1 Roles and Responsibilities During a Water Sector Incident: USEPA and USACE Dawn Ison, EPA Region 6 Arkansas Exercise for the Water Sector 2010 November 10, 2010 Lonoke, AR

2 Hurricane Katrina EPA Activities A key lesson identified in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was that EPA needed better coordination with the Corps to respond effectively to water sector needs during national emergencies.

33 National Response Framework (NRF) January 22, 2008 –DHS released the NRF replacing the NRP –DHS released Emergency Support Functions, and Support Annexes Effective March 22, 2008 NRF Resource Center –

4 Emergency Support Function #3 Public Works and Engineering Primary Agencies - USACE and FEMA Supporting Agencies - USEPA and 14 others Includes –Pre- and Post-incident assessments of public works and infrastructure –Technical assistance including engineering expertise and construction management –Emergency repair of damaged infrastructure –Implementing and managing FEMA Public Assistance Program

55 When would USACE and EPA Respond? Utility Impacted Local EOC State EOC DISASTER DECLARATION RRCC/JFO (FEMA) USACE EPA Region ER Staff (OSCs) Response Support Corps Water Staff Other Backup Regions Mutual Aid Mission Assignment Subtasking EMAC

66 Request for Federal Support Process – ARF State requests for specific federal support should be made to FEMA via Action Request Form (ARF) –Verbals (follow up in writing within 24 hours)

7 Pre-Scripted Mission Assignments Pre-Declaration National Activation: At NRCC and/or ERT-N (SME) Regional Activation: At RRCC, ERT-A, Liaison Officer (LNO) to State Water and State Wastewater Agencies Water and Wastewater Assessment: LNO to State Water and State Wastewater Agencies

8 Pre-Scripted Mission Assignments Post-Declaration National Activation: At NRCC and/or ERT-N (SME) Regional Activation: At RRCC, ERT-A, JFO, Liaison Officer (LNO) to State Water and State Wastewater Agencies Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure/Safety Technical Assistance to State (Water Team) Drinking Water and Wastewater Safety and Drinking Water and Wastewater System Assessment, Repair, and Recovery: Support USACE at RFO FEMA Public Assistance for Drinking Water and Wastewater

9 Water Infrastructure Tasks in ESF #3 Potential USACE Water Infrastructure Tasks –Overall Management of ESF #3 Water Infrastructure Projects –Acceptance of Mission Assignments from FEMA –Design/Build Repair and Restoration Work –Provision of Temporary Drinking Water/Wastewater Systems –ESF #3 Reporting Team Elmers Firerescue1.org

10 Water Infrastructure Tasks in ESF #3 EPA’s Responsibilities according to the NRP/NRF –Assist in the protection, response and recovery of damaged drinking water and wastewater infrastructure Potential EPA Water Infrastructure Tasks –Provide technical assistance to State/Locals –Staff ESF #3 desk at interagency response centers –Conduct initial damage assessments and inventory water and wastewater systems status (e.g., boil water notices) –Serve as liaisons to state primacy agencies/permitting authorities –Sampling/Lab support –Support FEMA Public Assistance Program

11 Coordination with Response Partners ICS and NIMS define the standard approach used across response partners for coordination Drinking water/wastewater utility County Emergency Management Agency or EOC State Agencies (Public Health, Environmental, and Emergency Management) and EOC Mutual Aid and Assistance Networks (WARNs) Private sector (e.g., associations) Other ESF #3 Agencies Other ESFs DHS Protective Security Advisors (PSAs) Infrastructure Liaison at JFO

12 For More Information Dawn Ison EPA Region