www.epa.gov/research
technical BRIEF
INNOVATIVE RESEARCH FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
2018 EPA International Decontamination Research and
Development Conference
INTRODUCTION
On May 8-10, 2018, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of
Research and Development's National
Homeland Security Research Center
(ORD/NHSRC) hosted the 10th U.S. EPA
International Decontamination Research and
Development Conference at the EPA facilities
in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
This conference is known as the largest and
most recognized civilian-led conference on all
issues related to cleanup following a
chemical, biological, or radiological (CBR)
incident. It continues to foster collaboration
and strengthen research to develop
strategies and technologies enabling the
nation to withstand and to recover from future
disasters, both natural and man-made, at a national and local level.
For three days, more than 300 national and international participants representing federal, state,
and local government agencies; academia; industry; and non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) attended 68 oral presentations and networking events, a poster session showcasing 40
posters, and a technology cafe featuring 12 exhibitors (see Figure 1). The objective of this year's
conference was fourfold:
1.	Bring together federal, state, and local researchers; emergency responders; U .S. and
other national governments; and private stakeholders who work in CBR remediation and
recovery preparedness;
2.	Facilitate the exchange of information on scientific endeavors, including basic and
applied research, field demonstrations, guidance/software tool development, and field
applications related to CBR remediation issues;
3.	Demonstrate the connection between basic or fundamental decontamination research to
applied research and effective field application of technologies;
4.	Explore challenges faced by regions, states, tribes, and locals in response to natural or
man-made incidents.
Figure 1. (Left) Ms. Juliette Kayyem speaks
during the opening session; (Right, front) Dr.
Paul Lemieux participates in the Technology
Cafe.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
EPA/600/S-19/065
May 2018

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These objectives and the research presented therein supports EPA's mission to protect human
health and the environment, and directly aligns with the agency's proposed 2018-2022 strategic
plan in developing strategies and technologies for preventing contamination and responding to
emergencies.
INVITATIONAL SPEAKERS
Five invitational speakers representing the federal government, private companies, and NGOs
were invited to speak at the conference. Each speaker presented cutting-edge and provocative
ideas that addressed the primary objectives of the conference.
Dr. Richard Yamada, Former Deputy Assistant Administrator, U.S. EPA
ORD, explained ORD's mission to provide the science, technical support,
technology, and tools to inform EPA's mission. He also outlined ORD's
research programs, its key state partners, its state engagement, its
interagency partnerships, its provision of technical assistance, and its roles
in homeland security research.
Ms. Juliette Kayyem, Belfer Lecturer in International Security, Harvard
University, shared her analogy of left of "boom" versus right of "boom"
(i.e., pre- versus post-incident). Although counter-terrorism received
renewed emphasis after the September 11, 2001 attacks, the focus of
homeland security continued to capitalize on a single threat to the left of
boom up until Hurricane Katrina. Homeland security efforts now include
disaster prevention, preparedness, and mitigation (left of boom) as well
as the response and recovery (right of boom).
Mr. Juan Reyes, Assistant Director, Fairfax County, Virginia, Department of
Public Works and Environmental Services, provided an overview of Fairfax
County, Virginia; a municipal-level view of public works in Fairfax County; and
a description of their public works mission in emergency management
(including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery). Mr. Reyes
spoke to the efforts and services that a county must undertake to remain
economically viable and resilient to the damaging effects of hazards.
Mr. Lance Brooks, Division Chief, Cooperative Biological Engagement
Program (CBEP), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), outlined
the agency's mission and the CBEP. As an agency, DTRA focuses on
the "pathway" (e.g., state actors) and violent extremist organizations.
Mr. Brooks highlighted the Department of Defense (DoD) Cooperative
Threat Reduction (CTR) program's goal to reverse weapons of mass
destruction (WMD) programs ("dismantle and destroy") and prevent the
acquisition and proliferation of WMD materials. Mr. Brooks explained
the need for agencies to begin effectively bridging the gap between
operational requirements and field implementation.
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Ms. Amanda BenDor, Technical Program Manager, PATH (an international
nonprofit organization), explained the role of the Global Health Security
Partnership (GHSP) during the 2014 Ebola outbreak in Liberia. "GHSP is a
collaboration of the Peace Corps, the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for
AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and Seed Global Health"
(https://www.peacecorps.gov/. 2018). GHSP helps counties strengthen
their health systems by expanding infectious disease surveillance,
strengthening laboratory capacity, and developing effective information
systems to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious diseases and other public health threats.
