1. The Advisory Team for Environment, Food, and Health

2. The A-Team History
The Advisory Team for Environment, Food, and Health (A-Team) was established to assist in international and domestic nuclear emergencies.
The A-Team concept was incorporated into the FRERP in May 1996.
In 1997 an Environment, Food, and Health Subcommittee of the FRPCC was established. (44 CFR )
The A-Team is incorporated into the National Response Framework (NRF) via the Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex (June 2008).
FRERP = Federal Radiological Emergency Response Plan
FRPCC = Federal Radiological Preparedness Coordinating Committee
NRF = National Response Framework

3. The Advisory Team for Environment, Food, and Health (A-Team)
The goal of the A-Team is to provide coordinated advice and recommendations to the State, Coordinating Agency, and DHS concerning environmental, food, and health matters.
Membership is comprised principally of :
and other Federal agencies as needed

4. Advisory Team Duties Overview
Advisory Team provides recommendations in matters related to the following:
Environmental assessments (field monitoring) required for developing recommendations;
Protective Action Guides and their application to the emergency;
Protective Action Recommendations using data and assessments from FRMAC;

5. Advisory Team Duties Overview (cont.)
Recommendations to prevent or minimize exposure through the ingestion pathway from contaminated milk, food, and water;
Recommendations regarding the disposition of contaminated livestock, poultry, and foods;
Recommendations for minimizing losses of agricultural resources;

6. Advisory Team Duties Overview (cont.)
Guidance on availability of clean food, animal feed, and water supply inspection programs to assure wholesomeness;
Recommendations on relocation, reentry, and other radiation protection measures prior to recovery;
Recommendations for recovery, return, and cleanup issues;

7. Advisory Team Duties Overview (cont.)
Estimated effects of radioactive releases on human health and the environment;
Recommendations on the use of radioprotective substances (e.g., thyroid blocking agents);
Health and safety advice or information for the public and for emergency workers; and
Other matters as requested by the IC or coordinating agency.

8. Advisory Team Does not make policy decisions
Does not make protective action decisions for States and locals, only recommendations
Provides coordinated technical and scientific advice through the Coordinating Agency not directly to States
Bases its recommendations on science and best practices

9. Activation of the Advisory Team
The Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex (June 2008) summarizes the Advisory Team activation process as follows:
“DHS, coordinating agencies, and State, tribal, and local governments may request support from the Advisory Team by contacting the CDC Director’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at ”
“DOE will request activation of the Advisory Team whenever the FRMAC is activated.”
See Table 3, page NUC-18 of the Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex (June 2008).

10. “Remote” Advisory Team
“Remote” Advisory Team is composed of non-deployed members of the Advisory Team.
Goal is to have “remote” Advisory Team established and available to provide advice via phone bridge within 2 hours of initial notification to CDC EOC.
“Remote” Advisory Team will establish contact with coordinating agency, state/local agencies, FRMAC/CMHT and others as appropriate.
“Remote” Advisory Team will provide support to deployed Advisory Team members throughout the incident.

11. “On-Site” Advisory Team
“On-site” Advisory Team is composed of deployed members of the Advisory Team.
Unless requested otherwise, the “on-site” Advisory Team will initially co-locate with the FRMAC.
As the IC/UC is established, the “on-site” Advisory Team is expected to integrate into the Planning Section.
The “on-site” Advisory Team may also provide liaisons to and/or coordinate with the JFO and State, tribal, and local government Emergency Operation Centers.

12. Advisory Team Participation in Outreach Programs and Exercises
2008: 15 exercises/drills and 8 Outreach programs
2009: 9 exercises/drills and 5 Outreach programs
Schedule Advisory Team participation in exercises, etc., by contacting:
Lynn Evans (CDC)
Phone: (770)
Plan is to provide at least 2 Advisory Team members on-site during exercises. Other Advisory Team members will participate as “remote” Advisory Team via phone bridge.
Advisory Team will ocassionally participate in drills. This is usually done remotely via phone bridge.

