CM AD
PROIS&
Chemical, Biological, Radiological & Nuclear
Consequence Management Advisory Division
2016 ANNUALjREPORT
Providing leadership for bridging gaps between researchand response.
Preparing and supporting our nation's responders for CBRNincidents,
-------
2016
As the year comes to a close, it is my pleasure to highlight the collaborative efforts and partnerships of the Consequence
Management Advisory Division (CMAD). This has been a year of transition arid great accomplishments, beginning with the selection
of Director Erica Canzlerforthe Senior Executive Service (SES) position as the Director, National Enforcement Investigations Center
(NEIC), Office of Criminal Enforcement, Forensics, and Training in Denver, Colorado. Additionally, Erica was selected as the
Manager of the Year of the Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM). These accomplishments are a testament to her
able leadership of the division.
During the transition to a new director, several internal and external individuals have acted in the Director's position. Through these
changes, CMAD has remained focused on seamlessly working with our partners to continue chemical, biological, radiological, and
nuclear (CBRN) preparedness activities, response support, and work on other major projects. This report provides details on major
CMAD projects, including: the Underground Transport Restoration (UTR) Outdoor Technical Demonstration (OTD) conducted in
partnership with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and EPA's National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC);
support provided to Region 5 by the Portable High Throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification System (PHI LIS) program
to respond to the water crisis in Flint, Ml; support provided for other regional projects; various Airborne Spectral Photometric
Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) deployments; and events utilizing CMAD's new Radiation Source Program.
Along with Regional colleagues, several CMAD personnel were honored to be recognized with the "Exceptional Support to
ORD - Partners' Extraordinary Efforts to Support Homeland Security Research" award. Another notable achievement of various
CMAD and Regional collaborators was the award of the EPA Gold Medal for Exceptional Service for Ebola outbreak response
planning. Other significant CMAD distinctions include Terry Smith's Silver Medal "in recognition of protecting public health and the
environment through exceptional scientific support" and Captain John Cardarelli's United States Public Health Meritorious Service
Medal for notable career accomplishments in radiological remote-sensing technologies and in preparing the Nation for large-scale
radiological responses.
In an effort to continually enhance CMAD capabilities with experienced, knowledgeable, and capable personnel, CMAD has
gained two new staff members. Terry Smith has officially joined CMAD and brings more than 40 years of experience in chemical
analysis, quality management, operations management, and research. Terry has a Bachelor's Degree in chemistry and a
Master's Degree in geochemistry. He joined EPA in 1999 as Program Manager of EPA's Contract Laboratory Program (CLP) and
transitioned to the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) in 2005 to establish the EPA Emergency Response Laboratory network,
including PH I LIS mobile operations as an EPA Chemical Warfare Agent (CWA) Laboratory. Terry is the OEM Science Liaison to the
OLEM Office of the Science Advisor.
Another new face at CMAD and EPA is David Bright, co-recipient of the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a weapons
inspector and analytical chemist for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Earlier in his career,
David was a lead analyst at a chemical weapons destruction facility on Johnston Island and a chemist and test engineer with the
Department of the Navy in Florida. He also has been a quality manager for the Nebraska Department of Agriculture Laboratory,
where he developed and implemented a quality management system accredited under ISO/I EC 17025. Most recently, David
worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Grain Center as a chemist in the Analytical Chemistry Branch.
We look forward to working with all of our partners during 201 7.
Very Respectfully,
Mike Nalipinski
CMAD Associate Director
-------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I, REGIONAL TRAINING & SUPPORT
Region 3 utilizes CMAD support in developing disposal strategies for "tritium getter" beds
Radiation Task Force Leaders annual training
Region 4 advanced radiation training support in Atlanta, GA
Regions receive support for CBRN exercises from ECBC and Special Teams
National Criminal Enforcement Response Team annual training in Brunswick, GA
CSTs train to respond to radiological incidents
Region 7 supported by PHILIS team during sulfur mustard response in St. Louis, MO
CBRN response training at the 2016 OSC Academy
Developing an Environmental Response and Remediation Plan for biological agent incidents involving Bacillus anthracis
Region 5 synthetic drug decontamination and PRE technical support to Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
Biological Decontamination Line Standard Operating Procedure Video
1-12
l
I
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
10
II
II. FIELD TECHNOLOGY DEMONSTRATIONS 13-24
Collaboration with MIT's Lincoln Laboratory in support of the DHS Underground Transport Restoration Project during a
NYCfull-scale dispersion subway test 13
CMAD, NIHSRC, and Region 3 partner to conduct an operational exercise focusing on the rapid return to service
of a subway system impacted by a biological agent release 15
Region 7, Region 3, CMAD, and NHSRC partner in a study to evaluate chlorine dioxide gas and heat treatment on
highly pathogenic avian influenza 19
Region 4 OSC and CMAD provide assistance to DoD and the Israeli Ministry of Defense to evaluate decontamination technologies 21
CMAD and NHSRC partnerto conduct field evaluations of low-concentration hydrogen peroxide in inactivating
Bacillus anthracis spores using commercially availa ble products 24
III. MOBILE AND FIXED ASSETS 25-54
City of Pasadena/Region 9 supported by ASPECT for 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game 25
ASPECT Aircraft system overview 28
ASPECT provides assistance to the City of Albuquerque, NM and the New Mexico State Police at the Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta 29
Region 6 activates ASPECT in response to the Motiva Refinery fire in Convent, LA 33
Region 6 supported by ASPECT for monitoring support to the Nageezi oil tank battery fire 35
Region 1 supported by PHILIS team for PCB analysis in site investigation at the Jones and Lamson Machine Tool Company site 38
Region 3 assisted by PHILIS team with on site analytical capability for NSSE Papal visit to Philadelphia 39
Region 5 receives air monitoring and on site analytical capability during the 2016 Republican National Convention
in Cleveland, OH 41
Region 5 activates PF1ILIS team resources to provide analytical support for the Flint Drinking Water Response in Flint, Ml 43
PHILIS team develops a new method to detect perfluorinated compounds in water samples 45
Region 2 supported by PHILIS team with on site PCB analytical capabilities at the General Motors Inland Fisher Guide site in Salina, NY 48
CMAD enhances EPA's biological analytical capability with staffed BSL 2E biological laboratory 49
Region 5 assisted by PHILIS team with on site analytical support for the sunken ARGO Barge leaking solvents into Lake Erie 50
PHILIS team participates with DoD CSEPPfrom Pueblo Chemical Depot in field and table top exercises 51
PHI LIS 2016 Facts 52
CMAD Radiation Source Program Fact Sheet 53
CMAD provides its licensed radiation sources during the 2nd Marine Air Wing field training exercise 54
IV. NEWS 55-60
New ASPECT Sensor LSI 600 Infrared Line Scanner 55
CMAD developed Rad Decon App, a computer application to aid in early phase decision making in the event of a
large, wide spread radiological incident 57
CMAD hires a new chemist in the Field Operations Division 58
CMAD biologist receives Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative Fellowship 58
CBRN CMAD Group Photo 59
CMAD Organizational Chart 60
-------
Region 3 utilizes CMAD
support in developing
disposal strategies for
"tritium getter" beds
During the Fall of 2015, On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)
Ann DiDonato from Region 3 contacted the Consequence
Management Advisory Division (CMAD) because she knew
they had the personnel, expertise and resources to identify an
economic disposal option for more than 30 "tritium getter"
(also known as "pyro") beds abandoned at the Safety Light
Corporation (SLC) site in Bloomsburg, PA. The Region 3
Emergency and Rapid Response Services (ERRS) contractor
had identified a potential disposal option, but the costs were
extraordinarily high. CMAD worked with Region 3 and its
contractors to research alternative disposal methods. CMAD
also used its support contractor to find tritium getter experts to
develop characterization and disposal strategies.
A tritium getter bed is composed of a few hundred grams
of finely divided, chemically reactive (pyrophoric), depleted
uranium-238 (U-238) metal enclosed in a stainless-steel
vessel with associated valves and tubing. When a getter bed
is exposed to hydrogen or tritium at room temperature, a
chemically stable uranium hydride compound forms, and the
getter bed acts as a hydrogen storage device. The devices were
used to ship and store large quantities of tritium and to collect
unused tritium during past manufacturing activities at the Safety
Light plant. Each tritium getter bed contains approximately
150 to 500 grams of U-238 and has 5,000 to 25,000 Curies
(Ci) (185 to 925 terabecquerels 11 Bqj) of tritium bound to the
uranium. Getter beds were attached to work stations and then
heated above 300 degrees Celsius to release the tritium from
the bed to make products such as exit signs. The tritium in these
signs is what makes them glow.
There are several disposal options for the abandoned tritium
getter beds. One option is to recycle the tritium by shipping the
getter beds from the SLC site to users who can recycle and then
reuse the tritium. However, potential users were not interested
in the SLC getter beds because of their poor condition and the
unknown amount of tritium they contained. Another option is
disposal, but this option requires that EPA, as the generator,
must quantify the amount of tritium contained so that the getter
beds can be properly shipped to the ultimate disposal site. A
third option that is currently being evaluated is to process the
getter beds in batches in a manner that oxidizes the reactive
uranium in a controlled environment while capturing any
released tritium.
Calorimetry, the process of measuring the heat of chemical
reactions, is a potential method being considered to quantify
-------
the amount of tritium in the getter beds. The challenge is to find
a calorimeter with a chamber large enough to fit an entire getter
bed. One such calorimeter was located in the United Kingdom,
and it is portable so that it can be moved to the site if needed
to measure tritium concentrations in each of the getter beds. To
conduct these sensitive measurements, a temporary structure
would need to be built Each measurement takes approximately
8 hours, with a detection limit of about 100 Ci (3.7 TBq). Special
efforts can be made to reduce the detection limit to about 50 Ci,
if needed.
The uranium in the getter beds is pyrophoric and therefore must
be addressed before the getter beds can be safely disposed
of. One method is to oxidize the uranium, but by doing so, the
remaining tritium would be released to the environment. Another
method involves macroencapsulating the entire getter bed to
prevent releases. However, this option later was determined
to be unacceptable because of the associated high costs. The
batch processing described earlier is under evaluation and may
simultaneously address the uranium and tritium issues.
CMAD developed a detailed work plan to dispose of the getter
beds that considers the following:
1. Equipment and facility requirements to conduct
characterization measurements
2. Disposal plans
3. Number of personnel and schedule to complete
the job
4. Health and Safety Plan
5. Operating procedures
6. Quality assurance and quality control measures
7. Cost estimates
The work plan provided Region 3 with the information
needed to potentially carry out the work.
Previously, Region 3 had only one cost estimate from
an internal source that the OSC had felt was excessive.
The CMAD cost estimates are lower than the original
estimate but do not cover furt her investigation that
must be conducted to complete the work. A key factor
affecting the cost estimates are transportation and
disposal costs that require the tritium getter beds to be
fully characterized, which account for about 25 percent
of the total costs.
Region 3 used the CMAD work plan to solicit
independent bids from other vendors to reduce
disposal costs. These efforts did not yield any viable
economic options for Region 3. As a result, the getter
beds remain on site in a temporary storage area until
funds become available for disposal or until the option
of batch processing is determined to be economic
and satisfactory. For more information about CMAD
involvement, contact Captain John Cardarelli (U.S.
Public Health Service) at cardarelli.john@epa.gov.
This story illustrates how EPA Regions can
use CMAD to assist with removal and
remedial challenges. CMAD worked with
Region 3, providing additional technical
and contractual reach-back support to
develop detailed work plans and allow
a better understanding of the costs and
complexities associated with characterizing
and disposing of tritium getter beds.
CMAD's efforts helped Region 3 identify
alternative disposal methods that cost less.
Tritium getter bed
from the Safety Light
Corporation site,
Bloomsburg, PA
-------
Radiation Task Force Leaders
annual training
Practicing soil sampling procedures
During this training event, the RI PI
participants discussed EPA's radiation
asset management, and agreed that
merging capabilities, equipment, and
personnel would greatly improve EPA's
response program. In the future, radiation
response should be coordinated through:
• Office of Emergency Management
for permission to use Ril l
• Office of Radiation and Indoor Air
and RERTforMERL
• Consequence Management
Advisory Division and
Environmental Response Team for
instructors and support
• Regions for the RTFL personnel
Future training events will offer enhanced
training in several areas, depending on
the desires of the students and instructors.
Topics considered include air sampling
calculations, PPE, detailed training on
health physics units and terms, counting
statistics, and various instrument "clinics."
Through attrition (retirement, new jobs, etc.)
the size of the RTFL program has fluctuated.
In upcoming sessions the program will offer
new particpants training to join the team.
Radiation Task Force Leaders (RTFL)
participated in annual refresher training
in Montgomery, AL at the Radiological
Emergency Response Team (RERT) facility
on Gunter Annex of Maxwell Air Force Base
(AFB) on January 11 through 15,2016.
The training focused on sample collection
and procedures for operating in support
of RERT's Mobile Environmental Response
Laboratory (MERL). RERT hosted the event
in its warehouse, which was a conducive
environment as a training facility.
Along with several firefighters and military
security staff from Maxwell AFB, 12 Rills
participated in the training event. Topics
covered included sample collection
procedures, personal protective equipment
(PPE), best practices, contamination control,
detection equipment use, and MERL-
specific procedures to process samples
in preparation for counting and further
analysis. Three teams rotated the tasks
of collecting samples (air, water, swipe, and
soil), in-processing the samples
and paperwork for MERL procedures, and
counting the actual samples
in the MERL
epa.gov.
We thank the following individuals for
their RTFL participation: Chris Guzzetti,
David Pratt, Antony Tseng, Daniel
Garvey, Lawrence Libelo, Michael
Mikulka, and Michael Carillo. For more
information about CMAD involvement,
contact Scott Hudson at hudson.scott@
-------
REGION 4
Region 4 advanced
radiation training
support in Atlanta, GA
At the request of On-Scene Coordinators
(OSCs) Kevin Eichingerand Chuck Berry,
the Consequence Management Advisory
Division (CMAD) supported EPA Region 4's
annual advanced radiation training event on
March 22 and 23,2016 in Atlanta, GA. This
training exercise followed the Region 4 Safety,
Health and Environmental Management
(SHEM) guidelines to emphasize actual work
practices, and involved response activities
in areas with elevated (above naturally-
occurring background) radiation readings.
Approximately 30 EPA and local firefighters
participated in the first day of training, while
the second day's exercise was limited to 20
EPA participants.
The first day of training covered a case history
of an actual EPA response at a contaminated
apartment in Boise, ID. The EPA Radiological
Emergency Response Team (RERT) directed
this response with the assistance of the
Department of Energy (DOE), Civil Support
Teams (CST), and GA state resources. The
case history discussion included possible
alternative tactics and remedial strategies was
well received by Region 4 students. This case
history will be considered for future training
efforts. In addition, in preparation for the
next day's exercise, discussions and didactic
training covered turn-back levels, types of
radiation detection equipment, equipment
operating parameters and use, and best
practices for a contaminated environment.
Students reiterated the oft-heard complaint,
"If you don't use it, you lose it" regarding
radiation response guidelines, underscoring
the need for annual (or more frequent) training
on rare or unusual response situations, with
a focus on turn-back levels, isotope-specific
information, and the waiver process for
exceeding the annual 500-millirem EPA limit.
All participants passed the exam with a score
of 80% or better, qualifying them as having
passed the advanced radiation safety training
event.
The second day consisted of an all-day
response to an "unknown" material. By
using multiple entries, the responding
teams discovered a radiation reading from
a container mixed in with several other
containers, collected swipes to determine if
contamination was present, and measured
ambient gamma-ray dose rates in proximity
to actual milliCurie-level sources, provided
by the CMAD Radiation Source Program
for use during the training. All responding
team members were dressed in appropriate
PPE and dosimetry, in addition to wearing
real-time dose reading instruments. One
important parameter of concern was what
kind of dose each responder might receive
underthese "live-agent" conditions. Afterthe
training, all dose readings were compared
- the highest dose received was less than 1.5
millirem. EPA responders are limited to 500
mrem annually; most radiation workers are
allowed a limit 1 Ox higher, or 5,000 millirem
per year from occupational exposures. Acute
health effects are not observed until 25,000 to
50,000 millirem. This exercise demonstrated
the effectiveness of the as low as reasonably
achievable (ALARA) principles in limiting dose.
Overall, the training and exercise succeeded
in providing Region 4 participants with
valuable experience. Region 4 has already
reached out to CMAD for assistance in
planning the 2017 annual
training, which is intended to
involve the CSTs in the
Region 4 area. For
more information
about CMAD
involvement,
contact Scott
Hudson at
hudson.scott@
epa.gov.
-------
ECBC
Regions receive support
for CBRN exercises from
ECBC and Special Teams
In October 2015, Region 3 On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) invited
subject matter experts from the Consequence Management
Advisory Division (CMAD) and Environmental Response Team
(BRI) to participate in their chemical warfare agent (CWA) Level A
training and exercise at the Edgewood Chemical and Biological
Center (ECBC). The Level A exercise also included Region 5 OSCs,
members of the National Guard Civil Support Teams (CSTs),
Chemical Biological Application and Risk Reduction (CBARR)team,
and Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG).
scenario that ECBC carefully planned with EPA Region 3 to
address specific training needs. A mock single-family home was
constructed inside an APG warehouse and staged to resemble a
home laboratory where terrorists had loaded mustard agent into
fire extinguishers for a planned attack. The OSCs performed a
series of Level A entries into the test venue while being observed
and evaluated by the CBARR, ERT and CMAD subject matter
experts (SMEs) who then provided entrants with productive
feedback.
Region 3 OSC Charlie Fitzsimmons stated, "This training offered
us something we don't usually get -- very specific instruction in
chemical and biological agent response and recovery techniques
taught by people who have done it all Theory can't replace
the ECBC instructors' on-the ground experience; they have tried
and true methods we can adopt." Another observer at the training,
Nancy Abrams, a program analyst from EPA Office of Emergency
Management (OEM) headquarters, stated, "ECBC's knowledge
of the history and toxicity of chemical warfare agents is unique,
and they created a very good scenario for real-world training with
some very realistic details. Duplicating the transfer of command
from the CST team to the EPA was a unique aspect to this exercise
and made it even more realistic. It's also very helpful for the EPA
and ECBC to get to know one another's capabilities."
