EPA New England Shows Off New Mobile Command Post for Emergency Responses

Release date: 04/03/2003

Contact Information: Alice Kaufman, EPA Press Office, 617-918-1064

BOSTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s New England Office today unveiled a new 28-foot vehicle that can serve as a Mobile Command Post for significant emergency response situations across the region. The vehicle, outfitted with satellite phones, computers and other response and communication equipment, is designed to serve as a field command post at emergency response sites.

“This vehicle is an important component of EPA readiness capability to respond to hazardous chemicals and oil spills, fires or explosion hazards that threaten public health and the environment,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England Office.

The vehicle, which cost about $250,000, allows EPA’s emergency response staff, called on-scene coordinators, to maintain communication with:

• other on-scene response organizations, including federal, state and local responders, response contractors and responsible parties.
• off-scene response organizations such as EPA’s Regional Response Center, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Regional Operations Center and Disaster Field Offices, local and state command centers, EPA Headquarters Emergency Operations Center, law enforcement agencies, etc. and
• other parties needing information about the emergency, including the media, elected officials in the community, and state and local response authorities.

The Mobile Command Post has been designed to provide a warm and dry environment with small meeting areas that can be used for compiling data, calibrating response equipment and developing incident-specific action plans. In addition, the command post is equipped with a sink, refrigerator, microwave, water dispenser and bathroom.