Protecting the Water Sector From Security Threats: The Emerging Legal and Policy Frameworks
This new handbook is specifically designed to help clean water utilities and other members of the water sector adapt to the ever-changing security environment in the U.S. Based on the 2002 NACWA security publication, Legal Issues in a Time of Crisis, the new publication reflects the many changes to the legal landscape involving security issues over the past five years, and has been expanded to include a discussion of security challenges facing drinking water utilities and public works agencies. The publication includes an examination of the current federal legislative framework for protecting water sector infrastructure, a discussion of potential civil liability that water sector utilities might face in the event of a terrorist attack or security breach, and an overview of the legal duty owed employers to their employees in the event of a terrorist attack on a facility. Additionally, the publication includes a “Quick Reference Checklist” which provides clean water managers and attorneys with a quick way to identify the major legal and security issues they need to consider for their facilities. This publication is free for members (see MU07-21, or download here). Non-members can visit the NACWA Bookstore (http://www.nacwa.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=366&Itemid=532&Itemid=533) for more information on ordering.
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EPA Publishes Report and Video on Effective Communication during Water Security Emergencies
EPA has published a report, Effective Risk and Crisis Communication during Water Security Emergencies, and a video on message mapping, a science-based risk communication tool that can help utilities deliver consistent, accurate information during an emergency situation. The organized statements of message maps are prepared in advance to address specific issues, ensuring that spokespersons can respond to questions appropriately in a timely manner. The report and video, which are available on EPA’s website (http://www.epa.gov/nhsrc/news/news040207.html), were produced from EPA-sponsored workshops with experts from various disciplines. |
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Key Council Recommends POTW Workers Receive Top Priority for Pandemic Vaccine Distribution; Pandemic Preparedness Guidance Released
Several reports issued in early 2007 explain the U.S. government’s strategy for dealing with an influenza pandemic and help businesses plan their own strategies. A report by the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC), The Prioritization of Critical Infrastructure for a Pandemic Outbreak in the United States Working Group, (http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/niac/niac-pandemic-wg_v8-011707.pdf) categorized 608,000 water and wastewater treatment employees as Tier 1 critical employees and recommended to the Department of Homeland Security that they be given priority for vaccinations in the event of an influenza pandemic. NACWA and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies provided considerable input to NIAC on this issue.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a report, Interim Pre-pandemic Planning Guidance: Community Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Mitigation in the United States – Early, Targeted, Layered Use of Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions, which can be downloaded by clicking on http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/mitigation.html. The report emphasizes “social distancing,” or minimizing contact between people, as the most effective intervention method. Social distancing will require schools and daycare centers to close for four to 12 weeks, requiring many working parents to stay at home with their children. Businesses should plan for high rates of absenteeism resulting from school closures and employee illness. Additional planning guidance for businesses is contained in a report from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for an Influenza Pandemic, which is available at http://www.osha.gov/Publications/influenza_pandemic.html.
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Grants Announced for Infrastructure Protection and State and Local Counterterrorism
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released its fiscal year 2007 grant guidance and application kits for nearly $1.7 billion in the Homeland Security Grant Program for state and local counterterrorism efforts and for $445 million in funding for state, local and private industry infrastructure protection initiatives. Specific information about the grant programs and how to apply for the funds is available on DHS’s website at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/welcome.html. Specifically, the 2007 Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP) will award nearly $1.7 billion to enhance the ability of states, territories, and urban areas to prepare for, prevent, and respond to terrorist attacks and other major disasters. HSGP funds can be used for preparedness planning, equipment acquisition, training, exercises, management, and administration in order to obtain resources that are critical to building and sustaining capabilities that are aligned with the Interim National Preparedness Goal and respective State and Urban Area Homeland Security Strategies. The 2007 Infrastructure Protection Program (IPP) will award roughly $445 million in funding for state, local and private industry infrastructure protection initiatives. The five programs which comprise the Infrastructure Protection Program (IPP), have provided to date more than $1.5 billion in grants to strengthen security at critical facilities ranging from chemical plants to mass transit systems and seaports. |
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EPA Expands Data, Adds Wastewater Treatment Category to Water Security Tool
EPA’s Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water announced the expansion of the Water Contaminant Information Tool (WCIT), a secure, online database profiling chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants of concern for drinking water and wastewater utilities. EPA added a comprehensive data set on 45 new contaminants of concern— bringing the total number of contaminants in the database to 93. Moreover, for all 93 contaminants, EPA has expanded the scope of WCIT by including four new data categories, including one for wastewater treatment. The other categories are drinking water treatment, environmental impacts, and infrastructure decontamination. As the Agency noted in its release, improving the data on WCIT “enables water utilities, public health officials and federal, state and local agencies to better plan for and respond to intentional or accidental contamination events.” Wastewater utilities can access the site but, given the sensitivity of the WCIT data, access to the tool is tightly controlled via password-protection. To apply for access to WCIT, visit EPA’s website at http://www.epa.gov/wcit. |
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