WWW.USDOJ.GOV

*** CORRECTION - NOTE TIME CHANGE ***

DENVER - News media interested in covering activities in the Denver metropolitan area related to TOPOFF, the domestic counterterrorism exercise announced here in April, should report to the Colorado National Guard, 6858 S. Revere Parkway, Englewood, on Saturday, May 20, at Noon (MT) to receive credentials required for covering the exercise and information about the logistics of the exercise in the Denver metropolitan area. Media interested in attending TOPOFF activities must be escorted to events from this location.

What: Media check-in for TOPOFF counterterrorism exercise

Where: Colorado National Guard

6858 S. Revere Parkway

Englewood, CO (near Centennial Airport)

When: Noon (MT), Saturday, May 20, 2000

TOPOFF is a Congressionally-mandated domestic counterterrorism exercise that will include the participation of top level officials, first responders and law enforcement personnel who would participate in the crisis and consequence management of a domestic weapons of mass destruction terrorist attack.

There will be no release of any actual weapons or agents at any location during the national exercise.

Note: This is a "no notice" exercise as responders and other participating officials do not know the actual date/time of the start of the exercise or specific incident locations. Therefore, this information may not be released or used in any news stories.

For additional information on TOPOFF in the Denver Metropolitan area contact:

Chris Watney

Department of Justice (303) 677-8746

Don Jacks

Federal Emergency Management Agency (303) 677-8746

Arapahoe County Sheriff Pat J. Sullivan, Jr. 303/734-5101

Tommy Grier

Colorado Office of Emergency Management 303/273-1622

National contacts:

Gina Talamona, DOJ, 202-514-2007

Mary Margaret Walker, FEMA, 202-646-3892

00-281