Consequence management planning and decision-making for chemical incidents should not be static or prescriptive; rather, it should involve a flexible process that includes situation-specific considerations and the most current understanding of science and engineering and other technical factors. A flexible process is needed in which numerous factors are considered to achieve an end-result that balances local needs and desires, health risks, costs, technical feasibility, socioeconomic justice and equity, and other factors.
Principles that underpin chemical incident consequence management decision processes include:
- Transparency – The basis for consequence management decisions should be well understood by all key stakeholders and the public at large to the extent legally possible.
- Inclusivity – All relevant stakeholders should be involved in decision-making activities, including communities of color, low-income communities, and other underserved and historically marginalized communities.
- Effectiveness – Technical subject matter experts should analyze site remediation and clearance for re-use/re-occupation options, assess various technologies and methodologies, and inform goal/strategy development and specific courses of action to implement the strategies selected.
- Joint Accountability – Final decisions regarding the selection of appropriate consequence management goals, strategies, and implementing activities should be made jointly by FSLTT officials participating in the Unified Command, in concert with SLTT elected/appointed leadership, as appropriate.