1. ENVIRONMENTAL UNIT IN AN ICS STRUCTURE

2. EU Mission Statement The Environmental Unit is established to provide technical and scientific expertise and capabilities to support the Incident command System’s planning needs during emergencies which pose actual or potential significant threats to public health, welfare and the environment.

3. Environmental Unit Assemble and Coordinate Stakeholders and Technical Specialist Assemble and Coordinate Stakeholders and Technical Specialist Reach Consensus on Environmental and Health Issues Reach Consensus on Environmental and Health Issues Provide Technical Expertise & Work Products Provide Technical Expertise & Work Products Support the needs of the response, Operations Section, and the Incident Commander Support the needs of the response, Operations Section, and the Incident Commander

4. Incident / Unified Commander Information / JIC Liaison Safety Planning Section Logistics Section Finance/Admin Section Support Branch Services Branch Cost Unit Time Unit Compensation/ Claims Unit Procurement Unit Contract Support Unit Supply Unit Facilities Unit Ground Support Unit Communications Unit Info /Technology Unit Medical Unit Food Unit Situation Unit Resources Unit Documentation Unit Demobilization Unit Environmental Unit Operations Section Sampling Group Decon Group Disposal Group Entry Group Site Access Group Deputy Incident / Unified Commander

5. EU In NIMS "A specific example of the need to establish a distinct technical unit within the General Staff is the requirement to coordinate and manage large volumes of environmental sampling and/or analytical data from multiple sources in the context of certain complex incidents, particularly those involving biological, chemical, and radiation hazards. To meet this requirement, an Environmental Unit could be established within the Planning Section to facilitate interagency environmental data management, monitoring, sampling, analysis, and assessment. The Environmental Unit would prepare environmental data for the Situation Unit and work in close coordination with other units and sections within the ICS structure to enable effective decision support to the IC or UC. Technical Specialists assigned to the Environmental Unit might include a Scientific Support Coordinator and Sampling, Response Technologies, Weather Forecast, Resources at Risk, Cleanup Assessment, and Disposal Technical Specialists.

6. EU In NIMS Example tasks accomplished by the Environmental Unit would include the following:  identifying sensitive areas and recommending response priorities;  developing a plan for collecting, transporting, and analyzing samples;  providing input on wildlife protection strategies;  determining the extent and effects of site contamination;  developing site cleanup and hazardous material disposal plans; and  identifying the need for and obtaining permits and other authorizations.“ NIMS pages 78 & 79

7. EU Responsible for Scientific Support ID and Characterization of Hazardous Substances ID and Characterization of Hazardous Substances Assessment of Extent of Release Assessment of Extent of Release Evaluation of Human and Ecological Risks Evaluation of Human and Ecological Risks Scientific Support for Specific Response Technologies Scientific Support for Specific Response Technologies Establishing Clean Up Levels Establishing Clean Up Levels

8. EU Specific Responsibilities Modeling and Data Interpretation Modeling and Data Interpretation Method Development Method Development Confirmation that Clean Up Goals have been Achieved Confirmation that Clean Up Goals have been Achieved Profiling of Hazardous Wastes for disposal Purposes Profiling of Hazardous Wastes for disposal Purposes

9. EU SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES Reviewing and evaluating the science used to make decisions regarding protection of public health, welfare and the environment Reviewing and evaluating the science used to make decisions regarding protection of public health, welfare and the environment Providing advice and consultation to the incident planning body to promote good science in support of the decision-making processes Providing advice and consultation to the incident planning body to promote good science in support of the decision-making processes

10. EU Specific Responsibilities Conducting periodic checks and balances on technical and scientific processes Conducting periodic checks and balances on technical and scientific processes Implementing long-range science and study programs Implementing long-range science and study programs Evaluating new products Evaluating new products Evaluating environmental tradeoffs and economic impacts for significant response actions Evaluating environmental tradeoffs and economic impacts for significant response actions

11. Concept of Operations Environmental Unit will only be established when the size and/or nature of the incident merits it Environmental Unit will only be established when the size and/or nature of the incident merits it Establishment determined by IC with input from Ops and Planning Section Chiefs Establishment determined by IC with input from Ops and Planning Section Chiefs Increase or decrease based on needs of response Increase or decrease based on needs of response

12. Interoperability Operations responsible for developing plans Operations responsible for developing plans Planning/EU may be needed to develop methods and criteria that will go into the plans Planning/EU may be needed to develop methods and criteria that will go into the plans Ops may request EU to draft parts of the plans Ops may request EU to draft parts of the plans Tech Specs may be assigned to Ops during implementation of plan Tech Specs may be assigned to Ops during implementation of plan

13. Flow of Data Data will come into Situation Unit Data will come into Situation Unit Data will be given to Environmental Unit for interpretation, & management Data will be given to Environmental Unit for interpretation, & management Data and products will return to Situation Unit Data and products will return to Situation Unit

14. Environmental Unit Leader (SSC) Planning Section Chief Analytical Team Response & Cleanup Technologies Specialists Ecological & Health Assessment Team Modeling Interpretation Team Operations Section Chief Sampling Group Environmental Sampling Coordinator Sampling Team Incident / Unified Commander Logistics Section Chief Finance/Admin Section Chief GPS Coordinator GIS Coordinator Situation Unit Leader Data Interpretation Team Disposal Group Cleanup / Removal Group Quality Assurance Coordinator Environmental Unit’s Relationship with Other Critical Incident Command Functions

15. Environmental Unit Leader Modeling Interpretation Team Ecological & Health Assessment Team Analytical TeamData Interpretation Team Air ModelingResources at Risk Environmental & Economical Analytical Coordinator Sample and Monitoring Plan Coordinator Laboratory Coordinator Risk Assessment/ Toxicology Health Assessment Fate & Transport Oil Trajectory Endangered Species Historic and Cultural Resources Response & Cleanup Technologies Specialists Assistant Environmental Unit Leader Disposal Decontamination Cleanup, Removal, & Remediation WMD Agents, Radiological, & Other Specific Pollutant Expertise Quality Assurance Coordinator Risk Communication Example of an Environmental Unit in Incident/Unified Command

16. Table of Positions  Potential EU Positions Identified  Roles and Responsibilities Outlined  Deliverables and Expectations Identified

17. Sample Event A QA/QC Packages SCRIBE Electronic Capture LAB Incident Sample Data Flow Process Sample Event B Data Management Starts HERE SCRIBE Electronic Capture Sample Merge Utility Sample Control Manager Field Operations (Operations Section) Environmental Unit Collected Samples Electronic Printout (Chain of Custody) Collected Samples Electronic Printout (Chain of Custody) Environmental Unit Web Portal

18. Combined Samples Data Data QA & Review Review and Update in SCRIBE Incident Sample Data Flow Process LAB Results Data EU Data Interpretation Team Data Manager Sample Merge Utility Sample Control Manager Environmental Unit (Planning Section ) Situation Unit Web Portal QA/QC Packages QA /QC Personnel Query Builder Report Writer Hard Copy Reports Field Ops LAB HQ or Regional Enterprise Database

19. Situation Unit RRT Access Agency Access Public Access Web Mapping Application Web Report Builder Incident Data Archive ICP GIS Mapping Products Incident Sample Data Flow Process Information Sharing Environmental Unit HQ or Regional Enterprise Database EU Data Interpretation Team Data Manager Website Management Field Ops