b) Radiation Environmental Laboratories b) EPA Contractor Resources to use the structures and capabilities developed to 

support NCP operations, or by activating the NCP 

EPA has two state-of-the-art radiological labora- EPA’s emergency response contracts provide swift itself. 

tories: one in Montgomery, Alabama, and the other access to cleanup services for removal of oil and 

in Las Vegas, Nevada. These laboratories can hazardous substances. Under these contracts, EPA COUNTER TERRORISM PROGRAM 

assist by quickly characterizing radiation sources to response resources are available around the clock RESPONSIBILITY AND POLICY COORDINATION 

help make decisions about how to protect the public responding within 6 to 48 hours, depending on the 

health. location. Superfund Technical Assessment and EPA’s Emergency and Deputy Emergency 

Response Team (START) contractors are able to Coordinator provide national policy coordination 

c) Environmental Radiation Ambient Monitoring mobilize the fastest and can provide immediate across EPA’s program offices and with other 

System monitoring, sampling, analysis, and technical government agencies for counter-terrorism 

support and can perform minor containment preparedness and response efforts. 

EPA operates the Environmental Radiation activities. Emergency and Rapid Response 

Ambient Monitoring System (ERAMS) for measuring Services (ERRS) contractors can mobilize between PLANNING AND RESPONSE CONTACTS 

radioactivity and other contaminants in various 2 to 48 hours based on the geographic location of 

environmental media. ERAMS is a the incident and can provide containment, 

national comprehensive radiation monitoring countermeasure, cleanup, and disposal services. During an emergency, the National 

network with over 250 sampling stations distributed Response System can be accessed 24­

across all 50 States and U.S. Territories. In a c) Research Laboratories hours-a-day by calling the National 

radiological emergency, these sampling stations Response Center (NRC) at 1-800-424­

may be able to provide information about how far EPA has research laboratories with programs in 8802. The NRC will notify the appropriate 

contamination has spread. field monitoring and analytical and technical EPA OSC and Regional Office. For nonsupport. The laboratories can also provide the emergencies/planning activities, State and 

3. OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE models for fate and transport of chemicals that can local responders can access the NRS 

provide information needed to make informed risk through their EPA Regional Removal 

a) National Enforcement Investigations Center management decisions. Some of these labs have Manager: 

(NEIC) the capability to deploy mobile units to a 

contaminated site for chemical and biological EPA Region I: 617-918-1260 

EPA’s National Enforcement Investigations Center analysis. EPA Region II: 732-321-6656 

is the technical support center for EPA enforcement EPA Region III: 215-814-3241 

and compliance assurance programs nationwide. d) Contract Laboratories EPA Region IV: 404-562-8721 

The NEIC maintains multi-disciplinary teams of EPA Region V: 312-353-9295 

experts who perform inspections and technical EPA’s Contract Laboratory Program (CLP) provides EPA Region VI: 214-665-2270 

evaluations of petrochemical and industrial facilities a range of state-of-the-art chemical and analytical EPA Region VII: 913-551-7952 

involved in the manufacture and handling of services. These include both routine and special- EPA Region VIII: 303-312-6827 

hazardous substances. The NEIC offers expertise ized analytical services, and the analyses of basic EPA Region IX: 415-744-2293 

in the following areas: and unusual chemicals in air, water and soil media. EPA Region X: 206-553-6709 

C Environmental forensic evidence collection & THE NATIONAL CONTINGENCY PLAN (NCP) For EPA’s counter-terrorism programs, the 

sampling AND OTHER PLANS Emergency or Deputy Emergency CoordiC Environmental forensic analysis nator can be contacted at 202-260-8600. 

C Information management/computer forensics Depending on the circumstances surrounding an Or visit http://www.epa.gov/ceppo/. 

C Enforcement related technical analysis incident, different federal plans (i.e., the NCP, the 

Federal Response Plan [FRP], the Federal 

NEIC support for site-specific environmental Radiological Emergency Response Plan [FRERP], 

forensic evidence handling can be requested and the federal crisis and consequence manthrough the appropriate Criminal Investigations agement plans for terrorist incidents) provide the 

