[Scan-DC] FW: #3686 General Alert from Arlington County

[Andrew Clegg]

Another Arlington simulated response is planned, this one in Crystal City in
early March (no specific date).

  _____  

> From: msg at arlingtonalert.com
> To: rsan at arlingtonalert.com
> Subject: #3686 General Alert from Arlington County
> Date: Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:00:10 -0500
> 
> There will be a joint Arlington County - Pentagon Force Protection Agency
Test in Crystal City in early March,weather dependent. The Pentagon Force
Protection Agency's Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Explosives
Directorate (PFPA-CBRNE), in cooperation with Arlington County, will conduct
a comprehensive evaluation of a simulated chemical release in an urban area.
This cooperative test - to be conducted in the Crystal City area - will
provide valuable information for both Arlington County and the Pentagon's
response to a chemical attack. 
> 
> The Crystal City Urban Transport Study (CCUTS) will involve releasing a
colorless, odorless, tasteless, and inert tracer gas that poses no health or
safety hazards to people or the environment. Extremely small amounts of
simulants will be released. These tracer gases are used commercially for
leak detection and building ventilation efforts. These same tracer gases
were used in a similar atmospheric study in Manhattan in 2005. The release
of these simulants was approved by the Virginia Department of Environmental
Quality. 
> 
> To evaluate the airflows in an urban environment, a number of sample
collectors will be placed throughout Crystal City and inside some buildings
and parking lots. The samplers are roughly the size of a tool box, battery
operated, and very quiet. Some outdoor samplers will be mounted on light
poles in baskets while others will be placed on the ground. A few samplers
will be placed within office buildings in common areas such as elevator
lobbies. All test equipment will be clearly marked with PFPA and Arlington
County contact information (in Spanish and English). Test equipment should
not be touched or moved. Arlington County and Pentagon personnel will be in
the area during testing. 
> 
> Two days of testing are planned. Each test should last less than six
hours. The first two weeks of March are the target timeframe for this
weather-dependant event. Final notifications will be made after the specific
test days are confirmed. 
> 
> There will be no impact to normal activity for any occupants of the test
area. In fact, people in the vicinity of the test will generally be unaware
of testing activities. 
> 
> If you have questions about any package or person that looks suspicious,
please inform an on-site uniformed Arlington County or Pentagon Force
Protection Agency officer immediately. Direct all questions to Arlington
County at (703) 558-2222 or PFPA-CBRNE at (703) 614-2555. dlp/oem
> 
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