April 15, 2003
Jean Edouard
Director of Education and Training
NY State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-5062

Dear Jean:

Attached is a proposed four-day curriculum for the Weapons of Mass Destruction
(WMD) Training which the Hunter College Center for Occupational and Environmental
Health proposes to undertake during the 2003-2004 academic year, based on an NIEHS
grant for which the Center is applying as a longtime partner in the NJ/NY Hazardous
Waste Workers Training Consortium (NIEHS Notice NOT-ES-03-008, Due Date: April
25). The eight million dollars in supplementary funds available from NIEHS for this
WMD training is available only to participants in an already existing Hazwaste Training
Consortia.

The proposed curriculum is a modular three-day course, with one day each devoted to
WMD Chemical, Biological and Radiological Hazards, followed by a single, final day
devoted to a Train-the-Trainers module. This curriculum should be viewed as a draft
curriculum, and can be changed to meet the specific needs of the DEC. We propose to
have two trainers with expertise in the modular area being presented for each of the four
days. Among the faculty for this course will be:
= Dr. David Kotelchuck, CIH (WMD Chemical and Radiological Hazards),
Hunter IH faculty, COEH Center Director;
= Dr. Jack Caravanos, DrPH, CIH, CSP (WMD Chemical and Biological
Hazards), Hunter IH Director, Co-Director of Hunter Program in
Bioterrorism Preparedness for Laboratory Personnel;
= William Wallace, MS (WMD Chemical and Radiological Hazards),
Hunter IH adjunct faculty, Director Office of Environmental
Investigations, NYC Dept. of Health, who will lecture in this course in his
capacity as a private consultant
= Andrew Burgie, MS, Director of the Hunter Hazardous Waste Training
Project, who will train and assist in each of the three WMD training areas
= Philip Hauck, MS, CIH (WMD Chemical and Biological Hazards), Env.
Health and Safety officer, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, and adjunct faculty
member in the Hunter Program in Bioterrorism Preparedness for


Laboratory Personnel. He will lecture in this course in his capacity as a
private consultant.

The one-day Train-the-Trainers module will be taught by Dr. Kotelchuck or Dr.
Caravanos, both senior faculty members at Hunter College, with Mr. Burgie, the chief
trainer for the Hunter Hazwaste Training project. A course manual for covering each of
the three WMD training areas, as well as a Train-the-Trainers supplementary manual,
will be developed by Drs. Kotelchuck and Caravanos and Mr. Burgie during this Summer
(2003), using funds currently available at the Hunter COEH Center (in anticipation of
receiving the federal grant) so that training at the DEC and for the other open enrollment
courses planned in NYC can begin after Sept. 1 of this year, when approved NIEHS
funds will be available.

Hunter proposes to deliver two to three Train-the-Trainer courses to the NYSDEC after
September 1, 2003 at no cost to the DEC, if the proposed NIEHS training grant is
approved. The locations of these training sessions within NYS will be determined by the
DEC.

This course will differ significantly from the one-day refresher courses currently offered
to the DEC, since Hunter expects to provide SCBA respirators and Level A and B
training suits and to use them for the WMD training at each of the Train-the-Trainer
sessions. This equipment is currently available at Hunter College, and funds for its
shipping and associated administrative costs will be part of the NIEHS funding
application. Because of the need for equipment and its use in each of the three WMD
modules, it is desired that no more than 20 DEC persons attend any training module. Also
each module will involve two professionals, one a senior professional with demonstrated
expertise in the WMD training area, and the other Mr. Burgie, whose presence at all four
class sessions will provide a continuity for the all participants.

We hope this proposed curriculum, with modifications based on further discussions
between Hunter and DEC staff, sufficiently meets the needs of the DEC so that it would
be willing to send in a letter of support for this Hunter grant application. The letter of
support from NYSDEC does not constitute a binding commitment by DEC to participate
in the Hunter WMD Training program, if funded, but rather is a letter of intent that DEC
plans to participate in the program as outlined in the grant proposal.

Because of the supplementary nature of this federal funding, it was publicly announced
only on March 24, 2003, with an application deadline of April 25, 2003. Thus, for
reasons beyond Hunter’s control, it is necessary that we have a letter of support regarding
this program by April 21, 2003.

We regret the need to ask NYSDEC for such an early decision, before it perhaps has had
a full chance to consider all of its needs and options. But this funding represents a one-
time-only chance to apply for and receive such funds, and presents many favorable
options to both Hunter and DEC. Certainly the association between Hunter and the DEC
in hazardous waste and emergency response training goes back many years, and has been


a mutually beneficial one. We hope that this association can continue as this nation and
our state begins to cope with new health and safety problems and training needs.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to email me with them at
dkotelch@hunter.cuny.edu or call me at 212-481-4357.

Sincerely,

Dr. David Kotelchuck, CIH
Assoc. Professor and Director, Hunter College Center for
Occupational and Environmental Health.

