2021 Decon Conference Proceedings
The EPA International Decontamination Research and Development Conference was held virtually November 1-5, 2021. For more information on the conference view the conference website.
Below is the full agenda from the meeting, with links to abstract, summary, and Q&A documents.
A booklet of all the presentation abstracts is available to view or download: Decon Conference Abstracts Book
Monday, November 1 (Day 1)
Plenary Session
| Time | Session Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Welcome |
| 11:05 AM | US EPA Office of Research and Development Introduction |
| 11:10 AM | EPA's Role in Emergency Response and Homeland Security |
| 11:20 AM | 12th EPA International Decontamination Research & Development Conference: Highlighting What's to Come |
| 11:30 AM | Plenary Talk 1 - Partnering for a Safer Tomorrow |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch and Learn: Student Networking Session & Panel Discussion
|
Concurrent Session 1
| Time | Decision Support Session Moderators: Timothy Boe & Terra Haxton | Biological Agent Decontamination Session Moderators: Sanjiv Shah & Anne Mikelonis |
|---|---|---|
| 1:00 PM | An SI Algorithm to Locate Waterborne Chemical Attacks in Water Distribution Systems | ClearDecon: A Novel Surface Decontamination Solution for Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents |
| 1:15 PM | Withdrawn | Dahlgren Decon Skin Soap, Development and Testing of a Safe Skin and Surface Decontamination Soap |
| 1:30 PM | The Wide Area Decontamination Tool | Inactivation of Bacillus anthracis Spores on Surfaces with Ultraviolet Light Produced with a Low-Pressure Mercury Lamp or Light Emitting Diode Lamp |
| 1:45 PM | Clean or Replace? Decontamination Framework for Firefighting Equipment and Hangers | Outdoor Systems Trial Using Full-Scale Agricultural Equipment for Wide Area Decontamination of Bacillus anthracis Surrogate Spores |
| 2:00 PM | Question & Answer Session | Question & Answer Session |
Poster Session
| Time | Session Title |
|---|---|
| 2:15 PM | View the full List of Posters. |
| 3:30 PM | Day 1 Adjourns |
Tuesday, November 2 (Day 2)
Plenary Session
| Time | Session Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Welcome & Introduction |
| 11:05 AM | Plenary Talk 2 - Social Science in Disaster: Tactics, Innovations, Results |
Concurrent Session 2
| Time | Insights and Applications of Social Science to Decontamination Session Moderators: Keely Maxwell & Amy Rice | COVID-19 Research Efforts Session Moderators: Worth Calfee & Viktoriya Plotkin |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 AM | Social Vulnerability and Resilience in Decontamination Research | Development of Rapid Viability RT-PCR (RV-RT-PCR) Method for Detection of Infectious SARS-CoV-2 |
| 11:45 AM | Getting to Know Communities and Cultures for Remediation and Removal Actions | Environmental Surface Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 |
| 12:00 PM | Building Equity in Resilience Planning | Evaluating Aerosol Treatment Methods for Reducing the Risk of Exposure to Airborne Pathogens |
| 12:15 PM | Water (De)contamination and the Cultural Construction of Risk in Urban Disadvantaged Unincorporated Communities | Swab and Stick Sponge Sampling for SARS-CoV-2 Detection on Surfaces |
| 12:30 PM | Question & Answer Session | Question & Answer Session |
| 1:00 PM | Virtual Lunch and Networking - Opportunity for COVID-19 Research Networking | |
Concurrent Session 3
| Time | Biological Agent Sampling & Analysis Methods Session Moderators: Sarah Taft & Joseph Wood | Chemical Agent Sampling & Analysis Methods Session Moderators: Lukas Oudejans & Mallin Blaxall |
|---|---|---|
