ABSTRACT
Acknowledgments and disclaimer .............................................................. 592 References ........................................................................................................ 592
The simple answer is because waste management during HS incidents involve a great deal of complexity and integration of people, processes, and systems that exhibit many commonalities that are independent of the type of incident and the nature of the contaminants involved. Waste management planning involves a multihazard, multistakeholder, multidisciplinary, multimedia, multiscale, and multiobjective decision-making process. Waste management frequently involves social, economic, environmental, political, regulatory/statutory, policy, and technical considerations in making sound, safe, cost-effective, risk-informed, and consensusorientated decisions (Chang, 2003). Experience during several HS incidents and national level HS exercises has shown that waste management planning is not something that should be left to do during the incident itself. A systems approach is needed in waste management planning so that there is not a fragmented, piecemeal approach to waste management during HS incidents.
