Homeland Security STRATEGIC RESEARCH ACTION PLAN 2016 2019 - EPA
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EPA 601/K-15/001 | November 2015 | www.epa.gov/research
Homeland Security
STRATEGIC RESEARCH ACTION PLAN
2016 – 2019
Office of Research and Development
Homeland Security
EPA 601/K-15/001
Homeland Security
Strategic Research Action Plan 2016–2019
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
November 2015
Table of Contents
List of Acronyms�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ii
Executive Summary��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1
Introduction��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2
Environmental Problems and Program Purpose������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3
Problem Statement�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
Program Vision��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
Program Design���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
Building on the 2012–2016 Research Program�������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 5
EPA Partner and Stakeholder Involvement�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6
Integration across Research Programs��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8
Research to Support EPA Strategic Plan������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9
Statutory and Policy Context���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10
Research Program Objectives���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 10
Research Topics�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12
Topic 1: Characterizing Contamination and Assessing Exposure���������������������������������������������������� 12
Topic 2: Water System Security and Resilience������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 17
Topic 3: Remediating Wide Areas�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 20
Anticipated Research Accomplishments and Projected Impacts��������������������������������������������������������� 23
Conclusions�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 25
References��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 26
Appendix: Table of Proposed Outputs, Homeland Security Research Program FY16–19��������������������� 27
i
List of Acronyms
ACE Air, Climate, and Energy
BOTE Bio-Response Operational Testing and Evaluation
CBR Chemical, Biological, and Radiological agents
CBRN Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear
CIPAC Critical Infrastructure Protection Advisory Committee
CSS Chemical Safety for Sustainability
DHHS Department of Health and Human Services
DHS Department of Homeland Security
DOD Department of Defense
EPA Environmental Protection Agency
ERLN Environmental Response Laboratory Network
FSMA Food Safety Modernization Act
HHRA Human Health Risk Assessment
HSRP Homeland Security Research Program
NSTC White House’s National Science and Technology Council
OAR Office of Air and Radiation
OCSPP Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention
OECA Office of Enforcement and Compliance
ORD Office of Research and Development
OSWER Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response
OW Office of Water
SAM Selected Analytical Methods
SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition
SCID Sample Collection Information Document
SHC Sustainable and Healthy Communities
SPORE Scientific Program on Reaerosolization and Exposure
SSWR Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
USDA United States Department of Agriculture
VSAT Vulnerability Self-Assessment Tool
WCIT Water Contaminant Information Tool
WLA Water Laboratory Alliance
ii
Executive Summary
EPA’s Office of Research and Development’s (ORD) Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP)
aims to help increase the capabilities of EPA and communities to prepare for and respond to
chemical, biological, and radiological disasters. Enhancing these capabilities will lead to improved
resiliency of our nation to environmental catastrophes. Disasters resulting in environmental threats
to public health and the ecosystem may be manmade or naturally occurring incidents including,
for example, terrorist use of anthrax spores in 2001, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, and
Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The Homeland Security Strategic Research Action Plan, 2016–2019 (StRAP FY16–19) is a four-year
research strategy designed to meet the following objectives:
• Improve water utilities’ abilities to prepare for and respond to incidents that threaten
public health; and
• Advance EPA’s capabilities to respond to wide-area contamination incidents.
EPA’s homeland security research is organized into three topic areas that support these objectives:
(1) characterizing contamination and assessing exposure; (2) water system security and resilience;
and (3) remediating wide areas. Short- and long-term aims within the topics outline a strategy for
addressing the objectives.
HSRP carries out applied research that aims to deliver relevant and timely methods, tools, data, and
technologies to those who carry out EPA’s homeland security mission. To accomplish this aim, we
engage our Agency customers throughout the research life cycle – identifying scientific capability
gaps, performing research to address the gaps, and formulating and delivering the products that fill
the gaps.
HSRP scientific products will improve the resilience of water systems to terrorist attacks or other
manmade and natural disasters. Specifically, utilities will have improved tools and strategies
to manage contaminated systems and approaches to make these systems inherently resilient.
HSRP products also provide the EPA with systems-based approaches for site characterization, risk
assessment, and clean up, including waste management. Such information will help federal, state
and local decision makers select cost-effective, timely options while minimizing the impact to the
environment.
1
Introduction
The Homeland Security Strategic Research leading-edge research to provide a solid
Action Plan, 2016–2019 (StRAP FY16–19) underpinning of science and technology. The
is a four-year strategy to deliver research HSRP StRAP is one of six research plans, which
results and solutions needed to support EPA’s each support one of EPA’s national research
overall mission to protect human health and programs in ORD. The six research programs
the environment, fulfill the EPA’s legislative are:
mandates, and advance the cross-Agency
priorities identified in the FY 2014–2018 EPA • Air, Climate, and Energy (ACE)
Strategic Plan1. This strategy outlines how • Chemical Safety for Sustainability (CSS)
EPA’s Office of Research and Development’s
• Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP)
Homeland Security Research Program (HSRP)
aims to meet the homeland security science • Human Health Risk Assessment (HHRA)
needs of EPA partners and stakeholders. • Safe and Sustainable Water Resources
(SSWR)
As the science arm of the EPA, EPA’s Office of
Research and Development (ORD) conducts • Sustainable and Healthy Communities (SHC)
http://go.usa.gov/ccfYC
1
2
EPA’s six strategic research action plans are
designed to guide a comprehensive research
Environmental
portfolio that delivers the science and
engineering solutions the Agency needs to meet
Problems and Program
its goals and objectives, while also cultivating
a new paradigm for efficient, innovative, and
Purpose
responsive government and government- HSRP’s mission is to conduct research and
sponsored environmental and human health deliver scientific products to improve EPA’s
research. capability to carry out its homeland security
responsibilities. Since the 2001 attack on the
Historically, HSRP has focused on filling World Trade Center and subsequent mailing
science gaps associated with EPA’s work on of letters containing anthrax, EPA’s homeland
terrorist attacks involving chemical, biological, security efforts have focused on preparing for
radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) contamination. and responding to purposeful deployment by
EPA, along with other federal agencies, now terrorists of toxic CBRN substances. HSRP has
recognizes that the activities associated with supported the agency by conducting a broad
preparing for a response to non-terror disasters program of CBRN research for over a decade.
