|
Q: What does the acronym PEAC stand for?
A: Palmtop Emergency Action
for Chemical. PEAC is
pronounced PĒĒK as in mountain peak.
Q: Does the PEAC software function on the Palm OS?
A: It is not compatible with the Palm OS. It functions on a Pocket PC platform using
Windows CE as the OS.
Q: What is a Pocket PC?
A: A Pocket PC is a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) that runs the Microsoft Windows
CE operating system (OS) that is referred to as the Windows Pocket PC Operating System.
There are several manufacturers that sell hardware platforms running this OS, e.g.,
Hewlett-Packard/Compaq, Casio, Dell, Toshiba, Symbol Technologies, and others. The
Pocket PC OS is different the Palm OS and therefore the PEAC-WMD software application
will not execute on the Palm OS based platforms.
Q: What is the price of the PEAC software?
A: There are two different versions of the software each with a different price structure.
We offer multiple-user purchase discounts for each version as well. There is also
a site license price structure. Because of the different variables involved it would
be hard to list the price here. Please contact us for further information.
Q: What is the definition of a site license?
A: A site license is designed for those facilities that have multiple users located
within that facility or place of business and applies only to the Windows version
of the PEAC WMD application. Another situation is where a master copy is loaded on
a central server and users access the master copy via a LAN. In these situations AristaTek
is dealing with one person to complete all the installation and technical support
issues for the installation.
Q: What is the definition of a multi-user license?
A: A multi-user license applies to either the Windows or the Pocket PC version of
the software. It provides a discount structure where individuals will be using the
application on separate PCs or Pocket PCs separate from a single facility. It allows
the organization, whether a municipality, state, or company to purchase individual
copies for their user base and gain a discount because of the higher volume purchase.
Q: Can the software be purchased using Department of Justice or FEMA grant
monies?
A: Yes -
Fiscal Year 2003 Authorized Equipment List
4. Interoperable Communications Equipment - Equipment and systems providing connectivity
and electrical interoperability between local and interagency organizations to coordinate
WMD response operations:
Land Mobile,
Two-Way In-Suit Communications (secure, hands-free, fully duplex, optional)
Personnel Alert Safety System (PASS) - (location and physiological monitoring systems
optional)
Personnel Accountability Systems Individual/portable radios, software radios, portable
repeaters, radio interconnect systems, satellite phones, batteries, chargers and battery
conditioning systems
Computer systems designated for use in an integrated system to assist with detection
and communication efforts (must be linked with integrated software packages designed
specifically for chemical and/or biological agent detection and communication purposes)
Portable Meteorological Station (monitors temperature, wind speed, wind direction
and barometric pressure at a minimum)
Computer aided dispatch system
Commercially available crisis management software
Mobile Display Terminals
Q: Can we overlay the model onto a map?
A: No. The major issue is the size of the screen on the Pocket PC. It is small enough
that the model and the map overlay would not be helpful.
Q: What are your sources?
A: All of the following references are in the public domain.
1. NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. June 1997. CD-ROM version 1999. U.S. Department
of Health and Public Services, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
Washington, D.C.
Comment: All of the chemical listings in the 1997 NIOSH pocket guide are in the PEAC
tool. The respirator information listed in the NIOSH pocket guide is in the PEAC tool.
2. 1996 North American Emergency Response Guidebook (96NAERG). Transport Canada, Ottawa,
Ontario; U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.; and Secretarìa de Communicaciones
y Transportes, Mexico.
Comment: The PEAC version offered prior to mid-2000 was based on the 1996 document.
The PEAC version after mid-2000 has been updated to include all of the listings in
the 2000 Emergency Response Guidebook including the revised protective action distances
and UN guide numbers.
3. 2000 Emergency Response Guidebook. (ERG2000) Transport Canada, Ottawa, Ontario;
U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D.C.; and Secretarìa de Communicaciones
y Transportes, Mexico. (on CD-ROM)
Comment: The 2000 document differs from the 1996 document in that many new chemical
entries have been added including chemical warfare agents, some emergency response
guide numbers have been changed, and the initial isolation zone and protective action
distances for almost all chemicals have been changed. PEAC units sold after mid-2000
reflects the 2000 document.
4. 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 172, Hazardous Materials Table. Internet site www.access.gpo.gov/nara.
Comment: This source links hazardous chemicals with UN Numbers and hazardous material
shipping codes, including military explosives.
5. National Fire Protection Association, Fire Protection Guide to Hazardous Materials,
11th edition, 1994. NFPA, Quincy MA.
Comment: The chemical physical properties have been checked against the values in
this document, and NFPA designations added.
6. Chemical Hazards Response Information System, U.S. Department of Transportation
and U.S. Coast Guard, 1991, Washington D.C.
Comment: The PEAC tool chemical entries have been checked against the values in this
document, and additional chemicals added. The CAMEO emergency response software (1999
version) used this Coast Guide reference extensively as their source document.
7. CAMEO. August 1999 (on CD-ROM). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington
D.C. and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA.
Comment: This is another source of listings of chemicals and chemical properties including
NFPA designations in the PEAC tool.
8. DOD-supplied information for chemical warfare agents and precursors.
Comment: Information learned as the result of the 1999 AristaTek contract with the
Department of Defense was checked against information in the public domain. Only information
in the public domain has been incorporated into the PEAC tool.
