Homeland Security Research

Research Highlights

EPA Releases Version 5.1: Suite of Tools to Support Disposal Decisions for Waste and Debris

Version 5.1 adds additional functionality to the Decision Support Tool

Handling, transporting, treating, and disposing of large volumes of waste generated by natural disasters; chemical spills; biological, chemical or radiological terrorism and animal disease outbreaks present unique challenges. Effective and timely disposal of these contaminated materials is critical for protecting and restoring communities and the environment. Characterization of contamination in debris and access to reliable information on treatment and disposal can reduce cleanup costs and shorten restoration timelines.

EPA, with the Department of Homeland Security, is supporting the National Response Framework, which guides response to domestic incidents. A suite of Decision Support Tools (DSTs) has been developed based on EPA-funded research.  DSTs provide information on types and volumes of waste materials and contaminants generated during an incident, contact information for potential treatment/disposal facilities, as well as health and safety information to ensure public and worker safety during the removal, transport, treatment, and disposal of contaminated debris.

Managing Disaster-Generated Waste and Debris

The DSTs provide information for planning how to handle, transport, treat, and dispose of contaminated debris. By using a web-based platform, large amounts of information are condensed and presented in a user-friendly format, and DSTs are easily updated as new information becomes available. The tools are not intended to override regulatory or legal requirements, but to provide information that can facilitate disposal decisions.

EPA’s suite of DSTs includes:

• Information on debris characteristics and contamination, as well as characteristics of decontamination agents that could be used;
• Databases of treatment and disposal facilities (e.g., hazardous waste incinerators, landfills, medical waste autoclaves), including locations, contact information, and capacities for the different categories of waste generated;
• A waste quantity estimator that allows end-users to generate order-of-magnitude estimates of volumes and masses of waste and debris from events involving single buildings or several structures over a wide area;
• A water systems module with information from different geographical areas to support the unique considerations involved in the disposal of debris (e.g. filter media, piping) generated as a result of decontaminating water treatment and distribution systems;
• Agricultural biomass disposal guidelines including training modules developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture;
• Natural disaster debris disposal guidelines including case studies organized by disaster type (e.g., hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, floods);
• Debris transportation, packaging, and storage information;
• Radiological dispersal device debris information and guidelines;
• Worker protection information.

Version 5.1 Upgrades

The updated version includes a wide-area waste quantity estimator, which allows users to calculate disposal waste amounts for events involving several structures, with added functionality to include building structural materials in case the building itself is demolished.

Also, the following facility databases have been updated:

• Medical/ Biohazardous Waste Incinerators
• Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Subtitle C Hazardous Waste Landfills
• Electric Arc Furnaces
• Aluminum and/or Copper Recyclers
• Commercial Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities
• Federal Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities
• Rendering Facilities
• Federally Owned Treatment Works (FOTWs)
• Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs)
• Links to other sources of information on recycling facilities.

Version 5.1 also includes significant additions to the Radiological Incident Waste DST in response to stakeholder feedback received during a July 2009 focus group meeting. This interim version includes three new “special considerations” waste fact sheets and wildfire guidance in the Natural Disaster Debris Disposal DST. The Agricultural Biomass Disposal DST contains access to USDA disposal training modules, pathogen fact sheets and disposal hierarchies for poultry and large animal mortality events.

EPA’s Suite of Disaster Debris Management and Disposal Decision Support Tools is available at Incident Waste Management Planning & Response Tool (IWMPRT) . You will need to request a user identification name and password in order to log on.