program are intended to protect human health and the environment, maintain 

protection over time, minimize the amount of untreated waste, and reduce ecological risks to 

levels that will result in the recovery and maintenance of healthy local populations and 

communities of biota. These cleanups are generally viewed as “permanent” solutions. Other 

cleanup programs such as the Superfund time-critical removal program address more immediate 

threats; however, in many cases these may also result in long-term cleanup remedies. 

2. Impacts on Longer-term Cleanups:

Cleanups where waste is left in place (e.g., landfills, cap-in-place remedies) or cleanups that 

involve treatment that occurs over a long period of time (e.g., ground water pump & treat 

systems) could be especially vulnerable to changes in climate. For cleanup operations that are 

typically of much shorter duration (e.g., soil vapor extraction, enhanced thermal treatment), the 

impacts of climate change are more predictable and easier to factor into the selection and design 

of a particular remedy. 
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a) Programmatic Vulnerabilities

• Physical impacts to Superfund actions of all durations are likely to include the following: 

o Both removals and remedial actions may involve labor-intensive operations, 

sometimes for an extended length of time, and are therefore vulnerable to the acute 

impacts of climate change: e.g. flooding, ground water hydrology, temporary or 

long-term power outages, extreme heat, wind impacts. 

o Such impacts may complicate assessment phases.

o There may be heightened risk of physical damage to buildings and other components 

of the existing site and the remedy, such as storm movement of drums or other 

containers, or damage to booms and other containment structures. 

o Off-site disposal, waste transport, equipment capabilities and laboratory capabilities 

may be overwhelmed by extreme storm events. Temporary on-site staging of 

hazardous materials may be compromised. 

o Extreme storm events may provide increased hazards for EPA staff and contractors 

on site. 

o Climate impacts to infrastructure may hamper response time and capability, including 

but not limited to the ability to move equipment and to transport hazardous materials 

for disposal.

• Programmatic impacts to the Superfund program include an ability to adequately plan for 

and execute in a changed environment:

o The preliminary assessment/site investigation (PA/SI) phase of time-critical removal 

actions or an Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS) are based on existing 

information -- typically historical information, not future predictions. Without 

incorporating potential climate change impacts, an accurate risk may not be factored 

into planning or prioritization. Assumptions and modeling previously relied upon in 

an area may no longer be valid

o The remedy selection process must also adequately consider climate impacts. 

Precipitation records and floodplain maps used for remedy selection and design may 

not account for future climate change impacts, for example. 

o More robust remedies such as excavation and removal of wastes may be required for

sites potentially vulnerable to sea level rise and flooding, increasing short-term costs. 

o Climate change may increase the mobility of contaminants and reduce the 

effectiveness of containment as a remedy.

o Designs may have to be based on conservative assumptions to reflect uncertainty over 

future environmental conditions, including extreme storm events that increase surface 

water runoff or infiltration. 

o Future population growth will most likely result in people living in areas near 

Superfund sites previously less occupied, contributing to a need for reassessment of 

scoring, risks and protectiveness of existing sites and remedies. Reevaluation of sites 

previously considered for the NPL may be necessary. 

o Changes in exposure pathways for both human and ecological receptors will result 

from sea level rise, coastline alteration and other factors. These may include such 

aspects as changes to drinking water system intakes, floodplain reach to residential 

areas, and rates of erosion. Remedy design and standards may need to reflect 

projections.
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o Climate impacts may also alter the biological communities impacted by a Site, such 

as increasing risk to seafood sources. 

o Health and Safety Plans should adequately anticipate extreme storm events.

o Not only will potential impacts on ecological receptors differ from past experience, 

but also the ecological receptors themselves may differ due to migration of species 

and habitat alteration. Remedies should anticipate additional future impacts. 

o Increased sophistication of modeling and planning may raise engineering costs as 

well as execution costs. 

b) State by State Assessment 

• Alabama: Coastal areas will be susceptible to flooding and saltwater intrusion. Out of 

the 10 largest population centers in Alabama, only Mobile is located on the coast. Most 

other large cities are located on or near waterways may be more susceptible to flooding; 

infrastructure in cities may be overwhelmed, leading to releases. Currently 15 Superfund 

or Superfund Alternative Sites are located in the State; 10 of these sites have ongoing 

five-year reviews required by residual waste.

• Florida: Most of the state will be susceptible to flooding and coastal areas will be 

susceptible to saltwater intrusion. Seven out of 10 of the largest population centers in 

Florida are located on the coast (Jacksonville, Miami, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Ft. 

Lauderdale, Port St. Lucie, and Coral Gables). Because of population and groundwater 

impacts, there are more Superfund Remedial sites in Florida than other Region 4 states. 

Currently 66 Superfund or Superfund Alternative Sites are located in the State; 39 of 

these sites have ongoing five-year reviews required by residual waste.

• Georgia: Coastal areas will be susceptible to flooding and saltwater intrusion. Out of the 

10 largest population centers in Georgia, only Savannah is located on the coast. Most 

other large cities are located on or near waterways and may be more susceptible to 

flooding; infrastructure in cities may be overwhelmed, leading to releases. Currently 15 

Superfund or Superfund Alternative Sites are located in the State; 9 of these sites have 

ongoing five-year reviews required by residual waste.

• Kentucky: There are no coastal areas, and saltwater intrusion will not be a concern. 

Large cities located on or near waterways, such as the Ohio River, may be more 

susceptible to flooding; infrastructure in cities may be overwhelmed, leading to releases. 

Currently 14 Superfund or Superfund Alternative Sites are located in the State; 12 of 

these sites have ongoing five-year reviews required by residual waste. 

• Mississippi: Coastal areas will be susceptible to flooding and saltwater intrusion. Out of 

the 10 largest population centers in Mississippi, only two (Gulfport and Biloxi) are 

located on the coast. Most other large cities are located on or near waterways and may be 

more susceptible to flooding; infrastructure in cities may be overwhelmed, leading to 

releases. Currently 8 Superfund or Superfund Alternative Sites are located in the State; 1 

of these sites has ongoing five-year reviews required by residual waste.

• North Carolina: Coastal areas will be susceptible to flooding and saltwater intrusion. 

Out of the 10 largest population centers in North Carolina, only Fayetteville, Wilmington 

and Greenville are located in the coastal plain. Most other large cities are located on or 

near waterways and may be more susceptible to flooding; infrastructure in cities may be 

overwhelmed, leading to releases. Currently 41 Superfund or Superfund Alternative 
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Sites are located in the State; 25 of these sites have ongoing five-year reviews required by 

residual waste.

• South Carolina: Coastal areas will be susceptible to flooding and saltwater intrusion. 

Out of the 10 largest population centers in South Carolina, only Charleston and Mount 

Pleasant are located on the coast. Other large cities are located on or near waterways and 

may be more susceptible to flooding; infrastructure in cities may be overwhelmed, 

leading to releases. Currently 30 Superfund or Superfund Alternative Sites are located in 

the State; 22 of these sites have ongoing five-year reviews required by residual waste.

• Tennessee: There are no coastal areas, so saltwater intrusion is not a concern. Large 

cities located on or near waterways, e.g., the Cumberland and Mississippi Rivers may be 

more susceptible to flooding; infrastructure in cities may be overwhelmed, leading to 

releases. Currently 25 Superfund or Superfund Alternative Sites are located in the State; 

10 of these sites have ongoing five-year reviews required by residual waste.

Table 4. State Comparisons of Coastline and Superfund Sites

AL GA FL KY MS NC SC TN

General Coastline1

(statute miles)

53 100 1350 0 44 301 187 0

Tidal Coastline2

(statute miles)

607 2344 8426 0 359 3375 2876 0

Superfund and SAS 

Sites

15 15 66 14 8 41 30 25

Five-Year Review 

Sites

10 9 39 12 1 25 22 10

Population 4,822,023 9,919,945 19,317,568 4,380,415 2,984,926 9,752,073 4,723,723 6,456,243

Climate-Change 

Impact Rank

5 4 1 8 6 2 3 7

Notes:

1. Figures are lengths of general outline of seacoast. This does not include freshwater coastlines. Measurements are 

made with unit measure of 30 minutes of latitude on charts as near scale of 1:1,200,000 as possible. Coastline of 

bays and sounds is included to point where they narrow to width of unit measure, and distance across at such 

point is included. 2. Figures were obtained in 1939–1940 with recording instrument on the largest-scale maps and charts then 

available. Shoreline of outer coast, offshore islands, sounds, bays, rivers, and creeks is included to head of 

tidewater, or to point where tidal waters narrow to width of 100 feet. 

**Source: Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service.

3. Emergency Response Programs

EPA coordinates and implements a wide range of activities to ensure that adequate and 

timely response measures are taken in communities affected by hazardous substances and oil 

releases where state and local first responder capabilities have been exceeded or where additional 

support is needed. EPA’s emergency response program responds to chemical, oil, biological and 

radiological releases and large-scale national emergencies, including homeland security 

incidents. EPA conducts time-critical and non-time-critical removal actions when necessary to 

protect human health and the environment by either funding response actions directly or 

overseeing and enforcing actions conducted by potentially responsible parties.
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EPA Region 4 has an approximate total coast line of 2,035 miles that may be impacted by 

large weather events, such as hurricanes. An increase in storm severity and sea level rise may 

cause large storm surge damage in communities and industrial facilities along Region 4’s coast 

line. In addition, inland flooding due to intense and frequent storms may cause extensive flood 

damage in communities and industrial facilities that were not predicted to be affected under 

current flood maps. These large events will require the need of ample resources of On Scene 

Coordinators, Remedial Project Managers and Response Support Corps (RSC) members to be 

deployed to respond in the following areas:

a) Impacts on Emergency Response Programs

• Smaller entities with hazardous materials may lack resources for emergency planning, 

which may increase the risk of abandoned hazardous materials during a flooding or storm 

event.

• Local capacity to treat and dispose of hazardous and municipal waste may be 

overwhelmed by surges in mixed waste from climatic events.

• Releases of hazardous materials or chemicals through high winds, flooding, and storm 

surge may create a need for increased frequency and intensity of emergency response for 

both hazardous materials and oil. Current response resources, including laboratory 

requirements, may not be adequate for responses to extreme events. Specific impacts 

include:

o Increased number of brown/black outs will potentially lead to impacts on facility 

processes (i.e. runaway reactions, heat reactions, failure of chemical processes)

o Coastal hazardous material and oil facilities may be impacted by extreme events and 

storm surge. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has jurisdiction over hazardous 

material and oil spills along the coast, but EPA has interagency agreements in place 

to support the USCG during responses.

• Extreme storm and flooding damage to homes will produce an increase in the amount of 

household hazardous waste and white goods (i.e., refrigerators, air conditioners, etc) that 

may need to be collected and placed in landfills. An increase in household hazardous and 

industrial waste collected during disaster events may strain waste landfill capacity and 

require the construction of additional landfill capacity.

• Storm surge caused by coastal storms, hurricanes and sea-level rise may adversely impact 

industrial facilities located along the coast and cause releases of chemicals, discharges of 

oil and mobility of orphan containers (i.e., above-ground storage tanks, drums, and totes) 

in the affected area.

o Oil facilities that are required to have Facility Response plans or Spill Prevention,

Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) plans may experience large impacts due to 

extreme rain fall events. 

o The Region will need to maintain the Response Support Corps concept to provide 

for additional personnel during the Agency response to FEMA disaster declared 

responses. This will require the continued recruitment of RSC members, training 

and exercises.
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• Pest type and range may change with climate change, and there may be an increase or 

change in type of pesticides stored and transported across the region, resulting in a 

potential increase in releases.

• Twenty-seven percent of the major roads, 9 percent of the rail lines, and 72 percent of the 

ports in Region 4 area are built on land at or below 4 feet above sea level in elevation, a 

level within the range of projections for relative sea-level rise in this century. Increased 

storm intensity may lead to increased service disruption and infrastructure damage. More 

than half of the area’s major highways (64 percent of interstates, 57 percent of arterials), 

almost half of the rail miles, 29 airports, and virtually all of the ports, are below 23 feet in 

elevation and subject to flooding and damage due to hurricane storm surge. 

• Additional planning for emergency response may be needed:

o Brown and black-outs may cause releases and the frequency and intensity of storms 

may need to be incorporated into current national and area contingency plans.

o Facility Response Plans (FRP) and SPCC plans may not consider climate change 

impacts.

o Current regional debris management plans rely on historical climate assumptions and 

do not address the increasing uncertainty in climatic extreme events.

o Additional planning may be needed as Stafford Act declaration (federal emergency 

declaration) may be more frequent with a changing climate.

o Current energy infrastructure (oil, natural gas, nuclear) in South East may not include 

climate change assumptions for emergency planning.

b) State by State Assessment.

• Alabama: Mobile is the largest city on the State’s coast and it is the 27th busiest 

container port in the U.S. Areas surrounding Mobile Bay have various chemical and oil 

facilities that may be impacted by the storm surge caused by a very large hurricane. 

• Florida: Of the 10 largest population centers in the State, seven (Jacksonville, Miami, 

Tampa, St. Petersburg, Ft. Lauderdale, Port St. Lucie, and Coral Gables) are located on 

the coast. The Ports of Miami, Jacksonville, Everglades, Palm Beach and Tampa, are 

ranked as the 13th, 14th, 15th, 23rd and 34th busiest container ports in the nation, 

respectively. These cities have a significant industrial and population base that has the 

potential to produce a large amount of household hazardous waste and industrial waste 

resulting from storm surge impacts due to a large hurricane.

o Additionally, the State has a large phosphate mining and phosphate fertilizing 

processing industry mostly concentrated in the central Florida region. One of the 

byproducts of phosphate fertilizer production is phosphogypsum. There are 

currently about 1 billion tons of phosphogypsum stored in 24 stacks in Florida 

and about 30 million new tons are generated each year. One of the concerns is a 

large weather event (hurricane) could affect the stability of one of these stacks 

and may cause a release of low acidic process water to the environment.

• Georgia: The City of Savannah is the nation's fourth busiest container port and the 

second busiest in the East Coast. A large hurricane can be devastating to the area and 

produce a large amount of hazardous materials and debris to be spread through the area. 

The State has two CCR Surface Impoundments that were determined to be a High Hazard 

Potential by EPA. 
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• Kentucky: The State has experienced flooding in the past and increase in the severity of 

rain fall events will continue to cause flooding in the State.

• Mississippi: The State’s coastline has three cities: Pascagoula, Gulfport and Biloxi. 

These cities were affected heavily by Hurricane Katrina and produced large amounts of 

household hazardous waste and industrial debris from the hurricane’s storm surge. The 

Port of Gulfport is the 21st busiest container port in the U.S. and was heavily affected by 

Hurricane Katrina. A large amount of the port’s cargo was dispersed by the storm surge 

into the bordering community.

o The Pascagoula coast has one of the largest refineries in the U.S. and a direct hit 

by a large hurricane may cause the release millions of gallons of oil and gasoline 

to the Gulf of Mexico. Also, the area has a large phosphate fertilizer 

manufacturing plant that contains large stacks and may release low pH waste 

water due to heavy rain events. 

• North Carolina: The Port of Wilmington is the 19th busiest container port in the nation 

and may be vulnerable to storm surge damage resulting from a hurricane. The State is 

prone to large flooding associated with rains caused by Hurricanes passing through the 

State. 

o In 1999, Hurricane Floyd caused extensive flood damage in eastern North 

Carolina. In 2004, Hurricane Ivan caused extensive flooding in the Appalachian 

Mountain region of western North Carolina. These extreme events produced 

large amounts of orphaned containers and household hazardous waste. 

o Due to groundwater contamination, Region 4’s Superfund Removal program has 

had to supply an alternative water source to various communities in the State. 

Because of an increase in extreme rainfall events, additional contaminated 

groundwater wells may be identified by the State and may require EPA to provide 

these communities an alternative water source. 

• South Carolina: The coastal zone of the State is described as the Low Country and 

includes City of Charleston. This city is also a major port and is ranked the 10th busiest 

container port in the nation. The area is a flat and is susceptible to flooding, and could be 

heavily impacted by coastal storm surge from a major hurricane. 

• Tennessee: Even though the State does not have a coast line, heavy rainfall can cause 

major flooding events. During May of 2010, Nashville and surrounding counties 

experienced large rainfall over a two day period that caused extensive flooding in the 

area. EPA Region 4 Emergency Response program responded to the area and conducted 

assessments of major oil and industrial facilities and recovered orphan containers that 

were dispersed by the flood waters. The increase of the severity of rain fall events due to 

climate change will produce flooding in the State.

4. RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Facilities

RCRA regulates, among other things, the treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous 

wastes. Owners/operators of these treatment, storage, and disposal (TSD) facilities must 

generally obtain a permit for those activities. Facilities that generate hazardous waste and store it 

for less than 90 days are also regulated under RCRA. In Region 4, the individual states are 

authorized to implement this program in lieu of EPA. 
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In order to operate as a TSD facility, the owner/operator must comply with numerous 

technical requirements, which ensure that covered activities are conducted in a manner that is

protective of human health and the environment. These requirements apply to on-going 

hazardous waste management units (e.g., drum and tank storage, surface impoundments, waste 

piles), as well as to the closure (i.e., cleaning and decommissioning) of those units that are no 

longer in use. TSD facilities must also conduct cleanup of past and present releases of hazardous 

constituents. 

a) Impacts on RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Facilities

The same climate change impacts that could affect contaminated site cleanups may also 

affect the management and operation of hazardous waste facilities. Some examples are: 

• Flooding may disrupt the transportation system in place to handle waste. For example, 

flooding may disrupt the pick-up of waste in neighborhoods and business or the work 

performed at transfer stations. Cities with transfer stations along waterways are at 

particular risk. 

• A major storm event may increase the amount of solid waste generated and lead to the 

release of fuel or hazardous materials. 

• Changes in precipitation may impact waste management practices such as composting 

by affecting biological processes.

• Vegetative cover on landfills may be compromised due to dry soil conditions.

• Tanks containing hazardous waste could be damaged by high winds or flying debris 

during hurricanes.

• Integrity of drums and drum storage areas could be compromised by flooding, allowing 

drums to be floated out of containment barriers, or cause intermingling of incompatible 

wastes, etc.

• The potential for failure of process equipment (e.g., pressure relief valves, emergency 

vent fans and pumps) could increase with increases in winter rain and ice storms.

• Over-pressurization of tanks containing volatile wastes and the emergency venting of 

these wastes could occur with extreme ambient temperatures.

• Buildings or other structures used for indoor storage of waste piles could be damaged or 

flooded in a hurricane causing the release of this material.

• Emergency evacuation routes for facility personnel and the surrounding community, as 

well as facility access by fire and other emergency response vehicles, could be flooded 

or otherwise restricted due to an extreme storm event. 

• States may need to alter selected financial assurance remedies to ensure protection.

 

While Region 4 states are authorized to implement the RCRA hazardous waste 

management program, EPA retains oversight authority to ensure compliance with the statute and 

regulations and there may be a need for increased coordination to respond to climate change 

impacts. Region 4 will work with state programs and industry to modify operating facility 

permits to include enhanced emergency preparedness requirements appropriate for climate 

change impacts.
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b) Programmatic Vulnerabilities for EPA’s oversight role

• Uncertainties in the underlying assumptions that could affect the design, operation and 

management of hazardous waste facilities, including contingency planning (e.g., RCRA 

TSD facilities must meet specific requirements if waste management units are located 

within a 100-year floodplain).

• Financial assurance estimates for closure/post-closure may not reflect changing climate 

change impacts on those activities.

5. Oil Program and Underground Storage Tanks

OPA was signed into law in August 1990. The OPA improved the nation's ability to prevent 

and respond to oil spills by establishing provisions that expand the federal government's ability, 

and provide the money and resources necessary, to respond to oil spills. To reduce the likelihood 

of a spill, regulations issued under CWA Section 311(j) (published at 40 CFR Part 112) require 

facilities that store oil in significant amounts to prepare SPCC plans and to adopt certain 

measures to keep accidental releases from reaching navigable waters. Certain types of facilities 

that pose a greater risk of release must also develop plans to respond promptly to clean up any 

spills that do occur.

