Considering Trade-offs in Contamination Cleanup Webinar
About the Webinar
Originally presented June 8, 2022
A large-scale release of a biological or a radiological agent can result in contamination of a wide area and require significant time and resources for recovery. Prior to cleaning up the contaminated area, emergency responders must first understand the characteristics of the agent, how it was released, the amount of the contaminant released, as well as environmental and weather factors that may have influenced where the contaminant is and where it’s going. Each of these components should be factored into the sampling strategy, which will help responders characterize and clear the contaminated area.
EPA’s Trade-off Tool for Sampling (TOTS) can assist responders in developing a sampling plan that takes into account each of the necessary components through its online GIS-based platform. This tool allows users to plot sampling locations using aerial imagery and then estimate the total time and cost necessary for implementation. Decision-makers can use the resulting sampling plan to consider trade-offs based on constraints or needs of the contamination cleanup. This webinar will provide an overview and demonstration of the tool.
About the Presenter
Timothy Boe is a Geographer with EPA's Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response. Mr. Boe’s work primarily focuses on response and waste management issues following CBRN incidents. He has also been developing computer-based decision support tools to aid decision makers in responding to wide-area contamination incidents. Before joining EPA, Timothy worked as an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellow where he conducted research on wide area CBRN remediation. Timothy has an M.S. and a B.S. in applied science from Arkansas Tech University (Russellville).