Region 8 RRTTabletop Exercise
Steven Merritt & Craig Myers
June 30, 2010
Role and Responsibilities of RRT Membership During an Incident
2
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP)
Promulgated in the 1970s Guides EPA and Coast Guard response to
releases/discharges of hazardous substances/oil
Used for Emergency Response, Removal Actions and Remedial Actions
Establishes the National Response Team, consisting of numerous Federal Agencies
Can be superseded by the National Response Plan (NRP)
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Regional Response Team (RRT)
The regional counterpart to the National Response Team
Composed of 16 Federal Agencies and additional State/Tribal Agencies
Convenes semiannually to review regional issues and plan for responses
Chaired by the EPA and the Coast Guard
4
Exercise Objective
The Goals of this Exercise are to: – Understand the roles and capabilities of the various
RRT Member Agencies
– Generate discussion about RRT support and input to response actions involving oil and hazardous substances
– Familiarize RRT Members with response tools available to OSCs
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Ground Rules
This is NOT a test There are no wrong answers or questions Participants are encouraged to speak from
their institutional knowledge Not a game of stump the chump; it is
acceptable to say “Let me get back to you…” The goal is to encourage an ongoing dialogue Be open-minded, suspend disbelief, and have
fun; this time the incidents are only on paper
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Initial Notification
At 7:50 PM on June 29, 2010, a man walking his dog along the river reports a series of “loud booms” coming from the vicinity of a railroad bridge
The caller states that he thinks a train may have collided with something near the bridge, but he is unable to ascertain whether any cars are derailed
He reports seeing a dust or smoke cloud in the area, but cannot see any flames from his vantage point
Utah Scenario
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Incident Location
North Dakota Scenario
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Incident Location
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Weather Conditions
Severe thunderstorm with hail and extremely heavy rain just passed through the area
Temperature is 76°F
Wind is out of the northwest at 5 to 10 mph
Humidity is 92%
Sky is cloudy, but clearing
12
Subsequent 9-1-1 Reports
Drivers along the interstate report limited visibility on the highway near the incident due to an acrid smoke plume that appears to be originating near the railroad bridge
One driver, stopped and taking pictures on the shoulder, indicates that the bridge appears to be partially collapsed at one end and that a locomotive is derailed within that section
Another caller reports a “dark colored liquid” in the river, flowing downstream from the bridge
Utah Scenario
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Crude Pipeline
Collapsed Bridge
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Collapsed Bridge
North Dakota Scenario
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Crude Pipeline
Collapsed Bridge
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Collapsed Bridge
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Immediate Local Actions
Which agencies would be dispatched to the scene upon initial notification?
What are the immediate critical issues that must be addressed?
Who would 9-1-1 dispatch center be calling at this point for assistance?
Evacuations or shelter in place orders issued?
Utah Scenario
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Incident Location
Green River State Park & Recreation
Area
KOA Campground
ICP Location
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Acrolein Tank
North Dakota Scenario
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Incident Location
Bismarck State College Stadium
Tesoro Refinery
ICP Location
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Anhydrous Ammonia Tank
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State Government Actions
Who (which department/division) would be notified of the incident within state government?
What resources would be dispatched by state government?
What actions would be taken by these resources? Would R8 RRT member agencies be notified? Would notified state government departments/divisions
reach out to members of the R8 RRT initially? Could notified entities facilitate communication
between the local responders and external agencies?
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Actions by UDEQ and NDDES
How would you be alerted to the incident? How would you respond? Who within the agency would be notified? What resources could/would the agency
dispatch? Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
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On-Scene Report – 8:30 PM
One train involved; one confirmed fatality in first locomotive on bridge
Track blocked and bridge partially collapsed at the first section encountered in direction of travel
UP train has derailed and stacked up behind locomotive on collapsed section of bridge
Fire associated with breach of fuel tank on second locomotive is spreading
A pipeline has been severed in bridge collapse and contents are spilling into the creek
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Department of Homeland Security
With limited information, the State of UT/ND requests FEMA declare a this incident a disaster.
Does FEMA make such a declaration? Would it cover both counties? How would this affect the Federal response to
the incident?
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NRC Report NRC notifies EPA Duty Officer
UPRR train carries anhydrous ammonia and acrolein in tank cars; derailed but unknown if breached
Utah (Low-Level Radioactive Waste) North Dakota (Phorate Pesticide)
Locomotive leaking diesel and on fire
Utah Scenario
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NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 10 gallons of Released Acrolein
Description Level (ppm) Extent Area Population
>60-min AEGL-3: Death or irreversible
health effects possible.>1.4 0.6km
0.08km2
0
>60-min AEGL-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.>0.10 3.7km 2.5km2 10
>60-min AEGL-1: Minor reversible health
effects. Possible odor.>0.03 7.6km 8.7km2 20
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NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 1000 gallons of Released Ammonia
Description Level (ppm) Extent Area Population
>PAC-3: Death or irreversible health
effects possible.>15 1,664m 891,116m2 10
>PAC-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.>15 1,664m 891,116m2 10
>PAC-1: Minor reversible health effects.
Possible odor.>15 1,664m 891,116m2 10
North Dakota Scenario
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37
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 10 gallons of Released Acrolein
Description Level (ppm) Extent Area Population
>60-min AEGL-3: Death or irreversible
health effects possible.>1.4 0.6km 0.08km2 0
>60-min AEGL-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.>0.10 3.7km 2.5km2 10
>60-min AEGL-1: Minor reversible health
effects. Possible odor.>0.03 7.6km 8.7km2 20
38
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 1000 gallons of Released Ammonia
Description Level (ppm) Extent Area Population
>PAC-3: Death or irreversible health
effects possible.>15 1.1km 1.1km2 490
>PAC-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.>15 1.1km 1.1km2 490
>PAC-1: Minor reversible health effects.
