Research Highlights

Decision Support Tools for Managing Homeland Security Event Generated Waste and Debris

Waste and debris disposal tools created for many possible scenarios

Handling, transporting, treating, and disposing of the large volumes of waste from wild fires, floods and other natural disasters presents unique challenges: likewise with waste from industrial chemical spills, terrorist attacks using biological, chemical or radiological agents, and animal disease outbreaks. Ensuring effective and timely disposal of these contaminated materials is critical for protecting and restoring communities and the environment. Access to appropriate information, as well as characterization of the properties and level of contamination of debris, can reduce cleanup costs and shorten timelines.

EPA is one of several partners working with the Department of Homeland Security in support of the National Response Framework, which guides national response to domestic all hazards incidents. Based on EPA research, with contributions from Agency program offices, private industry, and state and local governments, a suite of Decision Support Tools (DSTs) has been developed. The suite provides information specific to the types of materials and contaminants generated in an incident, as well as the unique issues faced when ensuring public and worker safety during the entire cycle of removal, transport, treatment, and disposal of contaminated debris.

Managing Disaster-Generated Waste and Debris

DSTs provide a stepwise approach for planning how best to handle, move, treat, and dispose of contaminated debris. By using a Web based platform, large amounts of information can be condensed, updated, and presented in a user-friendly format. The tools are not intended to override existing regulatory or legal requirements, but to support responder expertise by providing appropriate contact information and links to regulatory information on disposal of contaminated debris. Although the DSTs Web site organizes a large amount of information, it should be considered only as a starting point for those involved with making disposal decisions.

EPA’s suite of DSTs includes:

• Information on debris characteristics and contamination, as well as characteristics of likely decontaminants that may be used
• Databases of treatment and disposal facilities (e.g., hazardous waste incinerators, landfills, medical waste autoclaves) including locations, contact information, and capacities for the different categories of waste generated by homeland security events
• Information on likely residue characteristics and easy-to-use waste quantity estimators that allow end-users to consider trade-offs for different disposal scenarios from indoor and outdoor contamination events due to chemical, biological, or radiological agents, natural disasters, agricultural emergencies, and events involving contaminated water treatment and distribution systems
• Water systems material and equipment disposal information including modules with factors from different geographical areas
• Agricultural biomass disposal guidelines including training modules developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture
• Natural disaster debris disposal guidelines including a large number of case studies organized by disaster type (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods)
• Debris transportation, packaging, and storage information
• Radiological dispersal device information and guidelines
• Worker protection information.

Feedback from stakeholder workshops and expert reviews is used to determine updates to be made to DSTs. Stakeholder feedback is also used to set priorities and to determine interface changes, additional modules, and revisions. This work will continue to be closely coordinated with stakeholders and other government agencies.

EPA’s Suite of Disaster Debris Management and Disposal Decision Support Tools is available at http://www2.ergweb.com/bdrtool/login.asp. You will need to request a user identification name and password in order to log on.

Contact: Paul Lemieux

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