PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
EPA NEW ENGLAND
INCREASES
DLJR PREPAREDNESS
SEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
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INTRODUCTION
Long after many response agencies have packed up
their equipment and moved on, the U.S. Environmen-
tal Protection Agency is often required to remain at
a disaster or environmental incident for the long-haul
- to complete clean-up and decontamination activities.
No matter what type of environmental emergency or
homeland security incident we anticipate, whether its
chemical, biological, radiological, oil spills, or natural
disasters clean-up and decontamination are important
elements of the response - and EPA plays a key role to
ensure public health and safety.
We have seen the increasing importance of EPA's role
in federal response efforts as we recount the major
disasters of the recent past EPA worked with State and
City officials to conduct air monitoring, clean-up and
decontamination through lower Manhattan after 9/11;
E PA developed and oversaw the state-of-the-art decon-
tamination procedures which re-opened federal office
buildings after the Anthrax attacks; the Agency assisted
in the search and recovery of hazardous materials and
debris after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster; and
the Agency deployed more than 1600 of its person-
nel to clean-up environmental hazards and debris and
restore critical water services after Hurricanes Katrina
and Rita.
EPA's involvement and participation in these signifi-
cant national responses have prompted the Agency to
heed some valuable lessons to step up its homeland
security planning efforts. One of the most important
lessons that changed the way we think about, and
plan for emergencies, is to fully incorporate homeland
security and emergency preparedness into all aspects
of EPA's operations and planning. Additionally, we
are working to ensure that all employees are aware
of EPA's important and growing role to help out in the
wake of a major disaster or emergency.
In EPA New England, we have addressed these lessons
head-on. Notwithstanding the critical work done by
EPA New England's Emergency Planning and Response
Branch, which continues to play a central role in our
homeland security planning efforts, the Region has
worked to integrate emergency response planning
into all regional program offices and has even mandat-
ed Incident Command System and homeland security
training for all staff. As EPA New England plans for the
future, we must be ready for all types of emergencies.
This publication tells you what we have done to respond
and how we are preparing for the future. It high-
lights our key efforts as we continue to get ready for
whatever the future holds.
At work in the Regional Emergency
Operations Center (REOC).
THE EMERGENCY PLANNING
AND RESPONSE BRANCH
Regional Assets and Activities
EPA New England's Emergency Planning and Response Branch
is the hub of regional first response activities. EPA's emergency
responders, called On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs), are on call
24-hours a day, every day of the year, and are trained to respond
to oil spills, chemical releases, and terrorist incidents. In a
typical year, the Branch evaluates over 800 notifications of oil or
chemical spills; con-
ducts field response
to about 25 emer-
gency incidents;
and conducts lon-
ger-term clean-up
activities at approxi-
mately 25 sites that
pose time-critical
threats.
EPA's On-Scene
Coordinators (OSCs)
may supply resourc-
es and technical
expertise to help
with a clean-up led
by a State or local
Agency, or they
may lead the clean-
ups for more signifi-
cant incidents. The
OSCs coordinate
the agency's emer-
gency work and
are responsible for
sending personnel
and equipment to
national or regional
releases or spills; responding to emergencies resulting from
inland oil spills and chemical releases; overseeing and/or man-
aging the clean-up of hazardous waste sites; and, inspecting
oil storage facilities. Currently, EPA New England has 24 OSCs
who coordinate federal efforts with local and state emergency
personnel.
The EPA Mobile Command Post (MCP) can be
deployed at a moments notice to the field, to the site
of an incident, or even to support personnel during
field exercises.
Dedicated EPA Emergency Response Vehicles and
Mobile Supplied-Air Trailer
Exterior: Mobile Command Post (MCP).
During an emergency, EPA's first priority
is to protect human health and the environment.
To accomplish their
mission, EPA New
England OSCs have
access to dedicated
contractor support:
1) the Superfund
Technical Assistance
and Response Team
(START) contractor
provides real-time air
monitoring, sampling,
mobile laboratory,
and other techni-
cal assistance; and
2) the Emergency
Rapid Response Ser-
vices (ERRS) contrac-
tor provides person-
nel and equipment to
conduct environmen-
tal clean-up activities.
