The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency mid-Atlantic region will hold its annual emergency preparedness and prevention conference at the Wyndham Franklin Plaza Hotel in Philadelphia on December 5-8.

The conference theme this year is “Partners in Preserving Liberty” stressing cooperation in counter-terrorism, emergency response preparedness and chemical safety.

The keynote speaker will be Rob “Waldo” Waldman, a former decorated U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, leadership consultant and author. Waldo will speak on the importance of preparation and teamwork in accomplishing your mission.

Other featured speakers include:
• Edward G. Rendell, governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (invited)
• John F. Street, mayor of Philadelphia (invited)
• Donald S. Welsh, regional administrator, U.S. EPA mid-Atlantic
• John S. Bresland, member, U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

This will be one of the nation's largest gatherings of emergency planners and responders. More than 1,500 emergency planners and managers, first response personnel, community leaders, emergency medical providers and industry representatives will learn the best ways to plan, prepare, and prevent accidental hazardous materials incidents and to combat security threats.

The mission of the conference is to provide national forum where police and fire personnel, local emergency managers, planners and representatives from the environmental, transportation, utilities and medical fields come together to learn the latest techniques, trends and technologies in emergency preparedness and response.

Workshop topics include: Reducing your vulnerability to terrorist attacks, Chemical fires, Disaster management and emergency response, Myth, fantasy and weapons of mass destruction, Explosives and their tactical use by terrorists.

The four-day conference is sponsored by EPA's mid-Atlantic region. Further conference information can be obtained by calling the registration hotline at 800-364-7974.

12/3/2004