15^th Annual OSC Readiness Training Program
February 6 - 10, 2012

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Steve Mason, EPA Region 6

In October of 1987, Congress passed the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), which made sweeping changes in the way we plan and prepare for chemical accidents. It empowered local officials to form a Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) to plan for events, provided chemical information to local officials and to the communities, and placed requirements on facilities to work with a wide spectrum of interests to prepare for accidental chemical releases.

The EPA Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention Office (CEPPO) was formed in the mid-1980s to implement the provisions of EPCRA and provide assistance to states and locals in fulfilling their requirements under the law. Through the years, CEPPO developed and distributed numerous documents that provided valuable resources and information to stakeholders in meeting their obligations. The exhibit will highlight many of these documents, which are now maintained by the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Many of these documents can be found at: www.epa.gov/oem.

Leann Bing, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Emergency Response Support

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) is one of the agencies within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and is co-located with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. ATSDR is the lead federal public health agency for addressing health issues arising from sites identified by the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), more commonly known as Superfund. Since 1986, part of that role has been to provide support during CERCLA emergency events. ATSDR does this by maintaining a 24-hour response telephone line through which callers can speak with an Emergency Response Coordinator (ERC). The ERC identifies the specialists needed to address the health issues involved in the incident and assembles a consultation team of those specialists to provide advice over the phone to the caller. Under certain conditions, a response team can be sent to the incident to provide on-site support. ATSDR has staff located in the regional offices that work closely and often daily with EPA OSCs.

This booth provides information on this support mechanism and the various technical resources and staff to help others prepare for chemical events. An information flyer describing the service with contact procedures will be available. The ATSDR 24-hour response telephone number is (770) 488-7100.

Anna Abbey, EPA Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center

The EPA’s Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center can provide you with fast and effective assistance in addressing people issues that are impeding your progress.

If you are frustrated by such issues as:

• Unwilling owners who are preventing access to sites
• Potentially responsible parties (PRP) who cannot agree on cost allocations
• Local and state agencies who cannot reach consensus with the plan
• Communities who do not support your action or are confused about risk
• Internal team dissension

We can help by providing professional conflict resolution specialists who have the expertise and experience in breaking through these barriers. Our contract is independently funded, fast and easy to use, and is available to all programs throughout the EPA.

This year we will provide additional information on working with tribes, including some helpful hints and documents. Stop by our exhibit to learn more about how we can reduce your stress level!

Sandra Whittle, EPA National Decontamination Team

The U.S. EPA’s Emergency Response Special Teams work together to prepare and respond to emergency releases of hazardous substances. They play a critical role in helping the Agency accomplish its mission to protect human health and the environment during chemical, biological and radiological emergency incidents. In addition to each team’s specialized skills, they also maintain an extensive network of emergency response capabilities with other agencies and branches of the military.

Duane Newell, EPA Emergency Response Technical Group

The mission of the Emergency Response Technical Group (ERTG) is to enhance the emergency response planning, preparedness and technical capabilities of OSCs to respond to incidents involving chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants, including weapons of mass destruction. A main objective of the ERTG is to ensure consistency with the National Approach to Response (NAR) by improving emergency response consistency through cross regional coordination, information sharing, standardization of procedures and the interoperability of equipment among the EPA offices and regions. ERTG has developed response tools and guidance documents including the national Emergency Response Equipment List and associated standard operating guides. Other documents include air and water decision trees.

Come to the ERTG booth to learn more about ERTG work products, learn about our online work products, or pick up a hard copy. Exhibit display may also include select equipment from the Emergency Response Equipment List.

John Gilbert, EPA Environmental Response Team

Stop by the Environmental Response Team’s (ERT) Tech Zone exhibit and learn about the VIPER Data Management System and the variety of software tools and web-based applications ERT has available to assist OSCs and field personnel in managing and performing site-related duties. Support staff will be on-hand to provide a more in-depth review of all of the ERT desktop and on-line tools, including VIPER, Scribe, Removal Cost Management System, OSC website, and the web-based Emergency Operations Center (WebEOC).

In addition, there will be Internet access available at our exhibit for training program participants to check e-mail and other remote access needs.