(e.g., chemical accidents, hurricanes) and acts
of terror (e.g., ricin or anthrax spores in the The U.S. Government has recognized that
mail, contamination of a water system) are preparing for and responding to most disasters,
often the same. Thus, although terror-related manmade or natural, have common elements
research remains its core, HSRP is beginning to (The White House, 2011). Recent major
address a broader set of disasters. disasters in the United States (the Deepwater
Horizon oil spill in 2010, Superstorm Sandy in
In this way, HSRP carries out work in the core 2012, the Oklahoma tornados in 2013, the
areas of EPA’s disaster response mission. These West Virginia water contamination incident in
areas include developing standardized sample 2014, and the avian flu outbreak in the poultry
collection, analysis methods, and strategy industry in 2015) and abroad (Fukushima
options for characterization of contamination Nuclear Power Plant accident in 2011) illustrate
so that risk can be assessed and cleanup the critical need for rapid recovery after all types
approaches considered; developing approaches of disasters. The federal government’s view of
for preparing water systems for disasters and homeland security now includes “all hazards”
successfully responding to catastrophes so as described in Presidential Policy Directive 21:
that access to drinking water by the public
and business operations are maintained or “The Federal Government shall…take proactive
restored quickly; and developing approaches steps to manage risk and strengthen the
for cleanup of outdoor areas and buildings so security and resilience of the Nation’s critical
that the impact of disasters on commerce and infrastructure, considering all hazards that
personal lives is minimized. Finally, following a could have a debilitating impact on national
disaster, the program provides expert technical security, economic stability, public health and
advice and hands-on assistance as needed by safety, or any combination thereof.“
the response community. (The White House, 2013)
3
Communities, therefore, call on EPA to assist nities to prepare for and more rapidly recover
them in preparing for and recovering from the from these incidents. Figure 2 illustrates how
environmental aspects of “all hazards” or “all EPA research related to resilience ultimately
disasters.” The HSRP embraces this broader supports sustainability.
view of EPA’s homeland security mission and
is evolving its program from strictly addressing
terrorism incidents to the broader set of all
disasters.
HSRP supports EPA’s responsibilities to prepare
for and respond to acute disasters by conducting
short-term, applied scientific research. The base
of the program focuses on CBRN contamination
resulting from intentional or unintentional
incidents; however, the HSRP also works to find
multiple uses of its research by applying, when
appropriate, its products to gaps in EPA’s ability
to effectively respond to all hazards. Finally,
“all hazards” capability gaps exist that are not
addressed by HSRP’s core program. HSRP will
collaborate with other ORD research programs
and with other federal agencies to address the Figure 1. HSRP’s approach to addressing
most pressing of these gaps. Figure 1 illustrates “All Hazards” capability gaps.
this strategic approach, emphasizing that
terrorism-related work is the foundation of the
program and the “all hazards” efforts are built
on that foundation.
Ultimately, EPA’s efforts to improve communi-
ties’ ability to face and recover from disasters
helps build resilience in these communities.
Improving community resilience is especially
critical for populations that have greater ex-
posure to disasters and are more vulnerable
to their impacts. Developing resilience at the
community level is a critical aspect of building
sustainability. Communities that “prepare for,
absorb and recover” (NRC, 2012) from disasters
will, in turn, have more sustainable economic,
environmental, and social systems. Developing
and transitioning effective tools and guidance Figure 2. How EPA research supports
to community decision makers, including water sustainability.
utility owners and operators, enables commu-
4
The following Problem Statement and Program Vision guide the research program:
Problem Statement
Natural or manmade disasters often result in environmental pollution that can threaten the
health of populations and the ecosystems and commerce on which they rely. The United
States is regularly affected by natural disasters and industrial accidents. It is very difficult for
communities to be resilient in the face of such acute environmental catastrophes, especially
if scientifically sound information to make difficult decisions is not readily available.
Program Vision
EPA and communities, including water utilities, have the scientific tools they need to prepare
for and respond to disasters, thereby helping communities achieve resilience to catastrophes.
Program Design
The HSRP StRAP 2016–2019 provides a vision that products maximize response and cleanup
and blueprint for advancing homeland security efforts and minimize unintended consequences
research in ways that meet legislative man- of decisions. This in turn minimizes the overall
dates, while addressing the highest priorities of cost and recovery time. Figure 3 illustrates a
Agency partners and stakeholders. Accordingly, simplified systems diagram for the prepared-
it was developed with considerable input and ness – response – decontamination/waste man-
support from EPA program offices and regions, agement cycle associated with an environmen-
as well as outside stakeholders including sister tal disaster. The red explosion indicates the
federal agencies, state and local agencies, and beginning of the incident and the text boxes in-
colleagues across the scientific community. dicate the various activities conducted pre- and
post-incident.
