Tech Zone

For further information or questions about the Tech Zone, please contact Austin Brett, Tetra Tech, by telephone at (703) 390-0606 or by e-mail at austin.brett@ttemi.com.

The Tech Zone offers demonstrations of various technologies that OSCs use in emergency response and removal actions. ERT's Technical Services will be available to help OSCs gain access to EPA's Remote Access and Virtual Private Networking Services. The Tech Zone will be open from Monday, February 9 through Thursday, February 12, 2009.

EPA Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center
Deborah Dalton, EPA Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center

EPA’s Conflict Prevention and Resolution Center can provide you with fast and effective assistance in addressing issues that are impeding your progress.  If you’re frustrated by such issues as:

  • Unwilling owners who are preventing access to sites
  • Potentially responsible parties (PRP) who can’t agree on cost allocations
  • Local and state agencies who can’t reach consensus with the plan
  • Communities who don’t support your action or are confused about risk
  • Internal team dissension

We can help by providing professional conflict resolution specialists who have the expertise and experience in breaking through these barriers.  Our contract is independently funded, fast and easy to use, and is available to all programs throughout the agency.  Stop by our table in the Tech Zone to learn more about how we can reduce your stress level!

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EPA Emergency Response Technical Group
Nancy Jones, EPA Region 6 and Emergency Response Technical Group

The mission of the Emergency Response Technical Group (ERTG) is to enhance the emergency response planning, preparedness and technical capabilities of OSCs to respond to incidents involving chemical, biological, or radiological response, including weapons of mass destruction.  A main objective of the ERTG is to ensure consistency with the National Approach to Response (NAR) by improving emergency response consistency through cross regional coordination, information sharing, standardization of procedures and the interoperability of equipment among EPA offices and regions.  ERTG has developed response tools and guidance documents including the national Emergency Response Equipment List and associated standard operating guides.  Other documents include air and water decision trees.  Also, a recent additional to the Equipment List will be on display.  The WeatherHawk Signature Series weather stations measure and record wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, solar radiation, and rain.  Model 520 is wireless to a host personal computer using fully integrated industrial grade MHz spread spectrum radio frequency communications technology.  The wireless system also has an RS232 serial data I/O located on the bottom of the weather station that can be used as a second serial communications port, programming or testing the system, or for direct data downloads to a PC or PDA. C ome to the ERTG booth to learn more about ERTG work products, see where you can find ERTG's work products on line, or pick up a hard copy.

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EPA Environmental Response Team
Dennisses Valdes, EPA Environmental Response Team

Anything, Anytime, Anywhere – Overview of the emergency response air monitoring and consultation, innovative technologies, information technology services, risk evaluations, remedy consultations, site investigations, oil spill counter-measures, geo-physical surveys, fate and transport dynamics, ground water investigations, Dive Team Operations, and portable mobile laboratories' experience. 

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EPA Environmental Response Team Technical Services
John Gilbert, EPA Environmental Response Team

Stop by the ERT Tech Zone exhibit and learn about the variety of software tools and web-based applications ERT has available to assist OSCs and field personnel in managing and performing site-related duties.  Support staff will be on-hand to provide a more in-depth review of all of the ERT desktop and on-line tools, including Scribe, Responsible Care Management System, TrainTrax, OSC Web-Sites, and WebEOC.

In addition, there will be Internet access available at the ERT Tech Zone for training program participants to check e-mail and other remote access needs.

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EPA Environmental Response Training Program
Bruce Potoka, EPA Environmental Response Team

As part of EPA’s comprehensive program for protecting the public and the environment from hazardous materials, the Technology Innovation and Field Services Division of the Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation (OSRTI) has developed the Environmental Response Training Program (ERTP).  The courses in this program are designed for personnel who respond to emergencies or who investigate and clean up abandoned hazardous waste sites..

The courses developed by EPA’s Environmental Response Team and presented by contract personnel last from 1-5 days.  These courses emphasize the practical application of lecture material through problem-solving sessions, case studies, demonstrations, and exercises using field instruments.

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EPA National Counter-Terrorism Evidence Response Team (NCERT)
Andrea Abat and Kurt Grunert, EPA National Counter-Terrorism Evidence Response Team

Established in 2001, EPA’s National Counter-terrorism Evidence Response Team (NCERT) provides law enforcement response personnel and support for incidents or sites that contain chemical, biological, or radiological hazards and have a link to terrorism or environmental crimes.  NCERT supports Special Agents, OSCs, and the other EPA Special Teams. Additionally, NCERT provides extensive law enforcement liaison contacts and law enforcement coordination capabilities to any incident.

