Pre-incident All-hazards Waste Management Plan Guidelines:
Four-step Waste Management Planning Process
Introduction
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that communities have a pre-incident waste management plan
(WMP)1 (may also be called a debris management plan) that addresses the management of waste generated by all hazards.2
The WMP should particularly address wide area homeland security incidents ranging from natural disasters and animal
Pre-incident All-hazards
Four-step WM Planning Process
Plan/Do the following:
Fonm placing team with federal, slate, local,
tribal, and territorial waste management I WW)
officials
Assume worst case scenario
Identify SŪy resources for the development of the
pno'i rvcldent waste management plan (WMP)
Determine regulatory issues/considerattons
Review existing plans
Assess WM mitigation measures
Implement the following:
Tailor the pre-incident WMP to
incident-specific conditions
Present the incident-specific WMP
to the Unified Command
Notify WM facilities of needs
Exercise contract support where
necessary
implement the community oirtreach
plan
Track WM operations and report
progress
Step 1:
Pre-planning
Activities
Step 2:
Pre-incident
WMP
disease outbreaks to chemical spills
and nuclear power plant accidents to
terrorist attacks involving
conventional, chemical, radiological,
or biological agents. A WMP that
addresses only natural disasters is
inadequate for other threats
communities may encounter This
document describes the
recommended pre-incident waste
management (WM)3 planning process
to assist communities in preparing for
an incident's waste management
needs, regardless of the hazard.
Given the potentially large amounts
and unusual types of waste that may
be generated, communities with
comprehensive and well-coordinated
pre-incident WMPs are expected to
recover more quickly and at less cost
from homeland security incidents,
enhancing these communities' resiliency. Due to the broad range of possible threats and potentially wide areas of impact,
this planning should be community-based and integrated across appropriate agencies, community groups, and industries, as
well as among federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial stakeholders. Waste management planning is not a one-time activity
but rather an on-going process that continues even after a pre-incident WMP is created.
step 4:
Incident-
specific
WMP
Step 3:
WMP Review,
Maintenance,
Exercise, and Training
Conduct the following:
Develop the pre-incident WMP
Use avaltaWe tools for
assistance
Coordinate with stakeholders
Consult with WM facilities'
owners and operators
Establish acceptance criteria for
reuse and recycling

Perform tha following
Meet with stakeholders to review and
update the pre-incident; WMP regularly
Schedule and perform WMP exercises
Develop training plan
Incorporate WM lessons learned,, after
action reports, and improvements plans
The WM planning process has been divided into four steps in order to make it more manageable. The WM planning process
does not have to be completed at one time or by one person. The four steps in the waste management planning process are:
1) conducting pre-planning activities; 2) developing a comprehensive pre-incident WMP for all hazards; 3) keeping the WMP
updated by regularly reviewing, maintaining, exercising, and training with it; and 4) implementing the WMP during an
incident. For more information, please visit EPA's Managing Materials and Wastes for Homeland Security Incidents website at
https://www.epa.gov/homeland-security-waste.
1	This document uses the term "waste" broadly to include both waste and debris, as well as non-waste materials. Waste, debris, and non-
waste materials should be addressed in a pre-incident WMP.
2	All-hazards: 'These include accidents, technological events,, natural disasters, space weather, domestic and foreign-sponsored terrorist
attacks, acts of war, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and chemical, biological (including pandemic), radiological, nuclear, or
explosive (CBRNE) events." (DHS, Federal Continuity Directive 1, January 17, 2017, p. N-l) (https://www.fema.gov/media-
librarv/assets/documents/86284)
3	The term "waste management" includes staging, sampling, characterization, packaging, transportation, reuse, recycling, composting,
treatment, and disposal activities,
i	EPA 530-F-19-006

