Planning For Natural Disaster Debris

PLANNINGFORNATURALDISASTERDEBRISApril 2019EPA 530-F-19-003

Planning for Natural Disaster DebrisAbout This Document This document supersedes the “Planning for Natural Disaster Debris” guidance published bythe United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2008 (Document ID NumberEPA530-K-08-001). Changes from the 2008 version include:o Reorganization of content based on EPA’s Pre-incident All-hazards Waste ManagementPlan Guidelines: Four-step Waste Management Planning Process, which is described inthe document;o Heavier focus on preliminary and pre-planning efforts related to natural disasterdebris management;o Incorporation of the impacts that community resiliency, climate change adaptation,and hazard mitigation efforts have on disaster debris management; ando Addition of new case studies on the responses to the 2011 Joplin tornado, 2012Hurricane Sandy in New York City, 2015 St. Louis Area floods, and 2017 NorthernCalifornia Wildfires. This guidance supports EPA’s responsibilities under the National Response Framework(NRF), which aims to help the whole community (i.e., all government and nongovernmentstakeholders) prepare for, respond to, and begin short-term actions to recover from adisaster or an incident, including those that may require a coordinated Federal response.Specifically, as a designated support agency under the NRF’s Emergency Support Function(ESF) #3 – Public Works and Engineering Annex, EPA provides technical assistance fornonhazardous waste management, including debris management and recycling and reuseopportunities, and expertise on waste and debris disposal options, among other actions. EPA develops regulations, guidance, and policies that promote the safe management andcleanup of solid and hazardous waste, as well as programs that encourage source reductionand beneficial reuse, under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (42U.S.C. §§ 6901–6992k) and its regulations (40 CFR parts 240–282). EPA recommends preparing comprehensive debris management plans before a naturaldisaster occurs. This document is designed to assist communities (i.e., cities, counties,tribes, etc. working in conjunction with the whole community, including federal, state, local,and tribal agencies) in developing these plans and includes information on the following:o Recommended components of a debris management plan.o Suggested management options for various natural disaster debris streams.o A collection of case studies that highlights how several communities prepared forand managed debris generated by recent natural disasters.o Federal, state, and local resources to consult in planning for natural disasters. This document discusses the management of debris from natural disasters, includinghurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, volcanoes, floods, wildfires, and winter storms. It doesi

Planning for Natural Disaster Debrisnot discuss the management of debris from acts of terrorism or other homeland securityincidents (e.g., foreign animal diseases); however, the information contained within thisdocument may be helpful when preparing for those types of incidents. (For information onhomeland security wastes, go to EPA’s Managing Materials and Wastes for HomelandSecurity Incidents website at https://www.epa.gov/homeland-security-waste.) In general, only federal regulations are discussed in this document where applicable. State,tribal, and local governments may have more stringent regulatory requirements. State,tribal, and local officials should be consulted to ensure compliance with those regulations.The information in this document is subject to change as federal regulations andrecommendations change as new information becomes available. Additional resources:o EPA’s Managing Materials and Wastes for Homeland Security ste.o The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) “Public Assistance Programand Policy Guide” (FP-104-009-2) was revised in April 2018. Communities canconsult this document to help develop debris management plans that may be eligiblefor public assistance from the federal government, when ts/documents/111781.ii

Planning for Natural Disaster DebrisDisclaimerThis document is not a regulation. It does not change or substitute for any legal requirement.This document is not a rule, is not legally enforceable, and does not confer legal rights orimpose legal requirements upon any member of the public, states, tribes, or any other federalagency. This document uses the word “should” to describe EPA recommendations orsuggestions; it does not connote a legal requirement.This document references non-EPA websites. These external links provide additionalinformation that may be useful or interesting and are being provided consistent with theintended purpose of this document. However, EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of informationprovided by these links. Providing links to non-EPA websites does not constitute anendorsement by EPA or any of its employees of the sponsors of the sites or the information orproducts presented on the sites.AcknowledgmentThis guidance document was developed by the Office of Resource Conservation and Recoveryin EPA’s Office of Land and Emergency Management. For questions about the document, pleasecontact: Melissa Kaps, 703-308-6787, kaps.melissa@epa.gov. This phone number may also bereached by individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have speech disabilities through theFederal Relay Service’s teletype service at 800-877-8339.EPA wishes to acknowledge and thank the following people and organizations for providingassistance and input into the guidance: Association of State and Territorial Solid WasteManagement Officials (ASTSWMO); California State Water Resources Control Board;Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection; Construction & DemolitionRecycling Association; Howard County Department of Public Works (Maryland); IndianaDepartment of Environmental Management; Joseph Sollod (EPA intern); Kelsey Harrison (EPAintern); Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; Missouri Department of Natural Resources;Montana Department of Environmental Quality; New Jersey Department of EnvironmentalProtection; Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA); OklahomaDepartment of Environmental Quality; Rhode Island Department of EnvironmentalManagement; Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and its partners; TillamookCounty Solid Waste Department (Oregon); and Washington Department of Ecology.“Every disaster is different, but a plan will give you a place to start.” – Marc Bruner, Solid WasteAuthority of Palm Beach County“Disasters are come-as-you-are battles. Having a plan will make you more prepared when the battlecomes.” – John Rogers, Louisiana Department of Environmental QualityCover photographs (from the top): curbside pickup of debris in Missouri after the 2015 floods; debris field inGreensburg, Kansas after the 2007 tornado; vegetative debris mulching operation in Louisiana after HurricaneKatrina (courtesy of the Department of Environmental Engineering Sciences at the University of Florida).iii