13. For more information about the Advisory Team:
Go to the Conference of Radiation Control Program Directors (CRCPD) website

14. National Response Framework
HHS – ESF #8
EPA – ESF #10
USDA – ESF #11
Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex
The National Response Plan (NRP) was revised and re-issued as the National Response Framework. The NRF base plan took effect on March 22, The various annexes and emergency support functions that existed in the NRP will remain in force until their revisions are finalized.
The Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex was revised and re-issued in June 2008.
ESF = Emergency Support Functions
ESF 8 = Public Health & Medical Services
ESF 10 = Oil & Hazardous Materials Response
ESF 11 = Agricultural & Natural Resources

15. CDC Emergency Operations Center (EOC) (770) 488-7100 Available 24/7
HHS/CDC Roles in Radiological Emergencies
CDC Emergency Operations Center (EOC) (770) Available 24/7

16. CDC RESPONSE Deploy Strategic National Stockpile
Evaluate health and medical impact on the public and emergency personnel
Conduct surveillance and epidemiological studies of exposed population

17. CDC RESPONSE Advise on: Triage Patient treatment and decontamination
Medical intervention recommendations
Disease control and prevention measures
Safety and protection of health care providers

18. National Response Framework Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex
Decontamination and
Population Monitoring are:
“the responsibility of State, local, and tribal governments.”

19. National Response Framework Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex
HHS, through ESF #8 and in consultation with the coordinating agency, coordinates Federal support for external monitoring of people and decontamination.

20. National Response Framework Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex
HHS assists and supports State, local, and tribal governments in performing monitoring for internal contamination and administering available pharmaceuticals for internal decontamination, as deemed necessary by State health officials.

21. National Response Framework Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex
HHS assists local and State health departments in establishing a registry of potentially exposed individuals, performing dose reconstruction, and conducting long- term monitoring of this population for potential long-term health effects.

22. CDC Guidance Target audience: Focus Scope
State and local public health and emergency preparedness personnel
Focus
Mass casualty incidents
Scope
Assumes local infrastructure is intact
Principles apply to all radiation incidents

23. CDC Deployment
CDC staff may be deployed to onsite locations to serve as
Population Monitoring Liaison Team
Radiological Subject Matter Expert
Epidemiologist
Communications liaison
CDC representative to Advisory Team
Other HHS/CDC responders

24. HHS/FDA Roles in Radiological Emergencies
Office of Crisis Management
Emergency Operations Center
US Food and Drug Administration
Rockville, Maryland
(24 hour)

25. FDA Mission
The Mission of the FDA prior to and during a radiological emergency is to:
Protect the public health following a radiological incident by facilitating the development and availability of medical countermeasures
Enhance the Agency’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities
Ensure the safety and security of FDA regulated products

26. FDA Regulated Products
Human Drugs - including radiation countermeasures
Veterinary Drugs – including radiation countermeasures
Medical Devices – including ionizing and non-ionizing radiation emitting and screening devices
Cosmetics
Biologics – including vaccines, blood and blood products

27. FDA Regulated Foods All domestic and imported foods excluding Meat and Poultry
Milk
Butter
Cheese
Eggs
Vegetables
Grains
Shellfish
Seafood
Honey
Dietary supplements
Commercially produced game
Pet food
Live food animals
Bottled water
Food additives
Food packaging
Wine beverages < 7% alcohol

28. A-Team: FDA Provides technical health physics support
Provides consultation on food contamination issues
Provides advice on FDA regulated products which may be affected by a radiological incident or utilized to mitigate the effects of such an event (i.e., medical and device countermeasures)
Provides liaison and reach-back to FDA HQ