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Step 1: Conduct Pre-planning Activities
1.	Prioritize plan development
•	Conduct a community-specific hazard assessment that looks at realistic worst-case scenarios
and hazards, their likelihood, and the potential volumes and masses of wastes generated
•	Consider whether you want a single plan that addresses all hazards (recommended)4 or
separate, scenario-specific plans
2.	Identify and engage with individuals and groups who should be involved in the planning process, as
appropriate
Consult individuals or groups who represent transportation, sanitation, emergency response,
environmental health, public health, public works, zoning, agriculture, industry and business,
among others.
3.	Identify, review, and coordinate national, regional, state, local, tribal, territorial, and any
organization-specific plans and mutual aid agreements
Include plans of bordering jurisdictions, including bordering states, countries, and tribal lands, if
applicable.
4.	Enhance community resiliency by identifying opportunities for source reduction (e.g., updating
building codes for resilient building design and construction), hazard mitigation (e.g., eliminating
potential problematic wastes), and developing infrastructure for composting, recycling, and reuse of
materials.
5.	Determine legal and regulatory WM requirements, issues, and considerations
6.	Review the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) eligibility requirements, specifically
those pertaining to debris removal, for applicable situations, such as a federal emergency or major
disaster declaration5
7.	Identify unique, local circumstances and issues that may affect waste management during an
incident (e.g., union concerns, geography, environmental justice concerns)
Step 2: Develop a Comprehensive Pre-incident WMP
1. Use available tools to aid in plan development
Appendix A provides a suggested outline for a scalable, adaptable pre-incident plan that includes
recommended plan contents and identifies issues to consider while developing the plan. The specific
contents and organization of a WMP are flexible. This document provides a general example to help
emergency managers and planners get started.6
4	This document assumes a single, comprehensive WMP that covers all hazards will be developed; however, separate
scenario-specific plans would address much of the same information but would be tailored to the specific scenario.
5	Emergency managers and planners may find more detailed information regarding pre-incident planning activities in EPA's
Planning for Natural Disaster Debris document (https://www.epa.gov/homeland-securitv-waste/guidance-about-planning-
natural-disaster-debris) and FEMA's Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (https://www.fema.gov/media-
librarv/assets/documents/111781).
6	For additional assistance in preparing a waste management plan, see "Appendix D: Debris Management Plan Job Aid"
in FEMA's Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (https://www.fema.gov/media-librarv/assets/documents/111781)
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2.	Consult the individuals identified in Step 1 when developing the plan
3.	Consult haulers, owners and operators of waste management facilities, including reuse and
recycling facilities, and other entities as they are identified while developing the plan
For unique waste streams, specialized expertise may be needed for transport and other waste
management activities. Make sure all entities receive a copy of the relevant portions of the plan
when it is completed.
4.	Identify options for reuse, recycling, and composting for different materials and wastes
Consult with facilities and appropriate regulatory authorities about establishing acceptance criteria
for these materials and wastes.
Step 3: Keep the WMP Updated
1.	Reach out to stakeholders across the whole community to review and update the pre-incident
WMP regularly
2.	Schedule waste management-related exercises and track the schedule, scenarios exercised, and
stakeholders involved
3.	Develop a training plan to address training needs for staff and equipment (e.g., National Incident
Management System (NIMS), National Response Framework (NRF), technical, and health and safety
trainings)
4.	Incorporate any WM lessons learned, after action reports, and improvement plans into the pre-
incident WMP
Step 4: Implement the WMP During an Incident7
1.	Identify the pre-incident WMP that best aligns with the specific incident, if applicable
2.	Identify WM-related policy or implementation issues that require resolution
3.	Create the incident-specific WMP based on the pre-incident WMP
Include the incident's situational overview, generated waste types and quantities, locations of
waste, an exit strategy, and health and safety requirements, and update other sections of the
incident-specific plan with real-world numbers.
4.	Present the incident-specific plan to the appropriate Incident Command staff (response to an
incident, including WM decision-making, will occur within the Incident Command System8)
5.	Notify WM facilities of anticipated needs and utilize contract support where necessary
6.	Implement the WM-related community communications and outreach plan in line with the
broader, overall incident communications plan
7.	Identify waste sampling requirements and notify labs of anticipated analysis needs
and FEMA's Independent Study Course, "IS-633: Debris Management Plan Development," which is available online through
the Emergency Management Institute (https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=IS-633).
7	For more information about the waste management decision-making process after an all-hazard incident occurs, see the
All-hazards Waste Management Decision Diagram for Homeland Security Incidents, which can be found at
https://www.epa.gov/homeland-securitv-waste.
8	https://www.fema.gov/incident-command-svstem-resources
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8.	Conduct WM oversight activities, such as site visits to, inspections of, and environmental
monitoring at WM sites, as appropriate
9.	Implement a comprehensive waste and material tracking and reporting system
Example of Waste Tracking Template
Tracking waste from its point of generation to its final disposition can be done using a simple spreadsheet.
A
B C
D
E F
G
H
1
Point of
Generation
~
Date
0
Waste
Type
0
WM Staging
Area
0
Amount Cumulative
Managed Amount
~ Managed t
Units Waste
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* Facility -
Comments
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10. Ensure protection of human health and the environment at the incident site over the long-term
through continued environmental monitoring, cleanup, inspections, and other activities, as
necessary
This document emphasizes the need for planning for waste management before an incident occurs. It is intended to
encourage communities to begin planning now to help ensure their compliance with applicable waste management-
related regulations during incidents. Please note that this document does not establish any requirements, create
any right or benefit, provide any relief from applicable regulations, or create any flexibility that is not currently
allowed by law.
This document is not a regulation. It does not change or substitute for any legal requirement. This document is not a
rule, is not legally enforceable, and does not confer legal rights or impose legal requirements upon any member of
the public, states, or any other federal agency. The word "should" in this document does not connote a requirement,
but rather indicates the EPA's recommendations or suggestions. Consult applicable federal, state, local, tribal, and
territorial requirements.
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Appendix A: Suggested Pre-incident All-hazards Waste Management Plan Outline1
This outline describes the "table of contents" of a typical pre-incident WMP. The column on the left
specifies the information to be included in a WMP, while the column on the right describes various
issues that should be considered when developing each section of the plan to maximize its benefit
during an actual incident. The column on the right also provides links to tools and resources that may
aid in the development of the pre-incident WMP, as well as tips on adapting the pre-incident plan to an
incident-specific plan after an actual incident occurs. The plan contents and list of considerations are
not exhaustive and are not intended to be prescriptive. Instead, this outline is intended to be a starting
point to aid in developing a pre-incident WMP. Information in one section may apply to other sections.
The final organization and contents of a pre-incident WMP are entirely up to emergency managers and
planners. Keep in mind that, when applicable, the National Response Framework2 will guide a response
to an incident and, thus, should be considered when developing a plan.
This outline assumes an all-hazards pre-incident WMP. Much of the information in a WMP is applicable
to any scenario. However, scenario- and agent-specific information should also be developed to the
extent possible and included in an all-hazards plan. This information may be incorporated as additional
sub-headings within each section or as a series of appendices to the WMP.
Recommended Plan Contents:
Considerations:
1. Plan Overview
This section should be updated as needed during an incident
1. Scope
with the situational overview.
Description of scenario, entity,