Building on the 2012–2016
Research Program
The current HSRP builds on the 2012–2016
StRAP2 (U.S. EPA, 2012). StRAP FY12–16 intro-
duced the idea that EPA’s homeland security
responsibilities are comprised of interconnect-
ed systems of activities: actions taken for one
activity could impact, negatively or positively,
another activity. Thus, a “systems approach”3
requires consideration of these interdependen-
cies prior to making decisions and taking action.
This “systems” view is furthered in the StRAP
FY16-19 and continues to guide research so
Figure 3. Systems diagram for response and remediation
2
http://go.usa.gov/ccfTk
after an environmental disaster.
3
Systems approaches, including systems-based solutions, aim to understand a system in totality through analyzing its various
components while still understanding how these components interact. These approaches also aim to understand the system at
many levels. In this context, the “system” here is the incident response and recovery efforts composed of many interconnected
activities such as constructing a sampling strategy, selecting a cleanup technology, and managing wastes.
5
The 2012–2016 StRAP outlined the HSRP’s initial In addition, because the EPA is designated by
focus for its water-system-related research, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
supporting Homeland Security Presidential as a Support Agency to the Department of
Directive/HSPD-9 (The White House, 2004). This Agriculture for response to a food or agriculture
directive established a national policy to defend emergency, the HSRP is developing methods for
the agriculture and food system (including cleanup (including carcass disposal) after these
water systems) against terrorist attacks, major incidents with USDA (FSMA, 2011). Lastly, in
disasters, and other emergencies. For this support of the Agency’s broadened definition
reason, a significant portion of the program of homeland security, the program is also
focused on development of contamination looking to assist in addressing the needs related
warning strategies for water systems. HSRP to other environmental disasters through
developed software tools for sensor placement application of its research products to a broader
and evaluated sensors to support contamination set of incidents.
monitoring systems. These tools were piloted in
five cities and some are now used in many other The 2012–2016 StRAP highlighted both field
cities4. As the contaminant warning system scale demonstrations of remediation and
program has matured, the HSRP has moved chemical warfare agent-focused research.
its focus towards methods for response to While these areas remain important, declining
contamination incidents and science to support resources and additional partner needs have
development of resilient water systems. This is led to scope reduction for planned research in
reflected in the current StRAP. these areas.
Initial efforts related to building community EPA Partner and Stakeholder
resilience to disasters, including indoor/ Involvement
outdoor cleanup research outlined in the Numerous Agency program offices and
previous StRAP, were focused on remediation regions carry out EPA’s homeland security
of buildings contaminated with traditional responsibilities while EPA’s Office of Homeland
chemical, biological, and radiological (CBR) Security coordinates the activities. The primary
agents. Recently, the program completed a partners for the HSRP include the EPA’s Office
full-scale evaluation of three decontamination of Water (OW), the Office of Solid Waste and
methods for remediation of a facility Emergency Response (OSWER), and each of
contaminated with anthrax surrogate spores the Agency’s ten Regional Offices across the
(US EPA, 2013). The results from this evaluation country. In addition, other stakeholders of
were incorporated into a facility remediation the HSRP also provide critical contributions to
decision support tool (US EPA, 2014a). the program, including the Office of Chemical
Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP), the
Remediation and recovery exercises (e.g., U.S. Office of Air and Radiation (OAR), the Office of
DHS, 2012), however, have highlighted that Enforcement and Compliance (OECA), the Office
incidents impacting large portions of cities or of Policy’s Office of Sustainable Communities,
entire communities will require remediation of State and local laboratories, and water utilities.
numerous outdoor and semi-enclosed areas (e.g.,
subways) in addition to buildings. The research The HSRP believes that the end users of our re-
program is now examining clean up methodologies search will receive the scientific products they
and strategies for these wide areas. need only if they are closely involved with the
http://go.usa.gov/ccfDY
4
6research program. The HSRP-partner engage- others to leverage their homeland security/
ment involves working together diligently on environmental disaster science efforts. These
each step of product development: identifying interactions range from high-level strategic
and prioritizing research needs, implementing planning and coordination managed by the
research studies, and designing and delivering White House’s National Science and Technology
useful products. To succeed in these efforts, Council (NSTC)5 to staff-to-staff collaboration
staff and management in HSRP work together on individual research efforts. Figure 4 shows
continuously with partner organizations. these agencies and their response roles in
dark blue and light blue boxes, respectively.
HSRP collaborates extensively with the other Directly below, the white boxes describe the
federal agencies whose missions support areas of research collaboration with these
response to environmental disasters. HSRP agencies (described in more detail in the
works closely with Department of Homeland Topics section). HSRP also leverages DOD’s
Security (DHS), Department of Defense (DOD), research to support the warfighter, specifically
Department of Health and Human Services their CBRN decontamination and fate and
(DHHS), Department of Agriculture (USDA) and transport research.
Figure 4. HSRP research collaborations with federal partners in the environmental response context.
5
ORD HSRP participates in both the Environment, Natural Resources, and Sustainability and Homeland and National
Security Committees under the NSTC.
7Using the systems understanding of disaster To accomplish formal integration of research on
preparedness and response, and identifying significant cross-cutting issues at a high level,
high priority research needs, the program is EPA developed several research “roadmaps”
organized by topics, under which there are that identify both ongoing relevant research
specific research areas or projects. The work and science gaps that need to be filled. The
in the projects produces bodies of data, tools, roadmaps serve to coordinate research efforts
models, and technologies (“Outputs”) to address and to provide input that helps shape the future
the capability needs expressed by our partners. research in each of the six programs. Roadmaps
The anticipated FY16–19 Outputs, organized have been developed for the following areas:
by project area, are listed in Appendix A.
