EPA Adds ERP Training Workshops

The EPA has added free training workshops for small and medium-size water utilities on emergency response planning (ERP) to the five it held in June.

Designed to cover EPA's recently released guidance on emergency response planning for small and medium-size water systems, the workshops also review the agency's Response Protocol Toolbox on planning for and responding to drinking water contamination threats as well as some other agency security tools such as an online compendium for selecting analytical labs for handling emergency response samples and the agency's security product guides.

The next seminar is scheduled in Melbourne, Fla., on Aug. 20. The agency announced that additional workshops will be held this year in Chattanooga, Tenn.; Indianapolis, Ind.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Trenton, N.J.; Bangor, Maine; Salt Lake City, Utah; Salem, Ore.; and Albuquerque, N.M.

EPA is encouraging participants to register online early since space is limited. Registration ends three days prior to any scheduled workshop, and no registrations will be allowed at the workshops. Also because of space constraints, participation is limited to individuals representing water utilities and their invited private-sector clients, water-sector associations, government officials, emergency service providers and certain trainers.

AWWA is also conducting a series of seminars to help water systems complete and certify their ERPs as required under the Bioterrorism Act, with two-day seminars scheduled in Kansas City, Mo., on Aug. 4-5; in Edmonton, Alberta, on Oct. 5-6; and in Denver on Nov. 16-17.

Source: AWWA