EPA 601/R-12/008 I February 2012 I www.epa.gov/research
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Homeland Security
STRATEGIC RESEARCH
ACTION PLAN 2012-2016
Office of Research and Development
Homeland Security
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EPA 601/R-12/008
Homeland Security
Strategic Research Action Plan 2012 - 2016
"EPA has a vital role in homeland security. The
Agency has been called upon to respond to five major
disasters and nationally significant incidents in the past
seven years. In the coming years, EPA's homeland
security roles and responsibilities will continue to be
of the utmost importance as the Agency enhances its
preparedness."
EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson
May 12, 2009
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
February 2012
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Table of Contents
Executive Summary 4
Introduction 5
Research Supports EPA Priorities 7
Collaborating Across Research Programs 8
Developing Partnerships From the Start 9
HSRP Program Design 9
Research Themes and Priority Science Questions 12
Theme A: Securing and Sustaining Water Systems 12
Theme B: Characterizing Contamination and Determining Risk 15
Theme C: Remediating Indoor and Outdoor Environments 17
Conclusions 20
Summary Tables of Outputs and Outcomes 22
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Executive Summary
This document outlines the Homeland Security research plan forEPA's Office of Research and
Development, and how it will address science and technological gaps and improve the Agency's
ability to carry out its responsibilities associated with preparing for, and responding to, terrorist
attacks and other disasters.
Although the United States has not experienced a large scale chemical, biological or
radiological-based terrorist attack since 2001, many experts agree that more attacks are
inevitable. The sustainability of U.S. communities requires that they be resilient to such
disasters. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a responsibility to help
communities prepare for and recover from disasters, including acts of terrorism. EPA's
role includes helping to protect water systems from attack, assisting water utilities to build
contamination warning and mitigation systems, and leading remediation of contaminated indoor
and outdoor settings and water infrastructure. Critical science gaps exist in all these areas.
EPA's Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) was established to conduct applied
research and provide technical support that increases the capability of EPA to achieve its
homeland security responsibilities. The HSRP helps build systems-based solutions by working
with Agency partners to plan, implement and deliver useful science and technology products.
HSRP maintains robust coordination efforts with other federal agencies including the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, among others. HSRP's research is conducted and science
products are constructed to address "all hazards," filling science gaps associated with chemical,
biological and radiological contamination intentionally released by terrorists or caused by natural
disasters or accidents.
The HSRP is organized into three Research Themes: two themes align with each of EPA's
main homeland security responsibilities (water security and environmental cleanup), and a third
cross-cutting theme addresses issues common to both of these responsibilities.
The themes are as follows:
Theme A: Securing and Sustaining Water Systems
Theme B: Characterizing Contamination and Determining Risk
Theme C: Remediating Indoor and Outdoor Environments.
This research action plan describes the mission and design of the HSRP, its strategic directions,
and the critical scientific and technical questions it is addressing. The research action plan is a
high-level strategic document that will be revised every three to four years.
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Introduction
In 2001, an act of bioterrorism—when
anthrax-tainted letters were mailed to two
U. S. Senators and several news media
offices—resulted in at least 17 buildings
being contaminated with anthrax spores,
five deaths, and 17 injured people, and
required an immense characterization
and cleanup effort by EPA and others.
The reported cost of the response and clean up of anthrax contamination totaled
about $1 billion. The incident happened only a little more than a month after terrorists
flew airplanes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Although no chemical,
biological and radiological (CBR)-based terrorist attacks have succeeded in the United
States since, many experts believe more attacks, and the associated costs to human
life and the economy, are inevitable. In 2008, a Congressionally-created commission
concluded that "it is more likely than not that a weapon of mass destruction will be used
in a terrorist attack somewhere in the world by the end of 2013" (Graham, 2008).
At the same time, natural and accidental
disasters are common. Federal disaster
declarations have ranged from 42 to 80
per year during the last decade (Federal
Emergency Management Agency, 2011).
Recent major disasters include Hurricanes
Katrina and Rita in 2005, the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill in 2010, and the Mississippi
River flood and tornados in the Midwest
and Southeast in 2011. Such incidents will
continue to challenge the United States in the
future.
Human lives can be at stake when people are
exposed to hazardous chemicals, microbial
pathogens, and radiological materials
purposely released into the environment by
terrorists or by unintentional releases resulting
from industrial accidents or natural disasters.
Such events also can result in economic
turmoil. Our communities and country can
recover more quickly and cost effectively
from these events if effective tools, methods,
information, and guidance are developed
and successfully delivered to local, state, and
federal decision-makers.
An essential element in building sustainable
communities is the capability to successfully
prepare for, respond to, and recover from
disasters. This element of sustainability
is often termed "community resilience."
A community's state of resiliency can be
expressed as its level of competency in
governance, risk assessment, knowledge and
education, risk management and vulnerability
reduction, and disaster preparedness and
response (Twigg, 2009). EPA plays an
essential role in helping build several of these
resiliency components, namely, the human
health and environmental components of "risk
management" and "disaster preparedness and
response".
President Obama recently emphasized the
commitment by the federal government to
help communities become more resilient to
disasters (Office of the President of the United
States, 2010):
"We are building our capability to
prepare for disasters to reduce
or eliminate long-term effects to
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people and their property from
hazards and to respond to and
recover from major incidents.
To improve our preparedness,
we are integrating domestic 'all
hazards'planning at all levels
of government and building
key capabilities to respond to
emergencies. We continue to
collaborate with communities
to ensure preparedness efforts
are integrated at all levels of
government with the private and
nonprofit sectors."