29. FDA Organizational Structure
Office of the Commissioner
Office of Regulatory Affairs
FDA Centers
Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research
Center for Devices and Radiological Health
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
Center for Veterinary Medicine
National Center for Toxicological Research
Touch on the key assets of each component of the FDA:
* The Office of the Commissioner houses the FDA Emergency Operations Center and the policy/decision makers for the Agency
* The Office of Regulatory Affairs contains two key organizations for radiological emergency response which represent the field assets of the FDA: The Winchester Engineering and Analytical Center (WEAC) which is responsible for analysis of radioactive food samples and is the lead for the radiological component of the FERN (Food Emergency Response Network) and; the Regional Radiological Health Representatives who are the FDA representatives to the A-team in the field (there is one in each of the five FDA regions).
* The Center for Biologics is responsible for overseeing the US blood supply, vaccines and other blood products.
* The Center for Drugs approves drugs for medical countermeasures such as KI, Prussian Blue and DTPA and provides guidance on their use.
* CDRH provides technical health physics support and coordination for radiological emergency response. The Center also reviews and provides guidance on devices for security screening.
* CFSAN is responsible for protecting the US food supply and is the lead for updating and application of the FDA food protective action guides.
* The Center for Veterinary Medicine provides guidance on drugs for animals and also companion animal issues.
* The National Center for Toxicological Research is able to provide limited health physics resources including personnel and instrumentation.

30. US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Roles in
Radiological Emergencies
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination 30 30

31. USDA Radiological Emergency Response Structure
Office of the Secretary
Assistant Secretary for Administration
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination
Homeland Security Division
Emergency Programs Division
Continuity of Operations Division
Radiation Safety Division
Radiological Emergency Programs Coordinator
USDA places great importance on being able to respond to any emergency. We have recently re-organized at the departmental level to better coordinate all emergencies and to bring our administrative structure in line with the National Response Framework and with the Incident Command System.
The USDA’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination manages all programs related to emergency response. The three divisions are shown.
The Department has established a radiological emergency programs coordinator to manage all aspects of planning and preparedness for radiological incidents. 31 31

32. USDA HQ Emergency Response Structure
USDA Departments/Agencies Represented on the Advisory Team
Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination
Radiation Safety Division
Animal Plant Health Inspection Service,
Food Safety Inspection Service,
Agricultural Marketing Service, and
Rural Development
Headquarters staff are members of the Advisory Team. In addition to health physicists from the OHSEC Radiation Safety Staff, trained staff from the primary Agencies that deal with food safety and long term recovery issues are members of the A-Team.
This includes members from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS), the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and Rural Development (RD). 32 32

33. USDA Field Emergency Response Structure
APHIS, ESF-11 Coordinators
Assist FEMA Regional Assistance Committees
Coordinate Regional Radiological Planning
APHIS, Area Emergency Coordinators
Assist State agricultural/veterinary officials
FSA, State and County Emergency Boards
USDA local disaster management coordination
Coordinate disaster and crop damage assessments
USDA has trained field staff to support the Department during radiological emergencies.
APHIS coordinates our ESF-11 activities and has coordinators located in each FEMA region. They have been tasked with supporting the Regional Assistance Committees and coordinating radiological emergency planning. The national coordinator for ESF-11 is an APHIS employee and works closely with OHSEC.
APHIS also has Area Emergency Coordinators whose primary job is to assist State agricultural veterinary officials during animal health outbreaks. These APHIS veterinarians are becoming trained in radiological issues and will be able to assist in animal decontamination and carcasses disposal issues.
The Farm Service Agency is the primary disaster coordination agency with the Department. The State Emergency Director reports disaster assessments to Headquarters and maintains a situational awareness of ongoing issues. County Emergency Directors are directly involved with on-site emergency management officials. 33 33

34. USDA Essential Functions
Ensure Food Safety and Protect Agricultural Health
Provide Emergency Food Supplies
Fight Forest Fires
Provide Safety and Security on Public Lands (National Forests and Grasslands)
The headquarters and field structure was established to support the Department’s essential functions during an emergency. These functions can be grouped into four general categories:
Ensure Food Safety and Protect Agricultural Health
Provide Emergency Food Supplies
Fight Forest Fires
Provide Safety and Security on Public Lands (National Forests and Grasslands)
All of these functions can be linked to emergency response activities within the National Response Framework. 34 34

35. ESF-4 Support
USDA is the coordinator for Emergency Support Function 4: Fire Fighting
Detecting and suppressing fires on Federal Lands
Providing personnel, equipment and supplies in support of State, tribal and local agencies involved with rural and urban firefighting operations
USDA is the lead under ESF-4, Firefighting
Although most of these efforts support wildfire management, they would be activated if an IND were to be detonated. 35 35