147

EPA created the Office of Underground Storage Tanks to carry out a Congressional mandate 

to develop and implement a regulatory program for UST systems. EPA works with its state, 

territorial, and tribal partners to prevent and clean up releases from UST systems. The greatest 

potential threat from a leaking UST is contamination of groundwater, the source of drinking 

water for nearly half of all Americans. EPA, states, and tribes work together to protect the 

environment and human health from potential UST releases.148

a) Impacts on the Oil and Underground Storage Tank Programs

• Region 4 has a universe of USTs, which may be vulnerable to flooding events. Of 

particular concern is groundwater contamination from leaks from at risk tanks and 

damage to the supporting piping.

• Secondary containment and flooding of coastal facilities may be compromised by sea 

level rise.

• Alterations in shoreline geology and/or sea level rise may increase exposures of USTs or 

underground pipeline, increase pressure differences and gradients, and/or alter the flow of 

oil and hazardous substances in pipelines.

• Increase in precipitation and floods may have many impacts, as follows:

o Decrease the effectiveness of secondary containment.

o Increase flow and pressure to underground infrastructure/structures i.e. pipelines, 

wastewater treatment facilities, power plants, and paper mills. Increased flow and 

pressure to containment systems may result in back feed and flow of product 

resulting in increased discharges of oil.

o Decrease tank headspace thereby displacing buffer space available to prevent 

overflow/ overfill, potentially leading to increased oil spills. 
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o Increase weathering of underground and aboveground storage tanks (ASTs and 

USTs). 

o Increase flow and changes of navigable water depth, thereby increasing difficulty 

in preparing and implementing planning distance, booming strategies, and 

cleanup strategies.

• Failure of infrastructure (e.g. pipelines, and secondary containment) and damage or 

displacement of tanks due to increased intensity of hurricanes and resulting winds and 

storm surges. Damage to storage tanks would increase the likelihood of spills to 

navigable waters, coastlines and oceans. 

• Increased degradation and weathering of pipelines and infrastructure due to ocean 

acidification resulting in oil spills. 

• As SPCC facilities are regulated solely on the probability that an oil spill from that 

facility will impact navigable waters, decreasing precipitation days and increasing 

drought intensity may reduce the number of facilities that fall under the jurisdiction of the 

SPCC program.

• Change in native or endemic organism availability for biotic degradation of oil due to 

increase in water temperatures.

6. Brownfield Program

While Brownfields Cleanup Sites will potentially be impacted much the same as 

Superfund, RCRA Corrective Action, and TSCA sites will be (discussed in section i), effects of 

climate change may also be felt by other aspects of the Brownfields Program.

a) Impacts on Brownfield Program

• Brownfield Grantees may have to make changes to their Master Plans as shorelines and 

flood zones change. Applicants who receive brownfield grant funds are encouraged to 

follow a community-developed Master Plan for redevelopment. Developing such a plan 

is an eligible grant expense but preference is generally given to communities who already 

have such a plan in place. Region 4 Project Officers should be prepared to allow changes 

as needed for climate adaptation.

• Development of a climate adaptation strategy for a brownfield site is an eligible grant 

expense. EPA Project Officers will have to become familiar with these types of plans so 

they can properly advise grantees.

• More sites may enter the brownfields inventory as natural disasters lead to release of 

hazardous substances and petroleum. EPA may begin experiencing even more 

competition for the already dwindling brownfields grant funding.

• Flooding could disrupt or delay work at existing Brownfield sites. 
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V. Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution

A. Pesticides

EPA and the states (usually the State Department of Agriculture) register or license 

pesticides for use in the United States. In addition, anyone planning to import pesticides for use 

in the U.S. must notify EPA. EPA receives its authority to register pesticides under the Federal 

Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

EPA's Pesticides program covers: 

• Evaluating Potential New Pesticides and Uses 

• Providing for Special Local Needs and Emergency Situations 

• Reviewing Safety of Older Pesticides 

• Registering Pesticide Producing Establishments 

• Enforcing Pesticide Requirements

• Risk assessment 

• Pesticide Field Programs 

Climate change may lead to an increase in pesticide use, due to an increase in pests and 

diseases which favor warm and humid climates. In the southeast, pesticides are widely used 

currently as the climate is hot and humid, and in most areas there is not a cold winter to kill 

off pests, thus pest problems tend to be a year-round issue. Many models now show the 

winter months in the southeast will become warmer as time goes on. The freeze-free seasons 

are lengthening and may result in the cessation of freezing in some areas, which may only 

increase the already high pest populations particularly in the northern areas of the region.149 

The southeast region has 12 major marine ports,150 and thus the introduction of non-native 

pest species is a constant concern. 

Currently the southeast is riddled with invasive pest species and it is likely that climate 

change will only continue to exacerbate this problem. The potential impacts of increasing 

pesticide usage include concerns about human exposure as well as concerns about non-target 

organism impacts, such as impacts to pollinators and beneficial insects, endangered species, 

aquatic organisms and others. Concerns for groundwater contamination will continue to be 

an issue especially in Florida, where the water table is high and soils are permeable. Karst 

topography is dominant in the southern part of the region and in parts of Kentucky and 

Tennessee. 
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B. Impacts on Pesticides Program

• Region 4 will experience new pest problems, many of which will be from exotic invasive 

species. 

• Changes in pests and pest pressures will result from increases in temperatures and 

variations in rainfall patterns. 

• There would be a potential increase in the need for emergency exemptions (FIFRA 

Section 18). These FIFRA exemptions are granted when an emergency pest problem 

appears which cannot be controlled effectively by the current pesticides registered for 

that pest or commodity, allowing temporary use of chemicals which are not registered for 

that use. The Section 18 requests are approved by EPA Headquarters. The regional role 

is to provide technical assistance to the states as needed. 

• Urban populations have spread out into areas which at one time were largely rural which 

may increase citizen complaints from individuals living near farms. Region 4 may need 

to increase enforcement and compliance monitoring efforts to protect both farmworkers 

and residents living near farms. 

• Increasing pesticides usage to control pests could also lead to increased resistance of the 

pest to the chemical being used. Resistance management will therefore become 

increasingly important.

• The increase in amount and variability of precipitation projected for Region 4 can create 

an expanded mosquito habitat, which could increase exposure to more diseases like 

dengue fever and malaria.

• The Region will need to be prepared to address needs for aggressive mosquito control as 

well as support continued local monitoring of mosquito populations, which is currently 

being done by most large mosquito control districts in the southeast. Emergency 

exemptions for mosquito control may increase, especially after major weather events 

such as floods and hurricanes, which tend to spur populations of A. aegypti and A.

albopictus.

• As more Section 18 requests may be anticipated, and more pesticides may be used in 

response to climate change, impacts to non-target endangered species will need to be 

considered and monitored. 

• There will likely be an increase in fungal organisms in agricultural and non-agricultural 

settings due to extreme rainfall. 

• Climate impacts may change chemical and non-chemical agricultural practices due to 

extreme storms and farmers’ inability to work in their fields (e.g. increases the likelihood 

of run-off and off target movement of chemical products; limits on the potential use of 

certain non-chemical methods such as cultivation because it may not be possible to bring 

heavy farm equipment onto wet fields and saturated soils). 

• Increased use of aerial applications are likely to result in increased pesticide drift due to 

extreme storm events. 

• Drought may lead to an increase in dry condition pests (e.g. mites that feed on a variety 

of field, vegetable and fruit crops). 
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These changes in pesticide choices and quantities will require changes to the pesticide 

applicator certification and training programs. Changes in chemical selection could result 

in new and increased chemical exposures, especially for indoor applications. Types of new 

pest problems could include:

• Indoor and outdoor molds and microorganisms which are controlled by disinfectant 

pesticide products; 

• Public health pests such as mosquitoes and ticks; 

• Forest pests, 

• Aquatic pests including weeds; and 

• Various agricultural pests including weeds, insects and plant diseases. 

VI. Goal 5 - Enforcing Environmental Laws within Region 4

Region 4 anticipates that in the future, climate change related issues may be raised in the 

context of EPA’s enforcement program across the media – whether it be as part of a settlement 

negotiation, compliance issue, a mitigation project, a clean-up, or in another enforcement related 

context. EPA is already beginning to evaluate objectives associated with assuring compliance 

with the greenhouse gas reporting rule, encouraging greenhouse gas emissions reductions 

through settlements, and targeting the energy sector compliance with air, water and waste rules. 

See, e.g., http://www.epa.gov/enforcement/data/goals.html. Region 4 will continue to work 

closely with its EPA HQ counterparts at EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance 

Assurance (OECA) to evaluate and determine appropriate options for considering and 

incorporating climate change adaptation principles into the Region 4 enforcement programs.

VII. Facilities and Operations

Climate change poses a range of risks to EPA Region 4’s facilities and operations. The 

following sections detail the general risks and then delve into the risks specific to each facility. 

Note that each facility does not operate in isolation; the climate impacts experienced by each 

facility will be greatly influenced by the larger systems (utilities, transportation, communities) of 

which it is a part. 

A. Severe Weather Preparedness

In response to severe weather conditions that may be attributed to Climate Change, EPA 

Region 4 has worked with the Federal Agencies at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, the 

Atlanta Federal Executive Board (FEB), the Fulton County Emergency Management Agency, 

and FEMA to develop procedures to monitor severe weather and provide emergency alert 

notifications to Federal Agency Heads in the metro Atlanta area.
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EPA and FEMA co-chair the Emergency Preparedness Committee of the Atlanta FEB. 

When potentially hazardous weather approaches the Metro Atlanta area the FEB convenes a 

weather alert committee by conference call to discuss the potential impact on Federal Buildings 

and employees. These calls include representatives for many Federal, State, and Local 

emergency and law enforcement agencies to provide the latest projection and assessment of 

weather impacts on the Atlanta areas.

The FEB Emergency Preparedness Special Weather Committee issues emergency 

advisory notices via phone, email, and telephone message line on early dismissal, delayed 

opening, and /or closure of Federal Offices. These alerts may be issued during the work day or 

after early morning conference calls at 4:00 am.

The EPA lead Interagency Occupant Emergency Command team at the Sam Nunn 

Atlanta Nunn Atlanta Federal Center (SNAFC) has incorporated weather emergencies into the 

building’s Occupant Emergency Plan. For the past 3 years the SNAFC has conducted Shelter in 

Place exercises as part of Georgia’s annual state-wide Tornado Drill. Over 5000 Federal 

employees and visitors participate in these exercises at the SNAFC each year.

EPA Region 4 has established a Continuity of Operations (COOP) site at the SESD 

facility in Athens Georgia. A limited number of essential personnel will report to and work out 

of this primary COOP site if the SNAFC were to be damaged by severe weather. The Region 

has a secondary site established at the Emergency Response Warehouse in Norcross Georgia in 

case the SESD facility in Athens is not operational. In this instance the executive leadership team 

would work out of the Norcross facility. Other employees would work remotely as needed using 

established Telework procedures.

EPA, FEMA, and the Atlanta FEB have joined together to plan and conduct a Multi 

Agency Continuity of Operations Exercise scheduled for May 2013. The event scenario for this 

exercise which will include all federal Agencies in the metro Atlanta area is severe catastrophic 

Tornado damage throughout the Atlanta and East Georgia areas. Planning for this event 

included a Home Security Executive Education Seminar held on March 19, 2013 attended by 

Agency Heads and senior executives from 28 Federal Agencies and representatives from the US 

District Courts. The continuity related incident used as the foundation for this executive seminar 

was a catastrophic tornado event approaching and then striking the metro Atlanta area. 

Discussion included operational roles and coordination between federal Agencies, State and local 

governments, and the private sector. 

The Continuity of Operations exercise in May 2013 will include all of the Region 4 

program offices working in cooperation with their counterparts in EPA Regions 3 and 5. 

Specific exercise injects are being developed to test each program’s response to damage from the 

tornados. This will also be a Devolution of Operations exercise and program managers from the 

3 EPA partner regions will work to test our readiness to continue mission essential functions by 

staff from another Region if Region 4 cannot functions due to the damage.
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B. Overview of Potential Climate Change Impacts

From the facilities and operations perspective, the vulnerabilities associated with climate 

change encompass issues of energy, security, water quality and supply, severe weather damage, 

personnel safety, physical security, and communication interruptions. These facilities and 

operations support the broader agency mission of protecting air, water, and human health 

through the provision of functional, appropriate, and safe working spaces for personnel. Beyond 

the infrastructure and utilities that serve EPA rented or owned facilities and the operations that 

support the function of those facilities, broader impacts of climate change on transportation and 

communication systems are also vulnerabilities that EPA Region 4’s could experience while 

meeting agency goals. While telework policies are in place to address these vulnerabilities, the 

magnitude of these impacts may extend to those alternate work locations, causing significant 

disruption to employee work and ultimately the EPA Region 4 mission. 

However, while operations may be vulnerable in the areas described above, EPA Region 4 

has developed a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) to maintain emergency functions should 

any particular facility or location be compromised. This plan provides guidance for continued 

uninterrupted operations and the performance of essential functions during emergency situations. 

The COOP includes provisions for physical relocation from current facilities and resource 

planning for up to 30 days. 

C. Region 4 Property Details 

1. The SNAFC Building/Complex

The SNAFC Building is located on four acres in downtown Atlanta on the edge of the 

central business district, at the MARTA (Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority) Five 

Point Station mass transit train system. SNAFC houses 1.1 million sq. ft. of office space and 

103,000 sq. ft. of joint use spaces (daycare, fitness center, health Unit, cafeteria, conference 

spaces, parking garage) occupied by 23 Federal Agencies. The complex consists of four 

connected structures: a twenty-four story high-rise tower, a ten story mid-rise tower, a six story, 

historic department store, restored to office use, and an eight story “Bridge” that spans the street 

and links the high-rise and mid-rise office buildings. EPA Region 4 is housed in the high-rise 

structure, occupying 330,000 rentable sq. ft. (RSF), on floors 9 through 16 and a 3rd floor bridge 

Conference Center. The building is serviced by underground utilities for domestic water and 

power/electricity and the natural gas is above. All building mechanical systems are on the roof 

and the Bridge building has the exhaust and fresh air exchange with two air handler units per 

floor in the Tower. Chillers are located in the basement. 

2. SESD Laboratory 

The Regional 4 laboratory, located at 980 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia, is built 

on a hill at an elevation of 714 feet above mean sea level, obviating any risks of direct flooding.

Located on approximately eleven acres of land and is a single story structure of 57,760 RSF and 

open parking with covered boat/trailer parking structures. The SESD Laboratory is Region 4’s 

COOP site, located approximately 50 miles North of the SNAFC Complex. For COOP 

preparedness, this Laboratory has been equipped with an emergency generator for back-up 

power that provides power to all private offices and training room, library and TS rooms. The 

emergency power is estimated to last 48 hours between refueling requirements. This time can be 
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extended by minimizing the laboratory operations and additional fuel deliveries. Water 

reclamation systems and interstitial service corridors for serve and utilities between back-to-back 

laboratories located adjacent to the ORD Laboratory. The Laboratory is connected to well water. 

This Laboratory houses a mail and supply room for continued support during COOP activation.

3. SESD FEC

Located approximately 15 miles from the SESD Laboratory is a single story metal 

structure, occupying 13,800 RSF. This is SESD’s Field Equipment and Laboratory cleaning and 

sterilization Center. This metal structure building has large bay doors and open parking.

4. ERRB Warehouse

Co-located property with connected structures in single-story building with open parking 

and large bay doors. The space is a combination of office and warehouse space 15,120 RSF. 

The Warehouse is approximately 20 miles North of the SNAFC Complex and is Region 4’s 

secondary COOP location for the executive leadership team.

5. WPD S. FL Office

Region 4 occupies 3,011 RSF on the first floor of the three-story structure that was the 

former Florida Power and Light Hurricane Command Center. Region 4 is in the process of 

downsizing this space to approximately 500 RSF for two remaining employees. All the utilities 

and power lines are external, above ground utilities and power lines and often lose electricity 

with limited emergency back-up power. EPA has an emergency battery UPS to maintain server, 

LAN and router connections. There is a Water Supply Lake approximately 1000 feet away and 

an Intercoastal waters about 1 mile away that do not pose high threats for flooding. 

6. Gulf of Mexico Program

The Gulf of Mexico Program, an EPA geographic program, occupies office space leased 

from NASA at Stennis Space Center (SSC) in Hancock County, Mississippi. The leased space 

is located on the 2nd floor of NASA Building 1100 (Main Administrative Bldg). NASA operates 

and maintains the office building we occupy, as well as all other facilities and operations, 

inclusive of security, fire and emergency services, police, highways, parking, power, water,

sewer, and climate control. NASA has redundant power supply to the Stennis Space Center from 

two separate power grids located in the region. In 2012, we participated on a NASA SSC 

Stakeholder Conference focused on understanding potential climate change impacts to the SSC 

and beginning the adaptation planning process for the facility. 

7. EPA’s Gulf Ecology Division Laboratory campus

In the wake of Hurricane Ivan in 2004, six of the EPA’s Gulf Ecology Division 

Laboratory campus’ 40 buildings were destroyed. Located on the 16-acre Sabine Island, 

off the Florida Panhandle coast, it was especially vulnerable to Ivan’s devastating winds 

and rain. The destroyed buildings were rebuilt incorporating sustainable technologies to

protect it from coastal hazards and minimize its environmental footprint. Aluminum was 

chosen as the primary roofing material since shingles tend to come loose in high winds. Its

light color reflects sunlight to keep cooling costs down. Local building codes required

windows to be equipped with storm shutters or made of high-impact glass. EPA selected 

high-impact glass to provide safety and durability and added skylights to reduce artificial 

lighting use. Because the buildings are exposed to frequent rain, high humidity, and 
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corrosive ocean spray, EPA selected a sturdy wood pulp, sand, and cement composite made 

of recycled material for the building’s siding. The siding is a reflective, UV-resistant, 

white color. And a large porch lines the front to lower the building temperatures.151 

VIII. Climate Change Impacts on the Most Vulnerable People

Certain parts of the population, such as children, the elderly, minorities and the poor, 

persons with underlying medical conditions and disabilities, those with limited access to 

information, and tribal and indigenous populations, can be especially vulnerable to the impacts 

of climate change. Also, certain geographic locations and communities are particularly 

vulnerable, such as those located in low-lying coastal areas. One of the principles guiding EPA’s 

efforts to integrate climate adaptation into its programs, policies and rules calls for its adaptation 

plans to prioritize helping people, places and infrastructure that are most vulnerable to climate 

impacts, and to be designed and implemented with meaningful involvement from all parts of 

society. 

This Implementation Plan identifies key programmatic vulnerabilities and the priority 

actions that will be taken to address those vulnerabilities over time. As the work called for in this 

Plan is conducted, the communities and demographic groups most vulnerable to the impacts of 

climate change will be identified. The Agency will then work in partnership with these 

communities to increase their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change impacts. These 

efforts will be informed by experiences with previous extreme weather events (e.g., Hurricane 

Katrina and Superstorm Sandy) and the subsequent recovery efforts. 

EPA values its unique government-to-government relationship with Indian tribes in 

planning and decision making. This trust responsibility has been established over time and 

is further expressed in the 1984 EPA Policy for the Administration of Environmental 

Programs on Indian Reservations and the 2011 Policy on Consultation and Coordination with 

Indian Tribes. These policies recognize and support the sovereign decision-making 

authority of tribal governments.

