E.P.A. Lab Open House in Chelmsford Will Highlight Homeland Security Prototype Screening Unit; Open House on January 11th, Seven PM

(Chelmsford, Massachusetts - Jan. 3, 2007) - EPA's New England Regional Laboratory, based in Chelmsford, Mass., will be piloting a prototype mobile screening unit that will enhance EPA's ability to support emergency responders in the event of a potential terrorist incident.

Members of the community are invited to an open house at the regional lab on January 11th at seven p.m. to learn more about the pilot screening plan and how E.P.A. protects public health and New England's environment. The regional lab is located at eleven Technology Drive, North Chelmsford, Massachusetts 01863-2431.

The 2001 anthrax incidents raised concerns in labs across the country that unknown specimens delivered to them by law enforcement agencies for testing might contain other hazards. A workgroup chaired by the Department of Homeland Security, along with E.P.A. and other federal agencies determined that screening unknown samples in a secure, sophisticated but stand-alone facility could enhance safety at the nation's lab facilities.

EPA's Regional Lab has made providing accurate environmental data to emergency responders a high priority. The mobile screening unit will provide the ability to analyze unknown or suspicious samples in a secure environment and represents an important expansion of EPA's emergency response capabilities.

The 14-by-48 foot prototype unit is one of only 2 currently being operated nationwide in a year long test. The other mobile screen unit is at the Wadsworth Center, in Albany N.Y. The prototype is a stand alone facility, which would gain and provide secure screening for suspicious or unknown samples before bringing them into the permanent Lab facility. The Department of Homeland Security will use the prototype as a model for similar units to be put into use in all 50 states.

Most of the tests to be performed in the mobile unit during the pilot plan will be simple screens, for example, ones that indicate the presence of a chemical by a color change. Depending on the results of the screen, the sample would enter the permanent facility for additional sampling, or be repackaged and transported to another Lab for further assessment.

In addition to the mobile laboratory, E.P.A. is working on a 2nd pilot plan designed to expand the laboratory's ability to test for industrial chemicals and military agents. This expanded capability would enable to Lab to sample soil, debris or water, and provide analytical information to responders who are cleaning up a contaminated location resulting from a possible terrorist incident. Both pilots are expected to take approximately 12 months to complete.

More information: EPA's New England Regional Lab (epa.gov/ne/lab/)

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