April 24, 2013

1. Welcome to: The Endless Storm Water Laboratory Alliance Response Plan (WLA-RP) Tabletop Exercise • Please take a moment to introduce yourself to the group: • Via the chat function, select “send to: Everyone” • Enter your name, organization, and title • Enter names and titles of any additional participants at your location • Please use this time to familiarize yourself with the other panels on the right side of your screen: • Participants • Chat • Notes • Polling – please answer the polling question April 24, 2013

2. Welcome & Support • Introductions • Name • Organization • Functional expertise • Technical Support Details • Use of conference line • Use of webcast features

3. Agenda • Review exercise materials and rules • Review background scenario • Facilitated discussion period • Hot wash • Review and conclusion https://www.thetestportal.com/binder_docs

4. Training Exercise Goals At the conclusion of this exercise, participants should be able to do the following: • Describe key elements of the WLA-RP and how the WLA-RP fits into other laboratory response networks • Describe the role that laboratories, emergency managers, and others play in emergency response • Identify EPA Water Security tools • Build relationships between water utilities; state, commercial, and other support laboratories; emergency managers; and other stakeholders

5. Roles and Responsibilities • Participants respond to the situation presented based on your knowledge of response procedures, current plans and procedures, and insights derived from training and experience • Facilitators lead the exercise by presenting the background scenario and facilitating the discussion period and hot wash

6. Highlighted Tools & Resources The following EPA Water Security Tools and Resources will be highlighted during the tabletop: • Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT) • Laboratory Compendium (CETL) • Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants • Selected Analytical Methods (SAM) • Reimbursement Tips for Emergency Laboratory Support • Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) • Web-based Electronic Data Review (WebEDR) • WLA Training Center • Containment and Disposal Guide

9. Background Scenario Summary The following scenario is based on actual excessive rainfall and flooding events that have occurred in various regions throughout the United States. All names presented are fictitious, but the scenario is modeled after real events. • Summary • Located in the Inkshill mountains, the region has received an unusual amount of seasonal precipitation, almost continuously, for the past three weeks. • A non-stop drizzle with intermittent downpours has caused widespread problems throughout the area. • Floods and mudslides have devastated the industrial and agricultural region of Chroma County.

11. Endless Storm TTX N  Holding Dam & Reservoir Colorlife Dye Plant Pesticide Storage Tanks Dyeson Inkshill Hueville  Printstown Blue Dye River Hueville Water Works Hueville Reservoir

12. Endless Storm TTX N  Holding Dam & Reservoir Colorlife Dye Plant Pesticide Storage Tanks Dyeson Inkshill Hueville  Printstown Blue Dye River Hueville Water Works Hueville Reservoir

13. Scenario Part 1 • Week 3, Monday: • The HWW receives a call from the commercial laboratory that analyzes their Cryptosporidiumsamples. • The utility increased their sampling frequency due to the flood and has observed high numbers of Cryptosporidium in the source water samples collected from the HWW reservoir last week. • The HWW’s Utility Emergency Manager is concerned that high levels of Cryptosporidium in the utility’s source water may pose a threat to the utility’s finished water due to Cryptosporidiumoocyst resistance to chlorination. • The HWW implements additional treatment and issues a boil water notice.

14. Scenario Part 2 • Week 3, Monday Afternoon: • HWW collects source water and finished water samples to conduct further testing for Cryptosporidium and to perform coliform testing. • The HWW will perform the coliform testing. The Utility Emergency Manager contacts their commercial laboratory to perform the Cryptosporidium analyses. • The HWW’s commercial laboratory has informed them that due to ongoing renovations and an existing high sample load, they will not be able to accept additional Cryptosporidium samples at this time.

15. Scenario Part 3 • Week 3, Monday Afternoon: • The County Public Health Laboratory has the capability to analyze samples for Cryptosporidium and agrees to accept the samples. CDC

16. Scenario Part 4 • Week 3, Tuesday: • Officials warn that because the Holding Dam and Reservoir were unable to release water ahead of the storms, and that the dam’s flood gate generators were inoperable, continued flooding of the cities downstream is imminent for the next few days. • An emergency response plan for flooding is activated and emergency personnel evacuate residents in low lying areas in the four riverside towns (Hueville, Dyeson, Inkshill, and Printstown) to high ground and brace for the worst flooding. FEMA

18. Scenario Part 5 image at: www.ntnews.com.au/.../11/30/104941_ntnews.html Week 3, Tuesday Afternoon: Further devastation occurs when a breach in a corner of Holding Dam releases a large volume of water causing flash flooding. More than half of the Hueville streets are flooded. Houses, trees, and cars are seen floating downriver in the flood waters. Farmers have reported that livestock have been washed away in the raging waters. A mudslide destroys pesticide tanks located on a rise next to the river, just upstream of the reservoir. Emergency personnel begin rescue operations for both people and animals.

19. Endless Storm TTX N  Holding Dam & Reservoir Colorlife Dye Plant Pesticide Storage Tanks Dyeson Inkshill Hueville  Printstown Blue Dye River Hueville Water Works Hueville Reservoir

20. Scenario Part 6 FEMA Week 3, Early Wednesday Morning: • Tanker train cars en route to the local Colorlife Dye manufacturing plant plunge into the river when a railroad bridge is compromised by the flash floods. • The crossing is located just upstream of the town’s drinking water reservoir which has been flooded by and nearly consumed by the river. The tanks have ruptured, leaking their contents into the reservoir. Emergency response crews have not been able to contact the shipping company to identify the contaminant and are collecting water samples from the site.

