CBRN
CONSEQUENCE MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY TEAM
CONSEQUENCE
MANAGEMENT
ADVISORY TEAM
2013 FY
ANNUAL REPORT
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
Consequence Management Advisory Team
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Table of Contents
ASPECT
The Power of Data - The Data Philosophy of the ASPECT Program 6
Aerial Situational Awareness Essential During Hurricane Sandy Aftermath 7
ASPECT Provides Protection at Boy Scout of America Jamboree 8
Lost Neutron Source! 9
FBI Requests ASPECT to Determine Chemical and Radiological Background of Washington D.C. Area 9
Providing Critical Information to Rose Bowl and Super Bowl Event Officials 10
Joint Exercise to Develop SOPs 11
ASPECT Investigates Possible Uranium Mine Drainage in Grand Canyon 11
ASPECT Pursuing NRC License 11
Xavier University Student Assists ASPECT with Grand Canyon Survey 11
Biological
Evaluating Cleaning Robots for Spore Sampling
CMAT and DHS Work to Restart UTR Project
Self-Decon Guidance for Use by the Public In Progress
Ricin Training Under Development
Capitol Hill Ricin Support
Aggressive Air Sampling Evaluation Proves Technique to be Effective
Foot and Mouth Disease Vignette Tests Information Sharing
Biological Incident Environmental Sampling Plan Workshop
RV-PCR Laboratory Improvements Continue
EPA CMAT Partners with NYC DOHMH to Develop Biological Response and Decon Plan
Is Methyl Bromide the Future of Response Technologies? New Study May Find Out
Radiological & Nuclear
There's an AppforThat-CMAT/NHSRCto Develop Decon App 18
Radiation Response Readiness Forum 18
Developing Radiation Response SOPs 18
Invaluable Experience Gained from RDD Exercise 19
30 RTFLs: Deployment Ready for Radiation Response 19
Quick Response Guides for RDDs and INDs 19
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Chemical
New England Exercise Tests CWA Sampling & Analysis Coordination 20
Preparing for a WMD Attack: PHI LIS Integrates into Multi-Regional & Multi-Agency Exercise 20
Food Contamination Scenario Tests Interoperability of Lab Network 21
ASPECT Plume Detection and Tracking at West, Texas Explosion 21
Reducing Disaster Impact Through Remote Sensing Technology 22
Response Guides and CWA Playbooks Updated to Maintain Readiness 22
PHILIS: Seeking to Continuously Improve 23
Reaching Out to Support Regions 1, 2 & 3 23
Live Demo of DHS IDDD Technologies Scheduled 23
U.S. and Canada Working Together to Protect North America 24
Partnering with Poland for Biological Resiliency Demonstration 24
Improving CBRN Capabilities Through Knowledge Exchange with United Kingdom 25
Preparedness and Response Community Strengthens Relationship with the European Union 25
CMAT Leads Meeting with French Delegation 25
ICLN Continues to Develop New Tools 26
Disseminating Information on Emerging Threat Agents 26
Tornados Terminate Arctic Sentry Exercise 26
DHS Transitions WARRP to EPA 27
EPA-DoD Partnership 27
Collaboration with USDAto Protect Food Products 27
EPA-CDC Joint Clearance Work Group 27
Maintaining Response Readiness 28
CMAT's Core NAR Evaluation Shows Improvement 28
CMAT In the News 28
Information for OSCs on CMAT Web Page 29
Coming Soon! 29
October 2013: Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta 29
Table of Contents
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The Power of Data -
The Data Philosophy
of the ASPECT Program
ASPECT
If you ask any first responder what item
would make their job more effective you
will most likely get a response "faster and
more accurate data presented as a picture."
Hie U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Airborne Spectro Photometric
Environmental Collection Technology
(ASPECT) Program is striving to make this
request a reality with the goal to provide
airborne collected chemical, radiological and
situational data to first responders in a form
compatible with their mission and within
minutes from collection.
Providing data rapidly to the end-user is
not particularly easy if one considers all of
the tasks that must be completed between
the collection of the data and the ultimate
delivery of the data/products to the decision
maker.
Data Collection
ASPECT uses an airborne suite of infrared,
gamma ray, and visible (photographic)
sensing detectors to rapidly collect
information above an incident. Since the
system uses the concept of remote sensing
the aircraft and more importantly the flight
crew is never placed into a hazardous
chemical or radiological environment
during the data collection. In addition,
since ASPECT is an airborne platform, the
system can be and often has been rapidly
dispatched to an emergency incident,
taking up a patrol over the area once on
station. When on station, ASPECT has the
flexibility to patrol over the incident and
to make remote measurements based on
the site conditions (e.g., wind) and the first
responder input (e.g, a report on conditions
at this location).
ASPECTS suite of
sensors can identify
and quantify chemical
vapors and any gamma
emitting materials
w ithin the survey area.
Data
Processing
Hie raw data
generated by these
sensors are complex in nature and are not
in a form that can be readily or easily used
by the first responder. ASPECT uses a set
of higji level pattern recognition algDiithms
that permit potentially low levels of chemical
or radiological signatures (called sigials) to
be extracted from a complex environment
and processed into a set of image products.
When these image products are matched
with corresponding and concurrently
collected aerial photographs, a set of
information layers can be assembled or used
individually
Data Communication
This entire data analysis process is
conducted within the aircraft as the data
are collected, permitting the generation
of imagery products within seconds after
the data have been collected. ASPECT
accomplishes the transfer of data from the
air to the ground using a satellite-based data
system. Hie satellite system can be viewed
as the ground connection to the aircraft and
the reach back team uses this connection to
extract and critically review all data collected.
Quality Control
At tins point the data are handed over to the
first responder, rigjit? Not exactly. Hie use
of an automated detection process is very
efficient and has the ability to generate data
products in seconds, but such a method also
has the ability to generate both false positive
and negative data findings. EPA has a policy
that no data be released to the user unless
those data have been quality assured. Once
die data are extracted from the aircraft,
die reach back team examines die data for
quality, and dien immediately forwards
die data to die users. The ASPECT data
communication system speeds up die
delivery of data because data can be pulled
and reviewed directly from die aircraft
widiout it having to land and also because
die reach back team can consult widi die
data user concerning die content and
meaning of die data.
How fast can data be provided? ASPECT
routinely provides data to die first responder
in less dian 5 minutes from die time a survey
is completed. During die 2013 Tournament
of Roses deployment, ASPECT was tasked
by die city of Pasadena, California, to
conduct a radiological environmental survey
of die parade route prior to die event within
a window of 1 hour. ASPECT was able to
conduct a multi-line survey over die seven
mile parade route, analyze die data, quality
assure die data and provide scientifically
validated results to city and county personnel
within 35 minutes of starting die survey.
In summary, ASPECT lias been desigied
and is operated to provide first responders
and decision makers with relevant and
scientifically validated chemical, radiological
and situational data in die shortest time
possible. This process truly allows die power
of die data to be fully exploited by die first
responder.
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Base Map
Aerial Image IR Plume Image
Chemical ID
Concentration
Radiological Map
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Aerial Situational Awareness Essential During Hurricane
Sandy Aftermath
In late October 2012, tropical storm
Sandy developed into a hurricane
killing more than 50 people in Haiti
before moving north along the Eastern
Seaboard of the United States. The
storm reached Category 2 status with
hurricane force winds extending 175
miles out from the eye, making it much
larger than most storms of its type.
When Hurricane Sandy made landfall
on the northeast coast, more than 7,9
million businesses and households were
left without electric power. Within 4
days of landfall, the EPAs ASPECT
was deployed by Region 2 to provide
aerial situational awareness along the
entire New Jersey and New York
coastlines and to conduct chemical
surveys over targeted areas, ASPECT
hew four sorties between November
4-9, 2012, collecting more than 3,000
aerial photos and hundreds of oblique
photos that were geo-rectified (aerial)
or geo-referenced (oblique) and made
available to view using a free version of
Google™ Earth. This was the largest
photo mission ever conducted by the
program; it yielded 21 terabytes of data.
As with most deployments, areas
for improvement were identified.
ASPECT focused on one in particular
to strengthen products by making
them more accessible in a variety of
geographic information system (GIS)
platforms. ASPECT unveiled this
new capability allowing our products
to be viewed in Go< >t>,lc1 Vl Earth,
Google™ Earth API, Google™ Maps,
ESRI ArcGIS™ 10 and Flexview
Many products can also be viewed
on mobile devices. This new line of
products was developed over a period
of several months and was successfully
used during the Boy Scout Jamboree
deployment in July 2013.
One of the 1000s of aerial photos taken by ASPECT during the Hurricane Sandy
Deployment. All photos are available to view via Google™ Earth
U.S. EPA ASPECT Program
Data Display Site
BSA Jamboree July 2013
sr4
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Available Google Earth Data Products
Google Earth Products
Available Flexviewer Data Products
Flex Viewer Products
Available Google Maps Data Products
Google Map Products
Available Google Earth API Data Products
Google Earth API Products
Available Static Maps Products
Static Maps Products
Available Mobile Data Products
Mobile Maps Products
ASPECT products are now available in a variety of GIS Platforms to better
meets the needs of our customers.
ASPECT
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ASPECT Provides Protection at
Boy Scout of America Jamboree
ASPECT
Sigma Values (MMGC)
Less than -6 0
Greater than +6 0
At the request of Region 3 and the
National Guard Bureau, the ASPECT
Program provided support to EPA
Region 3 and the Joint Interagency Task
Force (JIATF) for activities associated
with the 2013 Boy Scout of America
Jamboree at the Summit Bechtel
Reserve located near Mt. Hope, West
Virginia, from July 14, 2013, through
July 24, 2013.