• Nitrogen and Co-Pollutants
Integration across Research • Children’s Environmental Health
Programs
• Climate Change
Because many of the other ORD programs
conduct research that can be leveraged to • Environmental Justice
support homeland security research, the HSRP
works closely with the other five programs on Table 1 indicates that HSRP has research
topics that support the needs of its partners. activities and interest in identified science gaps
Figure 5 shows the research areas that the within the Climate Change and Environmental
program leverages in the other five programs. Justice Research Roadmaps. Specific research
Specific research activities are discussed integration activities are described in the
further in the Research Topics section, and they Research Topics section.
range from information sharing to conducting
integrated research efforts.
Figure 5. Areas of research in other ORD programs that are leveraged by HSRP.
8Table 1. HS Research Program Contributions to Critical Needs Identified by ORD Roadmaps
Checkmarks indicate a contribution of HSRP activities and interest in the identified science gaps
of the Roadmaps; a blank indicates no substantive role. The research program provides significant
contributions to two of the roadmaps as shown in the table.
HSRP Topic Area
ORD Roadmap Characterizing
Remediating Water System Security
Contamination and
Wide Areas and Resilience
Assessing Exposure
Climate Change
Environmental Justice
Children’s Health
Nitrogen & Co-Pollutants
Research to Support EPA Strategic Plan
EPA Strategic Plan (FY2014–2018)
In support of EPA’s mission to protect human
Goals and Cross-Agency Strategies
health and the environment, the EPA Strategic
Plan identifies five strategic goals and four cross-
EPA Strategic Goals
agency strategies (Figure 6). Homeland Security
Research significantly supports Goal 2, “Pro- Goal 1: Addressing Climate Change and
Improving Air Quality
tecting America’s Waters,” and Goal 3 “Clean-
ing Up Communities and Advancing Sustainable Goal 2: Protecting America’s Waters
Development.” Under Goal 2, HSRP’s research Goal 3: Cleaning Up Communities and
supports the “Protecting Human Health” objec- Advancing Sustainable Development
tive by providing scientific products that help Goal 4: Ensuring the Safety of Chemicals
communities “protect and sustainably manage and Preventing Pollution
drinking water resources.” The HSRP supports Goal 5: Protecting Human Health and the
the Goal 3 objective to “Promote Sustainable Environment by Enforcing Laws and
and Livable Communities and Restore Land” by Assuring Compliance
providing tools and information to help com-
munities “prepare for and respond to acciden- Cross-Agency Strategies
tal or intentional releases of contaminants and • Working Toward a Sustainable Future
clean up.” Homeland Security Research is cata- • Making a Visible Difference in
logued in this Strategic Plan under Goal 4, “En- Communities
suring the Safety of Chemicals and Preventing • Launching a New Era of State, Tribal,
Pollution.” Its research also supports the cross- Local, and International Partnerships
agency strategies within this plan, specifically • Embracing EPA as a High-Performing
“Working Toward a Sustainable Future” and Organization
“Making a Visible Difference in Communities”
through research that will “advance sustain- Figure 6. Summary of EPA Strategic Plan:
Goals and Cross-Agency Strategies.
ability science, indicators, and tools” (U.S. EPA,
2014b).
9Statutory and Policy Context Research Program
EPA has clearly defined responsibilities
associated with responding to disasters or Objectives
acts of terrorism. These responsibilities are
established through a set of laws, Homeland The HSRP StRAP FY16–19 is aligned around two
Security Presidential Directives, Presidential major research objectives as were described
Policy Directives, Executive Orders, and national briefly above: (1) improve water utilities’
strategies.6 abilities to prepare for and respond to incidents
EPA’s disaster-related responsibilities can be that threaten public health; and (2) advance
summarized into three areas: EPA’s capabilities to respond to wide area
contamination incidents. These objectives
1. Water systems:
are directly in line with the EPA’s primary
(a) Protect water systems from inten-
tional or unintentional contamination and homeland security responsibilities and overall
(b) Detect and recover from attacks and the strategic directions (U.S. EPA, 2014b). These
effects of disasters by leading efforts to pro- objectives also allow the program to determine
vide States and water utilities with guidance, the needs of its EPA partners related to these
tools and strategies to enhance resilience, responsibilities.
detect disruptions (including contamina-
tion), mitigate impacts and efficiently return Objective 1: Improve water utilities’ abilities
the systems to service; to prepare for and respond to incidents that
2. Indoors/outdoors: threaten public health.
Remediate environments contaminated
with CBRN agents or materials, including Disasters, manmade or natural, can impact
buildings and outdoor areas impacted by
water utilities’ ability to function. To support
terrorist attacks or by inadvertent disasters
disaster preparedness, the HSRP develops
by leading efforts to establish clean-up goals
and remediation strategies; and, modeling tools that support the design and
3. Laboratories: operation of water systems to decrease their
Develop a nationwide laboratory network vulnerability to disasters. HSRP also builds tools,
with the capability and capacity to analyze technologies, and data to support post-incident
for CBRN agents during routine monitoring responses. Following an incident, HSRP research
and in response to terrorist attacks and helps water utilities detect contamination,
other disasters. take mitigative actions, determine extent of
The HSRP provides the scientific basis for contamination, assess risk, treat water, and
these strategies, tools, guidance, and cleanup decontaminate infrastructure. Collectively,
levels, as well as a continual effort to provide these efforts help improve the resiliency of
laboratories with verified analytical methods. water systems faced with inevitable disasters.
