Region 8 RRT
Tabletop Exercise
Role and Responsibilities of RRT
Membership During an Incident
Steven Merritt & Craig Myers
June 30, 2010
National Oil and Hazardous Substances
Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP)





Promulgated in the 1970s
Guides EPA and Coast Guard response to
releases/discharges of hazardous
substances/oil
Used for Emergency Response, Removal
Actions and Remedial Actions
Establishes the National Response Team,
consisting of numerous Federal Agencies
Can be superseded by the National Response
Plan (NRP)
2
Regional Response Team (RRT)




The regional counterpart to the National
Response Team
Composed of 16 Federal Agencies and
additional State/Tribal Agencies
Convenes semiannually to review regional
issues and plan for responses
Chaired by the EPA and the Coast Guard
3
Exercise Objective

The Goals of this Exercise are to:
–
Understand the roles and capabilities of the various
RRT Member Agencies
–
Generate discussion about RRT support and input
to response actions involving oil and hazardous
substances
–
Familiarize RRT Members with response tools
available to OSCs
4
Ground Rules






This is NOT a test
There are no wrong answers or questions
Participants are encouraged to speak from
their institutional knowledge
Not a game of stump the chump; it is
acceptable to say “Let me get back to you…”
The goal is to encourage an ongoing dialogue
Be open-minded, suspend disbelief, and have
fun; this time the incidents are only on paper
5
Initial Notification



At 7:50 PM on June 29, 2010, a man walking his
dog along the river reports a series of “loud
booms” coming from the vicinity of a railroad
bridge
The caller states that he thinks a train may have
collided with something near the bridge, but he is
unable to ascertain whether any cars are derailed
He reports seeing a dust or smoke cloud in the
area, but cannot see any flames from his vantage
point
6
Utah Scenario
Incident
Location
8
North Dakota Scenario
Incident
Location
10
Weather Conditions

Severe thunderstorm with hail and extremely
heavy rain just passed through the area

Temperature is 76°F

Wind is out of the northwest at 5 to 10 mph

Humidity is 92%

Sky is cloudy, but clearing
11
Subsequent 9-1-1 Reports



Drivers along the interstate report limited
visibility on the highway near the incident due
to an acrid smoke plume that appears to be
originating near the railroad bridge
One driver, stopped and taking pictures on the
shoulder, indicates that the bridge appears to
be partially collapsed at one end and that a
locomotive is derailed within that section
Another caller reports a “dark colored liquid” in
the river, flowing downstream from the bridge
12
Utah Scenario
Collapsed
Bridge
Crude
Pipeline
14
Collapsed
Bridge
15
North Dakota Scenario
Collapsed
Bridge
Crude
Pipeline
17
Collapsed
Bridge
18
Immediate Local Actions

Which agencies would be dispatched to the
scene upon initial notification?

What are the immediate critical issues that
must be addressed?

Who would 9-1-1 dispatch center be calling at
this point for assistance?

Evacuations or shelter in place orders issued?
19
Utah Scenario
ICP
Location
KOA Campground
Incident
Location
Green River State
Park & Recreation
Area
21
Acrolein Tank
22
North Dakota Scenario
Tesoro Refinery
Bismarck State
College Stadium
ICP
Location
Incident
Location
24
Anhydrous Ammonia Tank
25
State Government Actions






Who (which department/division) would be notified of
the incident within state government?
What resources would be dispatched by state
government?
What actions would be taken by these resources?
Would R8 RRT member agencies be notified?
Would notified state government departments/divisions
reach out to members of the R8 RRT initially?
Could notified entities facilitate communication
between the local responders and external agencies?
26
Actions by UDEQ and NDDES





How would you be alerted to the incident?
How would you respond?
Who within the agency would be notified?
What resources could/would the agency
dispatch?
Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
27
On-Scene Report – 8:30 PM