Cc: Jason Corburn, Assoc. Director, COEH
Andrew Burgie


Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Train-the Trainer Course
(Curriculum for Modular 4-day Course)

Day 1: Introduction and WMD Chemical Hazards

9-10 am Introduction to WMD Training
-- Types of WMD Hazards: Chemical, Biological and Radiological
-- Broad introduction to toxicology, routes of entry, symptoms for WMD

types
-- Broad introduction to control measures
10-10:15 Discussion and questions re the goals of this training
10:15-10:30 Break
WMD CHEMICAL HAZARDS

10:30-11:10 Introduction to WMD Chemical Hazards
-- Typically acute exposures and effects
-- Types of WMD Chemical Hazards:
e Pulmonary Damage (Arsine, Phosgene)
e Neurological Damage (Nerve Gases: Sarin, VX)
e Blistering Agents (Phosgene)
e Cellular Poisons (Ricin)
-- Symptoms and Clinical Prognosis
-- Review of previous WMD chemical incidents (WWI, Tokyo, Iraq)
11:10-11:40 Tabletop exercises using and interpreting MSDS's for Arsine, Phosgene
and Sarin
11:40-12 Review of DEC Agency procedures for responding to known or suspected
chemical hazards, including WMD chemical hazards

12-1 LUNCH BREAK

1-1:20 Respiratory protection for WMD chemical agents
-- Atmosphere-Supplying Respirators needed: SCBA's and emergency
escape respirators
-- Lecture and Hands-on Workshop with demonstrations of SCBA's and
emergency escape respirators
1:20-2:15 Checkout and operation of SCBA's and emergency escape packs
-- Participants wear and fit test SCBA's and emergency escape packs
2:15-2:45 Other Personal Protection Equipment
-- EPA Levels of Protection A, B, C and D
-- Why A and B are necessary for chemical WMD
2:45-3 Break
3-4:45 Full Level B Dress-out (Note DEC may wish to make the dress-out and
even the wearing of the respirator optional for participants based on their
job responsibilities. Also some will be excused based on findings in the
Agency's annual medical examination.)
4:45-5 Evaluation and suggestions for Day 2


Day 2: WMD BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

9-10 am

10-10:45

10:45-11
11-11:30

11:30-12

12-1

1-1:30

1:30-2:15

2:15-3

3-3:15
3:15-4:30

4:30-4:45

Introduction to WMD Biological Hazards

-- Types of WMD Biological Hazards: CDC Categories A and B

-- Modes of transmission

-- Delayed onset of diseases

-- Symptoms, Prognosis, Treatment

-- Psychological Effects

Case Study Review of 2002 Anthrax Outbreak in U.S.

-- Health effects and transmission

--Routes of entry

-- Agency responses and lessons learned

Break

Review of DEC, federal and State procedures if outbreak known or
suspected

Effective Health Communication to Calm Public Fears

LUNCH BREAK

Control measures for different biological agents

-- Key: No universal procedures or protocols

Respiratory protection for infectious diseases and specific biological
agents (lecture plus hands-on)

Levels of protection for biological agents: EPA Levels A and B

Break

Case Study Review: Smallpox outbreaks and controls

-- Sources of disease, symptoms, treatment

-- Review recent U.S. voluntary vaccination program

-- Possible future outbreaks

Evaluation and suggestions


Day 3: WMD RADIOLOGICAL HAZARDS

9-9:45

9:45-10:30

10:30-10:45
10:45-12

12-1

1-2

2-3

3-3:15

3:15-3:45

3:45-4
4-4:30

4:30-5

Review of Ionizing Radiation and its Effects

-- Types of ionizing radiation:

-- Penetrating power of various types of radiation

-- Acute and chronic health effects, LD 50/30

OSHA and NRC jurisdictions and radiation health standards

-- Introductions to units of radiation measurement: rems, rads, Curies

Break

Workshop on radiation measuring equipment

--Demonstrate and use Ludlum radiation meters

-- Other types of meters: Portable GM counters, scintillation counters,
personal radiation badges

-- Participant exercises in using this radiation equipment

Lunch Break

"Dirty Bombs"

-- What are they?

-- Potential for harm

-- Can these be made from hospital and laboratory radiation sources?

Protective Measures

-- Time, Distance, Shielding

-- Different types of shielding for different types of radiation particles

Break

Other types of WMD radiological weapons

-- "Suitcase" bombs, nuclear warheads munitions, nuclear bombs

Counteracting fear in the community

Course review: Chemical, Biological and Radiological weapons and
controls

Course Evaluation for past three days, and follow-up discussion


Day 4: Train-the-Trainers

9-10:30

10:30-10:45
10:45-12

12-1

2-3

3-3:15
3:15-4:15

4:15-5

Review of Training Manual and Powerpoint presentation (provided by
Hunter) for each of the three WMD Training areas (1/2 hour each):

= Chemical

= Biological and

= Radiological
Break
Break up into three smaller groups (WMD Chemical, Biological and
Radiological) and each prepares three different 10 minute talks on topics
of their choice within their WMD category, using the provided manual and
Powerpoint presentations as resources

Lunch Break

Three 10 minute presentations by candidate trainers on WMD Chemical
Hazards, each followed by a collegial 10 minute group discussion
on content and style of presentation

Three 10 minute presentations by candidate trainers on WMD Biological
Hazards, each followed by a collegial 10 minute group discussion

Break

Three 10 minute presentations by candidate trainers on WMD Radio-
logical Hazards, each followed by a collegial 10 minute group
discussion

Group discussion on presentations as a whole, and recommendations for

further resources (additional training, materials) needed by candidate

trainers