In May 2016, Region 2 OSCs also held their own CWA Level A
training at the ECBC training facility. Emergency Response Special
ECBC at the Department of Defense (DoD) facility at APG in
Maryland is home to the CBARR team. CBARR has extensive
experience in the decommission of U.S. CWA facilities as well
as with the recent destruction of chemical agent precursors
from the Syrian conflict. EPA has reached out to CBARR to
determine if CBARR's experience and assets can be leveraged to
augment EPA's capacity and capability to provide consequence
management response in the event of a CWA terrorist
attack as defined under the National Response
Framework (NRF). As part of this effort, EPA
Regions 2 and 3 have held two CWA Level
A training and exercise sessions with
CBARR participation in October 2015
and May 2016.
Exercise participants spent 2 full days
responding to a realistic CWA incident
-------
Teams members from CMAD and ERT repeated their roles as
observers and evaluators.
The Region 2 exercise utilized the same APG venue with a mock
home and sulfur mustard agent scenario. The SMEs and ECBC
evaluators provided feedback on the implementation of CWA
characterization sampling methods, personnel decontamination
line protocols, and emergency response operating procedures.
Through an expanded Interagency Agreement (IA), EPA will
continue to develop and deepen its cooperative relationship
with CBARR to leverage their expertise, experience, and
response assets to augment EPA's CWA response capabilities
and responsibilities under the NRF. CMAD has played a pivotal
role in cultivating this cooperation with CBARR, beginning
EPA emergency responders in Level-A PPE entering building potentially
contaminated with sulfur mustard simulant during training exercise
as early as 2010 with projects jointly sponsored by the EPA
and Department of Homeland Security (Dl IS) under the
"Remediation Guidance for Major Airports After a Chemical
Attack" and the "Integrated Detection Decontamination
Demonstration Project." The two organizations will continue
to foster strong ties in efforts to strengthen their capabilities
for consequence management response in the event of a
CWA terrorist attack. For more information about CMAD
involvement, contact Terry Smith at smith.terry@epa.gov.
NCERT
National Criminal
Enforcement Response
Team annual training in
Brunswick, GA
On April 18 through 20,2016, the National
Criminal Enforcement Response Team
(NCERT) conducted its annual training at the
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center
in Brunswick, Georgia. Personnel from
the Consequence Management Advisory
Division (CMAD) and the Environmental
Response Team (ERT) participated in the
classroom discussions, which covered
donning and doffing Level A personal
protective equipment (PPE), developing
Health and Safety Plans, and developing
quality assurance/quality control measures.
CMAD discussed its mobile assets,
including the Portable High-Throughput
Integrated Laboratory Identification
System (PHI LIS) and the Airborne Spectral
Photometric Environmental Collection
Technology (ASPECT). PH I LIS is a rapid-
turnaround mobile laboratory for the
on-site analysis of chemical warfare
agents and toxic industrial compounds
in environmental samples. ASPECT is a
fixed-wing, response-ready aircraft that
can colled chemical, radiological, and
photographic data to provide actionable
intelligence to decision-makers within
minutes of data collection using a satellite
communication system while the aircraft is
still flying.
ERT provided a briefing on the VIPER Data
Management System, a wireless network-
based communications system designed
to enable real-time transmission of data
from field sensors to a local computer,
remote computer, or enterprise server and
provide data management, analysis, and
visualization.
CMAD and ERT participated in NCERT's
practical exercises, including performing
a confined space entry. NCERT, CMAD,
and ERT also discussed further response
and collaboration opportunities. For more
information about CMAD involvement,
contact Mike Nalipinski at nalipinski.mike@
epa.gov.
-------
Actors participating in the
exercise took direction from the
Search and Rescue Team
CST personnel preparing to
enter bunker at Camp Johnson
CSTs train to respond to
radiological incidents
CSTs train to respond to
radiological incidents
Vigilant Guard is sponsored and funded by the U.S. Northern
Command (NORTHCOM). According to U.S. Army Captain
Konrad Stawicki (Deputy Directorate of Military Support, Joint Force
Headquarters, Vermont National Guard), Vigilant Guard is a Full-
Scale Exercise (FSE) designed to test the maximum level that a state's
National Guard can handle in its defense support of civil authorities.
Approximately 5,000 troops from around the country participated
in this exercise. The Consequence Management Advisory Division
(CMAD) provided its radioactive sources to support mock
radiological response scenarios during the week of July 25,2016.
CMAD is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
to maintain a series of radioactive sources (gamma and neutron
emitters) for calibrating and checking instruments, conducting field
exercises and demonstrations, and teaching and training individuals
in civil defense activities. CMAD provides access to these sources to
state, federal, and local partners for training purposes and manages
all the field logistics related to health and safety, transportation, and
storage of these sources.
CMAD sources generate an elevated but safe radioactive
environment and allow exercise participants to gain experience
using field instruments in a real-world setting. CMAD personnel
only provided the radioactive sources and did not provide tactical
directions or guidance on National Guard or Civil Support Team
(CST) field protocols or operations. The sources consisted of
an Americium-241 /Beryllium (Am/Be) neutron source and two
Cobalt 60 and two Cesium-137 beta/gamma sources.
EPA personnel distributed these five radioactive sources throughout
three locations: two at Camp Ethan Allen and one at Camp Johnson.
Camp Ethan Allen placed five conex boxes in the shape of a "U", and
then EPA personnel positioned the Cesium-137 beta/gamma and
Americium-241 / Beryllium (Am/Be) neutron sources inside two of the
conex boxes. Firing Point 74 also contained two conex boxes, a shed,
a truck, and two scrap metal piles. EPA personnel also placed a
Cesium-137 source in one conex box and a Cobalt-60 source in a
scrap metal pile within the training area. The Camp Johnson location
had a bunker that housed a Cobalt-60 source for location and
identification training scenarios.
Various CSTs performed surveys at each location. Some surveys
consisted only of locating and identifying the source, whereas other
surveys became increasingly complex with the addition of actors
playing the role of exposed civilians that required safe evacuation for
further medical attention. In one instance, radiological surveyors used
a cone system to identify regions of higher radioactivity, where a
yellow cone classified an area with two times the background level,
an orange cone indicated a measurement of 2 milliRoentgens per
hour (mR/h), and a red cone indicated a measurement of 10 mR/h.
Overall, the exercise taught the participants many valuable lessons
with respect to instrument response and field protocols. This type of
training prepares personnel for interpreting equipment readings and
rapidly detecting, identifying, and isolating radiation sources. The
training provided a good example of how practical field experience
cannot be obtained by using smaller check or "button" sources. The
training provided NORTHCOM and the Vermont National Guard
with points to consider for future training exercises and demonstrates
that a live-agent radiation exercise should be included in the training
of emergency responders in CBRN areas of operation.
For more information about the CMAD source inventory and how
to request use of the sources for civil defense training, contact the
CMAD Radiation Safety Officer, Captain John Cardarelli (U.S. Public
Health Service) at cardarelli.john@epa.gov.
-------
REGION
On March 24,2015, the St. Louis Metro
Police Department (SLMPD) executed a
search warrant at a convenience store and
found a suspected hazardous material in
a vial after opening a locked safe on the
property. The St. Louis Fire Division was
notified, and they verified that the air in the
store was unaffected by the material. The
SLMPD Bomb and Arson Unit determined
that the vial possibly contained sulfur
mustard, a blistering substance commonly
used as a chemical warfare agent.
To ensure public safety, the St. Louis Building
Inspector ordered that the building be
condemned and boarded up immediately.
The property was to remain closed until
samples could be collected and analyzed,
and the property cleared of contamination.
The City of St. Louis (City) and its contractors
were unable to find a laboratory that could
analyze for sulfur mustard. Ultimately,
the Building Inspector called the EPA
Region 7 Phone Duty Officer to request
assistance in finding a willing and accredited
laboratory. On March 25,2016, the EPA
Region 7 Phone Duty Officer contacted
the Consequence Management Advisory
Division (CMAD) about the availability of
laboratory support.
Based on discussions with the EPA Region 7
Phone Duty Officer and the St. Louis Building
Inspector, CMAD staff proposed sending
screening and surface wipe sampling kits
with instructions directly to the City. The
plan proposed by CMAD was that the City
would collect the samples and ship them to
the Portable High Throughput Integrated
Laboratory Identification System (PHI LIS)
laboratory unit in Castle Rock, Colorado,
for rapid turnaround analysis. The plan,
once agreed upon, resulted in a request
for Federal Assistance from the Missouri
Department of Natural Resources to EPA
Region 7.
CMAD staff, with their PH I LIS contractor,
prepared and shipped the screening and
sampling kits directly to the St. Louis City
contractor. EPA Region 7 deployed On-
Scene Coordinator (OSC) Joe Davis to
Region 7 supported by
PHIIIS team during sulfur
mustard response in St.
Louis, MO
the site during sample collection to ensure
adherence to a written sampling plan
and conformance with chain-of-custody
procedures. Under supervision by OSC
Davis, the City contractor deployed a
number of "M8" and "M9" screening papers
sensitive to sulfur mustard throughout the
site to detect "hot spots," to help delineate
sampling locations, and to ensure contractor
safety. No "hot spots" were identified. The
contractor then collected 12 surface wipe
samples from throughout the convenience
store and from the safe that contained the
vial. The samples were double-wrapped,
placed in a cooler with ice, and shipped to
the PI III IS laboratory.
CMAD analyzed the samples for sulfur
mustard (and mustard degradation
products) following an EPA method
developed by the EPA National Homeland
Security Research Center. Sampling results
were validated through a multi -laboratory
validation process that included the PH I LIS
laboratory in Castle Rock, Colorado. No
sulfur mustard (or degradation products) was
detected in any of the 12 samples, using an
established reporting level for sulfur mustard
at 5 nanograms per wipe sample.
Fewer than 72 hours were required from
the time of the initial request for analytical
assistance to shipping the sampling kits,
collecting the samples, and providing the
analytical results to the City. This effort
resulted in a successful coordination and
response demonstrating the results of a
prepared team and well managed program.
For more information about CMAD
involvement, contact Larry Kaelin at kaelin.
Iawrence@epa.gov.
'.-A
-------
December 2016 OSC Academy speakers: Megan Palmer (Stanford University),
Ben Franco (OSC R4j, Francisco Cruz (CMAD), and Worth Calfee (NHSRC)
BioResponse PPE and Dec on LI'
CBRN response training at
the 2016 OSC Academy
Although On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) are
veryfamiliarwith industrial chemical releases
and oil spills, incidents involving biological
agents, chemical warfare agents (CWA), and
dirty bombs may present unique challenges
to even the most seasoned OSC. To further
the awareness of the OSC community
about chemical, biological, radiological,
and nuclear (CBRN) threats and responses,
the Consequence Management Advisor/
Division (CMAD) facilitated the CBRN training
track for the January 2016 offering of the
OSC Academy, and then a more advanced
Biological training track during the December
2016 event.
The OSC Academy provides 1 week of training
opportunities for OSCs. The biggest change
from the former OSC Readiness structure is the
implementation of OSC training tracks.
Training was divided into specific disciplines,
including Advanced Oil Response - Emergency
Response, Advanced Oil Response - Oil
Removals, CBRN Response, and the
Comprehensive Environmental Response and
9
Recovery Act (CERCLA) Response. During the
January 2016 offering, OSCs participated in
track-specific training for the entire week of the
OSC Academy, with networking opportunities
scheduled during break periods. The 4 days
of the CBRN training track were divided into
general CBRN response and support, CWA
response, biological agent response, and
radiological and nuclear response. CMAD's
goal for the training was to provide OSCs with
training to make them familiarwith key resources
and information to respond to an incident, with
more specialized resources, such as CMAD
supporting the response. Lectures focused
on sampling, laboratory analysis, regulatory
authorities, health and safely, decontamination,
and EPA and other federal agency resources.
Additionally, several case studies were
presented to train OSCs about the challenges
they may face during a CBRN incident.
A second offering of the OSC Academy was
held December 5-9,2016, with some small
adjustments to the format. Track-specific training
was held over 2 days, and the remaining days
allowed OSCs to enroll in other courses of
interest. The CBRN training track in December
focused on biological responses, as more
OSCs are familiarwith general CWAs and
radiological incidents during non-homeland
security scenarios. OSCs Ben Franco (Region
4), Steve Wolfe (Region 5), and Jason Musante
(Region 9) finished the two-day session by
conducting a biological table top exercise to
reinforce the materials presented.
Instructors for the courses were from the
following organizations:
• Regional OSCs and Subject Matter
Experts
• CMAD
• National Homeland Security Research
Center (NHSRC)
• Environmental Response Team (ERT)
• Radiological Emergency Response
Team (RERT)
• Office of Resource Conservation and
Recovery (ORCR)
• ECBC CBARR
• Gerard Proehl, International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA)
• Wisconsin National Guard
• Heather Underwood, Denver Bio Lab
• Megan Palmer, Stanford University
For more information, contact Paul Kudarauskas
at kudarauskas.paul@epa.gov.
-------
ERRP
Developing an Environmental
Response and Remediation Plan
for biological agent incidents
involving Bacillus artthracis
To prepare for potential future biological responses, the EPA
Consequence Management Advisory Division (CMAD) has been
working to develop Environmental Response and Remediation Plans
(ERRP) for biological incidents involving Bacillus anthracis(B. artthracis)
for use by U.S. cities with mass transit systems. The ERRP is based upon
the New York City Bio-Response efforts led by Region 2 On-Scene
Coordinator (OSC) Chris Jimenez, Region 3 OSC Rich Rupert, and
Region 5 Homeland Security Advisor Mark Durno. The objective
of the ERRP is to provide tactical and operational guidance to help
restore a mass transit system to operational status after the release of B.
anlhiatis. The ERRP assumes B. anthracis as the biological agent since
B. anthracis is persistent in the environment and difficult to inactivate,
and thus almost any other biological agent incident would respond to
the same methods and techniques. The ERRP provides guidance on
sampling, decontamination, clearance, waste management, safety,
and other processes needed for successful remediation.
Location-specific features of a major city such as a dense population,
a large subway system, the presence of key economic institutions, and
a unique urban environment require consideration. The ERRP serves
as a "template" for biological remediation and response that can be
modified based on the actual location and events of an incident. The
ERRP template is structured so that text can be modified and updated as
necessary, with some sections tailored to reflect the user's city- or state-
specific remediation and response plans. It should be noted that due to
many factors being unknown, until an actual incident occurs, the ERRP
does not provide step-by-step instructions for responding to an incident
and does not focus on an incident of any particular size. Instead, the ERRP
provides guidance that is scalable and applicable to small-scale incidents
(defined as affecting a single building) as well as to incidents that affect
multiple city blocks, hundreds of facilities, and multiple response agencies.
Many phases of a response are linked, and the goal of response and
recovery to allow reoccupancy generally drives the overall response
strategy. Proper planning and prioritization of resources, preferably
before an incident occurs, are critical to achieve reoccupancy. One
goal of the ERRP is to provide cities with a useful tool for considering
planning and resource prioritization issues before an incident occurs in
order to achieve reoccupancy as quickly and easily as possible.
Response and recovery after the release of B. anthracis (or any
biological agent) is a complex and resource-intensive undertaking that
will present local, state, and federal agencies with many challenges
related to resource limitations and knowledge gaps. Throughout the
ERRP, the text identifies current gaps in knowledge, science, data, and
experience for incidents involving B. anthracis. Identification of these
gaps will help ensure that associated issues are planned for ahead of
time, potentially saving lives, time, and resources. The limited response
experience for a large-scale B. anthracis incident likely will result in a
strong need to improvise and adapt commonly available resources
and techniques for effective remediation. During a response, ERRP
users may need to field-prove and modify the techniques presented to
help establish the process knowledge required for environmental- and
site-specific conditions.
The ERRP also facilitates discussion of many policy issues that warrant
consideration by state and city agencies before an incident occurs. In
its entirety, the ERRP provides a single point of reference for state-of-the
art information and procedures on both pre-planning and disaster
management to help cities manage the magnitude and complexity
of recovery operations required after a biological incident. For more
information, contact Natalie Koch at koch.natalie@epa.gov.
REGION 5
Region 5 synthetic drug
decontamination and
PPE technical support to
Lac Du Flambeau Band of
Lake Superior Chippewa
EPA Region 5 On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Kathy Halbur requested technical consultation assistance from the Consequence Management
Advisory Division (CMAD) for the Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, a federally recognized tribe in northern Wisconsin. Specifically,
CMAD provided support regarding decontamination options for structures contaminated by synthetic drugs, OSC Halbur facilitated discussions
between the EPA, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the Regional Tribal Office.
During discussions on decontamination options and procedures, the Tribal Police Department also requested that CMAD provide personal
protective equipment (PPE) recommendations for upcoming law enforcement actions at additional
properties suspected of containing synthetic drugs. CMAD coordinated with National Criminal
Enforcement Response Team (NCERT) staff in Lakewood, Colorado, and Edison, New Jersey, for
tactical information on howfederal law enforcement agencies have been addressing incidents
involving synthetic drugs. All information then was shared with the tribe.
The Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa was satisfied with the recommendations
for structure decontamination and the tactical PPE recommendations provided by the NCERT and
CMAD. For more information about CMAD involvement, contact Mike Nalipinski at nalipinski.
mike@epa.gov.
-------
In preparation for potential Ebola contamination responses, the EPA National Homeland Security Research Center
(NHSRC) released a draft study titled "The Decontamination Line Protocol Evaluation for Biological Contamination
Incidents Assessments and Evaluations Report" that identifies vulnerabilities in the "Long-Term Biological
Decontamination Line SOP." The NHSRC study found that decontamination line liquid can be a contaminant carrier
and that existing personal protective equipment (PPE) doffing procedures could put personnel at risk to exposure.
