The National Institute of Health (NIH) National Library of Medicine (NLM) is discontinuing the Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) on February 28^th, 2023. NLM will no longer be supporting WebWISER or any of the applications. The following is a list of resources available to meet any need gaps that are being created due to this discontinuation:

On January 25^th and 26^th, EPA Regions 8, 9, and 10 hosted a virtual conference for State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs) and Tribal Emergency Response Commissions (TERCs). The conference consisted of two 3-hour sessions highlighted by SERCs/TERCs reporting-out on successes, challenges, and needs. At the conference, EPA Office of Emergency Management provided various regulatory updates and results from the SERC survey and led a discussion on how EPA can further assist SERCs/TERCs in implementing EPCRA. There was also a hot topic panel with presentations on Lithium-Ion Battery emergency preparedness and response issues. Presentations and other info have been uploaded to http://response.epa.gov/WesternSERC2023.

 

CFATS Operational Updates

Every March 1st, facilities covered by the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) must submit an emergency and hazardous chemical inventory form (Tier II Report) to the Local/Tribal Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC)/(TEPC), the State/Tribal Emergency Response Commission (SERC)/(TERC), and the local fire department for the previous calendar year. This webinar will include a live demonstration of EPA's new Tier2 Submit reporting software, presentations from New England state representatives on state-specific requirements, and a Question and Answer (Q&A) session with attendees. Note that if you are in Massachusetts or Connecticut, your reporting requirements and procedures may have changed. For State Tier II reporting requirements and procedures: https://www.epa.gov/epcra/state-tier-ii-reporting-requirements-and-procedures.

This course walks through how to create a tailored, scalable security plan that meets the business model and unique circumstances of a facility. Participants will learn the key elements of a chemical security plan and benefit from examples, lessons learned, and best practices. The course runs 2-3 hours in length and is designed to help leadership, facility security personnel, and other applicable personnel understand, develop, and implement a facility security plan.

This course provides an introduction to identifying, assessing, evaluating, and mitigating chemical security risks. This easy-to-understand overview identifies key components and best practices of chemical security awareness and planning to help kickstart chemical security discussions at a facility. This course runs 1-2 hours in length and is appropriate for all personnel regardless of their level of involvement with dangerous chemicals.

Please share this course information with relevant chemical security stakeholders in your area. To request a special offering of either course for a facility or organization, please fill out the ChemLock Services Request Form. If you have questions about the ChemLock program, please email ChemLock@cisa.dhs.gov.

2023 International Society of Explosives Engineers (ISEE) Annual Conference, February 4-8, 2023, San Antonio, Texas: https://isee.org/conferences/2023-conference

The NASTTPO Annual Conference is confirmed for April 17-20 in Salt Lake City, UT at the Radisson Downtown. Registration and agenda information will be posted to the www.nasttpo.com site soon.