Possible odor.>15 1.1km 1.1km2 490
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Issues for EPA OSC
Who does the duty officer contact? Would a responder be sent?What actions should the responding
OSC take?How would responding OSC
coordinate with other responders?How long would it take to respond to
the scene of the incident?
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ERT & Strike Team Involvement
Technical skills?
Communications?
Accounting?
Would they be needed?
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Issues for EPA RRT Co-Chair
Do you call other RRT members at this point? What is the USCG Co-Chair role at this point? Would EPA staff the Regional Emergency
Operations Center? Would a second EPA OSC be dispatched for
this incident? Under what circumstances?
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General Issues For EPA
How does the OSC communicate with EPA management?
How does the EPA OSC integrate into the unified command structure?
Do other RRT members join command structure?
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Bismarck State University Stadium
10,000 fans in the stadium, threatened by release of ammonia and potential release of phorate pesticide
Managing evacuations and preventing people from transiting through plume
Conditions deteriorating outside the stadium and traffic at standstill
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Issues from EPA OSC
Unable to reach the pipeline operator and stop the flow of oil into the river?
Leaking ammonia tank and public/responder health/safety concerns related to fire/plumes?
How/where would EPA, UDEQ, NDDES perform air monitoring?
What other agencies will respond?
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Radioactive Low-Level Waste
What capabilities/authorities does DOE have to respond to a radioactive materials transportation incident/accident?
What capabilities/authorities does NRC have to investigate and enforce against parties responsible for radioactive materials transportation incidents/accidents?
EPA OSC has requested DOE RAP Team support through RRT
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USCG Issues
What is USCG capability in UT/ND? Are boats available in either area? Role for local/federal agencies with boats? On-water role for EPA, UDEQ, NDDES and
local Fire Departments? Who controls activity on the water? Do we want boats on the water?
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ATSDR
How would you be alerted to the incident? How would you respond? Who within the agency would be notified? What resources could/would the agency
dispatch? Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
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Public Health Concerns
Does HHS have role in protecting downstream water users?
Who determines levels of concern in water? Can HHS provide count of hospital beds? Any pharmaceutical in storage to treat
acrolein? Who/where is POC for HHS & locals?
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OSHA
How would you be alerted to the incident? How would you respond? Who within the agency would be notified? What resources could/would the agency
dispatch? Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
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USDA
How would you be alerted to the incident? How would you respond? Who within the agency would be notified? What resources could/would the agency
dispatch? Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
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DOI
How would you be alerted to the incident? How would you respond? Who within the agency would be notified? What resources could/would the agency
dispatch? Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
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Water Issues for Natural Resource Trustees
What would the DOI do about wildlife?
Is UDEQ or NDDES the trustee for UT/ND?
How would they respond respond?
Who is alerting downstream water users?
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FEMA
How would you be alerted to the incident? How would you respond? Who within the agency would be notified? What resources could/would the agency
dispatch? Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
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GSA
How would you be alerted to the incident? How would you respond? Who within the agency would be notified? What resources could/would the agency
dispatch? Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
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Utah Scenario
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Incident Location
Utah Scenario
60
Crude Pipeline
Collapsed Bridge
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Collapsed Bridge
Utah Scenario
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Incident Location
Green River State Park & Recreation
Area
KOA Campground
ICP Location
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Acrolein Tank
Utah Scenario
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NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 10 gallons of Released Acrolein
Description Level (ppm) Extent Area Population
>60-min AEGL-3: Death or irreversible
health effects possible.>1.4 0.6km
0.08km2
0
>60-min AEGL-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.>0.10 3.7km 2.5km2 10
>60-min AEGL-1: Minor reversible health
effects. Possible odor.>0.03 7.6km 8.7km2 20
68
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 1000 gallons of Released Ammonia
Description Level (ppm) Extent Area Population
>PAC-3: Death or irreversible health
effects possible.>15 1,664m 891,116m2 10
>PAC-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.>15 1,664m 891,116m2 10
>PAC-1: Minor reversible health effects.
Possible odor.>15 1,664m 891,116m2 10
North Dakota Scenario
70
Incident Location
North Dakota Scenario
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Crude Pipeline
Collapsed Bridge
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Collapsed Bridge
North Dakota Scenario
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Incident Location
Bismarck State College Stadium
Tesoro Refinery
ICP Location
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Anhydrous Ammonia Tank
North Dakota Scenario
78
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NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 10 gallons of Released Acrolein
Description Level (ppm) Extent Area Population
>60-min AEGL-3: Death or irreversible
health effects possible.>1.4 0.6km 0.08km2 0
>60-min AEGL-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.>0.10 3.7km 2.5km2 10
>60-min AEGL-1: Minor reversible health
effects. Possible odor.>0.03 7.6km 8.7km2 20
80
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 1000 gallons of Released Ammonia
Description Level (ppm) Extent Area Population
>PAC-3: Death or irreversible health
effects possible.>15 1.1km 1.1km2 490
>PAC-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.>15 1.1km 1.1km2 490
>PAC-1: Minor reversible health effects.
Possible odor.>15 1.1km 1.1km2 490
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