WWW.USDOJ.GOV

WASHINGTON, D.C. - "TOPOFF," a Congressionally-mandated counterterrorism exercise has commenced in Denver, Colorado. It was announced earlier today that the exercise has already begun in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This exercise is being conducted by the Department of Justice and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with the participation of other federal agencies. Mayors, city managers, state governors and local and state personnel will be key participants and play active roles throughout the exercise.

In 1998, Congress directed the Attorney General and the Director of FEMA to undertake an exercise that involves all key personnel -- federal agency personnel and state and local emergency responders, including law enforcement, fire and emergency medical personnel -- who would participate in the crisis and consequence management of a domestic weapons of mass destruction terrorist attack.

The goal of the exercise, called "TOPOFF" because of the involvement of top officials, is to assess the nation's crisis and consequence management capacity under extraordinarily stressful conditions. Consistent with legislative recommendations, the TOPOFF exercise will simulate a chemical and a biological attack. The exercise consists of a combination of weapons of mass destruction incidents, but there will be no release of any actual weapons or agents.

The exercise will take place over a 10-day period.

This advisory is intended to alert the public and press that the exercise has begun and that activities that may be seen are part of exercise play and are not real.

National contacts:

Gina Talamona, DOJ, 202-514-2007

Mary Margaret Walker, FEMA, 202-646-3892

Denver contacts:

Chris Watney, DOJ, cell, 202-353-5232

Don Jacks, FEMA , cell, 202-236-1403

Local: Sheriff Pat J. Sullivan, Jr. 303-734-5101

Tommy Grier, Colorado Office of Emergency Management 303-273-1622

Portsmouth contacts:

Doug Johnson, DOJ, cell, 202-353-5610 or pager 888-582-6750

Mike Beeman, FEMA, cell, 917-678-1162

Local: Jim Van Dongen, New Hampshire Office of

Emergency Management office, 603-271-2231, cell 603-419-9057,

or pager, 603-639-6920

00-284