EPA's work to support community resilience
often highlights scientific and technological
gaps that, if filled, would improve EPA's
guidance and tools for a variety of national,
state, and local decision-makers. EPA
established HSRP to lead efforts at filling
critical gaps associated with EPA's homeland
security responsibilities. Figure 1, in simple
terms, illustrates the relationship between
HSRP's efforts and the goal of enhancing
Sustainability
t
Community resiliency
to disasters
t
EPA guidance and
support
t
Research
the resiliency and
sustainability of
water systems and
communities.
HSRP was
established in 2002
with the formation
of EPA's Office
of Research and
Development's
(ORD) National
Homeland Security
Research Center
to tackle scientific
issues associated exclusively with terrorism.
Over the years, the research program has
developed many products that address
critical terrorism-related issues while having
applicability to other natural and manmade
disasters. Currently, as the Agency views the
preparation for and recovery from disasters
more holistically), EPA's HSRP has evolved
to a broader focus reflecting the Agency's all
hazards scientific needs.
Figure 1.
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Research Supports EPA Priorities
Statutory and Policy Context
EPA is embracing the all hazards approach to
preparing for and recovering from both natural
and manmade disasters. The Agency now
defines the term "homeland security" to be not
only related to acts of terrorism, but to be:
"...a concerted and collective
national effort to reduce the
United States' vulnerability to
terrorism, natural disasters and
other emergencies, as well as
to minimize the damage and
recovery from these events when
they do occur. "(U.S. EPA, 2011)
EPA holds clearly defined responsibilities
associated with responding to disasters
or acts of terrorism. These responsibilities
are established through a set of laws,
Homeland Security Presidential Directives
and Executive Orders, and national strategies.
The document, Refining EPA's Strategic
Approach to Homeland Security (U.S. EPA,
2011) describes these drivers and the resulting
Agency responsibilities. EPA's disaster-related
responsibilities can be summarized into three
areas:
1. Water systems: (1) protect water
systems from terrorist attacks and
natural disasters and (2) detect and
recover from the effects of attacks
and disasters by leading efforts to
provide States and water utilities with
guidance, tools and strategies.
EPA is the federal government Sector
Specific Agency) lead for water
infrastructure.
2. Indoors/outdoors: Remediate
contaminated environments including
buildings and outdoor areas impacted
by terrorist attacks or disasters by
leading efforts to establish clean-up
goals and remediation strategies.
3. Laboratories: Develop a nationwide
laboratory network with the capability
and capacity to analyze for CBR
agents during routine monitoring and in
response to terrorist attacks and other
disasters.
These responsibilities are coordinated by
EPA's Office of Homeland Security and carried
out by many of the Agency's Program Offices
(U.S. EPA, 2011). Primary partners include
the Office of Water and the Office of Solid
Waste and Emergency Response, with critical
contributions by the Office of Chemical Safety
and Pollution Prevention, the Office of Air
and Radiation, and each of the Agency's ten
Regional Offices around the country.
Wthin EPA's ORD, HSRP actively coordinates
its efforts with EPA's other five national
research programs. Ongoing communication
EPA's Priorities:
• Taking action on climate change
• Improving air quality
• Assuring the safety of chemicals
• Cleaning up our communities
• Protecting America's waters
• Expanding the conversation on
environmentalism and working for
environmental justice
• Building strong state and tribal
partnerships
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Collaborating Across Research Programs
between the programs' leadership, laboratory
and center management, and research staff
ensures that HSRP's work: (1) is informed
by synergistic projects and tasks in other
programs and (2) does not duplicate other
research within ORD. Synergistic relationships
between ORD research programs will continue
to build.
Research areas with ongoing coordination
include:
HSRP Theme 1, "Securing and Sustaining
Water Systems" has complementary
elements in the Safe and Sustainable
Water Resources (SSWR) Research
Program related to managing drinking
water infrastructure to produce safe and
sustainable water resources from source to
drinking water tap to receiving waters
HSRP Theme 3, "Remediating Indoor and
Outdoor Environments," benefits from
the work in the Sustainable and Healthy
Communities Research Program projects
devoted to "Contaminated Sites" and
"Materials Management and Sustainable
Technologies."
Research on homeland security issues is
carried out in a number of federal departments
and agencies. Because the mission of the
HSRP is to help build EPA's capability to carry
out its homeland security functions, and EPA
has unique responsibilities related to disasters,
there is no duplication of work performed by
EPA and other agencies. Other agencies,
however, are carrying out relevant research,
results from which inform HSRP efforts. In
the federal community, the Department of
Homeland Security and the Department
of Defense conduct research that is
complementary to HSRP efforts. Together with
EPA, these two departments have signed the
"TriAgency" Memorandum of Understanding,
which promotes active coordination among the
three organizations' science and technology
programs for chemical and biological defense.
Six Integrated Research Programs
of EPA's Office of Research and
Development
• Homeland Security Research
• Chemical Safety for Sustalnablllty
• Air, Climate, and Energy
• Safe and Sustainable Water
Resources
• Sustainable and Healthy
Communities
• Human Health Risk Assessment
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Developing Partnerships From the Start
HSRP identifies its primary Agency partners to
be the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Office of Water, and each of EPA's
ten Regional Offices around the country,
based on the critical roles that these offices
play in implementing EPA's homeland security
program. Other EPA program offices and
federal agencies also influence the direction of
the program. Appendix 1 lists HSRP's primary
partners and stakeholders.
HSRP has established deliberate processes
to engage its primary partners in planning the
research portfolio. For research addressing
indoor and outdoor contamination, a process
called "PARTNER" was created to facilitate
regular interactions between HSRP and its
customers. The foundation of this process
is the principle that the research program
must engage its partners, the people, and
organizations who need HSRP's work, through
the complete life cycle of research, from
planning to conducting the work and delivering
the products. It is through such continuous
interaction that customers for the program's
research obtain the scientific information
and tools that they need to make important
decisions when responding to natural and
manmade disasters. The PARTNER process
is conducted through an annual cycle of
engagement that includes an annual fall
meeting with all participants.