While not traditional first responders, NCERT endeavors to achieve initial on-site response within 12 hours, 24/7,    365 days a year. NCERT members have extensive knowledge of investigations involving EPA programs and operations. They are specially trained to provide threat/risk assessments, downrange forensic evidence collection at high hazard crime scenes and incidents of national significance and force protection to EPA OSCs, EPA Special Teams, and other agencies.

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EPA National Decontamination Team
Sandra Whittle, EPA National Decontamination Team

The National Decontamination Team (NDT) is dedicated to providing decontamination expertise, especially related to chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants that can be used as weapons of mass destruction (WMD).  Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, the team provides scientific and technical assistance related to the decontamination of buildings, building contents, public infrastructure (including water systems, power plants, and mass transit), agriculture, and associated environmental media (air, soil, and water).  The NDT is composed of a staff of experts in the fields of industrial hygiene, health physics, emergency medicine, environmental science, structural and industrial engineering (HVAC), toxicology, analytical chemistry and biochemistry.  The team is available to support OSCs under the National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP).  The 2009 NDT OSC Readiness exhibit depicts the range of scientific and technical resources available to OSCs involved in hazardous materials responses and remedial operations.  The NDT assists OSCs with decontamination plans, and interpretation of policy and research issues.  The team also promotes decontamination readiness of OSCs and the larger response community through training, exercises, and planning.  Working with EPA's other Special Teams (the Environmental Response Team (ERT), the National Counter-Terrorism Evidence Response Team (NCERT), and the Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT)); the National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC); other agencies; and research groups, the NDT bridges research and response by identifying research needs and assisting with the implementation of newly developed methods and field tools.  At this year's 2009 OSC Readiness Training, members of NDT will provide technical support in the Tech Zone, as well as assistance to OSCs who are testing a database on the new internet-based EPA Emergency Response Portal.

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EPA National Incident Management System Integration Team
Roberta Runge, EPA Office of Emergency Management

The National Incident Management System/Incident Command System (NIMS/ICS) display will provide updated information on policy and guidance documents, and any available field guidance documents.

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EPA Office of Research and Development - National Homeland Security Research Center
Charlena Yoder, EPA Office of Research and Development

EPA’s National Homeland Security Research Center (NHSRC) manages, coordinates, and supports a wide variety of homeland security research and technical assistance efforts. NHSRC develops reliable, responsive scientific expertise and resources used to prevent, prepare for, and recover from public health and environmental emergencies. Research and development efforts focus on five primary areas:  assessing the risk of human exposure to contaminants; decontamination of buildings and outdoor environments; protection of the nation's drinking water resources; tools for emergency responders and local governments; and testing and evaluation of technologies that show potential for homeland security applications.

In addition to literature describing NHSRC's research and resources, several tools will be available for demonstration at the booth.  NHSRC will highlight its responder equipment testing efforts through its Technology Testing and Evaluation Program.  More information can be found at www.epa.gov/nhsrc.

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EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, Technology Innovation and Field Services Division
Cheryl Johnson, EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation

The mission of the Technology Innovation and Field Services Division (TIFSD) is to advocate more effective, less costly approaches (such "smarter solutions") by government and industry to assess and clean up contaminated waste sites, soil, and groundwater. Working with other federal agencies, states, consulting engineering firms, responsible parties, technology developers, and the investment community, TIFSD provides robust technology and market information and works to remove policy and institutional impediments related to the deployment of these technologies.  The scope of the mission extends to Superfund sites, corrective action sites under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), underground storage tank clean-ups, state voluntary clean up programs and Brownfields. Technologies of interest are for field sampling and analysis and management (treatment and containment) of contaminated soil and ground water. 

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EPA Peer Support & Critical Incident Stress Management Team
Jan Shubert, EPA Office of Emergency Management

EPA recognizes the potential for exposure to highly stressful and even traumatic events as a result of emergency response work.  To assist responders, the Agency provides a network of trained peer OSCs, other EPA support personnel, and mental health professionals, who understand the nature of the job and can provide stress management assistance in person or over the phone during particularly difficult responses and other high stress experiences.  Also, the Team is expanding the stress management services it provides to include animal assisted crisis response at major disasters.  Information about the team, contact information for team members, stress management information, and a dog that is used to assist in crisis response are available at the exhibit.

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EPA Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT)
Sara DeCair and Gregg Dempsey, EPA Office of Radiation and Indoor Air

EPA's Office of Radiation and Indoor Air (ORIA) Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT) is one of the EPA Special Teams under the NCP, specializing in radiological emergency response.  The RERT booth will feature equipment from the "National Buy," including the Radeco H-810 air sampler that samples airborne radioactive materials and the Ludlum 3030 alpha beta counter, which is used to count the samples.  This exhibit also includes a setup of the air monitor and digital calibration unit, and a properly established counting system with appropriate radiological controls in place. 