6
Bioterrorism Act, Presidential Policy Directive-8 National Preparedness, Presidential Policy Directive-21 Critical
Infrastructure Security and Resilience, Homeland Security Presidential Directive-7 Critical Infrastructure Identification,
Prioritization, and Protection, Homeland Security Presidential Directive-9 Defense of United States Agriculture and
Food, Homeland Security Presidential Directive-22 Domestic Chemical Defense, Executive Order-13636 Improving Critical
Infrastructure Cybersecurity, National Response Framework, and elements of Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, Clean Water Act, Safe Drinking
Water Act, Oil Pollution Act, Clean Air Act, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.
10The research that is striving to meet this The research that is striving to meet this
objective can be summarized to address the objective can be summarized as work to address
following science questions: the following science questions:
Can water systems models be designed What social and environmental variables
to enable utilities to be more resilient to affect a community’s environmental resilience?
disruptions while enhancing daily operations? What are indicators and metrics of resilient
communities?
What technologies, methods, and strategies
for detection and mitigation of contamination What are the standardized sample collection
in water systems best minimize public health and analysis methods and strategies for
consequences? characterization of contamination that enable
an expedient remediation?
What are the standardized sample collection
and analysis methods and strategies for Can exposure pathways and models be
characterization of contamination that allow a improved to better inform risk assessment and
water utility to quickly return to service? risk management decisions after a wide area
contamination incident?
Can exposure pathways and models be
improved to better inform risk assessment and What technologies, methods, and strategies
risk management decisions for water-related are effective for mitigating the impacts of the
exposures? contamination and for reducing the potential
exposures?
What methodologies and strategies are most
effective (minimize cost while protecting What technologies, methods, and strategies
human health and the environment) for water are best suited (minimize cost while protecting
infrastructure decontamination and water human health and the environment) for
treatment? cleanup of indoor and outdoor areas (including
management of waste)?
How can HSRP place its research in a decision-
maker-friendly format for use by EPA water How can HSRP place its research in a decision-
partners and water utilities? maker-friendly format for use by EPA partners
and State and local decision makers?
Objective 2: Advance EPA’s capabilities to
respond to wide area contamination incidents. Because this program supports time-critical
response to disasters, our results must be
Terrorist incidents or natural disasters can available in quickly accessible, usable, and
result in wide area contamination with CBRN concise formats for decision makers. As
agents or materials. EPA needs effective and evidenced by the science challenges within
affordable cleanup strategies and methods each of the two objectives outlined above,
to enable successful recovery by affected HSRP aims to deliver science synthesis products
communities. After a wide-area contamination into the hands of end users by making this
incident occurs, HSRP products can be used to information available through existing, widely
assist in determining the nature and extent of used information databases and supporting
the problem, assessing risk, choosing the best this work with technical assistance. The primary
cleanup approach, and managing the resulting metric of the program’s success is the use of its
contaminated wastes. Communities are also research in databases, guidance, and training
looking for ways to holistically assess their developed by its EPA partners and external
environmental resilience to disasters. stakeholders.
11Research Topics Remediating Wide Areas
Fill critical gaps in science and technology to
inform selection and implementation of con-
The Research Objectives described above serve
tamination mitigation and cleanup technolo-
as the overarching framework for more focused
gies, remediation monitoring approaches,
research topics that guide specific research and
treatment and disposal tactics for contaminat-
development activities. The research topics are:
ed wastes, and strategies for confirmation of
successful cleanup.
Characterizing Contamination and Assessing
Exposure
Each of the three research topics and
Develop sample collection and analysis meth-
corresponding science questions are listed
ods that increase the capability and capacity of
in Table 2 along with their related near- and
the Agency’s Environmental Response Labora-
long-term aims.
tory Network (ERLN) (which includes the Water
Laboratory Alliance (WLA))7 to respond to both
Topic 1: Characterizing
water-related and wide area contaminations.
Provide the science needed to establish sam-
Contamination and Assessing
pling strategies for indoor and outdoor areas Exposure
that provide the maximum amount of infor- Following a chemical, biological, or radiological
mation regarding the extent of contamination incident, EPA will oversee site characterization
while minimizing the sampling and laboratory and remediation of contaminated water sys-
resources required. Develop methods to assess tems and indoor and outdoor areas. Additional
exposure pathways and utilize exposure model- contamination characterization may be re-
ing for CBRN contaminants to support risk as- quired during the cleanup operations to assess
sessment. progress and to characterize waste streams,
and may inform clearance decisions. EPA’s OS-
Water System Security and Resilience WER constructed the ERLN to establish the ca-
Develop water systems models that enable util- pability and capacity for site characterization
ities to design and operate their water systems and remediation after national scale incidents.
so that they are more resilient to intentional at-
tacks or natural disasters including understand- Because site characterization data informs de-
ing the implications of various operational and cisions regarding remediation, including deter-
design decisions on the overall resilience of mining the efficacy of the cleanup efforts, it is
the system. Develop approaches for detecting important to understand how to relate these
and responding to a water system contamina- data to risk assessment. Using these data in risk
tion event or other system disruptions. Develop assessment is not straightforward, particularly
methods to decontaminate water systems and for microbial contamination. This is due to the
treat contaminated water. Includes drinking uncertainty and variability in the field data as
water and wastewater systems. well as the uncertainty of how to estimate ex-
posure.
7
A nationwide laboratory network with the capability and capacity to analyze for CBRN agents during routine monitoring
and in response to terrorist attacks and other disasters. The WLA includes water utility laboratories.
12Table 2. Research topics, science questions, near-term aims, and long-term aims for the
Homeland Security Research Program
HSRP Research Topics Science Question Near-Term Aim Long-Term Aim
Characterizing What are the Innovative Verified sampling
Contamination and standardized sample sample strategy strategy options to
Assessing Exposure collection and options, sample maximize needed
analysis methods collection methods, characterization
and strategies for and analytical information and
characterization of protocols. Improved methods that improve
contamination? understanding laboratory capability
of sampling data and capacity.
management and
interpretation.