HSRP's water security research is planned in
a separate process in collaboration with the
Agency's Office of Water. HSRP maintains
monthly communications with this Office's
Water Security Division and holds an annual
meeting for reporting on progress and planning
for the future. Through ongoing stakeholder
consultations and EPA's participation on the
Water Sector Coordinating Council, input on
research needs is gathered from water utilities.
The HSRP's Research Action Plans are built
on the Water Security Research and Technical
Support Action Plan (U.S. EPA, 2004), which
guided this research through Fiscal Year 2011.
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HSRP Program Design
HSRP is built on a systems-based approach
to prepare for and recover from CBR
disasters. Figure 2 illustrates this approach
by showing the alignment of EPA's homeland
security responsibilities (see V) with a generic
chronology of a catastrophic event, coupled
to the themes of the HSRP. This illustration
emphasizes that EPA's role is somewhat
broader for water sector issues than for indoor
and outdoor contamination. The larger role in
water is driven by EPA's designation as the
federal lead for water infrastructure (HSPD-7,
2003).
The event chronology (Figure 2, top
row, adapted from National Science and
Technology Council, 2009) can be thought
of as a system where all five actions are
considered simultaneously due to their
interdependence. For example, choosing
the most sustainable, cost-effective, rapid
and health protective approach to cleanup is
dependent on how contamination is monitored,
waste is managed, and clean-up goals are set.
Alternatively, clean-up goals are dependent
on the ability to measure contamination to the
level of those goals. The strategies to protect
Event
Chronology:
c
EPA holdi lead
Water
Inttoor/outtioor
settings:
Protect
against ~ . A
attacks JMfll
ijjj"fM|
responsibility
• A
t
Detect
event,
mitigate
f exposure
^_ i "i
*)
t
Characterize
nature and
extent of
contamination
V7B
Assess risk,
establish
clean up
levels
' *
B
B
T^
Clean up site
while
managing Restart,
reoccupy
r ^ water system
/ site
*
*The letters A. B and C folloiving the check marks indicate the associated research theme (see Section III below).
t Otherfederal departments oragencies hold primary responsibilities forthese areas
Figure 2. EPA's responsibilities aligned with preparing for and responding to a catastrophic
event and the associated HSRP research themes. (This chronology accounts for the
portions of response and recovery for which EPA holds a leadership role - many other steps
should be anticipated post-event including the immediate emergency response by local
responders).
water systems from attack should be viewed
in the holistic context of how to respond to
and recover from attacks. HSRP is designed
to support this systems-based approach to
decision-making by the Agency and its state
and community stakeholders.
HSRP's strategic direction is determined
by homeland security priorities established
by Congress, the White House, and
EPA's Administrator, and influenced by
EPA programmatic science needs and
external expert review by, for example,
the Science Advisory Board, Board of
Scientific Counselors. The Agency's efforts
to address disasters are captured in the EPA
Strategic Plan (U.S. EPA, 2010) under the
goals, "Assuring the safety of chemicals,
"Protecting America's waters," and "Cleaning
up communities." HSRP's current strategic
focus is described below, including the most
pertinent elements of the research program.
Responding to a wide-area anthrax
attack—risk assessment and dose-
response data, clearance goals,
sampling and analytical methods, risk
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management and communication, and
clean-up strategies.
Responding to the detonation of a
radiological dispersion device—
sampling and analytical methods and
clean-up strategies.
Responding to an attack on a water
distribution system—protective
measures, containment and mitigation
methods, risk assessment and
communication, decontamination
of infrastructure, and treatment of
contaminated water.
The following emerging issues are likely to
influence the future strategic direction of the
HSRP:
The Food Safety Modernization Act
(2010)—This recently passed
legislation provides EPA with the
primary responsibility to: "...provide
support for, and technical assistance
to, State, local, and tribal governments
in preparing for, assessing,
decontaminating and recovering
from an agriculture or food emergency."
The emergence of classes of chemical
warfare agents not yet addressed by
EPA but needing attention because of
their nature and characteristics.
The increased attention to managing
nuclear contamination in light of
the Fukushima nuclear power plant
disaster.
The Strategic Research Action Plan forEPA's
Homeland Security Research Program guides
research for the next 3 to 4 years. It has
been designed with the flexibility needed to
leverage scientific breakthroughs, address the
emerging priorities and threats, and meet the
needs of decision makers, shifting resource
availability, and other considerations. As such,
it is a "living document" that will be updated as
needed.
Below, each theme is introduced followed
by the critical science questions and the
associated outcomes that are expected if
these questions are addressed successfully.
The program's research, however, is not
planned or conducted as themes isolated from
each other; rather, research is planned and
executed in a holistic manner across the entire
event chronology (Figure 2).
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Research Themes and Priority
Science Questions
Theme A: Securing and Sustaining Water Systems
HSRP conducts research to increase the capabilities of EPA in carrying out its
responsibilities as the federal lead for water. HSRP science products assist states,
local municipalities, and utilities in designing and operating water systems so that they
are more resilient to intentional attacks or natural disasters.
Theme 1 includes research that addresses
scientific gaps in: preparing the Nation's
water systems to detect and respond to
a contamination event, cleaning up the
system and treating contaminated water, and
retrofitting current systems or building new
systems that are inherently more secure and
resilient.