ASPECT was requested to assist with
airborne chemical, radiological and
situational data collection during the
entire 10-day event. W hy ASPECT?
The Jamboree was located on a large
reserve near the city of Mt. Hope,
West Virginia and hosted over 405000
Scouts and support personnel. The
campgrounds and associated facilities
cover an area of about 8 square miles.
Scouts also conducted community
service activities over a 5-day period
that encompassed a nine-county region,
plot only the: Boy Scout reserve, but the
entire nine- county area is traversed by
steep valleys and limited road access. A
number of high profile
visitors attended the
event, including the King
of Sweden, members of
Congress, and members
of the Cabinet. With
such a large group of
participants scattered
over a broad geographical
area, the safety of the
Scouts and visitors was
a top priority. Providing
this safety required an
immense amount of
planning and included
die need to provide early
detection of hazardous
chemical, radiological or
other hazards during all
phases of die Jamboree.
ASPECT was a logical
choice to provide diis
service since it is the
nation's only airborne
chemical and radiological detection,
infrared and photographic imagery
system. Widi die entire system mounted
in an aircraft and dirough the use of
automated software and satellite data
conductivity, ASPECT was able to
rapidly transit the nine-comity area
and provide chemical and radiological
results to die HpA on-scene coordinator
(OSC) and state officials widiin minutes
of die request.
From the time of arrival on the July
14 until the end of die Jamboree on
July 24, ASPECT flew nine missions
consisting of a radiological survey
of die campground area, numerous
chemical surveys over die campground
and nine-county area and die
collection of 1,300 aerial photographs
and infrared images of event areas.
Fortunately, ASPECT did not detect
any abnormal chemical or radiological
findings during any of these flights.
Products that were heavily used by die
event staff and JIATF included geo-
rectified aerial photographs and geo-
Sigma vakie pht overly on Google ™ Earth.
positioned oblique photographs. These
photographic products assisted in road
hazard planning and other planning
events that can only be efficientiy
accomplished from the vantage point of
an aircraft and with imagery data that
can be viewed within die context of a
geographical information system.
The JIATF included, EPA, 35th West
Virginia Weapons of Mass Destruction
Civil Support Team (WMD-CST), West
Virginia Department of Environmental
Protection, die Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA), the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
(FBI), Secret Service, National Guard
Combined Intelligence Operations
Center, Task Force Keystone
[(Pennsylvania National Guard Unit
specializing in Chemical, Biological,
Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)], Boy
Scouts of America, Mount Hope Police
Department, and the West Virginia
Department of Homeland Security and
Emergency Management.
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Lost Neutron Source!
FBI Requests
ASPECT to
Determine Chemical
and Radiological
Background of
Washington D.C.
The
During a search for a lost neutron
well logging source in the early fall of
2012, EPA assistance was requested.
A15 curie americium-beryllium
(AmBe) source had been used during
well logging earlier in the day near
Pecos, Texas. It was noticed missing
when the crew had arrived at its
next destination near Odessa, some
130 miles away. Licensee personnel
immediately searched the Pecos
well area to no avail and additional
personnel searched the route between
the two well sites, also without
success.
The AmBe source in question is
considered by the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA) to be a Class 3
source, meaning it could cause permanent
injury to someone who remained in
close contact for a period of hours.
Hie location of the missing source was
given high priority and EPA Region 6
personnel, having received a Texas press
release concerning the lost sources, offered
assistance and requested ASPECT support
for the search efforts. Region 6, state
regulators, ASPECT team members and
licensee personnel convened to develop
a search strategy. The licensee provided
the ASPECT team access to a source
identical to the lost source in order to
help establish the aircraft's ability to detect
neutron sources. ASPECT personnel used
that source to optimize a newly acquired
neutron detector. The aircraft detectors
were assessed for optimal flight altitude
and line spacing using both gamma ray
and neutron detector capabilities.
A few days after the source was lost,
support personnel from the state and
a Civil Support Team (CST) searched
the route from Pecos to Odessa. They
employed both gamma and neutron
detectors. Additionally, the ASPECT
aircraft, recently outfitted with sensitive
neutron detectors, surveyed the route
and some local landfills identified by
the planning team. The ASPECT
survey covered 220 linear miles and was
se(tKhfortf)is lost neutron source dlmved an opportunity
ional ccpabiBtks of tlxs
of dx neutron detectors.
completed in about three hours. None
of the surveys were able to locate the lost
source. However, the ASPECT aircraft
was able to identify die location of a
similar source placed by the licensee in an
unknown (to ASPECT) location along
die route. The ASPECT aircraft was able
to estimate die location to within a few
hundred feet using operating protocols
developed just days prior.
This proof of operation
provided a level of assurance
that die source was not
located along the route.
Redoubled media efforts
requesting die public's
assistance resulted in finding
die lost source some eight
miles to the west of the
Original site, in the direction
opposite of die well
logging team's travel and
subsequent search efforts. It
is unknown how die source
got diere, but die incident
did highlight die ability of
a licensee, a state regulator,
a Civil Support Team and
regional and national EPA
resources to work togedier
in a timely, organized
fashion. It also proved die
additional capabilities of
die ASPECT aircraft with
the addition of die neutron
detectors.
ASPECT is scheduled to fly the second
part of a multi-state/county survey of
die greater Washington, D.C. region.
The FBI Washington Field Office
requested ASPECT to conduct a holistic
chemical and a radiological "background"
assessment of the National Capital
Area. Data from this survey will provide
emergency response managers widi a
baseline related to atmospheric chemicals
and die radiological background present in
die DC. area. Hie chemical portion of die
survey was completed in January 2013 and
die radiological portion is scheduled for
later in 2013.
Washington Monument from the ASPECT!plane during
deploy merit for the 2006 State of the Union Address
ASPECT
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ASPECT
Providing Critical Information to
Rose Bowl and Super Bowl Events Officials
WISCONSIN
a'aoiwf'1'5 M
All of these safety
components must
be satisfied for a
large public event.
Hazardous material
protection is one of
the most difficult
to accomplish.
If a chemical is
released into or
upwind of an event,
the identification,
quantity and movement of the
vapors must be quickly established by
emergency personnel to safeguard the
public. The same is true of a radiological
material. With this requirement in mind,
the emergency manager must design
a strategy that permits both chemical
and radiological measurements to be
conducted over a wide aerial extent
AS-PECT aerialphoto of the 2013 Rose Bond.
ASPECT assist with the Tournament
of Roses Parade and Rose Bowl Game
events. ASPECT collects pre-event
chemical and radiological background
data (conducted one day to one hour in
advance of the events) and data Collected
during the active events. In general, the
aircraft follows a circular flight pattern
and traverses the parade route or the
Rose Bowl Stadium about once every
20 minutes within a controlled region
of airspace called a Temporary Might
Restricted Area (TFR). All data are
processed in the aircraft. A scientific
"reach back" team, which is co-located
in the Pasadena
Emergency
Command Post
with other local,
state and federal
Rapid delivery
of data to the
decision makers is
a foundation of the
ASPECT Program
and the numerous
deployments to the
Rose Bowl events
have permitted the
team to refine how
data are delivered.
During the 2013
deployment,
ASPECT routinely
delivered data
products to the end user in less than five
minutes from collection. In addition,
ASPECT was tasked wnh providing a
pre parade environmental radiological
survey of the parade route, float
assembly area and float parking area with
the results delivered prior to the start
of die event. This area covers about
seven linear miles; ASPECT was able
Events like the Tournament of Roses
Parade, Rose Bowl Game and Super
Bowl attract worldwide attention and
tens of thousands of fans. For example,
the 2013 Tournament of Roses parade
had over 750,000 people along the
7-mile parade route.
Keeping people
safe is die number
one priority of all
public officials and
providing safety to
such large numbers
of people gadiered
in a concentrated
area is a great
challenge. Public
safety involves
several components
including medical,
fire and protection
from hazardous
materials, requiring
expertise from die
local, state and
federal levels.
by die fastest means possible. This
requirement is ideally suited for an
airborne detection system.
For the past six years, the city of
Pasadena, California, has requested tiiat
emergency
response personnel,
retrieves data
from the aircraft,
conducts botii
quality assurance
and interpretation
of die results, and
tiien forwards this
information to die
city officials (die
decision makers).
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ASPECT
Pursuing NRC
License
to conduct a multi-line aerial survey,
process the data and provide the results
to the city of Pasadena 35 minutes after-
collection, well ahead of the timeline
required by the event officials.
ASPECT has never found chemical or
radiological compounds that were of
a hazardous nature at the Rose Bowl
events, but in 2010 ASPECT did detect
ethylene at trace levels being emitted
from the parade float assembly area.
Why ethylene? Ethylene is a common
gas emitted by plants. With a large
concentration of plants and flowers on
Rose Parade floats, the system was able
to detect the "flower emission" released
from the setting. More importantly,
ASPECT determined that the source of
the ethylene detected was the flowers and
not a threat.
