EPA Administrator Christie Whitman recently addressed the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies where she emphasized EPA's commitment to assist local utilities in safeguarding the nation's water systems. She detailed a national effort to make $90 million available, primarily in grants, to make drinking water and wastewater utilities as safe from terrorist attack as possible. The largest drinking water systems, those regularly serving over 100,000 people, will be eligible to apply for grants to support completion of vulnerability assessments and other security planning. EPA will work cooperatively with states, tribes and appropriate organizations to further develop and disseminate tools and support security efforts at small and medium drinking water and wastewater systems.