Contact via EPA EOC: 202-564-3850
One of the most important tools in the ROSS Toolkit is the A-team. The A-Team includes representatives from the EPA, USDA, FDA, the CDC, and other federal agencies as needed. The A-Team develops coordinated advice and recommendations on environmental, food, health, and animal health matters for the Incident Command/Unified Command, the Joint Field Office, the UCG, the federal agency with primary authority, and/or state and local governments, as appropriate. The A-Team uses information provided by the IMAAC, FRMAC, and other relevant sources. The A-Team makes protective action recommendations, not decisions; provides coordinated technical and scientific advice through the state and federal agency with primary authority; and bases its recommendations on science and best practices.
Core Agency EOC Phone #s
EPA EOC 202-564-3850
FDA EOC 866-300-4374
HHS SOC 866-447-7362
DOE HQ 202-586-8100
CDC EOC 770-488-7100
The A-Team is a coordinated asset that must be officially requested before it becomes activated. This advisory team is activated whenever the FRMAC is activated or its assistance can be activated via a telephone call to the EPA EOC (202-564-3850) or any one of the core federal agencies’ Emergency Operations Center. If a ROSS has been deployed for a radiological emergency, they should determine if the A-Team has also been activated and (if activated) their contact information. If the A-team has not been activated, the ROSS should work with the state or local radiation program control authority to engage the A-team. The call can be from any local, state, federal, or tribal entity.
Whenever possible, the ROSS should work with the A-team to obtain federal advice in matters related to—
• Environmental assessments (field monitoring) required for developing recommendations with advice from state and local governments and/or the FRMAC.
• Protective Action Guides and their application to the emergency.
• Protective Action Recommendations using data and assessment from FRMAC.
• Measures to prevent or minimize contamination of milk, food, and water.
• Recommendations for minimizing losses of agricultural resources from contamination.
• Recommendations regarding the health; management and disposition of livestock, poultry, pets, and other animals; and the disposition of contaminated foods, especially perishable commodities (e.g., meat in processing plants).
• Availability of food, animal feed, and water supply inspection programs to ensure wholesomeness.
• Relocation, reentry, and other radiation protection measures.
• Recommendations for recovery, return, and remediation issues.
• Health and safety advice or information for the public and for workers.
• Estimated effects of radioactive releases on human health and the environment; and
• Other matters, as requested by the Incident Command or the federal agency with primary authority