Planning for Natural Disaster DebrisAcronymsACIACMASTSWMOBIABIA EMACEMIEPAEPCRAESFFEMAFHWAFLASHFTAFWSGAPGISH 2SHazus-MHHHWHUDI-WASTELDEQair curtain incineratorasbestos-containing materialAssociation of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management OfficialsBureau of Indian AffairsBureau of Indian Affairs Emergency Management DivisionBuilding Materials Reuse Associationconstruction and demolitionComputer-aided Management of Emergency OperationsChromated Copper ArsenateCenters for Disease Control and PreventionConstruction & Demolition Recycling AssociationCode of Federal Regulationscathode ray tubeU.S. Department of Homeland SecurityU.S. Department of EnergyU.S. Department of TransportationNew York City Department of Sanitationelectronics wasteEmergency Management Assistance CompactEmergency Management InstituteU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyEmergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know ActEmergency Support FunctionFederal Emergency Management AgencyFederal Highway AdministrationFederal Alliance for Safe HomesFederal Transit AdministrationU.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceIndian Environmental General Assistance ProgramGeographic Information Systemhydrogen sulfideHazards U.S. Multi-Hazardhousehold hazardous wasteU.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentIncident Waste Decision Support ToolLouisiana Department of Environmental Qualityiv

Planning for Natural Disaster CGUSDAUSGSWBUGWMWMPLocal Emergency Planning CommitteeMississippi Department of Environmental QualityMarine Debris Programmunicipal solid wasteNo Action AssuranceNational Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan,more commonly called the National Contingency PlanNational Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutantsnon-hazardous secondary materialNational Oceanic and Atmospheric AdministrationNational Response CenterNational Response FrameworkNew York CityPublic AssistancePublic Assistance Program and Policy Guidepolychlorinated biphenylpersonal protective equipmentResource Conservation and Recovery ActSystem for Award ManagementSolid Waste AuthoritySolid Waste Association of North AmericaTribal Assistance Coordination GroupTribal Emergency Planning CommitteeUnited StatesU.S. Army Corps of EngineersUnited States CodeU.S. Coast GuardU.S. Department of AgricultureU.S. Geological SurveyWoody Biomass Utilization GroupWaste ManagementWaste Management Planv

Planning for Natural Disaster DebrisTable of Contents1 INTRODUCTION . 12 PLANNING PROCESS FOR NATURAL DISASTER DEBRIS . 52.1 Conduct Pre-planning Activities . 62.1.1 Enhance Community Resiliency to Minimize Debris Generation.92.1.2 Incorporate Climate Change Adaptation into Debris Management Planning. 142.1.3 Determine Applicable Environmental Regulations and Requirements. 152.1.4 Identify Available Resources. 15Mutual Aid Agreements . 16Local Resources . 16Information Sharing . 17State Resources. 17Private Sector Resources. 18Federal Resources . 192.2 Develop a Comprehensive Pre-incident Debris Management Plan. 282.2.1 Consider Using EPA’s Suggested Debris Management Plan Outline . 282.2.2 Identify Debris Types and Forecast Amounts. 31Possible Material and Waste Streams . 31Waste Management Requirements and Considerations. 32Debris Forecasting. 362.2.3 Evaluate Debris Management Options . 37Reuse and Recycling. 40Waste-to-Energy. 51Treatment and Disposal . 522.2.4 Establish Debris Management Needs and Strategies. 54Debris Segregation and Collection . 55Temporary Debris Management Sites. 57Equipment and Staffing Needs . 62Community Communications/Outreach Plan . 66Waste and Material Tracking and Reporting System . 672.3 Keep the Debris Management Plan Updated. 672.4 Implement the Debris Management Plan During a Natural Disaster. 683 LESSONS LEARNED FROM PAST DISASTERS . 693.1 Best Management Practices . 693.2 Case Studies . 704 EXAMPLES OF DEBRIS MANAGEMENT PLANS AND GUIDANCE . 724.1 State Plans and Guidance . 724.2 City and County Plans. 73vi