Clean-up and Remediation Clean-up and Remediation following a Biological Responsefollowing a Biological Response

Anthony T. Zimmer, PhD, PE, CIHAnthony T. Zimmer, PhD, PE, CIH

National Decontamination TeamNational Decontamination TeamEnvironmental Protection AgencyEnvironmental Protection Agency

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National Decontamination TeamNational Decontamination Team(NDT) Mission and Resources(NDT) Mission and Resources

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.

OSWER

OEM

NDT

Organizational StructureOffice of Solid Waste& Emergency Response

Office of EmergencyManagement

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BackgroundBackground

Identified void in Identified void in decontamination needsdecontamination needs

• World Trade CenterWorld Trade Center

• Anthrax responsesAnthrax responses

First government special First government special team dedicated to WMD team dedicated to WMD decon activities within decon activities within EPAEPA

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National Decontamination TeamNational Decontamination TeamResourcesResources

Current Staff:Current Staff:

Technical: Technical: Program Support:Program Support: Contractor Support:Contractor Support:

ASPECT (2) ASPECT (2) Env. Prot. Specialist (1) Env. Prot. Specialist (1) On-Site Key Personnel (5)On-Site Key Personnel (5)

Analytical Chemist (1) Analytical Chemist (1) Management Analyst (1) Management Analyst (1)

Biochemist (1)Biochemist (1)

Health Physicists (2)Health Physicists (2) SEE Employees: SEE Employees: Detailee: Detailee:

HVAC Engineers (2) HVAC Engineers (2) Secretary (1) Secretary (1) DOT (1)DOT (1)Industrial Hygienist (1) Industrial Hygienist (1) Warehouse Techs (2)Warehouse Techs (2)Medical Officer (1)Medical Officer (1)

Toxicologists (2)Toxicologists (2)

PENDING StaffingPENDING Staffing: : Transportation & Disposal Expert, MicrobiologistTransportation & Disposal Expert, Microbiologist

Potential FUTURE StaffingPotential FUTURE Staffing: : Water SpecialistWater Specialist

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National Decontamination TeamNational Decontamination Team Locations Locations

RTP, NCCo-located

with NHSRC

Kansas City-ASPECT

Support Staff

Dallas-ASPECT airplane

Cincinnati, Oh- co-located with

NHSRCErlanger, KY-

co-located with ERT

Washington, DC

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National Decontamination TeamNational Decontamination Team Decon Partnerships and CoordinationDecon Partnerships and Coordination

SpecialTeams

NDTERT

RERTNCERT

OSCsField

Response/Preparedness

PrivateIndustry

Other Federal Agencies

ResearchNHSRCLANLLLNL

SandiaDTRA

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Methods of EPA Involvement in Methods of EPA Involvement in Clean-up/RemediationClean-up/Remediation

Superfund or Oil Pollution Act

Authority EPA OSC

Local

State

EPA Activation

National Declaration

FEMA ESF-10 EPA OSC

Agency

Special Purpose Mission

EPA OSC

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Ground Transportation Systems Decon:Ground Transportation Systems Decon:• NYC: working with NYC's Port Authority, Mass Transit NYC: working with NYC's Port Authority, Mass Transit

Authority, and Long Island Railroad to prepare for Authority, and Long Island Railroad to prepare for consequence management and decon operations for consequence management and decon operations for WMD eventsWMD events

• DC: Participating in DC WMATA system technical working DC: Participating in DC WMATA system technical working group meetings (NDT Chair of TWG)group meetings (NDT Chair of TWG)

Air Transportation Systems Decon:Air Transportation Systems Decon:• Partnering with DHS, HHS, LLNL, and state and local Partnering with DHS, HHS, LLNL, and state and local

government, to assist with critical national/international government, to assist with critical national/international airports for bio/chem/rad decontamination operationsairports for bio/chem/rad decontamination operations

• working closely with FAA and DoD on aircraft cabin working closely with FAA and DoD on aircraft cabin decontamination system decontamination system

National Decontamination TeamNational Decontamination TeamDecon Program Development - ExternalDecon Program Development - External

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National Decontamination TeamNational Decontamination TeamDecon Program Development - ExternalDecon Program Development - External

BIOWATCHBIOWATCH• Under DHS leadership, NPPD and NDT are participating in the development of a Under DHS leadership, NPPD and NDT are participating in the development of a

national Biowatch response strategy, including large area sampling plansnational Biowatch response strategy, including large area sampling plans

