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Emergency Response Training and Drill Underway in South Boston - EPA Responders Conducting Hazardous Materials Drill

Release Date: 06/03/2008
Contact Information: Sheryl Rosner (617) 918-1865

(Boston, Mass. – June 3, 2008) – Responders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), suited up in protective gear and using decontamination equipment, response vehicles and even a small sampling robot, are simulating a hazardous materials incident at the Necco Building, Gillette Park in South Boston.

A team of more than 50 EPA New England responders and contractors will work for the next two days to simulate a real-life emergency. The purpose of the exercise is to improve EPA’s regional capabilities to safely enter a building that contains leaking chemicals of unknown origin, identify and remove the contaminants, secure the site, and provide the public with timely information about the incident.

EPA will not be using any real hazardous substances during the routine exercise.

Due to EPA’s involvement responding to both large national disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, and smaller regional incidents, such as the chemical explosion in Danvers, Massachusetts in November 2006, EPA New England continues to work to improve its response capabilities to protect human health and the environment.

More information:

- EPA Emergency Response and Preparedness in New England (epa.gov/ne/superfund/er/index.htm)

- Hi Resolution photo of EPA emergency responders (epa.gov/region1/pr/images/indoor-level-a.jpg)

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