Partnering with EPA federal On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) who have experience in responding to biological
incidents and/or are regional representatives that served on the National Biological Preparedness Working
Group, along with subject matter experts (SME) from the National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC),
the Consequence Management Advisory Division (CMAD) assisted with the development of a decontamination
standard operating procedure (SOP) titled "Long-Term Biological Decontamination Line SOP" to help protect EPA
OSCs and their contractors during removal activities.
"EPA's Ebola 2014 Outbreak Decontamination Line SOP" (later renamed the "Bio Response Decontamination Line
SOP") was developed and then tested during several trainings in Fiscal Year 2015. Afunctional training exercise
was developed and led by EPA Region 2 OSC Chris Jimenez, CMAD, the Environmental Response Team (ERT), the
National Counterterrorism Evidence Response Team (NCERT), NHSRC, and the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). During the training, OSCs and contractors practiced and evaluated the SOP to help develop
decontamination and engineering best practices to facilitate the cleanup and decontamination of Ebola. After the
training, the SOP was edited and finalized to incorporate changes and issues identified during the training.
1 1
-------
Biological decon line prepared in accordance with SOP
CMAD personnel donning PPE prior to video production
These efforts culminated in July 2016, when CMAD personnel, with the assistance of EPA's Office of Muiti Media
(OMM), created a video detailing the processes outlined in the "Bio Response Decontamination Line SOP." Over the
course of a week, CMAD and OMM filmed PPE donning, decontamination, and PPE doffing procedures to create a
visual just in-time training tool for use by the EPA Regions during responses to biological incidents. For more information
about CMAD involvement, contact Francisco Cruz at cruz.franciscoj@epa.gov.
Filming the decon process
12
-------
DHS conducts release for UTR
study in NYC
Collaboration with MIT's Lincoln
Laboratory in support of the DHS
Underground Transport Restoration
Project during a NYC full-scale
dispersion subway test
As part of the Underground Transport Restoration (UTR) Project,
in May 2016, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
funded a comprehensive test to demonstrate and determine
what would happen if a biological agent was released into a
fully operational subway system. Specifically, the test focused
on how aerosolized particles and gases travel in and through
a subway environment. Subways, by nature, are dynamic
environments with rapid and predictable movement. Subways
are used by hundreds of thousands of people and have miles
and miles of track and tunnels. Subway cars quickly accelerate
and decelerate in and out of stations and have active and
passive heating and ventilation systems. The test studied New
York City's (NYC) subway system because it is the most complex,
busiest, and largest transit system in the United States. NYC's
Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) operates over 600 miles
of subway tracks. At rush hour, over 4,000 subway cars are in
service, and more than 5.5 million people use the MTA subway
on a typical weekday.
EPA personnel from several Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9, the
Consequence Management Advisory Division (CMAD), the
National Homeland Security Research Center (NIHSRC), and
the Environmental Response Team (ERT) supported MIT Lincoln
Laboratories, the lead for this phase of the UTR Project, at NYC's
Grand Central Terminal to perform the test, which covered 55
train stations (including two in Queens, one in Brooklyn, and one
in New Jersey) and the interiors of 10 different trains. A total of
115 people participated in this event.
During a routine week for the MTA transit system (no major
closures, holidays, or special events), the test controllers
released 1 gram of a harmless aerosolized analogue of
simulated anthrax particles into the air every minute for 20
minutes each day from one of the platforms at Grand Central
Terminal. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory developed
the anthrax surrogate, which has been used in the past to help
the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention track food-
poisoning outbreaks. Two particle sizes were developed for
this test, 2 microns and 5 microns. A series of DNA chains was
attached to the particles that acted as microscopic "barcodes,"
During the week, the controllers released particles with different
barcodes into the system. These barcodes helped researchers
understand how the air moves throughout the entire subway
system as well as how particles resuspend and reaerosolize.
In addition to the anthrax surrogate particles, the controllers
also released a harmless perfluorocarbon gas into the system.
Argonne National Laboratory has developed dispersion models
13
-------
for use by subway operators and owners and local, state,
and federal emergency responders to predict air flow during
a biological incident. These models were developed based
on the results from several past air-flow tests using gases. The
perfiuorocarbon gas was tracked as a control to demonstrate
that the air flow during this test did not radically deviate from the
original tests used to calibrate the dispersion models.
During the week of testing, the sampling teams collected
approximately 7,000 surface wipe and air samples as well
as 5,000 gas samples. Surface wipe samples were collected
from aluminum coupons placed throughout the subway
platforms, and air samples were collected from filters on
personal monitors worn by samplers riding the trains, stationary
filter units throughout the MTA stations and platforms, and
HVAC filters from a limited number of trains and buildings.
Additional sampling locations included building rooftops and
aboveground sidewalks.
Region 2 OSC, Neil Norrell, served in the lead role for EPA
as the Regional Manager Coordinator overseeing the multi-
organization sampling teams. Other EPA personnel served
as Sample Team Managers and Quality Assurance/Quality
Control Leaders, assisted in concurrent sampling efforts, and
performed the enormous tasks of data management and
sample processing and shipping. Approximately 100 people
each day performed tasks needed to accomplish test objectives.
The data from this test will be used to validate and improve the
dispersion models previously developed by Argonne National
Laboratory to predict air flow during a biological incident.
An effective model could allow a response team to rapidly isolate
sections of the subway to minimize the spread of particles and thus
impact fewer people. The test results also will be used to improve
plans for placing detection equipment within the transit system to
ensure the fastest response possible. Ultimately, the findings of the
UTR Project will allow EPA to develop better plans for responding
to, decontaminating, and recovering from a biological attack.
For more information about CMAD involvement, contact Elise
Jakabhazy at jakabhazy.elise@epa.gov.
Test participants included the Metropolitan
Transit Authority, Metro North Railroad, NYC
Police Department, MIT Lincoln Laboratories,
EPA Regions 1, 2, 3, 5, and 9, National
Guard Civil Support Teams, Argonne National
Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratories,
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory,
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Pacific
Northwest National Laboratory, Edgewood
Chemical Biological Center, and the Singapore
National Environment Agency.
Removing a samp I
Verifying the flow rate of the dry filter unit sampler
-------
CMAD, NHSRC, and Region 3 partner
to conduct an operational exercise
focusing on the rapid return to service
of a subway system impacted by a
biological agent release
This major exercise required approximately 18 months to plan,
174 personnel to complete, and was conducted between
September through mid-October 2016. In addition to the
participating federal agencies mentioned above, multiple
organizations assisted with the field work, including EPA Regions
3, 6, 7, and 9; EPA's Office of Resource Conservation and
Recovery (ORCR); EPA's Environmental Response Team (ERT); the
32nd National Guard Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Civil
Support Team (CST); the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Strike team;
the U.S. Army; the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality;
and the Fort A.P. Hill (FAPH) Fire Department.
In mid-2016, EPA's Consequence Management Advisory
Division (CMAD) and the National Homeland Security Research
Center (NHSRC), with Region 3, led the Underground Transport
Restoration (UTR) Operational Technology Demonstration (OTD),
an exercise focusing on the rapid return to service of a subway
system impacted by a biological agent release. Jointly funded by
EPA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the UTR
OTD involved numerous federal agencies, including EPA, DHS,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) Lincoln Laboratory (LL), Sandia
National Laboratory (SNL), and the Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory (PNNL).
The UTR OTD focused on conducting and evaluating a field-
scale remediation test of a mock mass transportation system for
responders to learn scalable techniques that may be used for
decontaminating an actual subway/transit system in the event of
an intentional release of a biological agent, such as Bacillus (B.)
15
-------
• Conduct and evaluate field -
scale remediation of a subway
system, from initial discovery to
final environmental remediation.
• Demonstrate fogging and spraying
of sporicidal compounds to inactivate a
biological agent in a subway system.
anthracis. EPA designated the
following objectives for the UTR
OTD:
d
Region 3, CMAD and NHSRC complete spray decontamination of
the tunnel
• Collect and analyze results from the decontamination study,
and perform a cost analysis of the two decontamination
approaches, fogging and spraying.
• Determine any adverse impacts on the subway system and its
components from decontamination.
After evaluating several potential venues, the mock subway system
at I API I, VA was selected. Prior to conducting the field-test, EPA
personnel, their contractors, and external partners all prepared the
system for the releases, testing, and decontamination activities: MIT
LL constructed barriers for contamination and toxic gas control; EPA
installed negative air machines at the main barrier and each subway
stairwell to aid in spore containment and to minimize drying time after
decontamination; EPA covered electrical systems to reduce damage
from the decontamination solutions; and EPA Region 3 constructed an
elevated personnel decontamination line outside of the main barrier
along the tracks.
EPA released a non-pathogenic surrogate organism for B. anthracis,
B. atrophaeus, into the mock system before each round of assessment.
EPA selected Iwo off-the-shelf portable fogging and portable sprayer
technologies for testing because these technologies are readily
available and easily adaptable. EPA CMAD and NHSRC evaluated
each technology during two separate field-level decontamination
assessments.
During Round 1, EPA used a portable fogging system to deploy a
germicidal bleach decontamination solution under field-relevant
conditions. During Round 2, a portable low-pressure sprayer was used
to spray a pH-adjusted bleach decontamination solution onto test
areas. These decontaminants were selected because they achieved
a 6 log reduction of spores on a variety of surfaces in bench-scale
experiments.
After completing both the fogging and spraying decontamination
options, EPA then conducted additional remediation demonstrations
of two additional off-the-shelf technologies to determine their feasibility
for rapidly decontaminating a mass transit subway system. EPA and
FAPH personnel loaded an orchard sprayer and a "dust boss" sprayer
(commonly used for dust suppression) onto a flatbed railcar to move
the equipment into the mock system. Researchers sprayed water onto
test areas to test the technologies.
At this time, the final results of the UTR OTD study are pending. EPA
will use information obtained from the study to develop a biological
incident decontamination guidance document for subway system
organizations throughout the United States to help them prepare for
and respond to a biological agent release. For more information,
contact Shannon Serre at serre.shannon@epa.gov.
16
-------
Surrogate
Decon
USCG
Underground Transport Restorafion(UTR)
Operational Technology Demonstration(OTD):
conduct and evaluate field-level remediation
of a subway system from initial discovery to
final environmental remediation.
I i.;
Sampling ©
Sampling
Decontamination
with Sprayers Bleach ^
CMAD
Decontamination
with Foggers
Dissemination
National Labs
NHSRC
Level A
Guidance i
Document for
Rapid Return of U.S.
Subway Systems
After Biological
Incident
PAPR
Nalipinski
DOD
REGION 3
OSC Wagner
(J)
FAPH
Oudejans
Project
Installation
Equipment
Demonstration
NAMS
VIP Day ©
-------
at a commercial poultry farm in Eagle Grove, IA, in March
2016. The farm had been infected with HPAI in 2015. The study
evaluated the efficacy and material effects of chlorine dioxide
(CI02) gas and heat treatment to reduce or inactivate viable
test organisms. Testing was conducted in March 2016, when
ambient temperatures ranged from 25 to 55 °F. This testing time
was chosen to make operational conditions challenging for both
treatment processes.
Commercial livestock production facilities contaminated with
highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) or other biological
contaminants could pose risks to human and animal health.
Operational procedures for decontaminating viruses and
bacteria in complex facilities and under challenging conditions
are limited, and knowledge gaps exist. Viable options for
returning livestock facilities to pre-incident risk levels are needed
immediately. To put that in perspective, in 2015, over 50 million
chickens and turkeys were euthanized due to an HPAI outbreak.
Furthermore, rapid-clearance methods are needed for all
pathogens to facilitate the return of producers to
normal business practices as soon as possible.
EPA Region 3 On-Scene Coordinator
(OSC) Rich Rupert, Consequence
Management Advisory Division (CMAD)
and National Homeland Security
Research Center (NHSRC) were joined
by Region 7 OSCs Megan Schuette
and Eric Nold for a large-scale study
Test organisms ranged from bacteriophage to spore-forming
bacteria on different surface materials, including several
high-challenge surfaces. The test organisms were relevant
microorganisms for Bacillus anthracis spores, HPAI, and other
pathogens, and included MS2 bacteriophage, Bacillus subtilis,
Bacillus atrophaeus, and Geobacillus stearothermophilus.
Project testing was conducted under a cooperative research
and development agreement (CRADA) between EPA and Sabre
BioResponse, LLC (Sabre). The U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) also participated in the planning and execution of the
study tests.
-------
Commercial poultry farm, Eagle Grove, IA
The main objectives of the study are
summarized below.
• Conduct a large-scale barn field test to compare CI02
fumigation and heat treatment technology efficacy during
winter conditions in the Midwest by evaluating the two
technologies for inactivating a bacteriophage surrogate.
Based on the overall project objectives, microorganisms
spanning the hierarchy of disinfectant susceptibility were
used as biological indicators (Bl) and included MS2
bacteriophage (a more resistant, non-enveloped viral
microorganism) and Bacillus subtilis (a gram-positive,
spore-forming bacterial microorganism).
• Evaluate the material effects of the two test technologies
under specific treatment conditions.
• Evaluate the use of non-pathogenic surrogates that
simulate HPAI as well as high-challenge surrogates
on various building surfaces under a range of field
conditions.
Testing was conducted on material substrates with comparable
compositions to surfaces and machinery found in poultry barns,
including concrete, galvanized metal, black iron, plywood,
canvas belt material, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
Coupons of these materials were prepared with both clean and
soiled (chicken feces and mineral oil) surfaces. The coupons
were inoculated with between 3- and 9-log colony forming
units/plaque forming units (CFU/PFU) of each test organism,
packaged in a Tyvek envelope, and then placed throughout the
commercial poultry farm.
Two barns at the poultry farm were used for testing, each
with dimensions of roughly 55 by 600 feet. Both barns were
depopulated and had been dry cleaned (and wet cleaned,
if desired) to a similar condition following the USDA cleaning
procedure. Sabre fumigated one barn with CI02 at a minimum
temperature of 70 °F and a relative humidity of greater than
70%. The CI02 target concentration-time was 25,000 parts per
million-hours throughout the barn.
The second barn was treated with heat following the USDA
guidance for treating poultry facilities. The barn was heated to
100 to 120 °F for 7 days, with 3 consecutive days at a minimum
average facility temperature of 100 °F. Temperatures were
verified at each monitoring point within the barn. There were
10 real-time monitoring points, with an additional 40 loggers
for temperature and relative humidity placed throughout the
barn. To heat the barn for 7 days, 24 heaters with a capacity
of 800,000 British thermal units per hour were used. For more
information, contact Shannon Serre at serre.shannon@epa.gov.
Dr. Worth Calfee (NHSRC) and Region 3 OSC Rich Rupert review a sample
20
-------
IsoArk
decontamination
isolation chamber
Region 4 OSC and CMAD provide
assistance to DoD and the Israeli
Ministry of Defense to evaluate
decontamination technologies
To prepare for a possible radiological
attack, the capability to decontaminate
critical infrastructure must be evaluated.
Critical infrastructure may include
transportation, power, communications,
medical, and essential government
service facilities and equipment. Currently
available decontamination technologies
must be evaluated for performance
on a range of surfaces that could
be contaminated after a wide-area
radiological incident. This evaluation must
go beyond the bench scale to ascertain if
the tested technologies will be effective.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD)
and the Ministry of Defense of the State
of Israel (MOD) are jointly engaged in
a project called "White City" to study
procedures for cleaning up contaminated
areas after an event involving a
radiological dispersal device (RDD). The
results obtained from this project are
applicable to any wide-area radiological
contamination incident. The DoD
Technical Support Work Group (TSWG)
and the MOD led the project, with the
participation of EPA's Consequence
Management Advisory Division
(CMAD) and EPA Region 4 On-Scene
Coordinator (OSC) Terry Stilman and
experts from the Israeli Nuclear Research
Center Negev (NRCN). The project work
was conducted under TSWG task plan
No. CB.3803-5. MOD, the Israel Atomic
Energy Commission (lAEC)-NRCN, and
TSWG provided financial support for this
project.
The "White City" project was developed
to evaluate intermediate-level (between
bench-scale and large-scale or wide-
area implementation) decontamination
procedures, materials, technologies, and
techniques used to remove radioactive
material from different surfaces. In
the event of a radiological incident,
the application of intermediate-level
technology would primarily be intended
to decontaminate high-value buildings,
important infrastructure, and landmarks.
Project Background
Two radioisotopes were tested: the
aqueous salts of cesium-137 (l37Cs) and the
short lived simulant to 137Cs, rubidium-86
(86Rb). The radioisotope technetium-99m
(99mTc) also was used for a preliminary
test of the experimental procedures. Two
types of decontamination technology
products were evaluated: DeconGel™
(DG), a product of Cellular Bioengineering
Inc. (CBI), and Argonne Super Gel (ASG),
a product developed by researchers
at Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
and now manufactured and supplied by
Environmental Alternatives, Inc. (EAI).
The project work was conducted at the
assigned Chemical, Biological, Radiological,
and Nuclear (CBRN) Israel Defense Force
(IDF) home front command facility near the
town of Ramla and at the NRCN Israel.
Experimental setups at the two sites were
identical, except that at the Ramla site, 99mTc
and 86Rb were used, while at the NRCN
site, only T3?Cs was used. The project results
yielded similar removal factors (percent
removal [%R]) and operational factors for
both 86Rb and l37Cs. This outcome was
predicted based on the similar chemical
properties of both elements. The project
results further showed that the short half-life
radioisotope 8ARb can be used in future
experiments to simulate137Cs.
The information from this project addresses
loose surface contamination. In the
past few years, the EPA has evaluated
the performance of several peelable/
strippable coatings for radiation
decontamination. The major differences
between this project and previously
conducted studies are the larger size of
the test surfaces and the use of 86Rb as
a simulant for l37Cs. The use of larger
surfaces (1.5 by 2 square meters) allowed
more accurate evaluation of the time
and effort needed for a large-scale
decontamination effort. The use of the short
half-life radioisotope 86Rb (half life = 18.642
days) instead of the medium half-life
-------
Gel application process for Argonne Super Gel (left) and DeconGel ™ (right)
radioisotope ^Cs (half life = 30.17 years)
allowed the experiment to be conducted
outside of a controlled nuclear facility and
allowed the evaluation of the use of 86Rb as
a simulant for ,37Cs during future large-
scale decontamination experiments.