21. Endless Storm TTX N  Holding Dam & Reservoir Colorlife Dye Plant Pesticide Storage Tanks Dyeson Inkshill Hueville  Printstown Blue Dye River Hueville Water Works Hueville Reservoir

22. Endless Storm TTX N  Holding Dam & Reservoir Colorlife Dye Plant Pesticide Storage Tanks Dyeson Inkshill Hueville  Printstown Blue Dye River Hueville Water Works Hueville Reservoir

24. Scenario Part 7 • Week 3, Wednesday: • The HWW and HazMat conduct field testing and sampling at the site of the washed out pesticide tanks and the train wreck site. • The state drinking water authorities have been contacted. • HWW needs support. The HWW Laboratory (PRL) has limited capabilities to perform chemical analyses as does the County Health Laboratory (MSL). • The HWW contacts the State Environmental Laboratory (100 miles southeast) to determine if they can provide support.

25. Scenario Part 8 Week 3, Wednesday: The State Environmental Laboratory (MSL) agrees to provide analytical support to the HWW. The HWW provides an overview of the situation to the State Laboratory.

28. Scenario Part 9 Week 3, Wednesday Late Afternoon: The State Environmental Laboratory (MSL) rallies its staff to prepare for the arrival of Hueville water samples. The laboratory discusses what steps can be taken to facilitate communication and coordination during the response.

30. Scenario Part 10 • Week 3, Thursday: • The State Laboratory (MSL) works with the HWW to develop a strategy for sample analysis. • However, all bridges are washed out, so samples and/or personnel must take a five-hour detour from the Blue Dye River valley through the mountains to reach the State Environmental Laboratory. • Samples are collected from the Blue Dye river at the site of the train tanker spill and at select points downstream. • The identity of the chemical(s) contained in the train tanker cars is still unknown. • Samples are also being collected where the river flood waters entered the Hueville Reservoir and where pesticide storage tanks were compromised in a mudslide.

31. Scenario Part 11 Week 3, Thursday: The HWW utility emergency manager (ASR) has already contacted their state regulatory authorities. What additional notifications should be made?

32. Scenario Part 12 • Week 3, Thursday Afternoon: • Results from the finished water from HWW were negative for total coliform. • However, preliminary results from Cryptosporidium testing indicate high concentrations found in the source water and low concentrations in the finished water. • The HWW begins collecting additional samples and requests that data be reported as soon as possible. CDC

34. Scenario Part 13 Week 3, Thursday Evening: The HWW finally receives a report from the state emergency personnel that the chemical contained in the wrecked tanker cars was 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. CDC

36. Scenario Part 14 • Week 3, Friday: • HWW and HazMat continue to collect samples from the Hueville Reservoir and the drinking water distribution systems of all four towns. • The incident commander contacts the EPA Regional Office for assistance. The EPA Regional Office provides assistance to the Environmental Unit (EU) set up by the incident commander. • The State Environmental Laboratory is overwhelmed with incident and routine samples and requests additional laboratory support.

37. Laboratory Coordination Laboratory coordination within the Incident Command System (ICS) Expanded Coordination Structure Incident Commander (IC) Initial Coordination Structure Operations Logistics Planning Finance ASR Environmental Unit Transfer of Coordination PRL MSL MSL MSL MSL

39. Scenario Part 15 • Week 3, Friday: • Using the Laboratory Compendium, the EU has identified several WLA laboratories that could provide analytical support. • The EU eventually obtains support from Blotter Laboratory (MSL) and Writesall Laboratory (MSL). 39

40. Scenario Part 16 Day 3, Friday: The Analytical Coordinator (EU) makes arrangements with the Writesall Laboratory (MSL) to receive and analyze samples. Samples are immediately shipped to the laboratory.

41. Scenario Part 17 Week 3, Saturday: Samples shipped via priority overnight arrive at the Writesall Laboratory. The laboratory discovers there are several problems. Not all samples are listed on the chain-of-custody form and some samples exceed the method-specified sample shipping and storage temperatures.

42. Scenario Part 18 • Week 4 Monday: • The local 70-bed Hueville hospital has only one bed left as many folks have been admitted due to complaints of stomach pains, severe diarrhea, fever, and listlessness. • The Local Health Department contacts HWW to inform them of the illness and get information on their analytical results to determine if the outbreak is related to water contamination. • Sadly, one 18-month old baby has succumbed to dehydration while battling a severe case of diarrhea. At this point the cause is unknown.

43. Scenario Part 19 Week 4: The County Public Health Laboratory (MSL) has completed their sample analyses and reported positive results for Cryptosporidium, potentially linking the illnesses to water contamination. The concentration of pesticides was low and risk was minimal. The laboratory would like to dispose of the remaining sample volumes. CDC

44. Scenario Part 20 The County Health Laboratory (MSL) has completed their analyses and reports. The laboratory would like to work out details of how they will be reimbursed for their services.

45. Scenario Part 21 Hueville has initiated additional chlorination at their treatment plants and flushed their distribution systems. Additional testing finds no contamination. The incident is over, the ICS resources are demobilized, and the laboratories have reported all their data.

47. Hot Wash • What new insights did you gain from our session? • Based on this session, what actions do you plan on taking to refine your own plans, policies, or procedures? • What did you find most useful about this session?

48. WLA-RP Highlights • The WLA-RP provides guidance for large and small incidents for the following key areas: • Roles and responsibilities • Communications and logistics • QA/QC • Sample collection and transport • Sample analysis • Data review and reporting

49. Water Sector Tools The following are available to assist with laboratory response during a water contamination incident: • WCIT • Laboratory Compendium (CETL) • SAM 2012 • WARN • Sampling Guidance for Unknown Contaminants • Reimbursement Tips for Emergency Laboratory Support • WebEDR • WLA Training Center • Containment and Disposal Guide

50. Wrap Up • What worked well with this exercise? • How can we improve future exercises? • Questions/Comments: • Email: WLA@epa.gov • ERLN/WLA Helpline: 703-818-4200