ASPECT was also requested by EPA
Region 6 to provide monitoring
assistance as part of the Region's
deployment to the 2013 Super Bowl
in New Orleans, Louisiana. While this
deployment had similar expectations as
the earlier work at the Rose Bowl, the
primary difference was that the federal
coordination of the event was under
the command of the FBI. As part
of the work with the FBI, ASPECT
flew a number of monitoring sorties
prior to the event including a low level
radiological environmental survey of the
downtown New Orleans area. Products
including a manmade gamma sigma
analysis plot and a gamma exposure
plot were generated and provided to
the OSCs who in turn provided this
information to the FBI. Based on
this exchange of information, the
FBI requested that ASPECT fly an
environmental survey of the Mississippi
River from New Orleans to the
mouth of the delta. This mission was
accomplished on the day prior to the
game and consisted of a low level (300
feet above ground) pass along each side
of the river to gather radiological data
and a high level pass (2,800 feet above
ground) along the center line of the river
to gather chemical background data,
all of which were passed to the FBI
through the regional OSC. No abnormal
findings were noted on either survey.
In addition to the chemical and
radiological monitoring capabilities,
the ASPECT aircraft is outfitted with
a high resolution digital camera to take
aerial imagery of the incident area. This
capability of matching the hazard and
image provides first responders and
decision makers with updated situational
awareness they typically would not have.
Joint Exercise to
Develop SOPs
A joint exercise (EPA ASPECT and
the 64th Civil Support Team - New
Mexico) was conducted to develop a
set of standard operating procedures
(SOPs) on integrating ASPECT data
into the overall CST response structure.
The exercise consisted of a simulated
chemical accident and the recovery of
lost industrial radiological sources and
included a number of state and local
first responders. The development of an
SOP will greatly assist with ASPECT'S
interaction and sharing of data with the
New Mexico CST program and local
first responders.
ASPECT
Investigates
Possible Uranium
Mine Drainage in
Grand Canyon
A survey is being conducted per a
request from the National Park Service
(NPS) to investigate possible uranium
mine drainage into the Grand Canyon.
NPS is interested in addressing any
potential impacts to the public and
environment from these potential
discharges. The project will use a
subset of ASPECT equipment that
will be installed and flown on an NPS
helicopter.
I I
The ASPECT program initiated a process
to draft a Nuclear Regulatory Commission
(NRQ License Application. Hie reasons
ASPECT is pursuing a Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRQ License are (1)
to conduct calibration flights, (2) use
sources in training, and (3) participate in
and support exercises with other regions
and organizations. Once the license is
approved, the sources
will be stowed at the
warehouse facility
near Cincinnati,
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Xavier
University
Student Assists
ASPECT with
Grand Canyon
Survey
A volunteer from Xavier University
worked with the ASPECT program during
the summer to receive research credit in
pursuit of a bachelor's degree. The student
characterized a new configuration of the
radiation detectors
used on the
ASPECT aircraft
to support a future
survey in the Grand
Canyon.
ASPECT
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Evaluating Cleaning Robots for
Spore Sampling
Biological
Following the 2001 Bacillus anthraeis
(B. anthraeis) letter attacks, sampling
methods such as the wetted gauze
wipe, vacuum sock, swab, and air
filtration were used to determine the
presence, magnitude, and spatial extent
of contamination. However, sample
collection and analysis remains a
significant bottleneck for response to
a large-scale biological contamination
incident, requiring thousands of
samples using the current sampling
techniques.
The Chemical, Biological, Radiological,
and Nuclear (CBRN) Consequence
Management Advisory Team (CMAT)
assisted the National Homeland Security
Research Center (NHSRQ to their
evaluation of the use of cleaning robots
as spore samplers. CMAT assisted
with planning the research, analysis
and evaluation of results; writing and
reviewing reports; co-authoring a
publication entitled !'Scenario-based
Evaluation of Commercially-available
Cleaning Robots for Collection of
Bacillus Spores from Environmental
Surfaces."; and presenting findings
outside die U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA).
The utility of commercially-available
robotic floor cleaning devices for
collection of B. anthraeis spores was
investigated. Three commercially-
available autonomous (robotic) vacuum-
based cleaning robots and two "wipe
and wet" vacuum-based robots were
evaluated for sampling efficiency on
non-porous surfaces (laminate and
tile). The three vacuum-based robots
were also evaluated on a porous surface
(carpet).
The sampling efficiencies of these
robots were assessed by comparing
their recoveries to recoveries obtained
by currently-recommended surface
sampling methods. The overall results
show that sampling via robots is a viable
alternative to these traditional sampling
methods, and can be used to great
advantage in a field response. Some
cleaning robots for porous and non-
porous materials were as efficacious as
the respective surface sampling methods
currently recommended.
The robot sampling comparative
recovery (CR) results for a laminate
surface were higher for the wet wipe
and wet vacuum-based robots (up
to 62% and 32%, respectively) than
for the tested vacuum-based robots
(CR less than 10%). The sampling
process of the wet wipe-based robot
is similar to the well-established wet
wipe surface sampling method since
both methods use a phosphate buffered
saline tween (PBST)-wetted cloth in
conjunction with a rubbing action on
die surface. Low CRs from vacuum
units were expected since previous
sampling studies have shown that the
comparative surface sampling wet
wipe or die sponge wipe mediod on
nonporous surfaces has higher recovery
efficiency than comparative vacuum-
based surface mediods.
Recovery efficiencies for porous
material (carpet) sampling were
determined by comparison of three
vacuum-based cleaning robots'
recoveries to diat of die vacuum sock
sampling method. The test results
showed CR values on die same order or
greater (in some cases up to 161%) than
the current vacuum sampling method.
The differences in recoveries among
the diree vacuum robots may be related
to die unique design of each robot and
operating conditions.
Next steps:
Hie current test method focused only
on the sampling mechanism of the
individual robots by limiting sampling
surface area. Although not part of this
study, varying die area cleaning logics or
algorithms of individual robots could
be a way to increase collection efficiency
Robotic floor cleaning devices were investigatedfor their efficiences.
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of these robots when sampling a wide
area. Currently-available cleaning
robots have various convenient
functions such as self-recharging,
mapping, navigation, etc. These
functions will allow large contaminated
areas to be sampled systematically. Two
obvious benefits of using cleaning
robots for wide area sampling include
(1) fewer samples, because one sample
is generated per deployment, and (2)
less risk of personnel exposure to B.
anthrmis spores. In addition to wide
area sampling, these cleaning robots
could be deployed to areas where
human sampling is difficult, such as
inside HVAC ductwork and in highly
contaminated areas (hot zones).
However, for real world application,
these robots need further evaluation
with various surfaces, deposition types,
surface loadings and environmental
conditions (relative humidity variation,
exposure duration, etc.).
CMAT and DHS
Work to Restart
UTR Project
CMAT has been working with the
Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) Science and Technology
(S&T) to reinitialize the Underground
Transport Restoration (UTR) project
after it was questioned by DHS
leadership for budgetary reasons.
Prior to the start of the UTR, EPA
on-scene coordinators (OSCs) had
identified gaps in the response to
a release of a biological agent in a
subway system. Additionally, state and
local partners have indicated a strong
need for assistance in planning for this
type of scenario. Using existing data
from actual response, research efforts,
and exercises, CMAT is helping DHS
identify the specific ways that the UTR
project could address research gaps
and improve the level of preparedness,
thereby improving response and
recovery timelines.
Self-Decon
Guidance for Use
by the Public in
Progress
CMAT has begun work to develop
self-decontamination guidance for use
by the public in a biological release
scenario. Currently no available
guidance for the public on self
decontamination or protective measures
exists. Eventually, a video will be
developed that will be available to the
public. Evaluating existing data from
related research projects, CMAT will
work with NHSRC to identify additional
research areas. This project may also
be expanded to focus on chemical or
radiological scenarios:
Ricin Training
Under Development
CMAT developed a two day course to
provide training on ricin. Hie training
includes current sampling media, sampling
techniques, and a detailed description
on the complexities of analyzing ricin
samples. The course includes a description
of current laboratory capabilities for
analyzing samples potentially contaminated
with ricin in the DC., Maryland, and
Virginia area. The local U.S. Department
of Defense (DoD) Wfeapons of Mass
Destruction Civil Support Team
(WMD-CST) provided information on
analytical capabilities and other resources.
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center
(ECBQ participated in this course and
provided information on their agency's
capabilities and resources. At the end
of the course, there was a hands-on
demonstration of surface sampling
techniques. The course has been given
twice in the DC. area and is being
evaluated to expand to a broader biological
sampling training course for the nation.
Capitol Hill Ricin
Support
CMAT and NHSRC Decontamination
and Consequence Management Division
,1X AID, provided support to assist
Region 3 OSC, Charlie Fitzsimmons,
with the April/May 2013 ricin incident.
CMAT provided guidance on sampling
media, techniques, and strategies
for ricin. Information was provided
regarding the decontamination of
ricin contaminated areas that included
sensitive equipment. CMAT provided
decontamination details on current
and past research results from various
decontaminants, and information from
a previous incident.
Bdcia, a deadly toxin, can be easily extracted from casto r beans.
Biological
13
-------
Aggressive Air Sampling Evaluation
Proves Technique to be Effective
Biological
AAS sampling exercise,
The aggressive air sampling (AAS)
method was used as a supplement to
surface sampling following building
decontamination in response to the
2001 intentional B. anthracis spore
contamination incident in the United
States. However, AAS was not used
as a primary method for sampling due
to a lack of a systematic and rigorous
evaluation of this technique. The CBRN
CMAT assisted the NHSRC in their
empirical evaluation of the AAS method
for sampling B. anthracis surrogate
spores. CMAT assisted with planning
the research, analysis, and evaluation of
results; writing and reviewing reports;
and presenting findings outside the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
£EPA),
Unlike traditional surface sampling
methods, AAS indicates potential
airborne concentrations of respirable-
size particles from resuspension, which
might be used to assess risk of anthrax
inhalation exposure. AAS is currently
used for asbestos clearance sampling.
