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Assessment
Activity:
Emergency Response Planning and
Security
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Our
firm has completed, or is in the process of conducting, 17
vulnerability assessments for various-sized water utilities in five
states. As the
vulnerability assessment (VA) process winds down, utilities are
faced with two important considerations:
1)
updating an emergency response plan (ERP) within 6 months after
submitting a VA; and 2)
deciding what security measures to implement based on VA
report findings and recommendations.
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As
Previously Reported . . . |
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The
USEPA requires that all systems serving more than 3,300 people
undertake a VA and then prepare or update an ERP.
>
The
deadlines for larger systems (those serving more than 100,000
people) and medium systems (those serving between 50,000 and
99,999 people) have passed; but
>
Small
systems must complete a VA by June 30,
2004.
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Did
You Know . . . |
| Due
to the specialized service areas involved with conducting a water
system VA, Gannett Fleming has teamed with Anti-Terrorist
Operations Group (ATOG).
ATOG
is highly qualified in the security arena, complementing our
extensive knowledge of water system facilities, operations and
infrastructure. |
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Emergency
Response Planning
The bar has been raised for the level of security needed to protect a
water system. While
most existing ERPs provide scenarios for accidental releases of chemicals, or
temporary loss of equipment and facilities, revised ERPs need to specifically
address the possibility of a deliberate terrorist attack.
These revisions should include input from all local and regional law
enforcement officials who may have to respond to such attacks.
The new version should also be prepared by someone with ERP training.
Both
the utility and local law enforcement should also consider running practice
drills for different scenarios. This
enables better plan execution and corrections as necessary.
Implementing
Improvements
When
confronted with a list of recommended security improvements, water utilities
typically determine that implementation costs exceed available capital budget.
Consultants can facilitate utility decision making by prioritizing
security upgrades.
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Prevention Plan: |
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An engineering and
security team can assist a water system by:
>developing
a 5- or 10-year security plan to address improvement needs
>securing
necessary funding
>providing
detailed plans and specifications for the selected projects. |
A
water utility VA should:
By
preparing a practical security improvement plan, and instituting it over a
reasonable period of time, a utility is meeting its responsibility - to
protect the facilities that provide potable water to its customers.
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