Test Methods and Materials
The testing conducted included the
application of radioactive contamination
to the test surfaces, measurement of the
radiation contamination on the surfaces
(through gamma counting), application and
removal of two types of decontamination
technologies, and subsequent measurement
of the residual contamination to determine the
efficacy of each decontamination technology.
The tests used two isolation chambers
to prevent the spread of radioactive
contamination outside the test facility. The
IsoArk decontamination isolation chambers
used for this project were specifically
designed and manufactured for the project
by Beth -El Industries Ltd. In the isolation
chambers, temperature, relative humidity (RH),
and airflow conditions were controlled.
DG, manufactured by CBI Polymers,
Inc. (Honolulu, HI), is a one-component,
water-based, broad-application, peelable
decontamination hydrogel. DG attracts
the contaminant, binds to it physically or
chemically, and upon curing, mechanically
locks or encapsulates the contaminant in
a polymer matrix. DG is available in three
viscosities each developed for a specific
decontamination use on various surfaces
and areas. The compound used for this
project was the DG 1120 formulation.
This product was purchased directly from
the supplier as a ready-to-use mixture not
requiring dilution.
ASG, manufactured by EAI (Clarksburg, MD),
is a gel system that can clean 137Cs radioactive
contamination from porous structures such as
brick and concrete on vertical surfaces. The
system uses engineered nanoparticles and
a superabsorbent gel to clean buildings and
monuments exposed to radioactive materials.
The ASG for this project was purchased as
a dry powder. The powder was mixed with
purified water at the site to prepare 4 liters
of gel. The gel mixture was applied 1 to 2
hours after mixing to the test surface using the
procedure discussed below.
Both DG and ASG were applied using a
hand-held power sprayer with a wide-shot
tip. The main electric motor and gel bucket
were left out of the isolation chamber, and
a long flexible hose was used to transfer the
gel from the sprayer into the chamber.
Results
Two separate rounds of testing were
conducted on substrates that included
concrete, ceramic, marble, and limestone
panels each measuring 1.5 by 2 meters.
Round 1 included ceramic and concrete
substrates in the horizontal orientation, and
Round 2 included limestone, marble, and
concrete in the vertical orientation. During
Round 2, application of the radioactive
contaminant to test surfaces as well as pre-
Decontamination
Gel
Decontamination
Proce
Concrete
(Standard
Deviation)
Ceramics
(Standard
Deviation)
DeconGel™
First
25 (3)
70(4)
Second
31 (3)
85 (4)
Argonne Super Gel
First
33 (4)
80(3)
Second
50(3)
89(2)
Decontamination
Gel
Decontamination
Process
Concrete
(Standard
Deviation)
Marble
(Standard
Deviation)
Limestone
(Standard
Deviation)
DeconGel™
First
8.8 (4)
17.1 (5.1)
39 (6.4)
Second
13.6 (3.7)
28.1 (3.4)
45.2(4.4)
Argonne Super
Gel
First
32.5 (8.1)
31.4(5)
26.4 (3.7)
Second
42.7 (7.7)
38.4 (4.5)
35.2(4.9)
-------
Gel removal process for Argonne Super Gel (left) and DeconGel ™ (middle and right)
and post-contamination and decontamination
measurements were performed while the test
surfaces were in a horizontal position. Two
decontamination processes were conducted
during each round. Results for each round are
discussed below.
Round 1 Results
During Round 1, the following
measurements were made: contamination
level, contamination level after the
first decontamination process, and
contamination level after the second
decontamination process. The calculated
%R values after the first and second
decontamination processes were
calculated using Equation 1:
(1) %R = (1 -Af/A0) x 100%
Where:
A() = Average radiological activity of
the surface before decontamination
Table 1 summarizes the final %R values for
the different surfaces and decontamination
gels.
An overall qualitative evaluation indicates
that the DG is suitable for decontaminating
smooth and small surfaces, such as
those inside radioactive laboratories and
facilities, whereas the ASG can be easily
used on many surfaces, including textured
surfaces such as concrete, asphalt, and
limestone. A vacuum cleaner is needed to
remove the ASG, whereas the DG can be
removed by hand. Therefore, the overall
decontamination process for the DG on
medium-sized surfaces like the ones tested
is shorter than for the ASG. However, this
situation may change if large contaminated
outdoor areas are cleaned using industrial
instead of hand-held vacuum equipment.
Round 2 Results
For Round 2, the %R values after the first
and second decontamination processes
also were calculated using Equation 1,
Table 2 summarizes the final %R values for
the different surfaces and decontamination
gels.
Conclusions
The general conclusions summarized below
are based on the results from both rounds
of testing.
• The ASG should be vacuumed
up no more than 30 minutes after
application.
• The preparation process for ASG is
not complicated. The DG does not
require preparation because it is a
ready-to-use commercial product.
• Unskilled workers can perform
decontamination during a real
incident after a short training
process.
• Both the DG and ASG are not toxic.
• Both the DG and ASG produced
very low amounts of dry waste
materials.
A complete report on this project will be
available in the future. For more information
about CMAD involvement, contact
Shannon Serre at serre.shannon@epa.gov.
• The second decontamination
process improved the overall
cleaning efficiency.
• The DG is not suitable for
decontamination of textured
surfaces but works well on smooth,
non-porous surfaces. Use of the DG
on porous surfaces could damage
the surfaces.
• The overall average %R of the ASG
is higher than that of the DG.
A, = Average radiological
activity of the surface after
decontamination.
The radiological
activity was
measured using
a 2-inch Nal
(Ti) gamma
detector.
-------
Biological indicators (Bl) placed
in clothing
Ni
LCHP
CMAD and NHSRC partner to conduct field
evaluations of low-concentration hydrogen
peroxide in inactivating Bacillus anthracis
spores using commercially available products
In Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, EPA's Consequence
Management Advisory Division (CMAD)
conducted field evaluations to demonstrate
the efficacy of low-concentration hydrogen
peroxide (LCHP) in inactivating Bacillus
anthracis spores. The evaluations were
conducted in a 1,200-square-foot, three-
bedroom, fully furnished test house. The field
studies were designed to follow up on bench-
scale research conducted by EPA's National
Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC)
laboratory results and with guidance from
Region 4 On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs)
Ken Rhame and Ben Franco and Region 3
OSC Rich Rupert. Off-the-shelf household
humidifiers were placed though-out the test
house, and used to disseminate commercially-
and readily-available 3% hydrogen peroxide
(HP) liquid. During the field study, the central
air in the house remained turned on, and
several additional oscillating fans were added
to help evenly distribute the HP. Coupons
for the biological indicators (Bl) were placed
throughout the house to evaluate efficacy
of LCHP. To challenge the method, some
Bl coupons were placed in hard-to-reach
locations.
The study found that 1.2 gallons of 3% liquid
HP per 100 square feet of living space
completely inactivated surrogate spores
placed on coupons throughout the house. If
a higher HP liquid concentration is used, a
proportionally lower volume of liquid is needed
in the humidifiers. For the Bl coupons, LCHP
was effective in the following hard-to-reach
locations: an open drawer, under five sheets
of paper, in pants pockets, under sheets,
inside pillowcases, under comforters, in light
fixtures, in a closed hall closet, and in the crack
of a window seal. LCHP was ineffective in the
following hard-to-reach locations: between
couch cushions, beneath rugs, in a doorjamb
crack, in a closed drawer, under 10 sheets
of paper, in a closed book, in a heavy coat
pocket, and behind light switch plates.
Significant conclusions based on the study
results are summarized below.
1. The use of LCHP in household
humidifiers greatly increases the
response community's capacity to
respond to a biological incident.
2. The use of LCHP is a green
technology, resulting in oxygen and
water as final reaction products.
3. The use of LCH P instead of more
traditional fumigation techniques
greatly reduces health and safety
concerns.
Concentrations of HP used during the field
evaluations were lower than the immediately
dangerous to life and health (IDII I) level of 75
parts per million. Typical fumigation procedures
usefumigant concentrations above the IDLH.
The use of less than IDLH levels of HP provides
a margin of safety for users.
http:// www2.epa .gov/ emergency-response/
consequence-management-advisory-division-
cmad
https: //www.epa .gov/homela nd-secu rity-
research/remediation-following-man-made-
or-natural-disasters-homeland-security#tab-3
For more information, contact Leroy
Mickelsen at mickelsen.leroy@epa.gov.
EPA's NHSRC backed up its study findings
with the U.S. Army's Edgewood Chemical
Biological Center collaborative study
showing that the surrogates used in this LCHP
study were equivalent to or more difficult to
inactivate than the highly pathogenic Bacillus
anthracis Ames strain.
Procedures used during the field evaluations
can be discussed in self-help guidance for
home and small business owners, thereby
exponentially increasing EPA's response
capacity.
Both the CMAD and NHSRC reports about
the field evaluations will become available at
the following website addresses:
-------
City of Pasadena/Region
9 supported by ASPECT for
2016 Tournament of Roses
Parade and Rose Bowl Game
ASPECT Aircraft Deployment
The City of Pasadena and California Emergency Management
requested the Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental
Collection Technology (ASPECT) Program to provide airborne
chemical, radiological, and situational awareness support to
the City of Pasadena, CA, for activities associated with the
2016 Tournament of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game. The
ASPECT aircraft is fielded by the EPA Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Consequence Management
Advisory Division (CMAD) Field Operations Branch (FOB).
The ASPECT aircraft was deployed in support of the City of
Pasadena, California Emergency Management, and EPA
Region 9.
ASPECT is the nation's only airborne asset capable of
collecting real-time chemical and radiological detection data
and infrared and photographic images. CMAD's ASPECT
personnel and aircraft are available to assist local, national,
and international agencies supporting hazardous substance
response, radiological incident, and situational awareness
efforts in the United States. The speed with which the ASPECT
aircraft can transmit information permits efficient assessment
of threats to critical infrastructure to minimize impacts to the
American people, the environment, and the economy.
The overall objectives of the ASPECT aircraft deployment during
the 2016 Rose Bowl were to:
• Fully integrate the ASPECT scientific reach-back
team with the City of Pasadena and California State
emergency response command structure,
• Conduct all ASPECT flight activities within the time
bounds established by the City of Pasadena and
California Emergency Management, including, but not
limited to, the Rose Bowl Parade and subsequent Rose
Bowl college football game, and
• Provide regular updates on current detections and the
status of site-specific n-links to event security personnel
through e-mail and text messages.
The deployment consisted of four flights: pre-event background
data collection flight on December 31, 2015, an early-morning,
low-level gamma radiation survey of the parade route and
stadium areas, an active chemical/situational monitoring
flight of the route during the parade, and an active chemical/
situational monitoring flight of the Rose Bowl stadium during the
game on January 1, 2016.
No significant detections were observed during the deployment.
25
-------
Four Deployment Flights
During the four ASPECT aircraft deployment flights, the temperature
ranged from 50 to 55 °F, humidity was low, and skies were mostly clear
to partly cloudy. Winds along the parade route and at the stadium
were generally light to calm. No appreciable standing precipitation
was present on or around the route or fields around the stadium.
The pre-event background data collection flight was conducted to
obtain background data for radiological and chemical characteristics
on and around the Rose Bowl parade route and stadium. The aircraft
completed the survey at 1600. Technical difficulties occurred during
the flight with the Fourier transform infrared (I TIR) spectrometer. The
flight team was able to troubleshoot the issue after the flight.
The ASPECT aircraft conducted an early morning low-level gamma
radiation survey of the parade route and stadium areas on January 1,
2016. All radiological survey lines except for the cosmic lines were flown
at the planned aboveground altitude (AGA) of 500 feet using the flight
lines shown in the figure presented in the lower left corner of this page.
The data were processed in flight and downloaded by the reach- back
team at the EOC within 5 minutes of acquisition. The reach-back team
completed a quality review of the data before presenting the data to
City of Pasadena officials.
After the gamma radiation survey, the ASPECT aircraft began an
active chemical/situational monitoring flight over the parade route to
gather chemical and photographic data during the parade at 2,800
feet AGA. The figure in the upper right hand corner of this page shows
the flight lines. These lines were flown at regular intervals over the
parade route until the parade ended.
Data collected over the parade route were processed in flight and
downloaded by the reach-back team at the Emergency Operations
Center (EOC) within 5 minutes of acquisition. The reach-back team
completed a quality review of the data before presenting the data to
City of Pasadena officials.
The active chemical/situational monitoring flight over the
Rose Bowl stadium during the game began at 1300 local time.
This flight was conducted to gather chemical and photographic data
during the game at 2,800 feet AGA. The figure above shows the flight
lines.
Data were collected at regular intervals over the stadium before kickoff
and during the game until the game ended. After each flight pass, the
data were processed on board, and the reach-back team at the EOC
conducted a detailed content and quality review of the data for threat
indications. All threat assessment results were communicated to the
City of Pasadena Point of Contact, James Weckerle, and subsequently
released to the entire EOC for reference throughout the day. At the
completion of this flight, the aircraft remained in a holding pattern until
no additional informational needs were identified, then returned to
the airport. None of the data collected during the parade indicated a
threat.
The available chemical and photographic data sets were downloaded
onto hard drives after this flight to allow processing for the final
deliverable posting in the Google Earth format (kmz, kml) for display
and in the ESRI format for clients using that GIS system.
Radiological Survey Results
A number of standard ASPECT radiological products were generated
as part of the radiological data collection efforts, including total
gamma counts, man-made gamma count (MMGC) sigma plots, and
dose rate plots. All of these products were geo-rectified, generated in
a Google Earth format (kml, kmz), and uploaded to the Google Earth
server accessible through the site-specific n-link.
The two figures at the top of the following page show examples of
results presented to the local officials for the parade route and stadium
area obtained by processing the radiological survey data using the
MMGC method. The sigma plots provide a statistical comparison
of every data point relative to a background location known to not
contain any radiological contamination from man-made isotopes.
Light blue dots are within 2 standard deviations (sigma) compared to
the background location, green dots are greater than 2 and less than
4 sigma, yellow dots are greater than 4 and less than 6 sigma, and red
dots exceed 6 sigma. Any deviation from background greater than 4
sigma usually is an initial indicator that the area may warrant a more
detailed ground assessment. Any areas greater than 6 sigma almost
certainly warrant further ground investigation and initiate a more
intense assessment of the spectral data to identify the isotope(s).
26
©2016 Google Earth
' • .
:• . ''Kirmel&jMesa*
©2016 Google Earth
Line 12/end1l*ine Ui (Start]
:Line 11 end X.(bine^Klan,j
Line 4, end'^ -Hta
' . ""
Lme^t) slarl'Uinei9.endi
' - -f f*
Is a lien i
-L»inei4-Start; J-
_ " ^ tr'ne 2tstart ' ^
Gamma radiation survey flight lines for 2016 Rose Bowl deployment
-------
©2016 Google Earthy
Line
Line 4 end
LineS'iend Line.6 sjarl .. „
Line 4 start
LineAsJartl
Line 6?end '• Line|7rstart
>an Marino
Rose Bowl Parade route gamma radiation survey results
Sigma Values (MMGC)
^ trun -6 0 ^-2Qto»20 ^ Greatw H»n 0
^-«0to-40 £*20to»40
0 4 010-2 0 |^)*40tO«fi0
'n'gton Blv
©2016 Google Earth
a Values (MMGC)
L«Hthan -«0 ^^-20to+20 Greats-*than +€0
^-60to-40 ^*:0toM0
0 -4 0W-2 0 i^)'4 0»*«0
The sigma plot is an adequate and appropriate tool to quickly screen
data values for further hazard investigation. To relate the hazard within
a health-based metric, the airborne total gamma count data are
scaled using an altitude- and aircraft-specific calibration algorithm to
develop a 1 -meter effective gamma dose rate contour.
Chemical Survey Results
The chemical survey data included infrared imagery, aerial imagery,
and flight status information. All of these products were geo-rectified,
generated in a Google Earth format (kml, kmz), and uploaded to the
Google Earth server accessible through the site-specific n-link.
The ASPECT RS800 infrared line scanner (IRLS) collected the infrared
imagery. At the same time, a series of still photographic images were
collected. Both of these products were geo-registered during flight
operations.
The figure on the bottom left corner of this page shows an example of
the ASPECT aircraft flight path in blue, with the gamma and chemical
data collection locations indicated by different colors along the data
©2016 Qjoogle Earth
v %c;ra't "location a! 22 26 :7
5
-------
Summary
The City of Pasadena and California Emergency Management
requested the ASPECT Program to provide airborne chemical,
radiological, and situational awareness support to the City of
Pasadena, CA, for activities associated with the 2016 Tournament of
Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game. Specifically, the ASPECT aircraft
was used to monitor the atmosphere for chemical and radiological
threats and to provide situational updates associated with the 2016
Rose Bowl. Data analyses and assessment showed no significant
detections during the deployment. This information was relayed
to local officials within minutes of each flight pass. The successful
deployment of the ASPECT aircraft during the 2016 Rose Bowl Parade
and College Football Game allowed real-time assessment of potential
threats. No threats were identified during the deployment, and the
parade and game proceeded safely and without incident. For more
information about CMAD involvement, contact Mark Thomas at
thomas.markj@epa.gov.
ASPECT
Aircraft system overview
CMAD fields the fixed-wing ASPECT aircraft, a response-ready
asset that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a
year. The ASPECT aircraft can be airborne within 1 hour to collect
chemical, radiological, and photographic data anywhere in the
continental United States within 9 hours of notification from its
home base near Dallas, TX.