For asbestos, the inhalational route of
exposure produces the most severe
and frequent negative health outcomes.
Therefore, AAS is preferred over surface
sampling to assess the inhalation risk.
Similar to asbestos, the route of B.
anthracis exposure that produces the most
severe outcomes is inhalation. Surface
sampling does not differentiate particle
size nor does it allow for determining
the particles that could become re-
aerosolized. Therefore, AAS is a logical
choice for sampling an enclosed area for
B. anthracis; with the ultimate objective
of estimating inhalational risk under die
certain circumstances.
Accurate measurements of residual
contamination are needed to
inform decisions on re-entry and
reoccupation of spaces following site
decontamination. For a contamination
incident affecting a wide area, traditional
surface sampling methods (i.e., wipe,
swab, and vacuum sock) used for
clearance sampling may also require an
extensive number of samples. Use of
these methods may be time and labor-
intensive in order to achieve a reasonable
confidence.
Innovative techniques such as AAS may
prove useful as an additional tool to
augment currently-used surface sampling
methods and, with additional research,
may be used as an alternative method
in certain situations (e.g., detection of
spore presence from unknown hot
spots, wide-spread contamination with a
concentration close to the detection limit
for surface sampling methods, etc.). AAS
has the potential to effectively shorten
the timeline to recovery, reduce the
sampling burden during a response, and
ultimately result in a decrease 111 overall
cleanup costs.
Hie AAS method was evaluated using
Bacillus atrophaeus (B. atrophaeus) spores
(a surrogate for B. anthracis spores) on
carpet, laminate, and painted drywall to
determine whether this technique may be
effective for B. anthracis spore sampling
from common surfaces. The AAS
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)
AJkS has the potential to
effectively shorten the timeline
to recovery, reduce the sampling
burden during a response, and
ultimately result in a decrease in
overall cleanup costs.
used during the Bioresponse Operational
Testing and Evaluation (BOTE) Phase I
project was used as the starting point for
this study. The currently-recommended
B. anthracis spore surface sampling
methods (i.e., vacuum socks or sponge
wipes) were used to quantify the spore
abundance on additional replicates of
die test surfaces. These recoveries were
dien compared to AAS recoveries. This
evaluation identified die relative sampling
efficacy of die AAS mediod for spore
14
-------
sampling as a function of surface type
and spore surface loading.
High volume (Hi-Vol) samplers (High
Volume Air Sampler VFC-PM10 for
FRM RFPS-1287-063, Thermo Fisher
Scientific Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
were used to collect aerosols. Particle
resuspension was maintained with
turbulent air created by the operation
of a stainless steel mixing fan. The
resuspension process was performed
using a leaf blower operated at the
highest speed [approximately 260
kilometers (km) per hour (160 miles per
hour)]. The operating conditions of the
leaf blower were repeated for all the
tests and set at an angle of 45 degrees,
a distance of lfess than 30 centimeters
(cm) from the target coupon, and with
a forced aerosolization time of 1 min
per coupon of 36 cm x 36 cm area. The
leaf blower operator moved the tip of
the blower back and forth across the
coupon (s) at approximately 1 meter per
second for die total operation time. The
exhaust of the Hi-Vol samplers was
recycled within die test chamber.
Data are reported as the number of
colony forming units (CFUs) recovered
(aggregate of all three air samplers) from
AAS and normalized by the surface area
agitated by a leaf blower. The laboratory
results showed that the average CFUs
from AAS were 1.1,3.1, and 0.8%
recovered from currently used surface
sampling methods for carpet, laminate,
and painted wallboard, respectively. The
relative comparison was normalized by
surface area. However, die application
of AAS would be over a much larger
area than conventional sampling, which
may support the use of AAS in such
situations.
The next steps are to evaluate AAS
for hot spot detection and low-level
uniform deposition detection compared
to currently used methods, followed by
field operational evaluations and tactical
principles for using this method as a tool
during response.
Foot and Mouth
Disease Vignette
Tests Information
Sharing
DHS S&T, through its Integrated
Consortium of Laboratory Networks
(ICLN), sponsored a 1-day vignette
to examine federal agencies' response
to a U.S. outbreak of foot-and-mouth
disease. Representatives from die U.S.
Department of Healtii and Human
Services (HHS) Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) Laboratory Response
Network (LRN); U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) Headquarters;
FDA Veterinary Laboratory
Investigation and Response Network
(Vet-LRN); US. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) National Animal
Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN);
USDA Food Safety and Inspection
Service :(FSIS); and HPA Environmental
Response Laboratory Network
(ERLN) and NHSRC were participants.
Designed as an exercise on reporting
of Preparedness and Situation Reports
through an ICLN IT portal, it tested
information sharing processes between
the various agencies,
Biological
Incident
Environmental
Sampling Plan
Workshop
To assist the New York City (NYC)
Department of Health, CMAT
presented a biological incident
environmental sampling plan
workshop. The workshop included
sampling kit preparation instructions;
provided detailed descriptions of
sampling methods and sampler
training information; and ways to
minimize cross-contamination.
CMAT addressed additional questions
from NYC regarding the Biological
Incident Environmental Sampling Plan
Document which included, operations,
sample team preparation, and
deployment.
PLEASE KEEP OUT
HELP CONTROL
FOOT & MOUTH
FARMERS
GUARDIAN
15
Biological
-------
RV-PCR Laboratory
Improvements Continue
Biological
has hired a contractor to
make this lab operational.
Services have been
procured to commission
the laboratory and certify
all of the equipment.
Development of a biological
safety plan is currently
underway, and a Quality
Assurance Project Plan is
being established. OEM
anticipates the laboratory
will be operational in FY14
and die RVPCR mediod
will be implemented.
Office of Emergency Management Lab housed in the National
Mnforcement Investigation Center i?i iMkewood, Colorado.
EPA CMAT Partners with NYC DOHMH
to Develop Biological Response and
Decon Plan
During a response to a bit terrorism
incident, time is of the essence with regard
to how quickly contaminated areas can be
remediated and repopulated. Hie FY12
CMAT Annual Report introduced work
related to the Rapid Viability Polymerase
Chain Reaction (RV-PCR) method.
The article explained that RV-PCR is a
laboratory method geared at identifying
viable organisms, such as B. anthrads,
Fmncisella tulmnsis, and Yersiniapestis, from
environmental samples more quickly than
traditional culture methods. The RVPCR
method provides shorter turn-around time
for laboratory analysis, has the ability for
higher throughput, and generates less waste
than traditional culture methods. The RV-
PCR method also uses the whole sample,
whereas traditional culture only uses a small
fraction of a sample, making RV-PCR
more sensitive. Researchers at the EPA
Office of Research and Development's
NHSRC are continuing to develop ways
to make the method even faster and more
user-friendly.
The EPA Office of Emergency
Management (OEM) and CMAT have
been working with EPAs Office of
Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention's
Mcrobiology Laboratory Branch
(MLB), located in Ft, Meade, Maryland
to establish it as the agency hub for the
RV-PCR method. If an incident happened
tomorrow, OEM plans to rely on this lab
for internal biological capacity for PCR
and RVPCR. Here, two EPA scientists
have become proficient with the method.
Two scientists from the Department of
die Army's Edgewood Chemical and
Biological Center have also been trained. In
die coming mondis MLB plans to change
to a proficiency testing schedule of once
every diree mondis, scaling back from the
current once-a-mondi practice schedule.
OEM expects to take a larger hands-on
role as one OEM scientist will be included
in the proficiency tests.
Progress continues widi die
implementation of the National
Enforcement Investigation Center's
laboratory in Lakewood, Colorado. OEM
The NYC Department of Healdi and
Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) will work
closely with die EPA to oversee biological
remediation, clearance and re-occupancy.
NYC is requesting assistance to help
develop a remediation framework for NYC
diat provides guidance for all phases of
consequence management. Under die NYC
Citywide Incident Management System
(CIMS,) die DOHMH is designated core
competency for environmental mitigation,
clearance and re-occupancy following a
biological incident. Currentiy, DOHMH
has a draft plan for environmental sampling
after detection of a biological agent, should
it occur dirougji Bio Watch or traditional
detection systems such as syndromic
surveillance. DOHMH recentiy held a
multiagency workshop to vet their plan widi
key partners diat included EPA die Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Dl IS. Sandra
National Lab, Argonne National Lab and
Los Alamos National Lab The workshop
assisted DOHMH with finalizing die
sampling plan and diey are now ready to
transition to anodier major planning and
response gap, which is lack of a plan to
16
address biological remediation, clearance and
re-occupancy.
As a result, DOHMH has partnered widi
CMAT to develop a Biological Remediation
and Re-occupancy framework that will
assist the DOHMH, the city of New York
and its various federal and state partners
widi overseeing and/or directing die
remediation and re-occupancy of a diverse
urban environment diat includes residential
space, commercial space, large indoor and
outdoor common spaces, building facades
and roofs, sidewalks, streets, roads and air
handling systems. Additionally, this project
will include roll-out of die framework by
training internal and external stakeholders
and partners on die contents of die
framework, as well as coordinating and
facilitating a workshop to evaluate and gain
feedback on die framework. CMAT has
engaged a diverse project team to assist widi
tins project diat includes representatives
from EPAs Region 2 and 5, \'l ISR<
Emergency Response Team (ERT), and die
Office of Resource and Recovery (ORCR).