For large or com-
plex responses, EPA
New England also
has the ability to
supplement its own
response capabili-
ties by requesting/accessing national support (personnel and/
or equipment) from the other nine regional offices as well as
from Headquarters and EPA Special Teams: the Environ-
mental Response Team (ERT); the Radiological Emergency
Response Team (RERT); the National Counter-Terrorism Evi-
dence Response Teams (NCERT); the National Decontamina-
tion Team (NOT); and the regional EPA Criminal Investigation
Division (CID)
EPA New England's Emergency Planning and Response Branch
coordinates its operations through the Regional Emergency
Operations Center (REOC), which is located within EPA's Offic-
es in downtown Boston. The REOC is the primary location for
performing command and control activities and for providing
reach-back support to EPA personnel deployed in the field.
EPA's 24-Hour Spill Number: 617-723-8928
Interior: At work in the MCP.
Equipment and Technologies
EPA New England OSCs have access to dedicated response vehi-
cles and specialized response and communication equipment. This
includes: the New England Regional Laboratory and a mobile labo-
ratory; personal protective equipment (e.g., protective suits, self-
contained breathing systems, respirators, specialized gloves, etc.);
chemical and radiation detectors; air monitoring equipment; sam-
pling materials; a mobile air
trailer; data collection devic-
es; decontamination shelters
and equipment; a command
shelter; and global positioning
systems.
The Emergency Response
Branch also has a dedicat-
ed Mobile Command Post
(MCP). This 35-foot vehicle
serves as a field command
platform that lets OSCs com-
municate with personnel
on- and off-site as well as
with local officials, the media
and the public. The MCP is a
highly sophisticated mobile
unit with specialized com-
munications equipment. The
MCP provides responders
with a safe and climate controlled work space during a response.
It can be deployed at a moments notice to the field, to the site of
an incident, or even to support personnel during field exercises.
The Mobile Command Post has:
• cellular and satellite phones
• secure computer network through satellite
connections to EPA and the internet
• color printer and fax machine
• two satellite television monitors
• roof-mounted video camera with capabilities to
uplink to the web
• VHP and UHF radios
• weather station
Since 2005, the MCP has been deployed numerous times,
including: to response operations at a large mill fire in Plainfield,
Connecticut (InterRoyal Mill Fire); national response opera-
tions in Louisiana during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and after a
massive chemical plant explosion in Danvers, Massachusetts.
Level A Training:
Personnel Decontamination.
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Emergency Response Coordination
The National Contingency Plan
The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency
Plan, more commonly called the National Contingency Plan (NCP),
is the federal government's plan for responding to both oil spills and
releases of hazardous substance (including radioactive materials).
The NCP is at the heart of the National Response System, under
which federal departments and agencies help state and local offi-
cials protect public health and the environment during hazardous
materials emergencies. The intent of the NCP is to develop a nation-
al response capability and promote overall coordination among the
hierarchy of emergency response.
REGIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SITES
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Danbury, CT Anthrax:
EPA New England joined federal, state and local
responders at an emergency in September 2007 in
Danbury, Connecticut involving a family's exposure to
naturally-occurring anthrax. The anthrax exposures
were the result of contact from contaminated animal
hides that had been imported from Africa to make drum
heads. Local fire personnel, the state, and several fed-
eral agencies responded to the scene to find the source
and extent of contamination. This effort involved the
Connecticut Depart-
ments of Environ-
mental Protection
and Public Health,
the US Center for
Disease Control, the
National Institute of
Occupational Safety
House tented for chlorine
dioxide fumigation
and Health, as well
as EPA's National
Decontamination
Team (NOT). A shed on the property and house were
found to be contaminated with anthrax spores. EPA
decontaminated these structures through a combina-
tion of washing with bleach and whole-house fumiga-
tion with chlorine dioxide. The clean-up took over 6
months and cost over $500,000.
The intent of the National Contingency Plan (NCP) is to
develop a national response capability and promote overall
coordination among the hierarchy of emergency response
organizations and response or contingency plans.
In coordinating a response to hazardous substance releases and
oil spills, EPA New England shares its expertise and resources
with other government agencies, private industry and non-
governmental organizations. EPA New England and the U.S.
Coast Guard, co-chair the Regional Response Team, which has
representatives from 16 federal agencies, six states, and nine
federally-recognized tribes in New England.
The National Response Framework
EPA New England's Emergency Planning and Response Branch
not only serves as the focal point for response to routine inci-
dents, it also is serves as the main point for coordination in
the event that EPA deploys dur-
ing a major national incident (as
required under the Department
of Homeland Security's "National
Response Framework").
