1 / 23

Clean-up and Remediation following a Biological Response

Clean-up and Remediation following a Biological Response. Anthony T. Zimmer, PhD, PE, CIH National Decontamination Team Environmental Protection Agency.

giza
Download Presentation

Clean-up and Remediation following a Biological Response

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Clean-up and Remediation following a Biological Response Anthony T. Zimmer, PhD, PE, CIH National Decontamination Team Environmental Protection Agency

  2. The National Decontamination Team (NDT) delivers on-site scientific and technical expertise in response to Incidents of National Significance (INS) involving environmental contamination and acts of Terrorism related to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). We provide leadership and coordination of decontamination policy, science, and engineering, bridging gaps between research and response. NDT promotes decontamination readiness through training, exercises, & planning. Office of Solid Waste & Emergency Response Office of Emergency Management National Decontamination Team(NDT) Mission and Resources Organizational Structure OSWER OEM NDT

  3. Background • Identified void in decontamination needs • World Trade Center • Anthrax responses • First government special team dedicated to WMD decon activities within EPA

  4. National Decontamination TeamResources Current Staff: Technical: Program Support: Contractor Support: ASPECT (2) Env. Prot. Specialist (1) On-Site Key Personnel (5) Analytical Chemist (1) Management Analyst (1) Biochemist (1) Health Physicists (2)SEE Employees: Detailee: HVAC Engineers (2) Secretary (1) DOT (1) Industrial Hygienist (1) Warehouse Techs (2) Medical Officer (1) Toxicologists (2) PENDING Staffing: Transportation & Disposal Expert, Microbiologist Potential FUTURE Staffing: Water Specialist

  5. National Decontamination Team Locations Washington, DC Cincinnati, Oh- co-located with NHSRC Erlanger, KY- co-located with ERT Kansas City- ASPECT Support Staff RTP, NC Co-located with NHSRC Dallas- ASPECT airplane

  6. National Decontamination Team Decon Partnerships and Coordination Other Federal Agencies Special Teams NDT ERT RERT NCERT OSCs Field Response/ Preparedness Research NHSRC LANL LLNL Sandia DTRA Private Industry

  7. Methods of EPA Involvement in Clean-up/Remediation Superfund or Oil Pollution Act Authority EPA OSC Local State National Declaration EPA Activation FEMA ESF-10 EPA OSC Special Purpose Mission Agency EPA OSC

  8. National Decontamination TeamDecon Program Development - External • Ground Transportation Systems Decon: • NYC: working with NYC's Port Authority, Mass Transit Authority, and Long Island Railroad to prepare for consequence management and decon operations for WMD events • DC: Participating in DC WMATA system technical working group meetings (NDT Chair of TWG) • Air Transportation Systems Decon: • Partnering with DHS, HHS, LLNL, and state and local government, to assist with critical national/international airports for bio/chem/rad decontamination operations • working closely with FAA and DoD on aircraft cabin decontamination system

  9. National Decontamination TeamDecon Program Development - External • BIOWATCH • Under DHS leadership, NPPD and NDT are participating in the development of a national Biowatch response strategy, including large area sampling plans • CDC Partnership: • Facilitating CDC's Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, including their National Quarantine Program, and Traveler's Health Branch, into the biological agent decontamination and remediation planning process • Working with CDC's Health Quality Promotions Branch, interagency environmental microbiology group, NHSRC, and OPPTS, to identify pathogens as well as existing hospital infection control measures, and currently available registered products for application to the decontamination of biological agents • Other Agencies: • Actively exchanging information on mutually useful decontamination-related research, as well as the development of technologies and approaches to effect decontamination • Exchanging information on assets and capabilities for decontamination • Develop decontamination plans for DOS facilities (IAG)