Hie project is expected to be completed in
summer of 2014.
-------
Is Methyl Bromide the Future of Response Technologies?
New Study May Find Out
CM AT provides 24/7 scientific and
technical expertise to the OSC or
response customer for all phases of
consequence management, including
sampling decontamination, and
clearance of radiological, biological, or
chemical contaminants. With a focus
on operational preparedness, CMAT
facilitates the transition of the latest
science and technology to the field
response community in order to provide
tactical options in the event of an
incident involving releases of radiological,
biological, or chemical contaminants.
Currently, some fumigants and liquid
sporicides are available to address limited
CBRN incidents. However, if there were a
significant B. anthmds or other biological
agent release at a major economic or
political target, a timely and adequate
response maybe lacking. Hie capacity
of currently available technologies and
personnel to run them is inadequate.
There is the potential, however, to leverage
the fumigation pest-control industry to
address this current gap in capacity. Using
its unique skills, the pest-control industry
could participate in response to a national
anthrax emergency with methyl bromide
fumigation. Adding methyl bromide
fumigation to current response capabilities
would significantly increase the capacity
and timeliness of response, improving
national resilience.
Issues associated wife the majority
of current alternative remediation
technologies, in addition to the inadequate
capacity, include corrosion and collateral
damage. Even if the capacity of several
current alternative technologies were
increased, the collateral damage they cause
during fumigation or liquid application
would significantly increase the volume of
the waste streams, and increase the total
time and cost of the remediation. In the
case of sensitive or historic infrastructure,
corrosive remediation techniques may not
be an option even if die capacity existed.
On the other hand, methyl bromide does
little to no damage to the structure or
its contents during fumigation. Methyl
bromide reduces waste, time, and the
total cost, of remediation, and may be the
only alternative for sensitive or historic
infrastructure.
In addition to the added capacity, the
overall reduced cost, and the application
for sensitive infrastructure, methyl bromide
is effective. Methyl bromide is competent
to penetrate into all spaces, as a true gas
would. It is competent to inactivate B.
anthmds with a reasonable concentration-
time dose. Amd methyl bromide, when the
fumigation is complete, can be effectively
captured on activated carbon, reducing any
potential detrimental environmental effects.
CMAT is training with NHSRC and
collaborating wi tli the University of Florida
in planning an operational methyl bromide
fumigation study scheduled for December
2013. Hie study will yield operational
data and increase F.RYs experience using
methyl bromide to timely, effectively, and
environmentally respond to a B. anthfacis
incident, making the nation more resilient
to terrorist attacks.
The operational study will include total
enclosure with:
y tarpaulins covering a 51,000 cubic
feet structure;
y heaters, circulation fans, temperature
and relative humidity monitoring,
y methyl bromide concentration
monitoring inside and outside the
enclosure; and
y activated carbon scrubbing during
aeration.
Taboratory fumigation parameters
obtained by NHSRC researchers will
be evaluated in this operational study
Surrogate B. anthracis spores will be placed
on structural materials and used to evaluate
efficacy of the fumigation. Remedial action
plans, health and safety plans, and ambient
air monitoring plans are being created for
use at this site as well as to be available as
templates for real-world emergencies in the
future.
Using methyl bromide reduces
waste, time, and the total cost
of remediation, and may be the
only alternative for sensitive or
historic infrastructure.
A-tt example of a nhok-hojtse fumigation.
Biological
17
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Radiological
& Nucle
Radiation Response Readiness Forum
There's an App
for That —
CMAT/NHSRC to
Develop Decon
App
The National Homeland Security
Research Center (NHSRC) is entering
into an Interagency Agreement with
die Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) Science &c Technology (S&T) to
conduct a variety of tasks. One of die
tasks is to develop a decontamination
application for emergency responders
with an emphasis on the emergency
phase to a radiological event. The
Consequence Management Advisory
Team (CMAT) will lead this effort in
partnership with NHSRC. Preliminary
meetings are being held to organize the
contract support and set the strategies
for completing the task.
CMAT initiated a forum for OSCs and
other U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) staff to discuss needs,
ideas and efforts related to radiation
response and readiness. On-scene
coordinators (OSCs) from all 10
Regions were invited, as well as health
physicists from the Office of Radiation
and Indoor Air (ORIA), Environmental
Response Team ;ERT/,ind Radiological
Emergency Response Team (RERT),
The group developed a list of
important issues that die membership
then prioritized. The issues that were
highly ranked included:
y Establish objective evaluation
criteria for recommending
safe return to residences and
commercial establishments, and the
final clearance of all contaminants
from individual properties. These
criteria would be used by state and
local governments.
5^ Develop an agency-wide
organizational chart identifying
staff (name, office/division) witii
radiation expertise. This could
be expanded to include radiation
workgroups in which agency staff
participate.
5^ Develop debris management
parameters that can be used in
choosing appropriate repository
location. This could possibly
involve the LIS, Army Corps of
Engineers (USAGE) under an
Interagency agreement.
5^ Develop an operations plan
for DHS to cover the first 72
hours of an improvised nuclear
device (IND) incident. Key
issues that need to be addressed
include the response timelines for
responsible agencies; the roles
of the responsible agencies; the
expectations for KP.Ys response;
and the coordination of resources.
5^ Develop information on the
standard operating procedures
(SOPs) in support of the Core
National Approach to Response
(NAR) Chemical, Biological,
Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)
list (National Tactical Guide to
Address Radiological Incidents)
r* Begin the planning process for
developing and conducting field
decontamination trials.
Developing
Radiation
Response SOPs
Working with a select team of health
physicists from the EPA Regions and
special teams, CMAT began developing
radiation response (RR) SOPs that could
be used across the special teams and the
regions. An initial list of desirable RRSOPs
had been started for the Tiberty RadEx
event. Coordinating with the Office
of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA), a
template was developed and a tentative
approval path was agreed to. To date, the
workgroup has written, reviewed and
prepared find drafts of four RRSOPs, and
have six more in the review stage, with one
additional RRSOP in the development
stage. The goal for the workgroup is to
have these 11 RRSOPs in final draft form
by the end of Fiscal Year 2013.
Radiation Response
Standard
Operating
Procedures
13
-------
Invaluable Experience Gained from RDD Exercise
The state of Vermont hosted a full-scale
exercise in October, 2012 to test its ability
to respond to a no-notice detonation of
a radiological dispersion device (RDD).
The exercise was designed by the state
radiological health agency to test their first
response capabilities, their communications
systems, and how well the state health
agency could answer the concerns of
their citizens. The exercise involved three
primary venues, separated by up to 60
miles, including the state's fire academy
and its radiological health agency building.
Participants in the exercise included fire,
police, hazmat and other responders.
EPA participants were an OSC and three
health physicists. CMAT was invited by
EPA Region 1 to participate in the exercise
and sent one health physicist to the event.
Completing its fifth year, the Radiation
Task Force Leaders (RTFL) program with
its support from CMAT, now has thirty
RTFLs ready for deployment. Due to
budget uncertainties and travel restrictions
in 2013, the RTFL training team chose to
repeat the refresher training by webinar,
offering mostly new material and some
homework to keep the RTFL knowledge
fresh. Three 2-hour webinars authored
and delivered by the training team were
held during May and June 2013 each held
two times to assist in attendance. Thirty
RTFLs participated in the webinars
and completed assignments addressing
contaminated vehicles, contaminated
workers, sampling packaging and
emergencies in a hot zone. In light of the
Fukishima Daiichi disaster, the participants
also got extra information about nuclear-
power plants, how they operate, and their
expected problems, Currently 30 of 38
participating RTFLs have met all their
required refresher training and are ready
CMAT's participant was part of the
simulation cell and had direct input to the
pace, tenor and realism of the exercise.
During the 10-hour exercise, several
dozen injects guided the exercise, which
started with the premise that a burned car-
had been discovered to have significantly
elevated radiation readings. The first
responders informed the state radiological
health agency of the possible radiological
event. The state agency was then required
to follow up and was timed to completion.
As the response grew (radiation readings
and rumors indicated a significant plume
of material had left the burned car or
its vicinity), the exercise focused less
on the responders (who continued to
role play their actual response for the
for possible deployment to a radiation
response. CMAT delivered a plenary
presentation during the National Remedial
Progect Manager (NRPM) conference in
Las Vegas, Nevada, in November 2012.
Hie presentation provided information
about the RTFL program to the remedial
project managers (RPMs) and extended an
invitation to get involved in the Response
Support Corps by becoming an RTFL.
Since the conference, approximately 10
people have shown interest or requested
more information. Also in July 2013,
Colleen Petullo retired from EPA and
her role as the RTFL training team lead.
Hie RTFL training team leadership is
now being provided by CMAT staff In
October 2013, EPA's ERT, in Edison,
New Jersey, will host a 2-week initial RTFL
training "boot camp" focused on meeting
Region 1,2, and 3 interests in the program.
19
duration of the exercise), and more on
providing guidance and information to
the state's citizens. As in many real life
events, an unexpected amount of time
and manpower was spent correcting many
faulty media reports (some intentional) and
their ramifications, as participants role-
playing as panicked citizens swamped the
state radiological and health agencies with
concerns.