Supporting the development of adaptive capacity among tribes is a priority for the 

EPA. Tribes are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to the integral 

nature of the environment within their traditional lifeways and culture. There is a strong 

need to develop adaptation strategies that promote sustainability and reduce the impact of 

climate change on Indian tribes.

EPA engaged tribes through a formal consultation process in the development of the 

Agency’s Climate Change Adaptation Plan. Tribes identified some of the most pressing 

issues as erosion, temperature change, drought and various changes in access to and 

quality of water. Tribes recommended a number of tools and strategies to address these 
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issues, including improving access to data and information; supporting baseline research to 

better track the effects of climate change; developing community-level education and 

awareness materials; and providing financial and technical support. At the same time, 

tribes challenged EPA to coordinate climate change activities among federal agencies so 

that resources are better leveraged and administrative burdens are reduced. 

This Implementation Plan identifies specific steps that will be taken to partner with 

tribal governments on an ongoing basis to increase their adaptive capacity and address 

their adaptation-related priorities. These collaborative efforts will benefit from the 

expertise provide by our tribal partners and the Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) 

they possess. TEK is a valuable body of knowledge in assessing the current and future 

impacts of climate change and has been used by tribes for millennia as a valuable tool to 

adapt to changing surroundings. Consistent with the principles in the 1984 Indian Policy, 

TEK is viewed as a complementary resource that can inform planning and decision-making.

Networks and partnerships already in place will be used to assist tribes with climate 

change issues, including Regional Tribal Operations Committees, the Institute for Tribal 

Environmental Professionals and the Indian General Assistance Program (IGAP). 

Additionally, efforts will be made to coordinate with other Regional and Program Offices in 

EPA, since climate change has many impacts that transcend media and regional boundaries. 

Transparency and information sharing will be a focus, in order to leverage activities 

already taking place within EPA Offices and tribal governments.

A. Children

Children are likely to suffer disproportionally from both the direct and indirect adverse 

health effects of climate change.152 Children are more vulnerable to environmental health risks 

resulting because of their developing systems, immature body organs, and weaker immune 

systems. Young children breathe more rapidly and inhale more air relative to their body weight 

than adults. Their metabolic rate is faster and they proportionately consume more fluids and 

food than that of adults. Their kidneys excrete toxicants and wastes at a slower pace compared to 

adults. Children are less able to protect themselves and their behavior, such as crawling on the 

ground and putting hands and foreign objects into their mouths, exposes them to different 

environmental hazards. 

The Region’s CEH Program goals are aligned with EPA’s strategic goals of improving air 

and water quality, cleaning up communities, ensuring the safety of chemicals and preventing 

pollution. With the support of the Region’s Program Offices and partnership with other 

organizations, the CEH program has conducted education and outreach and supported 

interventions at schools, daycare centers and in communities throughout the Region. The 

program has also provided support to address children’s health hazards associated with 

environmental disasters or in higher risk communities. 
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1. Air Quality

The climate-change aspect of rising temperatures may detrimentally impact air quality in 

Region 4 by increasing ground-level or “bad” ozone formation, formed by nitrogen oxides 

chemically reacting with volatile organic compounds in the presence of sunlight.

153 Ground-level

ozone is the major ingredient of smog and may lead to detrimental effects to children’s health,

particularly asthmatics. When children spend time outdoors during high-level ozone days, they 

may become more vulnerable to ozone health effects,

154 which include wheezing and coughing, 

inflammation of airways, lung function impairment, and infections in the lower respiratory 

tract.155

Changes in long-term weather patterns may result in more wildfires and drier soils, and 

increased emissions of smoke and dust-related particulate matter. When inhaled, fine particles

associated with wildfire smoke and dry-soil dust can cause serious respiratory health problems of

coughing and breathing difficulty, lung-function impairment, asthma attacks, and chronic 

bronchitis.156 Rates of preterm births, low birth weight, and infant mortality have been found to 

increase in those communities with high particulate pollution exposure. 

2. Indoor Air

In the United States, children spend an estimated 90 percent of their time indoors.157 The 

anticipated climate change attributes of heavy rains, increasing temperatures, and high-humidity 

cycles will facilitate this trend. Consequently children will likely have increased exposure with 

identified indoor air agents of concern: heat and biological materials – pollen, molds and 

infectious agents, and air pollutants.158 

3. Infectious Diseases

The expected changes in temperatures and rainfall in Region 4’s climate is likely to facilitate

the growth, survival, and transmission of vector-borne infectious diseases. Vector-borne is a term 

used to describe disease transmission by insects, animals, birds, and other living organism. 

Emergence of new infectious diseases, and changes in the evolution and geographic ranges of 

pests, infectious agents, and disease vectors, may lead to shifting patterns of indoor pesticide use 

and creation of new pesticides. The Region anticipates children may be detrimentally affected by 

anticipated changes in both indoor and outdoor pesticide use. 

4. Flooding

The Atlantic and Gulf coasts are vulnerable to storms and hurricanes. Six of the eight states 

that have the experienced highest number of hurricanes are in Region 4.159 Vulnerable 

populations, such as children, the elderly, and pregnant women could experience both direct and 

indirect consequences of floods. Direct exposures result in risks for drowning, injuries from 

debris, chemical contamination, and hypothermia. There are also risks associated with the 

damage done by the water to the natural and built environments which include infectious 

diseases, carbon monoxide poisoning, respiratory problems, malnutrition, physical and mental 

trauma, poverty related diseases, and diseases associated with displaced populations.
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5. Clean Water

Warmer seas could contribute to the increased intensity, duration, and extent of harmful algal 

blooms. Harmful algal blooms also occur in freshwaters, and as these waters warm it is expected 

algal blooms will increase in frequency and intensity. Children are especially vulnerable when 

they swim in surface waters, and eat contaminated shellfish because their immune systems are 

developing and they consume more food and drink more water-per-pound of body weight than 

adults.

6. Safe Drinking Water

Lack of safe drinking water may cause gastrointestinal diseases that may be fatal for some or 

detrimentally impact other children’s health.160 The climate change aspects of extreme and 

severe weather may result in the breakdown of sanitation and sewer systems resulting in 

exposure to unsafe flood and storm water exposure and unsafe drinking water increasing the 

potential for children’s exposure to disease-causing organisms, such as gastroenteritis and 

infectious diarrhea. 

7. Impacts on Region 4 Children’s Environmental Health (CEH) Program 

While the CEH program focuses on reducing environmental health threats to our most 

vulnerable populations, adequate resources and regulatory authority may present impediments in

addressing the multitude of potential environmental health issues that may result from the 

impacts of climate change. Region 4’s CEH Program has some tools and resources to conduct or 

promote limited educational, outreach and intervention activities addressing CEH issues 

associated with climate change. The CEH program will have to develop additional tools and 

resources to address the unique concerns facing the most vulnerable groups in the most 

vulnerable communities.

B. Elderly Population

The vulnerable population, in addition to children, includes the elderly. Elderly is usually 

defined as those adults who are 65 years of age or older. Approximately 13.8 % of the population 

within Region 4 is elderly according to the 2010 US Census with Florida having the largest 

number of elderly. The projections for 2020 show an increasing trend in population growth for 

every state.
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The elderly are very vulnerable and susceptible to the effects of climate change that cause 

extreme weather conditions such as floods, storm surges, high winds, heat waves and hurricanes. 

In general, the elderly are very vulnerable due to various physiological, psychological, and 

socioeconomic factors that they cope during these extreme weather conditions. 

Physiologically, they are already having higher prevalence of certain chronic diseases, 

medical conditions, and functional limitations that are exacerbated and impairments aggravated. 

An increase in ground-level ozone that occurs with climate change can lead to respiratory 

problems, such as asthma, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD), 

premature mortality. In addition, an increased number of emergency room visits and hospital 

admissions are experienced among the older adults. Extreme heat can induce heat-related 

mortality, heat exhaustion, heat strokes, dehydration, acute renal failure, and cardiopulmonary 

diseases. 

Psychologically, the elderly are affected because of their functional limitations and 

mobility impairments that are present due to their decline in muscle strength, coordination, and 

cognitive functions that have occurred from illness, chronic diseases, or injuries in the older 

adults. The elderly are very sensitive to any extreme changes and environmental exposures 

resulting in decreased adaptive capacity to mentally adapt to these changes. 

1980 1990 2000 2010 2020

Alabama 11.3 12.9 13.2 13.8 16.7

Florida 17.3 18.2 19.6 21.0 25.6

Georgia 9.5 10.0 10.5 11.7 15.0

Kentucky 11.2 12.6 12.8 13.5 16.9

Mississippi 11.5 12.4 12.7 13.4 16.6

North Carolina 10.3 12.1 13.1 14.4 18.1

South Carolina 9.2 11.3 12.3 13.3 16.8

Tennessee 11.3 12.6 12.9 14.0 17.6

United States 11.3 12.5 12.8 13.3 15.7

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

Persons 65 and over (%)

Percent 65 Years and Over For Region 4 States: 

1980 to 2020

Source: US Bureau of the 
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Socioeconomically, the older adults, especially, those living in poverty are deeply 

affected by not able to pay for air conditioning or well-constructed housing which would have 

helped them handle the extreme heat waves and hotter days. The elderly also have difficulties to 

access adequate transportation or other social services when needed during times of crises. 

Finally, they might not have sufficient financial support with lack of insurance and limited 

personal finances that lead to elderly not able to cope. 

C. Environmental Justice 

Empirical studies have shown that certain types of communities tend to suffer a 

disproportionate impact of environmental harms causing health-related concerns. Race and 

income distribution are the two most important determinants of an environmental justice 

community. EPA defines environmental justice as “the fair treatment and meaningful 

involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the 

development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and 

policies.”161 

Climate change poses special environmental justice challenges for communities that are 

already overburdened with pollution and environmentally-related illnesses. One challenge is a 

population’s ability to prepare, respond, and recover when a disaster does occur. Hurricane 

Katrina helps illustrate the issue of environmental justice in the Southeast. When Hurricane 

Katrina struck Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, it struck the three poorest states in the 

country; two of the states are located in Region 4.162 The people most disproportionally impacted 

by the flooding and destruction of Hurricane Katrina were disadvantaged, mainly black 

communities.

163

In general, environmental justice communities tend to be located next to or near potentially 

harmful areas. The charts below present the poverty status and racial demographics in Region 4

states.164

Subject Total

Below 

Poverty Level

Percent 

below 

Poverty Level

REGION IV STATES

Population (as of April 1, 2010) 61,082,315 - -

Population for whom poverty 

status is determined

 

59,932,739

 

10,067,497

 

17.7%

Under 18 years 14,044,902 3,564,293 25.4%

Related children under 18 years 13,933,500 3,515,407 25.2%

65 years and over 8,424,993 860,595 10.2%

White alone, not Hispanic or 

Latino

 

38,137,978

 

4,809,917

 12.6%

Hispanics 6,692,784 1,734,054 25.9%

Minority 21,794,761 5,797,580 26.6%
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Considering all the individual states in Region 4, the poverty status for children, elderly 

people, and minority is highest in the state of Mississippi.165 Poverty status for these same 

categories, on average across the Region, is high in the states of Alabama, Kentucky, South 

Carolina, and Tennessee.166

Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi have the highest percent minority of all the individual 

states in Region 4.

167 Florida also has the highest percent Hispanic or Latino of any race.

168

Environmental justice communities are concerned with the air pollutants contributing to the 

issue of climate change, in particular the coal-fired power plants that emit greenhouse gases and 

contribute to coal ash that must be stored and disposed. Mercury, arsenic and lead are also of 

major concerns. According to the American Lung Association, African-Americans are twice as 

likely to die from asthma attacks and Puerto Ricans have the highest asthma prevalence.

169 

Moreover, African-American, Hispanic, and Asian-Pacific Islander women who were pregnant 

were much likely than pregnant White women to live in areas with higher levels of air 

pollution.170

Climate change will have an adverse effect on human health, especially within environmental 

justice communities. Some of the human health consequences of climate change include asthma, 

respiratory allergies, and airway diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disease and stroke, food borne 

diseases and nutrition, heat and weather-related morbidity and mortality, and waterborne 

diseases.171 

D. Tribal Governments

The United States has a unique legal relationship with Tribal governments based on the 

Constitution, treaties, statutes, Executive Orders, and court decisions. This relationship includes 

recognition of the right of Tribes as sovereign governments to self-determination, and an 

acknowledgment of the federal government’s trust responsibility to Tribes. EPA works with 

federally-recognized Tribes on a government to government basis and, in keeping with the 

federal trust responsibility, consults with and carefully considers the interest of Tribes when 

making decisions and taking actions that may have Tribal impacts.172

Total Population 61,082,315

% White 70.8

% Black 21.3

% Asian 2.1

% American Indian 0.5

% Other Race 3.2

% Multiracial 2.1

% Minority 36.2

% Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 11.1
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Tribal communities are disproportionately vulnerable to climate change impacts, largely 

as a result of their close connection to the land, water, and natural resources. Tribes have limited 

relocation options due to reservation boundaries, and often depend upon their traditional 

homelands for natural resources to sustain economic, cultural, and spiritual practices. The 

accumulated knowledge and understanding of a Tribe’s environmental connection with their

homelands, or Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), is intrinsically linked to Tribal cultural 

practices and threats to resources on which they depend.173 A combination of qualitative data, 

gathered with TEK, and western science is needed to comprehensively understand and address 

Tribal climate change impacts. In Region 4, shifting habitats of to traditional food sources and 

medicinal plants have been observed based on TEK.

Economic impacts related to climate change are also anticipated. For example, the 

Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians manages a successful commercial trout fishery that attracts 

thousands of fishermen to the area year-round. North Carolina trout populations are predicted to 

experience significant reduction as a result of climate change; the estimated welfare loss is $5.63 

to $53.18 per angler per single occasion.174 A loss of this magnitude could drastically impact the 

viability of the Tribe’s fishery program and overall economic well-being. 

There are six federally-recognized Tribes in Region 4: Eastern Band of Cherokee 

Indians, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Catawba Indian Nation, Seminole Tribe of 

Florida, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, and Poarch Band of Creek Indians (Figure 

below). Each Tribe is geographically diverse with unique government structures, priorities and 

challenges. EPA is committed to strengthening its partnership with Tribes on priorities related to 

climate change adaptation and to supporting the development of Tribal adaptive capacity.175 The 

vulnerabilities listed below identify potential areas in which Region 4’s ability to be responsive 

to Tribal climate change adaptation priorities and adaptive capacity building needs may be 

impacted.
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1. Resources

Tribal environmental programs are severely understaffed and underfunded. In some cases, 

Region 4 Tribal environmental departments are staffed by as few as two environmental 

professionals responsible for the development and implementation of environmental programs. 

Fiscal Year 2015 EPA funding needs for Region 4 Tribes are estimated at$ 9.7M; Tribes are 

currently funded at less than 25% of the projected need.176 Anticipated Region 4 resource 

vulnerabilities include:

• Lack of funding to assist Tribes in climate change adaptation planning and related activities, 

such as increased air quality monitoring due to the potential of more frequent wildfires. 

• Increased demand for technical resources, such as access to climate change information, tools 

and professionals, as well as innovative approaches to assist in developing climate change 

adaptation plans or address climate change priorities due to limited staff availability at Tribal 

level. 

• Increased demand for training and information dissemination regarding climate change 

adaptation and potential adverse effects of climate change. 

2. Education and Outreach

Tribes are subject to geographical impacts and, as sovereign nations, have unique government 

structures, planning processes, and capabilities for adaptation and response. Generally, there are 

few resources available to EPA for ascertaining regional and individual Tribal climate change 

impacts, priorities, and readiness capabilities. Anticipated Region 4 education and outreach 

vulnerabilities include:

• General lack of staff education and awareness of climate change priorities and impacts unique 

to Region 4 Tribes, including those related to Tribal boundaries and economic, cultural and 

spiritual practices.

• Lack of knowledge of existing Tribal climate change readiness and adaptive capacity. 

• General lack of staff education, awareness and incorporation of TEK in Agency decisionmaking and planning, including traditional practices that may exclude climate change 

adaptation planning.

3. Communication and Collaboration

Climate change related priorities, responsibilities and activities vary by governmental agency. 

Tribes work with federal, state and local governments, and are often required to be responsive to 

complementary or duplicative requests for consultation and information sharing. Anticipated 

Region 4 communication and collaboration vulnerabilities include:

• Need for increased federal coordination and collaboration to share climate change adaptation 

efforts, as well as to inform, discuss and consult with Tribes on climate change actions, 

concerns, interests and priorities. Federal coordination, collaboration and consultation have 

been requested by Region 4 Tribes.
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• Need for increased cross-program coordination and collaboration to inform, discuss and 

consult with Tribes on EPA and Region 4 specific climate change actions, decisions, and 

opportunities, such as adaptation planning process and anticipated climate change impacts to 

the Region. 

• Jurisdictional challenges with adjacent local and state governments may impact collaboration 

opportunities and access to resources.

IX. Vulnerability Assessment Table

See Appendix A.

 

128 Final draft U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Adaptation Plan (June 29, 2012).

129 EPA’s five national strategic goals are outlined in the “Fiscal Year 2011-2015 EPA Strategic Plan,” September 

30, 2010, http://www.epa.gov/planandbudget/strategicplan.html. 

130 Chang, H.H., J. Zhou, and M. Fuentes, 2010: Impact of climate change on ambient ozone level and mortality in 

southeastern United States. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 7, 2866-2880.

131 Id.

132 On December 14, 2012, the EPA strengthened the annual PM2.5 NAAQS from 15.0 micrograms per cubic meter 

(μg/m3

) to 12.0 μg/m3.

133 Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, “Scientific Assessment of the Effects of Global Change on 

the United States” (Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the National Science and Technology.

134 Gramley, M. 2005. Fire in the South: A Report by the Southern Group of State Foresters. Winder GA: Southern 

Group of State Foresters, http://216.226.177.78/PDFs/fire_in_the_south.pdf (accessed January 15, 2012). See also 

the Southeast Climate Assessment ( Ingram, K.T., K. Dow, L. Carter (2012): Southeast Regional Technical Report 

to the National Climate Assessment.

135 Barnard, W., W.Sabo. 2003. Review of 1999 NEI (version 2, final) and recommendations for developing the 2002 

VISTAS inventory for regional haze modeling (area and point sources). Prepared for VISTAS, Asheville, NC, 

U.S.A. See also the Southeast Climate Assessment ( Ingram, K.T., K. Dow, L. Carter (2012): Southeast Regional 

Technical Report to the National Climate Assessment.

136 Rappold, A.G. Peat Bog Wildfire Smoke Exposure in Rural North Carolina Is Associated with Cardiopulmonary 

Emergency Department Visits Assessed through Syndromic Surveillance., 10: Environmental Health Perspectives, 

2011. See also the Southeast Climate Assessment (Ingram, K.T., K. Dow, L. Carter (2012): Southeast Regional 

Technical Report to the National Climate Assessment.

137 JFSP 2013 Funding Announcement, http://www.firescience.gov/AFPs/13-1-01/13-1-

01_RFA_Announcement.pdf.

138 Climate Change, Indoor Air Quality And Health Prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of 

Radiation and Indoor Air (August 24, 2010) By Paula Schenck, MPH A. Karim Ahmed, PhD Anne Bracker, MPH, 

CIH Robert DeBernardo, MD, MBA, MPH, Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine University of 

Connecticut Health Center Section for Indoor Environments and Health. Available at 

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/uconn_climate_health.pdf

139 Id.
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140 The Coastline of the U.S. (NOAA/PA 71046; 1975).

141 USDA, ERS based on data from the 2002 Census of Agriculture.

142 http://fiatools.fs.fed.us/fido/ (2004/2005 estimates).

143 Estuaries of the United States, Vital Statistics of a National Resource Base, NOAA, National Ocean Service, 

October 1990.