| 2:00 PM | Human Safe, Near-Field Infection Protection (NIP) for Continuous Pathogen Inactivation in Air and On Surfaces | Strippable Coatings for Collection of Surface-Borne Trace Chemicals |
| 2:15 PM | Evaluation of Outdoor Surface Sample Collection and Analysis Methods for USCG Assets | Development of Methods and Comparative Analysis of Opiates by UPLC-MSMS and GC-TOF |
| 2:30 PM | Sampling of Waste Materials from a Bacillus anthracis Release Incident | Soldier Vulnerabilities to Toxic Industrial Chemicals/Materials While in MOPP Gear |
| 2:45 PM | Use of Innovative Packaging to Facilitate On-Site Treatment of Waste from a Bacillus anthracis Release Incident | Benzene Contamination of Drinking Water Systems following Wildfires: Remediation Research and Decision Support |
| 3:00 PM | Question & Answer Session | Question & Answer Session |
| 3:15 PM | Day 2 Adjourns | |
Wednesday, November 3 (Day 3)
Plenary Session
| Time | Session Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Welcome & Introduction |
| 11:05 AM | Plenary Talk 3 - Water Sector Risk & Resilience: Successes and Challenges |
Concurrent Session 4
| Time | Water Research and Oil Spill Response Session Moderators: Jeff Szabo & James Goodrich | COVID-19 Decontamination Research Efforts Session Moderators: John Archer & Lahne Mattas-Curry |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 AM | Advances in Underwater Oil Plume Detection Capabilities | Disinfection Efficacy Studies with HuCoV-229E, a Surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 |
| 11:45 AM | Understanding Hazards of Petroleum and Spill Response Agents in Inland Spills | Disinfection of N-95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators |
| 12:00 PM | Differences in the Inactivation of Legionella pneumophila Serogroups Using UVC-LED Technology in Drinking Water | Mitigating Transmission by Maximizing Decontamination Resources in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: One Healthcare Coalition’s Strategic Response |
| 12:15 PM | AMI for Detecting and Responding to Backflow and Tampering in a Water System | Decontamination of Covid-19 Vaccine Production Facility |
| 12:30 PM | Question & Answer Session | Question & Answer Session |
| 1:00 PM | Lunch Break | |
Technology Cafe
Technology Cafe: Session A
2:00-2:30 PM
| Session Number | Technology Title & Presenter |
|---|---|
| 1 | Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT): A Tool for Water Contamination Incident Preparedness and Response |
| 2 | Stochastic Infrastructure Remediation Model |
| 3 | U.S. EPA’s Waste Estimation Support Tool (WEST) |
| 4 | U.S. EPA's Disaster Debris Recovery Tool |
| 5 | The EPA Flooded Homes Website |
Technology Cafe: Session B
2:30-3:00 PM
| Session Number | Technology Title & Presenter |
|---|---|
| 6 | Electrons Dispersion Filtration Michael Omary | APD Clean Water Technologies Group |
| 7 | Immersive Modular Preparedness Intelligent Tutor (IMPRINT) |
| 8 | U.S. EPA’s Incident Waste Decision Support Tool (I-WASTE) |
| 9 | U.S. EPA's Waste Staging and Logistics Tool |
| 10 | The Feedback Loop in Decon - The Missing/Broken Link |
Technology Cafe: Session C
3:00-3:30 PM
| Session Number | Technology Title & Presenter |
|---|---|
| 11 | Radiological Decontamination of Electronic and Opto-electronic Equipment |
| 12 | A Web-based GIS Application for Creating, Evaluating and Operationalizing Sampling Designs |
| 13 | U.S. EPA’s All Hazards Waste Management Planning Tool |
| 14 | The Environmental Resilience Tools Wizard |
Thursday, November 4 (Day 4)
Plenary Session
| Time | Session Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Welcome & Introduction |
| 11:05 AM | Plenary Talk 4 - Disaster Predictions in Support of Response Preparedness in the Coastal Zone |
Concurrent Session 5