and geographical area
Scenarios may be based on site- and community-specific
covered
threats, hazards, and vulnerabilities.3
2. Planning assumptions

3. List of officials who should be
Describe general terrain types, land use, and accessibility for
notified in the case of an
the areas that would most likely be impacted by the incident
incident and contact
and how these characteristics may affect waste management
information
activities. Also, identify critical infrastructure and areas that
4. Roles and responsibilities for
may impact response priorities or present cleanup
waste management activities
challenges.
Include specialized resources

(e.g., subject matter experts
Include relevant federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial
for consultation, emergency
(including neighboring countries, as appropriate)
response teams)
environmental/public health regulatory and legal
5. Regulatory requirements
requirements that impact waste management and material
List necessary permits as they
reuse. Also, include the impact that a federal emergency or
are obtained
major disaster declaration might have on the
1	This outline incorporates the Debris Management Plan Job Aid from FEMA's Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide
(April 2018) at https://www.fema.gov/media-librarv/assets/documents/111781. However, refer to this guide and the job
aid to confirm that the waste management plan meets all of FEMA's requirements for public assistance funding.
2	https://www.fema.gov/media-librarv/assets/documents/117791.
3	See the Department of Homeland Security's Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 201: Threat and Hazard Identification
and Risk Assessment and Stakeholder Preparedness Review Guide at https://www.fema.gov/media-
librarv/assets/documents/165308.
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6.	Documentation of plan
development process
Include all internal
departments and external
entities
7.	Record of plan approvals,
reviews, and updates to
include any changes made
implementation of applicable laws. Keep in mind that state
requirements may be more stringent than federal
requirements and may include additional waste streams not
covered under federal laws.
Establish roles and responsibilities for all waste management
activities, including who will monitor contractors and waste
management sites.
Materials and Waste Streams
1.	List of anticipated waste
streams
2.	Description of each waste
stream
Include regulatory status
(federal and state), associated
hazards, if any, agent-specific
(e.g., chemical, biological)
information, fact sheets, if
any, contact information for
waste-specific subject matter
experts, and packaging,
labeling, handling, and
transportation requirements,
as well as identify
decontamination and reuse,
recycling, treatment, and
disposal options appropriate
to that waste stream
This section should be updated as needed during an incident
with the actual waste streams generated by the incident.
Consider these and other potential waste streams:
Ammunition and Explosives
Animal Carcasses
Aqueous Waste (e.g., water from decontamination
activities)
Asbestos-containing Material
Ash
Asphalt
Biological-contaminated Waste
Building Contents
Chemically-contaminated Waste
Commingled Debris
Construction and Demolition Debris
Cylinders and Tanks
Electronics Waste
Food Waste
Hazardous Waste
Household Hazardous Waste (HHW)
Lead-based Paint
Marine or Waterway Debris
Metals
Mixed Waste
Municipal Solid Waste (MSW)
Pharmaceuticals
Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)-containing Waste
Radiological-contaminated Waste
Regulated Medical Waste
Scrap Tires
Soils, Sediments, and Sandbags
Solid Waste from Response Activities (e.g., personal
protective equipment (PPE), waste from law
enforcement activities)
Treated Biological-contaminated Waste
Treated Chemically-contaminated Waste
Treated Radiological-contaminated Waste
Treated Wood
Used Oil and Oil-contaminated Waste
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•	Vegetative Debris
•	Vehicles and Vessels
•	White Goods (i.e., household appliances)
Consider all potential sources of waste, such as Superfund
sites, industrial and agricultural facilities, and petroleum
extraction and processing sites.
III. Waste Quantities
1.	Forecast quantity of each type
of anticipated waste
2.	Method for estimating actual
waste quantities during/after
an incident
(e.g., GIS, windshield
assessment, manned and
unmanned aerial surveillance)
This section should be updated as needed during an incident
with waste estimates based on the specifics of the incident.
Recommended Tools:
Incident Waste Decision Support Tool (l-WASTE DST)
(registration is required to use this tool)
htto://www2.ergweb.com/bdrtool/login.asD
FEMA's Hazards U.S.-Multi-Hazard (Hazus-MH)
(for estimating potential losses from earthquakes, floods,
and hurricanes) httD://www.fema.gov/hazus
(ArcGIS software is required to use Hazus-MH)
EPA's Waste Estimation Support Tool (WEST)
(for estimating the type and amount of waste generated
from cleanup after a radiological incident)
https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si public record report.cfm?dirEnt
rvld=288802
IV. Waste Characterization Sampling
and Analysis
(for each waste stream)
1.	Sampling
Estimate number of samples,
identify type of analysis
neededfor each
waste/material type,
potential approaches to
combine/composite samples,
and address Health and Safety
issues, such as appropriate
PPE for sampling activities
AND
Identify any requirements for
transporting the samples to
laboratories for testing (e.g.,
U.S. Department of
Transportation (DOT), Centers
for Disease Control and
Prevention, Department of
Energy, U.S. Department of
Agriculture)
2.	Analysis
Two different types of sampling may be needed to meet
waste acceptance criteria at waste management facilities
and to allay community concerns:
1)	sampling to classify and determine compliance with
federal, state, local, or tribal regulatory criteria, and
2)	sampling to ensure that waste/materials have been
effectively decontaminated.
Environmental Justice and other community concerns may
make it advisable to conduct testing even when it is not
legally required or conduct additional sampling and analysis
in order to ensure transparency. As this may be cost-
prohibitive, an alternative may be managing all waste as
hazardous waste under RCRA. The relative costs/benefits
should be evaluated, such as available capacity at
laboratories and waste management facilities.
Lab selection considerations include capacity, capability,
access, cost, time needed to produce results, and anticipated
community concerns.
Lab analysis is often a bottleneck in an incident response.
Labs will be involved in sampling for characterization and
clearance of the incident location; therefore, consider
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Identify data quality
sampling strategies in advance to limit the number of
objectives, labs which can
samples analyzed, if possible.
conduct the analyses, as well

as methodologies for the

analyses, what items are

needed for sampling (e.g.,

swabs, sample bottles),

sampling methodologies (e.g.,

composite sampling

procedures), and the required

techniques

3. Quality assurance

Identify methods to ensure

the quality of the data,

analysis, and results

V. Waste Management
This section should be updated as needed during an incident
Strategies/Options
(e.g., with sites that are used or may be used to manage
1. Procedures and approaches
waste during the incident).
By activity

