Research Highlights

Support for Environmental Rapid Risk Assessment (SERRA)

EPA is developing the Support for Environmental Rapid Risk Assessment (SERRA) database to accelerate the risk assessment process and to support emergency response. SERRA is also referred to as a “knowledge base” because it contains an extensive compilation of scientific information designed to assist in managing, cleaning up, and mitigating hazards in the aftermath of a terrorist event. EPA designed this database for use by decision makers, scientists, and emergency personnel.

SERRA was developed by EPA to meet several of its directives to support homeland security and environmental remediation. Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPD) 7 and 9 designate EPA as the lead agency for protecting water resources and direct EPA to develop a surveillance and monitoring program to provide early warning in the event of a terrorist attack. HSPD 10 assigns EPA a lead role in the decontamination of sites following attacks with biological agents. It also reinforces EPA’s long-standing responsibility for environmental restoration, designated by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act.

SERRA Categories

SERRA includes nine major categories of information. Categories are sometimes referred to as nodes in the SERRA knowledge base. Each of the categories has approximately 10 to 20 subcategories of information.

General Information
Disease Characteristics and Host Interaction
Disease Transmission
Dose-Response Information
Prophylaxis and Treatment
Risk Assessment Techniques
Agent Delivery, Transport, and Fate
Inactivation, Decontamination, and Remediation
Personal Protection

Information Included in SERRA

Thousands of documents are reviewed by scientists, who evaluate the information for accuracy, appropriateness, and relevance for ultimate inclusion into the SERRA knowledge base.

Compiled information from the literature reviews is available for viewing within these categories and subcategories. The information in SERRA can be reviewed for a specific agent of interest (e.g., Bacillus anthracis) under the browse function; categories of information for all available agents can be reviewed under the Search function.

Within subcategories, information is summarized and referenced, and links allow the user to view the document for the reference of interest. Due to copyright laws, downloadable PDF files of the reference materials will be available only to limited users.

Schedule for SERRA Availability

Currently, SERRA is in a testing phase. During this phase, a defined group of users will provide feedback to refine and improve SERRA.

At this time, information on two biological agents, Bacillus anthracis and Francisella tularensis, is available in SERRA. Information on four more biological agents will be available during the summer of 2007. Inclusion of information on chemical and radiological agents in SERRA is anticipated in 2008 and 2009, respectively.

Access to SERRA

To access SERRA, please fill out the registration form on the SERRA Web site. Approval from EPA is required.