Can exposure Evaluation/ Exposure assessment
pathways and models modification of models incorporated
be improved to better existing exposure into water security
inform risk assessment models for water- and resilience tools.
and risk management related exposures.
decisions for water-
related exposures?
Can exposure Evaluation/ Modeling tools to
pathways and models modification of support exposure
be improved to better existing exposure assessment
inform risk assessment assessment models for for biological
and risk management CBRN contaminants and chemical
decisions after a wide for inclusion into contaminants.
area contamination modeling tools.
incident?
How can the program Incorporation of Use of HSRP
place its research in research results into developed models and
a decision maker- widely used databases methods by the ERLN
friendly format for use and guidance and EPA.
by EPA partners, water documents.
utilities, and State and
local decision makers?
Water System Can water systems Water systems models Water systems models
Security and models be designed that allow water for water utilities to
Resilience to enable utilities utilities to evaluate improve their security
to be more resilient their security and and operational
to disruptions while operational resilience. resilience.
enhancing daily
operations?
13Table 2. (continued) Research topics, science questions, near-term aims, and long-term aims
for the Homeland Security Research Program
HSRP Research Topics Science Question Near-Term Aim Long-Term Aim
What technologies, Evaluations Effective technologies
methods, and of detection and methods for
strategies for and mitigation detection and
detection and technologies and mitigation for water
mitigation of methods for water systems.
contamination in systems.
water systems best
minimize public health
consequences?
What methodologies Assessments of Verified customizable
and strategies are methodologies approaches for
most effective for and strategies for water infrastructure
water infrastructure water infrastructure decontamination and
decontamination and decontamination and water treatment.
water treatment? water treatment.
How can the program Incorporation of Use of HSRP water
place its research in research results security and resilience
a decision maker- into widely used tools and data by EPA
friendly format for use databases and partners and water
by EPA water partners guidance documents utilities.
and water utilities? (e.g., Office of Water’s
Water Contaminant
Information Tool).
Remediating Wide What are indicators Determination of Tool to support
Areas of community the coupled human community
environmental and natural system resilience to risks
resilience and how variables that from environmental
can existing tools affect community disasters.
incorporate these environmental
indicators? resilience.
What technologies, Evaluations of Effective methods for
methods, and mitigation methods. mitigation.
strategies are effective
for mitigating the
impacts of the
contamination and for
reducing the potential
exposures?
14Table 2. (continued) Research topics, science questions, near-term aims, and long-term aims
for the Homeland Security Research Program
HSRP Research Topics Science Question Near-Term Aim Long-Term Aim
What technologies, Development of Informed decision
methods, and effective cleanup support tools for wide
strategies are most methodologies and area response and
effective (minimize strategies (including remediation (including
cost while protecting waste management) waste management).
human health and for complex
the environment) environments.
for cleanup of Improving capability,
indoor and outdoor capacity, and
areas (including scalability of
management of remediation methods.
waste)?
How can the program Incorporation of Use of HSRP tools and
place its research in research results into data by EPA partners
a decision maker- widely used databases and State and local
friendly format for and guidance planners.
use by EPA partners documents.
and State and local
decision makers?
In this topic, the HSRP develops standardized for wide area contamination incidents. This
sample collection and analysis methods and topic also addresses optimal approaches for
strategies for characterization of contamina- translating research to enable urgent decision
tion to support the ERLN and other Agency making by EPA’s response community. Priorities
partners. Specifically by filling gaps in the sci- in this area are identified through discussions
ence needed to: (1) improve the capability by with EPA and external partners who are part of
developing, standardizing, and verifying sample the ERLN.
collection, sample preparation, and analytical
methods for CBRN agents; and (2) increase the Assessment of existing exposure
capacity by enhancing the efficiency of these assessment methodology for
methods. Additionally, the program conducts microbial data - connecting exposure
research that assists in establishing sampling assessment to sampling data
strategies and data management options for
indoor and outdoor areas that provide the After an anthrax release, the potential for
human exposure will be considered when
maximum amount of information regarding
response and remediation decisions are
the extent of contamination while minimiz- made. Research is underway to determine
ing the sampling and laboratory resources how sampling data can be related to
required. Research also supports risk assess- human exposure and if existing exposure
ment and risk management decisions, specifi- assessment methods (developed for
cally addressing the science questions related chemical contaminants) are appropriate.
to exposure pathways and models. Over time,
this topic will evolve to focus more on science
to inform sampling strategies, a key challenge
15Some specific areas of research are: methods to characterize a site contaminated
with CBRN materials and to monitor cleanup
• Sampling Strategy for Anthrax activities. HSRP ensures that SAM and SCID
Sampling strategies that employed proba- include methods for the highest priority
bilistic and/or judgmental sampling exist to contaminants and are updated with the most
support site cleanups of chemical and radio- recent methods. To support these documents,
logical contaminants in the U.S. and abroad. the program develops novel sample collection
Previous interagency efforts have discussed techniques and evaluates existing sample
these strategies at length as well as poten- collection and analysis methods for traditional
tial new options. Research conducted under environmental matrices (air, water, soil, and
this StRAP reviews these traditional sampling surfaces). In addition, sample collection and
strategies, assesses these strategies for esti- analysis methods for solid waste media and
mating exposure to B. anthracis, and devel- matrices relevant to wastewater systems are
ops innovative sampling strategy options. being developed.