a. Minimization
Relevant legal and regulatory requirements should be
Actions to minimize waste
considered, including whether waste management activities
generation, toxicity, and
may trigger compliance with environmental and historic
physical size
preservation laws, regulations, and Executive Orders.
b. Collection
Describe how compliance will be attained.
Methods; health and

safety requirements
Required permits may include waste processing and
c. Segregation
recycling operations permits, temporary land-use permits,
d. Decontamination
land-use variances, traffic circulation strategies, air quality
(equipment, people,
permits, water quality permits, coastal commission land-use
waste/materials)
permits, HHW permits, fire department permits, and burn
Health and safety
permits.
requirements

e. Accumulation/Storage
Reuse, recycling, and composting are generally preferred
Site location selection
options, where appropriate. Consider adding a list of
criteria; documentation;
possible materials that can be reused, recycled, or
health and safety
composted. Having advance information on the local and
requirements
regional markets, capacity, and local and regional recyclers
f. Monitoring of Waste
can be important.
Management Activities

2. Pre-selected waste
Consider the impact of potential decontamination
management sites
approaches on quantities and characteristics of waste and
Site-specific information
the impact of waste management constraints on potential
a. Waste staging and storage
decontamination approaches.
(short-term and long-

term) locations
Define the priorities during both the response and recovery
b. Equipment staging and
phase operations, including for facilities that may be
storage (short-term and
impacted.
long-term) locations