Division (CID) Regional Office. The EPA OSC can structure for federal response. These plans allow 

help state and local responders contact the CID the NRS to provide support under most circumOffice. stances that would involve WMD. For instance, 

under the Terrorism Incident Annex to the FRP, 

EPA activates environmental response capabilities 

to support the federal response to acts of NBC 

terrorism, either by coordinating with NRS agencies 

May 2000 EPA 550-F-00-008 

EPA CAPABILITIES: RESPONDING

TO NUCLEAR-BIOLOGICALCHEMICAL (NBC) TERRORISM

EPA OIL AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES 

RESPONSE CAPABILITIES 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 

has statutory authorities and responsibilities to 

prepare for and respond to emergencies involving 

oil and hazardous substances, pollutants or 

contaminants, which include chemical, biological 

and radiological materials that could also be 

components of a weapon of mass destruction 

(WMD). A WMD is defined as a weapon, device, or 

large conventional explosive that produces 

catastrophic loss of life or property. EPA carries out 

its preparedness and response efforts primarily 

under the mandate of the National Oil and 

Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan 

(NCP) and the Radiological Response Program. 

EPA provides technical support, response 

coordination and management, and resource 

assistance to local and state first responders under 

the National Response System (NRS). The NRS is 

the federal government’s mechanism for emergency 

response to releases of hazardous substances, 

pollutants, and contaminants and discharges of oil 

that threaten human health and the environment. 

The NRS is fully described in the NCP at 40 CFR 

Part 300. 

Additional EPA Responsibilities 

In recognition of EPA’s responsibilities, capabilities 

and experience, Presidential Decision Directive 

(PDD) #39 assigned EPA the task of assisting the 

FBI in threat assessments and determining the type 

of hazards associated with releases or potential 

releases of materials in a terrorist incident. EPA is 

also assigned to assist the Federal Emergency 

Management Agency (FEMA) with environmental 

monitoring, decontamination, and long-term site 

cleanup. EPA is the lead agency for hazardous 

materials response under Emergency Support 

Function (ESF) #10 of the Federal Response Plan 

(FRP). PDD #62 reinforces EPA’s mission to 

enhance the nation’s capability to prevent and 
respond to terrorist events involving WMD. PDD 

#63, which addresses the protection of America’s 

critical infrastructure, named EPA the lead agency 

for the Water Supply Sector. Under these and 

other Federal authorities, EPA may participate 

during the crisis and consequence management 

phases of a terrorist incident response and may 

prevent and prepare for deliberate releases 

resulting from terrorist incidents. In addition, in the 

Nunn-Lugar-Domenici legislation, EPA was named 

as one of the six Federal agencies for assisting in 

the provision of the WMD training program for first 

responders in 120 of the country’s largest cities. 

Federal On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs) 

The Federal OSC is the primary federal 

representative at responses conducted under the 

NRS. Federal OSCs work with State, local, and 

private responders to protect human health and the 

environment. The Federal OSC is the point of 

contact for the coordination of federal efforts with 

the local response community. EPA OSCs possess 

the authority to manage all response efforts at the 

scene of an incident, and can call upon a variety of 

specialized equipment and highly trained personnel. 

Some of these include: the Environmental 

Response Team; the Radiological Emergency 

Response Team; the U.S. Coast Guard Strike 

Teams; and the National Enforcement Investigation 

Center. EPA has approximately 215 OSCs to 

address releases or potential releases in the inland 

zone of the country. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) 

provides OSCs for the coastal zones. When an 

incident report is received by the National 

Response Center (NRC), it is immediately relayed 

to a Federal OSC. The NRC serves as a first alert 

center for any potentially hazardous substance 

release to the environment of chemical, 

radiological, biological or etiological agents. 

1. SPECIAL FORCES AVAILABLE TO THE OSCs 

The NCP discusses special forces and other 

assistance available to Federal OSCs during a 

response. The following are examples of the 

specialized assistance available to the Federal 

OSC. 

a) Environmental Response Team (ERT) 

EPA’s ERT supports EPA’s OSCs with expertise in 

treatment technology, biology, chemistry, hydrology, 

geology, and engineering. EPA’s ERT can provide 

24-hour access to special decontamination 

equipment for chemical releases and advice to the 

OSC in hazard evaluation; risk assessment; 

multimedia sampling and analysis; on-site safety, 

including development and implementation of plans; 

cleanup techniques and priorities; water supply 

decontamination and protection; application of 

dispersants; environmental assessment; degree of 

cleanup required; and disposal of contaminated 

material. 