144 Wetlands Losses in the U.S., 1780’s to 1980’s, Report to Congress, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

145 http://water.epa.gov/scitech/climatechange/2012-National-Water-Program-Strategy.cfm

146 National Water Program Strategy: Response to Climate Change (2008). 147 http://www.epa.gov/region1/superfund/er/oilstor.html.

148 http://www.epa.gov/oust/cat/ca_11_34.pdf

149 http://scenarios.globalchange.gov/regions/southeast-and-caribbean

150 http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/USA.php

151 Sustainable Facilities at EPA: The Gulf Ecology Division Laboratory, Computational and Geospatial Sciences 

(CGS) building http://www.epa.gov/oaintrnt/documents/gulf_breeze_green_report_508.pdf

152 Pediatrics, Global Climate Change and Children’s Health, Committee on Environmental Health, 2007;120; 1149, 

Available at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/5/1149.full.pdf Pediatrics, Global Climate Change and 

Children’s Health, Committee on Environmental Health, 2007;120; 1149, Available at 

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/5/1149.full.pdf

153 Climate Change A. Osborne, Climate Change and Children’s Environmental Health, ENRI-506, Extension 

Associate for Environmental and Natural Resource Issues, University of Kentucky (July 2008), available at 

http://www.ca.uky.edu/enri/CEH/ENRI%20506.pdf

154 Id.

155 Climate Change & Children’s Health (December 2009) EPA-100-K-09-008.

156 Climate Change & Children’s Health (December 2009) EPA-100-K-09-008.

157 Climate Change, Indoor Air Quality And Health, prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of 

Radiation and Indoor Air (August 24, 2010) By Paula Schenck, MPH A. Karim Ahmed, PhD Anne Bracker, MPH, 

CIH Robert DeBernardo, MD, MBA, MPH, Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine University of 

Connecticut Health Center Section for Indoor Environments and Health. Available at 

http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pdfs/uconn_climate_health.pdf

158 Id.

159 Blake, E., Jarrell; J.; Rappaport, E., U.S. Mainland Hurricane Strikes by State, 1851-2004, NOAA Technical 

Memorandum NWS TPC-4. Available at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/paststate.shtml

160 A. Osborne, Climate Change and Children’s Environmental Health, ENRI-506, Extension Associate for 

Environmental and Natural Resource Issues, University of Kentucky (July 2008), available at 

http://www.ca.uky.edu/enri/CEH/ENRI%20506.pdf

161 Office of Environmental Justice website: http://epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/index.html

162 Congressional Research Service Report for Congress. November 5, 2005. Hurricane Katrina: SocialDemographic Characteristics of Impacted Areas.

163 Id.

164 US Census Bureau website: http://www.census.gov/
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165 Id.

166 Id.

167 Id.

168 Id.

169 Congressional Research Service Report for Congress. November 5, 2005. Hurricane Katrina: SocialDemographic Characteristics of Impacted Areas.

170 Id.

171 National Institute of Environmental Health Services. A Human Health Perspective on Climate Change: A Report 

Outlining the Research Needs on the Health Effect of Climate Change. www.niehs.nih.gov/climatereport.

172 EPA Policy for the Administration of Environmental Programs on Indian Reservations, 1984; 

http://www.epa.gov/indian/pdf/indian-policy-84.pdf

173 National EPA Tribal Science Council, 

http://epa.gov/osp/tribes/pdf/Integration_TEK_EnvironmentalSciencePolicyDecisionMaking%20Tribal%20Priority

_Final.pdf

174 SoEun Ahn, et al., Economic Analysis of the Potential Impact of Climate Change on Recreational Trout Fishing 

in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, pp 493-509, Climate Change (2000), Volume 45 Issue 3-4

175 Draft EPA Climate Change Adaptation Plan, June 29, 2012.

176 Region 4 RTOC Environmental Priorities; National Tribal Caucus presentation, March 2013
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PART 3

PRIORITY ACTIONS
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................... 80

II. EPA REGION 4’S ADAPTATION STRATEGY.................................................................................................... 81

A. ADAPTATION: ACTIONS TO UNDERSTAND AND RESPOND TO UNAVOIDABLE CHANGES.................................81

B. EDUCATION: ACTIONS TO INFORM INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS.............................................82

III. FY 2011-2015 EPA STRATEGIC PLAN MEASURES .......................................................................................... 82

A. GOAL 1- TAKING ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND IMPROVING AIR QUALITY WITHIN REGION 4 ......................................83

1. Ozone .........................................................................................................................................................83

2. Particulate matter......................................................................................................................................83

B. GOAL 2 – PROTECTING EPA REGION 4’S WATERS .....................................................................................................83

1. Cross Program............................................................................................................................................84

2. Watershed Planning...................................................................................................................................84

3. Water Quality Standards............................................................................................................................84

4. Water Quality Monitoring, Assessing and Reporting.................................................................................84

5. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)..........................................................................................................85

6. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)........................................................................85

7. Non-Point Source (NPS)..............................................................................................................................85

8. Wetlands (CWA 404)..................................................................................................................................85

9. Dredging/Ocean Dumping .........................................................................................................................85

10. National Estuary Program and South Florida ........................................................................................86

11. Drinking Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Infrastructure...............................................................86

12. Drinking Water Quality ..........................................................................................................................86

C. GOAL 3 - CLEANING UP COMMUNITIES AND ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.....................................................86

1. Longer-term Cleanups (e.g., Superfund Remedial, Superfund Time-Critical Removal, RCRA Corrective 

Action, TSCA) and RCRA Hazardous Waste Management Facilities ...................................................................86

2. Emergency Response Program...................................................................................................................87

3. RCRA and Brownfields................................................................................................................................87

4. Oil Program (e.g., Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC)/ Facility Response Plans (FRP) 

Facilities) .............................................................................................................................................................87

D. GOAL 4 - ENSURING THE SAFETY OF CHEMICALS AND PREVENTING POLLUTION ...............................................................88

E. GOAL 5 - ENFORCING ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS WITHIN REGION 4 .................................................................................88

1. The Office of NEPA .....................................................................................................................................88

IV. PROTECT EPA’S FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS ............................................................................................. 89

A. CLIMATE EVENTS.................................................................................................................................................89

B. SUSTAINABILITY...................................................................................................................................................89

V. FACTOR LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS INTO ADAPTATION EFFORTS .................................................................. 90

VI. STRENGTHEN EPA’S STAFF AND PARTNERS’ ADAPTIVE CAPACITY THROUGH TRAINING ............................. 90
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VII. PARTNER WITH TRIBES TO INCREASE THEIR ADAPTIVE CAPACITY ............................................................... 91

A. RESOURCES ........................................................................................................................................................91

B. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH..................................................................................................................................91

C. COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION .................................................................................................................92

VIII. FOCUS ON MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND PLACES .................................................................................. 92

A. CHILDREN’S HEALTH PRIORITY ACTIONS...................................................................................................................92

B. ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE .....................................................................................................................................92
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I. Introduction

The EPA’s draft Climate Change Adaptation Plan identified nine agency-wide priorities for 

integrating climate change adaptation into its programs, polices, rules, and operations.177 EPA’s 

priorities are to:

• Fulfill the FY 2011-2015 EPA Strategic Plan measures.

• Protect EPA’s facilities and operations.

• Factor legal considerations into adaptation efforts.

• Strengthen EPA’s staff and partners’ adaptive capacity through training.

• Develop decision-support tools to facilitate EPA staff and partners’ integration of climatechange adaptation planning into their programs and operations.

• Identify cross-EPA climate adaptation science needs.

• Partner with tribes to increase their adaptive capacity.

• Focus on most vulnerable people and places.

• Measure and evaluate performance.

The Regions have been tasked with using the Agency’s draft plan as guidance for their 

respective independent, stand alone plans.178 The Regions have been requested to clearly 

articulate our criteria used to identify priority actions since limited and uncertain resources make 

it impossible to undertake all our proposed actions. According to the Agency’s draft plan, 

Regional priority actions could range from addressing those vulnerabilities identified in the 

Region’s vulnerability assessment to building Regional staff adaptive capacity through training. 

Some of the criteria Region 4 considered included, but were not limited to:

• Does the action support and align with other Region 4 priorities and actions, i.e. 

Strategic Plans?

• Is the action a priority for our partners?

• Does the action have an impact on reducing risk?

• Does the action protect a critical resource/investment?

• Is EPA uniquely situated to address the action?

• When is the climate risk likely to occur?

• Can the action be accomplished within current budget?

• Will the action be sustainable/durable?

Region 4 identified priority actions it could take to ensure that we can continue to accomplish 

our mission and operate at our multiple locations. The following priorities represent EPA Region 

4’s commitment to address the known programmatic vulnerabilities and to continue to identify 

other vulnerabilities that may occur over time due to climate change. By listing an action as a 

priority, the Region is not making a budgetary commitment to take or complete that action or to 

take or complete it by a particular point in time. The Region’s ability will depend on resource
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availability – which is uncertain. The Region has proposed actions it thinks are consistent with 

its role as a Regional office and can do as resources are available or when it can accomplish the 

priority concurrent with or as part of its ongoing activities. 

As Regional Offices have been developing their priority actions, two categories of priority 

actions have emerged: region specific and “national-level” priority actions. The “national-level” 

priority actions are those that must be taken before the Regional Offices can appropriately 

implement climate change adaptation within their region. Appendix B is Region 4’s Priority 

Action Matrix that identifies each priority action as a National and/or region specific action and 

notes whether Region 4 will need more coordination, policy, and/or guidance from EPA 

Headquarters.

II. EPA Region 4’s Adaptation Strategy179 

Region 4 is currently updating its Fiscal Year 2013-14 Draft Energy and Climate Change 

Strategy (Strategy) to describe the actions it would pursue to help the Southeastern United States 

address clean energy and climate change challenges. Two sections of this Strategy, Adaptation 

and Education, address the Region’s concentration on climate change adaptation. In performing 

this work, the Region will use good science and state of the art analysis and will work to 

continually improve its ability to measure positive change. The Region will also continually 

evaluate and, as appropriate, adjust our base regulatory and assistance programs to account for 

climate change.

A. Adaptation: Actions to Understand and Respond to Unavoidable 

Changes

The Region 4 will assist its state, local, and tribal governments and Federal resource 

managers to prepare for and respond to climate-related changes such as sea-level rise, weatherrelated impacts on agriculture, changes in water quality and availability, and impacts on human 

health and ecosystems. Specifically, as budgets allow, the Region will work with its 

stakeholders to develop and implement strategies to respond to local concerns and to share these 

methods with other communities through such potential actions as: 

• Promote EPA’s Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership that encourages states to 

develop and implement cost-effective clean energy and environmental strategies.

• Promote EPA’s Climate Ready Water Utilities and Climate Ready Estuaries programs that 

aid respective water sectors to understand climate science and adaptation options, as well as 

assess climate change vulnerabilities, implement adaptation strategies, educate stakeholders, 

and share lessons learned.

• Promote the SunWise Program to teach the public how to protect themselves from 

overexposure to the sun through the use of classroom-, school-, and community-based tools. 
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• Reduce the potential for wildfires and limit impacts on particulate matter air quality through 

prescribed fire and smoke management efforts with the Southeast Regional Partnership for 

Planning and Sustainability (SERPPAS).

• Work with local/state/federal emergency preparedness and response counterparts and 

businesses to develop and implement strategies to address adaptive measures needed for 

climate-related changes and work with state and industry to add enhanced emergency 

planning in operating permits.

• Promote the Southeastern Ecological Framework as a tool for evaluating and adapting to 

climate change impacts on important ecosystems and services across eight Southeastern 

states. 

B. Education: Actions to Inform Internal and External Stakeholders

Region 4 will work to educate internal and external stakeholders on the science of climate 

change, energy efficiency and conservation, mitigation and adaptation activities, and 

revitalization through the following potential actions:

• Implementing activities that support national Climate for Action Education and Outreach 

Campaign.

• Working with the Region’s National Estuary Programs and other coastal communities to 

assess vulnerabilities from and to adapt to climate change impacts.

• Promoting EPA’s Smart Growth program to help communities grow in ways that expand 

economic opportunity, protect public health and the environment, and create and enhance the 

places that people want to live and work. 

• Promoting the revitalization of contaminated land to productive environmental and economic 

reuse, with an emphasis on green technologies.

• Implementing additional activities that educate the public on climate change.

III. FY 2011-2015 EPA Strategic Plan measures

The following is Region 4’s discussion on a goal by goal basis of possible priority actions 

the Region may take to integrate climate change adaptation into its programs and operations. In 

general, the Region does not engage in rule making activities with the exception of TMDL 

development, Offshore Dredged Material Disposal Site designations, and SIPs? For these 

limited rule making opportunities, the Region can incorporate as appropriate and consistent with 

Program Office guidance the best available climate change adaptation science to inform its 

decision making.
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A. Goal 1- Taking Action on Climate Change and Improving Air 

Quality within Region 4

Region 4 will pursue the following Region-specific actions to address climate change 

vulnerabilities related to our goal Improving Air Quality.

1. Ozone

Tropospheric (ground level) ozone pollution is likely to increase in Region 4 due to 

increased temperatures in the future. The Region will work with its partners at the state, local, 

and tribal levels to help them meet the ozone NAAQS.

o Work with other Regions and HQ air program managers to develop a strategy, in 

context to other programmatic priorities, on how to incorporate climate adaptation 

into air quality programs (e.g., SIP, permits).

o Criteria considerations impacts are medium for timing, medium for 

geographic/demographic scale, medium for programmatic scale, and low for physical.

2. Particulate matter

High local PM events are likely to increase due to changes in frequency or intensity of 

wildfires. The Region will work with its partners at the state, local, and tribal levels to help them 

reduce the potential for increased wildfires and limit the impacts on air quality.

o Mitigation actions can be implemented to reduce the potential for wildfires and 

resulting PM impacts. These actions include increased use of prescribed fires or 

alternative treatment options (e.g., mechanical clearing or herbicide treatments) to 

reduce the build-up of fuel loads in areas prone to wildfires. 

o Smoke management is one of the important issues related to both wildfire and 

prescribed fire management. In the Southeast, Region 4 participates in a partnership 

of federal and state agencies called the Southeast Regional Partnership for Planning 

and Sustainability (SERPPAS). EPA has worked with the other partner agencies to 

develop a document containing Smoke Management Recommendations for 

prescribed fire. These recommendations could be applied more broadly to promote 

awareness of use of prescribed fire, which will reduce wildfire potential while also 

minimizing impacts on PM air quality. (Region-specific action)

o Criteria considerations impacts are medium for timing, medium for 

geographic/demographic scale, medium for programmatic scale, and low for physical.

B. Goal 2 – Protecting EPA Region 4’s Waters 

Region 4 has identified the following actions to begin to address climate change 

vulnerabilities related to our goal of Protecting America’s Waters. Many of these actions will 

benefit from the development and implementation of appropriate national guidance to promote 
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consistency across the states. The Region will implement these actions in coordination with any 

related national guidance. 

1. Cross Program

• Share hydrologic science and tools with state, tribal, and local partners, such as trend and 

risk assessment tools, downscaled climate modeling, and advanced planning support 

models and decision support tools.

• Provide training for staff regarding the climate change impacts to water resources and 

water management programs. 

• Provide training for appropriate staff regarding updated water quality modeling and 

assessment tools that incorporates consideration of climate change. 

• Work with NEPs, States and tribes to enhance understanding of water program climate 

change impacts and vulnerabilities. 

• Participate, as resources allow, in state, regional and local efforts to address climate 

change vulnerability and adaptation planning.

2. Watershed Planning 

• Encourage green infrastructure and low-impact development to protect water quality, to 

make watersheds more resilient and to reduce the demand for additional water resources.

• Work with USGS to become knowledgeable in the best methods to model for current and 

projected low flow and high flow conditions in gauged and ungauged rivers and streams.

3. Water Quality Standards 

• Use the Triennial Review of state water quality standards to work with states and tribes

on changes in stream use classification or standards, where necessary, due to climate 

change induced increasing temperatures or changes in stream flow. 

• Encourage states and tribes to develop appropriate coordination processes between water 

quality and water supply decisions to ensure proper implementation of state water 

quality standards.

4. Water Quality Monitoring, Assessing and Reporting

• Evaluate Region 4 states’ and tribes’ current monitoring and assessment practices to 

encourage the capturing of extreme low flow or other climate related conditions, 

including: 1) appropriate biological monitoring and assessment techniques, and 2) water 

monitoring system design. 

• Work with states, tribes, and other water monitoring partners to help establish a long term 

monitoring program to track potential changes in temperature, flow, aquatic biological 

communities, habitat, and chemical constituents that are occurring over time at important 

sentinel reference sites in the SE Region.
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5. Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL)

• As guidance from the Office of Water becomes available on methods and approaches, we 

will:

o Apply, where appropriate, hydrologic assumptions that consider climate change 

effects when EPA is developing a TMDL (including wasteload and load 

allocations).

o Encourage the states to consider and apply hydrologic assumptions, where 

appropriate, that take into account climate change effects in state-developed 

TMDLs.

6. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)

• Encourage States to update fact sheets at permit reissuance to include the most up-to-date 

critical low flow as possible and to calculate reasonable potential based on those values. 

• Continue to work with states on the incorporation of green infrastructure components in 

MS4 permitting. 

• As policy and/or guidance from the Office of Water becomes available on methods and 

approaches, we will:

o Work with the Region 4 states to encourage NPDES permits limits and conditions 

that take into account climate change. 

o Work with the Region 4 states to encourage permits with temperature limits and 

316a waivers (e.g. electric generating units) to account for increased water 

temperatures in receiving waters and changes in balanced, indigenous populations 

(BIP). 

o Work with the Region 4 states to encourage stormwater permits to account for 

increased extreme precipitation and erosion and sedimentation.

7. Non-Point Source (NPS)

• Encourage states and tribes to include climate change adaptation provisions in revised 

Nonpoint Source Management Plans to provide flexibility to fund programs and projects 

to assess, evaluate, plan and implement climate change adaptations. 

• As tools and resources become available for local level assessments, the Region will 

encourage states and tribes to consider adaptation conditions in the implementation of 

projects.

8. Wetlands (CWA 404) 

• Consider the effects of climate change as appropriate when evaluating Least 

Environmentally Damaging Practicable Alternatives (LEDPA) in the context of CWA 

Section 404 Wetlands Permitting. 

• Ensure water conservation and efficiency measures are considered, where appropriate, as 

part of wetlands 404 permitting before new water resource projects are approved.

9. Dredging/Ocean Dumping 

• Promote the beneficial use of suitable dredged material to support environmentally sound 

projects to protect from sea level rise and storm surge. 
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• Develop protocols to address the likely increase in emergency dredging from hurricanes 

of increased intensity and other extreme precipitation events that may cause unexpected 

sedimentation and shoaling.

10. National Estuary Program and South Florida 

• Promote the Climate Ready Estuary program in Region 4 National Estuary Programs 

(NEPs). 

• Promote the development of NEP coastal watershed management plans that consider 

climate change. 

• Promote the development of vulnerability assessments by Region 4 NEPs. 

• Work with the NEP’s to revise and update the NEP Comprehensive Conservation and 

Management Plans (CCMPs) to address vulnerabilities to climate change. 

• Consider climate change in developing projects and programs under the BP Deepwater 

Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restore Act procedures. 

• Consider incorporation of climate change into Region 4 participation in Gulf of Mexico 

Alliance and South Atlantic Alliance efforts. 

• Consider climate change in water quality management planning for protection of the 

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

11. Drinking Water, Wastewater and Stormwater Infrastructure 

• As policy and/or guidance from the Office of Water becomes available on methods and 

approaches, we will:

o Work with States to establish SRF criteria to build adaptive capacity to climate 

change impacts through infrastructure investments with particular attention on 

vulnerable communities.

12. Drinking Water Quality 

• Work with tribes on efforts towards sustainable infrastructure and participate on national 

workgroups aimed at directing tribal water systems towards sustainable 

operation/maintenance of tribal water systems.

