OBJECTIVE
PREPARE FOR CHEMICAL DISPOSAL OPERATION
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1. Currently, all commercial chemical incidents will be handled by local or state authorities. If the state
does not have the resources available to take care of the incident, it will request assistance from the
federal government.
2. Route of request:
a. The governor's office will request assistance from the EPA regional office.
b. The EPA will assign an on-scene coordinator who will assess the situation, determine the
assistance required and report to EPA headquarters.
c. The Federal EPA HQ is the lowest agency that can request assistance from EOD. The request
will come through channels to the control detachment. They will direct the EOD team to
respond to the incident. Specific authority for disposal of toxic agents/munitions must be
obtained before conducting disposal operations. This restriction does not apply to emergency
situations or to incidents where final disposal is effected by decontamination of the site (AR 75-
15, Chapter 3).
3. A disposal area should be suitable for demolition, burning, and other disposal methods. Sites
selected must be located at least 800 yards or 732 meters from inhabited buildings, public railways,
highways, and supply points. Disposal areas generally are small and should be located centrally so as
to be readily accessible to the units using them. The entrance to the site should be accessible to
vehicles. Soft ground is preferred for demolition pits and burning grounds. Rock strata should be
avoided since it may transmit earth shock for several miles. Natural barriers such as surrounding bluffs
or heavily wooded areas are desirable to blanket the blast effect. The area must be cleared of
combustible material and brush within a radius of 200 feet (60 meters). A bunker or revetment for
protection of personnel from fragment or blast effects is desirable. Disposal areas should be marked in
accordance with NATO Standardization Agreement (STANAG) 200 (app B). It is seldom practicable to
maintain guards at the site except when destruction is underway.
4. Actions on site:
a. The EPA representative on the scene will brief the EOD team upon its arrival. The briefing will
include such items as:
(1) Extent of assistance that EOD will provide.
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