Uncertainty Surrounds Duluth EPA Lab Amid Proposed Cuts

The future of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) scientific and research division hangs in the balance as the agency considers significant cuts, including the potential elimination of the Office of Research and Development (ORD) and up to 75% of its workforce. This proposal casts doubt over the fate of the Duluth, Minnesota, freshwater laboratory, which has over 100 employees.

First reported by the New York Times, the plan to dismantle the ORD is part of broader measures of workforce reduction mandated by the Trump administration across federal agencies. Documents reviewed by Democratic members of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology outline these potential cuts.

Among the impacted units is the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division laboratory, which is internationally recognized among aquatic scientists for its contributions to developing scientific protocols used universally to assess the environmental impacts of toxic chemicals.

The implications of these cuts for the Duluth lab remain unclear. Reports state that the EPA expects to eliminate the ORD completely, with between 50% and 75% of its more than 1,540 positions being discarded. As of 2021, the Duluth facility employed 136 individuals.

In a phone interview, Dale Hoff, director of the Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, stated he was unable to comment on the laboratory's future, noting that information from the recent article was all he had.

During a recent virtual town hall meeting, ORD officials indicated to employees that dismantling the office might necessitate congressional action, as the discussion regarding workforce reduction had not included career ORD staff. Employees at different sessions were advised to save personal documents, as preparations for potential changes were underway.

U.S. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a Democrat from California and the ranking member of the science committee, criticized the Trump administration's plan, asserting that eliminating the ORD would violate federal law. "EPA’s Office of Research and Development is in statute," she emphasized, arguing that its removal would make it impossible for the agency to fulfill its legal obligations to employ the best available science.

Local Political Responses

U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, a Republican who represents the district where the Duluth lab is located, has not publicly commented on whether he supports the proposed cuts or his stance on the potential loss of jobs at the EPA in his district.

In response to inquiries, EPA spokesperson Molly Vaseliou characterized the agency's future plans as exciting improvements. While indicating that no final decisions have been made, Vaseliou claimed the agency is open to input from employees on enhancing operations and fulfilling its obligations for clean air and water.

Voices from the Scientific Community

Jack Kelly, who headed the ecology branch at the Duluth lab from 1998 to 2015, expressed deep concern about the proposed workforce cuts. He highlighted that the nation has invested significantly in training personnel dedicated to protecting human health and the environment, underscoring the importance of the lab's work.

The Duluth laboratory has been pivotal in establishing methods to evaluate Great Lakes water quality, assessing pollutants, and studying new harmful chemicals like PFAS, often referred to as "forever chemicals." Kelly lamented the dismissive view of environmental research as wasteful spending.

Another former employee, John Morrice, who worked at the EPA’s Duluth lab for 15 years, noted that while previous Republican administrations historically targeted the regulatory side of the EPA, the scientific divisions remained mostly insulated. He pointed out the critical need for robust scientific backing to enforce water quality standards under the Clean Water Act, asserting that no backup from academic institutions could truly replicate the lab’s capabilities if it were to close.

The Duluth lab has a rich history, established in 1967, even before the EPA's formation, through the efforts of U.S. Rep. John Blatnik, who aimed to create federal water quality labs across the country. The Duluth lab has significantly contributed to scientific advancements over its nearly 60-year existence.

Without the lab's resources and expertise, Kelly warned that it would not just be a loss for the scientific community, but for the general public, as the laboratory plays a crucial role in addressing environmental challenges that impact human health.

EPA, Duluth, research, environment, chemicals