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3 <br /> * Draft Press Release* <br /> April 3, 2002 <br /> Conference to Initiate Regional Planning for Terrorism <br /> Hillsborough - The Orange and Chatham County Boards of Commissioners announced <br /> last night that they will initiate a regional effort to address emergency planning and <br /> other aspects of risks related to possible terrorism in the Triangle area. A conference <br /> will be held at 7pm on May 2nd at the William Friday Center in Chapel Hill. <br /> Since September 11th, there have been broad efforts across the nation to rethink <br /> security and planning strategies for emergencies caused by terrorism. A number of <br /> discussions between local emergency management officials in the Triangle have <br /> identified serious shortcomings in the present capacity to manage a regional <br /> emergency stemming from a nuclear, biological or chemical attack, or an attack on the <br /> Shearon Harris nuclear power facility. The conference represents the initiation of a <br /> systematic regional approach to improving emergency planning in the event of a <br /> terrorist attack, and to identify opportunities to minimize or eliminate risks wherever <br /> possible. <br /> Orange and Chatham officials believe that initially focusing on an event with the largest <br /> potential impact - an atmospheric release of radioactive material from the Harris facility <br /> -will facilitate the process of adapting regional strategies for multi-hazard emergencies <br /> with the greatest potential for the loss of life and property. The conference will feature <br /> regional emergency response officials and nationally prominent experts in the field <br /> of nuclear risks. <br /> The importance of addressing regional risks and emergency planning was heightened <br /> by FBI warnings in January that terrorists might be planning to attack U.S. nuclear <br /> plants. Also, on March 12th it was revealed that federal officials knew in 1995, but did <br /> not notify the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, that al-Qaeda operatives were <br /> threatening nuclear plants. <br /> In addition to state and local elected officials and emergency management personnel, <br /> the conference will call together others in related fields, including medical, public health, <br /> human services, and transportation. In addition, other stakeholders, such as leaders of <br /> educational institutions, will be invited to participate, as will officials from Carolina <br /> Power& Light, which operates the Harris nuclear plant, located on the southern edge <br /> of the Triangle. The general public will also be invited to attend and participate. <br />