CDC Partnership:CDC Partnership:• Facilitating CDC's Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, including their Facilitating CDC's Coordinating Center for Infectious Diseases, including their

National Quarantine Program, and Traveler's Health Branch, into the biological National Quarantine Program, and Traveler's Health Branch, into the biological agent decontamination and remediation planning processagent decontamination and remediation planning process

• Working with CDC's Health Quality Promotions Branch, interagency Working with CDC's Health Quality Promotions Branch, interagency environmental microbiology group, NHSRC, and OPPTS, to identify pathogens as environmental microbiology group, NHSRC, and OPPTS, to identify pathogens as well as existing hospital infection control measures, and currently available well as existing hospital infection control measures, and currently available registered products for application to the decontamination of biological agentsregistered products for application to the decontamination of biological agents

Other Agencies:Other Agencies:• Actively exchanging information on mutually useful decontamination-related Actively exchanging information on mutually useful decontamination-related

research, as well as the development of technologies and approaches to effect research, as well as the development of technologies and approaches to effect decontaminationdecontamination

• Exchanging information on assets and capabilities for decontaminationExchanging information on assets and capabilities for decontamination • Develop decontamination plans for DOS facilities (IAG) Develop decontamination plans for DOS facilities (IAG)

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National Decontamination TeamNational Decontamination Team

Decon Program Development- InternalDecon Program Development- Internal

Decon Portfolio -Decon Portfolio - development of web based, one-stop system for information on development of web based, one-stop system for information on decontamination of WMD agentsdecontamination of WMD agents

Decon Vendor and Technology Market SurveyDecon Vendor and Technology Market Survey

Decon Technology LiaisonDecon Technology Liaison - Observe and participate in testing and field - Observe and participate in testing and field implementation of decon technologies and provide feedback to research communityimplementation of decon technologies and provide feedback to research community

Concept of Operations (CONOPS) Concept of Operations (CONOPS) - development of operational approach for large - development of operational approach for large scale INS eventsscale INS events

Decontamination and Analytic and Technical Support (DATS) Contract-Decontamination and Analytic and Technical Support (DATS) Contract- Awarded, January 2007Awarded, January 2007

Risk-Based Surface Cleanup GoalsRisk-Based Surface Cleanup Goals

Decon Data Gaps AnalysisDecon Data Gaps Analysis- NPPD, NDT, and OHS are coordinating an Agency wide - NPPD, NDT, and OHS are coordinating an Agency wide project to identify gaps and prioritiesproject to identify gaps and priorities

TRIO (Taskforce on Research to Inform and Optimize WMD Response)TRIO (Taskforce on Research to Inform and Optimize WMD Response)- forum - forum for OSCs, Special Teams, and NHSRC to discuss gaps between research and field for OSCs, Special Teams, and NHSRC to discuss gaps between research and field application application

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National Decontamination TeamNational Decontamination TeamResponse ReadinessResponse Readiness

Level A Level A • Trained and equippedTrained and equipped

Equipment Equipment • National Equipment Tracking National Equipment Tracking

SystemSystem• Specialized CBR equipmentSpecialized CBR equipment

Special Teams Coordination Special Teams Coordination and Cross Trainingand Cross Training• Emergency Response TeamsEmergency Response Teams• Regional EPA Regional EPA • National Homeland Security National Homeland Security

Research CenterResearch Center

TrainingTraining• WMD Decontamination WMD Decontamination

CourseCourse• OSC Readiness - specialized OSC Readiness - specialized

Bio and Rad courses in Bio and Rad courses in 20062006

• Avian/Pandemic Flu Train-Avian/Pandemic Flu Train-the-Trainer Coursethe-Trainer Course

Responses, Predeployments Responses, Predeployments and Exercisesand Exercises• Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina • New York City Anthrax- April New York City Anthrax- April

20062006• Region 5 Ohio Polymer Region 5 Ohio Polymer

incidentincident• Superbowl XLSuperbowl XL• Exercises in Regions 1, 6, 9, Exercises in Regions 1, 6, 9,

10 10

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National Buy List,National Buy List,• Level A entry equipment Level A entry equipment • Chemical monitors for VOC/SVOCsChemical monitors for VOC/SVOCs• Radiation response monitorsRadiation response monitors• Biological sampling equipmentBiological sampling equipment

Other EquipmentOther Equipment• P-Trak Ultrafine Particle CounterP-Trak Ultrafine Particle Counter• Velocicalc Plus Portable Air Velocity Velocicalc Plus Portable Air Velocity

MeterMeter• Wide-Range Particle SpectrometerWide-Range Particle Spectrometer

NDT EquipmentNDT Equipment

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ASPECTASPECT(Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology)(Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology)

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.

