Law Department notice on WTC document preservation, Oct 2001

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

3. Develop an Emergency Response Infrastructure to Address both Data Analysis Issues and Information Management

1. Clearly define a process for approving and coordinating the release of information to other agencies and the public; ensure program staff on AA and Office level (e.g., OSWER and OERR) review information before it is released. 2. Establish a forum for Regional emergency response. Regional labs, and OERR’s analytical staff to specify and address analytical needs during emergencies. 3. Ensure that prompt communication of analytical results to emergency response staff is addressed in response procedure revisions. 4. Continue the Environmental Assessment Workgroup (EAWG) to address interagency sampling and analysis needs. 5. Ensure laboratory analysis and data management of health, safety, and risk information are incorporated in emergency response plans. 6. Work with OHS and other emergency response organizations to have EPA designated the lead agency for environmental data during national emergencies when both EPA and other agencies are conducting environmental analyses. 7. Ensure that sufficient laboratory capabilities for national emergencies are readily available to all Regions.

4. Develop EPA Policies and Procedures for Public Information Dissemination During National Emergencies, Within Established Emergency Response Plans and Structures

1. Continue developing a network of tools to facilitate public communication. 2. Clarify roles, authorities, protocols, and contingency plans for Headquarters, Regional, Community Outreach, and Regional Press Office staff during national emergencies. 3. Coordinate with OHS, CEO, and other response partners to identify and address obstacles to timely and consistent presentation of environmental information during national emergencies.

5. Increase the Agency’s Emergency Response Resources, and Address the Unique Demands of OSC Positions In Human Resource Processes

1. Assess additional personnel needs for responding to national emergencies while maintaining emergency response preparedness. 2. Establish Western Environmental Response Team (WERT) 3. Pursue personnel classification and associated human resource practice changes to acknowledge the unique expectations and demands placed on OSCs during national emergencies. 4. Support WERT readiness needs. 5. Identify geographic distribution and readiness of supplies, equipment, and contractor capacity. 6. Identify and meet emergency response staff personal safety needs, including providing both equipment and training/exercises. 7. Assess additional analytical program resource needs for national emergencies. 8. Establish a process to support responders logistically during national emergencies. 9. Clearly articulate additional equipment response resource needs in the budget requests for FY 2003 and beyond.

6. Invest in the Safety and Security of EPA Staff and Facilities, Including Telecommunications Needs

1. Review all COOPs to ensure all facilities are included, and bring COOP planning, training, and exercises in line with current threats. 2. Improve and update employee evacuation planning. 3. Review stress management assistance provided to Headquarters, Regions 2 and 3, and ERT. Assess stress levels of EPA emergency response employees, and determine whether additional action should be taken. 4. Address, using currently available resources, all possible facility security needs, at both government-owned and private buildings. 106 Report No. 2003-P-00012

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