Visiting EPA Region 3’s Office in Fort Meade, MD

Region 3 Office Locations
Important Employee and Visitor Information

Fort Meade, Maryland

Address

US EPA
Environmental Science Center
701 Mapes Road
Fort Meade, MD 20755-5350
410-305-2600

Map of the area around the Environmental Science Center

 

Building Access

Our Environmental Science Center is located on Fort Meade.  This is a closed military Post, allowing limited visitors (see instructions below for entering Fort Meade). Our offices are located within the Environmental Science Center located on the Post.  Our offices are open weekdays from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.  There is limited access to our offices after hours and on weekends. The main entrance to our offices is located in the front of the building facing MD Rt. 175. The entrance for the disabled is through the main entrance.

Visitors over the age of 13 visiting the Environmental Science Center need to have a valid photo identification to enter (no exceptions). 

All visitors must enter through the main entrance at the Environmental Science Center (facing MD Rt. 175) and be “pre-registered” at the EPA Security Desk by their EPA Point of Contact at least 24 hours before their arrival.

All visitors will be screened by passing through a stationary magnetometer (metal detector). Their items will be screened by passing through an X-Ray machine. For visitors with disabilities who cannot move through the walk-thru magnetometer, a “Hand-Held” Metal Detector may be used. Visitors will be escorted by an EPA Employee while in EPA space at all times unless otherwise arranged. Note: Individuals representing any State, Local, and Federal Law Enforcement Organizations considered to be officially “on-duty” with the proper credentials will be permitted into EPA space.

All EPA visitors will be issued a Visitor’s badge by Security. Visitors must be accompanied by an EPA employee. Once their business is completed, visitors must return their badges to Security.

Instructions for Access to Fort Meade

In order to comply with security requirements instituted by the Provost Marshall, for the Fort George G. Meade (FGGM) military installation, all EPA visitors to the US EPA Region 3 Environmental Science Center (ESC) must make the following advance arrangements in order to gain admittance to the military installation:

1. Have their ESC point of contact (host) arrange for sponsorship by one of the following EPA designated sponsors:

2. Complete a Fort Meade Installation Access Request (FMIAR) form;

3. Provide required identification documentation to the Department of the Army’s Fort Meade Visitor Control Center (VCC); and,

4. Successfully undergo an NCIC III criminal background check by the Department of Army Garrison at Fort Meade. Note: the background check can take anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours depending on visitor volume; please plan accordingly.

The type of visitor’s pass or badge issued by the Department of Army Garrison at Fort Meade VCC will be based on the duration of the visit(s).

One-time or infrequent visitors to the ESC: a one (1) day pass permitting access to the Post for that specific day.

Frequent or multiple day visits to the Post: a visitor’s badge for up to one (1) year may be issued.

A visitor’s pass/badge will only be issued for the amount of time needed to conduct business at ESC within the FGGM military installation.

Visitors to ESC should coordinate in advance with their ESC point of contact, who will provide the information described below to the EPA ESC designated sponsors. Note: contractors and SEEs should coordinate their visitor’s access through their appropriate ESC EPA point of contact (e.g., COR, Alternate COR, Task monitor, etc.).

The sponsor (DoD military or Designated Civilian CAC) will escort their guest to the VCC. All guests require (1) primary ID (REAL ID driver's license or passport) and (1) secondary ID (S.S. card, birth certificate, voter's registration card). Names on all IDs (primary & secondary) presented for vetting must match, otherwise the IDs will not be accepted.

Requesting Access for Visitors

- EPA Point of Contact sends an email to mail group R3 ESC-EPA-OPM with the following information:

  • Name and email for each visitor
  • Date of visit for infrequent / one-time visitors
    -OR-
  • Requested duration for access for frequent / multiple day visits.
    Note: Fort Meade visitor badges may be issued for up to one (1) year. However, the requested duration for the visitor’s badge cannot exceed the length of time the visitor needs access to the EPA ESC (e.g., not to exceed contract or service agreement expiration date, etc.).
  • Purpose of visit and/or nature of the work/activity (e.g., attend meeting, instrument service repair, interview, etc.).

- ESC facilities management personnel will coordinate with you and your visitor(s) to obtain the appropriate access to Fort Meade.

As some of you have experienced, wait times at the VCC can be rather lengthy, so you should begin the process of coordinating access for your visitors as far in advance as possible and inform your visitors that they should plan ahead to give themselves plenty of time to go through the vetting process to receive their visitor badge or pass for admittance to the FGGM military installation.

Please contact Michael White, Deputy Facility Manager at (410) 305-2646 or myself if you have any questions or experience any problems obtaining access for your visitors.

Driving Directions

From the North (Baltimore/Philadelphia)

Take I-95 south to Baltimore. As you approach Baltimore, three alternate routes can be used to go south of the city: I-95 (Ft. McHenry Tunnel), I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel) and I-695 (Key Bridge and the Baltimore beltway.) The shortest route is the I-895 Baltimore Tunnel, often called the Old Tunnel. In whatever option you choose to take around Baltimore, take Rt. 295 (Baltimore/Washington Parkway) South.  Exit at MD Rt. 175 East, Odenton/Ft. Meade exit.  Continue on MD Rt. 175 East (Annapolis Road) for about 2 miles.  Turn right at the 3rd traffic signal (Reece Road).  Enter gate area.  See above for information to access Ft. Meade.

From the South (Washington)

Take Rt. 295 North (Baltimore/Washington Parkway).  Go about 12 miles and exit at MD Rt. 175 East / Annapolis Road towards Odenton.  Continue on MD Rt. 175 East (Annapolis Road) for about 2 miles.  Turn right at the 3rd traffic signal (Reece Road).  Enter gate area.  See above for information to access Ft. Meade.

From the East (Annapolis)

From MD Rt. 450 (West Street), take Rt. 50 West (Washington).  After a short distance, bear right onto I-97 North towards Baltimore (exit 21). Continue on I-97 for approximately 6 miles, and then bear right onto MD Rt. 32 West (Odenton/Ft. Meade).  Continue on MD Rt. 32 West for about 5 miles, and then take exit 6 for MD-175/Annapolis Rd. toward Odenton/Ft Meade. Turn left at the 3rd traffic signal (Reece Road).  Enter gate area.  See above for information to access Ft. Meade.

From the West (Howard County and I-95)

From MD Rt. 32 East, take exit 10B for Rt. 295 North (Baltimore/Washington Parkway).  Go about 2 miles and exit at MD Rt. 175 East / Annapolis Road towards Odenton.  Continue on MD Rt. 175 East (Annapolis Road) for about 2 miles.  Turn right at the 3rd traffic signal (Reece Road). Enter gate area.  See above for information to access Ft. Meade.

Directions from Visitors Control Center (VCC)

After departing the VCC, turn right onto Rt. 175 and proceed to the Mapes Road Gate and turn right and enter one of the entrance lanes or preferred Visitor Lane on the for right. (See Visitor Lane Sign).

Proceed through gate and make the first right at the light onto Ernie Pyle Street and make first right at sign for the Environmental Protection Agency; Environmental Science Center at 701 Mapes Road. Follow the ring road around to the visitor parking area.

Parking

Visitors parking is located in the first parking lot on the left on the Environmental Science Center campus.  Visitors must walk around the building to the main entrance which faces MD-Rt. 175 for entry to the building.  Parking for disabled individuals is located in the second parking lot on the left off of Ring Road immediately adjacent to the main building entrance.

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Last updated on March 21, 2024