c. Decontamination and
Describe the coordination process with other entities
treatment stations
responsible for managing waste.
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Consider difficulties and issues regarding removing waste
from waterways and sensitive habitats (e.g., shorelines,
wetlands, marshes) and their impacts on collection and
removal activities.
Describe the circumstances under which waste will be
removed from private property. Identify the laws that allow
government to intercede in private property matters, the
process to obtain permissions to enter onto private
property, and the process for recouping costs (such as
insurance proceeds).
Account for impacts from adverse weather, such as flooding
and wind damage.
Identify multiple sites/locations to choose from during an
incident, if possible. However, designating specific
sites/locations in advance of an incident may not be
possible. In this case, develop guidelines that could be used
to designate sites during an incident.
Whether specifying sites/locations or developing guidelines,
consider:
•	Benefits of on-site vs. off-site management
•	Potential impact of having to transport the waste
•	Speed with which waste needs to be managed
•	Facility requirements and capacity
•	Permitting and land-use variance requirements
•	Cost of various options
•	Community/Environmental Justice concerns
•	Site security
•	Resources needed, including private sources of
equipment
•	FEMA's eligibility requirements
•	Proximity to anticipated waste generation points
•	Ease of access
•	Ease of containment of wastes/materials
•	Ownership of sites
•	Need for buffers and setbacks
•	Proximity to environmentally sensitive/protected
areas (e.g., wetlands, floodplains, critical habitats,
surface water, storm drains and sanitary sewer
drains that may lead to waterways, drinking water
wells, septic tanks with leach fields)
•	Proximity to historically significant areas like historic
districts and archeologically sensitive areas
•	Environmental and human health concerns of
	specific waste streams	
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VI. Waste Management Facilities
1.	Anticipated types of waste
management facilities needed
Identify all facility types
needed to manage
anticipated waste streams
and quantities
2.	Specific facilities identified
Provide detailed information
on each potential site to aid in
selection at time of the
incident, including some or all
of the following: facility name,
type, contact information for
site manager and support
staff, location information
(including latitude/longitude),
permit status and compliance
history, types of waste
accepted, pre-negotiated
contracts, if any, waste
capacity, waste acceptance
criteria, financial status,
distance from anticipated
waste generation points,
costs, community concerns
•	Ability to sort waste streams by category to facilitate
recycling
•	Ability to properly contain radioactive or other highly
hazardous waste streams
Consider the possible need for long-term groundwater, air,
and other environmental monitoring at on-site burial sites
and other waste management facilities or sites.
Consider the nature of the waste or material being managed.
In some cases, long-term storage may be required.
Recommended Tools:
Interim - Planning Guidance for the Handling of Solid Waste
Contaminated with a Category A Infectious Substance
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/transporting-infectious-
substances/interim-planning-guidance-handling-category-
solid-waste
Carcass Disposal Decision Tree
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/emergencyresp
onse/sa tools and training/ct aphis disposal tree	
This section should be updated as needed during an incident
with facilities that are used or may be used to manage waste
during the incident.
Communicating with facilities before an incident occurs can
help to determine the facilities' waste acceptance criteria,
which may be more stringent than what is legally required
(e.g., in order to help determine sampling and analysis
needs, size requirements).
Identify multiple waste management facilities to choose
from in case an incident occurs. Waste from wide area
incidents may exceed the capacity of local facilities, or
facilities may refuse to accept the waste. Out-of-state
facilities may be necessary, in which case state permission
may be required and different regulations and requirements
may apply.
In the event that existing waste management facilities do not
have the capacity or capability to manage all generated
wastes, including those in other communities that are
accessible by rail, barge, or truck, planners should consider
storing waste long-term, reopening a closed facility, or
constructing a new facility. Consider pre-identifying sites for
potential new facilities or developing criteria for siting new
facilities.
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VII. Transportation
1.	Logistical options
2.	Routes (including maps)
3.	Hauler information
Provide detailed information
