- Success Stories
- Emergency Preparedness & Response
Webinar Support for Emergency Chemical Release Response
Our staff on contract with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Scientific and Technical Assistance for Consequence Management Team recently provided support for the development, coordination, and moderation of a pre-Operational Testing and Evaluation of Chemical Remediation Activities webinar for EPA On-Scene Coordinators. The EPA Office of Research and Development presented on the use of provisional advisory levels (PAL). The EPA Office of Emergency Management CBRN Consequence Management and Advisory Division (CBRN CMAD) presented on the process of chemical clearance during an emergency chemical release incident. Our staff assisted the EPA team in developing the event, acted as moderator, and provided technical support. This educational and interactive webinar was critical in providing the On-Scene Coordinators with information that will support them in their efforts during an emergency chemical release event. The webinar was a big success, with approximately 50 participants, and received very positive feedback from attendees.
![]() EPA Office of Emergency Management gave an interactive presentation on the clearance process after the release of a chemical warfare agent. | ![]() EPA Office of Research and Development gave an interactive presentation on the use of PALs during an emergency chemical release event. |
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Large-Scale Decontamination Proves Successful
In the spring of 2022, we worked with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard on a project called Analysis for Coastal Operational Resiliency-Wide Area Demonstration (WAD) which tests large scale decontamination following the release of surrogate bioagents. The team conducted a WAD at a military base in Virginia to test decontamination…

Rapid Reporting of a Close Call Incident
CSS Safety Protocols During a routine collection of waste, a container of white powder disintegrated without warning, causing the powder to spill and be expelled into the air. Thanks to CSS’s safety protocols and quick response, our Center for Disease Control waste disposal staff was able to assess the situation and respond to the chemical…

Assisting with a Risk and Vulnerability Assessment
Los Angeles County in California is a densely populated area vulnerable to natural hazards such as flooding and wildfires. Our staff modified and applied the Integrated Vulnerability Assessment Framework developed by NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science to assess the county’s climate vulnerability. Through partner and stakeholder engagement, the team used a series of…