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1.
New files for
Security Product Guides have been posted to the EPA web site
EPA has developed a series of Security Product Guides to assist
treatment plant operators and utility managers in reducing risks from,
and providing protection against, possible natural disasters and
intentional terrorist attacks. The
following website has a lot of excellent information and is frequently
updated as new information becomes available.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/security/guide/index.html
2.
New
Emergency Response Module Now Available to Drinking Water Utilities
The Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) has
released a new software module to help drinking water utilities create,
update, and/or revise their Emergency Response Plans (ERPs).
The strictly drinking water ERP module offers an enhancement to
the both Water and Water/Wastewater versions of the Vulnerability Self
Assessment Tool (VSAT™) software.
The release of this new tool will support medium and small water
utilities in meeting the ERP update/preparation deadlines contained in
the 2002 Bioterrorism Act.
The new ERP module referenced as VSAT™ 3.0 can be used by utilities
regardless of whether they have used VSAT™ to conduct a vulnerability
assessment (VA). However
users must have the VSAT™ software to allow the download of the new
ERP module. The VSAT™ 3.0
Upgrade can be installed on any version of VSAT water™ or VSAT
water/wastewater™ (Versions
2.0, 2.1 or 2.2). It is not
necessary to install the intermediate versions before installing the
VSAT™ 3.0 Upgrade.
Please visit www.vsatusers.net
to download this important new tool or to order the VSAT™ software
free of charge.
3.
ASDWA will Host
a New Water Security Webcast on Tabletop Exercises for States
On Monday, May 17, ASDWA will host a two hour webcast (from 12:00 to
2:00 pm Central time) to provide state drinking water program staff with
“how-to” information and tools to design and conduct tabletop
exercises to enhance security preparedness efforts within drinking water
programs, with other state agencies, and for water systems.
The webcast will outline how to develop the exercises, who should
participate, and what works and doesn’t work.
Three experienced presenters will offer examples of tabletop
exercises, strategies for states, lessons learned, and tips for success.
ASDWA strongly encourages states to bring staff together in a conference
setting to view the webcast through one connection location.
This webcast is for state program and EPA staff only (no
utilities, contractors, consultants, or outside parties please!)
You must register in advance to participate in the webcast.
The online registration page is available at http://e1.e2c.com/enc/enc_pc_regPage?rpgid=10823949680926.
Once your registration has been submitted, you will receive a
confirmation that includes the dial-in number, pass code/PIN number, and
the web link to be used on the day of the webcast.
4.
Emergency
Response Plan Guidance for Small and Medium Water Systems
The Emergency Response Plan Guidance for Small and Medium Water
Systems to Comply with the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism
Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 has been released.
This document provides community water systems (CWSs) serving a
population between 3,301 and 99,999 guidance on developing or revising
Emergency Response Plans (ERPs). See
the document at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/security/pdfs/guide_small_medium_erp.pdf
It can also be found in electronic PDF format on the EPA website at:
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/security
under Emergency Response Tools.
Printed copies, in limited quantity, can be obtained from the National
Service Center for Environmental Publications by phone: (800) 490-9198
or (513) 489-8190, by fax:(513) 489-8695, or by e-mail: ncepimal@one.net.
5.
Midwest
Security and Preparedness Conference and Exhibition
Bringing People Together for Safer Drinking Water Systems
May 3–6, 2004
St. Louis
,
Missouri
This is a reminder about the upcoming conference.
If you plan to attend but have not yet registered, please do so
as soon as possible. If you
plan to stay at the Adam's
Mark
Hotel
where the conference is being held, you must call immediately to obtain
the conference rate of $102/night.
The conference will provide public water supply systems with critical
information on how to deal with these events, with a practical tabletop
exercise to assist public water supplies to implement their preparedness
plans. For more information
and to register, go to:
http://www.mwsecurityconf.com
6.
VA and ERP
Upcoming Deadlines
Medium System ERPs and Small System VAs
As part of the requirements of the Bioterrorism Act of 2002, community
drinking water systems serving between 50,000 and 99,999 customers must
certify to EPA that they have completed/updated their Emergency Response
Plans by
June 30, 2004
. In addition, community
systems serving 3,300 to 49,000 customers must send their completed
Vulnerability Assessment to EPA Headquarters by
June 30, 2004
.
Click here for
instructions on submitting VAs and ERP certifications.
Specifically, note Section 6 of the document.
If additional information is needed, please call the Safe Drinking Water
Hotline at 1-800-426-4791.
Submitted
by
Kim
Olson
Drinking Water/Ground Water Management Branch
U.S.
EPA, Region 7
901 N. 5th St
.
Kansas C
ity
,
KS
66101
ph: 913.551.7458
fax: 913.551-8722 |
