US DOE storm-response office making significant progress: Report

Washington (Platts)--17Jul2006

The US Department of Energy office responsible for responding to
hurricane-related damage to energy infrastructure has made "significant
progress" preparing for another storm season, including taking steps to deploy
response teams, identifying in advance emergency supplies and improving
communications in general, DOE's inspector general said Monday.

With the 2006 hurricane system under way, IG Gregory Friedman said his
office examined for a second time the Office of Electricity Delivery and
Energy Reliability's response to hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005,
including recommendations the IG made following the first review.

Despite the favorable assessment, Friedman said his office found still
further action the energy reliability office could take to prepare for a
hurricane, including making sure the office has checked all DOE operations for
portable generators and other equipment that could be used in an emergency.

The IG said the report is part of a broader inquiry by his office into
DOE's emergency response capabilities. It is also considering the department's
use of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in response to in 2005's hurricanes.

The report (DOE/IE-0733) is available at www.ig.doe.gov.

For more news about hurricane preparedness, read the Platts feature at
http://www.platts.com/Resources/specialreport/.


 

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