Some terrorist attacks are intended to spread
fear in the civilian populace in the form of
large, loud explosions, whereas others are
clandestine actions. Detecting clandestine
events is challenging, making it difficult
for emergency responders to identify and
mitigate adverse health effects or property
damage. The Government Accountability
Office concluded (GAO, 2003) that the most
vulnerable element of a drinking water utility
is the distribution system, and without an
effective contamination warning system,
intentionally-introduced contamination could
remain "virtually undetectable until it has
affected consumers." In recognition of this
vulnerability, a Homeland Security Presidential
Directive (HSPD-9, 2004) directed EPA to
"develop robust, comprehensive, and fully
coordinated surveillance and monitoring
systems...for...water quality that provide early
detection and awareness of disease, pest, or
poisonous agents."
There are many CBR agents that if introduced
into a distribution system would be harmful to
water users. Therefore, deploying a system
that can detect all known agents of concern is
technologically and economically impractical.
In addition, there may be some agents that
have not been studied before. Thus, EPA's
Office of Water is leading the deployment of
a detection system that does not depend on
monitoring for specific agents but indirectly
detects the presence of contamination: the
Water Security Initiative (U.S. EPA - WSI).
The goal of the Initiative's pilot deployments
at water utilities is to test the following
contamination warning system components:
• Online monitoring of distribution
system water quality.
• Regular water quality sampling and
analysis in distribution systems.
• Enhanced security monitoring of
the utilities' physical components.
• Surveillance of consumer
complaints about their water.
• Surveillance of public health trends
at hospitals, doctors' offices, and
pharmacies.
HSRP has supported the Water Security
Initiative by conducting research to fill
science gaps in several of the components
listed above and by developing approaches
to integrate the information generated from
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each component so that events can be
effectively detected. Field and handheld
sensors have been tested and evaluated
by HSRP, and performance information has
been provided to water utilities. Software tools
to enable the optimal placement of water
quality sensors and the interpretation of data
have been developed by the HSRP and are
currently being tested as components of the
contamination warning system architecture
in a number of large water utilities. Future
research in this area will include improving
existing software tools based on field
experiences, testing the performance of
improved sensors for water contamination,
and investigating the feasibility of using these
tools and technologies to provide multiple
benefits to water systems.
Once harmful contamination is detected in
a water system, exposure of the population
to contaminated water must be minimized,
the water treated to inactivate or remove
the contaminant, and the infrastructure
decontaminated. Water utilities need tools to
quickly estimate the extent of contamination
in a system so that contaminated zones can
be isolated and the source of contamination
located. HSRP is developing real-time models
of the fate and transport of contaminants in
distribution systems to meet this challenge.
Contaminated water likely will need to be
treated before release and the infrastructure
decontaminated before service can be
resumed. HSRP research priorities in water
treatment and system decontamination
are refinements of the recommendations
published in Water Sector Decontamination
Priorities (Critical Infrastructure Partnership
Advisory Council, 2008).
The interconnectedness of distribution
systems is a result of the incremental
construction of systems across many
decades. This approach provides redundant
pathways of water supply for fire protection
and reliability. These distribution systems,
however, were not designed and built to take
into account the need for in situ monitoring
and cleanup. HSRP is investigating innovative
systems designs and real-time monitoring and
modeling for retrofitting existing systems or
designing new systems so that water systems
are inherently safer.
Science Questions
How can water security technologies for
drinking water distribution systems be
improved to be faster, more reliable, less
expensive, more sustainable and better
integrated into daily operations?
What approaches are most effective,
timely and sustainable for returning water
and wastewater infrastructure to service
following a contamination incident?
What innovations and new methods are
needed to fill technical and knowledge
gaps in water infrastructure security and
sustainability?
Example: Water system monitoring and
security
EPA researchers are developing a suite of
tools to advance water monitoring technology
and protect the nation's drinking water supply.
Example output: Water monitoring
technologies and software that work together
to provide system-wide, real time monitoring of
water supplies and distribution systems.
Research products contributing to this
output:
• Updated Threat Ensemble
Vulnerability Assessment and
Sensor Placement Optimization
Tool (commonly known as TEVA-
SPOT) and CANARY event detection
software for use by utilities to
design and operate contamination
warning systems. Update is based on
experiences from the Water Security
Initiative pilot in five major U.S. cities.
• Reports on performance testing
of commercially-available water
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detection technologies, thereby
improving the information utilities have
when making decisions on investments
in detection technology.
• Water Sample Concentrator and
Software to enhance detection of
hazardous biological contaminants
in large volume samples of drinking
water.
• Real-time water distribution system
modeling software (EPANET-RTX)
for use by utilities in making real-time
decisions, including forecasting where
contamination has been and will be
following detection of a contamination
incident.
Expected outcome of the research: Water
utilities, EPA's Office of Water, and other
partners will have the technology and tools
needed to monitor water distribution systems,
and to clean up and decontaminate water
systems following a contamination incident.
Impacts
The resilience of water systems to terrorist
attacks or other manmade and natural
disasters will be improved by addressing
the key science questions outlined above.
Utilities will have improved contamination
warning systems, tools, and strategies
to manage contaminated systems and
approaches to make these systems inherently
safer via innovative designs and monitoring
approaches. The results of research
addressing these questions, integrated with
results from other HSRP themes, will provide
the Agency with systems-based approaches
to managing risk to water systems.
Such integrated approaches will provide
communities with cost-effective and timely
options that have minimal environmental and
economic impact. Proven detection and clean-
up approaches will be a deterrent to terrorist
activities.
In addition, the results of this work will be
applicable to cleanup of contamination
caused by accidents or natural disasters.
Collectively, the availability of this information
will increase the resiliency of the water sector
and, therefore, the ability of communities to
respond to and recover from numerous types
of system disturbances.
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Theme B: Characterizing Contamination and
Determining Risk
Following a chemical, biological, or radiological attack, EPA will be charged with site
characterization and remediation of water systems and indoor and outdoor areas.