C. Goal 3 - Cleaning up Communities and Advancing Sustainable 

Development

1. Longer-term Cleanups (e.g., Superfund Remedial, Superfund TimeCritical Removal, RCRA Corrective Action, TSCA) and RCRA Hazardous Waste 

Management Facilities

• Identify and assess the potential vulnerability of NPL sites within delineated GIS-mapped 

zones (i.e., sea level rise, flooding due to storm surge, and flooding due to higher 

precipitation events) based on a consideration of site-specific factors (e.g., local 

topography, design and duration of cleanup remedies, potential risk to the cleanup).
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• Based on the findings from the evaluation of potentially vulnerable NPL sites, develop an 

action plan to evaluate the vulnerability of other contaminated sites (e.g., brownfields, 

Superfund Time-Critical Removal, RCRA corrective action) and RCRA Hazardous 

Waste Management Facilities. 

• In conjunction with tribes and state agencies, initiate an interagency dialog to plan and 

coordinate efforts to consider climate change impacts at contaminated site cleanups and 

RCRA hazardous waste management facilities. 

• Incorporate energy efficiency and conservation into green site remediation practices 

funded by EPA, and encourage efficiency and conservation in actions conducted by 

responsible parties.

2. Emergency Response Program

• Utilize GIS-based mapping tools to locate potentially vulnerable critical public 

infrastructure (e.g., drinking water facilities, waste water treatment facilities) and sources 

of potential hazardous material releases (e.g., oil facilities) to aid in planning for and 

responding to emergency events. 

• Conduct an assessment of the hazardous waste disposal infrastructure to determine 

whether it can manage potential disposal needs during a changing climate and whether 

facility operations will be impacted (e.g. accessibility, capacity, and disposal techniques). 

3. RCRA and Brownfields

• Expand green remediation practices such as those which promote waste reduction, 

materials re-use and recycling, energy and water efficiency and conservation, use of 

alternate and renewable energies, and promotion of cleaner or reduced emissions. 

• Integrate materials recovery principles, practices and programs into the Region’s 

Brownfields and Revitalization program and projects. 

4. Oil Program (e.g., Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure 

(SPCC)/ Facility Response Plans (FRP) Facilities)

• Create layers in GIS to enhance existing mapping tools demonstrating potential impact 

areas, flood zones, storm surge areas etc. 

• Identify SPCC and FRP facilities within EPA Region 4 and include in updated mapping 

tools. 

• Include consideration of climate change impacts in EPA Region 4 management reviews 

of current and future SPCC and FRP facilities. 
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D. Goal 4 - Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing Pollution

• Promote EPA’s Green Building and Sustainable Materials Management challenge 

programs to encourage healthier and more resource-efficient models of construction, 

renovation, operation, maintenance and demolition of buildings.

E. Goal 5 - Enforcing Environmental Laws within Region 4

1. The Office of NEPA 

Section 309 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) confers upon EPA broad review responsibilities for 

federal actions. It authorizes EPA to review certain proposed actions of other federal agencies in 

accordance with NEPA and to make these reviews public. If the proposing agency does not 

make sufficient revisions such that the project remains environmentally unsatisfactory, EPA may 

refer the matter to the Council of Environmental Quality. 

The EPA Administrator has delegated to the Office of Federal Activities, the national 

program manager role, and the ten Regional Administrators for review of specific regional 

actions. Materials Which EPA Reviews Under Section 309 Authority include, proposed 

legislation and regulation, Environmental assessment (EA), Environmental impact 

statement(EIS), draft and final, any proposal that the lead agency maintains does not require an 

EIS but that EPA believes constitutes a major federal action significantly affecting the 

environment so as to require an EIS.

Region 4’s Office of NEPA will 

• Work to with NEPA to appropriately incorporate climate change into their environmental 

assessments and to promote consistency with respective Climate Change Adaptation 

plans.

• Region will work with other federal agencies to appropriately address vulnerable people 

and places as they are impacted by climate change.

The above actions were identified because they can be incorporated into the Region’s NEPA 

staff routine activities. The Region NEPA Office often assists federal agencies implementing 

major federal actions having significant environmental impacts to identify appropriate 

alternatives and mitigation of impacts, including cumulative effects, to account for climate 

change. Moreover, the NEPA Office commonly serves an internal regional coordinating role to 

bring in all relevant and applicable regional program review on these projects. And as 

appropriate, the NEPA office facilitates discussions between affected communities and the 

federal agencies to resolve project conflicts. Additionally, EPA’s unique CAA Section 309 

authority gives it the opportunity to raise those projects of significance to the Council of 

Environmental Quality for appropriate resolution. 
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IV. Protect EPA’s Facilities and Operations

A. Climate Events

The Region 4 office is located in downtown Atlanta, GA, sufficiently located distant from 

any major water body or coastal area. The relevant potential climate change impacts to this 

office are in the form of intense storm-related flooding, particularly the tunnel connecting office 

buildings and the subway system. 

Additionally, tornado activity can be a problem as evidenced by the March 14–15, 2008, 

tornado outbreak within Region 4. A tornado caused widespread damage across downtown 

Atlanta, including to the CNN Center and to the Georgia Dome. EPA Region 4’s office building 

is within a block of the Georgia Dome and near several other city buildings damaged by the 

storm. 

The Region has Continuity of Operations (COOP) procedures in place. It is increasingly 

incorporating technology to allow work to effectively occur remotely should storm damage the 

Region’s building making it inaccessible for routine business. In order to ensure effectiveness ad 

preparedness, several priority actions have been identified

• Investigate alternative lodging availability at the Alternate COOP Site.

• As a GSA building occupant, EPA Region 4 will promote facility efficiencies.

• Continue to use EMS to promote sustainable business practices including energy 

efficiency and renewable energy strategies that promote LEED certification.

• Maintain the staff’s capacity to work remotely

B. Sustainability

In 2009, Executive Order 12514: “Federal Leadership in Environmental, Energy and 

Economic Performance” was signed to “establish an integrated strategy towards sustainability in 

the Federal Government and to make reduction of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) a priority for 

Federal agencies.” To ensure that EPA Region 4’s buildings meet the requirements and reflect 

our mission, the Agency implements a range of strategies to reduce the environmental impact of 

its facilities and operations supporting sustainability.

• Develop interagency federal sustainability team to promote greening federal facilities in 

Atlanta. Recruit Federal Green Challenge partners from federal departments to reduce 

their climate change impacts. 

• Support the development of sustainable recycling infrastructure and commodities markets 

through partnerships with state and regional recycling coalitions, by developing and 

supporting product stewardship and extended producer responsibility models, and 

through efforts to encourage the recovery and recycling of organic waste streams. 
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• Recruit partners to implement the SMM Food Recovery Challenge to increase 

economically valuable and environmentally responsible use and diversion of organic 

waste away from land-filling to minimize the creation and release of methane.

V. Factor Legal Considerations into Adaptation Efforts

As policy and/or guidance from Program Offices become available, the Region will 

implement climate change adaptation planning and priority actions consistent with EPA’s 

statutes and regulatory authorities.

No Priority Actions identified

VI. Strengthen EPA’s Staff and Partners’ Adaptive Capacity through 

Training

The Region sponsored a Climate Change Adaptation kick-off session, on March 18, 2013, as 

the first step in making its management and staff aware of the Agency’s climate change 

adaptation planning efforts and the National Climate Assessment efforts at providing regional 

climate scenarios.

The Region recognizes climate change adaptation training is only as useful as it is relevant to 

staff’s daily programmatic activities. The Region believes appropriate climate change 

adaptation-related training will inform staff how EPA intends to: 1) incorporate best available 

climate-change science into Agency’s programs consistent with EPA’s statutory and regulatory 

authority and the various Program Office guidance and 2) interpret existing statutory and 

regulatory authority to support climate change adaptation related activities to insure nation-wide 

consistency in implementing the Agency’s mission.

• Encourage regional employees to take EPA Headquarters created training regarding 

climate change adaptation.

• Utilize Region 4’s Energy and Climate Change Steering Committee and Workgroups to 

monitor opportunities to educate and outreach to employees and look for areas where 

climate change adaptation can be incorporated.

• Look for opportunities to bring in guest speakers to lecture employees about climate 

change and potentially how other agencies are tackling adaptation.

•
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VII. Partner with Tribes to Increase their Adaptive Capacity

Region 4 has invited consultation with the six-federally recognized Tribes on climate change 

adaptation planning, and will continue to coordinate and support Tribal climate change 

adaptation efforts consistent with the Agency’s statutory and regulatory authorities, program 

office guidance, and resources.

a) Resources

• Coordinate with the Regional Tribal Operations Committee (RTOC) and individual 

Tribes to identify climate change priorities, assess Tribes' climate change adaptation 

readiness and determine training, technical assistance and/or resource needs. 

Determination of needs will include identification of applicable audiences (i.e., Tribal 

Leaders, environmental staff, community, or other stakeholders). (Region specific action)

o Criteria considerations impacts are high for timing, small for 

geographic/demographic scale, medium for programmatic scale, and low for 

physical.

• Request clear guidelines from National Program Managers to Project Officers and Tribes 

about the management of available funds to grant awards addressing climate change 

adaptation activities. As an example, revise the OAR and EPA’s Tribal Air Grants 

Framework: Menu of Options to include Climate Change Adaptation work as an option 

as appropriate and following the Clean Air Act. (National specific action)

o Criteria considerations impacts are medium for timing, small for 

geographic/demographic scale, medium for programmatic scale, and low for 

physical.

b) Education and Outreach

• Facilitate a workshop or training for Tribal environmental staff on climate change 

impacts and priorities. Training may be provided through existing resources, such as the 

Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) at Northern Arizona University. 

ITEP is currently planning a training in the southeast in Fall, 2013. (Region specific 

action)

o Criteria considerations impacts are high for timing, small for 

geographic/demographic scale, medium for programmatic scale, and low for 

physical.

• Collaborate with R4 Energy and Climate Change Coordinator and Divisions to 

incorporate Tribal component(s) in energy and climate change website. (Region specific 

activity)
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o Criteria considerations impacts are medium for timing, small for 

geographic/demographic scale, medium for programmatic scale, and low for 

physical.

• Incorporate Tribal climate change priorities, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and 

related information into training opportunities for Region 4 staff. (Regional and National

action)

o Criteria considerations impacts are medium for timing, small for 

geographic/demographic scale, medium for programmatic scale, and low for 

physical.

c) Communication and Collaboration

• Coordinate with federal partners on a regular basis to share climate change related efforts, 

and to streamline education, outreach and consultation with Tribes, where appropriate. 

Region 4 is hosting the first southeast federal Tribal liaisons meeting on March 19. 

(Region specific action)

o Criteria considerations impacts are high for timing, small for 

geographic/demographic scale, medium for programmatic scale, and low for 

physical.

• Enhance interagency cross-program coordination and collaboration opportunities to 

inform, discuss and consult with Tribes on EPA climate change actions and decisions. 

(Region specific action)

o Criteria considerations impacts are high for timing, small for 

geographic/demographic scale, medium for programmatic scale, and low for 

physical.

VIII. Focus on Most Vulnerable People and Places

a) Children’s Health Priority Actions

• Conduct an inventory of tools and materials available to address issues faced by 

children and pregnant women. Many of these existing tools may need to be updated 

or modified to more effectively target specific populations and risks. (National-level 

action)

• Promote and disseminate tools and materials to address issues targeting children and 

pregnant women. The use of partners and stakeholders can be utilized to assist in 
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preparation and then equipped to support our information dissemination campaign. 

(National-level and Region-specific action)

• Educate and conduct outreach directed to pediatric health care professionals to 

enhance their understanding of the threats on children’s health, and participate as 

children’s advocates for strong mitigation and adaptation strategies. Pediatric health 

care professionals can be leaders in a move away from a traditional focus on disease 

prevention to a broad, integrated focus on sustainability as synonymous with health.180

(National-level and Region-specific action)

• Conuslt with the Southeast Pediatric Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) as a resource to 

address environmental health medical conditions that may be exacerbated by climate 

change. The expertise available through the National PEHSU Network should be 

expanded to include perinatology. The PESHU Network should also be equipped to 

provide expertise though consultations and training to public health officials and 

health care providers and to the general public through the media and direct 

intervention. (National-level and Region-specific action)

b) Environmental Justice

• Host climate change and adaptation educational workshops for environmental justice 

communities.

• Partner with other federal and state agencies and non-profit organizations to inform 

environmental justice communities of various activities and programs.

• Promote and distribute climate change and adaptation tools and materials via emails, 

listserv, and mailings.

• Create a train-the-trainer climate change and adaptation workshop where community 

partners are able to lead climate change and environmental justice workshops. 

 

177 Final draft U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Adaptation Plan (June 29, 2012).

178 Final draft U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Change Adaptation Plan (June 29, 2012).

179 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 4 Energy and Climate Change Strategy Fiscal Year 2013-14

DRAFT 3-13-13.

180 Pediatrics, Global Climate Change and Children’s Health, Committee on Environmental Health, 2007;120; 

1149, Available at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/120/5/1149.full.pdf
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PART 4

PERFORMANCE MEASURES
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I. Introduction

This section describes how Region 4 plans to update the information and analysis in this 

implementation plan, evaluate the success of any activities, and continually improve the process 

of programmatic climate adaptation over time. The Region will implement measures and 

evaluate performance consistent with the Agency’s statutory and regulatory authorities, Program 

Office guidance, and resources. Over the coming years, Region 4 will build and strengthen its 

adaptive capacity and work with its partners to build capacity in states, tribes, and local 

communities. We 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.

II. Phased Approach

Region 4 plans to conduct a baseline assessment of all its priority actions to determine the 

status and the potential for completion of each action. Additionally, Region 4 will finalize its 

Fiscal Year 2014 Energy and Climate Change Strategic Plan and ensure alignment with this 

implementation plan.

The National Water Program 2012 Strategy: Response to Climate Change found the most 

amenable approach for evaluating progress is to assess institutional progress toward becoming a 

resilient and adaptive program. The Region 4 plan utilizes this approach. Region 4 is adopting a 

phased approach that uses indicators of progress and emphasizes peer-to-peer learning rather 

than a top-down mandate. A similar approach is in use in the United Kingdom (UK DEFRA, 

2010). 

Region 4’s Phased Approach tracks the region’s institutional process and progress in 

incorporating climate change considerations into EPA programs. Outputs will not be counted per 

se; rather, the collectivity of actions and their products will demonstrate the weight of evidence 

for determining the status of adaptation activities. The following Table presents a summary of 

the seven phases of the Region 4 approach. Recognizing that it may take years or decades to 

achieve adaptive preparedness and resilience, Region 4 designed phases for which progress 

could be demonstrated within a relatively short time frame (1 to 3 years). 
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Phases of Adaptive Management 

Phases Explanation Examples of Evidence of Achievement

1. Initiation Conduct a screening assessment of 

potential implications of climate 

change to mission, programs, and 

operations. 

• Preliminary information is developed to evaluate 

relevance of climate change to the mission or 

program; a decision is made as to whether to 

prepare a response to climate change; further 

exploration of climate change implications has 

been authorized.

• Accountabilities and responsibilities are 

assigned at appropriate levels within the 

organization and resources are available to 

develop a more in-depth assessment.

2. Assessment Conduct a broader review to 

understand how climate change affects 

the resources in question. 

Work with stakeholders to develop an 

understanding of the implications of 

climate change to the mission, programs, and operations. 

• Review science literature and assessments to 

understand how climate change affects the 

resources being protected (threat to mission); 

Engage internal staff and external stakeholders 

in evaluation. 

• Identify climate change issues and concerns and 

communicate with internal and external 

stakeholders and partners. 

• Identify which specific programs are threatened 

and what specific information or tools need to be 

developed. 

• Communicate findings to partners and 

stakeholders and engage them in dialogue on 

building adaptive capacity. 

3. Response 

Development 

Identify changes necessary to continue 

to reach program mission and goals. 

Develop initial action plan. 

Identify and seek the research, information, and tools needed to support 

actions. 

Begin to build the body of tools, information, and partnerships needed to 

build capacity internally and 

externally. 

• Develop initial program vision and goals for 

responding to climate change. 

• Identify needed response actions or changes that 

will allow the organization to begin to address 

climate impacts on its mission. 

• Initiate strategies and actions in a few key areas 

to begin to build organizational ability to use 

climate information in decision processes. 

• Identify program partners’ needs for building 

adaptive capacity. 

• Begin working with an external “community of 

practice” to engage in tool and program 

development. 

• Rudimentary methods are put in place to track 

progress. 

• Develop a research strategy and partnerships to 

obtain additional needed research.
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4. Initial 

Implementation

Initiate actions in selected priority 

programs or projects.

• Make it clear within the organization that

incorporating climate change into programs

is critical.

• Initiate actions and plans identified in

Step 3.

• Initiate cooperative projects with partners.

• Develop a range of needed information and

tools.

• Begin to institute changes to incorporate

climate change into core programs.

• Some program partners have begun to

implement response actions.

5. Robust 

Implementation

Programs are underway and lessons 

learned are being applied to additional 

programs and projects.

• Lessons learned are evaluated and strategies are 

refined. 

• Efforts are initiated to consider climate change 

in additional, or more complex, program 

elements. 

• Continue to institute institutional changes to 

incorporate climate change into core programs. 

• External communities of practice are in place to 

support ongoing capacity development. 

6. 

Mainstreaming

Climate is an embedded, component 

of the program.

• The organization’s culture and policies are

aligned with responding to climate change.

• All staff have a basic understanding of

climate change causes and impacts.

• All relevant programs, activities, and decision

processes intrinsically incorporate

climate change.

• Methods for evaluating outcomes are in

place.

7. Monitoring 

and Adaptive 

Management

Continue to monitor and integrate 

performance, new information, and 

lessons learned into programs and 

plans.

• Progress is evaluated and needed changes

are implemented.

• As impacts of climate change unfold,

climate change impacts and organizational

responses are reassessed.

Attached to this plan is Appendix C, which is an initial matrix to help Region 4 begin to identify 

the current phase for each of the broad Region 4 program areas. The intention is to use this 

approach to follow progress related to each program as the plan is implemented. The phase 

identified for each program is or will be a composite summary of the overall implementation. At 

this time, no attempt has been made to identify the phase of each individual action and Region 4 

will begin its baseline assessment once there has been additional time to consider performance 

measures and consult with Headquarters and other Regions on the best practices. 
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Appendix A - Region 4 Summary of Region 4 Program Vulnerabilities to Climate Change Impacts by EPA Strategic Goal

5-28-2013 Draft

Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Goal 1 - Taking Action on Climate Change & Improving Region 

4’s Air Quality

• Increased 

tropospheric 

ozone 

pollution in 

certain regions

• Likely • Protecting public health and the 

environment by approving state 

programs to meet National Ambient 

Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) 

and implementing programs in 

Indian Country.

• High • Could become more difficult to attain NAAQS 

for ozone in many areas with existing ozone 

problems.

• High • More ozone exceedances in current nonattainment areas 

(Atlanta, Birmingham, Memphis,etc) 

• Increased 

frequency or 

intensity of 

wildfires

• Likely2. 11 Protecting public health and the 

environment by setting National 

Ambient Air Quality Standards 

(NAAQS) and implementing 

programs to help meet the standards

• Medium • Could complicate Agency efforts to protect 

public health and the environment from risks 

posed by particulate matter (PM) and ozone 

pollution in areas affected by more frequent 

wildfires.

• Medium • An increase in wildfire activity would cause more frequent 

elevated PM events, which would be hazardous to human 

health.

• Increasing 

extreme 

temperatures 

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Very Likely3

• Likely3

• Protect public health by promoting 

healthy indoor environments 

through voluntary programs and 

guidance

• Medium • Could increase public health risks, including 

risks for the young, the elderly, the chronically 

ill, and socioeconomically disadvantaged 

populations

• Medium • Likely to see an increase in flooding which can contribute to 

mold and increased exposure to indoor chemicals as people 

stay indoors during heavy precipitation.