A primary goal of the ASPECT Program is to provide actionable
intelligence to decision makers within minutes of data collection
while the aircraft is still in flight using the aircraft satellite
communication system. All data are geo-referenced with
embedded geographical coordinates and can be used in a
variety of geographic information systems (GIS) systems. Onboard
algorithms process collected data while the aircraft is in flight, and
a satellite system sends preliminary data results to the ASPECT
scientific reach-back team for quality assurance/quality control
(QA/QC) review.
The ASPECT reach-back team encompasses scientists, engineers,
and public health experts, all with advanced degrees. This team
The ASPECT team's certified health physicist reviews
radiological survey data prior to release to decision
makers
conducts all data validation and review in near real time, usually
from an Emergency Operations Center. Validated data can
be immediately relayed to local, state, tribal and other federal
emergency management authorities.
The ASPECT aircraft is a Cessna 208B Caravan (See photo below)
containing two chemical sensors and three radiological sensors
ASPECT Aircraft; Cessna 208B Caravan
to detect and map chemical plumes and radiological deposition
patterns and point sources. The chemical sensors include (1) a
high-resolution (0.5-meter pixels), multi-spectral infrared line scanner
(IRLS) that produces a two-dimensional image and (2) a point-
detection MR-254AB Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometer
that can obtain detailed chemical information for any point in a
plume. Radiological sensors include sodium iodide (Nal; 25 L) and
lanthanum bromide (LaBr; 1 L) gamma detectors and a boron
tri-fluoride straw detector system. A high-resolution digital camera
system captures survey images.
For more information about the ASPECT program, please go to:
https: //www.epa .gov/ emergency-response/aspect
28
-------
Photo courtesy of Alyssa S. Agranat
ASPECT provides assistance
to the City of Albuquerque,
NM and the New Mexico State
Police at the Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta
The City of Albuquerque, New Mexico (the City), and the New
Mexico State Police (NMSP) requested the Consequence
Management Advisory Division (CMAD) Airborne Spectral
Photometric Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT)
Program to provide airborne chemical, radiological, and
situational awareness support during the 2015 Albuquerque
International Balloon Fiesta (AIBF) event. Specifically, the
ASPECT Program was requested to support state homeland
security operations at the AIBF event through deployment flights
to detect significant radiological and chemical sources.
The deployment was conducted from October 2 through 12,
2015, and consisted of 10 ASPECT aircraft flights, including a
pre-event background data collection flight, an early-morning
radiological reconnaissance of the balloon field before any
. ¦ launches, and active chemical and situational
~ monitoring of the field during the balloon
flights each day on a schedule specified
... v w in the operations plan.
~
The overall objectives of this deployment are summarized below.
1. Conduct a full integration of the ASPECT reach-back
team with the City and NMSP emergency response
command structure. All data validation and review was
to be conducted in near real-time at the Emergency
Operations command post by the ASPECT reach-back
team, including the EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)
Jon Rinehart. Validated data were to be immediately
relayed to state and local emergency management
authorities.
2. Conduct all ASPECT aircraft flight activities within the time
bounds established by the City and the NMSP, including,
but not limited to, pre-balloon launch events and ongoing
balloon flights.
3. Provide regular updates to event personnel, including
e-mail and text message updates about current
detections and the status of n-links.
No significant radiological or chemical detections were observed
during the deployment.
-------
Background Survey
The ASPECT aircraft conducted a background flight on October
2, 2015, to obtain background data for both radiological and
chemical characteristics on and around the balloon field and
San Mateo Boulevard. This data collection effort was conducted
during the incoming mobilization flight for the event deployment.
Data Collection Surveys
The ASPECT aircraft performed five gamma- radiation
surveys each morning from October 3 through 12, 2015. All
radiological survey lines except for the cosmic lines were flown
at the planned above ground altitude (AGL) of 300 feet. The
radiological survey data collection flights were completed
before 0500. The data were processed in-flight and available
for download within 5 minutes of acquisition. The ASPECT
reach -back team at the command post downloaded the data
and completed quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC)
review before presenting the data to EPA OSC. OSC Rinehart
cleared the data for release to state and local emergency
management authorities.
-
ASPECT aircraft
Weather during these radiological surveys ranged in
temperature from 10 to 15 °C, humidity was low, and skies
were mostly clear to partly cloudy. Winds at the balloon field
generally were light to calm during each flight. No appreciable
standing precipitation was present on or around the field. The
ASPECT aircraft returned to the airport each day immediately
after completing radiological data collection.
The ASPECT aircraft performed chemical and photographic
data collection surveys following the same two flight lines, as
indicated in red in the picture in the lower right hand corner
of this page, over the balloon launch field. These survey flights
were conducted in the afternoons on the same days as the
gamma-radiation surveys at an altitude of 2,800 feet AGL.
Flight conditions during the chemical and photographic surveys
typically consisted of good light, low humidity, and generally
light winds. The ASPECT reach-back team was relocated to
an aircraft hangar in Santa Fe during these flights. Data were
processed in-flight. The ASPECT reach-back team in Santa
Fe downloaded the data and completed QA/QC review.
Findings were communicated to the OSC for release to the local
command post.
The full chemical and photographic data sets were delivered by
external drive upon the flight crew's return to the hangar. The full
data sets were processed after the flights to generate file formats
(kmz, kml) for Google Earth display to allow access by the state
and local emergency operations command post through the
site-specific n-link display web tool.
Standard Radiological Survey Products
A number of standard ASPECT radiological survey products
were generated through the radiological background data
collection effort, including total gamma counts, man-made
gamma count (MMGC) sigma plots, and dose-rate plots. All of
ii
- •«' ' tV. «- imM
»•"¦«• . *' - if '' . ..*? ~
- • vi. • '¦'* ¦ ' \ «'C~" '^fr "V
/v- ••• ¦ ; •- • ..v . ;v •>.
in9A I J. "i-n" r, ion i:x. *-.«¦> V)r>;tt •
Chemical/photographic background flight lines
-------
these products were geo-rectified, generated in a Google Earth
format (kmz, kml), and uploaded to the Google Earth server
accessible through the site-specific n-link.
The figure at the bottom left of this page shows an example of
results obtained by processing the radiological survey data
using the MMGC method. The sigma plot provides a statistical
comparison of every data point relative to a background location
known to not contain any radiological contamination from man-
made isotopes Light blue dots are within 2 standard deviations
(sigma) compared to the background location, green dots are
greater than 2 and less than 4 sigma, yellow dots are greater
than 4 and less than 6 sigma, and red dots exceed 6 sigma. Any
deviation from background greater than 4 sigma usually is an
initial indicator that the area may warrant more detailed ground
assessment. Any areas greater than 6 sigma almost certainly
warrant further ground investigation and initiate a more intense
assessment of the spectral data to identify the isotope(s).
The sigma plot is an adequate and appropriate tool to quickly
screen data values for furt her hazard investigation. To relate the
hazard within a health-based metric, the airborne total gamma
count data are scaled using an altitude- and aircraft-specific
calibration algorithm to develop a 1 -meter effective gamma
dose rate contour. The figure to the right shows an example of
this contour generated using closely spaced isopleths to show
subtle detail within the field of view.
Standard Chemical Survey Products
A number of standard ASPECT chemical results were generated
through the chemical background data collection effort,
including chemical detection plots, infrared imagery, aerial
visible imagery, and flight status information. Fourier transform
infrared (FTIR) data points were geo-rectified using a global
information system (GIS). An associated concentration estimate
then was generated for each FTIR point for each of the 78
chemical compound in the screening library. All products were
generated in Google Earth format (kmz, kml) and uploaded to
the Google Earth server to make them accessible through the
site-specific n-link.
Sigma Values (MMGC)
Less than ^.0 ^^-2 0 to+2-0 Greater than *6 0
®-6Qto-40 @+£0 ID+4.0
A -10 to-2 0 j'§)t4 0to«0
Background survey MMGC sigma plot
31
Infrared imagery data were collected concurrently with the
FTIR data using the ASPECT RS800 infrared line scanner (IRLS)
imaging system. At the same time, a series of still photographic
images were collected. Both of these products were geo-
registered during flight operations.
The top left image on the following page shows an example
of the aircraft flight path, with the chemical data collection
locations indicated by the green sections of the path. The FTIR
acquired data during flights over the green path, and the stars
show the centroid locations of the IRLS images while the camera
icons show locations where individual still photographic images
were collected. Spectral analysis of all collected FTIR data
showed no significant detections during the data collection
flights.
The top right photo on the following page presents a typical
IRLS image collected during a chemical survey flight. The image
tends to show normal infrared content typical of a suburban
setting, but there is some image distortion due to aircraft roll
compensation resulting from wind turbulence at the collection
altitude that affected the aircraft and IRLS gyroscope. The
bottom left photo on the following page shows an aerial
digital still image of the north end of the balloon field and
surrounding area. The resolution of this image is approximately
15 centimeters. The aerial photographs were tiled together to
provide wide-area imagery during the event. The bottom right
photo on the following page shows the tiled image in Google
Earth, which provides the ability to zoom into the image and
maintain the higher resolution of the individual frames.
-------
/.43j - ;i
©2015 Google Earth
Digital image overlay on Google Earth
Aerial images of balloon field during event tiled for viewing by GIS system
Summary
The City and the NMSP requested the ASPECT Program
to provide airborne chemical, radiological, and situational
awareness support during the 2015 AIBF event. Specifically, the
ASPECT Program was requested to support state homeland
security operations at the AIBF event through deployment flights
to detect significant radiological and chemical sources. The
deployment was conducted from October 2 through 12,2015,
and consisted of 10 ASPECT aircraft flights consisting of standard
gamma -radiation surveys at 300 feet AGL and chemical and
photographic data collection surveys at 2,800 feet AGL.
Analyses and assessment of all data showed nothing unusual,
and this information was relayed to the EPA OSC for approval
before release of the information to state and local emergency
management authorities. The U.S. Department of Energy
Radiological Assistance Program (RAP) teams used the
background data collection information and tiled imagery as a
base layer for their GIS ground team tracking systems. For more
information about CMAD involvement, contact Mark Thomas
at thomas.markj@epa.gov.
-------
9jackson Missis
Louisiana.
Baton-lRouge
Cat I
iMotiva Refinery
few Orleans
Houston
: 1
Marsh Island
Mississippi D
ASPECT aircraft flight path to Motiva Refinery
fire near Convent, LA
Galveston Island
©2016 Google Earth
Region 6 activates ASPECT
in response to the Motiva
Refinery fire in Convent, LA
REGION 6
On August 11, 2016, the National Response Center received
a call at 12:37 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) about a fire at
the Motiva Refinery near Convent, LA. The incident occurred
at 10:50 a.m. local time (1 1:50 a.m. EDT). EPA Region 6 was
notified at 12:47 p.m. EDT.
At approximately 2:00 p.m. EDT, the EPA Region 6 On-Scene
Coordinator (OSC), Nicolas Brescia, requested the Airborne
Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology
(ASPECT) aircraft to deploy to the incident site. By 2:23 p.m.
EDT, Consequence Management Advisory Division (CMAD)
ASPECT personnel contacted the EPA OSC to confirm
authorization for ASPECT aircraft deployment. The ASPECT
aircraft lifted off from its base of operations near Dallas, TX, at
3:05 p.m. EDT, with an estimated time-over-target at 5:30 p.m.
EDT. The above figure shows the ASPECT aircraft flight path to
the site. It took about 45 minutes for the aircraft to be airborne
from the time the ASPECT Lead was notified and received
authorization to deploy the aircraft.
ASPECT is the nation's only airborne asset capable of collecting
real-time chemical and radiological detection data and infrared
and photographic images. The ASPECT aircraft was requested
for deployment during the fire to collect data to permit efficient
assessment of potential threats from the fire.
During the 2.5-hour flight to the site, a mission assignment
and flight lines were developed and uploaded to the aircraft
computer through a secure satellite communication. The initial
request was for aerial photography, chemical screening, and
infrared imaging over the refinery fire. While the aircraft was
en route, the EPA Region 6 OSC also requested a radiological
survey over the site.
Twelve aerial photographs were taken over the incident site. The
first figure in the next column presents the initial mosaic of four
aerial photographs taken at approximately 5:30 p.m. EDT. This
product was generated during the flight, reviewed by ASPECT
scientific reach-back staff for quality assurance (OA) purposes,
33
-------
geo-rectified, and then sent in Google Earth format by e-mail to
the OSC at 5:50 p.m. EDT.
Then ASPECT aircraft flew nine passes over the Motiva Refinery
between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m. EDT, producing 13,739 unique
scans for chemical anomalies. The figure in the top right corner
shows a single pass of the ASPECT aircraft during the chemical
screening survey. Each dot in the figure represents a single
scan. Results from each of the 13,739 interferometry scans were
processed through automated algorithms to look for more than
70 unique chemical compounds in the ASPECT chemical library'.
ASPECT scientific reach-back scientists reviewed all preliminary
detections for QA purposes. No significant chemical detections
were reported after the review. Ozone was detected, but this
detection was not considered significant.
After the chemical scan was complete, ASPECT then conducted
a radiological survey over the Motiva Refinery site from 6:15 to
6:35 p.m. EDT. The aircraft flew at 500 feet above ground level
(AGL), with a distance between flight passes of 750 feet. The
entire survey covered about 2 square miles around the site.
The survey data were analyzed for anomalies, and no
anomalies were detected. An exposure rate contour was
provided to the OSC at 7:30 p.m. EDT. The contour figure in the
bottom right corner showed that all radiation measurements
were within normal background levels. The ASPECT aircraft flew
three infrared imaging passes over the Motiva Refinery between
6:45 and 7:00 p.m. EDT. Because the fire was under control
by the time the ASPECT aircraft arrived at the site, no images
showed significant heat signatures beyond normal background
variations. The figure in the bottom left corner shows an infrared
image of the site taken by the ASPECT aircraft.
The ASPECT mission was completed by 7:15 p.m. EDT, and
the aircraft was released by the OSC by 7:30 p.m. EDT. The
successful deployment of the ASPECT aircraft during the fire
allowed real-time assessment of potential threats related
to chemical detections, heat signatures, and radiological
anomalies. No threats were identified during the deployment.
For more information about CMAD involvement, contact Mark
Thomas at thomas.markj@epa.gov.
34
Aerial image of
Motiva Refinery
about 5 hours
after the fire
started and
about 3 hours
after ASPECT
deployment
Locatiotiof Fire
ASPECT infrared image over Motiva Refinery fire
-------
Location at 23:02
Legend
# 36° 14.204'N, 107° 43.985'W
£> Aircraft Track
At approximately 2215 Mountain Standard Time (MST) on July 11, 2016, an explosion and fire occurred at a WPX Energy well site
(Site) consisting of six wells and 36 tanks near Nageezi, NM. According to the media, all of the tanks were involved in the fire. The
cause of the explosion and fire was unknown at that time.
On July 12, 2016, the EPA Region 6 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) requested that the Airborne Spectral Photometric
Environmental Collection Technology (ASPECT) aircraft mobilize to support air monitoring activities at the site. The ASPECT
response to this incident was conducted in support of Region 6 EPA On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Bryant Smalley. The ASPECT
results were used to identify compounds of significance posing potential threats.
The ASPECT aircraft flew two flights, one on July 12 (Flight 1) and the other on July 13, 2016 (Flight 2). During the Nageezi oil tank
battery fire, EPA's ASPECT system collected airborne infrared (IR) images and chemical screening data from a safe distance over
the site. The ASPECT system offers remote detection capabilities to support first responders. The ASPECT aircraft is a Cessna 208B
Caravan containing a wide-area IR line scanner (IRLS) with a high-speed Fourier transform infrared (11 IR) spectrometer for chemical
detection. The ASPECT IR system can detect compounds in both the 8- to 12-micron (800- to 1,200 cm ) and 3- to 5-micron (2,000-
to 3,200-cm ') regions. The 8- to 12-micron region typically is known as the "atmospheric window" region because the band is
reasonably free of water and carbon dioxide influence. Spectrally, this region is used to detect carbon—non-carbon bonded
compounds. The 3- to 5-micron region also is free of water and carbon dioxide but typically does not have sufficient energy for use.
However, this band is useful in high-energy environments such as fires. Onboard algorithms process collected data while the aircraft
is in flight, and a satellite system sends preliminary data results to the ASPECT scientific reach-back team for quality assurance/
quality control (QA/QC) review.
35
-------
TanJs Fires South, of Mageezi, NM
July 13, 2016
Data Acquisition Run 3
Thermal Contour Image
55 ci«e c
/'/ 75 teg C
85 dl«g C
120 'leg C
145 -leg C
100
ZHMetwa
Thermal contour, Flight 1, Pass 2
Flight 1
A total of 16 flight passes were made
over the incident site, including passes
downwind from the fire, up the plume,
and upwind from the fire. The first picture
shows the ASPECT aircraft flight track for
Flight 1. Flight passes over the Site are
shown in green. Weather conditions (in
Cuba, NM) at the time of data collection
consisted of clear skies and a visibility
of about 10 miles. Winds were from the
west at 5 knots. The surface temperature
was 34 °C, with a dew point of -6 °C. The
surface pressure was 1,023 millibars.
Flight conditions were mildly turbulent,
with a strong head wind from the west.
A plume was visible for about 12 miles,
close to the ground. Plume movement
generally was northeast. The figure
immediately below shows an aerial
image of the plume leaving the oil tank
battery.
An IRLS image was generated for each
of the 16 flight passes. The image in the
bottom left corner shows an IR image
generated from Flight 1 Pass 2 data using
three spectral band pass channels. The
white area in the image is the active fire
area. Avery light plume is visible moving
northeast. This plume most likely consists
of hot carbon (soot) emitted by the fire. The
above image shows a thermal contour of
the fire processed for the same flight pass.
The active area of the fire is clearly shown
by red contours. The plume (in blue) is
much cooler and moving northeast.
During each of the 16 flight passes for
Flight 1, the FUR spectrometer collected
spectral data. A spectral resolution of
16 wave numbers was used for all flight
passes. The ASPECT system uses an
automated detection algorithm to permit
compound analysis while the aircraft
is in flight. The algorithm includes 78
compounds in the ASPECT chemical
library. In addition, the ASPECT team also
compares the detected spectral signatures
to a collection of published library spectra.
