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  • Emergency Response
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Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Consequence Management

The Consequence Management Advisory Division (CMAD) serves as EPA’s national special team providing leadership, expertise, and response capabilities for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN), as well as all hazard events.

CMAD’s mission is to prepare and support the emergency response community 24/7/365 during CBRN and all-hazard events. CMAD provides science-based solutions and response services during all phases of crisis and consequence management by deploying both personnel and assets.

CMAD provides tactical options for:

  • screening;
  • sampling;
  • monitoring;
  • decontamination;
  • clearance; and
  • waste management.

Toxicological/exposure assessment during the decontamination of buildings during an incident involving releases of radiological, biological, or chemical contaminants is also provided. In addition, CMAD maintains critical partnerships with EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center and EPA’s special teams, as well as other federal and international partners.

General requests for CMAD support should be made to EPA’s Emergency Operations Center at 202-564-3850.

On this page:

  • Response Equipment and Personnel
  • Reports, Fact Sheets, and Other Documents
  • Operations (Training/Exercises)

Response Equipment and Personnel

PHILIS (Portable High-throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification System)

PHILIS (Portable High-throughput Integrated Laboratory Identification System) is EPA’s suite of mobile laboratories for the on-site analysis of environmental samples contaminated with chemical warfare agents, pharmaceutical-based agents, and toxic industrial compounds. PHILIS is part of EPA’s Environmental Response Laboratory Network.

PHILIS provides on-site analysis for: 

  • Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear incident response actions
  • Accidental chemical releases
  • Natural disasters

ASPECT (Airborne Spectral Photometric Environmental Collection Technology)

ASPECT is EPA's airborne real-time chemical and radiological detection, infrared and photographic imagery platform. Based near Dallas, Texas, and able to deploy within one hour, ASPECT is available to assist local, national, and international agencies supporting hazardous substance response and radiological incidents.

Federal partners and On-Scene Coordinators interested in engaging the PHILIS/ASPECT capabilities should contact the EPA Emergency Operations Center at 202-564-3850.

Reports, Fact Sheets, and Other Documents

CBRN Quick Reference Guides

Low-Concentration Hydrogen Peroxide (LCHP) Vapor for Bioremediation - Assessment and Evaluation Report

Fact Sheet: Fentanyl and Fentanyl Analogs

CMAD Annual Reports

Underground Transport Restoration (UTR) Operational Technology Demonstration (OTD)

Subway Railcar Decontamination with Methyl Bromide

Methyl Bromide Field Operation Guidance (MB FOG) Report

EPA/CDC Interim Clearance Strategy for Environments Contaminated with Anthrax

Low‐Concentration Hydrogen Peroxide Decontamination for Bacillus Spore Contamination in Buildings 

Operations (including Training/Exercises)

Radiation Task Force Leader (RTFL) Training

The Radiation Task Force Leader (RTFL) Training is a 10-day radiation safety course for EPA Response Support Corps personnel who will augment the existing emergency response program personnel in a response to a major radiological contamination incident. Currently there are 50 trained task force leaders.

Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on February 28, 2023
United States Environmental Protection Agency

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