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EPA and Homeland Security

The EPA plays a crucial role in homeland security by responding to hazardous materials emergencies, protecting water infrastructure, and conducting research to reduce vulnerability. The research program focuses on developing technologies and guidance for detecting, containing, and decontaminating chemical and biological attacks on buildings and water systems.

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EPA and Homeland Security

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  1. EPA and Homeland Security

  2. EPA Roles in Homeland Security (1) Hazardous materials emergency response (2) protecting water infrastructure (3) clean up following chemical or biological attack (4) reducing vulnerability of the chemical & hazardous materials sector (5) research to protect water infrastructure & buildings

  3. Critical Infrastructure Protection Preparedness, Response & Recovery Communication and Information Protection of EPA Personnel and Infrastructure EPA Homeland Security Strategy

  4. EPA Homeland Security Research Program Water Security Rapid Risk Assessment Safe Buildings

  5. Homeland Security Research Program Goal Provide, within three years, appropriate, affordable, reliable, tested and effective technologies and guidance for preparedness, detection, containment, decontamination and risks of chemical and biological attacks on buildings and on water systems

  6. Research Program Scope • Biological & Chemical Hazards • Pathogenic bacteria, viruses, bacterial toxins • Chemical warfare agents • Toxic Industrial Chemicals • Radiologic contamination (water) • Buildings and large structures • Water Supply, treatment & distribution infrastructure • Wastewater treatment and collection infrastructure • Risk Assessment & Cleanup Guidance • Commercial technology performance verification

  7. Key Operating Principles • Short-term, high intensity, applied effort • Understand and focus on meeting user needs • High quality, useful products, quickly • Partnerships within ORD, EPA and with other agencies/private sector • Target key knowledge gaps

  8. Threat Scenario Analysis Immediate Research Needs Priority Events (50) Lessons Learned/ Stakeholder Needs Rapid Risk Assessment Tools (version 1) Preliminary Cleanup Level Analysis Preparedness/Response Guidance Version 2 Tools Program Approach Screening Level Simulations and Risk Analysis ongoing Water/ Buildings Research Cleanup Level Scientific Guidance

  9. Program Structure Characterization/Detection - Early warning, rapid screening, inform response Prevention/Containment - Protect responders, occupants, water users - Treat or isolate contaminants Decontamination/Mitigation - Efficacy, compatibility, cost, safety of methods Disposal of Residues - Packaging, transport, treatment, destruction/disposal

  10. Program Structure (continued) • Risk Assessment • Information systems, tools, models, data • Prospective risk assessments, AEGLs • Risk communication • Technology Verification • 5 expanded ETV Centers detection, decontamination, filtration, drinking water, water treatment • Technical Assistance/Technology Transfer • Emergency technical assistance • User guidance, information systems, transfer

  11. Characterization/Detection Research • Improved Anthrax • S & A methods (Aug. ’03) • Screening protocol for water • contaminants (Aug. ’03) • Bioconcentration methods • for water (Sept. ’03)

  12. Containment Research • Water treatment efficacy • studies (Sept. ’03) • Evaluation of residential safe • haven effectiveness (Aug. ’03) • Distribution system • fate & transport field • studies and simulations (June ’03)

  13. Decontamination/Disposal Research • Fumigant efficacy • protocols (Aug. ’03) • Fumigant performance • studies (Oct. ’03 – Dec. ’04) • Technical guidance on • incineration of decon • materials (Nov. ’03)

  14. Rapid Risk Assessment Research • PC-based rapid risk • assessment tool (Dec. ’03) • Threat scenario simulations and • screening level risk • analyses (Sept. ’03)

  15. Technology Verification • 5 verification centers • Advanced monitoring • Water treatment • Containment/filtration • Decontamination • Wastewater • 5 water/cyanide detector verifications completed • Building filtration, water toxicity, decon technologies underway

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