An after action report found the exercise
very useful, an invaluable experience for
the individuals manning the radiological
and health agencies, and highlighted the
value of significant "cross fertilization" that
comes with a full-scale exercise involving
most of the actual players in a possible
RDD event.
Quick Response
Guides for RDDs
and INDs
Quick Response Guides (QRG) describe the
most sigiificant information for a stand-
alone responder to know when confronted
with organizing a response for an RDD
or IND event. CMAT participated in the
development of both the RDD and IND
QRGs, Hie RDD QRG provides brief
but detailed information about what to
expect, how to stay safe, what personal
protective equipment (PPE) to use, what
doses are allowed, and information on
detection, sampling and waste handling. Hie
IND QRG describes most of the same
information, but due to the vastly larger-
expected impact of an IND in an urban
setting the IND QRG limits its suggested
courses of action to supporting initial
response efforts (e.g., life-saving avoiding
fallout the first few days). Hie QRGs are in
review and may be available early in Fiscal
Year 2014.
Radiological
& Nucl
30 RTFLs: Deployment Ready for
Radiation Response
-------
Chemical
New England
Exercise Tests
CWA Sampling
& Analysis
Coordination
In the fall of 2012, the Chemical,
Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear
(CBRN) Consequence Management
Advisory Team (CMAT) deployed field
asset, the Portable High Throughput
Integrated Laboratory Identification
System (PHILIS), mobile staff and
PHILIS
equipment to Region l's New England
.(NE) Laboratory facilities in Chelmsford,
Massachusetts. PHILIS participated in a
full-scale chemical warfare agent (CWA)
response exercise using a 'live" £ AY.V
The goal of the exercise was to determine
the best way to coordinate federal, state,
and National Guard responses to a
CWA attack with regard to each agency's
sampling and analytical assets. Region
l's NE Laboratory is one of the EPAs
Environmental Response Laboratory
Network T'.Rl.N'' approved ultra dilute
agent (UDA) laboratories, which are
set up to analyze CWA-contaminated
environmental samples. PHILIS mobile
units prepared and analyzed CWA -spiked
samples at the Region 1 facility
In addition to the Region 1 and PHILIS
laboratory assets, several National Guard
Civil Support Teams (CST) participated in
die exercise by screening spiked samples
for CWAs using their field protocols. A
total of five CST units participated (1st
CST-Massachusetts, 11th CST-Maine,
12th CST-New Hampshire, 13th CST-
Rhode Island, 14th CST-Connecticut
and 15th CST- Vermont), along with
the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection (DEP) and
Massachusetts Institute of Technology's
(MIT's) Lincoln Labs.
Hie exercise tested the
coordination between
federal, state, and local
assets to merge and
leverage the various
sampling and analysis
protocols of each of
the participants to
support the overall
CWA response.
samp
Preparing for a WMD Attack: PHILIS
Integrates into Multi-Regional &
Multi-Agency Exercise
During the winter of 2012/2013,
Region 6 sponsored a large, inter-
agency, weapons of mass destruction
(WMD) full-scale response exercise
(FSB). CMAT and EPA Regions 4,
5, and 6, along with the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC), Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA),
and numerous state, local, academic,
and commercial entities participated.
A total of 51 laboratories (five federal,
two mobile (PHILIS), two academic,
two commercial, and 40 state) covered
30 individual states and three laboratory
networks (EPAs ERLN and the Water
Laboratory Alliance (WLA), CDC's
Laboratory Response Network (LRN)
and USDA's
of the network would be challenged,
and the ability to collect and share
analytical data across federal, state, and
local platforms would be tested. A toxic
chemical (alienrb), a chemical warfare
agent (sarin) and two biological releases
(botulinum toxin and cholera) were part
of the Region 4, 5, and 6 F8E« PHILIS
analyzed spiked environmental samples
for sarin, sarin breakdown products
and aldicarb using state of the art gas
chromatography/mass spectrometry
(GC/MS) and liquid chromatography-
tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/
MS) methodologies. Data from the 51
laboratories were compiled, processed
and validated via EPAs automated data
validation software (WebEDR).
Food Emergency
Response Network
(FERN)). The
goal of tin- FSB
was to test the
various laboratory
networks in the
aftermath of an
event, in this case
a hurricane, where
several chemical
and biological
releases occur
simultaneously
over a large
geographic area.
The robustness
Regions 4, 5 and 6 FSE
by the Numbers
>200
Injects
Federal
Agencies
4
Scenarios
Laboratory Networks:
ERLN/WLA, LRN, FERN
>7,000
Multi-media samples spiked with
chemical and/or biological contaminants
51
Laboratories
Laboratories
Mobie
Number of States
Participating
40
State Laboratories
Commercial Laboratories
Non-profit and
Academic Laboratories
EPA Regions 4, 5 and 6 full scale response capabilities.
20
-------
Food
Contamination
Scenario Tests
Interoperability of
Lab Network
ASPECT Plume Detection and Tracking
atWest,Texas Explosion
PHILIS supported die Integrated
Consortium of Laboratory Networks
(ICLN) Confidence Building
Competency Testing Exercise for
testing the interoperability of the
different ICLN laboratories supporting
each other in the event of a large
intentional food contamination
scenario. The scenario was a liquid
food source (beer) contaminated with
a toxic industrial chemical, in this
exercise tetramine, which may have
been distributed nationwide. The
seven labs that are part of the ICEN
modified their daily standard laboratory
procedures and quickly adapted to
die methods and protocols needed to
analyze a large number of samples for
tetramine in beer. The ability to adapt
existing national laboratory assets to a
single contaminant would be necessary
to restore die nation's confidence in
die food supply in the event of an
intentional poisoning incident.
Uqitid chromotograpjjy-tandem mass
spectrometry workstation.
On Wednesday, April 17, a massive
explosion occurred at the West
Fertilizer Company plant in die small
Texas town of West, 18 miles north
of Waco. The explosion occurred at
about 8:00 p.m. with a school and a
nursing home among the buildings
near the plant. The explosion shook
houses 50 miles away and measured as
a 2.1 magnitude seismic event. It left
15 people dead, sent dozens more to
hospitals for medical attention, leveled
homes and businesses in every direction
across die town, and prompted a wide-
scale evacuation in the community of
about 2,600 people because of concern
diat another fertilizer tank at the
facility might explode. The material of
screening and aerial reconnaissance
support to the ongoing response. The
ASPECT plane subsequendy made
several flyovers beginning on die
evening of die explosion. ASPECT
was able to detect the ammonia
plume resulting from the explosion,
and subsequendy tracked the plume
northward as it migrated from the
explosion site and eventually dissipated
into die atmosphere. Numerous
aerial photographs of die explosion
site and surrounding area were taken
and provided to the OSC and on-site
response teams. The cause of the
explosion is still under investigation.
Photo taken a day after the explosion. The ASPECT plane photos the direction and extent of
the plume .
concern was anhydrous ammonia, a gas
widi suffocating fumes that is used as a
fertilizer. Wien exposed to humans, it
can cause serious healdi problems.
The Region 6 on scene coordinator
(OSC) requested diat the Airborne
Spectral Photometric Environmental
Collection Technology (ASPECT)
System mobilize to provide chemical
Chemical
21
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Chemical
Reducing
Disaster Impact
Through Remote
Sensing Technology
The Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction
(SDR) is an element of the President's
National Science and Technology Council
(NSTC) and facilitates national strategies
for reducing disaster risks and losses.
Strategies are based on effective use of
science and technology. The ASPECT
System is a prime asset that can be
leveraged by the nation during disasters
to help reduce die environmental, health.
Remote Sensing. Oil burn-off during ASPECT'S Gulf Oil Spill deployment.
22
and economic impact by providing rapid
response using remote sensing technology.
CBRN ("M A I' has been assigned the lead
on die SDR geospatial and remote sensing
data interoperability workgroup during
disaster responses.
Response
Guides and
CWA Play books
Updated to
Maintain Readiness
The: National Response Team (NRl) Quick
Reference Guide (QRG) inter-agency work
group continues to develop updates for all
existing QRGs that are more than two years
old. Hie CWA Core National Approach to
Response (NAR) National Preparedness
workgroup also continues to address I PAs
CWA Core NAR issues. Five sections of
die CWA Playbook have been revised
and updated and are under review by the
OSCs and work group members. Monthly
conference calls will continue.
Quick Response Guides being updated.
-------
PHILIS: Seeking
to Continuously
Improve
Hie PHILIS units continue die following
analytical methods of development on
CWAs:
.)*¦ liquid chromatography-tandem mass
spectrometry (LC/MS/MS);
y gas chromatography with mass
selective detector (GC/MSD); and
P' gas chromatography/time-of-flight
mass spectrometry (GC/TOF-MS).
A rapid LC MS/MS metliod for
organophosphate pesticides is also under-
development. Hie results will be shared with
the CWA Sampling Analysis Plan (SAP)
work group as a prototype of rapid methods
for selected CWAs. Quality Assurance
Technical Services (QATS) contractor
laboratory audits are being planned.
Reaching Out To
Support Regions
1,2 & 3
CMAT continues liaison support of EPA
Region 1 and 2's CBRN preparedness
efforts. CMAT works to keep Region 1
and 2 OSCs involved with the Integrated
Detection and Decontamination
Demonstration (IDDD) project and non-
traditional threat agents (KHCA) issues. This
is a < "MAT coordinated and Department
of Homeland Security (DHS)-sponsored
event Training on new modules for
the Visual Sampling Plan software will
be held at Region 2 in July 2013. EPAs
Environmental Response Team (ERI),
Region 1 and 3, along with the New York
City (NYQ Department of Health and
Mental Hygiene have been invited.