The Framework defines the key
principles, roles, and structures
that organize the way we respond
as a Nation. It describes how
communities, tribes. States, the
Federal Government, and pri-
vate-sector and nongovernmental
partners apply these principles for
a coordinated, effective national
response. It also identifies special
circumstances where the Federal
Government exercises a larger role, including incidents where
Federal interests are involved and catastrophic incidents where
a State would require significant support. The Framework
enables first responders, decision-makers, and supporting enti-
ties to provide a unified national response.
Under the National Response Framework, the federal
Department of Homeland Security has assigned EPA to take
the lead in responding to inland oil and hazardous material
spills. The U.S. Coast Guard leads response actions when
The National Response Framework (NRF) enables
first responders, decision-makers, and supporting
entities to provide a unified national response.
National Response Framework
spills reach waterways near or off-
shore. EPA is also assigned a support
role with other agencies in emergen-
cies related to critical infrastructure
(e.g., drinking water and wastewater),
communications, agriculture, decon-
tamination, and radiological response.
In addition to executing its designated
roles and responsibilities under the
National Response Framework, EPA,
with it's cadre of highly trained person-
nel, has also learned to "expect the unex-
pected" when it comes to its planning
and response activities. For example,
during the crisis immediately following
Hurricane Katrina, EPA turned its water
sampling boats into lifesaving vessels as
Agency personnel and contractors per-
formed search and rescue functions to
pull more than 800 people from the flood
waters to safety.
EPA Funding for Clean-up Activities
During an emergency, EPA's first priority
is to protect the environment and human
Level A Exercise:
Sampling and Evidence Collection.
health. It is the OSC's job to ensure that
the clean-up, whether accomplished by
industry, local, state, or federal officials,
is appropriate, timely, and minimizes
human health impacts and environmen-
tal damage. It is EPA's goal to ensure
that responsible parties pay to clean-up
their own spills and releases. However, if
responsible parties are not known or are
not immediately willing or able to conduct
necessary response activities, EPA has
access to Federal funds to perform the
clean-up, and will seek to recover those
costs at a later date.
Regional Training
Every program at EPA may be called to
action during a national disaster or envi-
ronmental emergency. As a result, all
EPA New England staff are required to
be familiar with the National Response
Framework and are all trained in the Inci-
dent Command System.
TOPOFF 3 National Exercise
EPA New England Emergency staff participates in
exercises ranging from incidents such as simulated
oil spills to hurricanes and pandemics.
RESPONDING TO NATIONAL EVENTS
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita:
One hundred EPA New England staff members
responded to hurricanes Katrina and Rita. New
England staff members were on the scene within
a week of Katrina beginning in August 2005, and
remained until April 2006. EPA New England per-
sonnel were involved in a broad range of activities:
they provided public information and community
outreach, responded to oil releases, helped collect
household hazardous waste, recovered hazard-
ous material and containers and supported general
operations.
Incident Command System Training
Under the National Response Frame-
work, a federal Incident Command Sys-
tem is put in place when a disaster occurs, creating a single
organization and set of rules to guide federal and state agencies
working together towards common goals. All EPA New Eng-
Aerial View: Waste Collection
Segregating waste for disposal.
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land employees have completed beginning level ICS training
(15-100 Introduction to Incident Command System, and IS-200
ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents) so that
they can understand the basic structure of incident response.
In addition, more than one- quarter of EPA New England staff
members have received advanced level ICS training, including
all senior staff. EPA New England has also trained more than
six people to serve in each of eleven key leadership positions
for an EPA Incident Management Team.
Based in New England, TOPOFF3 involved more than
10,000 participants representing more than 200 feder-
al, state, local, tribal, private sector and international
agencies, organizations and volunteer groups.
RESPONDING TO NATIONAL EVENTS
Space Shuttle Columbia:
In 2003, EPA New England participated in the search
and recovery of hazardous remnants from Space
Shuttle Columbia following its in-flight disintegration
over Texas.
Debris from the wing of
Space Shuttle Columbia.
Preparedness Training Exercises
Training exercises let EPA New England responders practice
response techniques. The exercises help reduce vulnerabilities
and hone recovery capabilities in a risk-free environment. EPA
works with other federal agencies to help states, cities and
towns assess and increase their capacity to prevent or respond
to a disaster. EPA New England Emergency Response person-
nel participate in an exercise program that includes internal,
regional, national and international level exercises.