Characterization involves defining the degree and extent of contamination, which
informs the remainder of the site clean-up activities, including risk assessment, choice
of remediation approach, disposal of waste and wastewater, and clearing the site
for resumed use by individuals or organizations. EPA's Office of Solid Waste and
Emergency Response is building the Environmental Response Laboratory Network
(U. S. EPA - ERLN) to establish the capability and capacity for conducting sampling
and analysis programs in support of site characterization and remediation.
The HSRP supports the implementation
of the Laboratory Network by filling gaps
in the science needed to: (1) improve the
capability by standardizing and verifying
sampling, sample preparation, and analytical
methods for CBR agents, and (2) increase
the capacity by enhancing the efficiency of
these methods. Additionally, the program will
develop innovative sampling strategies that
maximize information from a limited a number
of samples.
Upon characterization of the contaminated
areas, the risk to human health associated
with contamination inside buildings, on urban
outdoor surfaces, or in water distribution
systems can be assessed. This site-specific
assessment informs decisions on what
areas require remediation and factors
into determining the levels to which the
contamination must be reduced so that the site
can be used once again.
The HSRP conducts risk assessment research
that addresses science gaps, ranging
from applied information gathering and
sharing tools, to strengthening existing risk
assessment approaches and developing new
assessment methodologies.
Recovery from a catastrophic event requires
effective communication among affected
stakeholders as well as sound science
on which to base decisions. For example,
recovery is most successful when the public
understands the risks of contamination, has
confidence in the clean up approach, and,
upon successful remediation, reoccupies the
site or uses the utilities' water. In addition,
communication of information from scientific
and technical experts to decision makers
must be effective so that the most informed
decisions are made.
Science Questions
What site characterization methods are
needed to inform cleanup decisions
and how can methods be optimized to
increase laboratory capacity response
and recovery?
How can characterization of exposure
pathways and health risks from
contamination be improved to better
inform risk assessment and risk
management decisions?
How can the effectiveness of
communicating risk to decisions-
makers and other stakeholders,
including the public, be improved?
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Example: Science to support site
characterization following a contamination
event
EPA researchers are working to provide the
science, data, and tools needed to inform
and support site characterization activities
following a chemical, biological, or radiological
event.
Example Output: Accessible and
understandable protocols and methods that
first responders and laboratories can use to
take appropriate actions and make informed
decisions in the aftermath of a contamination
event.
Research products contributing to this
output:
• Rapid viability analytical method
for measuring anthrax in soils—
improving the capacity of the
Environmental Response Laboratory
Network thereby supporting timely
decision making during a response to
an anthrax attack.
• Updates to Selected Analytical
Methods—a report giving responders
the most current set of the best
analytical methods to characterize
a site contaminated with chemical,
biological, or radiological materials and
to monitor cleanup activities.
• Sample collection procedures for
swipes, soil and air filters, improving
the capacity of the Environmental
Response Laboratory Network thereby
supporting timely decision making
during a response to a contamination
incident.
Impacts
The Agency and other interested organizations
will have the methods needed to properly
sample, ship, and analyze priority
homeland security contaminants in various
environmental media. When an attack or other
disaster occurs, the Nation will recover more
quickly and with more confidence because
scientifically- sound methods have been
adopted by EPA.
At the heart of nearly all EPA responses
to contamination is human health risk. By
developing science products and approaches
based on the above questions, the Agency will
be better able to protect the health of humans
during the clean up and long after. Reliable
risk assessment tools support decisions on
clean up goals for a particular site. These
goals often drive the selection of a cleanup
approach, and therefore, the timeliness and
cost of cleanup. The methods and approaches
developed and delivered by EPA researchers
will improve the resiliency of the Nation's
communities when faced with disasters.
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Theme C: Remediating Indoor and
Outdoor Environments
Following risk assessment and establishment of clean up goals, the clean up process
begins. Often this process involves multiple steps including consideration of clean up
approaches, conducting the cleanup operation and monitoring its progress, treating
and disposing of contaminated materials or residuals, confirmation of successful
cleanup, and communication with the public as the cleanup progresses. The HSRP is
filling critical gaps in the science and technology needed to accomplish each of these
steps effectively.
EPA has a long history and extensive
expertise in cleaning up contamination
associated with accidental spills and industrial
accidents. Remediating CBR contamination
released intentionally into buildings, public
spaces such as airports and sports facilities,
and wide areas such as outdoor urban
centers, is a relatively new responsibility for
which the Agency lacks substantial experience
or a research history to support it. The U.S.
Department of Defense has expertise in the
tactical decontamination of equipment in
battlefield situations, but this expertise is not
directly applicable to the decontamination of
public facilities and outdoor areas that have
a variety of porous surfaces and, potentially,
must meet more stringent clean-up goals for
public re-occupation.
The HSRP activities associated with site
cleanup (or decontamination) aim to fill the
most critical scientific gaps in the capabilities
of EPA's response community so that, when
needed, EPA can make the most informed
clean-up decisions. Several elements that
must be studied to support the best, holistic
choice for cleanup are:
Determining the environmental fate of CBR
contaminants (i.e., effect of natural
processes and re-suspension of
spores);
Measuring the performance of
commercially ready decontamination
technologies;
Building a broader base of knowledge
on the effectiveness of technologies
for homeland security application by
studying their efficacy under diverse,
realistic environmental, and operating
conditions, as well as cleanup of
process variables;
Developing and improving decontamination
engineering and processes to facilitate
appropriate technology selection, the
decontamination strategy, and field
implementation; and
Enhancing the ability to rapidly increase the
capacity of effective decontamination
methods in response to wide-area
application.
Successful cleanup must include management
of contaminated material residuals: 14 of
the 15 scenarios of the Homeland Security
Council's Planning Scenarios: Executive
Summaries (DHS, 2007) anticipate a
significant waste disposal component.
