Exercise Policy and Guidance for the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (December 2012)

This document provides program guidance and supporting information for implementation of the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program (CSEPP) exercise program. It replaces the exercise program document, Exercise Policy and Guidance for Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program Exercise (June 19, 2009 with Change 1, October 15, 2009), known as the "Blue Book." This document includes the following information in appendices: After-Action Report/Improvement Plan Processes (AAR/IP) (Appendix A), Public Information Planning for CSEPP Exercises (Appendix B), CSEPP Emergency Response Outcomes and Exercise Evaluation Guides (Appendix C), CSEPP Guide for Exercise Extent of Play Agreements (Appendix D), optional NIMS/ICS/CSEPP Exercise Structure (Appendix E), Background and Overview of CSEPP Remediation and Recovery Outcome Evaluation (Appendix F), Core Capabilities Crosswalk (Appendix G), CSEPP Exercise Program Glossary (Appendix H), Timeline Guidance and Templates (Appendix I). A federally-managed exercise program involving Federal, state, and local agencies and Army installations has been developed as part of the increased emphasis on emergency preparedness under the CSEP Program. The CSEP Program will result in improved preparedness at the remaining U.S. Army installations storing the unitary chemical stockpile and the surrounding civilian communities. The term "CSEPP Community," as used in this document, is the combined area of one military installation, surrounding local jurisdictions/agencies, and the State agencies involved in executing CSEPP for that area. Local jurisdictions are counties and cities within the Emergency Planning Zone (EPZ), which encompasses the Immediate Response Zone (IRZ), Protective Action Zone (PAZ), or are designated as "host" jurisdictions. Exercises conducted by the Army and DHS/FEMA will help program managers evaluate the emergency response plans and capabilities of the CSEPP Communities. Under CSEPP, exercises managed by DHS/FEMA and the Army began in 1991. These exercises demonstrate the ability of the communities to respond to a chemical accident/incident (CAI) at an Army chemical stockpile storage site. Participation in exercises includes representatives from the Department of the Army (DA), DHS/FEMA, other Federal agencies, state and local governments, the Army installations, and civilian entities. The purpose of this document is to ensure consistency in planning and conducting the exercises and in evaluating the performance of the emergency response and emergency support personnel (often referred to as "players") in exercises. Some location-specific adaptations may be necessary to accommodate the varied response structures of the CSEPP Communities. If variances from the policy in this document are necessary, approval from the appropriate headquarter agency (DHS/FEMA or the Army) must be sought. In addition to satisfying CSEPP exercise criteria; these exercises satisfy Army regulatory requirements for exercises and the state and local government exercise requirements under the DHS/FEMA Cooperative Agreement (CA), which funds CSEPP and other emergency management activities. The CSEPP exercise approach incorporates the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) methodologies and concepts, as presented in chapter 3. The CSEPP exercise evaluation methodology is organized around a standard set of eight Emergency Response Outcomes (EROs). Exercise Evaluation Guides (EEGs) have been developed for each ERO (see Appendix C). Army and DHS/FEMA exercise management staff will monitor developments in other national exercise programs and will recommend review and revision of the CSEPP exercise methodology as required.