This includes evaluating composite sam-
pling approaches and existing EPA modeling • Exposure modeling tools to support
tools to support judgment-based air sampler site-specific responses
placement after a wide area outdoor release Exposure-based modeling is a mature field
of B. anthracis. for traditional chemical contaminants like
pesticides, but modeling efforts for biological
• Data management and usability agents to help plan sampling strategies
Data management during response to a wide are not available. Research conducted
area contamination incident can be daunting. under this StRAP develops or modifies
In addition, the usability of microbiological existing exposure-modeling tools to support
data is not thoroughly understood, particu- development of these strategies. Models
larly at low concentrations. The HSRP assess- for water-based exposures are also being
es and modifies existing software systems developed and incorporated into systems
that will integrate characterization data and modeling consequence estimation tools.
its geospatial metadata to meet the needs of
Agency partners. In addition, a standardized Integration and Leveraging
approach for assessing the usability of micro-
biological data is being developed. Beyond the ERLN and EPA partners, the
interagency workgroup, Scientific Program
• Development and testing of sampling on Reaerosolization and Exposure (SPORE)8,
and analysis methods and update of the continues to inform the work in this topic related
Selected Analytical Methods (SAM) and to biological agent exposure. Additionally,
Sample Collection Information Document analytical methods developed by EPA ORD’s
(SCID) SSWR (Topic 4 - Water Systems) and CSS (Topic
These documents are intended to provide 1 - Chemical Evaluation) are examined for their
EPA responders and the ERLN with the most applicability to CBRN contaminants. HSRP
current sample collection and analytical also leverages DHS-funded analytical method
8
Scientific Program on Reaerosolization and Exposure aims to understand the degree to which B. anthracis spores
reaerosolize from surfaces, ways to mitigate this reaerosolization and the potential exposures resulting from this
reaerosolization. This research informs public health decisions and sampling, mitigation, and decontamination strategies.
DOD, HHS, and DHS participate in this group.
16development, which is primarily focused on Regional Offices. The water utilities convey
biological agents and emerging chemical their needs through the water sector’s Critical
threats. Lastly, as HSRP moves further toward Infrastructure Protection Advisory Committee
addressing all hazards, it will begin to explore (CIPAC), managed out of the DHS and co-led
integration of its applications in cumulative by EPA’s OW. This group periodically releases
risk assessment methods, in collaboration with research priorities and these also inform HSRP’s
HHRA (Topic 3 – Community and Site-specific research in this topic.
Analysis), to the impacts of disaster-related
chemical contamination and non-chemical This topic includes development of tools that
stressors on the environment and public (1) enable water systems to detect and respond
health. These approaches, once mature, will to a contamination event and other system
be incorporated into the cross-ORD resilience disruptions; (2) assess the vulnerabilities of the
research activities and tools discussed under systems to contamination; and (3) understand
the Remediating Wide Areas topic section the implications of operational and design
below. decisions on the overall system resilience. HSRP
also develops methods for decontaminating
Topic 2: Water System Security and water infrastructure and treating contaminated
Resilience water. Decision-support tools for response to
source water contamination and for assessing
The public can be seriously harmed by ingest- vulnerabilities due to critical infrastructure
ing contaminated drinking water caused by ac- interdependencies are also within this topic.
cidental or intentional introduction of harmful
substances into our water systems. Contamina- This research supports the science questions
tion of drinking water can occur through the di- related to: 1) design of water systems models;
rect introduction of CBRN substances into the 2) technologies, methods, and strategies for
distribution infrastructure, through compro- detection and mitigation of contamination
mises in the integrity of the distribution lines, or in water systems; 3) water infrastructure
via contaminated raw water supply entering a decontamination and water treatment; and
treatment plant. Direct distribution system con- 4) delivering research in a user-friendly format
tamination can result from acts of terror or in- for use by EPA water partners and water utility
advertent distribution system disruptions such owners and operators. As the research in this
as main breaks or cross connections. Acciden- area progresses, the focus will move towards
tal or natural contamination can enter drinking more field-scale assessments and additional
water supplies via contaminated stormwater focus on improving the overall resilience of
runoff, wastewater and industrial outfalls, or water systems to disasters.
transportation or industrial incidents.
Some specific examples of this research are:
EPA supports water utilities by providing
tools and guidance that help harden their • Support innovative design and operation of
infrastructure to respond to and recover from water systems and technologies for resiliency
contamination incidents and other disasters. To reduce the vulnerabilities of their sys-
Priorities in this area are determined through tems to contamination and other disasters,
conversations with the EPA’s OW, OECA, and water utilities need to better understand
17their system’s vulnerabilities and operational • Decontamination of water infrastructure
conditions. The research that supports this Once a water system is contaminated, it is im-
need includes: portant to have effective, scalable decontam-
ination methodologies for the infrastructure.
° Examining the effectiveness of
cybersecurity standards, HSRP collects data on the persistence of pri-
ority CBR contaminants on water infrastruc-
° Developing systems modeling tool ture (including wastewater infrastructure and
that allows utilities to use their su- premise plumbing9) and develops effective de-
pervisory control and data acquisi- contamination procedures to remove persistent
tion (SCADA) data to model their contamination.
system in real time, allowing them
to assess operational conditions (in-
cluding identifying disruptions) and Homeowner Decontamination
model the spread of contamination of Post-Service Connection
in their system; and, Plumbing and Appliances
° Developing a framework that allows The persistence of high priority
the study of operational and design contaminants on home plumbing
decisions on overall system resilience infrastructure is studied as well as
to disasters. Because this includes the effectiveness of flushing as a
decontamination method. As evidenced
disasters resulting from climate by the West Virginia water contamination
change, this research is covered incident in 2014, this information is
under the Climate Change Roadmap. needed for response to a water system
contamination incident.