  10. National Decontamination TeamDecon Program Development- Internal • Decon Portfolio - development of web based, one-stop system for information on decontamination of WMD agents • Decon Vendor and Technology Market Survey • Decon Technology Liaison - Observe and participate in testing and field implementation of decon technologies and provide feedback to research community • Concept of Operations (CONOPS) - development of operational approach for large scale INS events • Decontamination and Analytic and Technical Support (DATS) Contract- Awarded, January 2007 • Risk-Based Surface Cleanup Goals • Decon Data Gaps Analysis- NPPD, NDT, and OHS are coordinating an Agency wide project to identify gaps and priorities • TRIO (Taskforce on Research to Inform and Optimize WMD Response)- forum for OSCs, Special Teams, and NHSRC to discuss gaps between research and field application

  11. Level A Trained and equipped Equipment National Equipment Tracking System Specialized CBR equipment Special Teams Coordination and Cross Training Emergency Response Teams Regional EPA National Homeland Security Research Center Training WMD Decontamination Course OSC Readiness - specialized Bio and Rad courses in 2006 Avian/Pandemic Flu Train-the-Trainer Course Responses, Predeployments and Exercises Hurricane Katrina New York City Anthrax- April 2006 Region 5 Ohio Polymer incident Superbowl XL Exercises in Regions 1, 6, 9, 10 National Decontamination Team Response Readiness

  12. NDT Equipment • National Buy List, • Level A entry equipment • Chemical monitors for VOC/SVOCs • Radiation response monitors • Biological sampling equipment • Other Equipment • P-Trak Ultrafine Particle Counter • Velocicalc Plus Portable Air Velocity Meter • Wide-Range Particle Spectrometer

  13. ASPECT(Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology) Base Map Aerial Image IR Plume Image Chemical ID Information A single pass of the aircraft produces a data set that permits mapping, aerial photography, Infrared imaging, and chemical identification. These products can be generated in under 3 minutes and provide valuable situation data to the Incident Commander.

  14. How will the NDT “fit” in the response? • 24/7 availability • Will assist the EPA On-Scene Coordinator • Will operate under the National Incident Management System within ICS • Will be available to participate in drills and exercises

  15. Bio-response

  16. Bio-response • Cleanup/recovery will very much depend upon the nature of the biological agent: • Bio-toxins similar to chemical response • Biological organisms highly depends upon its “persistence & stability” • Additional complexity is the issue of “how clean is clean” and background levels

  17. Bio-response to Anthrax • A persistent biological organism (bacterial spore-former) • Bioweapon example: 2001 Anthrax letters • 18 confirmed cases • 5 deaths

  18. Bio-response to Anthrax • Decontamination methods include: • Burn or bury animal carcasses • Treat soil with 5% lye, quicklime, or bleach (sodium hypochlorite) • HEPA vacuuming (source reduction) • Liquid antimicrobials (non-porous surfaces) • Fumigation (chlorine dioxide, vaporous hydrogen peroxide)

  19. Bio-response to Smallpox • A “non-persistent” biological organism (virus) • Inactive 2 days after an aerosol release & 2 weeks on surfaces • Known repositories: U.S.A & Russia

  20. Bio-response to Smallpox • Decontamination methods include: • 0.5% hypochlorite on surfaces for at least 10 minutes • Heat (31-33 C) and humidity (80%) for at least 6 hours

  21. Bio-response to Ricin • Bio-toxin naturally found within the castor bean • Produced from the enrichment of the seed-pulp (Ricin 5% by weight of the pulp) • Found as grey to white powder depending upon the purity • Persistence depends upon its purity • Bioweapon: • Recent cases involving Capital Hill & White House

  22. Bio-response to Ricin • Decontamination methods include: • 0.5% hypochlorite on surfaces • Heat (200 C) and humidity (80%) for at least 24 hours

  23. National Decontamination Team Summary • Team of 19 full-time employees • Established two years ago • Attempting to bridge gap between research and end users • Ensuring decon technologies can be implemented and able to achieve desired clean up goals • Actively involved in Interagency coordination on decon issues • Providing training and exercises on decon technologies and methods

More Related