Emergency Emergency ResponseResponse

Notifications and Notifications and EPA Response EPA Response CapabilitiesCapabilities

Gregory HamGregory Ham

On Scene CoordinatorOn Scene Coordinator

May 19, 2012May 19, 2012

• Notification RequirementsNotification Requirements

• Response ProcessResponse Process

• Response CapabilitiesResponse Capabilities

• Reporting RequirementsReporting Requirements

EPCRA Section 304 and CERCLA Section 103:

• Reporting RequirementsReporting RequirementsEPCRA Sections 311 & 312:

• For Oil spills, the Oil Pollution Act For Oil spills, the Oil Pollution Act (OPA) requires that all spills of oil (OPA) requires that all spills of oil that reach a navigable waterway or that reach a navigable waterway or adjacent shorelinesadjacent shorelines

(even a sheen) be reported to the (even a sheen) be reported to the NRCNRC

• Responsible Party Responsible Party (Facility/Transporter) is required to (Facility/Transporter) is required to notify the National Response Centernotify the National Response Center

• However, anyone can report a spillHowever, anyone can report a spill

• For responders to be reimbursed For responders to be reimbursed under two Federal programs, there under two Federal programs, there must be an NRC reportmust be an NRC report

• National Pollution Funds Center – National Pollution Funds Center – USCG – claims for oil spill responseUSCG – claims for oil spill response

• Local Government Reimbursement Local Government Reimbursement Program – up to $25,000 Program – up to $25,000 reimbursement for haz mat reimbursement for haz mat responsesresponses

• Calls to the NRC are forwarded to:Calls to the NRC are forwarded to:• Local Coast Guard officeLocal Coast Guard office• Regional EPA officeRegional EPA office• Appropriate State/Local agenciesAppropriate State/Local agencies• Other appropriate agenciesOther appropriate agencies

• EPA Duty officer receives a confirmation EPA Duty officer receives a confirmation call from the NRC, then determines what call from the NRC, then determines what actions to take:actions to take:

• Defer to State/Local agency (95%)Defer to State/Local agency (95%)• Send out an On Scene Coordinator (5%)Send out an On Scene Coordinator (5%)• Activate an Incident Management Team Activate an Incident Management Team

(rare)(rare)

• EPA also receives requests for assistance EPA also receives requests for assistance directly from State and Local directly from State and Local counterpartscounterparts

•What Can EPA Bring What Can EPA Bring to a to a Response?Response?

On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)RolesRoles

• Authorities and duties - National Authorities and duties - National Contingency Plan (NCP)Contingency Plan (NCP)::

– Pre designated by EPA or the USCG to coordinate Pre designated by EPA or the USCG to coordinate or direct federal responses under subpart D of the or direct federal responses under subpart D of the NCPNCP

– Worker health and safety at the response sceneWorker health and safety at the response scene

– Prompt notification to natural resource trusteesPrompt notification to natural resource trustees

– Establish UC along with State/Locals and Establish UC along with State/Locals and Responsible Party Responsible Party

– Can mobilize special forces ie. EPA-ERT, EPA-NDT, Can mobilize special forces ie. EPA-ERT, EPA-NDT, USCG-NSF, EPA-NCERTUSCG-NSF, EPA-NCERT

Potential EPA Roles in Potential EPA Roles in ResponseResponse

• Assist with containment and controlling spread Assist with containment and controlling spread of contaminationof contamination

• Assess extent and magnitude of contaminationAssess extent and magnitude of contamination

• Assist in assessing public health riskAssist in assessing public health risk

• Assist with disposal of hazardous wastesAssist with disposal of hazardous wastes

• Assist in safeguarding of respondersAssist in safeguarding of responders• Identify/implement decontamination optionsIdentify/implement decontamination options

• Assist in determination of when an area is safe Assist in determination of when an area is safe to reoccupyto reoccupy

Unified Command Unified Command StructureStructure

Unified Command

Federal State

Local TribesPRP/RP

• If requested/agreed upon, EPA can take If requested/agreed upon, EPA can take the lead in performing a cleanup, or the lead in performing a cleanup, or overseeing the responsible party in overseeing the responsible party in conducting the cleanupconducting the cleanup

• Enforcement authorities – negotiated Enforcement authorities – negotiated consent agreements or unilateral ordersconsent agreements or unilateral orders

• EPA cleanup using EPA contractorsEPA cleanup using EPA contractors

• (Cost Recovery)(Cost Recovery)

Environmental Response Team

National Decon TeamNational Decon Team

Structural Engineers and Industrial Hygienists to assess safety of impacted structures

Materials and HVAC Engineers to develop decon strategies for buildings

Disposal experts to identify waste treatment, transportation, and disposal options

Health Physicists, chemists and toxicologists to advise on contaminant behavior and by-products

Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology

Program Program ASPECTASPECT

•Questions?Questions?

• Gregory HamGregory Ham• On Scene CoordinatorOn Scene Coordinator• USEPAUSEPA• 701 Mapes Road701 Mapes Road• Fort Meade, MD 20755Fort Meade, MD 20755• ham.greg@epa.gov• 410-305-2776410-305-2776