Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Emergency Response Research

Considering Trade-offs in Contamination Cleanup Webinar

About the Webinar

Originally presented June 8, 2022

Watch the webinar

A large-scale release of a biological or a radiological agent can result in contamination of a wide area and require significant time and resources for recovery. Prior to cleaning up the contaminated area, emergency responders must first understand the characteristics of the agent, how it was released, the amount of the contaminant released, as well as environmental and weather factors that may have influenced where the contaminant is and where it’s going. Each of these components should be factored into the sampling strategy, which will help responders characterize and clear the contaminated area. 

EPA’s Trade-off Tool for Sampling (TOTS) can assist responders in developing a sampling plan that takes into account each of the necessary components through its online GIS-based platform. This tool allows users to plot sampling locations using aerial imagery and then estimate the total time and cost necessary for implementation. Decision-makers can use the resulting sampling plan to consider trade-offs based on constraints or needs of the contamination cleanup. This webinar will provide an overview and demonstration of the tool. 

About the Presenter

A close up of a man in a light shirt and blue tie. He is smiling.

Timothy Boe is a Geographer with EPA's Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response. Mr. Boe’s work primarily focuses on response and waste management issues following CBRN incidents. He has also been developing computer-based decision support tools to aid decision makers in responding to wide-area contamination incidents. Before joining EPA, Timothy worked as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow where he conducted research on wide area CBRN remediation. Timothy has an M.S. and a B.S. in applied science from Arkansas Tech University (Russellville). 

Emergency Response Research

  • Research Topics
    • Cleanup and Remediation
    • Communities, Resilience & Remediation
    • Contaminant Detection and Sampling & Analysis
    • Contaminant Fate, Transport & Exposure
    • COVID-19 Research
    • Oil Spill Research
    • Waste Management
    • Water Security
    • Wildland Fire Research
  • Models, Tools, & Applications
  • Outreach & Training
    • Webinar Series
    • Engagement Opportunities
    • Decon Conference
    • Technical Support to States & Territories
  • Publications
Contact Us About Emergency Response & Homeland Security Research
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 6, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.