Live Demo of
DHS IDDD
Technologies
Scheduled
Support to the DHS-sponsored
Integrated Detection and
Decontamination Demonstration
(IDDD) project continued with a site
visit to the New York City (NYC)
Mass Transit Authority (MTA) on
June 11, 2013. The "live demo"
of IDDD technologies has been
scheduled for fall 2013, at die NYC
MTA's Bowery subway station. The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
T P V: will participate and will likely co-
chair sessions at the IDDD demo.
CMAT's PHILJS trailers dephjedfor a demonstration.
23
Chemical
-------
Collaboration
& Coordinatio
U.S. and Canada Working Together
to Protect North America
The Emergency Management
Consultative Group (EMCG) was
formed by an agreement between the
US. and the government of Canada
to address emergency management
cooperation. The EMCG is comprised
of working groups that focus on tasks
from the December 2011 United States-
Canada Beyond the Border (BTB)
Action Plan. During meetings of the
EMCG, updates from all of the working
groups for the tasks of the BTB Action
Plan are provided. Working groups
focus on topics including federal-to-
federal mutual assistance, movement
of goods and people across the border
during and following emergencies, joint
exercises/training critical infrastructure,
and cybersecurity.
In addition to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency {EPA) Office of
Emergency Management (OEM)
Consequence Management Advisory
Team (CMAT) the- Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), Department
of Defense (DoD), Department
of State (DOS), and Department
of Transportation (DOT) send
representatives to these meetings.
The Canadian delegation includes
representatives from Public Safety
Canada, the Canadian Embassy, Border
Services;Agency, Department of
Foreign Affairs and International Trade,
Transport Canada, and the Department
of National Defense.
OEM has been an ongoing participant
on the BTB Task 7A Canada-
United States Chemical, Biological,
Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives
(CBRNB) Working Group, Ted by
the CBRNE Branch of the federal
Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA), this working group consists of
participants from the U.S. EPA, DHS,
Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), Northern Command
(NORTHCOM), and Department of
Energy (DOE), and Canadian agencies
and is working to develop a cooperative
CBRNp Response Work Plan between
the- US. and Canada,
CMAT participated in the meetings of
die EMCG CBRNE Working Group
to provide input on the final work plan
and terms of reference. CMAT has also
offered leadership assistance for the
subgroup areas of clearance criteria for
CBRN and environmental response.
CMAT will continue to provide support
to other areas of coordination, as
needed.
Partnering with Poland for Biological Resiliency
Demonstration
The goal of the Transatlantic Collaborative
Biological Resiliency Demonstration
(TaCBRD) is to develop and demonstrate
a capability for resilience in countering a
wide-area biologcal incident that affects
U.S. and partner nations. It is led by the
Defense Threat Reduction Agency with
its key partner, the Department of State's
Foreign Consequence Management office,
and with the primary partner nation,
Poland.
Along with developing biological
sampling training for the Civil Support
Teams (CST) stationed in Germany and
Polish responders, CMAT has supported
the TACBRD International Recovery
Assistance workshops. The goal of that
workshop was to examine the roles and
participation of US. agencies that would
assist in a large scale biological incident
in Poland and existing frameworks for
CMAT has also participated
in meetings detailing some of
the software products being
developed by TaCBRD and
how they would function
to support an international
or large-scale response to a
biological agent. EPA [National
Homeland Security Research
Center (NHSRQ and CMAT]
24
Soldiers from Poland and the Illinois National Guard treat t
simulated casualty during an exercise in Warsaw, Poland.
have been in contact with the developers
of the products that could be used by the
EPA. to provide input on what gaps exist
for these products and how EPA would
use them. As these products are further
developed, CMAT and NHSRC will also
provide assistance in evaluating their use.
international biological incident assistance
so TaCBRD could plan future events with
the appropriate stakeholders. During this
workshop. CMAT also provided a briefing
on EPAs response to Japan following
the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster.
Other participants in this workshop were
from DHS, DoD, DOS, the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI),
HH$ and U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA).
-------
Improving CBRN
Capabilities Through
Knowledge
Exchange with
United Kingdom
Preparedness and Response Community
Strengthens Relationship with the
European Union
CMAT and the EPA Office of Research
and Development's (ORD's) NHSRC
met with representatives from the United
Kingdom's Government Decontamination
Service (GDS) to identify areas for
operational and scientific exchange. Hie
representatives were from the GDS
Emergency Response and Recovery
program and CBRN Capabilities Office.
Hiis cooperative effort falls under the
agreement between the U.S. government
and the government of the United
Kingdom (U.K.) of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland on Cooperation in
Science and Technology for Critical
Infrastructure Protection and Other-
Homeland/Civil Security Matters and a
representative from the U.K. Embassy also
attended this meeting to clarify the rules of
international engagement.
A Communication Plan is being developed
using the above mentioned agreement,
with input from the U.K. Embassy and
EPA's Office of Homeland Security.
NHSRC leads this overall effort, with
CMAT taking the lead for all operational
topics. CMAT will continue to meet via
teleconference with the GDS head of
CBRN Capabilities to discuss and prioritize
the operational areas for collaboration and
cooperation.
JK Governmer
European Cooperation in Science and
Technology (COST) invited CMAT to
present at its Second International Open
Workshop on Local-Scale Airborne Hazards
Modeling and Emergency Response in Paris,
France, on June 13,2013. First responders
and emergency response authorities face a
large spectrum of potential threats due to
the release of hazardous substances in built
environments. Due to the complexity of
the wind field in built areas, adequate flow
and dispersion modeling and health impact
assessment tools are required to predict
the dispersion of hazardous materials with
sufficient accuracy within a very short time.
This workshop was an opportunity for
stakeholders, decision makers, practitioners
and scientists active in the field of
development and use of local-scale airborne
hazards modeling to collect information and
discuss the latest issues and state of the art
developments.
CMAT briefed the work group on
the Airborne Spectral Photometric
Environmental Collection Technology
(ASPECT) Program. Models provide first
responders a best guess based on various
inputs. ASPECT collects actual chemical
and/or radiological data at an event and
transmits scientifically validated situational
l_l—I!
EUROPEAN COOPERATION
IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
awareness, near real-time, to the first
response community. ASPECT'S data can
even provide input to models, ultimately
strengthening a model's prediction. Hie
briefing addressed how responders have
assets available for use other than models,
which can be misleading and showed how
models can use near real-time data collected
by assets like ASPECT to make future
predictions more accurate during events.
CMAT's participation strengthened their
relationship with the preparedness and
response community in the European
Union. Their collaboration and cooperation
will enable the United States and European
Union to improve their response capabilities,
increase efficiencies and reduce costs.
CMAT Leads Meeting with French
Delegation
A delegation from the French Ministry of
Ecology, Sustainable Development, and
Energy met with CMAT and NHSRC from
January 14-18,2013 in Washington D.C.
and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
Both the EPA and the French delegation
shared information on organization and
statutory authority, lessons learned from
CBRN responses, advances in tools and
technologies, laboratory development,
and training and exercises. All participants
identified the need to develop a mutually
beneficial partnership as each country is
investing resources into the development of
guidance and tools beneficial to all involved
25
parties. As such, the French have invited
and funded two trips for EPA participants
to travel to France and leam more about the
operational planning and technologies under-
development there. Further, the French
are returning to the U.S. for the upcoming
Decontamination Conference in November
2013. At that time, a study will be launched
to jointly evaluate the use and efficacy of a
French developed decon foam and gel.
Collaboration
& Coordination
-------
Collaboration
& Coordinatio
ICLN Continues to
Develop New Tools
The Integrated Consortium of
Laboratory Networks (ICLN) and its
Network Coordinating Group iNCG)
continue to develop tools and guidance
for the seven member federal agency
laboratory network. The goal is to ensure
coordination between network labs for
issues involving laboratory capability and
capacity, sampling and analytical method
development and validation, quality
assurance, data reporting and sharing, and
performance testing In 2013, tin- ICLN
developed an online "Methods Registry"
detailing network labs' capabilities, testing
protocols, and point-of-contact for specific
priority chemicals, radiochemical agents
and biological agents and toxins. Work is
currently in progress to link accreditation-
required "Performance Test" results to
each analyte in the Methods Registry. The
ICLN has completed the development of
the ICLN Portal which allows individual
lab networks to (1) provide notice and
situational awareness of incidents that
may involve multiple network laboratory
capabilities and capacity and (2) provide
a means to export laboratory generated
testing results to a pre-defined database
populated with Minimum Data Elements
(MDE) for the purpose of confidentially
sharing lab results with other ICLN
members. In order to test the capabilities
of the portal and the processes by which
die individual networks coordinate
communication, a vignette format tabletop
exercise was conducted in 2013. The
vignette centered around an incident
involving an outbreak of foot and
mouth disease (FMD) in the U.S. milk
supply and consisted of representatives
from 1,1'A's Environmental Response
Laboratory Network (ERLN); HHS
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Laboratory Response Network (LRN);
Food and Drug Administration (EDA)
Headquarters; EDA Veterinary Laboratory
Investigation and Response Network
(Vet-LRN); USDA National Animal
Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN);
and USDA Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS). Hie vignette was not
designed to exercise the full range of
federal agency response authorities or
actual field response, but only to exercise
reporting of Preparedness and Situation
Reports through the ICLN Portal to test
information sharing processes between
die various agencies. Information sharing
consisted of die lead agency providing
a detailed description of die incident, a
description of available laboratory capacity
to handle the lead agency's response
activities, and detailed information from
odier agencies detailing any potential surge
capacity die non-lead agencies may be able
to provide for support.