• Internal Level A Exercises
Several times each year EPA emergency personnel par-
ticipate in simulated response exercises involving a release
of hazardous materials or weapons of mass destruction.
These exercises give emergency responders experience
using the specialized personnel protective gear and equip-
ment. EPA personnel gain hands-on experience monitor-
ing, sampling, conducting decontamination procedures and
setting up a command post during these simulated crises.
• Regional Exercises
Emergency staff members participate many times every year
in simulation exercises. These range from incidents such as
simulated oil spills to hurricanes and pandemics.
National Exercises-The U.S. Department of Homeland
Security's Top Officials Exercises (TOPOFF).
The TOPOFF exercises are national training exercises mandat-
ed by Congress to strengthen the nation's capacity to address
major emergencies such as terrorist attacks involving weap-
ons of mass destruction. Based in New England, TOPOFF 3
involved more than 10,000 participants representing more
than 200 federal, state, local, tribal, private sector and interna-
tional agencies, organizations and volunteer groups. The sce-
nario depicted a complex terrorist attack involving the simul-
taneous release of chemical and biological warfare agents in
Connecticut and New Jersey that led to national and interna-
tional response. Over the course of several days fire person-
nel conducted search and rescue missions, hospitals treated
the "injured," subject-matter experts analyzed the effects
of the attack on public health and top government officials
deployed resources and made the difficult decisions needed to
save lives. EPA New England also participated in TOPOFF 4
in October 2007 in Arizona, Guam, and Oregon. This full-scale
exercise simulated the response to an attack by a radiological
dispersal device. More than 15,000 participants representing
international, federal, state, local, and territorial entities took
part in the exercise. Activities also took place in Washington,
D.C. In coordination with the Department of State, the United
Kingdom, Canada, and Australia were partners in the exer-
cise. TOPOFF 4 was the largest segment of the series to date,
engaging participants on all levels of government
International Exercises—CANUSLANT and CANUSEAST
In September 2007, EPA participated in the Joint U.S./Canada
international exercise for responding to a simulated oil spill in
the Gulf of Maine. The exercise was sponsored by the US Coast
Guard and the Canadian Coast Guard as part of the required
biennial joint exercises conducted under the Joint Marine
Pollution Contingency Plan. More than 30 US and Canadian
organizations participated in the four-day exercise, which test
the establishment of an International Response Zone, Joint
Modeling, a Joint Environmental Unit, a Joint Information
Center and test de-oiling of live wild birds. In November 2006,
EPA took part in a joint U.S./Canada CANUSEAST exercise
that simulated an inland hazardous release in Canada near the
US border. The three-day exercise was sponsored by Environ-
ment Canada. More than 20 US and Canadian organizations
participated. EPA's role was to test a border crossing with
personnel, vehicles and monitoring equipment, assess envi-
ronmental conditions, take part in the incident command and
simulate providing government and contractor help.
WATER SECURITY
Drinking water systems across New England have met fed-
eral requirements to assess their vulnerabilities to intentional
attacks and update response plans for emergencies. The federal
Bioterrorism Act of 2002, passed after 9/11, requires drinking
water systems that serve more than 3,300 people to complete
these assessments and plans. EPA New England and the New
England Water Works Association helped systems comply with
the law by developing software called ASSET, which helps small
systems assess their vulnerabilities. EPA New England and the
association also ran more than 50 workshops to train water
systems managers on emergency response protocol. While the
smallest systems are not required to conduct assessments, EPA
encouraged all systems to prepare for emergencies.
To encourage local action, EPA New England has developed
numerous outreach materials such as: "Top Ten Water Secu-
rity Lists for Water Operators and Local Emergency Planners";
Security Posters; and the Water Watchers Brochure.
Learn more atwww.epa.gov/region1/eco/drinkwater/
dw-security.html
EPA New England and the New England Water Works
Association ran more than 50 workshops to train water
systems managers on emergency response protocol.
REGIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SITES
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EPA personnel have provided pandemic awareness
training to water system managers so they can keep
water running even with the severe staff and resource
shortages that could result from a pandemic influenza.
Since an episode of pandemic flu would present a severe
threat to this country, EPA has incorporated pandemic
awareness and planning into exercise training and other
programs across New England. Related outreach mate-
rials developed by EPA New England include the "Top
10 List: Pandemic and Natural Disasters Notebook."
Learn more at: http://www.epa.gov/region1/eco/
drinkwater/pandemic_preparedness.html
EPA has sponsored one-day workshops throughout
New England, teaching water suppliers how to
use Incident Command Training (ICS) in their
own emergency response plans.
