Agencies engage in emergency response training

This month the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and emergency response officials from Massachusetts and Boston will participate in a training exercise involving an integrated, multi-agency response to the release of hazardous materials. The exercise training will focus on the characterization and decontamination of areas affected by the release of hazardous material. Participants will wear level “A” personal protective equipment, which includes fully encapsulating suits, breathing apparatus, and highly specialized boots and gloves.

During the training exercise, EPA will be working closely with several federal, state, and local partners, including the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Transit Police, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Boston Police, Boston Fire/HAZMAT, and the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority.

EPA Regional Administrator Curt Spalding stressed the necessity of such training, saying “It is important for EPA officials and first-responders to practice working under emergency conditions, because in those situations coordination amongst federal, state, and local partners is vital, and must be precise.

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Kenneth Kimmell also weighed in on the exercise, saying that “An emergency situation requires well-trained first-responders and seamless coordination and communication between local, state, and federal officials to ensure protection of our environment and the public health.”

The training exercise will take place at the MBTA Emergency Training Center in South Boston.

For more information on emergency training exercise, please follow the link below.
U.S. EPA, State, and Local Agencies to hold Emergency Response Training Exercise at MBTA Emergency Training Center in September, SAMPAN

Related Simons Center Publication:
InterAgency Essay 13-02W, Interagency Planning Case Study: The Postal Model and Plan, by Robert J. Roller