Disseminating Information on
Emerging Threat Agents
Tornados Terminate
Arctic Sentry
Exercise
The White House Chemical Sub-
Interagency Policy Committee (IPC)'
Workgroup met on a regular monthly basis
throughout 2013. The primary dieme for
the year centered on federal policy issues
pertaining to dissemination of classified
information related to emerging direat
agents. Discussion mainly pertained to
what information about these agents
can be released to federal, state and local
emergency first responders and to die
public at various timeframes, including
prior to any incident involving a release
of these agents (pre-incident planning),
during die early stages of die incident
(first response activities involving mass
casualties), and for post-incident activities
(remediation, clearance and monitoring
activities). Hie workgroup conducted
a tabletop exercise detailing the federal
response activities to a release of one of
diese agents. CMAT coordinated with
EPA CHS to present die EPA response
activities at the exercise. Other workgroup
activities included participation in briefings
with DHS concerning die Chemical
Terrorism Risk Assessment (CTRA) for
chemical direat prioritization.
CMAT prepared summary information on
ASPECT, die Portable High Throughput
Integrated Laboratory Identification
Systems (PHILIS), and Trace Atmospheric
Gas Analyzers (TAGA) assets to support
the Arctic Sentry
Exercise. This
exercise was
conducted from
May 17 to 21,
2013, but was
terminated
early due to die
tornado in Moore,
Oklahoma.
Tornado as it passed Moore, Oklahoma.
-------
DHS Transitions
WARRP to EPA
EPA-CDC Joint
Clearance Work
Group
Denver Area UASI
Collaboration
with USDA to
Protect Food
Products
On May 16,2013, DHS officially
transferred the products developed under
the Wide Area Resiliency and Recovery
Program (WARRP) to HPV The purpose
of WARRP is to develop and demonstrate
solutions (i.e., frameworks, operational
capabilities and interagency coordination)
that would enable a timely return to
functionality, restore basic services and
re-establish social and economic order-
following a catastrophic event. WARRP
focused on a
coordinated
systems
approach to
the recovery
and resiliency
of wide
urban areas,
including
all types
of critical
infrastructure, key resources (both
civilian and military) and high traffic
areas following a Chemical Biological
Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN)
incident.
CMAT, Office of Homeland Security
(OHS), and NHSRC began a
collaborative effort with die USDA to
provide assistance regarding the USDAs
requirement to protect food products
from intentional contamination using
emerging threat agentsi; EPA has provided
review and comment on a laboratory
method being developed for USDA by the
ECBC. The method will define how to
perform analysis for these contaminants in
a variety of foods. CMAT is considering
developing a
similar testing
method for
environmental
samples. If
development of
these methods is
successful, EPA
may be able to
offer additional
lab testing capacity
to USDA for
food. CMAT
and NHSRC will
also be working
to develop
decontamination
guidance for
contaminated
food for USDA,
The joint EPA-CDC work group to
address clearance and toxicity issues on
unknown threat agents has the final draft
document under review Conference
calls were held between the DOD
Chemical Materials Agency group at
BCBQ DHS, CDC-NCEHand the EPA
(CMAT, Regions 1 & 2 and NHSRQ on
decontamination, cost tracking, waste
management and other CWA issues and to
discuss future partnerships. The scope of
this partnership is under development.
EPA - DoD
Partnership
Conference calls were held between the
DoD Chemical Materials Agency (CMA)
group at die Edgewood Chemical and
Biological Center (ECBC), and DJ IS,
CDC National Center for Environmental
Healdi :(NCEH): and EPA (CMAT,
Regions 1 & 2 and NHSRC) on
decontamination, cost tracking waste
management and odier CWA issues and to
discuss future partnerships. The scope of
diis partnership is under development.
Mr. Bjtssell (DHS) and Ms, Candler (SIM) signing one of the first
TK4RRP trartsitiott agreements.
27
Collaboration
& Coordinatio
-------
CMAT in the News
CMAT Up
Maintaining
Response
Readiness
Hie Consequence Management Advisory
Team (CMAT) and the National
Counterterrorism Evidence Response
Team (NCERT) conducted team training
in the Research Triangje Park (RTP) facility
between April 29 and May 3,2013. Hie
training included an 8-hour Hazardous
Waste Operations and Emergency Response
(HAZWOPER) refresher; radiation,
chemical and biological training and a
Level-A exercise. Chemical, Biological,
Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) wipe
sampling and personnel decontamination
were exercised. Hie National Homeland
Security Center (NHSRQ also participated
and collaborated with the exercise part of
the training.
C MAT's
Core NAR
Evaluation Shows
Improvement
On May 14,2013, CMAT emergency
response preparedness was evaluated
as part of the annual Core National
Approach to Response (NAR) process.
CMAT has responsibility for criteria
under the Headquarters, Special Teams
and CBRN evaluations and has shown
improvements. CMAT continues to help
develop the preparedness of the agency to
respond to a CBRN event by supporting
the Regions in all areas of response and
preparedness. These include leading the
development of CBRN national response
guides, developing laboratory capacity, and
collaborating with international, national,
state and local partners on issues related
to a CBRN response.
Interested in more articles about CMAT?
Additional articles published about CMAT
can be found at:
5^ CBRNe WORLD, Aspects of Chem
— An interview with CMAT's Director
discussing the Team's capabilities projects
and response assets. February 2013
littp: / /www.cbrneworld.com/_uploads/download_magazines/Aspects_of_
Chem.pdf
5^ DomesticPreparedness.com - EPA's Role in Domestic Preparedness by Erica
Canzler, Director of the CBRN Consequence Management Advisory Team,
September 12, 2012
littp: / /www.domesticpreparedness.com/Commentary/Viewpoint/
EPA%60s_Role_in_Domestic_Preparedness/
> It All Starts with Science, EPA's Mobile Lab Helps Clean Up Vermont
Community - By Larry Kaelin with Mike Nalipinski. A description of
PHILIS' role in the cleanup of Albans, Vermont after Hurricane Irene.
August 27, 2012
littp://blog.epa.gov/science/2012/08/epa%E2%80%99s-mobile-lab-helps-
clean-up-vermont-community/
> KMOVcom, EPA plane detects radiation at West Lake landfill, will release
findings. CMAT's ASPECT plane investigates a Missouri landfill. March 11,
2013
littp://www.kmov.com/news/local/EPA-plane-detects-radiation-at-
Bridgeton-Landfill-197213011 .html
5^ Washington Times, Mapping a picture of Earth's minute particles from the
sky. CMAT's ASPECT plane provides surveillance for President Obama's
second inauguration. January 21, 2013
littp:/ /p.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/jan/21/mapping-a-picture-of-
earths-minute-particles-from-/
5^ West Virginia Public Radio, EPA teams up with National Guard to keep
Jamboree safe. CMAT's ASPECT plane provides surveillance for the 2013
National Scout Jamboree. July 24, 2013
littp:/ /www.wvpubcast.org/newsarticle.aspx?id=30948
28
-------
Information for OSCs on CMATWeb Page
CMAT is developing a series of summary
documents for chemical and biological
agents, Each summary includes:
background information, exposure
guidance, expected heath effects after
exposure, personal protective equipment
(PPE) recommendations, hazard reduction
and cleanup information. Hie summaries
have incorporated recent findings of
OKD/NHSRC when applicable. The
information is concise and comprehensive
to assist OSCs during a response. The
summary documents should be posted to
GMATs website in FY14.
CMATWeb Page:
htfp.7 /www.epa.gov/osweroel/
content/ partners/ cbrncmat.htm
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Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Consequence
Management Advisory Team
The Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Consequence Management Advisory Team (CBRN
CMAT), located in five geographic locations, provides 24/7 scientific and technical expertise to the On-
Scene Coordinator (OSC) or response customer for all phases of consequence management, including
sampling, decontamination, and clearance, With a focus on operational preparedness, CBRN CMAT
facilitates the transition of the latest science and technology to the field response community in order
to provide tactical options for screening, sampling, monitoring, decontamination, clearance, waste
management, and toxicological/exposure assessment during the decontamination of buildings or other
structures in the event of an incident involving releases of radiological, biological, or chemical
contaminants. CMAT maintains critical partnerships with EPA's National Homeland Security Research
Center and EPA's special teams, as well as other federal partners including the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Defense (DOD), and
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)/Health and Human Services (HHS), as well as international
partners.
CMAT's Mission and Focus (PDF) (i pg, 27k, about pdfi
Report oil or
chemical spills at
800-424-8802
Border Programs
CAMEO
EPCRA
Facility Response Plan
Freshwater Spills Symposia
Hurricanes
LEPCs
October 2013:
Albuquerque
Balloon Fiesta
The State of New Mexico has requested
that EPA Airborne Spectrophotometry:
Environmental Collection Technology
(ASPECT) assist wit I) airborne chemical
and radiological monitoring as part of the
2013 Albuquerque International Balloon
Fiesta. This event typically draws a crowd
of over 500,000 spectators. ASPECT has
assisted the state for the past four years
and provides daily chemical/radiological
sweeps in addition to a heightened state of
emergency response readiness in the event
of an accident.
CMAT Updates
29
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UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear
Consequence Management Advisory Team
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