GHSP was key in helping countries build systems and capacities to prevent and respond to
outbreaks. Ms. BenDor discussed how PATH was able to apply GHSP lessons learned from the
2014 Ebola outbreak in Liberia to the 2017 Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the
Congo. This sharing of information and discussion of lessons learned helped PATH to react
more efficiently and effectively. Ms. BenDor's presentation elaborated on the role that NGOs
have at a national and international scale, and the need for government-NGO cooperation.
SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY
Since the initial conference was held in 2005 following the Amerithrax incident, the conference
has grown to include national and international participants who come together on a regular
basis to discuss a range of homeland security topics. Contributions from partners and
international collaborators continue to grow with each conference and themes remain dynamic:
as new topics arise, they are included in the agenda for discussion.
The purpose of the 2018 EPA International Decontamination Research and Development
Conference was to conduct and communicate the fundamentals and applications of science,
including how current work supports EPA's mission in support of state, tribal, and local decision
makers. The conference emphasizes the transdisciplinary and translational approach of EPA's
homeland security research, fostering collaboration across the federal government and working
with the emergency officials to implement research at a federal, state, tribal, and local level.
TOPICS & STRUCTURE
At its core, the conference revolves around CBR detection and decontamination research.
Additionally, each conference highlights recent disasters or research needs. The following
general topics were featured at this year's conference:
•	New CBR detection and decontamination research data, or field activities and large-
scale demonstrations, related to the detection and decontamination of biological
(including agricultural threat agents and biotoxins), chemical, and radiological threat
agents, in indoor areas (in facilities), in outdoor areas, or of outdoor materials (such as
concrete);
•	Cross-cutting topics related to restoration, including: clean-up levels/risk assessment,
exposure assessment, sampling/analysis of threat agents, fate/transport/containment,
material compatibility with decontamination processes, tool and guidance development,
waste management of threat agent-contaminated materials, water/wastewater
decontamination, and systems approach to response and regulatory issues;
•	Initiatives highlighting local priorities, challenges, and science and technology
developments related to response and recovery efforts.
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New to this year's conference was the introduction of a special topics category. These topics
addressed emerging issues as identified by the conference committee. This year's special
topics were:
•	Emerging threats: work addressing threats of recent interest to our customers and
stakeholders (e.g., fentanyl, drug lab cleanup);
•	Recent disaster response: examples of work supporting large-scale natural disaster
response efforts;
•	Research to response: best practices for bridging the gap between research-and-
development and field operations;
•	All-hazards remediation (non-CBR): remediation efforts related to a variety of
disasters/incidents outside core homeland security responsibilities.
GENERAL AND BREAKOUT SESSIONS
This year's conference featured two general and six concurrent breakout sessions. Speakers
were limited to 25 minutes with 5 minutes for questions. Session topics are described below.
General: Cross-Cutting Initiatives for Response and Recovery
Cross-cutting topics related to restoration, including organization efforts to support regions, local
initiatives, and homeland security. Presenters highlighted emergency response, management
and disposal of waste, and resiliency.
Concurrent: Regional, State, and Local Initiatives
Local priorities, challenges, and science and technology developments related to response and
recovery efforts from intentional or accidental environmental incidents: Presenters emphasized
emerging threats' toxicity, exposure, risk, and decontamination.
Concurrent: Water Infrastructure Protection and Decontamination
Obstacles and solutions associated with protecting and decontaminating water infrastructure:
Presenters highlighted water sector preparedness, water-based bacterial spore fate and
transport, water distribution system tools to support decontamination efforts, and contaminant
persistence in drinking water pipes and premise plumbing.
General: Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Research Efforts
Cooperative efforts within homeland security, including preparedness and response
partnerships with the U.S. Coast Guard and the DoD\ This session also hosted discussions
related to NGO perspectives from the international Ebola/health emergency response activities.
Concurrent: Biological Agent Decontamination
Application of decontamination methods in response to biological agents: Presenters focused
on underground-transport restoration, decontamination with hot air or low-concentration
hydrogen peroxide, virucidal heat treatment, and the use of electrostatic sprayers for
decontamination.
