22-MEMBER TEAM TO DEAL WITH HAZARDS IN GARFIELD COUNTY

GLENWOOD SPRINGS - A 22-member all-hazards response team has been
formed in Garfield County to respond to some of the most serious and
potentially harmful emergency situations in a 10-county region,
officials announced Thursday.

Partially funded by a $1.5 million federal Homeland Security grant,
the team will be a second-response to situations such as hostages and
barricaded negotiations, hazardous-materials spills and cleanup,
high-risk apprehensions or warrant arrests, natural and man-made
disasters and others, Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario said.

"This will be so much more than a SWAT team," he said. "We won't be an
initial response team, but if any law enforcement or fire department
in the region thinks we can help, we'll go."

The team will conduct all entry operations for the Two Rivers Drug
Enforcement Team, Vallario said.

Current members are the Sheriff's Department, Glenwood Springs, Rifle
and New Castle police departments and the Glenwood Springs Fire Department.

"We can be called to do things like take down a (methamphetamine) lab,
where you have very hazardous and dangerous chemicals," Fire Chief
Mike Piper said.

"Since 9-11, we've been moving forward with training to handle things
like hazmat response to a train derailment in Glenwood Canyon where
there are hazardous chemicals involved."

Team members have trained for the last two years and a similar team is
planned in western Garfield County to respond to situations such as a
natural-gas accident or explosion.

"If a plane falls out of the sky in Garfield County, that's my
responsibility," Vallario said. "But we all already respond to those
things because you need the fire department. This will build on that
type of cooperation."

Undersheriff Tim Templar and a board of directors comprised of the
sheriff and police chiefs will head the team.

Rifle Police Chief Daryl Meisner said the financial impact to the
agencies would be overtime for team members.

Vallario said grants will be sought to cover other costs, but most of
the needed equipment and protection suits were purchased with about
$200,000 of the Homeland Security grant.

A fund-raising golf tournament is scheduled for May 20 at the Lakota
Canyon Ranch golf course in New Castle.