EPA effectively manages common cleanup
of waste and debris using existing regulatory
infrastructure and pre-negotiated contracts
for waste management, treatment, and/or
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disposal services. However, the treatment
and disposal of CBR contaminated waste
can be problematic for several reasons:
sampling and analytical methodologies are
not well established; the waste may not fit
within existing waste categories defined in
the regulations; the behavior of the materials
while being processed by various disposal
technologies is not well understood; and the
disposal facilities have expressed resistance
to accepting these materials because of
unease about possible contamination of their
business assets and concern over community
relations. Although licensed disposal facilities
exist for radiological waste, an event involving
a radiological dispersion device could produce
greater quantities of waste than current
disposal capacity can absorb.
Science Questions
After initially settling, will contamination
continue to spread?
What clean up technologies are most
effective and how are their efficacies
changed by real world variations in
environmental, process and agent
characteristics?
How can wide area contamination be
remediated in the most cost effective
and expedient way while still protecting
human health and the environment?
How are contaminated residuals of clean
up operations best managed?
Example: Cost-effective waste management
of residuals from the decontamination of urban
environments.
EPA researchers are working to provide the
science, data, and tools needed to inform
and support waste management of the
residuals generated during decontamination
of chemical, biological, or radiological
contamination of an urban area.
Example output: Technical briefs, standard
operating procedures, and tools to help
responders make decisions about waste
management strategies and approaches for
waste minimization.
Research products contributing to this
output:
• Wash Aid Technology for Cesium
on Urban Surfaces to help remove
contaminants from the waste stream
prior to disposal.
• Online I-WASTE Tool to assess
the quantity of residuals that will be
produced during the decontamination
process.
• Waste Sampling Strategies that can
be used by responders to support
site characterization and clearance
sampling while minimizing waste and
managing laboratory capacity.
• Management of Chemical,
Biological, and Radiological
Wastes, technical briefs to help
inform responders about the fate and
transport of contaminants in landfills,
mobile waste treatment devices,
incinerators, composters, and other
devices.
• Standard Operating Procedures
for Minimization of Wastes from
Radiological Incidents, including
use of combustion, screening and
segregation technologies, and other
methods to minimize radiological
waste.
Impacts
Addressing the science questions under
this theme will, coupled with answering the
questions in Themes A and B, provide the
Agency with systems-based approaches to
site characterization, risk assessment, clean
up and waste management. Such information
will help federal, state and community decision
makers select cost-effective, timely options
that have minimal environmental impact.
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Proven clean up approaches will also be a contamination caused by accidents or natural
deterrent to terrorist activities since timely, disasters. Collectively, the availability of this
effective response minimizes the overall information will increase the resiliency of our
impact of an incident. In addition, the results communities.
of this work will be applicable to the cleanup of
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Conclusions
This document outlines how the EPA's Office of Research and Development (ORD)
is addressing the scientific and technological gaps in EPA's ability to carry out its
responsibilities associated with preparing for and responding to terrorist attacks
and to other disasters. ORD operates the Homeland Security Research Program
(HSRP) to develop scientific data, tools, models and technologies that enhance the
capabilities of EPA's Office of Water, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response,
and the Agency's Regional Offices. HSRP works closely with these offices, and other
stakeholders within the Agency and across the country, to understand their scientific
and technological needs, to design research that addresses these needs, and to
develop and deliver science products that are relevant to their needs, are responsive
to their homeland security mission, and delivered when needed.
Through this close engagement, the HSRP is
designed so that its products will be used by
the Agency to:
Better prepare water systems for terrorist
attacks and other disasters thereby
minimizing the impact of such events
and developing inherently safer
systems.
Give water systems scientifically sound
approaches to monitor their systems
for contamination, so that the impacts
of intentional or accidental risks are
minimized.
Build the capability and capacity of the
Agency's Environmental Response
Laboratory Network and the Water Lab
Alliance with enhanced sampling and
analytical methods, thereby improving
the quality and timeliness of EPA's
response to disasters.
Conduct site-specific risk assessments
with associated clean up goals
to protect human health and the
environment.
Better communicate risk and clean up
options to decision makers and the
public.
Make more informed choices about clean
up approaches for water systems,
buildings, and outdoors areas,
including considerations such as
efficacy, timeliness, and cost, while
accounting for the management of
contaminated waste materials.
The EPA plays a critical role in the federal
government's homeland security program.
Other agencies conduct homeland security
research that addresses the needs and
responsibilities of those agencies. The
HSRP recognizes that efforts in these
agencies, particularly within the Department
of Homeland Security and the Department of
Defense, are complementary, and therefore,
must be understood and well coordinated
with efforts in the HSRP. Several Memoranda
of Understanding have been established
between EPA and other agencies to facilitate
this coordination.
Research that the HSRP conducts, by
improving the capabilities of the Agency,
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assists the Agency in addressing its strategic
goals, particularly "Assuring the Safety of
Chemicals," "Protecting America's Waters,"
and "Cleaning Up Communities and Advancing
Sustainable Development." Successfully
addressing these goals improves the
sustainability of social, environmental, and
economic systems. In particular, improvement
of the ability to prepare for and recover from
disasters, such as terrorist attacks improves
the resiliency of our communities, thereby
contributing to the sustainability of the Nation.
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Summary Tables of Outputs and Outcomes
The following tables list the expected outputs from the homeland security research
program along with the associated partner outcomes. Although each output is listed
under a single theme and science question, many of them serve to answer multiple
questions. The column title "Relevance to Other Science Questions" lists other science
questions as indicated in the third column.
Theme A. Securing and Sustaining Water Systems
Science Question 1 : How can water security technologies for drinking water distribution sys-
tems be improved to be faster, more reliable, less expensive, more sustainable, and better
integrated into daily operations?
