Developing and Testing Response Plans for US Coast Guard Facilities and Equipment 

EPA, the Department of Homeland Security, and US Coast Guard (USCG) worked together on the Analysis for Coastal Operational Resiliency (AnCOR) project. It involved field-level demonstrations to train USCG response personnel and test equipment that could be used following a biohazard emergency. CSS first assisted with planning and executing a demonstration of three decontamination technologies on a USCG vessel contaminated with a benign surrogate for anthrax. We wrote and reviewed quality, sampling, air monitoring, and safety plans for the demonstration.  While onsite for the 4-week demonstration, we set up the test bed during all three phases; prepared sampling kits; collected multimedia samples during the tests; shipped samples to the analytical laboratory; and prepared sections of the final report.

In a follow-on AnCOR project, we helped plan and execute a Wide Area Demonstration (WAD) at Ft. A.P. Hill’s Urban Warfare Training Center.  The month-long field demonstration focused on decontaminating USCG-related structures (buildings and docks), materials (ropes, buoys), and hard and soft surfaces (asphalt, concrete, gravel, and vegetation). CSS participated in small workgroups to develop the exercise framework, prepared the Sampling Plan, and coordinated with the data management team. We handled the logistics for the exercise, arranging for decontamination contractors, videographers, office trailers, personal hygiene units, and electrical generators. During the field test we placed senior technical staff onsite to assist with background sampling, surrogate application, pre- and post-decontamination sampling, and two types of decontamination. We placed 65 reference material coupons and supported the collection and shipment of another 700 samples for analysis.

Additional Projects

Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) ES&H Support

CSS provided on-site environmental, safety, and health support 24 hours per day/five days per week to support approximately 1,900 employees occupying 1.4 million square feet of floor space at BEP’s Washington, DC, facility (DCF).

Procedures, Plans, and Training to Support Emergency Response

CSS provided health and safety, field, and analytical support for EPA’s Consequence Management Advisory Division.

Predictive Modeling and the HABTracker

CSS scientists helped develop HABTracker, a HAB Forecast system.

IT Services

Our IT solutions meet clients’ evolving needs.

Safety, Health, & Environmental Compliance

We provide our clients with tools to protect their workforce, the public, and the environment.

Environmental Resource Assessment & Management

We apply science to address challenges affecting the nation’s natural resources.

Facilities Operations & Maintenance

We understand your facility support needs and deliver customized solutions.

Human Health Risk Assessment

We help advance the understanding of chemical effects on people and the environment.

Emergency Preparedness & Response

We help our clients prepare for and protect the health and environment of communities after disasters and hazmat releases.

Satellite Science & Environmental Intelligence

Helping create a more environmentally sustainable, weather-ready, and secure nation through application of earth observation data  

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