on each potential hauler to
aid in selection at time of the
incident, including some or all
of the following: hauler's
name, type, contact
information, wastes they are
permitted to handle,
community concerns, security
and legal requirements,
decontamination needs,
insurance requirements, PPE
requirements, any special
documentation requirements,
spill response plan, and pre-
negotiated contracts, if
applicable
Proximity to transportation is an important consideration
when selecting a waste management facility, as well as
proximity to waste management sites (e.g., whether heavy
equipment can access the site to load the large quantities of
waste onto barges or railcars for transport to facilities).
Recommended Tools:
Report on the 2011 Workshop on Chemical-Biological-
Radiological Disposal in Landfills
https://cfpub.epa.gov/si/si public record report.cfm?dirEnt
rvld=239188	
Consult with transportation officials on alternate routes,
damaged infrastructure, and other matters impacting
transport of waste.
Prior to transportation, hazardous material must be
classified according to the risks it presents and packaged,
marked, labeled, and described on a shipping paper, as
required by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety
Administration's (PHMSA) Hazardous Materials Regulations
(HMR; 49 CFR parts 171-180). Guidance is available on
PHMSA's website (https://www.phmsa.dot.gov) and
through its Hazardous Materials Information Center (1-800-
467-4922). This phone number may also be reached by
individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech
disabilities through the Federal Relay Service's teletype
service at 800-877-8339.
Consider all modes of transportation, including aircraft,
vessel and rail, as well as possible differences in restrictions
for interstate highways and local roads. Keep in mind
packaging, labeling, permitting, security (e.g., for certain
waste streams, escorts and computerized, real-time tracking
systems may be required), and other transportation
requirements (e.g., DOT, state).
Consider that certain federal Customs cabotage regulations
may prohibit the use of foreign carriers to move debris and
waste between points in the U.S.
Consider the impact of various waste treatment
technologies on transportation requirements.
Zoning restrictions may be an issue, particularly for large
vehicles.
State permission may be required, which may include
obtaining a permit. Expedited permit procedures may be
appropriate.
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Highway weight restrictions may vary based on time of year.
Consider including a pre-scripted outline or fact sheet of
hauler responsibilities, including health and safety
requirements.
Drivers may be considered emergency workers and subject
to applicable exposure limits.
Drivers and personnel who prepare hazardous materials for
transportation may be considered hazmat employees and
be subject to training requirements.
Recommended Tools:
PHMSA's website
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/
The Emergency Response Guidebook
(intended for use by first responders during the initial stages
of a transportation incident involving hazardous materials)
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/outreach-training/erg
PHMSA Hazardous Materials Information Center
1-800-HMR-4922 (1-800-467-4922); 202-366-4488
(These phone numbers may also be reached by individuals
who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities
through the Federal Relay Service's teletype service at 800-
877-8339.)
infocntr(5)dot.gov;
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/standards-
rulemaking/hmic
Guidance on Transporting Infectious Substances
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/transporting-infectious-
substances/transporting-infectious-substances-overview
Guidance on Hazardous Materials Transportation
Requirements
https://www.phmsa.dot.gov/sites/phmsa.dot.gov/files/doc
s/training/hazmat/69186/hazmat-transportation-reqmts-
web-final.pdf
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VIII. Waste and Material Tracking
and Reporting System
1. General principles
Databases or other tracking
software to be used
Waste tracking report
templates
Indicate information to be
tracked
2.
3.
Tracking the waste from cradle to grave helps increase
transparency and aids in allaying community concerns. Keep
in mind security concerns regarding sensitive information.
Use of portable measurement and digital tracking devices
should be considered.
Haulers, states, and receiving facilities may use different
surveying equipment and units of measurement, which
should be adjusted as needed to maintain consistency.
2.
3.
IX. Community
Communications/Outreach Plan
1. Strategy
Contact information for key
stakeholder groups
(e.g., community groups,
media, government officials)
Pre-scripted information for
waste management activities
involving the public
(e.g., fact sheets, public
service announcements
(PSAs), frequently asked
questions (FAQs))