Outcomes: Improved resilience of U. S. water systems to terrorist attacks or natural disasters;
enhanced detection capabilities; effective systems-based approaches to protecting water systems
in a cost-effective, timely way that minimizes environmental and economic impacts.
Output
Sensor Development and Testing Report
Technology Testing and Evaluation Pro-
gram Performance Reports
CANARY Event Detection Software and
User Manual Updates
TEVA-SPOT Software and User Manual
Updates
Improved Water Sample Concentrator and
Software
Output Year
2014
2012,2013,
2014
2012,2013,
2014
2012,2013,
2014
2013
Relevance to Other Science
Questions
ThemeASQ2, SQ 3
ThemeASQ2, SQ 3
ThemeASQ2, SQ 3
ThemeASQ2, SQ 3
ThemeASQ2, SQ 3
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Science Question 2: What approaches are most effective, timely, and sustainable for returning
water and wastewater infrastructure to service following a contamination incident?
Outcomes: Improved resilience of U. S. water systems to terrorist attacks or natural disasters;
enhanced treatment, decontamination and response management capabilities; effective systems-
based approaches to protecting water systems in a cost-effective, timely way that minimizes envi-
ronmental and economic impacts.
Output
Microbial Inactivation Data Package for
Update to Water Contaminant Information
Tool (WCIT)
Treatment Data Package for Update
to Water Contaminant Information Tool
(WCIT)
Decontamination Data Package for Up-
date to Water Contaminant Information
Tool (WCIT)
Water Security Response Toolkit Software
and User Manual
Output Year
2014
2014
2014
2013
Relevance to Other Science
Questions
ThemeASQI, SQ 3
ThemeASQI, SQ 3
Theme A SQ1 , SQ 3; Theme C SQ1
ThemeASQI, SQ 3
Science Question 3: What innovations and new methods are needed to fill technical and knowl-
edge gaps in water infrastructure security and sustainability?
Outcomes: Improved resilience of U. S. water systems to terrorist attacks or natural disasters; en-
hanced detection, treatment, decontamination and response management capabilities; new inher-
ently safer water system designs for the future; effective systems-based approaches to protecting
water systems in a cost-effective, timely way that minimizes environmental and economic impacts.
Output
Real-time water distribution system model
(EPANET-RTX) Software and User Manual
Output Year
2014
Relevance to Other Science
Questions
ThemeASQ1,SQ2
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Theme B. Characterizing Contamination
and Determining Risk
Science Question 1 : What site characterization methods are needed to inform clean up
decisions and how can methods be optimized to increase laboratory capacity response and
recovery?
Outcomes: Improved resilience of the U. S. to terrorist attacks and natural disasters; Improved
analytical methods for chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants; improved sampling
and shipping methods for contaminants in various environmental media; improved protection of
public health.
Output
RV-PCR Method for Anthrax and
Surrogates
Selected Analytical Methods (SAM) for
Environmental Remediation and Recovery,
Website, and Sample Collection Proce-
dures
Output Year
2013
2012, 2014
Relevance to Other Science
Questions
Theme B SQ2, SQ 3
Theme B SQ2, SQ 3
Science Question 2: How can characterization of exposure pathways and health risks from
contamination be improved to better inform risk assessment and risk management decisions?
Outcomes: Improved resilience of the U. S. to terrorist attacks and natural disasters; improved
analytical methods for chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants; improved sampling
and shipping methods for contaminants in various environmental media; improved understanding
of the health risks of priority contaminants; improved protection of public health.
Output
Provisional Advisory Levels (PALs) for 12
Chemical Contaminants
Water Exposure Assessment of Microbial
Pathways and Doses (Tech Brief)
SERRA Database Update
Dose Response Research to Support Risk
Based Decisions Following an Anthrax At-
tack (Tech Brief)
National and regional Maps of Biothreat
Agent Distribution
Output Year
2012,2013,
2014
2012
2013
2012
2012,2013,
2014
Relevance to Other Science
Questions
Theme BSQ1, SQ 3
Theme B SQ1 , SQ 3; Theme A
SQ1.SQ2, SQ3
Theme BSQ1, SQ 3
Theme BSQ1, SQ 3
Theme BSQ1, SQ 3
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Science Question 3: How can the effectiveness of communicating risk to decision makers and
other stakeholders, including the public, be improved?
Outcomes: Improved resilience of the U. S. to terrorist attacks and natural disasters; improved
risk communication strategies; improved protection of public health.
Output
Tools to enhance knowledge of community
information needs during long term decon-
tamination and clearance
Output Year
2014
Relevance to Other Science
Questions
Theme B SQ1 , SQ 2; Theme A SQ
2
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Theme C. Remediating Indoor and Outdoor
Environments
Science Question 1 : After initially settling, will contamination continue to spread?
Outcomes: Improved resilience of the U. S. to terrorist attacks and natural disasters; improved
systems-based approaches to clean up and waste management; improved understanding of con-
taminant fate and transport in indoor and outdoor environments.
Output
Re-aerosolization of Particulate-Based
Contaminants in an Urban Environment
(Tech Brief)
Technical Solutions for Management of
Contaminated Wastewater (Tech Brief)
Output Year
2015
2015
Relevance to Other Science
Questions
Theme C SQ2, SQ 3, , SQ 4
Theme C SQ2, SQ 3, SQ 4; Theme
ASQ2
Science Question 2: What clean up technologies are most effective and how are the efficacies
changed by real world variations in environmental, process, and agent characteristics?
Outcomes: Improved resilience of the U. S. to terrorist attacks and natural disasters; improved
systems-based approaches to clean up; improved understanding of decontamination approaches,
efficacy, and costs.