The RERT booth will have copies of EPA's new pocket-sized guide, Communicating Radiation Risks: Crisis Communications for Emergency Responders, which was developed for responders communicating with the public and the media - or advising those who do - during a radiological incident. The RERT booth will be near the Environmental Response Team and National Decontamination Team.  OSCs are invited and encouraged to stop by, pick up a guide, and receive training on - or a review of - the equipment.

Outdoors, you can tour a RERT Mobile Environmental Radiation Laboratory (MERL), a Sample Prep Lab (SPL), the Scanner Van and an Enhanced Radiological Ground Scanner (ERGS).

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EPA Region 10 Dive Team
Sean Sheldrake, EPA Region 10

The Region 10 Dive Team provides scientific polluted water diving services to the Region through inspections, sampling, surveys, contract oversight, and long-term monitoring.  Over 35 years ago, at the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, several divers developed a team to support their Agency's need for scientific contaminated water diving expertise.  Now the successor agency, EPA, has a dive team supporting Superfund Clean Water Act work and other related EPA offices, agencies, and governments.

Posters will include specific Region 10 Dive Team capabilities, a new survey method for geolocation of underwater photos, and a map describing highlights of work over the past several decades.  For more information, contact Sean Sheldrake, Unit Diving Officer (Deputy) at (206) 553-1220 or visit at http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/OEA.NSF/webpage/Dive+Team.

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EPA’s Training Exchange and Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response Training Coordination Team
Gary Turner, EPA Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation

The OSWER Training Coordination Team operates the Training Exchange (Trainex) Web site in partnership with EPA headquarters and regional offices, the Interstate Technology Remediation Council (ITRC), and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). The Trainex site includes information and schedules for deliveries of more than 450 training courses related to hazardous waste cleanup and site and incident management for staff from EPA, other federal agencies, and states.  Approximately 7,000 visitors each month access Trainex for on-line registration, logistics information, interactive courses and Internet seminars, and for links to other EPA and non-EPA Web sites that provide information on training.

Training topics include Superfund, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), oil, emergency response, counter-terrorism, enforcement, community involvement, environmental public health, and water security. Training is provided through regional courses, workshops, and conferences; including CERCLA Education Center (CEC), Environmental Response Training Program (ERTP), and Community Involvement University (CIU) courses, as well as Regional training opportunities.

Members of the OSWER Training Coordination Team are knowledgeable about all the offerings and can assist with scheduling and logistics for new courses. Names and contact information are available at www.trainex.org.

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Tennessee Valley Authority Resource Management
Jerry Liner, Tennessee Valley Authority

Tennessee Valley Authority's Resource Management business provides professional consultation services.  Services include environmental, consultation, assessment, remediation, integrated resource management, and environmental information management products and services.

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U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Environmental and Munitions Center of Expertise
Ric Hines, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) military and civilian engineers, scientists, and other specialists work as leaders in engineering and environmental matters.  Approximately 32,000 civilians and 650 military men and women compose USACE's diverse workforce of biologists, engineers, geologists, hydrologists, chemists, health physicists, natural resource managers, and other professionals who provide quality responsive engineering services to the nation.  The efforts of the USACE include:  planning, designing, building, and operating water resources and other civil works projects (navigation, flood control, environmental protection, disaster response, and more); designing and managing the construction of military facilities for the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force; and providing design and construction management support for other defense and federal agencies.  More information about USACE is available at www.usace.army.mil, and the USACE Environmental and Munitions Center of Expertise at www.environmental.usace.army.mil.

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U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team
Jereme Altendorf, U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team

The Pacific Strike Team Hazardous Materials Response Trailer (HMRT) is designed to support a ten-member response team for 3 days of level “A” operations before logistical support is needed.  The trailers response inventory includes self contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) bottle refill, full wet or dry decontamination line, air monitoring and detection equipment, sampling equipment, remediation tools, and containment/over pack equipment.  In addition to physical response the HMRT is equipped with a full satellite communications suite and a reference library.

The Remotec Mini-Andros II is used for initial entry into an actual or potential hazardous environment.  Equipped with various air monitoring instruments “Harvey” is used as the first man in to ensure responders can enter the area of concern.  “Harvey” is equipped with two-way communications, a high intensity light, and extreme low light color cameras.  “Harvey” is remotely controlled from the support zone via a 1,200-foot fiber optic cable with a video screen so command and control can watch and listen to activities in the hot zone.

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