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EPA Undermining BioWatch Program, Report Says
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is failing to meet its responsibilities under the federal BioWatch program, potentially reducing the likelihood that the system would detect a release of a biological agent in a city, according to a internal report released yesterday (see GSN, March 3). The federal government has spent more than $200 million to place air monitors in at least 30 cities, including Boston, Chicago, New York and Washington, the New York Times reported. The monitors are intended to detect the spread of anthrax or other pathogens within 36 hours of release, allowing for a faster response by emergency personnel. However, EPA Inspector General Nikki Tinsley found that some air monitors have been placed too high, too low or too close to airflow obstructions. Some monitors are too spread out to detect an attack or are installed in locations that leave them vulnerable to tampering, the Times reported. There is no system to assure the equipment is being checked, and some monitors are incorrectly calibrated due to maintenance mistakes, the report states. “The failure of EPA to completely fulfill its responsibilities raises uncertainty about the ability of the BioWatch program to detect a biological attack,” the report states (Eric Lipton, New York Times, March 25). BioWatch is funded and overseen by the Homeland Security Department, with operational support from other agencies, the Associated Press reported. The Environmental Protection Agency is already making improvements in the system similar to those recommended in Tinsley’s report, said Jeffrey Holmstead, EPA assistant administrator in charge of air quality (John Heilprin, Associated Press/Yahoo!News, March 24).
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