Data review indicated slightly elevated
levels of peroxyacyl nitrate (PAN) and
ozone and trace levels of m-Cresol
immediately over the fire (see the
two figures on the next page). These
compounds are commonly formed in fires
and tend to be amplified by the slightly
elevated temperature of the plume.
No other compounds of significance
were detected during any of the passes,
suggesting that volatile components of
the oil were being consumed in the fire.
IR images over the site clearly showed a
fire with a defined but declining plume.
Spectral analysis of FTIR spectrometer
data showed trace to low levels of
PAN, ozone, and m-Cresol. No other
compounds were detected, suggesting
that volatile components of the oil were
being consumed in the fire.
Flight 2
The order to launch the ASPECT aircraft
for Flight 2 was given at 0945 MST on July
13,2016. The purpose of the second flight
was to confirm that the fire had largely
burned out. A total of eight flight passes
were made over the incident site, including
two low-altitude (500 feet above ground
level [AGL]) photographic passes over
the site and adjacent river. Weather
conditions (in Cuba, NM) at the time of
data collection consisted of clear skies and
a visibility of about 10 miles. Winds were
from the west (230) at 5 knots. The surface
temperature was 28 °C, with a dew point
of -1 °C. The surface pressure was 1,028
millibars. Flight conditions were reported
as some turbulence.
The fire was greatly attenuated from
the previous day, but some fire and a
light plume were observed. Any smoke
generated rapidly dissipated, with the
plume moving east to northeast. In
addition to the normal photography at
2,800 feet AGL, the ASPECT aircraft was
requested to take a series of low-level
(500 feet AGL) photographs of the river
adjacent to the site to determine if any
material had migrated off the site. No
incident-related materials had entered the
river from the site.
Aerial image of plui
Flight 1, Pass 2
' ¦ >
IR image, Flight 1, Pass 2
-------
37
IR image, Flight 2, Pass 5
Flight 1 Pass 2 spectral plot of PAN arid m-Cresol
An IRLS image was generated for each of the
eight flight passes. The figure on the bottom
right shows an IR image generated from Flight
2 Pass 5 data using three spectral band pass
channels. IRdata collected on July 13,2016,
showed significantly less energy than images
collected on July 12, indicating that the fire
largely was out. The image in the figure on the
bottom left of this page shows an abovegrouncl
tank on the western edge of the battery, which
is the source of residual smoke. The image
does not show any plume, indicating that little
soot was being formed. Spectral analysis of
FT"IR spectrometer data collected during Flight
2 did not reveal any significant detections. Low
levels of ozone and PAN were detected over
the oil tank battery, but no other compounds
were detected. Analysis of IR imagery collected
during Flight 2 indicates that the fire still was
present in the oil tank battery but greatly
attenuated from the previous day. Spectral
analysis of FT IR spectrometer data showed no
significant detections.
The successful deployment of the ASPECT
aircraft during the two flights over the
Nageezi oil tank battery fire allowed real-time
assessment of IRLS images showing the area
of the fire, the plume, and soot generation as
well as FTIR spectral data for compounds of
significance. No significant threats from the
fire were identified during the deployment.
After the completion of this mission, the aircraft
demobilized for Addison, "FX. For more
information about CMAD involvement, contact
Mark Thomas at thomas.markj@epa.gov.
Legend
Flight 1 Pass 3 spectral plot of ozone
Aerial image of oil tank battery, Flight 2
-------
Potentially contaminated soil and sediment to be sampled and
analyzed forPCBsanda variety of hazardous semi volatile chemicals
Region 1 supported by PHILI3 team
for PCB analysis in site investigation
at the Jones and Lamson Machine
Tool Company site
The Jones and Lamson Machine Tool
Company (J & L) site in Springfield, VT, was
closed in 1985. Since the late 1990s, the on-site
building has become dilapidated, with several
areas of the roof collapsing and impacting
potentially hazardous building materials. EPA
Region I collected soil, sediment, pore water,
groundwater, and surface water samples
from the site for analysis for polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCB), metals, semivolatile organic
compounds (SVOC), and oil. EPA Region
1 also collected material samples from the
building to identify asbestos-containing
materials (ACM). PCBs were detected in
building materials, soil, and groundwater at the
site at levels exceeding the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA) hazardous waste
thresholds. These findings prompted Region 1
to conduct a more thorough site investigation.
To conduct the J & L site investigation, Region
1 On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Rich Haworth
contacted the Consequence Management
Advisory Division (CMAD) to determine if
the Portable High-Throughput Integrated
Laboratory Identification System (PHILIS)
laboratory could analyze soil and sediment
samples from the site for PCBs. Region 1
project objectives for the site investigation
were to obtain sufficient data to support the
decisions by the EPA and to determine if further
actions by the Emergency Preparedness and
Response Branch (EPRB) are necessary at the
site. The following is a summary of the specific
project objectives.
• Determine if a removal action is
warranted, and if so, if the response
should be classified as an emergency,
time-critical, or non-time-critical
removal action.
Rapidly assess and evaluate the
urgency, magnitude, extent, and
impact of a release or threatened
release of hazardous substances,
pollutants, or contaminants, and their
impact on human health and the
environment.
Supply the Agency for Toxic
Substances and Disease Registry
(ATSDR) or others with information
about the nature and magnitude
of any health threat, and support
subsequent public health advisories.
• Determine a remedy to eliminate,
reduce, or control risks to human
health and the environment,
and support an Action Decision
memorandum documenting the
identified removal approach.
Categorize waste materials to support
timely transportation and disposal
decisions.
Support a Closure Decision
memorandum after the removal site
evaluation.
The PHI LIS laboratory provided Region 1
with timely PCB analysis of more than 60
soil and sediment samples to support this
project including 24-hourturn-around times
for results. The samples were analyzed for
PCBs using EPA Method 8028a. The PIHiLIS
laboratory located in Edison, NJ is accredited
under the National Environmental Laboratory
Accreditation Program (NELAP) for this
analysis. Based on the expedited analytical
results provided by CMAD, the Region 1
OSC and site decision makers were able
to determine and prioritize future actions at
the site more quickly. This saved the EPA
Region both time and money towards the
eventual goals to clean the site and return it to
productive use. For more information about
CMAD involvement, contact Lany Kaelin at
kaelin.lawrence@epa.gov.
1 BLACK RIVER
-------
Sample preparation in
PHILIS laboratory trailer
REGION 3
Region 3 assisted by PHILIS
team with on site analytical
capability for NSSE Papal
visit to Philadelphia
In September 2015, Region 3 requested that the Consequence Management Advisory
Division (CMAD) provide on-site analytical support during the Papal visit to the Philadelphia
area. On September 21, 2015, the Portable High-Throughput Integrated Laboratory
Identification System (PHILIS) team deployed to Philadelphia, PA, and coordinated
with On-Scene Coordinator (OSC) Mike Towle to provide chemical analysis
m> support to the special security team during the visit of Pope Francis. Starting on
September 24, the analytical teams were on duty 24 hours per day to provide
support in the event of a chemical release during the Pope's visit. The on-site
analytical specifications required deployment of PHILIS laboratory assets to
Region 3 warehouse facilities in Boothwyn, PA. The PHILIS laboratory assets
were set up to analyze environmental samples for volatile organic compounds
(VOC), semivolatile organic compounds (SVOC), and chemical warfare aaents
(CWA).
To achieve full-time all-hazards response capabilities during the Papal visit,
CMAD provided the Papal Response Unified Command with on-site laboratory
support using the PHILIS laboratory assets. This was in concert with real-time air
monitoring equipment, VIPER network support and sampling efforts provided by Region 3,
the Environmental Response Team (ERT), and National Guard Civilian Support Teams (CST).
The deployment provided Region 3 OSCs and CMAD the opportunity to conduct "just-in-time"
training on CWA sampling techniques and response issues to refresh and strengthen EPA's
preparedness for CWA responses.
-------
CMAD PHILIS vehicles deployed to provide laboratory support to the Papal Response Unified Command
The PHILIS PAL analytical laboratory, PHILIS laboratory unit (LU), SPA-01, and APL01 mobile
laboratory vehicles were deployed and set up for full-service operations at local EPA warehouse
facilities in Linwood, PA. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) time-of-flight (TOF)
systems in the LU mobile laboratory were set up for identification and quantitation of CWAs and
semivolatile organic compounds. The GC/MS purge and trap and thermal desorption units in the
APL01 mobile laboratory were set up for volatile organic analysis. The SPA-01 laboratory was used
for sample preparation using liquid/liquid, solid/liquid, and air/thermal desorption tube methods.
The laboratories were demobilized on September 28, 2015. No chemical agent releases were
reported for the Papal visit. For more information about CMAD involvement, contact Larry Kaelin at
kaelin.lawrence@epa.gov.
Sample preparation in PHILIS laboratory trailer
Sample preparation in PHILIS laboratory trailer
40
-------
CMAD's Mike Nalipinski holding an Area RAE and
Genilron, which were used to monitor the RNC venues.
Region 5 receives air monitoring and
on-site analytical capability during the
2016 Republican National Convention
in Cleveland, OH
On July 17 through 23, 2016, team members from the Consequence
Management Advisory Division (CMAD) and Environmental Response
Team (ERT) provided 24-hour chemical air monitoring, data management,
and Viper Deployment Manager support to Region 5 On-Scene
Coordinator (OSC) James Justice during the 2016 Republican National
Convention (RNC) at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, OH.
CMAD's Portable High-Throughput Integrated Laboratory Integration
System (PHILIS) assets from warehouses in both New Jersey and Colorado
were deployed to the Region 5 facility in Westlake, OH, in a "hot stand-by
mode" (ready to receive samples 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). During
the RNC, the PHILIS units conducted performance sampling, calibration,
and quality assurance (QA)/quality control (QC) activities for chemical air
monitoring for volatile organic compounds (VOC), semivolatile organic
compounds (SVOC), and chemical warfare agents (CWA).
The EPA team provided seamless operations as well as period transitions
during the event. The team kept in constant coordination with the All
Hazards Center (AHC) to ensure that decision makers were well informed
of any chemical monitoring incidents and actions the field monitoring team
had taken.
RNC
41
-------
One of the
"sticker"
samples
Goj&thm
h-rfr-tn (htnnt, »¦".
8p0.248.8030
. ,."1 .
f'M soooooo
awe/omui!
I'M fOOt
Awtroi
EPA and PHILIS support personnel reviewing analytical results
Midway through the RNC, a small group of protesters started
applying stickers to the skin of law enforcement personnel. The
officers began complaining of disorientation and other minor
abnormalities. Several officers were evaluated at hospital. The
AHC directed the Joint Hazard Assessment Teams, consisting
of: the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Civil Support Team
(CST), and Cleveland Fire Department members, to obtain the
stickers being distributed. A small (about 1 -quart) bag of the
stickers were secured and brought to the Cleveland Fire Training
Area for evidence processing and analysis. The FBI Weapons
of Mass Destruction (WMD) Coordinator requested EPA to
analyze the stickers for CWAs and other compounds.
At the time the samples were collected, the PI III.IS laboratories
were the only laboratories in the RNC area that could
analyze these types of samples. The PHILIS laboratories
accepted two stickers and a surface wipe sample at
approximately 2000 hours on July 21, 2016. Analytical
results revealed that the stickers contained no CWAs
at levels above the method detection limits for sarin, soman,
cyclosarin, sulfur mustard, and VX. In addition, the samples were
analyzed for a suite of eight common degradation products
of nerve and blister agents, which also were not detected.
In addition, a spectral library search for LSD, cocaine, and
lidocaine was performed on the samples, yielding no detectable
peaks for these compounds. Preliminary results were verbally
provided to the AHC within 2 hours of receipt of the analytical
results, and the spectral search results were reported less than 3
hours after receipt.
The Secret Service Agent-ln-Charge and the FBI WMD
Coordinator were very complimentary of
Vs ability to provide rapid analysis of
the stickers, which did not result in a
significant security issue.
The EPA team established
working relations with local
entities, such as the Great Lakes
Science Center and the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame, and
with other federal agencies,
including the Secret Service,
U.S. Coast Guard (Atlantic Strike
Team), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
and CSTs. The team's efforts ensured that
chemical monitors at venues for major events
during the week were operational and that
attendees and VIPs were protected. For
more information about CMAD involvement,
contact Mike Nalipinski at nalipinski.mike@
epa.gov.
-------
EPA Region 5 collects samples for analysis
Region 5 activates PHILIS team
resources to provide analytical
support for the Flint Drinking
Water Response in Flint, Ml
(DBP), chlorinated organics, and other
organic compounds.
During the response action, EPA Region
5 sampled cold and hot water in 880
homes to determine the impact of
stagnation and heat on drinking water
quality. Water samples were analyzed
for 13 total metals (including lead and
copper).
The PHILIS laboratories also supported
a pilot health study to assess potential
chemical sources for skin rashes reported
by residents. This testing differed from
the routine water sampling and was
conducted throughout Flint and focused
on identifying concentrations of metals
arid other water quality factors potentially
associated with the rashes. Water
samples were analyzed for metals (24
compounds), volatile organic compounds
(VOC) with total halomethanes (I IIM),
DBPs, chloral hydrate, and haloacetic
acids (HAA).
Drinking water sample collection from
bathroom faucet
The Consequence Management
Advisory Division (CMAD) Portable
High-Throughput Integrated Laboratory
Identification System (PHILIS) Program
provided analytical testing, data review,
and coordination support for the EPA
Region 5 Flint Drinking Water Response in
Ml. The PHILIS laboratories provide real-
time, fixed-laboratory, sample analytical
data to response personnel for timely and
cost-effective emergency response and
other regional response actions. Over
the course of the response action in Flint,
the PHILIS laboratories
analyzed more
than 2,500
drinking water
samples for
total metals,
water
quality, wet
chemistry,
disinfection
by-products
-------
1
Shower water sample collection
Samples of residues found in faucet
aerators were also collected and
tested for metals to determine potential
contamination source(s).
The collected samples were preserved
before priority overnight shipment to the
PHI LIS laboratories for a turnaround time
for results ranging from 24 hours to 5
days, depending on site-specific project
needs.
The PH I LIS team coordinated site
activities and sample shipments with
the analytical laboratories. Upon
arrival at the laboratory, the samples
were unpacked, verified for proper
preservation, and logged into the
laboratory information management
system (LIMS) for processing. The
turnaround time for results ranged from 8
hours to 5 days for issue of the electronic
data deliverable (EDD).
Samples packed for shipment to the laboratory
Samples that required metals analysis
were shipped to the PHI LIS contract fixed
laboratory. The samples were prepared
using Method 3050B, Acid Digestion of
Aqueous Samples and Extracts for Total
Metals. Sample digestates were analyzed
using Method 200.8, Determination of
Trace Elements in Waters and Wastes
by Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass
Spectrometry. Reporting limits for
this method ranged from 0.5 to 200
micrograms per liter (|jg/L). The contract
laboratory also analyzed samples for
water quality wet chemical parameters
that included alkalinity using Method
2320B, anions using Method 300.0,
turbidity using Method 180.1, hardness
using Method 2340, and total dissolved
solids using Method 2540c.
Samples that required organic analysis
were shipped to the PHI LIS laboratory at
the EPA Region 2 facility in Edison, NJ.
These samples were analyzed for HAAs,
DBPs, haloacetonitriles (HAN), and THMs.
Samples analyzed for HAAs were evaluated
using EPA Method 552.3, which uses liquid-
liquid microextraction, derivitization, and
analysis using gas chromatography (GC)
with electron capture detection. Reporting
limits for this method ranged from 1 to
10 |jg/L. An example chromatogram for
determining HAA compounds is provided
below.
Samples analyzed for DBPs and HANs
were evaluated using EPA Method 551.1,
which uses liquid-liquid microextraction and
analysis using GC with electron capture
detection. The reporting limit for this method
was 0.2 (jg/L.
Review of analytical data for DBPs
Samples analyzed for THMs were evaluated
using Method 524.2 for purgeable organics
in drinking water, which uses purge and trap
collection with GC/MS analysis. The reporting
limit for this method ranged from 0.5 to 2.5 fjg/L
PHILIS delivered sample results to the site
staff in SCRIBE EDD format, which provided
the information needed to make site activity
decisions.
PHILIS delivered Level 4 (Contract Laboratory
Program [CLP]-like) data packages to Region
5 in electronic format through the PHILISLab.
org website data package distribution portal.
An independent third-party quality control (QC)
investigator reviewed the data packages, and
data validation reports were prepared.
To access the PHLISLab.org website, project
managers were provided with user name
identifications (I D) a nd passwords. The website
provides users with access to project plans and
documents, standard operating procedures
(SOP) for laboratory methods, chain-of-custody
forms, SCRIBE EDDs, and data package
deliverables. Files are downloaded in required
formats from project-specific directories
encrypted for restricted access. For more
information about CMAD involvement, contact
Larry Kaelin at kaelin.lawrence@epa.gov.
Faucet aerator residue sampled for metals
-------
PHIUS team develops a new method
to detect perfluorinated compounds
in water samples
The Portable High-Throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification System (PHILIS) team has developed an internal Liquid
Chromatograph Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) method to identify perfluorinated compounds (PFC) in water samples.
The method is a hybrid partially based on EPA Method 537 for determining PPCs (perfluoroalkyl and sulfonate compounds) in
drinking water through solid-phase extraction and analysis by LC/MS/MS, and other LC/MS/MS methods developed by EPA
Regional laboratories. Liquid Chromatographic technology is required, as the PFC structures are complex and are not applicable
to Gas Chromatographic technology. The LC allows for rapid and effective separation of the analytes in a sample extract, and the
tandem mass spectrometry allows for the identification of the analyte based on mass spectrometry ionization principals in which
each analyte's unique ionic "transition" from a precursor ion to a product ion can be monitored in the mass spectrometer.