Output
Environmental Persistence of Biological
Agents (Tech Brief)
Efficacy of Decontamination Technologies
for Biological Agents (Tech Brief)
Efficacy of Decontamination Technologies
for Radiological Agents (Tech Brief)
Efficacy of Decontamination Technologies
for Chemical Agents (Tech Brief)
Enhanced Biological Indicators for Fumi-
gant Performance Assurance (Tech Brief)
Performance and Economics of Decon-
tamination Technologies Tested by BOTE
Output Year
2015
2013,2015
2013,2015
2013,2015
2015
2012
Relevance to Other Science
Questions
Theme CSQ1, SQ 3, SQ 4
Theme CSQ1, SQ 3, SQ 4
Theme CSQ1, SQ 3, SQ 4
Theme CSQ1, SQ 3, SQ 4
Theme CSQ1, SQ 3, SQ 4
Theme CSQ1, SQ 3, SQ 4
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Science Question 3: How can wide area contamination be remediated in the most cost effective
and expedient way while still protecting human health and the environment?
Outcomes: Improved resilience of the U. S. to terrorist attacks and natural disasters; improved
systems-based approaches to clean up and waste management; improved understanding of de-
contamination approaches, efficacy, and costs.
Output
Wash Aid Technology for Cesium on Urban
Surfaces
Decontamination Selection Tool
Online I-WASTE Tool, User Manual, and
Training Materials
Stand-alone Tool to Include Waste Sam-
pling Strategies in an Overall Remediation
Approach
Output Year
2013
2013
2013
2014
Relevance to Other Science
Questions
Theme C SQ1 , SQ 2; Theme A SQ
2
Theme CSQ1, SQ 2, SQ 4
ThemeCSQ1,SQ2, SQ 4
ThemeCSQ1,SQ2, SQ 4
Science Question 4: How are contaminated residuals of clean up operations best managed?
Outcomes: Improved resilience of the U. S. to terrorist attacks and natural disasters; improved
systems-based approaches to clean up and waste management; improved understanding of de-
contamination residuals.
Output
Management of Chemical, Biological, and
Radiological Wastes (Tech Brief)
SOP: Sorbent Injection for Capture of
Cesium from Combustion of Contaminated
Biomass
SOP: Adaptation of Existing Waste
Screening Methodologies for Minimization
of Waste from Radiological Incidents
Output Year
2015
2013
2013
Relevance to Other Science
Questions
Theme C SQ1, SQ 2, SQ 3; Theme
ASQ2
Theme CSQ1, SQ 2, SQ 3
Theme CSQ1, SQ 2, SQ 3
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References
CIPAC. (2008). Recommendations and
Proposed Strategic Plan: Water Sector
Decontamination Priorities. Critical
Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council.
DHS. (2007). National Preparedness
Guidelines. Department of Homeland Security.
FEMA. (2011). Declared Disasters by Year and
State. Retrieved August 2011, from http://www.
fema.gov/news/disaster_totals_annual.fema
GAO. (2003). Experts' Views on How Future
Federal Funding Can Best Be Spent to
Improve Security, a report to the Committee
on Environment and Public Works, U.S.
Senate.
Graham, B. a. (2008). World at Risk: The
Report of the Commission on the Prevention
of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism. New York:
Vintage Books.
HSPD-7. (2003). Homeland Security
Presidential Directive 7: Critical Infrastructure
Identification, Prioritization, and Protectio.
Washington, DC.
NSTC. (2009). Planning Guidance for
Recovery Following Biological Incidents
(draft). National Science and Technology
Council, Department of Homeland Security
and Environmental Protection Agency.
Office of the President of the U.S. (2010).
National Security Strategy. Washington, DC.
Twigg, J. (2009). Characteristics of a Disaster-
Resilient Community. Interagency group
composed of ActionAid, British Red Cross,
Christian Aid, Practical Action, Plan UK and
Tearfund.
U.S. EPA- ERLN. (n.d.). Environmental
Response Laboratory Network. Retrieved May
2011, from http://www.epa.gov/oemerln1/
U.S. EPA-WSI. (n.d.). Water Security
Initiative. Retrieved May 2011, from Water
Security Initiative: http://water.epa.gov/
infrastructure/watersecurity/lawsregs/initiative.
cfm
U.S. EPA. (2010). Fiscal Year 2011-2015 EPA
Strategic Plan.
U.S. EPA. (2011). Refining EPA's Strategic
Approach to Homeland Security (draft).
U.S. EPA. (2004). Water Security Research
and Technical Support Action Plan. U.S. EPA.
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Appendices
A. Research Program Partners and Stakeholders
Below, HSRP's partners and stakeholders are identified. The organizations in parentheses
indicate the most relevant subgroups.
Primary EPA Partners:
Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (Office of Emergency Management,
Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery)
Office of Water (Water Security Division)
EPA Regions (Lead Homeland Security Region is currently Region 8)
Other Key EPA Partners
Office of Homeland Security
Office of Air (Office of Radiation and Indoor Air)
Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (Office of Pesticide Programs)
Stakeholders
Water utilities (AWWA and many individual utilities)
Department of Homeland Security (S&T Division)
Department of Defense
B. Definitions
Outputs are synthesized and/or translated from Products into the format needed by the End
User. Outputs should be defined, to the extent possible, by Partners/Stakeholders during
Problem Formulation.
Product - A deliverable that results from a specific Research Project or Research Task. This
may include (not an exhaustive list) journal articles, reports, databases, test results, methods,
models, publications, technical support, workshops, best practices, patents, etc. These may
require translation or synthesis for inclusion as an Output.
Partner/Stakeholder Outcome - The expected results, impacts, or consequence that a Partner
or Stakeholder will be able to accomplish due to ORD research.
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