www.oscreadiness.org

15th Annual OSC Readiness Training Program

EPA's Radiological Emergency Response

Program

15th Annual OSC Readiness Training Program www.oscreadiness.org 1

Introduction

Overview EPA Preparedness Activities EPA Response Roles EPA Response Assets

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OverviewEPA’s mission: to protect human health and to safeguard the environmentEPA has longstanding capabilities in its core programs that are directly related to homeland securityEPA has also been called upon to respond to domestic incidents and enhance our capabilities and role in several areas

• Hazardous materials cleanup

• Radiation monitoring

• Research & development

• Emergency response

• Water quality protection

• Pesticides for crop, livestock, and health protection

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EPA’s Radiological Emergency Preparedness and Response Authorities

EPA’s radiological emergency response program is primarily shaped by:

Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, or Superfund)• Authorized National Oil & Hazardous Substance

Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP)• Oil, Hazardous Substances, and Pollutants or

Contaminants, includes radiological materials National Response Plan

• ESF #10 – Oil and Hazardous Materials• Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex

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PreparednessBuilding Capacity NIMS/ICS Focus Budget Initiatives Internal Coordination Predeployment and Exercises

Continuing External Coordination Role DHS/FEMA

• Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee(FRPCC)

• Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP)• Nuclear Incident Response Team (NIRT)

DOE

Assessing and Addressing Planning DND PCC Nuc/Rad Working Group

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EPA Consequences Response Role Federal HazMat Lead:

• Provide overall response coordination (NCP/ESF#10) – emergency response management/support to federal, state, tribal, and local governments

Provide Specialized Radiation Expertise:• “Special Teams” under the NCP • Nuclear Incident Response Team members if requested by FEMA

Federal Radiological Monitoring and Assessment Center:• Assist DOE in the emergency and intermediate phase and lead in the

long-term Cleanup phase Radiation Standards:

• Develop Protective Action Guides (PAGs).• Authority from AEA and FEMA’s Radiological Emergency Planning

and Preparedness Regulation Coordinating Agency under the NRP’s Nuclear/Radiological Incident

Annex:• Unowned or unlicensed sources • Foreign incidents with impacts on the U.S.

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EPA Experience

Large-scale Incidents• Chernobyl• DOE Site Fires• Fukushima

Small-scale Incidents• Lost sources• Removal Sites• DOE Site Investigations

Pre-deployments• G8 Summit• Presidential Conventions• Pluto New Horizons Launch

Exercises

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EPA On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) Coordinate all Federal HAZMAT response

efforts and resources.

Direct, coordinate, and provide technical assistance to all response efforts at an incident or site.

Direct access to contractors or commercial services.

Bring full authority of the NCP.

Ensure access to information.

Can call upon NCP’s “Special Teams”,including EPA’s assets:

• Environmental Response Team

• National Decontamination Team

• Radiological Emergency Response Team

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EPA’s Role in Threat Response and Incident Assessment

Law Enforcement/Forensic SupportCriminal Investigation Division

• Fully authorized law enforcement officers• 235 special agents• Memorandum of Understanding with FBI for Environmental Crimes

Laboratory SupportNational Enforcement Investigations Center

• Chemical analytical capabilities • Forensic and rapid public health assessments• Accredited and nationally recognized in forensic environmental analysis

National Counter-terrorism Evidence Response Team • High Hazard Evidence Recovery for Chemical, Biological, and Radiological

Incidents• 235 EPA Special Agents

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Environmental Response Team (ERT)Provide experienced technical and logistical assistance in responding to environmental emergencies.

• Emergency response, site characterization and assessment, verification, cleanup, and disposal of radiologically contaminated wastes or release events

Response capabilities include:• Air Monitoring• Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Neutron Detection and Quantification• Clean-Up Verification or Final Status Surveys (MARSSIM)• Contamination Containment • Disposal Option Determination • Environmental Monitoring and Sampling Design and Implementation • Isotopic Characterization• Decontamination

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National Decontamination Team (NDT)

Provide unique, immediate response capabilities to safely and effectively support decontamination activities.

Provide expertise in decontamination for buildings, transportation, agriculture, food, open space, etc.

Technical resource for decontamination science

ASPECT plane provides 24/7 emergency response capability

Technical Lead for Agency Fukushima outreach

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Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT)

Provide guidance and on-scene assistance at Superfund and ER sites to OSCs and in the FRMAC.

Field-deployable RERT• Focus is on identifying and assessing

potential impacts of low-level contamination.

• Field monitoring instruments and sample collection equipment.

• Mobile laboratories and capabilities. Fixed laboratory at NAREL capable of

providing comprehensive environmental analytical services; R&IE lab rebuilding.

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Fixed Monitors

Major Components

• Air Sampler

• Radiation Instruments (Gamma Spectroscopy and Beta Detectors)

• Data Processing & Storing

• Data Telemetry

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National Coverage of Future Fixed Air Monitor Locations*

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Deployable Component

40 deployable air monitors improve system coverage around an incident or potential threat.

Air monitors automatically transmit near real-time data.

Provide more flexible monitoring capability.Specific siting plans are developed per incident.

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15th Annual OSC Readiness Training Program

Questions?