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Concurrent: Biological Agent Sampling and Analysis Methods
Biological sampling and analysis methods, highlighting science tools, characterization and
extent mapping of biological incidents, and strategies for a bioaerosol air sampling network.
Concurrent: Biological Agent Research
Research and decontamination strategies for biological agents: Presenters emphasized viral
persistence, preserving contaminant viability in environmental samples, and polymerase chain
reaction (PCR) methods for biological agent detection.
Concurrent: Chemical Agent Research
Methods for chemical agent research and decontamination strategies: Presenters focused on
chemical hot air decontamination, decontamination options for sensitive equipment-related
materials contaminated with persistent chemical warfare agents, best practices to minimize
laboratory resources for waste characterization, and decontamination using vaporous hydrogen
peroxide.
Concurrent: Radiological Agent Research
Radiological research and decontamination strategies as well as research pertaining to
response and remediation following large-scale incidents: Presenters highlighted radionuclides
of concern, innovative detection methods, transport of radionuclides in affected areas, and
decontamination technologies.
Concurrent: Technology and Software Supporting Disaster Response
Technology and software tools to assist disaster response: Presenters emphasized spatial
context through indoor maps, all-hazard software tools for waste management planning and
estimating resource demands associated with waste transport, and a multi-hazard research
Web-based tool for searching, applying, and sharing scientific information.
CONCLUSION
EPA's International Decontamination Research and Development Conference continues to
serve as a valuable educational, networking, and planning resource for scientists and
operational experts. This event serves as a crucial communication and feedback mechanism for
experts to develop and implement technologies necessary to support the left- and right of the
boom. Since its inception in 2005, the conference has continued be a source of knowledge and
insight into the homeland security paradigm. Due to its growing popularity, the conference has
exceeded the capacity of its long-time venue, EPA's Research Triangle Park facility.
Conference organizers are using this opportunity to think of creative alternatives for the 2019
conference location and how to continue to attract a diverse group of attendees.
MORE INFORMATION
•	For more information about EPA's Homeland Security Research Program, visit the Web
site at https://www.epa.gov/homeland-security-research.
•	To view publicly released abstracts, presentations, and questions and answers, visit the
post-conference Web site at https://www.epa.gov/homeland-security-research/epa-
international-decontamination-research-and-development-conference
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CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE
Timothy Boe (boe.timothv@epa.gov)
Anne Mikelonis (mikelonis.anne@epa.gov)
Lukas Oudejans (oudeians.lukas@epa.gov)
Jeff Szabo (szabo.ieff@epa.gov)
Sanjiv Shah (shah.saniiv@epa.gov)
Gary Flory (garv.florv@deg.virginia.gov)
Erin Silvestri (silvestri.erin@epa.gov)
Stuart Willison (willison.stuart@epa.gov)
Tonya Nichols (nichols.tonya@epa.gov)
Tonya Medley (medlev.tonva@epa.gov)
Sheila Bazemore (bazemore.sheila@epa.gov)
Canden Byrd (canden.bvrd@icf.com)
Susan Blaine (susan.blaine@icf.com)
Courtney Skuce (courtney.skuce@icf.com)
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DISCLAIMER
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, through its Office of Research and Development,
funded and managed the conference described here under Contract EP-C-14-001 to ICF, Inc.
This technical brief has been subjected to the Agency's review and has been approved for
publication. Note that approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views of
the Agency. Mention of trade names, products, services, or enterprises does not convey official
EPA approval, endorsement, or recommendation.
Questions concerning this document, or its application should be addressed to:
Timothy Boe
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Research and Development
National Homeland Security Research Center
109 T.W. Alexander Dr. (MD-E-343-06)
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Phone 919.541.2617
U.S. EPA's Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP) develops products based on
scientific research and technology evaluations. Our products and expertise are widely used in
preventing, preparing for and recovering from public health and environmental emergencies that
arise from terrorist attacks or natural disasters. Our research and products address biological,
radiological, or chemical contaminants that could affect indoor areas, outdoor areas, or water
infrastructure. HSRP provides these products, technical assistance, and expertise to support
EPA's roles and responsibilities under the National Response Framework, statutory requirements,
and Homeland Security Presidential Directives.
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