Retired – Former Environmental Scientist, EPA, USA

Dr. Ray Merrill is an internationally recognized environmental chemist with over 50 years of experience managing and performing environmental measurements, method development and evaluation, and quality assurance programs.

He worked for the EPA’s Office of Research and Development from 1976 to 1987 before joining Radian Corporation to lead measurement development efforts on contract to the EPA. In 1999, he moved to Eastern Research Group, managing major field sampling and method development contracts for source and ambient air programs. Dr. Merrill returned to the EPA in 2010, joining the Emissions Measurement Center within the Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, where he served until his retirement in 2024.

During his tenure, Ray was the EPA’s primary author for Methods 201A/202 (fine and condensable particulate), Method 325A/B (passive fenceline VOCs), Performance Specification 18 (HCl continuous monitoring), and OTM 45 and OTM 50 for PFAS measurements from stationary sources. He also authored a major revision to EPA Method 23 for chlorinated dioxins/furans, PAHs, and PCBs, and wrote OTM 49, a new GC-MS/MS method for these air toxics.

He remains active with the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). When he is not mentoring or giving back to the environmental community, you will often find him racing his one-design sailboat on the lakes and rivers of North Carolina.