JoAnn Eskelsen, EPA Environmental Response Team

As part of EPA’s comprehensive program for protecting the public and the environment from hazardous materials, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation’s (OSRTI) Technology Innovation and Field Services Division has developed the Environmental Response Training Program (ERTP). The courses in this program are designed for personnel who respond to emergencies or who investigate and clean up abandoned hazardous waste sites.

The courses developed by EPA’s Environmental Response Team and presented by contract personnel range from one to five days. These courses emphasize the practical application of lecture material through problem-solving sessions, case studies, demonstrations, and exercises using field instruments. Courses presented include: Introduction to Risk Assessment Guidance, Sampling for Hazardous Materials, Introduction to Groundwater Investigations, Air Monitoring, Chemistry for Environmental Professionals, Hazardous Materials Technician, Environmental Remediation Technologies, Radiation Safety, Oil Response Training, Level A Drills Functional and Full Scale Exercises, Intermediate and Advanced Incident Command System (ICS), ICS Functional Exercises, and the Key Leadership Positions for the Regional Incident Management Teams.

Kathleen Nickel, U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center

EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) manages, coordinates, and supports a wide variety of homeland security research and technical assistance efforts. NHSRC develops reliable, responsive scientific expertise and resources used to prevent, prepare for, and recover from public health and environmental emergencies. Research and development efforts focus on five primary areas: assessing the risk of human exposure to contaminants; decontamination of buildings and outdoor environments; protection of the nation’s drinking water resources; tools for emergency responders and local governments; and testing and evaluation of technologies that show potential for homeland security applications. More information can be found at www.epa.gov/nhsrc.

This year’s booth will be showcasing the Bio-Response Operational Testing and Evaluation (BOTE) Project. The objective is to operationally test and evaluate biological incident (anthrax release) response from health/law enforcement response through environmental remediation. The project is divided into two phases: (1) a field-level decontamination assessment and (2) a functional operational evaluation. In Phase 1, three decontamination methods showing effectiveness against Bacillus anthracis spores in laboratory and/or field use will be tested under field relevant conditions. Parameters include the decontamination method, level of contamination, and contaminated environment (e.g., office setting, residential area, HVAC) and the assessment will include a cost-benefit analysis of the application of each method. In Phase 2, an interagency response to a covert B. anthracis spore release in a facility will be conducted. This will include law enforcement response, public health response, decontamination, and facility clearance.

The BOTE project is conducted as a joint effort, headed by EPA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with Department of Defense/Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DoD/DTRA) serving as the interagency coordinating study directorate. Overall, the project is jointly headed out of NHSRC and DHS Science and Technology, with the study lead being brought on from DTRA to facilitate interagency coordination over the entire test design. Involvement within EPA includes NHSRC, Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (ORCR), Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) and the Regions. Phase 1 ran from April through May 2011 and Phase 2 was completed in September 2011, with ongoing data analysis and reporting scheduled for 2012.

Cheryl Johnson, EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation

The mission of the Technology Innovation and Field Services Division (TIFSD) is to advocate more effective, less costly approaches (such "smarter solutions") by government and industry to assess and clean up contaminated waste sites, soil, and groundwater. Working with other federal agencies, states, consulting engineering firms, responsible parties, technology developers, and the investment community, TIFSD provides robust technology and market information and works to remove policy and institutional impediments related to the deployment of these technologies. The scope of the mission extends to Superfund sites, corrective action sites under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), underground storage tank clean ups, state voluntary clean up programs and Brownfields. Technologies of interest are for field sampling and analysis and management (treatment and containment) of contaminated soil and ground water.

Roger Goodman, EPA Radiation and Indoor Environments National Laboratory

EPA's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT) is one of the EPA Special Teams under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP), specializing in radiological emergency response. The RERT outdoor exhibit features the RERT Mobile Environmental Radiation Laboratory, the Mobile Radiation Directional Scanning System, and a “Deployable” airborne radiation monitor. Along with the equipment, information on RERT’s role in radiological emergency response is available.

Dave Mickunas, EPA Environmental Response Team

In response to a disaster, EPA uses a self-contained mobile laboratory to monitor air quality. The mobile bus, named Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA), is capable of real-time sampling and analysis. It can detect chemicals at very low levels. TAGA also has specialized sampling equipment to use at remote locations and to measure air quality. The TAGA aids EPA's efforts to rapidly identify and address potential environmental threats in disaster areas.

