New Plant Security Overview Available
The Water Environment Federation (WEF), in partnership with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the American Public Works Association, and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies released "Protecting the Water Sector from Security Threats," a publication that provides an overview of the legal and policy framework that governs key aspects of security at drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities in the United States.
Developed as an update of NACWA's 2002 publication, "Protecting Water Infrastructure Assets...Legal Issues in a Time of Crisis Checklist," this new publication expands, revises, and updates the issues covered in the original document in response to unprecedented legal, technical, and policy changes in protecting the nation’s critical water sector infrastructure since the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Intended for water and wastewater utility executives, managers, and operators, the publication covers the most common legal considerations when implementing a security and emergency response program in utilities and public works facilities.
Each organization provided two water-sector utility representatives and a staff representative to guide the work of the LeBouef Law Firm to draft the publication. Key aspects covered in the publication include the duty of utilities to the public and employees regarding preparing for and responding to terrorist and man-made disasters; considerations for employee background checks; and properly balancing the public’s right to know with keeping certain vital information confidential.
The publication is free to WEF members and water sector utilities. WEF members can download the document from www.wef.org, and water sector utilities may request a hard copy by contacting svaughn@wef.org. For others, the document can be purchased at www.wef.org/Marketplace.