Category D: Response
Anthrax Response will provide information to OSCs about assessment issues encountered during an anthrax
response and investigation. Health and safety, sampling, screening and determining the extent of contamination, decontamination, and data evaluation for cleanup and disposal options will be discussed using lectures, exercises, open discussions, and case studies. The NRT Anthrax cleanup document and lessons from the AMI building and the post offices located in Washington, D.C. also will be discussed.
Asbestos - Sampling and Analysis will instruct OSCs on the importance of the quantification and characterization of asbestos fibers and other durable mineral fragments as a critical component of any environmental asbestos investigation. Toxicologists have suspected for more than 20 years that fiber length, width, and durability play important roles in the toxicity of asbestos by the inhalation route of exposure. Currently, analytical methods for asbestos are inconsistent from agency to agency within the federal government and do not always allow for adequate fiber characterization for endangerment assessment. This presentation will review present analytical techniques for asbestos measurement as they relate to asbestos toxicity and environmental levels of concern.
Bioremediation of Oil Spills is designed to provide an introduction to bioremediation of petroleum related to contaminated soils and shorelines. Previous knowledge of the subject will not be assumed. The workshop format will include lecture, policy discussion, sample problems, and case studies with class participation. Topics to be discussed include:
Definition of bioremediation
The last topic is a summary of a guidance document, Guidelines for the Bioremediation of Marine Shorelines and Freshwater Wetlands, published this past year that covers all the factors that are needed to bioremediate an oil-contaminated environment. Case studies will include a report on bioremediation success at oil spill sites in northwestern Pennsylvania; Osage County, Oklahoma; and a film on the use of microbes to clean up petroleum-contaminated soil at an abandoned refinery in Wyoming.
Clandestine Drug Labs is designed to familiarize EPA responders with the latest trends in the recipes and methods of today's clandestine drug laboratories, as well as health and safety concerns related to such operations. The course will present case studies based on EPA's responses to drug laboratories and highlights the most prevalent type of laboratory, those that produce methamphetamine. A law enforcement official will discuss recent trends among users and producers of methamphetamine.
Dangerous and Hazardous Buildings will increase awareness on the part of the responder about dangerous, unsafe, and hazardous conditions in structures. The course will review five types of construction and the hazards particular to each type, provide information about various types of building collapses and the indicators that precede the collapse of buildings, and emphasize safe operations in and around unsafe and dangerous buildings.
**The OSC RTB recommends this course for new OSCs.
Introduction to Explosive Recognition and Safety for OSCs will be instructed by representatives of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, U.S. Department of the Treasury. The course will focus on the recognition of explosives and safety practices in addressing such materials for OSCs. Topics will include identification of explosive materials, incidents, safety precautions, and protective measures.
**The OSC RTB recommends this course for new OSCs.
Response Issues at Pipeline Spills is designed to provide OSCs with an understanding of the issues and problems related to oil spill response at pipeline spills. The curriculum is appropriate for all levels of experience. The session will include an overview of the different types of oil pipelines, the various regulatory agencies, and the nature of the problem. Case studies will provide incident-specific issues and highlight various aspects of responses to pipeline incidents. Open and frank discussions will be strongly encouraged.
Safe Handling of Compressed and Liquified Gases will provide a comprehensive understanding of the hazards involved in handling compressed and liquified gases, as well as basic requirements for maintenance, use, and storage. Compressed and liquified gases pose a variety of hazards because of their unique properties. Those hazards, along with the specific regulations governing containers, fittings, marking, and testing, offer a challenge in the safe use and management of cylinders. During the second half of the course, OSCs will present case studies that spotlight issues that have arisen during removal actions for compressed gas cylinders.
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