4. Information to aid in
establishing a response
website once an incident
occurs and/or contribute to
an incident response website
created by the Incident
Command or other entity
(e.g., hosting information,
format, potential contents)
It is important to ensure that the community, including its
residents, receive accurate and timely information about the
parameters, rules, and guidelines for waste management
activities.
Past incidents show that communities express more concern
with wastes from homeland security incidents than they do
with wastes not tied to such incidents (perceived risk vs.
actual risk). Community concerns have driven waste
management decisions in the past.
Community outreach may include detailing special training,
required PPE, and safety information, especially during a
chemical, biological, or radiological incident, for facility
personnel, people who choose not to evacuate their homes
and, thus, are living with contamination in their homes, and
responders, including volunteers who are helping to clean up
the waste.
Develop outreach and training materials for stakeholders
and the public in multiple languages, as applicable to the
target populations.
During an actual incident, public outreach takes place within
the Incident Command System.
Also consider the use of social media and the need for
interpreters/translators.
X. Health and Safety for Waste
Management Activities
(for emergency workers and the
public)
While a general health and safety plan for the incident will
be developed, specific waste management activities may
require additional guidance and should be addressed.
Waste handling at all stages may require environmental
monitoring and additional measures to detect and prevent
releases to the environment, which may result in harmful
exposures to workers or the public (e.g., exposure to fibers
from friable asbestos, aerosolization of microbials).
Include specific details on safety rules and procedures to
protect workers and the public and specific measures for
adherence to safety rules and procedures.
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Ensure that the overall incident health and safety plan
includes information related to waste management
activities.
XI. Resource Summary
Gathered from all previous
sections
1.	Resource needs
(e.g., equipment, staff,
packaging materials, PPE)
2.	Resource sources
a.	Mutual Aid Agreements
b.	Pre-negotiated contracts
c.	Specialized experts
3.	Specialized technical
assistance contacts
4.	Contracting
a.	Emergency procurement
procedures
b.	Contract oversight plan
5.	Cost accounting/financial
management
6.	FEMA eligibility guidance
Resources may be available in-house, from contracts, or
through agreements.
For any contracting need, possible contractors should be
identified and prequalified. Identify the types of work that
will be performed with contracted resources. Describe the
process and procedure for acquiring competitively procured
contracted services, provide specific contract requirements,
and explain how contractor qualifications are established.
Consider that the availability of resources may be impacted
by the incident itself (e.g., contamination, physical damage),
lack of access (e.g., road damage), adverse weather
conditions, competing needs from other jurisdictions or
responses, etc.
Recommended Tools:
FEMA's Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide
https://www.fema.gov/media-
librarv/assets/documents/111781
Disaster Response Registry
https://sam.gov/SAM/pages/public/searchRecords/advance
dDRSearch.jsf
XII. Oversight Activities and Exit
Strategy
Describe the process for
transitioning each waste
management activity back to its
pre-incident state, including the
scale-down/close-out of each
waste management response
activity (e.g., waste collection and
staging, air monitoring of staging
areas) and each waste
management oversight activity
performed (e.g., site
visits/inspections of waste
management facilities and sites,
sampling and analysis of waste
streams), the transition of roles
and responsibilities, and the
frequency of each activity
This section should be developed and added at the time of
an incident.
It is important to note that there may be some waste
management activities that extend beyond the end of the
response that should be addressed in the exit strategy (e.g.,
long-term monitoring).
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RECOMMENDED APPENDICES
•	Job Aids for waste management staff positions
•	List of training classes available for different waste management roles
•	Pre-written waste management emergency ordinances, orders, directives, declarations,
designations, permits, etc.
•	Maps of waste management facilities and sites, transportation routes, critical waste management
infrastructure, and key resources
•	Links to health and safety information
•	Protective Action Guides (https://www.epa.gov/radiation/protective-action-guides-pags)
•	Glossary and list of acronyms	
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