Law Department notice on WTC document preservation, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

Appendix N

Details from EPA and Non-EPA Lessons Learned Reports

Recommendations of EPA Lessons Learned Reports

Headquarter’s Lessons Learned Report

1. Clarify Involvement of Senior EPA Leaders, and Confirm Authority of Emergency Response Personnel in Decision-Making and Communications During National Emergencies

1. Issue a national policy for EPA’s implementation of a NIIMS-type ICS structure to meet its needs in responding to national emergencies. 2. Ensure all EPA emergency personnel are trained and equipped to effectively implement EPA’s ICS (including relevant portions of the NCP). 3. Develop a process to involve senior EPA management in policy and strategic decision-making as appropriate for national emergencies. 4. Revise Regional and area plans to incorporate national ICS policy. 5. Develop a national terrorism training and exercise strategy/program using ICS to strengthen on-scene and management response coordination.

2. Revisit, and Revise as Needed, Existing Internal and External Emergency Response Coordination Plans and Structures; Conduct Interagency Training and Exercises to Solidify Government-wide Understanding of Roles, Responsibilities, and Capabilities

1. Examine existing coordination structures within the Agency (e.g., NICT, Regional Incident Coordination Team (RICT)) to ensure adequate participation and efficient operational capability. 2. Consider how to better use the NRT and the Catastrophic Disaster Response Group (CDRG) during national emergencies, and ways to quickly access the senior leadership of member organizations. 3. Better educate EPA’s responders in the existing EPA, OSHA, and State roles for the protection of the health and safety of all responders. 4. Collaborate with OSHA and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agencies to clarify the Agency’s role in assuring protection of the health and safety of all responders. 5. Develop a structure for intra-agency coordination that encompasses all levels of management during national emergencies. 6. Communicate new and revised structure and processes to emergency response staff and all involved levels of agency leadership. 7. Coordinate with the OHS to develop a coherent coordination strategy for all responders during national emergencies: specifically, address the need to improve emergency coordination with the FBI.

105 Report No. 2003-P-00012

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