Before performing the method, the PHI LIS team spent an extensive effort to eliminate all potential sources of PFCs and Teflon® from
the laboratory, including equipment and instrumentation used for sample analysis. The team also tested all reagents and materials
to eliminate potential sources of contamination. Reagent bottle packaging, aluminum foil, reagents, disposable laboratory coats,
and some personal protective equipment (PPE) were identified as potential sources of laboratory contamination. All glassware and
solid reagents were treated in a muffle furnace before use in the liquid chromatography laboratory.
To perform the method, a 50-miililiter (mL) water sample was extracted though a preconditioned OASIS HLB extraction cartridge
(225 mg, 60 |jm) on a Teflon®-free syringe. To elute the analytes, 2 mL of methanol was passed through the cartridge and collected.
Before instrumental analysis, 500 microliters (pL) of the extract was pipetted into 500 (jL of 0.1% acetic acid in water and spiked with
10 (jL of internal standard. The table at the top of the following page summarizes the analytes of interest for the method.
45
-------
Analytes of Interest
Entry
Compound Name
Abbreviation
Transition
Type
Retention Time (min)
1
Perfluorobutanoate
PFBA
213 >169
Analyte
3.01
2
Perfluoropentanoate
PFPeA
263 >219
Analyte
4.70
3
Perfluorobutyl sulfonate
PPBS
299 > 80
Analyte
5.02
4
Perfluorohexanoate
PFHxA
313 >269
Analyte
5.83
5
Perfluoroheptanoate
PFHpA
362 >319
Analyte
6.62
6
Perfluorohexyl sulfanoate
PFHxS
399 > 80
Analyte
6.68
7
Perfluorooctanoate
PFOA
413 > 369
Analyte
7.21
8
Perfluorooctanoate
PFNA
463 >419
Analyte
7.71
9
Perfluorooctyl sulfonate
PFOS
499 > 80
Analyte
7.72
10
Perfluorodecanoate
PFDA
513 > 469
Analyte
8.13
11
Perfluoroundecanoate
PFuNA
563 >519
Analyte
8.48
12
Perfluorododecanoate
PFDoA
613 > 569
Analyte
8.74
13
Perfluorotridecanoate
PI I riA
663 >619
Analyte
8.93
14
Perfluorotetradecanoate
PFTreA
713 > 669
Analyte
9.09
15
Perfluoro-n-[ 1,2-13C9]hexanoic acid
13C-MPFHxA
315 > 270
Surrogate
5.83
16
Perfluoro-n-[l ,2J3C2]decanoic acid
13C-PFDA
515 > 470
Surrogate
8.12
17
N-deuterioethylperfluoro-1 -
ocatnesulfonamidoacetic acid
cf5 N BtFOSAA
589 >419
Surrogate
8.47
18
Perfluoro~[l ,2-1:SC9]octanoic acid
13C-PFOA
415 > 370
internal Standard
7.22
19
Na perlluoro 1 [1,2,3,4 r ;C,J
octanesulfonate
13C-PFOS
503 > 80
internal Standard
7.72
20
N-deuteriomethylperfluoro-1 -
ocatnesulfonamidoacetic acid
d3-N-
MeFOSAA
573 >419
Internal Standard
8.30
A precision and accuracy test was performed by spiking water samples with the analytes of interest at 200 parts per triiiion (ppt)
The table below summarizes the average percent recovery (%R) values.
Average %R Values for Analytes of Interest
Entry
Compound
Detected Result (ppt
Average
% RSD
Average %R
1
2
3
4
(ppt)
1
PFBA
160.0
162.9
187.1
136.2
161.6
12.9
80.8
2
PFPeA
179.4
191.2
209.6
192.6
193.2
6.4
96.6
3
PFBS
189.5
196.1
220.1
211.0
204.2
6.8
102.1
4
PFHxA
184.9
192.3
212.2
199.1
197.1
5.9
98.5
5
PFHpA
181.3
190.8
205.1
197.2
193.6
5.2
96.8
6
PFHxS
181.7
188.5
211.0
206.2
196.9
7.1
98.4
7
PFOA
175.7
181.3
186.2
193.5
184.2
4.1
92 1
8
PFNA
169.6
176.9
184.7
191.2
180.6
5.2
90.3
9
PFOS
171.0
177.6
181.2
201.9
182.9
7.3
91.5
10
PFDA
158.4
164.7
162.9
208.0
173.5
13.4
86.8
11
PFuNA
162.7
169.1
155.0
189.3
169.0
8.7
84.5
12
PFDoA
206.5
208.7
202.7
226.8
211.2
5.1
105.6
13
PFTriA
238.3
228.0
237.0
202.6
226.5
7.3
113.2
14
PFTreA
233.6
219.0
206.0
146.9
201.4
18.9
100.7
46
-------
Method detection limits (MDL) were calculated by spiking seven
water samples at 25 parts per trillion (ppt). The table at right
summarizes the calculated MDL values.
CMAD will continue to work with EPA regional laboratories, and
other EPA Program Offices, including the Office of Superfund
Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI), Office
of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR), Office of
Research and Development (ORD), and Office of Enforcement
and Compliance Assurance (OECA) to further define method
parameters, such as an expanded analyie list, appropriate
detection levels, quality assurance parameters, and other
parameters. Once method parameters are consensus-approved,
a multi-laboratory validation study will be conducted using three
to eight laboratories to evaluate the applicability of the method
on multiple environmental matrices (such as surface water, soil,
and sludge). The validation study will involve each laboratory
analyzing replicate PFC-spiked analytes at three concentration
levels for each matrix studied, followed by statistical evaluation
of the pooled results. For more information about CMAD
involvement, contact Terry Smith at smith.terry@epa.gov.
Three example chromatograms are provided below.
MD1.S for
analytes of
interest
Entry
Compound
MDL (ppt)
1
PFBA
9.4
2
PFPeA
6.4
3
PFBS
6.3
4
PFHxA
7.6
5
PFHpA
7.2
6
PFHxS
8.9
7
PFOA
10.5
8
PFNA
7.4
9
PFOS
10.3
10
PFDA
5.2
11
PFuNA
7.0
12
PFDoA
20.8
13
PFTriA
10.9
14
PFTreA
5.2
PFOA
060316-30 Smooth(Mn,3x3)
LF60301-BS1 (WG) LF60301-BS1 (WG)
060316-30 Smooth(Mn,3x3)
LF60301-BS1 (WG) LF60301-BS1 (WG)
100-|
%i
PFOA;7.35;855.45;8.55e2
¦ i i i i i i i r
PFOA;7.35;329.98;3.30e2
l 1 1 '
F6:MRM of 3 channels,ES-
412.7 >368.8
1.577e+004
i i i i i i i J i i i p=i min
F6:MRM of 3 channels,ES-
412.7>168.8
6.037e+003
Graphic 1 \ PFOA: Primary Transition 417.7 > 368.8. Conf. 412.7> 168.8
PFOS
060316-30 Smooth(Mn,3x3)
LF60301-BS1 (WG) LF60301-BS1 (WG)
100-1
F7:MRM of 3 channels,ES-
498.7 > 80
6.256e+003
PFOS;7.84;423.01 ;4.23e2
PFOS
7.84
423.01
4.23e2
7.500
7.550
7.650
7.750
7.800
7.850
7.900
7.950
8.050
7.600
7.700
8.000
Graphic 2 | PFOS: Primary Transition 498.7> 80. Branched Chain Isomers Seen Preceding the Main Peak, Included in Integration
Name: 060316-30, Date: 03-Jun-2016, Time: 22:00:11, ID: LF60301-BS1 (WG), Description: LF60301-BS1 (WG)
PFHpA
060316-30 Smooth(Mnf3x3)
LF60301-BS1 {WG) LF60301-BS1 (WG)
100-,
F5.MRM of 2 chanrvels,ES-
362.4 >319
3.190e-004
PFHpA :6.77;2240.66£ .24e3
6.350
6.400
6.450
6.500
6.550
6.600
6.700
6.750
6.800
6.850
6.900
6.950
7.000
7.050
47
Graphic 3 | PFHpA: Primary Transition 362.4>319
-------
'
Bf-Jl • -: >; • •->
K
_ L.
¦rfiik
t* -wcV
¦I'
.
'". - k <
irVfif/-
REGION 2
* " • - . '
:'v
w- '&tm
The New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation
(NYSDEC) conducted work to address
contamination related to the General
Motors (GM) Inland Fisher Guide site
in Salina, Onondaga County, NY.
The Revitalizing Auto Communities
Environmental Response Trust currently
owns the site. The work was performed
under the NY State Superfund Program
and included the excavation and off-
site disposal of surface and subsurface
soil from 19 residential properties that
abut Ley Creek. The soil contained
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB)
exceeding 1 part per million (ppm) total
PCBs by dry weight and was excavated
under NYSDEC's oversight. Several
residences required evacuation during
excavation activities.
EPA Region 2 Remedial Project Manager
(RPM), Anne Kelly, requested assistance
from the Portable High-Throughput
Integrated Laboratory Identification
System (PHI LIS) Program to provide
on-site PCB analytical support for the
removal action. PH I LIS Edison Operations
mobilized laboratory vehicles to the GM
Inland Fisher Guide site for 6 weeks. The
deployed assets included the SPA01
sample preparation laboratory and the
APL02 analytical laboratory equipped
with two dual-micro electron capture
detector (ECD) gas chromatography (GC)
instruments for the analysis of low-level
PCBs.
The project required the extraction
and analysis of 102 samples over a
2-day period. Analytical results from
collected soil samples were provided
to project management within 24 hours
of sample receipt. Both on-site staff
and off-site P HI LIS staff participated
in sample analysis, data review, and
report preparation to provide analytical
data that met the rapid turnaround
requirements under unexpected and
accelerated deadline demands.
During the Remedial Action, the PH I LIS
team received and processed a total
of 600 soil samples for PCB analysis.
Region 2 supported by
PHILIS team with on site PCB
analytical capabilities at the
General Motors Inland Fisher
Guide site in Salina, NY
Analysts provided results as required while
ensuring the continued operation of all
units without significant delay. Additionally,
analysts were necessary to be on-site
to log in and label all samples, perform
instrument maintenance, prepare and clean
glassware and equipment, track samples
and inventory, order and log supplies and
materials, and segregate and characterize
waste for disposal. For more information
about CMAD involvement, contact Larry
Kaelin at kaelin.lawrence@epa.gov.
-------
"5.
Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) device can
be used to detect biotoxins such as ricin
BSL-2E LAB
CMAD enhances EPA's
biological analytical
capability with staffed
BSL 2E biological
laboratory
As part of ongoing efforts to enhance the Consequence
Management Advisory Division (CMAD) field support capability
to On-Scene Coordinators (OSC), a Biosafety Level 2 Enhanced
(BSL-2E) lat)oratory has been certified to support biological
analytical needs. CMAD's BSL-2E laboratory is co-located
at EPA's Enforcement Investigations Center in Lakewood,
Colorado, and has been certified to process and analyze
samples for potential contamination by biological agents. The
laboratory has been specially designed and constructed to
safely analyze samples potentially contaminated with biological
agents, with features such as its own air supply, a liquid waste
bio-tank, and a dedicated exhaust system that keeps the
laboratory isolated from the rest of the building.
The CMAD BSL-2E laboratory is staffed by a PhD molecular
biologist who is familiar with common molecular and
microbiological analytical methods and their development.
The laboratory equipment can conduct molecular and
microbiological analysis and includes the following:
• Two Applied Biosystems 7500/7500 Fast Real-Time
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) System thermal
cyclers capable of conducting specific gene express
analysis with a 96-well reaction plate in under I hour
• JANUS® Modular Dispense Technology (MDT)™
Automated Workstation capable of high- throughput
screening with automated plating and pipetting
• AirClean® Systems AC600 Series PCR Workstation, a
"clean" workstation that minimizes DNA contamination
• IKA® microbial culture shaker
• Qubit® 3.0 Fluorometer allowing instant quantification of
DNA, RNA, and protein samples
• Class II Biosafety Cabinet
• Pass-through two-door autoclave allowing in-laboratory
waste sterilization to prevent facility contamination and
secondary waste decontamination to ensure "cradle-to-
grave" disposal
The mission of the laboratory is to support OSC analytical needs
during a biological incident, and CMAD will be partnering with the
Office of Research and Development (ORD) to assist in biological
analyses that may be required as part of ongoing research studies.
Additionally, the laboratory will help analyze hundreds of samples
from the New York City Underground Transport Restoration
Project, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security's
Underground Transport Restoration initiative. These partnerships will
ensure that the laboratory is current with the state-of-the-science.
The laboratory will play a vital role in developing and ensuring
that OSCs have access to the latest laboratory science. In
partnership with ORD, the laboratory will be developing
methods to address gaps in ricin analysis and using Rapid
Viability PCR (RV-PCR). RV-PCR is a molecular biology method
that will allow EPA to analyze for the viability of a pathogen in
a sample, saving significant time over more traditional culture-
plating methods. For the latest information on the CMAD BSL-2E
laboratory's capabilities, please contact Francisco Cruz at
cruz.franciscoj@epa.gov.
-------
REGION 5
Region 5 assisted by PHILIS
team with on site analytical
support for the sunken
ARGO Barge leaking
solvents into Lake Erie
APLO1 mobile laboratory parked at
Port Clinton, OH
Interior of APLO 1
mobile laboratory
In Fall 2015, Region 5 On-Scene Coordinator (OSC),
John Gulch, called CMAD for response support during
an emergency cleanup of a spill on Lake Erie. The spill
material was leaking from the ARGO Barge, which sank
in October 1937 about 9 miles north of Kelleys Island
just south of the U.S. - Canada border. The leaked
material contained benzol, toluene, xylene, and trace
amounts of petroleum.
The Portable High-Throughput Integrated Laboratory
Identification System (PHILIS) team analyzed samples
from the spill area for volatile organic compounds
(VOC), including benzene, toluene, xylene, and for other
compounds in an effort to
detect trace amounts of
other petroleum products.
The analytical results were
provided to OSC Gulch,
within several hours of
receipt of the samples.
For more information
about CMAD involvement
contact Larry Kaelin at
kaelin.lawrence@epa.gov.
Sampling
equipment inside
the APLO 1 mobile
laboratory
-------
CWA
PHILIS team participates
with DoD CSEPP from Pueblo
Chemical Depot in field and
table-top exercises
Beginning in 2014, the Consequence
Management Advisory Division (CMAD)
and the Department of Defense (DoD)
Chemical Safety and Environmental
Protection Program (CSEPP) have
participated in numerous field and table-
top exercises at DoD demilitarization
(demil) locations in KY and CO. During
the exercises, participants explored
sampling and analytical issues and
protocols related to chemical warfare
agent (CWA) response at a demil facility.
As a result of the exercises, CSEPP staff
at the Pueblo Chemical Depot (PCD)
asked CMAD if the EPA and PCD can
share analytical assets during PCD's
ongoing demil facility clearance activities,
which began in 2016 and will continue
in 2017. PCD was especially interested
in the analytical capabilities of the
Portable High-Throughput Integrated
Laboratory Identification System (PHILIS)
laboratories in Castle Rock, CO, to
provide confirmatory CWA analysis during
51
air sampling and screening activities at
numerous underground storage bunker
igloos used to store munitions containing
primarily mustard gas at the PCD site.
During demil facility clearance activities,
PCD uses small gas chromatographs
linked with flame-photometric detectors
(GC/FPD) called MiniCAMs to perform
near real-time air monitoring of the
igloos. The MiniCAMs are housed in a
mobile laboratory truck called a Real-
Time Analytical Platform (RTAP) that can
stage outside an igloo to monitor air
inside the igloo. The GC/FPD technology
is not a definitive analysis in its own
right. Therefore, confirmatory analysis
is needed using a more sophisticated
technology, such as gas chromatography/
mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The PHILIS
laboratories in Castle Rock, CO, can
provide GC/MS analytical capabilities.
CMAD and PHILIS staff met with PCD staff
to develop plans for final demil clearance
of the igloos. Confirmatory air samples
from the bunkers will be collected using
thermal desorption tubes for PHILIS
laboratory GC/MS analysis.
PCD Mini CAM GC/FPD system for CWA
air monitoring
Interior of munitions storage bunker igloo
-------
Staff at the Chemical Material Agency (CMA)
of DoD are subject matter experts (SME)
on analytical issues related to the demil of
DoD facilities. For the PIHILIS laboratory
to be certified to perform the confirmatory
analyses, CMA's analytical quality assurance
(QA)/quality control (QC) procedures must
be followed. The PHILIS laboratories will
use CMA-provided dilute standards (2
milligrams per milliliter) and will conduct a
specific precision and accuracy study over
several days to meet CMA standards before
samples are analyzed for demil activities.
Once established, the PHILIS laboratories
will be able to perform confirmatory analyses
to support clearance goals at PCD during
clearance and demil activities. This capability
may also allow the PHILIS laboratories to
provide similar services at other DoD facilities
in the future. For more information about
CMAD involvement, contact Larry Kaelin at
kaelin.lawrence@epa.gov.
MILES:
9,800 Miles
Traveled
NSSEs:
Supported 3
National Special
Security Events
PROJECTS: j
33 On-site !
and Laboratory
Projects
DEPLOYMENTS:
12 Separate
Deployments
A monthly report listing the current methods, all analytes,
the method detection limits, and the status of the instruments
for PHILIS can be accessed in the PHILIS Monthly Readiness
Reports found at http://tinyurl.com/htwz7ck
SAMPLES:
4,970 Samples
Analyzed
jr
10 States Supported
REGIONS:
Provided Support to 6
Regions: Regions 1, 2, 3,
5, 7 and 8
and Headquarters
PERFORMANCE SCORES:
PHILIS achieved Perfect
Scores on their semi-annual
Performance Testing (PT)
evaluation samples for autumn 2016
NELAP (National Environmental Laboratory
Accreditation Program) evaluation and 99%
for the 2016 NELAP evaluation year
-------
CBRN CMAD
RADIATION SOURCE PROGRAM
FACT SHEET
p
"How can I test my field protocols in an
elevated but safe radioactive environment?"