9. Internet Source: ChemFinder. (www.chemfinder.com).
Comment: This Internet source is another check for physical and safety data. It also
provides links to sites for MSDS information and NFPA designations.
10. Material Safety Data Sheets for specific chemicals
Comment: Obtained from Internet sources, including links through ChemFinder. Internet
sites include: (1) http://ntp-db.nieh.nil.gov/NTP_Reports/NTP_Chem_H&S/ (2) http://mail.odsnet.com,
(3) Messer MG Industries at http://www.mgindustries.com/msds,
and (4) other sources. There were also a number of Internet sources in the public
domain that were consulted for chemical warfare agents and their precursors.
11. NFPA designations
Comment: Besides the sources already listed, NFPA designations were obtained from
(1) www.orcbs.mus.edu/chemical/nfpa/ and
(2) www.genfo.com/cgi-bin/cll-search.cgi?mat=&cas=[put CAS
number here]. Other web sites were examined through links with ChemFinder.
12. Lide, D. (editor). Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 75th edition, 1996. CRC
Press, Boca Raton, Florida.
Comment: This and the next two references were consulted for chemical physical properties.
13. Dean, John (editor). Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, either 12th (1979) or14th
(1992) editions, McGraw Hill, N.Y., N.Y.
14. Perry, R.H. and C.H. Chilton. Chemical Engineers Handbook. 5th edition, 1963.
McGraw Hill, N.Y., N.Y.
15. Daulert, T.E. and R.P. Danner. Physical and Chemical Properties of Pure Chemicals.
1992. Hemishere Publishing Company, Washington D.C.
Comment: This reference was not generally consulted except to look up selected physical
property information for a few chemicals not available from other sources.
16. National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Secretary of Commerce. NTIS
Chemistry Webbook. 1998. Available on Internet at http://webbook.nist.gov/chemistry/ or
through link to the ChemFinder web site.
17. Budavari, Susan (editor). The Merck Index. 12th Edition. 1996. Merck and Company.
Whitehouse Station, N.J.
18. American Industrial Hygiene Association. Emergency Response Planning Guidelines
for Chemicals. 1999.
Comment: Chemicals are listed with ERPG-1, ERPG-2, and ERPG-3 values. The AIHA adds
about 6 to 10 new chemicals per year to that list, with almost 100 chemicals listed
as of the year 2000. Occasionally previously published listings are revised.
19. Craig, D.K., J.S. Davis, D.J. Hansen, A.J. Petrocchi, T.J. Powel, and T.E. Tuccinardi,
Jr., 2000. "Derivation of Temporary Emergency Exposure Limits (TEELs). Journal of
Applied Toxicology 20 11-2
Comment: The U.S. DOE has derived TEEL numbers for about 1200 chemicals to serve as
temporary values until AIHA publishes ERPG-1, ERPG-2, and ERPG-3. They are primarily
intended for DOE and DOE contractors for determining siting distances from locations
where chemicals are stored or used. The list is in the SCAPA website (http://www.scapa.bnl.gov/teels.htm).
As of January 2001, only a very small number of chemicals have been assigned TEEL
numbers in the PEAC tool.
20. Waste Types 1 through 100 (UN numbers 9301 through 9400).
Comment: The North American Emergency Response Guidebooks (both 1996 and 2000 editions)
lists UN numbers 9301 through 9400 for Waste Types 1 through 100. These are Canadian
designations. The meaning of these designations has been incorporated into the PEAC
tool using information supplied to AristaTek FAXED from Transport Canada.
21. Forsberg, K., and L.H. Keith. Chemical Protective Clothing: Permeation and Degradation
Compendium. 1995. Lewis Publishers, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Fl.
Comment: Permission was obtained from the publisher to incorporate information on
chemical protective clothing into the PEAC tool.
22. Principals of Foam Fire Fighting ed. M. Wieder, C.M. Smith, and C. Brakhage. 1996.
First Edition. Oklahoma State University, Stillwater OK.
Comment: Foam fire fighting calculations were in the Newton version of the PEAC tool.
Q: How does PEAC compare to Cameo, D2PC?
A. D2PC is a modeling software application developed by the US Army; it is not currently
available in the public domain. The application runs in a DOS environment.
CAMEO is the software application developed by the US EPA and NOAA. It is available
free of charge from EPA and can be downloaded from their web site. CAMEO has some
features similar to the PEAC WMD application. Specifically it has: (1) a chemical
properties database, (2) a generic chemical protective clothing database which means
that generic materials are provided, not specific manufacturers' products with breakthrough
times, and (3) it has a modeling feature (the ALOHA) model that has an interface similar
to the PEAC WMD modeling interface. The CAMEO application is also used by EPA as a
method for LEPCs (Local Emergency Planning Committees) to enter local chemical inventories
to meet the requirements of the SARA Title III regulations. The CAMEO product compliments
the PEAC WMD tool since CAMEO is designed to be a planning tool, not a response tool.
CAMEO deals primarily with TICs (toxic industrial chemicals) and does not provide
information on chemical warfare agents and their precursors, bio-agents, radioactive
isotopes or explosives. It does not provide access to the ATF vehicle bomb tables
or an Explosion Calculator, and runs in a Windows 95+ environment but not on a PDA.
|