| Time | Chemical Agent Decontamination Research Session Moderators: Stuart Willison & Matthew Magnuson | Waste Management Session Moderators: Emily Snyder & Timothy Boe |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 AM | The Assessment and Decontamination of an Opioid Contaminated Site and Establishment of California’s Standards | Identifying and Improving Disaster Waste & Debris Management Decisions |
| 11:45 AM | The Decontamination of Chemical Warfare Agents from Skin Using Zirconium Hydroxide | Evaluation of Whole-Carcass Composting as a Disposal Option for African Swine Fever Virus (ASFV)-Infected Swine |
| 12:00 PM | Model Simulations of Contaminant Dispersion through an Irregular Building Array | Bio-Inspired Engineering for Sustainable Remediation of Hazardous Waste |
| 12:15 PM | In Vivo Efficacy of Rapid Skin Decontamination Protocols using the Reactive Skin Decontamination Lotion (RSDL) Kit Against VX | Assessment of Biosecurity of Using Horizontal Grinders to Enhance Composting to Improve Preparedness for African Swine Fever Virus |
| 12:30 PM | Question & Answer Session | Question & Answer Session |
| 12:45 PM | Lunch Break and Virtual Session (by Invitation Only: Identifying New Opportunities to Create a Resilient Drinking Water and Wastewater Sector) Moderator: Marissa Lynch | US Environmental Protection Agency | |
Concurrent Session 6
| Time | Biological Agent Decontamination Session Moderators: Mike Pirhalla & Erin Silvestri | Radiological Research Studies Session Moderators: Lance Brooks & Charlena Bowling |
|---|---|---|
| 2:00 PM | Decontamination of a U.S. Coast Guard Vessel Contaminated with Bacillus Spores | Laboratory Study on the Efficacy of Air Phase Decontamination of Radioactive Particles |
| 2:15 PM | Efficacy of Household Disinfectants and Detergent-Based Cleaning Methods Against Coronaviruses | Decision Tool to Support Objectives, Strategies, and Tactics in a Radiological Mitigation and Recovery Event |
| 2:30 PM | Environmental Influences on the Resuspension of Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki Spores | Re-aerosolization of dense metal oxide simulating radiological contamination from military clothing |
| 2:45 PM | Novel Technology to Reduce Risk of Viral Transmission in Enclosed Occupied Environments and Room Disinfection in Unoccupied Spaces | 10 Years of Remediation Efforts in Fukushima |
| 3:00 PM | Question & Answer Session | Question & Answer Session |
| 3:15 PM | Day 4 Adjourns | |
Friday, November 5 (Day 5)
Plenary Session
| Time | Session Title |
|---|---|
| 11:00 AM | Welcome & Introduction |
| 11:05 AM | Plenary Talk 5 - CDC COVID-19 Response: Grand Princess |
Concurrent Session 7
| Time | COVID-19 Transportation Research Efforts Session Moderators: Shawn Ryan & Viktoriya Plotkin | Hazard Response Session Moderators: Erin Silvestri & Amelia McCall |
|---|---|---|
| 11:30 AM | LA Metro’s Journey Through COVID – Exploring Technologies & Finding Practical Solutions | Hazardous and Contaminated Sites within Salt Marsh Migration Corridors in Rhode Island |
| 11:45 AM | EPA Research to Support Reducing Environmental Transmission of COVID-19 | Environmental Justice, Climate Catastrophe, and the Newark Water Crises |
| 12:00 PM | Stabilization/Containment of RDD/IND Particle Contamination to Enhance First Responder, Early Phase Worker, and Public Safety | |
| 12:15 PM | Repurposing Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) 3D Game Engines to Improve the Effectiveness and Efficiency of EPA's Response Efforts | |
| 12:30 PM | Question & Answer Session | Question & Answer Session |
| 12:45 PM | Lunch Break | |
Student Poster Award Ceremony & Closing
| Time | Session Title |
|---|---|
| 1:30 PM | Congratulations to the student poster competition winners! 1st Place: Nevine Amer |
| 2:00 PM | Closing Remarks |
| 2:15 PM | Conference Adjourns |