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Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Energy Budget, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Energy and Power of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, United States House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 2, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the March 2, 2016 hearing "The Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Energy Budget" before the House Subcommittee on Energy and Power. From the statement of Frank Pallone, Jr.: "Accelerating clean energy inn ovation is essential to achieving the goal of limiting the rise in global temperatures to below 2 degrees Celsius. Thanks, in part, to your continued leadership, we are now on a pathway to a safer, healthier planet for future generations while creating an enormous opportunity for economic growth. The fiscal year 2017 Department of Energy budget proposal requests $32.5 billion for the agency, which represents a $2.9 billion increase from the 2016 enacted level. This is a 10 percent increase over 2016 levels and represents a significant investment in your agency. The bulk of this increase will support 'Mission Innovation,' an initiative launched by the Administration in conjunction with the Paris Climate Agreement. Mission Innovation would double research and development in clean energy technologies over five years -- and the bulk of this significant initiative will be led by the Department of Energy. In order to meet the aggressive goals outlined in the Paris Climate Agreement, our country must be seriously dedicated to investment in clean energy technologies." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Frank Pallone, Fred Upton, and Ed Whitfield.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce
2016-03-02
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 2669: Anti-Spoofing Act of 2016
This is a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate for H.R. 2669: Anti-Spoofing Act of 2016. "Under current law, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has the authority to levy penalties and criminal fines against individuals that use fake information about a caller's identification to defraud or harm another. H.R. 2669 would expand that authority to include the use of text messages and would apply the authority to violators outside of the United States if the recipient is within the United States. The bill also would direct the FCC to develop consumer education materials that provide information for consumers on identifying fraudulent caller activities. Finally, H.R. 2669 would direct the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study on actions taken by the FCC to combat the provision of inaccurate caller information and identify additional steps that could be taken by the agency. Based on an analysis of information from the FCC about the agency's current enforcement capabilities, CBO [Congressional Budget Office] estimates that implementing H.R. 2669 would increase the agency's costs by less than $500,000 to enforce the expanded prohibition and to update current consumer education materials. Moreover, the FCC is authorized to collect fees sufficient to offset the costs of its regulatory activities each year; therefore, CBO estimates that the net effect on discretionary spending would be negligible, assuming appropriation actions consistent with that authority. Based on the costs of similar reports conducted by GAO, CBO estimates that the increased costs to conduct the required study would be insignificant."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2016-10-14
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Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate: H.R. 5600: No Hero Left Untreated Act
This is a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cost estimate for H.R. 5600: No Hero Left Untreated Act. "H.R. 5600 would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish a one-year pilot program to treat a limited number of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, chronic pain, or opiate addiction by using Magnetic eResonance Therapy technology (MeRT technology). The bill also would require VA to report to the Congress on the results of that pilot program. MeRT technology is a customized neurological treatment that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate brain tissue. The Brain Treatment Center (BTC) in Southern California developed the MeRT technology and has proprietary rights to the treatment. Over the 2012-2015 period, the center has treated more than 400 veterans at four locations in the state of California and the state of Washington. Under this proposal, VA would be required to carry out the one-year pilot program with no more than 50 veterans in one or two medical facilities. Because the technology is proprietary, we expect that VA would contract with BTC to provide MeRT technology to those veterans. On the basis of information from BTC, CBO expects the average patient at VA would undergo an initial assessment at a cost of $1,000 and at least 20 MeRT sessions over a 30-day period at a cost of $22,000. On that basis, CBO estimates that implementing this bill would cost $1 million over the 2017-2021 period; that spending would be subject to the availability of appropriated funds."
United States. Congressional Budget Office
2016-10-13
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Finding of No Significant Impact: In Support of a Proposed Field Trial of Genetically Engineered (GE) Male Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes of the Line OX513a in Key Haven, Monroe County, Florida under an Investigational New Animal Drug Exemption
"Oxitec, Ltd. (Oxitec, the sponsor) has provided data and information to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM, we) for its proposed field trial of genetically engineered (GE) male 'Aedes aegypti' mosquitoes of the line OX513A, under an investigational new animal drug (INAD) exemption (21 CFR 511.1(b)). 'Ae. aegypti' is a vector for human diseases including those associated with Zika, dengue, and chikungunya viruses. OX513A have been genetically engineered to express a gene that encodes a conditional or repressible lethality trait (also known as selflimiting) and a red fluorescent marker protein to aid in their identification. The proposed investigational field trial would be carried out in Key Haven, Monroe County, Florida under Oxitec's supervision in conjunction with the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD)."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services; United States. Food and Drug Administration; Center for Veterinary Medicine (U.S.)