The ERT, located in Edison, NJ, can also be 

activated by the OSC to provide technical expertise 

for complex emergency responses involving or 

potentially involving weapons of mass destruction, 

especially chemical weapons such as VX nerve gas 

and sarin gas. ERT resources can be pre-deployed 

for special events having a high level of terrorism 

threats. In addition, the Emergency Response 

Training Program (ERTP), located in Cincinnati, 

OH, provides training courses for personnel who 

respond to or investigate and clean up abandoned 

hazardous waste sites. Training is provided in 

safety and health as well as in the various technical 

operations needed to identify, evaluate, and control 

hazardous substances that have been released. 

EPA’s Portable Instrumentation and Entry-Level 

Capabilities 

In response to an NBC threat or incident, EPA’s 

ERT can provide portable instrumentation and 

various entry capabilities to assist at the scene of 

an incident. 

Monitoring Instruments: The ERT has numerous types of field portable instruments to: 

U Monitor various toxic gases in real time, 

including nerve or mustard agent vapors and 

volatile organics in the low and sub parts-permillion concentrations. 

U Qualify low-level alpha contamination on 

surfaces, personnel, and personnel protective 

equipment; assess the lateral distribution of 

gamma emitters in soil/pipes, etc.; and monitor 

for beta or beta-gamma emitters. 

U Measure alpha, beta, or gamma radiation. 

Analytical Instruments, including: 

U Minicam - identifies volatile organic and 

inorganic compounds over wide concentration 

ranges. 

U Gas Chromatograph/Mass Spectrometer 

(GC/MS) - identifies trace components in 

complex matrices. 

U Trace Atmospheric Gas Analyzer (TAGA) ­

MS/MS that allows real-time analysis and 

tracking of plumes. This is a mobile laboratory 

unit. 

ERT’s Entry-level Capabilities: 

U Level “A” Personnel Protective Equipment 

(PPE) - required when the greatest potential for 

exposure to hazards exists, and when the 

greatest level of skin, respiratory, and eye 

protection is required. These fully 

encapsulating suits afford protection against 

petroleum products and halogenated 

hydrocarbons, as well as against nerve and 

blister agents. 

U Level “B” PPE - used under circumstances 

requiring the highest level of respiratory 

protection, with a lesser level of skin protection. 

U Level “C” PPE - used when the concentration 

and type of airborne substances is known, and 

the criteria for using air-purifying respirators are 

met. 

b) The Coast Guard’s National Strike Force 

(NSF) 

The NSF is composed of three strategically located 

strike teams, a public information assist team, and 

a coordination center. The strike teams have 

specially trained personnel and equipment to 

respond to major oil spills and chemical releases. 

The Public Information Assist Team (PIAT) is 

available to assist the OSC in demands for public 

information during a response. The National Strike 

Force Coordination Center (NSFCC) maintains a 

national inventory list of oil spill response 

equipment. NSF capabilities are especially suited 

to incidents occurring in the marine environment, 

but also include response management, entry-level 

A through C, site assessments, safety and action 

plan development, and documentation for both 

inland and coastal zone incidents. The NSF can be 

accessed through the Federal OSC and the 

National Response Center. 

c) Scientific Support Coordinator (SSC) 

The SSCs are the principal advisors to the OSCs for scientific 

issues, communication with the scientific community and 

coordination for requests for assistance from state and 

Federal agencies regarding scientific studies. The National 

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides 

SSCs in coastal and marine areas. For inland zones, SSCs 

are provided by EPA’s ERT. 

2. EPA’s RADIOLOGICAL RESPONSE 

CAPABILITIES 

EPA’s role in response to a nuclear/radiological 

terrorism incident will vary depending on the 

situation. The three main areas of EPA radiological 

response are: 

C Monitoring and assessment 

C Protective action guidance 

C Assistance in coordinating federal response 

during the cleanup 

Additionally, EPA has developed Protective Action 

Guides that help state and local officials protect 

potentially affected populations. Each EPA regional 

office has a regional radiation program, through 

which support can be obtained. 

a) Radiological Emergency Response Team 

EPA’s Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) has 

established a Radiological Emergency Response 

Team (RERT), with staff in Washington, DC, and at 

laboratories in Nevada and Alabama. The RERT 

provides support during incidents or at sites 

involving radiological hazards. Expertise is 

available in: 

C Radiation monitoring 

C Radionuclide analysis 

C Radiation health physics 

C Risk assessment 

The RERT can provide on-site monitoring and 

mobile laboratories for field analyses of samples. 

Requests for RERT support may be made 24­

hours-a-day via the National Response Center.