WATER AND WASTEWATER FACILITIES GET
INCIDENT COMMAND TRAINING
EPA is supporting the Incident Command System training for water
and wastewater facility operators to better understand this on-
scene system for managing the response to all hazard incidents.
EPA has sponsored one-day workshops throughout New England
teaching water suppliers how to use ICS in their own emergency
response plans, and how to integrate with other first responders
during water emergencies.
Law Enforcement Initiative
Training materials developed by EPA New England will help
law enforcement and water and wastewater facilities work
together to address security concerns. The training and materi-
als give law enforcement personnel a better understanding of
the water sector, while water and wastewater personnel learn
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REGIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SITES
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Danvers, MA
Chemical Plant Explosion:
At 3:00 am on the morning before Thanksgiving 2006,
a massive explosion occurred in Danvers, Massachu-
setts, originating ^^^^^^^_^^^^^^^_
at a building that
housed two sol-
vent-based paint
manufacturers.
During the initial
phase of opera-
tions EPA worked
closely with other
local, state and
federal perimeter
air monitoring to
ensure proper
evacuations were
taking place and
provided informa-
tion to help emer-
gency workers
Before: Debris and rubble
after the explosion.
After
le clean-up was complete.
make determina-
tions about proper
personal protective equipment for response opera-
tions.. After completion of an investigation into the
cause of the accident, the site was turned over to EPA
to begin clean-up. In March 2007, EPA finished the
clean-up with the removal of 650 drums, 7,500 gallons
of recyclable solvents from an underground storage
tank 30,000 gallons of non-hazardous liquids, and 380
cubic yards of hazardous materials. MassDEP oversaw
the demolition and disposal of solid wastes from two
large marina buildings, three commercial buildings and
seven homes. The clean-up took over 4 months and
cost approximately $1,275,000.
EPA's New England office helped states, water
associations and utilities create a Water and Waste-
water Agency Response Network that will serve the
region's drinking water and wastewater utilities.
how to address potential threats to their respective facilities
from a law enforcement perspective. EPA New England staff
developed Law Enforcement Cross-Training Books and a Law
Enforcement Training CD.
Mutual Aid Efforts
After the 2005 hurricane season wreaked havoc on water and
wastewater utilities across the Gulf Coast, the federal govern-
ment and utilities realized utilities needed a process for shar-
ing resources during an emergency. Hurricanes Katrina and
Rita left utilities facing countless repairs, fuel shortages and
unreliable or nonexistent communications systems. Emergency
responders soon learned that the concept of "utilities helping
utilities" was critical to getting water and wastewater systems
up and running again. Since then, the federal government has
worked with states and utilities to formalize this idea of mutual
aid in emergencies. With support from EPA's Water Security
Division, EPA's New England office helped states, water asso-
ciations and utilities create a Water and Wastewater Agency
Response Network that will serve the region's drinking water
and wastewater utilities. State steering committees are pursu-
ing separate networks, called WARNs, within each state, and
will be working with EPA to form a New England-wide mutual
aid program to aid utilities across state boundaries.
IMPROVING REGIONAL
LABORATORY CAPABILITIES
The EPA New England Regional Laboratory's Drinking
Water Laboratory Response Preparedness Project
is designed to improve intra-regional laboratory
preparedness for response to actual or suspected
water contamination incidents.
All Hazard Receipt Facility (AHRF)
The terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the Katrina response prompted
EPA to reevaluate laboratory testing requirements to support
response to and recovery from major disasters. EPA New Eng-
land's state-of-the-art regional laboratory in Chelmsford, Mass.
has focused its efforts on building intra-regional laboratory
cooperation and increasing capability to provide environmen-
tal data to emer-
gency responders.
Specifically, the
laboratory is work-
ing on three major
projects to enhance
regional laboratory
response capabili-
ties: developing a
regional labora-
tory response plan
with state environ-
mental and public
health laborato-
ries, assessment
of a prototype facility that is designed to screen suspicious
or unidentified samples; and developing the ability to analyze
chemical warfare agents and their environmental degradation
products.
