Free to Good Home

Before September 11, 2001, not much thought was given to the possibility that terrorists may use radiation to attack facilities and people in the United States. And even if emergency responders thought about the possibility of dirty bombs or nuclear devices being used in their communities, their departments likely couldn't afford new radiation-detection equipment. After 9/11, Kerry Thomas, of the Department of Homeland Security's Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP), and Richard Meehan, from the Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), along with other government officials, were trying to think of innovative steps they could take to get radiation-detection equipment into the hands of the nation's first responders.

     Thomas and Meehan, along with Michael Gresalfi of Oak Ridge National Laboratories, realized there was a large amount of excess equipment available through the downsizing of U.S. energy complexes. The equipment was being disposed of as waste or sold at auction. It occurred to them, Why not place it in the hands of people who can use it?

A Program Is Born
     A 2002 pilot program validated the need for refurbished radiation-detection equipment in the country's 10 largest metropolitan areas. Once that proved successful, the ODP, in coordination with the DoE's Office of Global Threat Reduction and National Center of Excellence for Metals Recycle, kicked off the Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse (HDER) program on September 5, 2002.

     The official goal of the program is to "provide surplus radiological detection instrumentation and other equipment, as well as training and long-term technical support, to emergency responder agencies to enhance their homeland security preparedness capabilities." The District of Columbia Fire Department's Engine Company #6 was the first organization to receive equipment under the program.

     "The equipment is free--we even pay to ship it to those receiving it," explains Thomas, director of information management for the ODP's Technical Assistance and Preparedness Support Division. "We also have a training program so departments know how to use the equipment."

     In order to educate receiving personnel on the equipment they're given, program officials have partnered with the Health Physics Society (HPS), a national organization with chapters all over the country. Members of the HPS have the expertise to answer questions, help departments identify what they should be ordering, check out shipments and teach personnel how to perform basic maintenance on the equipment.

     Meehan identifies the equipment no longer needed to support federal government objectives. It is then shipped to a commercial facility, where each piece is examined to ensure it performs its intended purpose. Once the item passes muster, it is put into inventory.

     This inventory information is passed to Thomas's department, which then advertises the equipment to the 50 states. Appropriate state offices select the equipment they'd like from that list. (Thomas's department is currently working with the governor of each state and territory and the mayor of the District of Columbia to identify specific agencies or points of contact to administer the program at their level.) Once a department is approved to receive the equipment it wants, an authorization order comes back through Thomas' office to Meehan, and the equipment is shipped, along with a CD-ROM training aid.

     A HDER Services Management Tool, which is housed on the Department of Homeland Security's secure portal, has a registered list of people in each state and urban area who have access. These individuals can visit the site and place an order once per quarter on a first-come, first-serve basis. It's all handled electronically, in a secure environment, with a minimum of paperwork. A new list of available equipment is posted every quarter.

     Currently, there are approximately 140 different types of equipment on the list. Some of the items are handheld dose rate meters, electronic pulsers, microrem meters, count rate meters used for contamination surveys, instrument probes (i.e., alpha and gamma scintillation and Geiger-Mueller probes) and pocket ionization chambers.

     Thomas says the goal is to grow the program and eventually offer other types of equipment beyond radiation-detection instrumentation. Recently, for instance, the program offered disposable Tyvek overalls for handling hazardous waste.

     "In our warehouse we may have 250 boxes of them," says Meehan, program manager for the NNSA's Office of Global Threat Reduction. "Some departments want them for training. We also have other items that expire that can enhance the training experience."

     Recently, program officials have identified a need to seek out new partners for program participation. One of their most successful efforts has been with the U.S. Navy, which is in the process of refreshing and updating its handheld radiation-detection equipment. The Navy had budgeted almost half a million dollars to throw out its old items, because certain elements of the detectors are considered hazardous waste. "We said we'd take them off their hands," says Thomas. "That equipment is ideally suited for first responder applications."

"An Impressive Rate of Return"
     What's especially notable about the Homeland Defense Equipment Reuse program is its cost. At a time when homeland security dollars are stretched thin, the program is getting needed equipment into local hands without a lot of expense.

     "We've spent under $700,000 [not counting the pilot program] since the program was rolled out," says Meehan, "and that's an impressive rate of return."

     As of June 30, 32 states and urban areas had placed orders for HDER equipment. A total of 19,925 items (not including pilot project deliveries) have been delivered to states and urban areas. The total value of the items delivered is $7,045,040.

     Two states that have been highly active in this program are Utah and California. Utah has ordered 1,419 items valued at $468,977, and California has ordered 392 items valued at $509,110.

     Bobbie Walton, radiological coordinator for the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services' Radiological Preparedness Unit, believes the program benefits the state.

     "It's raising awareness so people realize they don't have to spend a significant amount of money to get good equipment," she says.

     The majority of equipment received by California's OES has been radiation-detection instruments. Given the fear of dirty bombs, such tools are used by many jurisdictions any time there's an explosion. Walton works with interested cities in the state to determine what they need and get orders placed.

     "Is the program perfect?" she asks. "No. Will it ever be perfect? Probably not. But it is still the best thing I've seen come down the pike that I can remember in recent history."

     Walton wishes more first responders in California were aware of the program. Unfortunately, many still don't know they can get needed equipment for free. Still, she has police, firefighters and EMS providers contacting her office to tell her what they need. She steers them in the right direction. Walton is happy to inform first responders whom their contact is in each state. Phone her at 858/259-2614 for information.

"Good Government"
     With local departments getting lifesaving equipment they need and the federal government avoiding undue waste and expense, the HDER program benefits everyone. "This is good government," says Thomas. "We're leveraging resources already paid for by the taxpayer to further a national priority."

     Adds Meehan: "The HDER program has no red tape. No forms to fill out. No bureaucracy to hassle with. It's a direct assistance program that requires nothing on the part of the ordering organization other than the time to look at the inventory and make an order."

     Questions about the HDER program and requests for additional information may be directed to your ODP program manager or the ODP help line at 800/368-6498.

Vicki Gerson is an award-winning writer and editor with more than 20 years' experience covering a broad range of subjects, including medical and health-related topics. She is the principal of Vicki Gerson and Associates, Inc., a Chicago-based public relations and website-development firm. Contact her through www.vickigerson.com.