2016-08-05
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Zika Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Discussion: Working with the Media-what's Different in a Crisis? [presentation]
From the National Institute of Health website: "These presentation slides are from a discussion about communication with the public and the media during a crisis, such as the Zika outbreak. It discusses the questions the media will ask first in a crisis, how to match audiences and concerns, and working with the media during a crisis or disaster. It details what response official should and should not do when working with the media."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Reynolds, Barbara (Barbara S.)
2016-07-26
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D.C. Home Rule: Examining the Intent of Congress in the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, Hearing Before the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, May 12, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the May 12, 2016 hearing "D.C. Home Rule: Examining the Intent of Congress in the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973" before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. From the statement of Edda Emmanuelli Perez: "In the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, Congress established the District Government and delineated its budget process. The Budget Autonomy Act attempts to change the federal government's role in this budget process by removing Congress from the appropriation process of most District funds and by removing the President from the District 's budget formulation process. In this opinion, we addressed the conflict between the Budget Autonomy Act and two other federal laws: the Antideficiency Act and the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921. The Antideficiency Act bars officers and employees of the U.S. Government and of the Government of the District of Columbia from making or authorizing expenditures or obligations exceeding the amount available in an appropriation or fund. The Budget and Accounting Act requires the head of each agency, which for the purposes of this Act includes the District Government, to submit a budget request to the President for transmission to Congress." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Edda Emmanuelli Perez, Jacques DePuy, Philip H. Mendelson, Irvin B. Nathan, and Brian Netter.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (2007-)
2016-05-12
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Guidance for U.S. Laboratories Testing for Zika Virus Infection [July 26, 2016]
"Testing of specimens within the United States to determine possible Zika virus infection should be limited to specimens collected from patients meeting CDC's clinical and epidemiological criteria for testing. Clinical signs and symptoms associated with Zika virus infection are discussed here: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/symptoms/index.html. It is important to note that Zika virus infection can cause signs and symptoms similar to those seen in patients with dengue and chikungunya virus infections. Current information and guidance for the U.S. Zika response is available on CDC's Zika website: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/index.html. Information specific to state and public health laboratory response: http://www.cdc.gov/zika/laboratories/index.html."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
2016-07-26
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Joint Publication 3-41: Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Response
From the Purpose section: "This publication has been prepared under the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). It sets forth joint doctrine to govern the activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the United States in operations, and it provides considerations for military interaction with governmental and nongovernmental agencies, multinational forces, and other inter-organizational partners. It provides military guidance for the exercise of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders (JFCs) and prescribes joint doctrine for operations and training. It provides military guidance for use by the Armed Forces in preparing and executing their plans and orders. It is not the intent of this publication to restrict the authority of the JFC from organizing the force and executing the mission in a manner the JFC deems most appropriate to ensure unity of effort in the accomplishment of objectives."
United States. Joint Chiefs of Staff
2016-09-09
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Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention: Implications of Advances in Science and Technology: Meeting Summary
"In April 2016, on behalf of the IAP: Global Network of Science Academies, the UK Royal Society, Polish Academy of Sciences and US National Academy of Sciences convened a roundtable on a Science Advisory Process for the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). The event bought together technical experts, science advice practitioners and key stakeholders from 13 countries. It took place on the margins of the April Preparatory Committee meeting (PrepCom) of the 8th Review Conference of the BTWC. It was designed to facilitate ongoing discussions amongst States Parties on strengthening arrangements for reviewing developments in science and technology. Participants explored different options and practical considerations in the specific context of the BTWC."
Note: This document has been added to the Homeland Security Digital Library in agreement with the Project on Advanced Systems and Concepts for Countering WMD (PASCC) as part of the PASCC collection. Permission to download and/or retrieve this resource has been obtained through PASCC.
IAP -- The Global Network of Science Academies
2016-04-27
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Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention: Implications of Advances in Science and Technology: Conference Report
"In preparation for the 8th Review Conference, a meeting comprising 72 delegates from 30 countries was convened in Warsaw in September 2015 to identify and discuss trends in science and technology relevant to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. The conference noted many issues of relevance to the Review Conference and reached several overarching conclusions."
Note: This document has been added to the Homeland Security Digital Library in agreement with the Project on Advanced Systems and Concepts for Countering WMD (PASCC) as part of the PASCC collection. Permission to download and/or retrieve this resource has been obtained through PASCC.