36. ESF-11 Support
USDA is the coordinator for Emergency Support Function 11: Agriculture and Natural Resources
Provision of nutrition assistance by the Food and Nutrition Service
Animal and plant disease and pest response
Assurance of safety and security of the commercial food supply
Protection of Natural Cultural resources and Historic properties
USDA is the lead under ESF-11, Agriculture and Natural Resources.
Any RDD, IND or nuclear power plant incident has the potential to impact agriculture, food processing, and food safety. We need to be able to provide safe food to populations that have been relocated.
ESF-11 will be the primary resource for USDA activities during any radiological emergency. 36 36

37. ESF-14 Support
USDA is a primary agency for Emergency Support Function 14: Long-Term Community Recovery
Supports commodity credit programs for agricultural recovery
Provides available housing for evacuees and first responders
Provides recommendations for long term community recovery
USDA is a primary Agency under ESF-14, Long-term Recovery
Under this program we will assist agricultural recovery efforts as well as providing support for communities impacted by any radiological event. 37 37

38. USDA Responses to Radiological Emergencies
Prevent members of the public from ingesting contaminated food
Ensure safety of food regulated by the USDA
Minimize damage to agriculture and its markets
Minimize damage to forests and rangelands from radioactive contamination
Provide consultation on food contamination issues
Provide liaison and reach back to USDA HQ
USDA’s specific responses to radiological emergencies, and the areas most likely to be supported by the Advisory Team are shown on this slide. 38 38

39. USDA Roles and Responsibilities under the Nuclear/Radiological Incident Annex of the NRF
Assist in planning and collection of agricultural samples
Assess damage to crops, soil, livestock, poultry and processing facilities
Evaluate the impact of an incident on agriculture
Provide advice and support on decontamination of pets and farm animals
USDA’s other responses to radiological emergencies, and the areas most likely to be supported by the Advisory Team are shown on this slide. 39 39

40. USDA Roles and Responsibilities
Assist in animal carcasses disposal
Assist in the collection of samples of crops, meat, poultry and egg products to ensure they are safe for human consumption
Assist in monitoring the production, processing, storage and distribution of food to eliminate contaminated product
USDA’s other responses to radiological emergencies, and the areas most likely to be supported by the Advisory Team are shown on this slide. 40 40

41. USDA Roles and Responsibilities
Assist in monitoring the production, processing, storage and distribution of food to eliminate contaminated product and to ensure that levels of contamination are below the FDA derived intervention levels (DILs)
USDA’s other responses to radiological emergencies, and the areas most likely to be supported by the Advisory Team are shown on this slide. 41 41

42. USDA Contact Jack Patterson
Radiological Emergency Programs Coordinator
Office:
For more specific information regarding the USDA’s radiological emergency response programs and the activities of the USDA members of the Advisory Team, please contact Jack Patterson. His contact information is shown on this slide. 42 42

43. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Roles in
Radiological Emergencies

44. The EPA is the Emergency Support Function (ESF)10 Coordinator:
ESF #10 SUPPORT
The EPA is the Emergency Support Function (ESF)10 Coordinator:
Lead coordination role to support State, local and tribal response
Oil and hazardous materials response
NCP and NRF can be used together
NCP = National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan

45. EPA’s Radiological Emergency Response Role
Emergency preparedness planning
Development of Protective Action Guides (PAGs)
Provide recommendations during emergencies
Emergency response support (or lead) federal response to radiological emergencies
Monitoring and assessment of release impacts
Recovery, clean-up, & mitigation coordination
EPA generally has the lead only when it’s a foreign source affecting the US, or an orphan source.

46. Protective Action Guides
Purpose of Protective Action Guides (PAGs)
What is a PAG?
Phases of a radiological emergency
DHS approach to late phase & the recovery process
EPA is preparing an updated PAG manual. Providing guidance to other federal agencies on radiation exposure limits was one of the responsibilities delegated to the EPA upon its formation in Under regulations governing radiological emergency planning and preparedness issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in 1982, EPA was given the responsibilities to (1) establish Protective Action Guides (PAGs) (2) prepare guidance on implementing PAGs and (3) develop and promulgate guidance to State and local governments on the preparation of emergency response plans. In carrying out these responsibilities, EPA previously published PAGs, the most recent being the 1992 Manual of Protective Action Guides and Protective Actions for Nuclear Incidents.