Base Map

Aerial Image

IR Plume Image

Chemical ID Information

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How will the NDT “fit” in the How will the NDT “fit” in the response?response?

24/7 availability24/7 availability

Will assist the EPA On-Scene CoordinatorWill assist the EPA On-Scene Coordinator

Will operate under the National Incident Will operate under the National Incident Management System within ICSManagement System within ICS

Will be available to participate in drills and exercisesWill be available to participate in drills and exercises

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Bio-response Bio-response

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Bio-responseBio-response

Cleanup/recovery will very much depend upon the Cleanup/recovery will very much depend upon the nature of the biological agent:nature of the biological agent:

• Bio-toxins similar to chemical responseBio-toxins similar to chemical response

• Biological organisms highly depends upon its “persistence & Biological organisms highly depends upon its “persistence & stability”stability”

Additional complexity is the issue of “how clean is Additional complexity is the issue of “how clean is clean” and background levelsclean” and background levels

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Bio-response to AnthraxBio-response to Anthrax

A persistent biological organism A persistent biological organism (bacterial spore-former)(bacterial spore-former)

Bioweapon example: 2001 Anthrax Bioweapon example: 2001 Anthrax letters letters • 18 confirmed cases18 confirmed cases• 5 deaths5 deaths

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Bio-response to AnthraxBio-response to Anthrax

Decontamination methods include:Decontamination methods include:• Burn or bury animal carcassesBurn or bury animal carcasses• Treat soil with 5% lye, quicklime, or Treat soil with 5% lye, quicklime, or

bleach (sodium hypochlorite)bleach (sodium hypochlorite)• HEPA vacuuming (source reduction)HEPA vacuuming (source reduction)• Liquid antimicrobials (non-porous Liquid antimicrobials (non-porous

surfaces)surfaces)• Fumigation (chlorine dioxide, vaporous Fumigation (chlorine dioxide, vaporous

hydrogen peroxide)hydrogen peroxide)

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Bio-response to SmallpoxBio-response to Smallpox

A “non-persistent” biological A “non-persistent” biological organism (virus)organism (virus)• Inactive 2 days after an aerosol release Inactive 2 days after an aerosol release

& 2 weeks on surfaces& 2 weeks on surfaces Known repositories: Known repositories:

U.S.A & RussiaU.S.A & Russia

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Bio-response to SmallpoxBio-response to Smallpox

Decontamination methods include:Decontamination methods include:• 0.5% hypochlorite on surfaces for at 0.5% hypochlorite on surfaces for at

least 10 minutesleast 10 minutes• Heat (31-33 C) and humidity (80%) for Heat (31-33 C) and humidity (80%) for

at least 6 hoursat least 6 hours

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Bio-response to RicinBio-response to Ricin Bio-toxin naturally found within the castor Bio-toxin naturally found within the castor

bean bean • Produced from the enrichment of the seed-pulp Produced from the enrichment of the seed-pulp

(Ricin 5% by weight of the pulp) (Ricin 5% by weight of the pulp) • Found as grey to white powder depending upon Found as grey to white powder depending upon

the puritythe purity Persistence depends upon its purityPersistence depends upon its purity Bioweapon: Bioweapon:

• Recent cases involvingRecent cases involving Capital Hill & White HouseCapital Hill & White House

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Bio-response to RicinBio-response to Ricin

Decontamination methods include:Decontamination methods include:• 0.5% hypochlorite on surfaces0.5% hypochlorite on surfaces• Heat (200 C) and humidity (80%) for at Heat (200 C) and humidity (80%) for at

least 24 hoursleast 24 hours

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National Decontamination TeamNational Decontamination Team Summary Summary

Team of 19 full-time employees Team of 19 full-time employees Established two years agoEstablished two years ago Attempting to bridge gap between Attempting to bridge gap between

research and end usersresearch and end users Ensuring decon technologies can be Ensuring decon technologies can be

implemented and able to achieve implemented and able to achieve desired clean up goalsdesired clean up goals

Actively involved in Interagency Actively involved in Interagency coordination on decon issuescoordination on decon issues

Providing training and exercises on Providing training and exercises on decon technologies and methodsdecon technologies and methods