• Regional Laboratory Response Planning
The EPA Water Security Division is sponsoring a nation-
wide project to increase cooperation between laboratories
in responding to drinking water emergencies. This effort,
the Drinking Water Laboratory Response Preparedness
Project, is designed to improve intra-regional laboratory
preparedness for response to actual or suspected water
contamination incidents. The project was developed in part-
nership with EPA regional, drinking water utilities and state
laboratories to provide a coordinated laboratory response
capability. In each of EPA's ten regions, representatives
from public health and environmental laboratories devel-
oped a laboratory response plan and conducted a tabletop
exercise of the plan. The New England Regional Laboratory
Response Plan was tested in a first of its kind multi-labora-
tory functional exercise in February 2008. The exercise sim-
ulated a biological and chemical contamination incident at a
The EPA New England Regional Laboratory is
working on three major projects to enhance
regional laboratory response capabilites.
RESPONDING TO NATIONAL EVENTS
September 11, 2001 - Terrorist Attack on
the World Trade Centers:
EPA New England responded to the World Trade Center
clean-up following the terrorist attack and performed air
monitoring, sampling and personnel decontamination.
Air monitoring station
in lower Manhattan.
Performing air sampling at ground zero.
In April 2008, EPA New England became
the first EPA laboratory to begin work
with ultra-dilute chemical warfare agents.
drinking water utility and required seven participating labs
to respond in accordance with the plan. To provide a more
realistic scenario and involve the public health laborato-
ries the event also included a simultaneous bio-monitoring
exercise developed by the New England state public health
laboratories. This required testing samples from humans to
evaluate exposure to contaminated drinking water.
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• Prototype Laboratory to Identify Hazards
After September 11, 2001 and the subsequent anthrax
attacks, the public health and environmental laboratory
community requested that the federal government devel-
op a standardized approach for receiving and screening
samples under conditions that are designed to protect
laboratory facilities and staff. The federal response has
been the development of the prototype All Hazard Receipt
Facility (AHRF) and the All Hazards Screening Protocol. The
AHRF and All Hazards Screening Protocol were designed
to assess explosive, chemical and radiological hazards that
might be associated with an unknown or suspicious sample,
to assist laboratory managers in making safe and appropri-
ate decisions about sample acceptance and further labora-
tory analysis. In 2007 an evaluation of the prototype AHRF
was conducted at the EPA New England Regional and
the New York State Public Health laboratories to assess
the performance of the prototype laboratory system. The
success of this project will result in a standard describing
critical laboratory design and engineering criteria and a
robust unknown sample screening protocol which can be
flexibly integrated into public health and environmental
laboratories throughout the country.
RESPONDING TD NATIONAL EVENTS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Anthrax Terrorist Attacks:
Between 2001 and 2002, EPA New England staff helped
sample and decontaminate buildings around Capitol
Hill in Washington
~j DC and a US Post-
%tf al Service facility
l,f £al in Wallingford, CT
if**tg^fm that were contami-
nated with anthrax.
10
HEPA vacuuming the U.S. Senate
offices to remove anthrax spores.
• Expanding testing capabilities to include chemical
warfare agents
EPA New England has also entered into a pilot project with
EPA's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response and
the Department of Homeland Security to develop the abil-
ity to analyze soil, debris, and water samples for special-
ized chemicals that might be used in terrorist incidents. The
Department of Homeland Security and the Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response selected EPA New Eng-
land as one of the initial pilot sites to establish the capa-
bility to analyze chemical warfare agents and their envi-
ronmental degradation products in the northeast In April
2008 EPA New England became the first EPA laboratory to
begin work with Ultra-Dilute chemical warfare agents.
Working with State and Local
Responders /Chemical Preparedness
EPA's emergency preparedness staff provides training and data
to local emergency response staff to ensure that every "local
emergency planning commission" (LEPC) can use its own com-
munity data to prevent and plan for accidental chemical releas-
es. EPA also works with state emergency response committees
(SERCs) and local
emergency person-
nel to be sure facili-
ties with chemicals
comply with fed-
eral planning and
right to know laws
(EPCRA)and, if they
do not, to help them
comply. Specifical-
ly, EPA trains local
and state response
staff in "Computer-
aided Management
of Emergency Operations" (CAMEO), software that models fire
and explosion hazards of a particular community. These hazards
may be jet fires, oil fires, vapor cloud explosions and flash fire,
as well as toxic threats. EPA routinely holds tabletop exercises
with local and state emergency responders and water suppliers
throughout New England to be sure response plans have been
practiced and will be followed in a real emergency.