One train involved; one confirmed fatality in first
locomotive on bridge
Track blocked and bridge partially collapsed at
the first section encountered in direction of travel
UP train has derailed and stacked up behind
locomotive on collapsed section of bridge
Fire associated with breach of fuel tank on
second locomotive is spreading
A pipeline has been severed in bridge collapse
and contents are spilling into the creek
28
Department of Homeland Security




With limited information, the State of UT/ND
requests FEMA declare a this incident a disaster.
Does FEMA make such a declaration?
Would it cover both counties?
How would this affect the Federal response to
the incident?
29
NRC Report

NRC notifies EPA Duty Officer

UPRR train carries anhydrous ammonia and
acrolein in tank cars; derailed but unknown if
breached


Utah (Low-Level Radioactive Waste)
North Dakota (Phorate Pesticide)

Locomotive leaking diesel and on fire
30
Utah Scenario
32
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 10 gallons of Released Acrolein
Description
Level (ppm)
Extent
Area
>60-min AEGL-3: Death or irreversible
health effects possible.
>1.4
0.6km
>60-min AEGL-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.
>0.10
3.7km
2.5km2
10
>60-min AEGL-1: Minor reversible health
effects. Possible odor.
>0.03
7.6km
8.7km2
20 33
0.08km2
Population
0
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 1000 gallons of Released Ammonia
Description
Level (ppm)
Extent
Area
Population
>PAC-3: Death or irreversible health
effects possible.
>15
1,664m
891,116m2
10
>PAC-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.
>15
1,664m
891,116m2
10
>PAC-1: Minor reversible health effects.
Possible odor.
>15
1,664m
891,116m2
10 34
North Dakota Scenario
36
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 10 gallons of Released Acrolein
Description
Level (ppm)
Extent
Area
Population
>60-min AEGL-3: Death or irreversible
health effects possible.
>1.4
0.6km
0.08km2
0
>60-min AEGL-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.
>0.10
3.7km
2.5km2
10
>60-min AEGL-1: Minor reversible health
effects. Possible odor.
>0.03
7.6km
8.7km2
20 37
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 1000 gallons of Released Ammonia
Description
Level (ppm)
Extent
Area
Population
>PAC-3: Death or irreversible health
effects possible.
>15
1.1km
1.1km2
490
>PAC-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.
>15
1.1km
1.1km2
490
>PAC-1: Minor reversible health effects.
Possible odor.
>15
1.1km
1.1km2
490 38
39
Issues for EPA OSC
Who does the duty officer contact?
 Would a responder be sent?
 What actions should the responding
OSC take?
 How would responding OSC
coordinate with other responders?
 How long would it take to respond to
the scene of the incident?

40
ERT & Strike Team Involvement

Technical skills?

Communications?

Accounting?

Would they be needed?
41
Issues for EPA RRT Co-Chair




Do you call other RRT members at this point?
What is the USCG Co-Chair role at this point?
Would EPA staff the Regional Emergency
Operations Center?
Would a second EPA OSC be dispatched for
this incident? Under what circumstances?
42
General Issues For EPA



How does the OSC communicate with EPA
management?
How does the EPA OSC integrate into the
unified command structure?
Do other RRT members join command
structure?
43
Bismarck State University Stadium
10,000 fans in the stadium, threatened by
release of ammonia and potential release
of phorate pesticide
 Managing evacuations and preventing
people from transiting through plume
 Conditions deteriorating outside the
stadium and traffic at standstill

44
Issues from EPA OSC
Unable to reach the pipeline operator and
stop the flow of oil into the river?
 Leaking ammonia tank and
public/responder health/safety concerns
related to fire/plumes?
 How/where would EPA, UDEQ, NDDES
perform air monitoring?
 What other agencies will respond?

