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What is the CAMEO software suite?

The CAMEO software suite is a system of software applications used widely to plan for and respond to chemical emergencies. It is one of the tools developed by EPA’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of Response and Restoration (NOAA), to assist front-line chemical emergency planners and responders. They can use CAMEO to access, store, and evaluate information critical for developing emergency plans. In addition, CAMEO supports regulatory compliance by helping users meet the chemical inventory reporting requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA, also known as SARA Title III). CAMEO also can be used with a separate software application called LandView to display EPA environmental databases and demographic/economic information to support analysis of environmental justice issues.

The CAMEO system integrates a chemical database and a method to manage the data, an air dispersion model, and a mapping capability. All modules work interactively to share and display critical information in a timely fashion. The CAMEO system is available in Macintosh and Windows formats.

Origin

The CAMEO software suite initially was developed because NOAA recognized the need to assist first responders with easily accessible and accurate response information. Since 1988, EPA and NOAA have collaborated to augment CAMEO to assist both emergency responders and planners. CAMEO has been enhanced to provide emergency planners with a tool to enter local information and develop incident scenarios to better prepare for chemical emergencies. The Bureau of Census and the U.S. Coast Guard have worked with EPA and NOAA to continue to enhance the system.

Why was CAMEO Created?

Rapid action by firefighter, police, and other emergency response personnel often is severely hampered by lack of accurate information on the substance spilled and safe response actions. Emergency planners lack a tool to store and easily use information that is essential for emergency planning.

Who Uses CAMEO?


  • Firefighters
  • State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) and Tribal Emergency Response Commissions (TERCs)
  • Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs)
  • Industry
  • Schools
  • Environmental Organizations
  • Police Departments

What is in CAMEO?

CAMEO is actually a suite of four separate, integrated software applications:

CAMEOfm - Database and Information Management Tool

CAMEOfm is a database application that includes eight modules (such as Facilities and Contacts) to assist with data management requirements under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA). Each year, facilities covered by EPCRA must submit an emergency and hazardous chemical inventory form to their LEPC, SERC, and local fire department. Most facilities submit a Tier II form, which contains basic facility identification information, employee contact information, and information such as storage amounts, storage conditions, and locations for chemicals stored or used at the facility. You can use CAMEOfm to store this information, by entering it manually or by importing a Tier2 Submit file (if the facilities and/or planners in your state use that program). CAMEOfm can also be used to navigate between ALOHA, MARPLOT, and the downloadable version of CAMEO Chemicals.

CAMEO Chemicals - Chemical Response Datasheets and Reactivity Prediction Tool
CAMEO Chemicals has an extensive chemical database with critical response information for thousands of chemicals. There are two primary types of datasheets in the database: chemical datasheets and UN/NA datasheets. Chemical datasheets provide physical properties, health hazards, information about air and water hazards, and recommendations for firefighting, first aid, and spill response. UN/NA datasheets provide response information from the Emergency Response Guidebook and shipping information from the Hazardous Materials Table (49 CFR 172.101). In addition to the information on the datasheets, you can also add chemicals to the MyChemicals collection to see what hazards might occur if the chemicals in the collection were mixed together. CAMEO Chemicals is available online (http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov Exit EPA) and as a downloadable version.
MARPLOT - Mapping Applications for Response, Planning, and Local Operational Tasks

MARPLOT is the mapping application. It allows users to "see" their data (e.g., roads, facilities, schools, response assets), display this information on computer maps, and print the information on area maps. The areas contaminated by potential or actual chemical release scenarios also can be overlaid on the maps to determine potential impacts. The maps are created from the U.S. Bureau of Census TIGER/Line files and can be manipulated quickly to show possible hazard areas.

ALOHA - Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres

ALOHA is an atmospheric dispersion model used for evaluating releases of hazardous chemical vapors. ALOHA allows the user to estimate the downwind dispersion of a chemical cloud based on the toxicological/physical characteristics of the released chemical, atmospheric conditions, and specific circumstances of the release.  ALOHA can estimate threat zones associated with several types of hazardous chemical releases, including toxic gas clouds, fires, and explosions. Threat zones can be plotted on maps with MARPLOT to display the location of other facilities storing hazardous materials and vulnerable locations, such as hospitals and schools. Specific information about these locations can be extracted from CAMEOfm information modules to help make decisions about the degree of hazard posed.

Contacts

For more information on emergency preparedness, planning, and prevention programs, contact the EPA's RCRA, Superfund, and EPCRA Call Center, a toll-free service that can answer technical policy questions on federal EPA regulations. The Call Center can be reached during regular business hours at:

  • Toll-Free: (800) 424-9346
  • Local: (703) 412-9810
  • TDD: (800) 553-7672
  • TDD Local: (703) 412-3323

For answers to functional software questions or solutions to installation problems, contact the RMP Reporting Center: (703) 227-7650 (8am-4:30pm M-F) or via e-mail at: RMPRC@epacdx.net

Other Planning/Response Tools

  • LandView Exit EPA is software that provides federal environmental and census data on maps.
  • Tier2 Submit is a tool for facilities to submit EPCRA Tier II reports to their state, LEPC, and fire department.
  • RMP*Comp calculates vulnerable zone distances based on the Risk Management Program (RMP) Guidance for Offsite Consequence Analysis.

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