EPA routinely holds tabletop exercises with local
and state emergency responders and water suppliers
throughout New England to be sure response
plans have been practiced.
Scientist Analyzes Sample for Hazards.
Chemical Safety Enforcement
EPA New England enforces critical emergency planning laws,
such as the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know
Act, which requires public awareness of chemicals at individ-
ual facilities, their uses, and their potential releases into the
environment. EPA also enforces a Clean Air Act rules requiring
facilities that emit hazardous substances to have updated risk
management plans and to comply with general duty require-
ments for safe operations.
Debris Management
Every year natural disasters, such as fires, floods, earthquakes,
hurricanes, and tornadoes, pose significant debris management
challenges for communities that must handle large quantities
of disaster debris. EPA New England is working with state and
local authorities to encourage proactive plans for dealing with
the problems associated with large quantities of disaster debris.
A recent guide, entitled, "Planning for Natural Disaster Debris"
was developed by EPA's Office of Solid Waste which offers
steps a community can take to prepare for and deal with the
waste created by natural disasters and to speed recovery after
such disasters. The guide also suggests ways communities can
reduce the burden on their municipal solid waste management
systems. EPA is working with state and local environmental
and emergency management agencies to ensure that debris
management plans are being put in place to handle the prob-
lems associated with disaster debris.
Continuity of EPA Essential Operations
During Emergencies
EPA is required by the federal government to have plans for
operating during an emergency. For example, the National
Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan requires
Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) to protect employ-
ees, maintain essential functions of EPA, support a federal
response, and aid in communication about pandemic planning
and response. EPA New England has identified key personnel
who perform essential functions and are part of a group that
must be prepared in the event of a pandemic. The COOP per-
sonnel as well as other key and back-up personnel performing
"essential functions" were given special IT equipment, includ-
ing blackberries, laptops and cell phones, so they can tele-work
if EPA's office buildings are closed, or in the event of anoth-
er emergency. These capabilities were tested in a three-day
regional COOP/telework exercise involving 155 regional staff.
EPA New England is working with state and
local authorities to encourage proactive plans
for dealing with the problems associated with
large quantities of disaster debris.
REGIONAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE SITES
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Rhode Island School of Design
Mercury Release, Providence, Rl.
When mercury was released on a Sunday in
May 2006 in a school hallway, the Rl Dept of
Environmental Management (RIDEM) requested
that EPA help monitor the air to determine the
extent of mercury contamination and to ensure
an adequate clean-up. Two OSCs and seven
EPA contractors were deployed for 10 days until
a school-funded private contractor took over
and completed the clean-up activities. EPA and
RIDEM found that the extent of mercury contamination impacted a far greater area than was originally anticipated, requiring
a more extensive clean-up to ensure the safety of students and staff in the school.
Heating up the building to improve
remediation techniques.
Cleaning mercury-contaminated shoes.
11
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WHD TD CALL
IN AN EMERGENCY
To report oil spills and hazardous substance releases,
and/or other environmental emergencies:
Contact the National Response Center at:
1-800-424-8802
or
Call the EPA New England 24-hour Hotline:
1-617-723-8928
Coordinating with State Partners
EPA New England holds senior-level meetings with State Envi-
ronmental Agencies from all six New England states to discuss
homeland security efforts and debris management planning. To
further these talks EPA New England will bring together state
and federal homeland security leaders at a yearly Homeland
Security Environmental Summit to discuss regional resources,
assets and protocols that would be utilized in the event of a
major homeland security event The goal of the meetings and
Summits are to promote a regionalized approach during a
Homeland Security incident and highlight best practices and
identify gaps in regional planning efforts.
A Lens on the Future:
Teams for Specialized Missions
EPA is developing specialized teams with expertise in water
assessment and debris management to work in "mission-
essential" teams during emergencies. These teams of volun-
teers will receive specialized training to help face the unique
challenges of catastrophic emergencies.
WHD TD CALL AT EPA
FDR ROUTINE INQUIRIES
Main Number (Help Desk):
617-918-2000
Emergency Planning and Response Branch:
617-918-1236
New England Regional Laboratory:
617-918-8300
Drinking Water and Wastewater:
617-918-1500
Public Affairs:
617-918-1010
Emergency Command Shelter
(Seen Above Deployed During the
Democratic National Convention in 2004)
A View Inside the Emergency Command Shelter.
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency New England
May 2008
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