• Likely to see more power outages which can lead to increases 

in PM2.5 emissions from backup electricity and heat sources.
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

• Effects on the 

stratospheric 

ozone layer

• Likely4 • Restoring the stratospheric ozone 

layer

• Preventing UV-related disease

• Providing a smooth transition to 

safer alternatives

• High • Unable to restore ozone concentrations to 

benchmark levels as quickly at some latitudes

• Medium • Continued decreases in ozone-depleting halocarbon emissions 

are expected to reduce their relative influence on climate 

change in the future; however potential for increased use of 

pesticides that contains ozone-depleting halocarbon emissions.

• Climate Change may exacerbate health effects of ozone layer 

damage at some latitudes and mitigate them at others.

• Effects on 

response of 

ecosystems to 

atmospheric 

deposition of 

sulfur, 

nitrogen, and 

mercury 

• Likely5 • Ecosystem protections from Agency 

emissions reduction programs

• Low • Based on evolving research, could have 

consequences for the effectiveness of 

ecosystem protections under those programs

• Low
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Goal 2: Protecting Region 4’s Waters

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Ocean 

acidification 

• Increased 

water 

temperatures

• Likely3

• Likely3

• Very likely6

• Likely7

• Certain8

• Very Likely9

• Restoring and protecting 

watersheds, aquatic ecosystems and 

wetlands

• High • Increased number of sewer overflows and 

wastewater bypasses, as well increased 

pollutant loads in runoff, fouling streams and 

threatening public health.

• Challenges to coastal wetlands’ ability to 

migrate.

• Reduced streamflow, altering the aquatic 

environments and increasing impairments.

• Continued stress on coral reefs.

• Shifts in aquatic habitat will threaten the 

economic and cultural practices of tribal 

communities.

• High Watershed Management

• Higher air and water temperatures combined with nutrient 

pollution may result in increased growth of algae and microbes 

that threaten aquatic ecosystems. 

• Higher air and water temperatures may increase pollutant 

concentrations and lower dissolved oxygen levels, potentially 

resulting in additional water bodies not meeting water quality 

standards and being listed as impaired.

• Areas experiencing periods of less precipitation, drought, lower 

stream flow and limited ground water recharge may result in 

less water flow for dilution of permitted discharges, alterations 

of aquatic environments, and increased impairments.

• Areas with increased intensity of drought or that may 

experience increases in events such as wildfires may see 

alterations in the structure and function of watersheds 

potentially affecting regional and state wetlands delineation 

and protection programs. 

• Increased intensity of rainfall events and storms may cause an 

increase in the number of sewer overflows and wastewater 

bypasses, fouling streams and requiring increased water quality 

enforcement. 
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Goal 2: Protecting Region 4’s Waters

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Ocean 

acidification 

• Increased 

water 

temperatures

• Likely3

• Likely3

• Very likely6

• Likely7

• Certain8

• Very Likely9

• Restoring and protecting 

watersheds, aquatic ecosystems and 

wetlands

• High • Increased number of sewer overflows and 

wastewater bypasses, as well increased 

pollutant loads in runoff, fouling streams and 

threatening public health.

• Challenges to coastal wetlands’ ability to 

migrate.

• Reduced streamflow, altering the aquatic 

environments and increasing impairments.

• Continued stress on coral reefs.

• Shifts in aquatic habitat will threaten the 

economic and cultural practices of tribal 

communities.

• High

• High

Water Quality Standards

• Warmer waters and other ecological shifts will threaten aquatic 

habitats and aquatic species, such as cold water fisheries and 

potentially requiring changes in State stream 

classificationsSalinity changes due to seal level rise may create 

a need to reclassify some water bodies from fresh to salt water.

Sea-level rise may also result in a shifting from fresh water 

communities to salt water communities, such as is happening 

in the Chassohowitzka River System in Florida. Increased 

anthropogenic use of freshwater upstream may be a significant 

contributor in converting fresh to salt water.

Monitoring, Assessing and Reporting

• Stream ecosystems will be affected directly, indirectly, and 

through interactions with other stressors. Biological responses 

to these changes will vary regionally and could include altered 

community composition, interactions, and functions. .

• Monitoring locations may need to be re-located in order to 

effectively monitor and assess changes in stream ecology or 

water quality. 

• Timing of monitoring may need to change in order to pick up 

seasonal shifts and the full range of climate vulnerability, 

especially for recreational and aquatic life uses. 
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Ocean 

acidification 

• Increased 

water 

temperatures

• Likely3

• Likely3

• Very likely6

• Likely7

• Certain8

• Very Likely9

• Restoring and protecting 

watersheds, aquatic ecosystems and 

wetlands

• High • Increased number of sewer overflows and 

wastewater bypasses, as well increased 

pollutant loads in runoff, fouling streams and 

threatening public health.

• Challenges to coastal wetlands’ ability to 

migrate.

• Reduced streamflow, altering the aquatic 

environments and increasing impairments.

• Continued stress on coral reefs.

• Shifts in aquatic habitat will threaten the 

economic and cultural practices of tribal 

communities.

• High

• High

TMDLs

• Some areas may experience periods of less precipitation, 

drought, lower stream flow and limited ground water recharge 

resulting in less water flow for dilution of permitted 

discharges, alterations of aquatic environments, and increased 

impairments; these considerations will need to be taken into 

account in the development of new TMDLs, and potentially 

result in the need for revision of existing TMDLs. 

• Some areas may experience episodes of increased intense 

precipitation resulting in increased runoff of pollutants; these 

considerations will need to be taken into account in the 

development of new TMDLs, and potentially result in the need 

for revision of existing TMDLs. 

NPDES Program

• Areas experiencing periods of less precipitation, drought, lower 

stream flow and limited ground water recharge will result in 

less water flow for dilution of permitted discharges, alterations 

of aquatic environments, and increased impairments. National 

Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits will 

need to take these factors into consideration during permit 

renewal or new permit issuance. These precipitation changes 

are compounded in certain areas by increased human uses of 

the water resources. 

• Increased intensity of rainfall events and storms may cause an 

increase in the number of sewer overflows and wastewater 

bypasses, fouling streams and requiring increased water quality 

enforcement. 

• Increased aquatic temperatures may result in the need to 

modify existing discharge limits. 
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Ocean 

acidification 

• Increased 

water 

temperatures

• Likely3

• Likely3

• Very likely6

• Likely7

• Certain8

• Very Likely9

• Restoring and protecting 

watersheds, aquatic ecosystems and 

wetlands

• High • Increased number of sewer overflows and 

wastewater bypasses, as well increased 

pollutant loads in runoff, fouling streams and 

threatening public health.

• Challenges to coastal wetlands’ ability to 

migrate.

• Reduced streamflow, altering the aquatic 

environments and increasing impairments.

• Continued stress on coral reefs.

• Shifts in aquatic habitat will threaten the 

economic and cultural practices of tribal 

communities.

• High

• High

Wetlands

• Areas with increased intensity of drought or that may 

experience increases in events such as wildfires may see 

alterations in the structure and function of wetlands and 

watersheds potentially affecting regional and state wetlands 

delineation and protection programs. 

• Sea-level rise combined with coastal development will 

challenge the ability of coastal wetlands to migrate, potentially 

affecting coastal wetland protection programs. This migration 

will likely result in loss of coastal wetlands where development 

has encroached on natural migration pathways. 

• Drying out of seasonal wetlands with increased drought could 

affect wetland delineations and programs. 

• Physical damage or elimination of wetlands and dune 

structures that protect them due to hurricanes and other 

seasonal changes could affect wetland delineation and 

restoration efforts. 

Dredging/Ocean Dumping

• Increased need and frequency of ocean dumping due to 

increased precipitation and rainfall intensity that cause erosion 

and sedimentation of rivers, channels and harbors.

• Shifting sediments and forming of shoals due to higher 

intensity storms that impede safe navigation in harbors and 

channels may require increased use of emergency dredging. 

• Need for dredged materials to protect shorelines, beaches, 

dunes and marshes from sea level rise may stress existing 

regulatory programs. 
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Ocean 

acidification 

• Increased 

water 

temperatures

• Likely3

• Likely3

• Very likely6

• Likely7

• Certain8

• Very Likely 9

• Restoring and protecting 

watersheds, aquatic ecosystems and 

wetlands

• High • Increased number of sewer overflows and 

wastewater bypasses, as well increased 

pollutant loads in runoff, fouling streams and 

threatening public health.

• Challenges to coastal wetlands’ ability to 

migrate.

• Reduced streamflow, altering the aquatic 

environments and increasing impairments.

• Continued stress on coral reefs.

• Shifts in aquatic habitat will threaten the 

economic and cultural practices of tribal 

communities.

• High National Estuary Program/South Florida

• Successful implementation of NEP Comprehensive 

Conservation and Management Plans may be adversely 

affected. Efforts to restore or enhance water quality, habitat, 

living resources, hydrologic alterations, and human uses may 

be affected. 

• Increased ocean temperatures and acidification resulting from 

the absorption of CO2 will continue to stress coral reefs 

potentially affecting coral reef protection programs.
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Goal 2: Protecting Region 4’s Waters

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Increasing 

flood risk

• Likely3

• Likely3

• Very likely6

• Likely3

• Likely7

• Likely

• Drinking water, wastewater and 

stormwater infrastructure 

• High • Water infrastructure could be rendered 

inoperable or damaged, needing substantial 

repair/replacement

• Drinking water intakes and wastewater outfalls 

could be affected

• Integrity of coastal water infrastructure systems 

could be put at increased risk.

• Drinking water and wastewater utilities may 

need an ‘all hazards’ approach to planning for 

emergencies and extreme weather events.

• Problems of safety as well as access to clean 

and safe water may be exacerbated for all 

communities

• High

• Higher air and water temperatures combined with nutrient 

pollution will result in increased growth of algae and microbes 

that affect drinking water treatment needs. 

• Increased intensity of rainfall events and storms could 

contribute to additional infiltration/inflow in wastewater 

conveyance systems, which could cause an increase in the 

number of sewer overflows and wastewater treatment plant 

overloads, requiring expensive modifications and 

improvements to both wastewater conveyance and treatment 

systems. 

• Increased drought will place demands on both surface and 

ground water resources resulting in water supply problems.

• Reduction in assimilative capacity of existing surface waters 

due to reduced stream flows and/or increased temperatures 

could lead to more stringent discharge limits on existing 

wastewater facilities, resulting in the need for expensive 

improvements or upgrades to maintain permit compliance. 

• Sea level rise could result in: 1) saltwater intrusion into the 

collection system of wastewater treatment systems; 2) wet 

wells in pumping systems leading to increased corrosion 

damage to pumping equipment, and treatment plant tankage 

and equipment; withdrawals and 3) malfunction of gravity 

conveyance systems and discharges. 

• Increases in flooding from extreme precipitation, storm surges, 

and loss of wetlands could cause damage to infrastructure 

resulting in increased needs for SRF funding.

• Source water intake changes may be needed due to droughts 

and summertime extreme heat. Coastal aquifers may 

experience salt water intrusion where are outstripping recharge 

and increased pressure head from higher sea levels may worsen 

this problem resulting in the need for relocation of water and 

wastewater facilities.

•
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Increasing 

flood risk

• Likely3

• Likely3

• Very likely6

• Likely3

• Likely7

• Likely

• Drinking water, wastewater and 

stormwater infrastructure 

• High • Water infrastructure could be rendered 

inoperable or damaged, needing substantial 

repair/replacement

• Drinking water intakes and wastewater outfalls 

could be affected

• Integrity of coastal water infrastructure systems 

could be put at increased risk.

• Drinking water and wastewater utilities may 

need an ‘all hazards’ approach to planning for 

emergencies and extreme weather events.

• Problems of safety as well as access to clean 

and safe water may be exacerbated for all 

communities

• High

• High

• Drinking water and wastewater utilities emergency planning 

for extreme weather events may need to be reviewed and 

modified to account for climate change. Vulnerable and 

economically deprived communities may be particularly at 

risk, both for access to clean and safe water as well as for their 

ability to respond to emergencies during extreme events.

Coastal and mountain communities will be particularly 

vulnerable.

• Changes in rainfall patterns may lead to additional water 

supply infrastructure, with associated impacts on ecosystem 

fragmentation, aquatic life, physical stability, water quality, 

disruption of sediment and nutrient dynamics, downstream 

users, and system losses due to increased evaporation from 

impoundments. CWA Section 404 permit applications for 

reservoir creation in response to drought have increased in 

some states. 

Nonpoint Source Management

• Increased intensity of rainfall events and storms will cause 

increased pollutant loads in runoff, and the velocity of runoff 

will scour and erode creek beds.

• Accounting for greater quantities of runoff and pollutants, 

with more variability, from both urban and suburban 

stormwater and agricultural sources will stress existing 

nonpoint source best management programs. 

• Decreasing frequency of precipitation days and more 

concentration of runoff in intense storms, which is likely to be 

more damaging to aquatic habitats, and carry more erosionrelated pollutants into water bodies will stress existing 

nonpoint source best management programs.
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Goal 2: Protecting Region 4’s Waters

• Increased 

water 

temperatures

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Sea-level rise

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity

• Loss of 

Snowpack

• Very Likely

• Likely

• Very Likely

• Likely

• Very likely

• The quality and availability of safe 

drinking water

• Medium • High water temperatures and increased 

stormwater runoff will increase the need for 

drinking water treatment, raising costs.

• May cause saltwater intrusion in surface water 

and ground water placing increased demands on 

drinking water treatment.

• Water supplies may be affected, forcing 

communities to seek alternative sources.

• Water demand may shift to underground 

aquifers or prompt development of reservoirs or 

underground storage of treated water, requiring 

EPA to ensure safety.

• High • Higher air and water temperatures will promote increased 

growth of algae and microbes, which will increase the need for 

drinking water treatment and potentially affect the aesthetic 

quality of drinking water supplies. 

• Increased storm water runoff will wash sediment and other 

contaminants into drinking water sources, requiring additional 

treatment. 

• Sea-level rise could increase the salinity of both surface water 

and ground water through saltwater intrusion, encroaching 

upon coastal drinking water supplies. Additionally, extreme 

weather events such as hurricanes and extreme droughts could 

impact and potentially permanently affect both the availability 

and quality of drinking water sources. In southeastern areas 

with saltwater intrusion, Region 4 states may receive more 

permit applications and issue more permits for Class V aquifer 

recharge injection wells under the Underground Injection 

Control (UIC) program in an attempt to combat the effects of 

saltwater intrusion caused by sea-level rise. 

• Reduced annual precipitation or increased intensity and 

duration of drought in some regions will affect water supplies, 

causing drinking water providers to reassess supply plans and 

consider alternative pricing, allocation and water conservation 

options.

• In areas with less precipitation, public water supply systems 

water demand may rely more heavily on underground aquifers 

or development of underground storage of treated water to 

supplement existing sources. Changes in the salt front of 

estuaries and tidal rivers due to sea level rise and over use of 

fresh surface and ground water resulting in flow changes may 

result in increased pressure to manage freshwater reservoirs to 

increase flows and attempt to maintain salinity regimes, in 

order to protect estuarine productivity and drinking water 

supplies.
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Goal 3: Cleaning Up America’s Communities & Advancing Sustainable 

Development

• Sea Level Rise

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events 

• Increasing risk 

of floods

• Changes in 

temperature

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes 

• Decreasing 

seasonal 

precipitation 

days/drought 

conditions

• Very likely6

• Likely7

• Likely7

• Very likely3

• Cleaning up Contaminated Sites and 

Waste Management 

• Low • Increased risk of contaminate release from EPA 

Sites

• May need to alter selected remedies to ensure 

protection.

• Medium

• High

• High

• Low

• High

• High

Superfund

• Sea level rise may adversely impact contaminated sites in 

coastal areas in 6 of 8 Southeastern states through inundation, 

storm surge, and salt water intrusion

• The Southeast is very likely to experience extreme storm 

events that could cause the release and affect the migration and 

management of contaminants through increased flooding, 

surface water runoff, infiltration into soils, and changes to 

water table levels). 

• Contaminated sites could experience increased wind damage 

and dispersal of contaminants through higher intensity 

hurricanes, particularly at coastal and near-coastal locations, or 

along major rivers.

• Increased ambient temperatures could impact the design and 

operation of remediation systems due to extreme heat (e.g., 

increased pressurization of storage containers) and increased 

number of rain and ice storms during winter

• Decreased precipitation days and increasing drought intensity 

could increase risk of wild fires and affect the design and 

operation remediation systems and restoration efforts at 

contaminated sites

• Extreme storm events and other climate change impacts may 

create sudden, unexpected conditions at contaminated sites that 

complicate cleanup actions, impose significant cleanup costs, 

and further endanger the health and safety of responders
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Goal 3: Cleaning Up America’s Communities & Advancing Sustainable 

Development

• Sea Level Rise

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events 

• Increasing risk 

of floods

• Changes in 

temperature

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes 

• Decreasing 

seasonal 

precipitation 

days/drought 

conditions

• Very likely6

• Likely7

• Likely7

• Very likely3

• Cleaning up Contaminated Sites and 

Waste Management 

• Low • Increased risk of contaminate release from EPA 

Sites

• May need to alter selected remedies to ensure 

protection.

• Medium

• High

• High

• Low

• High

• High

RCRA

• The same climate change impacts that could affect 

contaminated site cleanups may also affect the management 

and operation of hazardous waste facilities.

• Over-pressurization of tanks containing volatile wastes and the 

emergency venting of these wastes could occur with extreme 

ambient temperatures.

• Buildings or other structures used for indoor storage of waste 

piles could be damaged or flooded in a hurricane causing the 

release of this material.

• Region 4 has a universe of underground storage tanks which 

may be vulnerable to flooding events. Of particular concern is 

groundwater contamination from leaks from at risk tanks and 

damage to the supporting piping.

• Failure of infrastructure (e.g. pipelines, and secondary 

containment) and damage or displacement of tanks due to 

increased intensity of hurricanes and resulting winds and storm 

surges. 

• Increased degradation and weathering of pipelines and 

infrastructure due to ocean acidification resulting in oil spills. 

• More sites may enter the brownfields inventory as natural 

disasters lead to release of hazardous substances and oil. EPA 

may begin experiencing even more competition for the already 

dwindling brownfields grant funding.

• Flooding could disrupt or delay work at existing Brownfield 

sites. 
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Goal 3: Cleaning Up America’s Communities & Advancing Sustainable Development

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events 

• Increasing risk 

of floods

• Sea level Rise

• Changes in 

temperature

• Decreasing 

seasonal 

precipitation 

days/drought 

conditions

• Likely

• Likely

• Very Likely

• Likely

• Likely

Emergency Response • High • Increased need for emergency response.

• Possible limitations to response capability due 

to staff and financial resource constraints.

• High • Smaller entities with hazardous materials may lack 

resources for emergency planning, which may increase the 

risk of abandoned hazardous materials during a flooding or 

storm event.

• Insufficient capacity to handle surges in treatment and 

disposals of hazardous and municipal waste as well as 

mixed waste from climatic events 

• Releases of hazardous materials or chemicals through high 

winds, flooding, and storm surge and a need for increased 

frequency and intensity of emergency response for both 

hazardous materials and oil. Current response resources, 

including laboratory requirements, may not be adequate 

for responses to extreme events. Specific impacts include:

o Increased number of brown/black outs will potentially 

lead to impacts with facility processes (i.e. runaway 

reactions, heat reactions, failure of chemical 

processes)

o Coastal hazardous material and oil facilities may be 

impacted by extreme events and storm surge. The 

United States Coast Guard (USCG) has jurisdiction 

over hazardous material and oil spills along the coast, 

but the U. S. EPA has interagency agreements in place 

to support the USCG during responses.