45
Radioactive Low-Level Waste



What capabilities/authorities does DOE have to
respond to a radioactive materials transportation
incident/accident?
What capabilities/authorities does NRC have to
investigate and enforce against parties
responsible for radioactive materials
transportation incidents/accidents?
EPA OSC has requested DOE RAP Team
support through RRT
46
USCG Issues






What is USCG capability in UT/ND?
Are boats available in either area?
Role for local/federal agencies with boats?
On-water role for EPA, UDEQ, NDDES and
local Fire Departments?
Who controls activity on the water?
Do we want boats on the water?
47
ATSDR





How would you be alerted to the incident?
How would you respond?
Who within the agency would be notified?
What resources could/would the agency
dispatch?
Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
48
Public Health Concerns





Does HHS have role in protecting downstream
water users?
Who determines levels of concern in water?
Can HHS provide count of hospital beds?
Any pharmaceutical in storage to treat
acrolein?
Who/where is POC for HHS & locals?
49
OSHA





How would you be alerted to the incident?
How would you respond?
Who within the agency would be notified?
What resources could/would the agency
dispatch?
Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
50
USDA





How would you be alerted to the incident?
How would you respond?
Who within the agency would be notified?
What resources could/would the agency
dispatch?
Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
51
DOI





How would you be alerted to the incident?
How would you respond?
Who within the agency would be notified?
What resources could/would the agency
dispatch?
Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
52
Water Issues for
Natural Resource Trustees

What would the DOI do about wildlife?

Is UDEQ or NDDES the trustee for UT/ND?

How would they respond respond?

Who is alerting downstream water users?
53
FEMA





How would you be alerted to the incident?
How would you respond?
Who within the agency would be notified?
What resources could/would the agency
dispatch?
Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
54
GSA





How would you be alerted to the incident?
How would you respond?
Who within the agency would be notified?
What resources could/would the agency
dispatch?
Are there other RRT members you would
contact?
55
56
Utah Scenario
Incident
Location
58
Utah Scenario
Collapsed
Bridge
Crude
Pipeline
60
Collapsed
Bridge
61
Utah Scenario
ICP
Location
KOA Campground
Incident
Location
Green River State
Park & Recreation
Area
63
Acrolein Tank
64
Utah Scenario
66
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 10 gallons of Released Acrolein
Description
Level (ppm)
Extent
Area
>60-min AEGL-3: Death or irreversible
health effects possible.
>1.4
0.6km
>60-min AEGL-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.
>0.10
3.7km
2.5km2
10
>60-min AEGL-1: Minor reversible health
effects. Possible odor.
>0.03
7.6km
8.7km2
20 67
0.08km2
Population
0
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 1000 gallons of Released Ammonia
Description
Level (ppm)
Extent
Area
Population
>PAC-3: Death or irreversible health
effects possible.
>15
1,664m
891,116m2
10
>PAC-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.
>15
1,664m
891,116m2
10
>PAC-1: Minor reversible health effects.
Possible odor.
>15
1,664m
891,116m2
10 68
North Dakota Scenario
Incident
Location
70
North Dakota Scenario
Collapsed
Bridge
Crude
Pipeline
72
Collapsed
Bridge
73
North Dakota Scenario
Tesoro Refinery
Bismarck State
College Stadium
ICP
Location
Incident
Location
75
Anhydrous Ammonia Tank
76
North Dakota Scenario
78
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 10 gallons of Released Acrolein
Description
Level (ppm)
Extent
Area
Population
>60-min AEGL-3: Death or irreversible
health effects possible.
>1.4
0.6km
0.08km2
0
>60-min AEGL-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.
>0.10
3.7km
2.5km2
10
>60-min AEGL-1: Minor reversible health
effects. Possible odor.
>0.03
7.6km
8.7km2
20 79
NARAC Plume Model of Acute (Short-Term) Effects of 1000 gallons of Released Ammonia
Description
Level (ppm)
Extent
Area
Population
>PAC-3: Death or irreversible health
effects possible.
>15
1.1km
1.1km2
490
>PAC-2: Serious health effects or
impaired ability to take protective action.
>15
1.1km
1.1km2
490
>PAC-1: Minor reversible health effects.
Possible odor.
>15
1.1km
1.1km2
490 80