Emergency Response Planning for New York City
CSS’ staff worked EPA Consequence Management Advisory Division (CMAD) to develop an integrated framework for responding if a biological agent was released over a wide area in New York City.
Helping Major Cities Plan for Disaster Response and Recovery
The physical environment of a large city poses specific challenges when planning for disaster response. Major issues include how to quickly protect the health of a large population, how to remediate homes and commercial buildings, and how to get essential transit systems and businesses up and running. CSS’ staff worked EPA CMAD to develop an integrated framework for responding if a biological agent was released over a wide area in New York City. The framework provides technical and operational guidance that is scalable and can be applied to several types of scenarios. Our staff worked with six workgroups to help develop:
- Templates for Sampling and Analytical Plans (SAP) and Remedial Action Plans (RAP)
- A decision tree for decontamination options; and
- Guidance for affected homeowners and businesses on using private remediation contractors
We helped perform an engineering remediation analysis of a large building in New York City, then used the templates to prepare an SAP and RAP for that building. Similarly, we used the templates to develop an SAP and RAP for a subway system, including options for decontamination of subway stations and cars. The completed framework document serves as the template for other U.S. cities looking to creating city-specific response and recovery plans.
We submitted our deliverables on time and $100,000 under budget. EPA praised our work as “Another excellent example of scientific support.”
Additional Projects
Response at Contaminated Sites and Natural Disasters Nationwide
On-Site Support for EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) – CSS provides expert technical guidance and field support at hazardous and contaminated sites, including sites under the Superfund program.
Red Hill Drinking Water Crisis
CSS supported the U.S. EPA Red Hill response operations in Hawaii in early 2022.
Decontamination Field Tests for EPA
CSS staff helped design, plan for, and implement field tests of decontamination technologies and methods using MB for EPA’s Consequence Management Advisory Division.
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