The environmental Laboratory Response Network (eLRN) FSEA Meeting October 19, 2007.

The environmental Laboratory Response Network (eLRN)

FSEA Meeting

October 19, 2007

Building Environmental Laboratory Capability in Support of Emergency Response 2

What is the eLRN?

A comprehensive all-hazards*/all-environmental media laboratory network to support responders across a spectrum of activities including preparedness, response, remediation, and recovery resulting from acts of terrorism or other emergencies

Genesis: HSPDs 5, 7, 8, 9, 10

ICLN RFA Chart

Focus is TIC, CWA, Rad, limited Bio*


ICLN Organizational Structure

Network Coordinating Group (NCG)

DHS Chair

Joint Leadership Council (JLC)(Assistant Secretary Level)

DHS Chair

Exec SecDHS

TETechnical Experts

eLRNenvironmental

Laboratory Response Network

NAHLN National Animal

Health Laboratory

Network

FERNFood

Emergency Response Network

LRNLaboratory Response Network

NPDN National Plant Diagnostic

Network


ICLN Response Matrix ICLN Response Matrix

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Human Clinical HHS HHS HHS FBI Human Clinical HHS HHS HHS FBI

Environmental EPA EPA EPA FBI Environmental HHS HHS EPA FBI

FoodUSDA/ HHS

USDA/ HHS

USDA/ HHS

FBI FoodUSDA/ HHS

HHS/ USDA

USDA/ HHS

FBI

Animal USDA USDA USDA FBI Animal USDA USDA USDA FBI

Plant USDA USDA USDA FBI Plant USDA USDA USDA FBI

Drinking Water EPA EPA EPA FBI Drinking Water EPA EPA EPA FBI

Lab Support to Phase of Response Lab Support to Phase of ResponseBiologicalChemical

*JLC agreed to RFAs identified for each phase of response

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ICLN Response Matrix continued ICLN Response Matrix continued

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Human Clinical HHS HHS HHS FBI

Environmental EPADOE/ EPA

EPA FBI

FoodUSDA/ HHS

USDA/ HHS

USDA/ HHS

FBI

Animal USDA USDA USDA FBI

Plant USDA USDA USDA FBI

Water EPA EPA EPA FBI

Lab Support to Phase of ResponseRadiological


EPA’s Approach to Emergency Response

EPA is not a first responder

OSCs respond under National Response Plan and are tasked through the National Response Center and/or in conjunction with requests from State counterparts

OSCs heavily utilize contract resources and commercial laboratories, but some Regions utilize local EPA laboratory

Operate under ICS structures

Large scale events (INS) establish Field Environmental Unit in Planning Section

Field EU interfaces with HQ EU on issues for public release and additional technical support, if needed, during INS

OSCs request analytical services as needed and expand required capacities and capabilities as event dictates


Anatomy of a Response

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EPARegions

State

Commercial

Utilities

NEIC

EPA HSL

IndustrialChemicals

SELECT

LRN

State

Commercial

Utilities

EPA HSL

DOD

CDC

Biologicals

Reference

Confirm

atorySentinel

SELECT

EPA

Surety Labs

Commercial

Utilities

EPA HSL

DOD

ChemicalWarfareAgents

Radiologicals

StateEPA

HazMats CSTs

DOE

EPAHSL

OPEN

SECURE

Gold standard reference lab, methods, research, etc.

Confirm/quantify suspected detection

Routine monitoring

ORIA

Commercial

OPPTS

ORIA

State

CommercialCommercial

Laboratory Structure

LRN


How Does the eLRN Work?

Managed through Homeland Security Laboratory Response Center (HSLRC), OEM, OSWER

Designed to address laboratory capability and capacity to meet environmental analytical needs of responders during the initial response through recovery phases of an event

Vision is for a day-to-day support network that can seamlessly support events at any level for covered contaminants from member laboratories of known quality

Includes coordination of all other infrastructure demands of ICLN RFA designations (NHSRC, ORIA, OW, NEIC)

Lab assets obtained through ICS structures or by request through other appropriate channels


Overview

The eLRN has made good progress in several areas

- Homeland Security Laboratory Response Center

- eLRN has 2007 funding

- Membership criteria set for eLRN labs

- Chemical Warfare Surety program established

- Fixed Chemical Warfare lab capability enhanced

- PHILIS Units delivered to EPA

- All Hazard Receipt Facilities under evaluation

- Established RAD component

- Partnership with WLA on Drinking Water


Status of HSLRC

Formal organization proceeding within the Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

Small HQ Team

- Schatzi Fitz-James, Team Leader

- Terry Smith, Technical Liaison

- Allan Antley, Operations Liaison

- Another position coming

Will continue to rely on partnerships with ORD/NHSRC, Programs, and Regions for project staffing and roll out of eLRN with States and other potential member labs

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eLRN/OEM

07 Omnibus Bill provides funding at $9.5 M

$ for PHILIS/Fixed CWA/Rad program and infrastructure

$ for logistics to roll out eLRN

eLRN/ORIA

$1M for 2 increased capacity labs (w/$1m from OEM)=$2M total

Quality audits of existing Rad labs

Training program

eLRN/WLA

Regional Lab Response Plan program

Integration of eLRN/WLA operations

FY 07 Budget Initiatives


eLRN Roll Out

Membership criteria and checklist finalized

Outreach efforts ongoing with APHL and ACIL

Have established an EDD for initial reporting

Working on operational guidance

Roll out in Phases

Phase 1-EPA labs

Phase 2-State/Federal Labs

Phase 3-Commercial sector/Local labs


eLRN Membership Criteria

Basic elements require: - Quality System (DW Certification, ISO 17025 or NELAP

equivalent)

- Agreement to use eLRN methods

- Reporting requirements (EDD)

- Data and information security

- Participate in proficiency testing program

- Submit to audits

- Meet lab specific health and safety requirements

- Participate in Laboratory Compendium


Laboratory Compendium

National compilation of laboratory assets

Includes States, Federal, Commercial labs, Other?