• Fate and transport of contaminants and by-
products in water and wastewater systems
Understanding the fate and transport of con-
taminants and their degradation or decon- • Treatment, disposal, minimization and handling
tamination by-products provides information of contaminated water
that is relevant to sampling, mitigation, and A contaminated water system may be flushed
decontamination methods and strategies. or decontaminated, generating large volumes
Experimental data is collected and predictive of contaminated water. Indoor/outdoor area
models are developed to address fate and decontamination activities may generate
transport for a range of potential contami- large volumes of decontamination wash wa-
nants and infrastructure design features. ter. Containment and treatment technologies
exist, but these activities will likely result in
• Detection and mitigation methods and strategies
volumes of water that cannot be easily han-
Detecting contamination in water is critical
dled with existing capabilities. Existing ap-
for mitigating its impacts. Research efforts
proaches for collecting, minimizing, treating,
in this area include testing emerging water
and disposing of large volumes of contami-
contaminant sensors and developing ways
nated water are being modified and assessed.
to quickly mitigate impacts. Water systems
modeling efforts in this area aim to inform
mitigation strategies (e.g., flushing and
isolation).
9
The customer’s portion of the potable water distribution system, which is connected to the main distribution system via
the service line.
18• Development and enhancement of • Systems analysis and demonstration of
decision-making tools approaches for response to a contaminated
The HSRP is developing an Emergency or disrupted water system
Management Decision Support Tool that Approaches developed and tested at the
allows utilities to identify upstream hazards laboratory and pilot scale require testing at
(e.g., barges, railroad infrastructure adjacent the field scale in real time to understand their
to drinking water sources) and model spills true cost and performance under real-world
from these or above-ground storage tanks operating conditions. For these reasons,
to determine time of travel to downstream full-scale distribution system evaluations of
drinking water intakes as well as the leading cyber-based disruptions, in-line contaminant
edge, peak, and trailing edge contaminant detectors, decontamination methodologies
levels. This modeling will provide guidance (including automatic flushing), wash water
on emergency response sampling locations, treatment methodologies, and the water
methods, and drinking water utility options system modeling tools are being conducted
to treat the contaminant, close the intakes, at a full-scale simulation of a municipal water
or provide alternative sources of water. system (the Water Security Test Bed).
In addition, an operational and design-
decision support tool for water systems • Inform Agency tools and standards
is being developed that factors in the Information developed in this topic is being
interdependencies between different critical included in widely available databases such
infrastructure and water systems. as OW’s Water Contaminant Information Tool
(WCIT). HSRP’s water systems modeling tools
can potentially inform OW’s tools for utilities,
including the Vulnerability Self-Assessment
Tool (VSAT).
Figure 7. Aerial picture of the water security test bed.
19Integration and Leveraging public re-occupation. The HSRP activities in this
topic aim to fill the most critical scientific gaps
The Climate Change Roadmap integrates in the capabilities of EPA’s response community
HSRP’s research on resilience of water so that, when needed, EPA can make the
systems with other climate-related research. most informed mitigation and remediation
As a part of this integration, ACE and HSRP (decontamination and waste management)
will partner to develop a set of the scenarios decisions.
for water systems resilience research. The
program also continues to collaborate with The ultimate aim of EPA’s tools, methods,
SSWR (Topic 4 - Water Systems) on sustainable and technologies for disaster preparedness
water infrastructure modeling as well as on and response is to improve our communities’
methods for communities to achieve Net ability to recover from a disaster successfully.
Zero conditions10, specifically treatment of Therefore, EPA and communities need
decontamination wash water. In addition, tools to assess their current state of
HSRP leverages findings from SSWR studies of resilience to environmental disasters.
technologies for the collection and treatment HSRP aims to address science gaps related
of water after a water system contamination to community environmental resilience
incident (Topic 4 - Water Systems). The program assessment. Priorities in this topic are
is also working with DOD’s Army Corps of determined through interactions with EPA’s
Engineers to develop and operationalize water OSWER, OCSPP, OAR, OW, and Regional Offices.
treatment technologies at the full scale. Lastly,
to ensure that the capabilities of the Water The research in this topic addresses the science
Security Test Bed are fully realized and used, questions related to indicators of community
the program collaborates with federal partners environmental resilience; technologies,
(DOE, DHS, DOD) and water utilities to plan and methods, and strategies for mitigating the
execute research at this Test Bed. impacts of the contamination and for cleanup
of indoor and outdoor areas; and providing
Topic 3: Remediating Wide Areas research into decision maker-friendly formats
for use by EPA partners and other stakeholders.
EPA has a long history and extensive expertise
Over the period of this plan, the research in
in cleaning up contamination associated with
this topic will evolve to focus on scalability
accidental spills and industrial accidents.
of cleanup methods and application of the
However, remediating CBRN contamination
research to additional hazards outside of the
released into wide areas, such as outdoor
CBRN paradigm.
urban centers, is a responsibility for which
the EPA lacks substantial experience. The U.S.
Some specific examples of this research are:
Department of Defense has expertise in the
tactical decontamination of equipment in • Environmental fate and transport of CBRN
battlefield situations, but this expertise is not contaminants
directly applicable to the decontamination of Understanding the fate and transport of
public facilities and outdoor areas that have these contaminants is critical for informing
a variety of porous surfaces and, potentially, risk reduction, sampling, and remediation
must meet more stringent clean-up goals for activities. Examples of research in this area
10
By definition, this means “consuming only as much energy as produced, achieving a sustainable balance between water
availability and demand, and eliminating solid waste sent to landfills.”
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