• Storm surge caused by coastal storms, hurricanes and sealevel rise and flooding may cause the destruction of many 

homes in the impacted area. This will produce an increase 

in the amount of household hazardous waste and white 

goods (i.e., refrigerators, air conditioners, etc) that may 

need to be collected and placed in landfills.

• Storm surge caused by coastal storms, hurricanes and sealevel rise may adversely impact industrial facilities located 

along the coast and cause releases of chemicals, discharges 

of oil and spread orphan containers (i.e., above ground 

storage tanks, drums, totes) in the affected area.
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Goal 3: Cleaning Up America’s Communities & Advancing Sustainable 

Development

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events 

• Increasing risk 

of floods

• Sea level Rise

• Changes in 

temperature

• Decreasing 

seasonal 

precipitation 

days/drought 

conditions

• Likely

• Likely

• Very Likely

• Likely

• Likely

Emergency Response • High • Increased need for emergency response.

• Possible limitations to response capability due 

to staff and financial resource constraints.

• High • Twenty-seven percent of the major roads, 9 percent of the 

rail lines, and 72 percent of the ports in the Region 4 area 

are built on land at or below 4 feet in elevation, a level 

within the range of projections for relative sea-level rise in 

this region in this century. Increased storm intensity may 

lead to increased service disruption and infrastructure 

damage. More than half of the area’s major highways (64 

percent of interstates, 57 percent of arterials), almost half 

of the rail miles, 29 airports, and virtually all of the ports, 

are below 23 feet in elevation and subject to flooding and 

damage due to hurricane storm surge. 

• Additional planning for emergency response may be 

needed:

o Brown and black-outs may cause releases and the 

frequency and intensity of storms may need to be 

incorporated into current national and area 

contingency plans.

o Facility Response Plans (FRP) and Spill Prevention 

and Control Countermeasures (SPCC) plans may not 

consider climate change impacts.

o Current regional debris management plans rely on 

historical climate assumptions and do not address the 

increasing uncertainty in climatic extreme events.

o Additional planning may be needed as Stafford Act 

declaration (federal emergency declaration) may be 

more frequent with a changing climate.

o Current energy infrastructure (oil, natural gas, 

nuclear) in Southeast may not include climate change 

assumptions for emergency planning.
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Goal 4: Ensuring Safety of Chemicals & Preventing Pollution

• Increasing 

extreme 

temperatures

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Very likely3

• Likely3

• Protecting human health and 

ecosystems from chemical risks. 

• Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and 

Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Section 

18 emergency exemptions

• FIFRA compliance monitoring

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

programs 

• Low

• Low

• Assure that chemical exposure models reflect 

changes in the environment 

• Changing in planting timing or location may 

affect the volume and timing of agricultural 

chemical use which could impact the 

appropriate risk management decisions. 

• Low

• High

• Region 4 may experience new pest problems, many of which 

will be from exotic invasive species. 

• Changes in pests and pest pressures due to increases in 

temperatures and variations in rainfall patterns. 

• There would be a potential increase in the need for emergency 

exemptions (FIFRA Section 18). These FIFRA exemptions are 

granted when an emergency pest problem appears which 

cannot be controlled effectively by the current pesticides 

registered for that pest or commodity, allowing temporary use 

of chemicals which are not registered for that use

• Increasing pesticides usage to control pests could also lead to 

increased resistance of the pest to the chemical being used. 

Resistance management will therefore become increasingly 

important.

• The increase in amount and variability of precipitation 

projected for Region 4 can create an expanded mosquito 

habitat, which could increase exposure to more diseases like 

dengue fever and malaria.

• Emergency exemptions for mosquito control may increase, 

especially after major weather events such as floods and 

hurricanes, which tend to spur populations of A. aegypti and A.

albopictus.

• Increase in fungal organisms in agricultural and nonagricultural settings due to extreme rainfall. 

• Increase in dry condition pests due to drought (e.g. mites that 

feed on a variety of field, vegetable and fruit crops). 

• These changes in pesticide choices and quantities will require 

changes to the pesticide applicator certification and training 

programs. Changes in chemical selection could result in new 

and increased chemical exposures especially for indoor 

applications.
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Goal a CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS b EPA PROGRAMMATIC IMPACTS c Region 4 Programmatic Impacts

Climate Change 

Impact d

Likelihood of 

Impact e Focus of Associated EPA Program

Likelihood 

EPA Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact f

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Likelihood 

of Regional 

Program 

will be 

Affected by 

Impact

Example of Risks if Program were Impacted

Facilities and Operations

• Increased 

Water 

Temperatures

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Increased high 

wind event 

intensity, e.g., 

tornado

• Very likely9

• Likely 7

• Water usage at EPA facilities

• Office building inaccessible due to 

tornado damage

• High • Water temperatures impact research activities 

or cooling requirements. 

• Facilities could be located in areas with water 

shortages

• High • Droughts could affect energy use – may experience periods of 

“brown outs”

• Air temperatures impact cooling/energy demand, water 

temperature impact cooling equipment efficiency.

• Increasing risk 

of floods

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea level rise

• Increasing 

extreme 

temperatures

• Likely 7

• Likely3

• Very likely6

• Very likely3

• Operations of Agency facilities, 

personnel safety, physical security, 

and emergency communications

• Emergency management mission 

support (protective gear and 

acquisition)

• Medium • Facilities in coastal or flood-prone areas

• Personnel engaged in field work and vulnerable 

to extreme temperatures or events

• Security, lighting and communication systems 

without backup power

• Personnel and real property supporting 

emergency response and management

• High • Region 4’s Gulf Breeze Lab is located on Sabine Island on 

Florida Panhandle

• The Region has the largest coastal population exposure.
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Footnotes for Summary of Climate Change Vulnerabilities to Climate Change Impacts by 

EPA Goal Table

 

a

This table summarizes vulnerabilities by goal for four of the five goals in EPA’s Strategic 

Plan. Goal 5 “Enforcing Environmental Laws” is not included in this table. Please note that

the table also summarizes vulnerabilities to EPA facilities and operations; this is not part of 

the EPA Strategic Plan goal structure but is an important element of EPA’s vulnerability 

assessment. Please see Section 2 of this document for a fuller discussion of impacts.

 

b

Climate Change Impacts are based upon peer-reviewed scientific literature

 

c Programmatic Impacts are based upon EPA best professional judgment at this time.

 

d Impacts can vary by season and location. e In general, the sources cited in this section use Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 

(IPCC) likelihood of outcome terminology where the term ‘very likely’ means 90-100% 

probability and the term ‘likely’ means 66-100% probability. For some impacts in the table, 

additional discussion on the likelihood term is provided in the associated footnote.

 

f High assumes the program will be affected by the impact; Medium assumes the program 

could be affected under some conditions by the impact; Low assumes that there is a 

potential for the program to be impacted or uncertainty currently exists as to the potential 

nature and extent of the impact. This assessment is based on best professional judgment 

within EPA at this time. Please note, this column does not reflect several important

considerations. For example it does not distinguish timeframes (current, near-term, longterm). It does not account for regional and local variations. And it does not reflect the 

priority of actions the agency may undertake now or in the future. 

1) Denman, K.L., et al. (2007). Couplings Between Changes in the Climate System and Biogeochemistry. In: 

Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment 

Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. 

Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United 

Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.

2) C.B. Field et al., “North America,” Chapter 14 in Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and 

Vulnerability, Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental 

Panel on Climate Change, ed. M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J. van der Linden and C.E. Hanson 

(Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA: Cambridge University Press, 2007).

3) IPCC, 2012: Summary for Policymakers. In: Managing the Risks of Extreme Events and Disasters to 

Advance Climate Change Adaptation [Field, C.B., V. Barros, T.F. Stocker, D. Qin, D.J. Dokken, K.L. Ebi, M.D. 

Mastrandrea,K.J. Mach, G.-K. Plattner, S.K. Allen, M. Tignor, and P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. A Special Report of 

Working Groups I and II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, 

Cambridge, UK, and New York, NY, USA, pp. 1-19.

4) World Meteorological Organization, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 2010, Global Ozone 

Research and Monitoring Project—Report No. 52 (Geneva, Switzerland, 2011). Note: the word “expected” is 

used in the report to characterize projected climate change impacts on the stratospheric ozone layer. For 

purposes of this table the word “likely” has been used as a proxy for “expected.”

5) Burns, D.A., Lynch, J.A., Cosby, B.J., Fenn, M.E., Baron, J.S., US EPA Clean Air Markets Div., 2011,National 

Acid Precipitation Assessment Program Report to Congress 2011: An Integrated Assessment, National Science 

and Technology Council, Washington, DC, p. 114.

6) IPCC, 2012: “It is very likely that mean sea level rise will contribute to upward trends in extreme coastal 

high water levels in the future.”

7) USGCRP, 2009: Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States . Thomas R. Karl, Jerry M. Melillo, 

and Thomas C. Peterson (eds.). United States Global Change Research Program. Cambridge University Press, 

New York, NY, USA.

8 ) NRC, 2010: National Research Council of the National Academies, America’s Climate Choices: Panel on 

Advancing the Science of Climate Change, 2010. p 41. “One of the most certain outcomes from increasing 

CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere is the acidification of the world’s oceans.” For purposes of this table, 

the term “certain” is used.

9) USGCRP, 2009: p. 46. [In the case of freshwater] “Increased air temperatures lead to higher water 

temperatures, which have already been detected in many streams, especially during low-flow 

periods.” For the purposes of this table “very likely” is used.

10) Bates, B.C., Z.W. Kundzewicz, S. Wu and J.P. Palutikof, Eds., 2008: Climate Change and 

Water. Technical Paper of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC Secretariat, 

Geneva, p. 130

11) Ingram, K.T., K. Dow, L. Carter (2012): Southeast Regional Technical Report to the 

National Climate Assessment.
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Appendix B

Region 4 Priority Actions Matrix

Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

Regional Crosscutting Actions

The Region 4 

will assist its 

state, local, and 

tribal 

governments and 

Federal resource 

managers to 

prepare for and 

respond to 

climate-related 

changes.

Region will work 

with its stakeholders 

to develop and 

implement strategies 

to respond to local 

concerns and to 

share these methods 

with other 

communities

As budgets allow:

Promote EPA’s Clean EnergyEnvironment State Partnership.

Promote the Southeastern Ecological 

Framework as a tool for evaluating and 

adapting to climate change impacts on 

important ecosystems and services 

across eight Southeastern states. 

Implement activities that support 

national Climate for Action Education 

and Outreach Campaign.

Promote EPA’s Smart Growth 

program to help communities grow in 

ways that expand economic 

opportunity, protect public health and 

the environment, and create and 

enhance the places that people want to 

live and work.

B

R

B

B

Y

N

N

U

Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change & Improving Air Quality

Increased 

tropospheric 

ozone pollution

Protecting the public 

health and the 

environment by 

approving state 

programs to meet 

NAAQS and 

implementing 

programs in Indian 

Country

Work with other Regions and HQ air 

program managers to develop a 

strategy, in context to other 

programmatic priorities, on how to 

incorporate climate adaptation into air 

quality programs (e.g., SIP, permits).

B Y

Increased 

frequency or 

intensity of 

wildfires

Protecting the public 

health and the 

environment by 

approving state 

programs to meet 

NAAQS and 

implementing 

programs in Indian 

Country

Promote awareness of the use of 

prescribed fires or alternative treatment 

options to reduce build-up of fuel loads 

in areas prone to wildfires

Broaden Smoke Management 

Recommendations for prescribed fires 

developed by SERPPAS

R

R

Y

N

Increasing 

extreme 

temperatures

Protecting the public 

health 

Promote SunWise Program to teach 

public how to protect themselves from 

overexposure to the sun.

B N
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Increased 

water temp.

Cross-Cutting

Outreach

Share hydrologic science and tools 

with state, tribal, and local partners, 

such as trend and risk assessment 

tools, downscaled climate modeling, 

and advanced planning support models 

and decision support tools. 

Provide training for staff regarding the 

climate change impacts to water 

resources and water management 

programs. 

Provide training for appropriate staff 

regarding updated water quality 

modeling and assessment tools that 

incorporates consideration of climate 

change.

 

Work with NEPs, States and tribes to 

enhance understanding of water 

program climate change impacts and 

vulnerabilities.

Participate, as resources allow, in state, 

regional and local efforts to address 

climate change vulnerability and 

adaptation planning.

B

B

R

R

Y

Y

Y

Y

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Increased 

water temp.

Restoring and 

protecting 

watersheds, aquatic 

ecosystems and 

wetlands

Watershed 

Planning

Encourage green infrastructure and 

low-impact development to protect 

water quality, to make watersheds 

more resilient and to reduce the 

demand for additional water resources.

Work with USGS to become 

knowledgeable in the best methods to 

model for current and projected low 

flow and high flow conditions in 

gauged and ungauged rivers and 

streams.

B

B

Y

Y
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Increased 

water temp.

Restoring and 

protecting 

watersheds, aquatic 

ecosystems and 

wetlands

Water Quality 

Standards

Use the Triennial Review of state 

water quality standards to work with 

states and tribes on changes in stream 

use classification or standards, where 

necessary due to climate change 

induced increasing temperatures or 

changes in stream flow..

Encourage states and tribes to develop 

appropriate coordination processes 

between water quality and water 

supply decisions to ensure proper 

implementation of state water quality 

standards.

R

R

Y

N

Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Increased 

water temp.

Restoring and 

protecting 

watersheds, aquatic 

ecosystems and 

wetlands

Monitoring, 

Assessing and 

Reporting

Evaluate Region 4 states’ and tribes’ 

current monitoring and assessment 

practices to encourage the capturing of 

extreme low flow or other climate 

related conditions, including: 1) 

appropriate biological monitoring and 

assessment techniques, and 2) water 

monitoring system design. 

Work with states, tribes, and other 

water monitoring partners to help 

establish a long term monitoring 

program to track potential changes in 

temperature, flow, aquatic biological 

communities, habitat, and chemical 

constituents that are occurring over 

time at important sentinel reference 

sites in the SE Region.

R

B

Y

Y

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Increased 

water temp.

Restoring and 

protecting 

watersheds, aquatic 

ecosystems and 

wetlands

TMDLs

As guidance from the Office of Water 

becomes available on methods and 

approaches, we will:

o Apply, where appropriate, 

hydrologic assumptions that 

consider climate change effects 

when EPA is developing a 

TMDL (including wasteload and 

load allocations).

o Encourage the states to consider 

and apply hydrologic 

assumptions, where appropriate, 

that take into account climate 

change effects in state-developed 

TMDLs.

R

R

Y

Y
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Increased 

water temp.

Restoring and 

protecting 

watersheds, aquatic 

ecosystems and 

wetlands

NPDES

Encourage States to update fact sheets 

at permit reissuance to include the 

most up-to-date critical low flow as 

possible and to calculate reasonable 

potential based on those values. 

Continue to work with states on the 

incorporation of green infrastructure 

components in MS4 permitting.

As policy and/or guidance from the 

Office of Water becomes available on 

methods and approaches, we will:

o Work with the Region 4 states to 

encourage NPDES permits limits 

and conditions that take into 

account climate change. 

o Work with the Region 4 states to 

encourage permits with 

temperature limits and 316a 

waivers (e.g. electric generating 

units) to account for increased 

water temperatures in receiving 

waters and changes in balanced, 

indigenous populations (BIP). 

o Work with the Region 4 states to 

encourage stormwater permits to 

account for increased extreme 

precipitation and erosion and 

sedimentation.

R

R

R

R

R

N

N

Y

Y

Y

Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Increased 

water temp.

Restoring and 

protecting 

watersheds, aquatic 

ecosystems and 

wetlands

Non-Point Source 

(NPS)

Encourage states and tribes to include 

climate change adaptation provisions 

in revised Nonpoint Source 

Management Plans to provide 

flexibility to fund programs and

projects to assess, evaluate, plan and 

implement climate change adaptations. 

As tools and resources become 

available for local level assessments, 

the Region will encourage states and 

tribes to consider adaptation conditions 

in the implementation of projects.

R

R

Y

Y
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

• Increasing 

heavy 

precipitation 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Ocean 

acidification

• Increased 

water temp.

Restoring and 

protecting 

watersheds, aquatic 

ecosystems and 

wetlands

Wetlands

Consider the effects of climate change 

as appropriate when evaluating Least 

Environmentally Damaging 

Practicable Alternatives (LEDPA) in 

the context of CWA Section 404 

Wetlands Permitting. 

Ensure water conservation and 

efficiency measures are considered, 

where appropriate, as part of wetlands 

404 permitting before new water 

resource projects are approved.

B

B

Y

N

• Increasing 

heavy precip. 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Ocean 

acidification

• Increased 

water temp.

Restoring and 

protecting 

watersheds, aquatic 

ecosystems and 

wetlands

Dredging/Ocean 

Dumping

Promote the beneficial use of suitable 

dredged material to protect from sea 

level rise and storm surge. 

Develop protocols to address the likely 

increase in emergency dredging from 

hurricanes of increased intensity and 

other extreme events that may cause 

unexpected sedimentation and 

shoaling.

B

B

U

Y
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters

• Increasing 

heavy precip. 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity 

• Ocean 

acidification

• Increased 

water temp.

Restoring and 

protecting 

watersheds, aquatic 

ecosystems and 

wetlands

National Estuary 

Program/South 

Florida

Promote the Climate Ready Estuary 

program in Region 4 National Estuary 

Programs (NEPs). 

Promote the development of NEP 

coastal watershed management plans 

that consider climate change. 

Promote the development of 

vulnerability assessments by Region 4 

NEPs. 

Work with the NEP’s to revise and 

update the NEP Comprehensive 

Conservation and Management Plans 

(CCMPs) to address vulnerabilities to 

climate change. 

Consider climate change in developing 

projects and programs under the BP 

Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource 

Damage Assessment and Restore Act 

procedures. 

Consider incorporation of climate 

change into Region 4 participation in 

Gulf of Mexico Alliance and South 

Atlantic Alliance efforts. 

Consider climate change in water 

quality management planning for 

protection of the Florida Keys National 

Marine Sanctuary.

R

R

R

R

B

R

R

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

U

• Increasing 

heavy precip. 

events

• Increasing 

intensity of 

hurricanes

• Sea-level rise 

• Increase flood 

risk

Drinking water, 

wastewater and 

stormwater 

infrastructure

As guidance from the Office of Water 

becomes available on methods and 

approaches, we will:

o Work with States to establish 

SRF criteria to build adaptive 

capacity to climate change 

impacts through infrastructure 

investments with particular 

attention on vulnerable 

communities.

R Y

• Increasing 

heavy precip. 

events

• Sea-level rise 

• Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought 

intensity

• Increased 

water temp.

The quality and 

availability of safe 

drinking water

Drinking Water 

Quality

Work with tribes on efforts towards 

sustainable infrastructure and 

participate on national workgroups 

aimed at directing tribal water systems 

towards sustainable 

operation/maintenance of tribal water 

systems.

B Y
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

Goal 3: Cleaning Up America’s

Increasing heavy 

precipitation 

events

Changes in 

temperature

Cleaning up 

contaminated sites 

and waste

Longer-term 

Cleanups

Identify and assess the potential 

vulnerability of NPL sites within 

delineated GIS-mapped zones based on 

a consideration of site-specific factors.

Develop an action plan to evaluate the 

vulnerability of other contaminated 

sites (e.g., brownfields, Superfund 

Time-Critical Removal, RCRA 

corrective action) and RCRA 

Hazardous Waste Management 

Facilities. 

In conjunction with tribes and state 

agencies, initiate an interagency dialog 

to plan and coordinate efforts to 

consider climate change impacts. 

Incorporate energy efficiency and 

conservation into green site 

remediation practices funded by EPA, 

and encourage efficiency and 

conservation in actions conducted by 

responsible parties.

