Climate Adaptation and Waste Management & Emergency Response

EPA programs work with communities to ensure the proper management of hazardous and non-hazardous wastes. EPA also provides emergency response for hazardous and non-hazardous waste, when requested, or when state and local first responder capabilities have been exceeded. 

Contaminated site management

Waste management sites are vulnerable to flooding from an increase in extreme precipitation events. These include Superfund, corrective action sites, Brownfields sites, landfills and underground storage tanks. Contaminated site management will become more difficult due to the increased incidence of flooding and other climate impacts that threaten the effectiveness of cleanup efforts. 

Disaster debris management

Environmental emergency response efforts, such as the safe and timely management of disaster debris are an essential but often overlooked component of an emergency response or disaster incident. Disaster debris management is also one of the competing priorities communities face during such events. It is important that debris be properly managed so as to protect human health, comply with regulations, conserve disposal capacity, reduce injuries, and prevent or minimize environmental impacts.