In 2004, FAA issued a final rule that revised the Federal airport certification regulation (14 CFR Part 139--see https://www.faa.gov/airports_airtraffic/airports/airport_safety/part139_cert/). As stated at §139.325, "Airport Emergency Plan: In a manner authorized by the Administrator, each certificate holder must develop and maintain an airport emergency plan designed to minimize the possibility and extent of personal injury and property damage on the airport in an emergency."
Chemical, biological, or radiological contamination at an airport would create a complex coordination effort for the airport and the surrounding community. This effort could be compounded by the discovery of contamination after contaminated persons have left the airport. In order to facilitate coordinated response and minimize downstream disruptions of neighboring communities and health care facilities, airports have an interest in developing regionally coordinated emergency plans for events involving chemical, biological, or radiological (CBR) agents, or detonation of nuclear or explosive devices (collectively referred to as CBRNE events).
Research is needed to assist entities with an interest in or responsibility for developing regionally coordinated airport emergency plans for CBRNE events.
The objective of this research was to provide guidance for developing regionally coordinated airport emergency plans for CBRNE events. The research included an analysis and description of potential responses to various incident scenarios, including the roles of airport management and local authorities having jurisdiction. Analysis of scenarios delineated relationships between airports and jurisdictions and the obstacles that may prevent communications or appropriate responses for protecting the health, security, safety, and welfare of potentially affected populations. A major product of this research was a template for regionally coordinated airport emergency plans for CBRNE events.
Status: The revised final report has been published as ACRP Report 12.
