EPA‛s Environmental Technology 

Verification Program for 

Homeland Security 

EPA‛s Environmental Technology

Verification Program for

Homeland Security

Centers 

Water Security 

ETV Advanced 

Monitoring Systems

Center Battelle 

ETV Drinking Water 

Systems Center

NSF International 

ETV Water Quality

Protection Center 

NSF International 

Safe Buildings 

ETV Safe Buildings

Monitoring and Detection 

Technology

Battelle 

ETV Safe Buildings Air 

Filtration and Cleaning

Technology

Research Triangle Institute 

ETV Building

Decontamination 

Technology Center

Battelle 

ETV‛s Important Role in Homeland Security Technology 

Verifications 

As everyone is aware, the events of September 11, 2001 have placed homeland 

security at the forefront of our nation’s priorities. The U.S. Environmental Protection 

Agency (EPA) is engaged in identifying and filling data and informational gaps about 

technology performance with our sister agencies and departments, including the 

Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As part of EPA’s effort, the Environmental 

Technology Verification (ETV) Program is verifying the performance of commercially 

available technologies for protecting and maintaining the security of drinking water 

and for keeping buildings and indoor environments safe. ETV is testing technologies 

that can be used to: monitor the quality of the nation’s drinking water systems 

and supplies, monitor indoor environments in buildings, and clean up building 

contamination from intentional acts. In 2003, ETV completed 17 verifications of these 

technologies. In 2004, 40 more ETV homeland security verifications are expected. 

Water Security 

The Office of Research and Development’s (ORD) National Homeland Security 

Research Center (NHSRC) and the Office of Water (OW) are working collaboratively 

on technology verification efforts to support the needs of the nation’s water system 

operators. Under a funding agreement with OW, two ETV technology verification 

organizations are developing test plans and testing technologies related to ensuring the 

safety and security of water systems and supplies. 

Battelle, which manages the ETV Advanced Monitoring Systems Center, is developing 

test plans and testing technologies for the detection of chemical and biological warfare 

agents that may be introduced into drinking water. During 2003, six cyanide detection 

and eight rapid toxicity detection technologies were verified (http://www.epa.gov/ 

etv/verifications/verification-index.html). In 2004, immunoassay test kits and rapid 

polymerase chain reaction (PRC) technologies will be verified using similar type threat 

agents. 

NSF International, which manages the ETV Drinking Water Systems and the Water 

Quality Protection Centers, is developing test plans and testing technologies for pointof-use (POU) treatment of biological and chemical contaminants, and for technologies 

that treat wastewater resulting from the decontamination of buildings. In 2004, several 

reverse osmosis-based POU technologies and a decontamination treatment system are 

being verified. Both types, drinking water and decontamination wastewater treatment 

systems, are being challenged with chemical and biological agents or their surrogates. 
Safe Buildings 

Buildings that house the nation’s workforce and public meeting places may be targets 

of future terrorist attacks. They represent locations where hundreds or thousands of 

people congregate for employment, recreation, transportation, shopping or education 

during a typical day. Two ETV technology verification organizations are developing 

test plans and testing technologies for monitoring, measuring, detecting, and 

decontaminating chemical and biological warfare agents introduced into buildings and 

other structures. 

Research Triangle Institute (RTI) is developing test plans and testing technologies 

used for cleaning building ventilation air. In 2003, verifications for three air filters 

were finalized and seven more will be completed in 2004 (http://www.epa.gov/etv/ 

verifications/verification-index.html). Other air cleaning devices, including those 

based on ultraviolet light are expected to be tested in 2004. 

Battelle is testing technologies used for monitoring, measuring and detecting 

contaminants in indoor air and on surfaces, as well as testing decontamination 

technologies for buildings. In 2004, Battelle will complete verifications of an air and 

surface detection technology (ion mobility spectrometer) and three decontamination 

technologies (systems based on hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide or formaldehyde). 

Participation of Stakeholders and Technical Experts Participation of Stakeholders and Technical Experts

Each of the ETV technology verification organizations works closely with stakeholder 

groups to ensure that the most up-to-date information and expertise are used in 

verification efforts. The stakeholders include representatives from the myriad user 

communities, as well as technical experts whose skills can be brought to bear on 

developing the verification design and on evaluating performance data. 

Schedule 

The technology verification organizations are charged with implementing “rapid” 

verification. Verifications are completed in six months from the time the vendors agree 

to participate. Completing the process culminates in an Environmental Technology 

Verification Report and a signed Verification Statement for each participating 

technology. Vendors may use these to market their technologies; purchasers, such as 

water utilities and first responders, may use them to make decisions to purchase these 

technologies. 

ETV Web Site 

http://www.epa.gov/etv

 Center 

Managers 

Water Security 

ETV Advanced 

Monitoring Systems

Center 

Robert Fuerst, EPA, 

919-541-2220 

Karen Riggs, Battelle, 

614-424-7379 

ETV Drinking Water 

Systems Center

Jeff Adams, EPA, 

513-569-7835 

Bruce Bartley, NSF, 

734-769-5148 

ETV Water Quality

Protection Center 

Ray Frederick, EPA, 

732-321-6627 

Tom Stevens, NSF, 

734-769-5347 

Safe Buildings 

ETV Safe Buildings

Monitoring and

Detection Technology

Eric Koglin, EPA, 

702-798-2332 

Tom Kelly, Battelle, 

614-424-3495 

ETV Safe Buildings Air 

Filtration and Cleaning

Technology

Bruce Henschel, EPA, 

919-541-4112 

David Ensor, RTI, 

919-541-6735 

ETV Building

Decontamination 

Technology Center

John Chang, EPA, 

919-541-3734 

Michael Taylor, Battelle, 

513-362-2605 

ETV Homeland Security

Coordinator 

Eric Koglin, EPA, 

702-798-2332 

EPA/600/F-04/016 Recycled/Recyclable

Printed with vegetable-based ink on

paper that contains a minimum of

50% post-consumer fiber content 

processed chlorine free. 

January 2004