Designed to allow users to quickly assess locations, capabilities, and capacities of member labs

Relies on member labs to update information

Under redesign for improvements

Comment period closed August 17 for latest round


Current Lab Capacities Toxic Industrial Chemicals

- Informal network of 10 EPA Regional Labs, 50+ State Labs, EPA Contract Lab Program (20 labs), potential access to large commercial community

Estimated Capacity-8,500 samples/week (OK)

Radiological Agents

- Capacity from 2 EPA, 2 State, 16 Commercial, and 9 Federal labs

Estimated Capacity-4,700 samples/week (Need 6,500 up)

CWA

-Capacity from 4 Federal and 8 Commercial labs

BOAs in place to access commercial CWA facilities

Interagency Agreement with DOD ECBC

Estimated Capacity-1-2,000 samples/week (Need 5,000 up)


EPA/DOD Surety Program

Received approval for current DOD contractors to expand current CWA authorizations to support EPA’s response and remediation needs, and methods research in collaboration with EPA NHSRC

Second IAG/approval allows EPA use of ultra-dilute CWA standards for research and calibration of instruments to run CWA samples in eLRN labs

EPA IAG with ECBC for logistics for ultra-dilute agent standards prep and transfer


Building Fixed CWA Capacity

DHS funded three prototype fixed labs during FY 2007 in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic

Initial labs completed gap analysis and infrastructure improvements and can now receive agent

Second round under review for Southeast, Southwest, West, and Northwest with DHS/EPA funding during 2008

Review team completed visits for second round

Will bring to a total of 6-7 fixed CWA labs with an increase of over 3,000 samples per week

Methods issues remain-also see SAM Document (http://www.epa.gov/nhsrc/pubs/reportSAM030107.pdf)

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Originally a high-throughput screening system designed to identify and quantify TICs and CWAs above PEL

Redesign of system, niche, and integration with EPA response needs completed

All 3 units delivered to EPA

PHILIS II under design with performance reviews set for Dec.

Portable High-Throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification System (PHILIS)

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Design & Test Modular All Hazard Receipt Unit for Unknowns

Combined Effort of EPA, DHS, DOD and other Agencies, to develop and test prototype designs

Final protocols and procedures ready for testing (http//aphl.org/docs/Draft_AHRF_SOP_Guidance_092506.pdf)

Two prototypes delivered Fall 06

Both facilities assessed

High identification rates of surrogates

All Hazard Receipt Facilities


Radiological Working Group

NCG sponsored Radiological Working Group

Charged to evaluate current radioanalytical laboratory capability, capacity, and competency to respond to a radiological dispersion device (RDD)

Participants include DHS, EPA, CDC, DOE, FDA,DOD, and

NIST

Co-Chaired by EPA and CDC

Follows ICLN RFA responsibilities

Focus on pilot projects similar to CWA to increase Rad capabilities during INS

Two pilot projects increase capacity by 600 samples per week


Water Lab Alliance: Objectives

Provide capability and capacity to analyze routine surveillance and triggered response samples in Drinking Water

Align with existing laboratory networks

Build foundation for an environmental laboratory response capability


WLA: Approach

Integration of:

Drinking Water Laboratories

Wastewater Laboratories

Commercial Laboratories

Public Health and Environmental Laboratories

-CDC’s Laboratory Response Network (LRN)

-EPA’s eLRN


Implementation Activities

Start-Up Phase

Identify priority contaminants of concern

Identify methods and method gaps for priority contaminants

Develop pilot systems

Establish the WLA framework


Current WLA Support Efforts

Regional Drinking Water Laboratory Response Preparedness Project

Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) Partnership

Methods Development/Validation

WLA Implementation: Water Security Contamination Warning System


CWS Elements

Water QualityMonitoring:

Online monitoringSampling and analysis

ContaminationWarningSystem

ConsumerComplaint

Surveillance

Public HealthSurveillance:

911 calls / EMS dataED visits

OTC medication sales

Enhanced SecurityMonitoring:

VideoAlarms

Intelligence

Elements can alone, or in combination, serve as a trigger to warrant subsequent action.


What is your lab’s role?

Fl DEP lab will be an eLRN lab

Local municipal drinking water and waste water labs will be potential participants in WLA/eLRN

FL DOH lab is an LRN lab

Local Health Labs may be LRN affiliated

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Next Steps

External Partner with other Agencies to address gaps in environmental analyses Formally establish the eLRN and expand the national capacity for Chemical, Biological and Radiological analysis in environmental samples Participate with ICLN Networks, /MOUs, IAGs

Outreach to States, other stakeholders

Internal Continue formation of HSLRC

Roll out eLRN

Continue work on Water Lab Alliance

Continue projects: All Hazard Receipt Facilities/PHILIS/Fixed Labs

Continue HSRC activities


Contacts

Schatzi Fitz-James eLRN Team Leader [email protected] (202) 564-2521

Allan Antley eLRN Operations Liaison [email protected] (706) 355-8506

Patricia Tidwell-Shelton WLA Lead [email protected] (202) 564-6319

Oba Vincent SAM Document [email protected] (513) 569-7456

The environmental Laboratory Response Network (eLRN) FSEA Meeting October 19, 2007.

Documents

Transcript of The environmental Laboratory Response Network (eLRN) FSEA Meeting October 19, 2007.