47. Purpose of the PAG Manual
Provide response guidance for nuclear and/or radiological incidents and accidents
Provide recommended action levels for protecting the public and emergency workers
The 1992 PAGs Manual focused on nuclear power plant incidents, did not include a specific drinking water PAG, and had a placeholder for late phase/recovery guidance.

48. What is a PAG?
The projected radiation dose to reference man, or other defined individual, from an accidental release of radioactive material at which a specific protective action to reduce or avoid that dose is warranted.
Just a reminder that PAGs are projected doses, not doses received. There are three phases we split the PAGs into: Early, Intermediate and Late or Recovery Phase
Not necessarily precise time periods - activities may overlap phases.

49. Early Phase Beginning of the incident
Immediate decisions based on plant conditions and minimal data
Protective Actions
Evacuation to 5 rem
Sheltering – no minimum
Stable iodine (KI) administration – 5 rem child thyroid
Access control
Early phase is characterized by need to take action quickly, with little or no actual radiological data (dose rates, radionuclide deposition amounts). Only basic model projections are available to guide decision makers.
Note the KI threshold listed here is actually a simplification of FDA’s age-specific thresholds and dosages.
For nuclear power plant and other fixed facility incidents, plant and facility conditions will drive the protective action recommendations and decisions.
For non- fixed facility/power plant incidents, plume models and whatever information is available about the source(s) involved will drive the decision process

50. Intermediate Phase PAGs
Population relocation ≥ 2 rem first year
Apply dose reduction techniques - < 2 rem first year
Food (FDA Guidance incorporated) – most limiting of:
0.5 rem CEDE first year, or
5 rem CDE to organ or tissue
Drinking water – 0.5 rem first year
In the Intermediate Phase the focus is on Relocation and imposing food or drinking water protections. The drinking water PAG is being proposed in the draft revised PAGs Manual, so it is still subject to public comment and possible change.

51. Approach to Late Phase PAGs
Focus on process for reaching consensus decision on acceptable levels of clean
Identify stakeholders that need to be included in decision making process
Identify factors that need to be considered
Describe protective actions that can be taken during recovery phase

52. EPA Response Assets
Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT)
National Decontamination Team (NDT)
Environmental Response Team (ERT)
Mobile laboratories and sample prep vehicles
On-Scene Coordinators (OSCs)
Nationwide radiation monitoring system - RadNet

53. Radiological Emergency Response Team (RERT)
EPA’s radiological response assets include:
Trained responders
Team commanders and specialists
Equipment and mobile laboratory capabilities
RERT expertise includes:
Radiation monitoring
Radionuclide analysis
Radiation health physics
Risk assessment
EPA's Radiological Emergency Response Teams (RERT)
The RERT is comprised of experts (more than 50 staff) in health physics, nuclear engineering, biology, and related disciplines who can assist in monitoring and assessing radiological emergencies. Members of the team are on standby alert at all times. The team is equipped with field monitoring instruments, communication equipment, mobile command posts, sample preparation trailers, and mobile analytical labs.
Radiation Environmental Laboratories
The NAREL and the R&IENL are EPA’s two radiological facilities in Montgomery, AL and Las Vegas, NV.
Focus is on identifying and assessing potential impacts of low-level contamination.

54. Radiation Monitoring Network
RadNet:
Approximately one station per state (60)
Samples air, precipitation, drinking water, and pasteurized milk
Upgrades being implemented:
Additional stations (140 – 180 stations total)
Mobile stations (40 stations)
Real time data
Better coverage of US population
EPA operates RadNet for measuring radioactivity and other contaminants in various environmental media. RadNet has 260 sampling stations throughout all 50 states and the U.S. territories to collect samples of air, precipitation, drinking water, surface water, and pasteurized milk in order to measure ambient levels or radioactivity in the environment. The frequency with which stations are monitored can be increased to once per day, if warranted by an emergency situation.

55. Questions?