Communication and Coordination
Structure for Incident Response

Structure
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The WLA-RP has been designed to be compatible with the Incident Command System (ICS). The ICS was established by the Department of Homeland Security to provide a flexible and scalable system with common structure and terminology that facilitates coordination during an emergency response.

For smaller scale incidents and during the initial phases of large incidents, management functions may be handled by one person, the Incident Commander (IC). In this case, the IC will serve as the ASR. As an incident escalates, the ICS structure may expand and the responsibilities of the ASR and PRL may be transitioned into the Environmental Unit (EU). The EU facilitates environmental data management, monitoring, sampling, analyses and assessment, including the efforts by the labs.

Environmental Unit (EU) Personnel
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The Environmental Unit (EU) can include multiple roles. These roles may be played by a single person or multiple people, depending on the complexity and demands of the incident. Duties of personnel involved in coordinating laboratory response to a water contamination incident are:

Laboratory Coordinator

Identifies and coordinates available laboratory resources, sets priorities for laboratory analyses, and coordinates laboratory resources with other agencies

Analytical Coordinator

Schedules environmental sample analyses, maintains laboratory contacts, monitors and reviews sample and data chain-of-custody (COC), and provides analytical reports to the Incident Commander (IC) and EU

Quality Assurance (QA) Coordinator

Reviews and approves quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs), supervises data review and validation, and resolves Quality Assurance (QA) issues

Sampling and Monitoring Plan Coordinator

Develops and reviews the sampling plans, sampling procedures, and QAPP

Transfer of Responsibilities
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Situations may warrant transferring the role of the PRL or MSL to another laboratory. This may be necessary if the scope and scale of the incident exceeds the resources and capabilities of the laboratory, or if the laboratory's operations are impacted by the incident.

Examples of when a PRL or MSL may need to transfer their role to another laboratory include: Laboratory personnel are not available to support the incident There are problems with the laboratory's instruments that prevent them from providing analytical support The laboratory's capability has been impacted by the incident (e.g., power outages, damaged facility) The laboratory's routine operations are being negatively impacted by providing incident support The scope of the support required has increased beyond the laboratory's capabilities (e.g., the incident requires analysis of samples for select agents and the laboratory has no experience in this area) | transfer

Transfer of Responsibilities - Actions
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When transferring its role to a new laboratory, the PRL and/or MSL should take the following actions:

Actions for PRL | Actions for Both | Actions for MSL
Coordinate with ICS/ASR Notify the ASR of the need to transfer the PRL role Provide background information about the incident to the new PRL Notify the MSLs of the change in PRL Provide all data generated in support of the event to the new PRL | Complete any ongoing sample analyses Transfer any remaining samples to the new laboratory | Work with the PRL to provide all necessary information to the new MSL Provide all data generated in support of the event to the PRL

Additional Support
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For larger incidents or incidents that require specialized laboratory capabilities, it may be necessary to request assistance from an EPA regional laboratory outside of the EPA Region where the incident initially occurred.

In this case, the following procedure should be used:

Step 1 - ASR/EU/PRL Contacts EPA Regional Laboratory Director

The ASR/EU/PRL contacts his or her EPA Regional Laboratory Director regarding the need for assistance from a different EPA Regional Laboratory.

Step 2 - EPA Regional Laboratory Director Contacts his or her Counterpart

The EPA Regional Laboratory Director contacts his or her counterpart(s) in another EPA Region(s) to request assistance.

Step 3 - Assisting EPA Regional Laboratory Director Provides Support

The assisting EPA Regional Laboratory Director provides direct support by performing analyses at the EPA Regional Laboratory.

The EPA Regional Laboratory Director and assisting Director also may have information regarding other public or commercial laboratories in their respective regions.

Knowledge Review
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If the response requires the incorporation of the EU, who identifies and coordinates available laboratory resources, sets priorities for laboratory analyses, and coordinates laboratory resources with other agencies?

a. Analytical Coordinator
b. Sampling and Monitoring Plan Coordinator
c. Quality Assurance Coordinator
d. Laboratory Coordinator

Knowledge Review
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If the response requires the incorporation of the EU, who identifies and coordinates available laboratory resources, sets priorities for laboratory analyses, and coordinates laboratory resources with other agencies?

1. Analytical Coordinator
2. Sampling and Monitoring Plan Coordinator
3. Quality Assurance Coordinator
4. Laboratory Coordinator

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700 430 ffffff false ffffff Arial 13 000000 2 multiplechoice false Analytical Coordinator false That is incorrect. Sampling and Monitoring Plan Coordinator false That is incorrect. Quality Assurance Coordinator false That is incorrect. Laboratory Coordinator true Yes, that is correct. Sorry. That is incorrect. The correct answer is D. The Laboratory Coordinator is the one who identifies and coordinates available laboratory resources, sets priorities for laboratory analyses, and coordinates laboratory resources with other agencies.

Knowledge Review
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Under what circumstances may the role of PRL or MSL be transferred to another laboratory? (Select all that apply)

a. The laboratory has lost power.
b. The laboratory does not have personnel trained in the method needed based on the incident.
c. The laboratory's instruments are being calibrated off-site.
d. The laboratory's personnel are not available to support the incident.

Knowledge Review
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Under what circumstances may the role of PRL or MSL be transferred to another laboratory? (Select all that apply)

1. The laboratory has lost power.
2. The laboratory does not have personnel trained in the method needed based on the incident.
3. The laboratory's instruments are being calibrated off-site.
4. The laboratory's personnel are not available to support the incident.

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700 430 ffffff false ffffff Arial 13 000000 2 multipleselect false The laboratory has lost power. true The laboratory does not have personnel trained in the method needed based on the incident. true The laboratory's instruments are being calibrated off-site. true The laboratory's personnel are not available to support the incident. true Yes, that is correct. All of the choices are correct. Each situation may warrant transferring the role of the PRL or MSL to another laboratory. Sorry, that is incorrect. All of the choices are correct. Each situation may warrant transferring the role of the PRL or MSL to another laboratory. Sorry, that is incorrect. That is incorrect.