"How can I get a rad source larger than
the 'button' source I typically train with?"
RADIATION SOURCE PROGRAM: Radiation sources licensed by the Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Consequence Management Advisory Division (CMAD) and
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission can be used ANYWHERE in the United States. Several
gamma-emitting sources and a neutron source are available! Sources can be used to validate
ASPECT algorithms, calibrate instruments, conduct field exercises and demonstrations, and
train individuals in civil defense activities.
WHO CONTROLS SOURCES IN THE FIELD? CBRN CMAD-authorized users control the sources in
the field and also take care of shipping and handling as well as local transportation. It's a "turn-
key" operation!
WHAT IS THE COST? There are no costs if the request is pre-planned and has been authorized by
EPA Headquarters! You may be asked to pay travel costs for EPA personnel.
CONTACT THE RADIATION SAFETY OFFICER AND PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
1. Your contact information
2. Date(s) needed
3. Do you have dosimetry?
4. Purpose (training, exercise, demonstration, or other)
5. Other services desired, including:
a. ASPECT aircraft
b. Chemical plume generator
c. Ground-based detection instrumentation
d. Hand-held instrumentation
e. Training or support on the basics of ionizing radiation
WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM YOU? Help identify temporary storage locations.
Follow your own health and safety plan, which may include dosimetry. Help coordinate the
activity with local officials as necessary. Identify areas where the sources can be used.
CONTACT: Captain John Cardarelli II, Radiation Safety Officer (RSO)
Cardarelli.john@epa.gov or 859-594-6529
-------
60
CMAD provides its licensed
radiation sources during the
2nd Marine Air Wing field
training exercise
•I
y
USMC personnel training to locate radioactive sources
The exercise consisted of concealing two Cesium 137 sources
and a Cobalt-60 source at various locations in training buildings
on the Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic site. USMC
personnel were to locate, identify, and secure the source(s). As
the exercise progressed, USMC contract support training staff
were able to engage participants in "teaching moments" to
stress critical thinking skills during environmental assessment and
the efficient use of equipment down range.
Overall, the exercise taught USMC and CMAD personnel
many valuable lessons about instrument response, effects from
shielding, and USMC radiation field protocols. This type of
training prepares personnel for interpreting equipment readings
and rapidly detecting, identifying, and isolating radiation
sources. The training is a good example showing that practical
field experience cannot be obtained by using smaller check or
"button" sources. The exercise also provided both organizations
with issues to consider for future training exercises and
demonstrates that a live- agent radiation exercise should be part
of the mix of technologies used to train emergency responders
in operations involving Chemical, Biological, Radiological and
Nuclear (CBRN) areas.
For more information about the CMAD source inventory and
how to request their use for civil defense training purposes,
contact the CMAD Radiation Safety Officer, Captain John
Cardarelli (U.S. Public Health Service) at cardarelli.john@epa.gov.
In January 2016, the 2nd Marine Air Wing (MAW) requested
the use of Consequence Management Advisory Division
(CMAD) radioactive sources in a field training exercise. CMAD
is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to maintain
a series of radioactive sources (gamma and neutron emitters).
CMAD provides access to these sources to state and federal
partners for training purposes.
The exercise was conducted on February 17 and 18, 2016,
to replicate an incident involving a stolen radioactive source
that could be used in a radiological dispersal device. CMAD
provided the use of its radioactive sources to generate an
elevated but safe radioactive environment and to allow
exercise participants to gain experience in using field
instruments in a practical, real-world setting. CMAD personnel
handled all field logistics for the sources, such as health and
safety, transportation, and storage, but did not provide tactical
directions or guidance on U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) field
protocols or operations.
1 llO,
&
FEMA search &
rescue markings
indicating search
results
54
-------
ASPECT
New ASPECT Sensor - LS1600
Infrared Line Scanner
The saying, "A picture is worth a thousand
words," is especially true in the business of
emergency response. One of the features
of the Airborne Spectral Photometric
Environmental Collection Technology
(ASPECT) program that sets it apart from
other types of environmental sensing is
its wide-area infrared line scanner (IRLS),
which provides a precise but simple aerial
image showing the location of a plume
referenced to the real world, allowing
the ultimate in situational awareness. The
IRLS is mounted on the ASPECT aircraft
to generate aerial images of chemical
plumes and thermal maps.
Since the ASPECT program was started
in 2001, it used a modified model RS-
800 multispectral IRLS (Texas Instruments,
McKinney, TX). Although this sensor has
served the program well, due to age
of both the primary electronics and the
supporting computer systems, in 2014,
the ASPECT program initiated a project to
replace this unit with an improved sensor.
Specifically, the ASPECT team specified
a new sensor that would provide the
following:
Superior signal-to-noise ratio
Dynamic range as good as or
better than the current system
More systematic spectral design on
the channels
• Simplified pitch/roll correction of
the data
• Simpler system startup and
operation
These specifications were developed
based on limitations observed when using
the old sensor and more importantly
on detection needs required to support
the mission of the EPA On-Scene
Coordinators (OSCs) and the Regions.
Based on these specifications, the ASPECT
program has chosen the new LSI 600
IRLS to collect data with significant
improvements over the older RS-800 IRLS.
LSI600 IRLS back view
55
-------
Cold frame
assembly
r
JL
The ASPECT program does not use a
forward-looking infrared (FUR) system due
to field of view (resolution) and spectral
bandwidth sensitivity. An FUR system
collects images similar to a digital camera.
The FUR system has a limited photo array
that is significantly less than the effective
resolution of an IRLS. An aircraft-mounted
IRLS is a very efficient imaging system that
allows a wide area (wide field of view)
to be covered while not overloading the
data collection system with an enormous
amount of data throughput. The IRLS
scanning device images a narrow slrip
of the ground about 0.5 mile wide at a
rapid scan rate. For the ASPECT program,
the ground is scanned from right to left
at a rate of 60 times per second from an
altitude of 2,800 feet above ground level.
Each scan line is about 1.5 feet deep and
consists of 1,400 individual samples or
pixels. As the aircraft progresses forward,
these scan lines generate a high-resolution
Typical chemical image (methanol plume)
generated by ASPECT aircraft
image in a way similar to a
television picture. Atypical
image may be 1 mile long and
have an effective pixel count
of 5 million pixels. The ASPECT
IRLS configuration is not only
efficient in the data collection
rate, but the scanner system
consisting of a gallium arsenide
prism and reflective mirrors is
extremely efficient in collecting
photons.
A more significant advantage
of the IRLS over the FL.IR system
is the spectral bandwidth
sensitivity. An FUR system
typically has no spectral
selectivity (no filters), and if the
FLIR system is equipped with
filters, the filters are mounted external to
the array, are at room temperature, and
provide no weak-signature detection
capability. The ASPECT IRLS, on the other
hand, has an array of cold optical filters
attached to each detector element. These
filters are very small (0.010- by 0.010-
inch square) and are cooled along with
the mercury cadmium telluride detector
to 77° K. This cryogenic temperature
significantly reduces the noise of both the
filter ("thermal noise") and the detector
("band gap noise") and allows the system
to detect narrow-width infrared signals
to allow the detection of weak chemical
signatures.
The most significant improvement with the
new system is the array of cold optical
filters used. The ASPECT team designed
the cold optical filters of the new LSI 600
system and tested them by running a
number of chemical detection simulations
to compare the spectral bandwidth of
known chemical spectral signatures with
the bandwidth of the filter. The testing
indicated that both narrow (about 20
wave numbers) and wide (about 40 wave
numbers) filters were required. Test results
also provided the technical data needed
to develop specifications for the new cold
optical filters to be manufactured and then
assembled on a device called a "cold
frame." This frame is less than 1 millimeter
square and supports the checkerboard
arrangement filters over the detector. To
further enhance the system, a detector
design operating temperature of "72° K
was selected to reduce the band gap
noise of the detector as low as reasonably
possible using standard cryogenic pumps.
In addition, the dynamic range of the new
unit was increased from the old 14-bit
external data collection system to a new,
internal 16-bit system while maintaining
efficient treatment of the lower bit range
of the signal. Pitch/roll correction of the
data was greatly enhanced by replacing
the old mechanical gyroscope system
with a new, solid -state, nine-dimensional
gyro system that provides 200 times
per second feedback to the system.
This attitude system, called an "Inertial
Navigation Unit (INU)," provides over
20 degrees of roll (wings up and down)
correction and 20 degrees of pitch (nose
up and down) correction. Yaw correction
is provided by a combination of data from
a Global Positioning System (GPS) and
the solid-state gyro to provide better than
0.25 degree of residual error. Finally,
the new LSI 600 system is a fully self-
contained unit requiring only 28 volts of
DC power, a GPS antenna, an Ethernet
cable, and a control cable. Specific sensor
configurations can be accomplished using
an internal sensor website.
The ASPECT team has recently completed
LSI 600 system acceptance testing, and
the system will be flight-tested during
the week of February 27,
2017 and made operational
soon after. Following a
short break-in period, the
ASPECT program plans to
initiate a pattern recognition
development project using
algorithms similar to those
currently used by the ASPECT
Fourier Transform Infrared
Spectrometer (F11R) and the
gamma ray spectrometers. The
new algorithms are expected
to be operational in 6 to 9
months. For more information,
please contact Mark Thomas at
thomas.markj@epa.gov
0.9
0.8
0.7
. 06
(J
| 0.5
| 0.4
co
§ 0.3
0.2
0.1
0
-0.
1
u]
700 800 900 1000 1100 1200 1300
Wavenumber (cm )
Cold optical filter design
-------
RAD
CMAD developed Rod Decon App, a
computer application to aid in early phase
decision-making in the event of a large,
wide-spread radiological incident
The Rad Decon App (Version 1.0)
(http://RadDecon.gtri.gatech.edu)
meets a need identified by the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security
to provide responders with a readily
available software application that
can help early -phase decision-
making regarding containment,
decontamination, waste staging, and
storage and disposal after a large-
scale radiological incident. The Rad
Decon App is a fast and powerful
tool that can assist users in quickly
prioritizing possible decontamination
technologies for any large-scale
radiological response. The application can
be used in both preparedness and response
settings.
Stakeholder outreach has been a critical
feature throughout the development of the
Racl Decon App. Stakeholder visits to three
U.S. cities resulted in over 60 participants
confirming the need for this software
application and offering outstanding
advice on its content and format. The
participants represented firefighters, public
health officials, emergency planners, health
physicists, federal and state responders,
and others. Upon completion of a prototype
application, user tests were conducted by
dozens of individuals at multiple locations.
The users offered excellent feedback
and suggestions that were subsequently
incorporated in the application to improve its
look, feel, and functionality.
During the conceptual design phase of
the app, partnerships were formed with a
number of organizations in the United States
and the United Kingdom. These partnerships
served as the core of the app development
team The Rad Decon App also is based on
years of research and development efforts
in the United Kingdom, including information
gathered after the Chernobyl and Fukushima
nuclear disasters. The "UK Recovery
Handbooks for Radiation Incidents" (UK
Handbook) first published in 2005 and most
recently updated in 2015 are proven aids
in the selection of response options. The
Rad Decon App converts the processes and
databases inherent in the UK Handbook
into a quick and simple too! to aid decision
making that also incorporates recent EPA
research and development information on
radiation response technologies.
Users need only two pieces of information
as inputs to the app software: the surfaces
impacted by radiation and the radionuclides
present (or alternatively, the type of radiation
incident). The app enables users at all levels
of government to quickly move through a
series of nine steps. These steps lead to a
prioritized list of response alternatives or
"management options" ready for incident-
specific stakeholder discussion. Response
options can range from controlling site access,
collecting leaves, pressure washing to fixable
or strippable coatings, and surface washing.
Stakeholders (including federal On-Scene
Coordinators; other federal, state
and local responders; scientific
support personnel; and the
impacted community) can then cost:©
make adjustments to the initial
results, as appropriate, based
on the unique circumstances and Social:©
conditions of the actual incident.
Pathways:©
Some key features of the Rad
Decon App are summarized
below.
United States. The app provides
a detailed data sheet for each
alternative.
2) Users can scale seven factors
to evaluate possible response
options: time, cost, technical,
social, pathways, effectiveness,
and waste (see below). Based
on values for these factors, the
list of decontamination options is
prioritized using algorithms.
3) The app provides hyperlinks
allowing access to other reference
sources as well as the data sheets
to provide stakeholders with
detailed information on response
alternatives.
4) Pop-ups are incorporated to provide
users with definitions for terms used in
the app.
5) An "audit" function documents
decisions made throughout the
process and ensures their availability
for review by others.
6) The app can be used to print or
e-mail a Final Report in a pdf format.
7) The app runs on all devices (including
laptops, smart phones, and tablets),
with internet access using various
browsers, including Internet Explorer,
Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
For more information, please contact
Captain John Cardarelli (U.S. Public Health
Service) at cardarelli.john@epa.gov.
Time:0
Tech nica 1:0
Effectiveness:©
1) The app can evaluate
28 possible response
alternatives researched
and evaluated in the
United Kingdom or the
Waste:0
High
Priority
Low
Scalable factors that allow stakeholders to prioritize the most
important factors during the response and recovery phases
-------
CMAD
CMAD hires a new chemist in
the Field Operations Division
¦H
//Hi. fy
David Bright
The Consequence Management Advisory Division (CMAD) would like to
introduce David Bright, our new chemist in the Field Operations Branch.
David is located in Kansas City and will work on chemical warfare agent
preparedness and response, and work on other CMAD efforts as needed.
David is a co-recipient of the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize. David received the
award for his work as a weapons inspector and analytical chemist for the
Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Earlier in his
career, David was a lead analyst at a chemical weapons destruction facility
on Johnston Island and also a chemist/test engineer with the Department of
the Navy in Florida. Previously, he was a quality manager for the Nebraska
Department of Agriculture Laboratory, where his duties were to develop
and implement an ISO/I EC 17025 accredited quality management system.
Most recently, David worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
National Grain Center as a chemist in the Analytical Chemistry Branch. His
hobbies include international travel, photography, mineralogy, and outdoor
activities such as hiking, camping, fishing, and canoeing.
CMAD biologist receives Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative Fellowship
Biologist Francisco J. Cruz of the Consequence Management Advisory
Division (CMAD) was selected in 2016 to receive a fellowship under the
Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative (ELBI) program. The fellowship
program is run by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's (UPMC)
Center for Health Security, the leading think tank in the United States in
the fields of biodefense and global health security.
Under the ELBI program, fellowship recipients will take two week-long
trips to Washington, DC, and San Francisco, CA, to receive biodefense
and global health security training. Over the course of a year, fellows
also will participate in several web seminars on topics of interest and
will have networking opportunities to interact with leaders and decision
makers in the biodefense field. Through the fellowship program,
Francisco has been fortunate enough to interact with National Security
Council staff at the White House; visit biodefense laboratories at Fort
Detrick; and participate in briefings by leaders at the Defense Threat
Reduction Agency (DTRA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA),
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Senate Select
Committee on Intelligence.
ELBI is a competitive fellowship program designed to create and
sustain an energetic, multidisciplinary, and intergenerational biosecurity
community of motivated young professionals as well as current
leaders. Each year, this program selects a group of the "best and
brightest" talented career professionals from government, defense,
private industry, science, law, public health, medicine, global health,
journalism, social sciences, and academia to receive fellowships. By
participating in conferences, seminars, networking events, a writing
competition, and educational webinars, fellowship recipients deepen
their expertise, expand their professional contacts, and build their
leadership skills. In 2016,28 individuals received ELBI fellowships.
Francisco has the honor of being the first person from EPA ever
selected to receive an ELBI fellowship. He is a biologist in the Field
Operations Branch of CMAD. Francisco holds a M.S. in Biodefense
from George Mason University, a Graduate Certificate in Critical
Analysis and Strategic Responses to Terrorism from George Mason
University, and a B.A. in Biological Sciences from the University of
Delaware.
Francisco J. Cruz
-------
TRAIN STATION
First row (left to right): Larry Kaeliri (Chemist/Environmental Scientist), Dr. Mark Thomas (Physicist),
Lessa Givens (Program Analyst), Leroy Mickelsen, PE (Chemical Engineer),
Elise Jakabhazy (Environmental/Geotechnical Engineer), David Bright (Analytical Chemist)
Second row: Tim Curry, PE (Engineer), Scott Hudson (Certified Health Physicist),
Jayson Griffin (Environmental Protection Specialist), Natalie Koch (Environmental Protection Specialist),
Francisco Cruz (Biologist)
Third Row: Terry Smith (Chemist/Geochemist), Dr. Shannon Serre (Chemical Engineer),
Captain John Cardarelli, Ph.D. (Certified Health Physicist), Mike Nalipinski (Associate Director),
Paul Kudarauskas (Branch Chief), and Sam Waltzer (former Acting Director, September - October 2016)
59
-------
Larry Kaelin
Edison, NJ
Michael Ottlinger **
** Currently on detail
David Charters, Acting Director
Washington, DC
Mike Nalipinski, Associate Director
Boston, MA
Francisco J. Cruz
Terry Smith
Washington, DC
John Cardarelli
Scott Hudson
Erlanger, KY
David Bright
Tim Curry
Mark Thomas
Lenexa, KS
Jayson Griffin
Leroy Mickelsen
Shannon Serre
Research Triangle Park, NC
Lessa Givens
Natalie Koch
Sandra Whittle (SEE)
Erlanger, KY
CBRN Operational PlanningTeam (COPT)
Elise Jakabhazy, Team Leader
Boston, MA
Field Operations Branch (FOB)
Paul Kudarauskas, Branch Chief
Washington, DC
60
-------
MISSION
Serve as EPA's national operational preparedness
and response organization that provides expertise
and leadership ofCBRN consequence management
< CBRN CM AD i
k n
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
Consequence Management Advisory Division
To contact CMAD for deployment of ASPECT, PHILIS, or technical support,
please call EPA HQ EOC at 202-564-3850
£5 Printed on paper with 30% post-consumer recycled fiber
------- |