Clean Water Advocacy - Newsroom - AMSA in the News
Nation's Cities Weekly
Copyright 2002 Gale Group Inc. All rights reserved. COPYRIGHT 2002 National
League of Cities
Monday, May 6, 2002
ISSN: 0164-5935; Volume 25; Issue 18
Security tools help utilities assess and overcome vulnerabilities.(publications
from the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies discuss security
measures and issues)(Brief Article)
Total number of pages for this article: 1 FULL TEXT
After the tragedies of September 11, 2001, utilities across the United
States are searching for tools to help them assess, prioritize and
remediate their security vulnerabilities.
To meet the vulnerability assessment and security planning needs of
public wastewater utilities, the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage
Agencies (AMSA) recently released two key security publications -- with
much of the information contained in them applicable to water as well as
wastewater utilities considering security upgrades and alternatives.
AMSA is also completing work on a Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool
(VSAT) -- an easy-to-use software package designed for wastewater
utilities seeking to comprehensively assess their vulnerabilities and
meet the challenges posed by a host of security and crisis situations.
VSAT is due for release in June 2002.
Many of these initiatives have received support from U.S. EPA.
AMSA's Security Publications
AMSA recently released two key security publications that have already
become industry standards.
The first, AMSA's Asset Based Vulnerability Checklist for Wastewater
Utilities, was specifically designed to help utility managers and their
staffs identify and evaluate a wide range of vulnerabilities that could
place their assets -- physical plant, people, knowledge base,
information technology and customers -- in jeopardy.
The Vulnerability Checklist stimulates thought and discussion,
covering key security issues including computer hacking, vandalism and
also more severe crisis situations ranging from terrorist activity to
natural disasters. The Vulnerability Checklist is to some a degree a
foundation or primer for the VSAT security software.
AMSA also released a companion publication to the Vulnerability
Checklist, titled Legal Issues in a Time of Crisis Checklist, which aids
public utility managers and attorneys in identifying the legal
considerations they should assess as they implement protective measures
against terrorism and other crisis events.
The Legal Issues Checklist carries with it the endorsement of former
National Security Advisor for President Clinton Sandy Berger, and goes
in depth into key legal considerations, including maintaining
confidentiality of a vulnerability assessment, employee background
checks, screening, surveillance and other key issues in the post
September 11, 2001 world.
AMSA's Software
AMSA is also pleased to announce that in June 2002 the association
will release its Vulnerability Self Assessment Tool (VSAT) -- an
easy-to-use software package designed for wastewater utilities seeking
to 1) assess their utilities' vulnerabilities; 2) develop priorities
based on cost and feasibility of remediation; and 3) determine potential
solutions for the prioritized vulnerabilities. VSAT offers an invaluable
and unique tool as the nation seeks to protect its critical water and
wastewater infrastructure assets from potential threats.
Details: To learn more about AMSA's security initiatives, visit AMSA's
website at www.amsa-cleanwater.org
and click on the security icon or
visit EPA's informative water/ wastewater security site at
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/security/.
AMSA is a national trade association representing over 270 of the
nation's publicly owned wastewater utilities. AMSA members serve the
majority of the sewered population in the United States and collectively
treat and reclaim over 18 billion gallons of wastewater every day. AMSA
members are environmental practitioners dedicated to protecting and
improving the nation's waters and public health.