B

N

R

R

Y

Y

U

N

Increasing heavy 

precipitation 

events

Changes in 

temperature

Cleaning up 

contaminated sites 

and waste

Emergency 

Response

Utilize GIS-based tools to locate 

potentially vulnerable critical public 

infrastructure and sources of potential 

hazardous material releases to aid in 

planning for and responding to 

emergency events. 

Conduct an assessment of the 

hazardous waste disposal infrastructure 

to determine whether it can manage 

potential disposal needs during a 

changing climate and whether facility 

operations will be impacted.

Work with local/state/federal 

emergency preparedness and response 

counterparts and businesses to develop 

and implement strategies to address 

adaptive measures needed for climaterelated changes and work with state 

and industry to add enhanced 

emergency planning in operating 

permits.

B

R

B

Y

N

U
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

Increasing heavy 

precipitation 

events

Changes in 

temperature

Cleaning up 

contaminated sites 

and waste

RCRA/Brownfields

Expand green remediation practices. 

Promote revitalization of contaminated 

land to productive environmental and 

economic reuse, with an emphasis on 

green technologies.

Integrate materials recovery principles, 

practices and programs into the 

Region’s Brownfields and 

Revitalization program and projects. 

R

R

R

N

N

N

Increasing heavy 

precipitation 

events

Changes in 

temperature

Cleaning up 

contaminated sites 

and waste

Oil Program

Create layers in GIS to enhance 

existing mapping tools demonstrating 

potential impact areas, flood zones, 

storm surge areas etc. 

Identify SPCC and FRP facilities 

within EPA Region 4 and include in 

updated mapping tools. 

Include consideration of climate

change impacts in EPA Region 4 

management reviews of current and 

future SPCC and FRP facilities. 

B

R

R

U

N

N

Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals Increasing 

extreme 

temperatures

Protecting human 

health and 

ecosystems from 

chemical risks

Promote EPA’s Green Building and 

Sustainable Materials Management 

challenge programs to encourage 

healthier and more resource-efficient 

models of construction, renovation, 

operation, maintenance and demolition 

of buildings.

R N

Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

Earlier timing of 

spring events

Increasing heavy 

precipitation 

events and risk of 

floods

Increased 

frequency and 

intensity of 

wildfires

Work with NEPA to appropriately 

incorporate climate change into their 

environmental assessments and that 

NEPA analysis is consistent with 

respective Climate Change Adaptation 

plans.

Region will work with other federal 

agencies to appropriately address 

vulnerable people and places as they 

are impacted by climate change.

R

R

U

N
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

Facilities & Operations

Decreasing 

precipitation 

days and 

increasing 

drought intensity

Water and energy 

usage at EPA 

facilities

Continue to use the Region’s EMS to 

promote sustainable business practices,

energy efficiency, renewable energy 

strategies, and maintain LEED 

certification

As a GSA building occupant, EPA 

Region 4 will promote facility 

efficiencies.

. 

R

R

N

N

Increasing 

extreme weather 

events

Operations of 

Agency facilities, 

personnel safety, 

physical security 

and emergency 

communications

Investigate alternative lodging 

availability at the Alternate COOP 

Site.

Maintain the staff’s capacity to work 

remotely

R

R

N

N

Facilities and Operations

Decreasing 

climate change 

impacts

Encouraging 

sustainability 

practices within the 

region 4 offices and 

surrounding area.

Develop interagency federal 

sustainability team to promote 

greening federal facilities in Atlanta. 

Recruit Federal Green Challenge 

partners from federal departments to 

reduce their climate change impacts

Support the development of 

sustainable recycling infrastructure and 

commodities markets through 

partnerships with state and regional 

recycling coalitions, by developing and

supporting product stewardship and 

extended producer responsibility 

models, and through efforts to 

encourage the recovery and recycling 

of organic waste streams. 

Recruit partners to implement the 

SMM Food Recovery Challenge to 

increase economically valuable and 

environmentally responsible use and 

diversion of organic waste away from 

land-filling to minimize the creation 

and release of methane

R

R

R

N

N

N
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

EPA Staff Training

Cumulative

Increase employee 

knowledge 

regarding climate 

change adaptation 

and encourage 

consideration while 

performing job 

duties

Encourage regional employees to take 

EPA Headquarters created training 

regarding climate change adaptation.

Utilize Region 4’s Energy and Climate 

Change Steering Committee and 

Workgroups to monitor opportunities 

to educate and outreach to employees 

and look for areas where climate 

change adaptation can be incorporated.

Look for opportunities to bring in 

guest speakers to lecture employees 

about climate change and potentially 

how other agencies are tackling 

adaptation.

B

R

R

Y

N

N
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

Vulnerable Populations

Climate Change 

Impacts to Tribes

Region 4’s will 

coordinate with its 

six-federally 

recognized Tribes 

and support Tribal 

climate change 

adaptation efforts 

consistent with the 

Agency’s statutory 

and regulatory 

authorities, program 

office guidance, and 

resources.

Coordinate with the Regional Tribal 

Operations Committee (RTOC) and 

individual Tribes to identify climate 

change priorities, assess Tribes' 

climate change adaptation readiness 

and determine training, technical 

assistance and/or resource needs. 

Request clear guidelines from National 

Program Managers to Project Officers 

and Tribes about the management of 

available funds to grant awards 

addressing climate change adaptation 

activities.

Facilitate a workshop or training for 

Tribal environmental staff on climate 

change impacts and priorities.

Collaborate with R4 Tribal 

component(s) in energy and climate 

change website.

Incorporate Tribal climate change 

priorities, Traditional Ecological 

Knowledge, and related information 

into training opportunities for Region 4 

staff.

Coordinate with federal partners on a 

regular basis to share climate change 

related efforts, and to streamline 

education, outreach and consultation 

with Tribes, where appropriate. 

Enhance interagency cross-program 

coordination and collaboration 

opportunities to inform, discuss and 

consult with Tribes on EPA climate 

change actions and decisions.

R

N

R

R

B

R

B

N

Y

N

N

Y

N

N
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Climate Change 

Impact

Focus of Associated 

Region 4 Program Priority Actions National or 

Regional Action

Action requires National 

Guidance or 

HQ Coordination 

National = N

Regional = R

Both = B

Yes = Y

No = N

Unknown = U

Vulnerable Populations

Climate Change 

Impacts to 

Children’s 

Health

Conduct an inventory of tools and 

materials available to address issues 

faced by children and pregnant 

women. 

Promote and disseminate of tools and 

materials to address issues targeting 

children and pregnant women. 

Educate and conducnt outreach 

directed to pediatric health care 

professionals to enhance their 

understanding of the threats on 

children’s health.

Consult with the Southeast Pediatric 

Health Specialty Unit (PEHSU) as a 

resource to address environmental 

health medical conditions that may be 

exacerbated by climate change. 

N

B

B

B

Y

Y

N

N

Vulnerable Populations

Climate Change 

Impacts to 

Environmental 

Justice 

Communities

Host climate change and adaptation 

educational workshops for 

environmental justice communities.

Partner with other federal and state 

agencies and non-profit organizations 

to inform environmental justice 

communities of various activities and 

programs.

Promote and distribute climate change 

and adaptation tools and materials via 

emails, listserv, and mailings.

Create a train-the-trainer climate 

change and adaptation workshop 

where community partners are able to 

lead climate change and environmental 

justice workshops. 

R

B

B

R

N

Y

Y

N
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APPENDIX C

Performance Measures Assessment

Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

Regional Crosscutting Actions

Multiple Programs As budgets allow:

Promote EPA’s Clean Energy-Environment State 

Partnership.

Promote the Southeastern Ecological Framework as a 

tool for evaluating and adapting to climate change 

impacts on important ecosystems and services across 

eight Southeastern states. 

Implementing activities that support national Climate 

for Action Education and Outreach Campaign.

Promoting EPA’s Smart Growth program to help 

communities grow in ways that expand economic 

opportunity, protect public health and the 

environment, and create and enhance the places that 

people want to live and work.

Goal 1: Taking Action on Climate Change & Improving Air Quality

APTMD (Ozone) Work with other Regions and HQ air program 

managers to develop a strategy, in context to other 

programmatic priorities, on how to incorporate 

climate adaptation into air quality programs (e.g., 

SIP, permits).

ATPMD (Particulate 

Matter)

Promote awareness of use of prescribed fires or 

alternative treatment options to reduce build-up of 

fuel loads in areas prone to wildfires

Broaden Smoke Management Recommendations for 

prescribed fires developed by Southeast Regional 

Partnership for Planning & Sustainability(SERPPAS)

APTMD • Promote SunWise Program to teach public how 

to protect themselves from overexposure to the 

sun.
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Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters

All Water Program 

Offices, As 

Appropriate 

• Share hydrologic science and tools with state 

and local partners, such as trend and risk 

assessment tools, downscaled climate modeling, 

and advanced planning support models and

decision support tools. 

• Provide training for staff regarding the climate 

change impacts to water resources and water 

management programs. 

• Provide training for appropriate staff regarding 

updated water quality modeling and assessment 

tools that incorporates consideration of climate 

change. 

• Work with NEPs, States and tribes to enhance 

understanding of water program climate change 

impacts and vulnerabilities. 

• Participate, as resources allow, in state, regional 

and local efforts to address climate change 

vulnerability and adaptation planning.

Water Quality 

Standards

• Use the Triennial Review of state water quality 

standards to work with states on changes in 

stream use classification or standards, where 

necessary, due to climate change induced 

increasing temperatures or changes in stream 

flow.

• Encourage states to develop explicit criteria for 

low flow protection.

Water Quality 

Monitoring, 

Assessing and 

Reporting

• Evaluate Region 4 states’ current monitoring 

and assessment practices to encourage the 

capturing of extreme low flow or other climate 

related conditions, including: 1) appropriate 

biological monitoring and assessment 

techniques, and 2) water monitoring system 

design. 

• Work with states and other water monitoring 

partners to help establish a long term monitoring 

program to track potential changes in 

temperature, flow, aquatic biological 

communities, habitat, and chemical constituents 

that are occurring over time at important sentinel 

reference sites in the SE Region.
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Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

Total Maximum 

Daily Loads 

(TMDL)

• As guidance from the Office of Water becomes 

available on methods and approaches, we will: o Apply, where appropriate, hydrologic 

assumptions that consider climate 

change effects when EPA is 

developing a TMDL (including 

wasteload and load allocations).

o Encourage the states to consider and 

apply hydrologic assumptions, where 

appropriate, that take into account 

climate change effects in state-

developed TMDLs.

Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters

National Pollutant 

Discharge 

Elimination System 

(NPDES) 

• Encourage States to update fact sheets at permit 

reissuance to include the most up-to-date critical 

low flow as possible and to calculate reasonable 

potential based on those values. 

• Continue to work with states on the 

incorporation of green infrastructure

components in MS4 permitting. 

• As guidance from the Office of Water becomes 

available on methods and approaches, we will: o Work with the Region 4 states to 

encourage NPDES permits limits and 

conditions that take into account 

climate change. 

o Work with the Region 4 states to 

encourage permits with temperature 

limits and 316a waivers to (e.g. 

electric generating units) account for 

increased water temperatures in 

receiving waters and changes in 

balanced, indigenous populations 

(BIP) based on guidance from HQs on 

how to do this. 

o Work with the Region 4 states to 

encourage stormwater permits account 

for increased extreme precipitation 

and erosion and sedimentation based 

on guidance from HQs on how to do 

this.
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Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

NonPoint Source 

(NPS)

• Encourage states to include climate change 

adaptation provisions in the state’s revised 

Nonpoint Source Management Plans to provide 

flexibility to fund programs and projects to 

assess, evaluate, plan and implement climate 

change adaptations. 

• As tools and resources become available for 

local level assessments, the Region will 

encourage states to consider adaptation 

conditions in the implementation of projects.

Wetlands (CWA 404) 

• Consider the effects of climate change as 

appropriate when evaluating Least 

Environmentally Damaging Practicable 

Alternatives (LEDPA) in the context of CWA 

Section 404 Wetlands Permitting. 

• Ensure water conservation and efficiency 

measures are considered, where appropriate, as 

part of wetlands 404 permitting before new 

water resource projects are approved.

Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters

Dredging/Ocean 

Dumping

• Promote the beneficial use of suitable dredged 

material to support environmentally sound 

projects to protect from sea level rise and storm 

surge. 

• Develop protocols to address the likely increase 

in emergency dredging from hurricanes of 

increased intensity and other extreme 

precipitation events that may cause unexpected 

sedimentation and shoaling.

National Estuary 

Program and South 

Florida

• Promote the Climate Ready Estuary program in 

Region 4 National Estuary Programs (NEPs). 

• Promote the development of NEP coastal 

watershed management plans that consider 

climate change. 

• Promote the development of vulnerability 

assessments by Region 4 NEPs.

• Work with the NEP’s to revise and update the 

NEP Comprehensive Conservation and 

Management Plans (CCMPs) to address 

vulnerabilities to climate change. 

• Consider climate change in developing projects 

and programs under the BP Deepwater Horizon 
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Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

National Estuary 

Program and South 

Florida (con’t)

Natural Resource Damage Assessment and 

Restore Act procedures. 

• Consider incorporation of climate change into 

Region 4 participation in Gulf of Mexico 

Alliance and South Atlantic Alliance efforts. 

• Consider climate change in water quality 

management planning for protection of the 

Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Drinking Water, 

Wastewater and 

Stormwater 

Infrastructure

• As guidance from the Office of Water becomes 

available on methods and approaches, we will:

o Work with States to establish SRF 

criteria to build adaptive capacity to 

climate change impacts through 

infrastructure investments with 

particular attention on vulnerable 

communities.
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Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

Goal 3: Cleaning Up America’s

Long term cleanups

(e.g., Superfund 

Remedial, Superfund 

Time-Critical 

Removal, RCRA 

Corrective Action, 

TSCA, Brownfields 

Cleanup Sites, and 

Polychlorinated 

Cleanup)

• Identify and assess the potential vulnerability of 

NPL sites within delineated GIS-mapped zones 

based on a consideration of site-specific factors.

• Develop an action plan to evaluate the 

vulnerability of other contaminated sites (e.g., 

brownfields, Superfund Time-Critical Removal, 

RCRA corrective action) and RCRA Hazardous 

Waste Management Facilities. 

• In conjunction with tribes and state agencies, 

initiate an interagency dialog to plan and 

coordinate efforts to consider climate change 

impacts. 

• Incorporate energy efficiency and conservation 

into green site remediation practices funded by 

EPA, and encourage efficiency and conservation 

in actions conducted by responsible parties.

Goal 3: Cleaning Up America’s

Emergency Response

• Utilize GIS-based tools to locate potentially 

vulnerable critical public infrastructure and 

sources of potential hazardous material releases 

to aid in planning for and responding to 

emergency events. 

• Conduct an assessment of the hazardous waste 

disposal infrastructure to determine whether it 

can manage potential disposal needs during a 

changing climate and whether facility operations 

will be impacted.

• Work with local/state/federal emergency 

preparedness and response counterparts and 

businesses to develop and implement strategies 

to address adaptive measures needed for 

climate-related changes and work with state and 

industry to add enhanced emergency planning in 

operating permits.
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Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

RCRA/Brownfields

• Expand green remediation practices. • Promoting the revitalization of contaminated 

land to productive environmental and economic 

reuse, with an emphasis on green technologies.

• Integrate materials recovery principles, practices 

and programs into the Region’s Brownfields and 

Revitalization program and projects. 

Oil Program

• Create layers in GIS to enhance existing 

mapping tools demonstrating potential impact 

areas, flood zones, storm surge areas etc. 

• Identify SPCC and FRP facilities within EPA 

Region 4 and include in updated mapping tools. 

• Include consideration of climate change impacts 

in EPA Region 4 management reviews of 

current and future SPCC and FRP facilities. 

Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals

Pollution Prevention

• Promote EPA’s Green Building and 

Sustainable Materials Management 

challenge programs to encourage healthier 

and more resource-efficient models of 

construction, renovation, operation, 

maintenance and demolition of buildings.

Goal 5: Enforcing Environmental Laws

NEPA

• Work to with NEPA to appropriately 

incorporate climate change into their 

environmental assessments and to promote 

consistency with respective Climate Change 

Adaptation plans.

• Region will work with other federal agencies to 

appropriately address vulnerable people and 

places as they are impacted by climate change.

Facilit

ies & 

OperaOPM

• Continue to use the Region’s EMS to promote 

sustainable business practices including energy 

efficiency and renewable energy strategies and 

maintain LEED certification
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Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

• As a GSA building occupant, EPA Region 4 

will promote facility efficiencies.

• Investigate alternative lodging availability at the 

Alternate COOP Site.

• Maintain the staff’s capacity to work remotely

Pollution Prevention/ 

Sustainability/RCRA

• Develop interagency federal sustainability team 

to promote greening federal facilities in Atlanta. 

Recruit Federal Green Challenge partners from 

federal departments to reduce their climate 

change impacts

• Support the development of sustainable 

recycling infrastructure and commodities 

markets through partnerships with state and 

regional recycling coalitions, by developing and 

supporting product stewardship and extended 

producer responsibility models, and through 

efforts to encourage the recovery and recycling

of organic waste streams. 

• Recruit partners to implement the SMM Food 

Recovery Challenge to increase economically 

valuable and environmentally responsible use 

and diversion of organic waste away from landfilling to minimize the creation and release of 

methane
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Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

EPA Staff Training

Office of Regional 

Administrator/

EC2 Coordinator

• Encourage regional employees to take EPA 

Headquarters created training regarding climate 

change adaptation.

• Utilize Region 4’s Energy and Climate Change 

Steering Committee and Workgroups to monitor 

opportunities to educate and outreach to 

employees and look for areas where climate 

change adaptation can be incorporated.

• Look for opportunities to bring in guest speakers 

to lecture employees about climate change and 

potentially how other agencies are tackling 

adaptation.

Vulnerable Populations

Tribal Coordinator

• Coordinate with the Regional Tribal Operations 

Committee (RTOC) and individual Tribes to 

identify climate change priorities, assess Tribes' 

climate change adaptation readiness and 

determine training, technical assistance and/or 

resource needs. 

• Request clear guidelines from National Program 

Managers to Project Officers and Tribes about 

the management of available funds to grant 

awards addressing climate change adaptation 

activities.

• Facilitate a workshop or training for Tribal 

environmental staff on climate change impacts 

and priorities.

• Collaborate with R4 Tribal component(s) in 

energy and climate change website.

• Incorporate Tribal climate change priorities, 

Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and related 

information into training opportunities for 

Region 4 staff.

• Coordinate with federal partners on a regular 

basis to share climate change related efforts, and 

to streamline education, outreach and 

consultation with Tribes, where appropriate. 

• Enhance interagency cross-program 

coordination and collaboration opportunities to 

inform, discuss and consult with Tribes on EPA 

climate change actions and decisions.
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Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

Vulnerable Populations

Children’s Health Conduct an inventory of tools and materials available 

to address issues faced by children and pregnant 

women. 

Promote and disseminate tools and materials to 

address issues targeting children and pregnant 

women. 

Educate and conduct outreach directed to pediatric 

health care professionals to enhance their 

understanding of the threats on children’s health.

Consult with the Southeast Pediatric Health Specialty 

Unit (PEHSU) as a resource to address environmental 

health medical conditions that may be exacerbated by 

climate change. 

•
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Goal Region 4 

Program

Priority Action Phase Status

Vulnerable Populations

Environmental

Justice

• Host climate change and adaptation educational 

workshops for environmental justice 

communities.

• Partner with other federal and state agencies and 

non-profit organizations to inform 

environmental justice communities of various 

activities and programs.

• Promote and distribute climate change and 

adaptation tools and materials via emails, 

listserv, and mailings.

• Create a train-the-trainer climate change and 

adaptation workshop where community partners 

are able to lead climate change and 

environmental justice workshops.