EPAs updated Homeland Security Strategy, which describes the agency’s ongoing initiatives and activities to protect our country from and/or respond to the consequences of terrorist attacks, has been released.
EPAs initial strategy, released shortly after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, described the agency’s vision to prevent, prepare for and respond to additional catastrophic terrorist attacks.
Today’s update takes this initial effort one step further by addressing EPA’s available resources, recent Homeland Security presidential directives and expectations, and the evolving role of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The strategy also explains how EPA will collaborate with federal, state and local public and private sector partners to accomplish the strategy’s goals.
The updated strategy, which will remain in place through 2005, describes how EPA’s scientific and technical expertise can be utilized by the nation to prepare for, respond to and recover from a potential chemical, biological or radiological attack.
EPA’s homeland security roles and responsibilities include coordinating protection of the drinking water and wastewater sector, providing federal emergency response and recovery support in the event of a terrorist attack, providing forensic evidence collection assistance to law enforcement, conducting research for enhanced methods of detection and decontamination of biological and chemical warfare agents and safeguarding EPA employees and facilities nationwide. More information on EPA’s Homeland Security Strategy is available at www.epa.gov/ohs/htm/ohs-sp.htm.
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
