InfoGram 34-08: September 4, 2008

This InfoGram will be distributed weekly to provide members of the Emergency Services Sector with information concerning the protection of their critical infrastructures. For further information, contact the Emergency Management and Response - Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) at (301) 447-1325 or by email at emr-isac@fema.dhs.gov.

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Hazards Involving Biodiesel Production

In a non-sensitive Situational Awareness Bulletin published last month (PDF, 247 Kb, Adobe Acrobat Help), the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center (MIOC) discussed the hazards involving biodiesel production. For the protection and safety of all emergency responders nationwide, the Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) has excerpted the following information from the MIOC bulletin.

The recent rise in petroleum prices caused an increased interest in alternative fuels. Biodiesel is used increasingly as a diesel replacement because it can be manufactured from readily available ingredients such as vegetable oil, animal fat, or recycled restaurant cooking oil. The production of biodiesel does not require a great amount of space, and the process is not easily detectable outside of the process area. There have been only a small number of casualties reported nationwide as a result of biodiesel production.

The overall process is legal and relatively safe when properly performed. The end product of biodiesel has hazards similar to regular diesel with byproducts that can pose harm to humans and animals if not correctly stored or disposed. If the processors are not careful, they can poison or burn themselves, and modifications to pressure vessels by inexperienced people can result in possible explosions.

Historically, the most common threat to homemade biodiesel labs is the improper storage and disposal of byproducts. Most home brewers tend to stockpile byproducts because they are uncertain of appropriate disposal methods. These large stockpiles of byproduct can potentially lead to a significant fire hazard. As risks exist, care should be taken by first responders when signs of a biodiesel facility are noted. Though many operations can legally produce biodiesel, they may still cause harm to emergency personnel.

The MIOC bulletin offered the following considerations for first responders:

• Chemicals involved in production are legal for residential storage, but only in limited quantities.
• Methanol burns with an invisible flame.
• Methanol vapor can be released causing poor air quality in a confined space.
• Most models of photoionization detectors will not detect methanol.
• Methoxide is a highly caustic chemical that has been associated with nerve damage caused by corrosive burns.
• Chemicals involved in production are flammable and can pose a significant fire hazard.
• Overheated oils can add to a fire load.
• Use of pressure tanks in production can result in explosions.

More information about biodiesel safety is available at Biodiesel Magazine.

Comprehensive Preparedness Guide

The response and recovery planning process is the focus of Producing Emergency Plans: A Guide for All-Hazard Emergency Operations Planning for State, Territorial, Local and Tribal Governments - CPG 101, Interim Version 1.0 (PDF, 1.9 Mb) released last month by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Additional mission areas�prevention, protection, response, and recovery�will be included in the final version, to be released in December.

CPG 101 establishes no immediate requirements, but suggests that next-generation Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) follow its guidance. Many jurisdictions, assisted by their Emergency Services Sector (ESS) departments and agencies, have already developed EOPs. Consequently, CPG 101 does not direct a specific plan format, but instead provides content guidance so that jurisdictions can develop plans that best fit their geographical, political, and social environment. The Guide incorporates a mix of scenario-based, functional, and capabilities-based planning, and can be used by planners in settings that range from rural to major metropolitan jurisdictions.

In reviewing CPG 101, the Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) noted that it is described as FEMA's "best judgment and recommendations on how to address the entire planning process," and "the foundation for public sector emergency planning in the United States." The guidance accomplishes the following:

• Serves as the basis for effective response to any hazard that threatens a community.
• Integrates prevention and mitigation activities with traditional response and recovery planning.
• Facilitates coordination with the Federal Government during incidents that require the implementation of the National Response Framework (NRF).

FEMA encourages emergency services personnel to follow a process that addresses all of the hazards that threaten their jurisdiction through a suite of plans connected to a single, integrated emergency operations plan. Each jurisdiction's EOP needs to reflect what that community will do to protect itself from its unique hazards with the unique resources it has or can obtain. This approach is consistent with the tenets of critical infrastructure protection and resiliency (CIP & CIR) planning.

Radiological and Nuclear Training

Several weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) posted new training to provide "the most up-to-date state and local public health emergency response planning for radiological and nuclear terrorism incidents" targeted to first responders, emergency planners, hazmat teams, and allied members of the Emergency Services Sector (ESS).

The CDC is responding to state and local officials who requested additional guidance on adapting all-hazards emergency preparedness plans for radiological and nuclear incidents that could involve mass casualties. The 1.5-hour course that end-users can take online or with a free CDC-supplied DVD, covers the role of communications in a radiation emergency, local government roles and responsibilities, pharmaceutical countermeasures, and radiologic population monitoring. Also, a web cast, "Preparing for Population Monitoring and Decontamination," is available at the CDC website.

The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) recognizes that first responder personnel and assets will be among the first to face exposure to radiation hazards. Considering the threat potential and role of the ESS in planning for all-hazards response," The "Public Health Planning for Radiological and Nuclear Terrorism" course could provide desired planning assistance.

• Register for the course
• Request it on DVD

Additional radiation resources are available here.

Prevention and Deterrence of Terrorist Acts

The Emergency Services Sector (ESS) is the target audience for the new course, "Prevention and Deterrence of Terrorist Acts: An Overview for All Disciplines" (AWR 119-W), created to further prepare first responders to prevent and/or deter terrorist incidents related to Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), including chemical agents, biological agents, radiological or nuclear materials and explosives (CBRNE).

The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center (EMR-ISAC) acknowledges that WMD incidents are among the serious threats to emergency organizations and their critical infrastructures. The 1.25-hour, six-module online course examines the history of WMD, terminology, prevention and deterrence approaches, the current terrorist threat, initiating prevention and deterrence of terrorism, and jurisdictional responsibilities. A web-based, law-enforcement-specific version of the course is also available.

The release of the certified course was announced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Preparedness Directorate. It is available online at the National Center for Biomedical Research and Training, Academy of Counter-Terrorist Education, Louisiana State University. To enroll in the course, click on the NCBRT eLearning "Enroll Now" link, complete the registration, and await email confirmation. Additional courses on subjects such as agroterrorism, WMD, and disaster mental health considerations, are also listed.