Gary Turner, EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation

The OSWER Training Coordination Team operates the Training Exchange (Trainex) website in partnership with the EPA headquarter and regional offices, the Interstate Technology Remediation Council (ITRC), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The Trainex site includes information and schedules for deliveries of more than 1,200 training courses related to hazardous waste cleanup and site and incident management for staff from the EPA, other federal agencies, and states. Approximately 15,000 visitors each month access Trainex for on-line registration, logistics information, interactive courses and Internet seminars, and links to other EPA and non-EPA websites that provide information on training.

Training topics include Superfund, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), oil, emergency response, counter-terrorism, enforcement, community involvement, environmental public health, and water security. Training is provided through regional courses, workshops, and conferences; including CERCLA Education Center (CEC), Environmental Response Training Program (ERTP), and Community Involvement University (CIU) courses, and regional training opportunities, as well as relevant courses from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), ATSDR, National Enforcement Training Institute (NETI), and the Northwest Environmental Training Institute.

Members of the OSWER Training Coordination Team are knowledgeable about all the offerings and can assist with scheduling and logistics for new courses. Names and contact information are available at www.trainex.org.

Paul Doherty, EPA Region 7

EPA Region 7 routinely responds to flood and tornado disasters in the Midwest. In 2008, flood response actions in Iowa and Missouri prompted the region to reevaluate the way they were collecting and managing field data. Since 2008, the region has been developing procedures and data management tools designed to expedite the collection, transfer, processing and display of data generated during a disaster response.

The procedures and data management tools include:

• Development of data management plans for disaster response work
• Development of a series of disaster reconnaissance, assessment and recovery forms to ensure completeness and consistency in collected data
• Exploration of field data collection tools, including the use of Capturx™ digital pens, to speed up the collection, transfer and processing of field data
• Improved photo documentation, management, and display using the GeoSetter software
• Improved remote transmission of field data using FileZilla, a free file transfer protocol (FTP) client
• Emergency transmission of field data using the Iridium satellite phone data kit when cell phone coverage is not available
• Advanced use of Google Earth as a data display platform for field operations, situational briefings and public outreach

Ric Hines, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental and Munitions Center of Expertise

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has supported the EPA Superfund Program’s Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) design and construction mission since 1982, through a National Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). USACE consists of military and civilian engineers, scientists, and other specialists who work as leaders in engineering and environmental matters. Approximately 32,000 civilians and 650 military men and women compose USACE's diverse workforce of biologists, engineers, geologists, hydrologists, chemists, health physicists, natural resource managers, and other professionals who provide quality responsive engineering services to the nation. The efforts of the USACE include: planning, designing, building, and operating water resources and other civil works projects (navigation, flood control, environmental protection, disaster response, and more); designing and managing the construction of military facilities for the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force; and providing design and construction management support for other defense and federal agencies such as EPA.

More information about USACE is available at www.usace.army.mil, and the USACE Environmental and Munitions Center of Expertise at www.environmental.usace.army.mil/.

Christopher Gallo, EPA Environmental Response Team

The VIPER Data Management System is a system used by the EPA Environmental Response Team (ERT) to easily facilitate data from the field to the internet for use by federal, state and local responders. The system allows various instruments to send data to the internet in real time and allows users to set up custom alert levels for each instrument in use. Once the alarm level is reached, an email is sent to the appropriate parties so that response decisions can be made away from the event. This system has been used by the EPA ERT on numerous responses, such as the Minot, North Dakota flooding; Pilgrim’s Pride Ammonia Release in North Carolina; flood responses in New Jersey and New York and many other EPA sites. This system will be on display to provide OSCs the opportunity to get up close and personal with the VIPER system and can ask questions of the ERT members that have used the system in the field. The VIPER system is part of the Optimizing Field Data Collection course at OSC Readiness and the exhibit will provide a more intimate look at the system and its capabilities.

If you have any questions or comments about this training program, please contact Tetra Tech EM Inc. at (703) 390-0703 or by e-mail at oscreadiness@tetratech.com.
Thursday, May 17, 2012