Release Date: January 30, 2008

Pittsburgh — For the second consecutive year, the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) has received an Excellence in Environment, Security, Safety, and Health (ESSH) Award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy. The awards are presented annually at a competitive event held by the Office of Fossil Energy.

NETL captured the award in the emergency management category for a project that establishes seamless cooperation between NETL sites in Pittsburgh, Pa., Morgantown, W. Va., and Albany, Ore., and emergency officials in surrounding counties. The counties involved were Allegheny County, Pa., Monongalia County, W.Va., and Linn County, Ore. Each of the three sites contains and manages hazardous materials in compliance with national standards.

NETL’s emergency management team developed a consistent method to inform the public in case of an emergency. The team provided training to county officials, NETL management, and NETL employees; shared information with county officials to establish joint information centers; and assembled kits—including computers, projectors, and NETL-specific information—to aid emergency personnel in the centers. The centers can now be used to disseminate timely and accurate emergency bulletins, as well as preventative information and county health department announcements.

The competitive award required a nomination package, a presentation to a Office of Fossil Energy judging committee, and project defense during a question-and-answer session. Members of the award-winning NETL team were David Anna, Jeff Buterbaugh, Mike Hospodar, Lee Jensen, Cynthia Mullens, and Jerry Simkonis.