IAP -- The Global Network of Science Academies
2015-12
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Bath Salt-type Aminoketone Designer Drugs: Analytical and Synthetic Studies on Substituted Cathinones
"This project involves basic chemical sciences and focuses on forensic drug chemistry. This research project did not involve human subjects and no laboratory animals were used in this work. The project has explored issues of analytical specificity in forensic drug analysis involving synthetic designer drugs related to cathinone. Cathinone is a natural product found in the leaves of Catha edulis Forsk, the Khat plant, discovered in Yemen in the eighteenth century. Cathinone's stimulatory effects have been known for centuries, mostly prevalent in Middle Eastern countries ranging from Southern Africa to the Arabian Peninsula. Synthetic cathinones, the active component in 'bath salts,' have surfaced as a popular alternative to other illicit drugs of abuse, such as cocaine, MDMA (ecstasy), and methamphetamine, due to their potent psychostimulant and empathogenic effects."
National Criminal Justice Reference Service (U.S.)
Clark, Randall
2016-07
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Recovery is Built Through Partnerships
This document is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Best Practices Portfolio. "The FEMA Best Practices Portfolio consists of mitigation stories submitted by individuals and communities that describe measures they have taken to reduce the loss of life and property from disasters. These Best Practices are meant to provide ideas and concepts about reducing losses and to encourage others to evaluate their own risk and consider mitigation as a long-term solution to reducing that risk." This Best Practice Story is about storm mitigation efforts in New York. "The scope of Sandy's damage reinforced a basic principle of good government: coordination among all affected applicants and agencies to achieve a common goal. Nowhere was this more vividly illustrated than with the Region II New York Sandy Recovery Office's (NYSRO) Environmental and Historic Preservation's (EHP's) collaborative efforts during Sandy's recovery. EHP worked closely with internal staff, federal partners and New York State to streamline the project review process. Their work covered projects that varied in complexity, including projects for more than 100 bridges and a Mesonet, a network of more than 100 automated environmental monitoring stations."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Corruption: Violent Extremism, Kleptocracy, and the Dangers of Failing Governance, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Relations, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, June 30, 2016
This testimony compilation is from the June 30, 2016 hearing "Corruption: Violent Extremism, Kleptocracy, and the Dangers of Failing Governance" before the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. From the statement of Gayle Smith: "Chairman Corker, Ranking Member Cardin, and distinguished members of the Committee: thank you for inviting me here to discuss the United States Agency for International Development's work to combat corruption across the globe. I want to thank you for shining a light on this important topic, and for your continued leadership and ongoing commitment to root out corruption and advance accountability and transparency. Corruption takes on many forms, from the bribery of public officials to collusion in public procurement to the wholesale theft of government assets. Although its different forms may cause varying degrees of harm, corruption as a whole tears at the fabric of society and hinders inclusive economic growth and democratic governance. Additionally, corruption poses major security risks to the United States, often enabling radicalization and violent extremism and fueling political instability and conflict. That is why President Obama views corruption as a fundamental obstacle to peace, prosperity, and human rights, and our Administration has sought to elevate anti-corruption efforts across our foreign policy and development agendas." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Gayle Smith, Tomasz P. Malinowski, Carl Gershman, and Sarah Chayes.
United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Foreign Relations
2016-06-30
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Global Engagement Strategy
Taken from the document introduction: "This strategy unifies CBP's [Customs and Border Protection] international program portfolio through guiding principle, specified goals, and an associated approach for global engagement activities. It will allow CBP to establish a single framework to prioritize global engagements, respond more proactively to dynamic threats, efficiently deploy its unique capabilities, and assess its efforts to maximize the safety, security, and prosperity of global trade and travel."
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2016-07
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Programmatically Achieving Excellence in Historic Preservation Stewardship
FEMA's [Federal Emergency Management Agency] National Emergency Training Center (NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland is responsible for training emergency managers and first responders to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from disasters. The NETC campus is also a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the site of the former St. Joseph's College, founded in 1809 by Mother Elizabeth Seton, the first American born woman beatified by the Roman Catholic Church. In 2013, with the encouragement and support of FEMA Office of Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (OEHP), NETC executed a programmatic agreement with the Maryland State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and other consulting parties to integrate FEMA's historic preservation compliance responsibilities outlined in Sections 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) into the day-to-day management of the NETC facility. Based in part on FEMA's Prototype Agreement, the document provides a framework for expediting historic preservation compliance and the flexibility to address specific preservation issues and concerns."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
DiGiuseppe, Dan
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Preserving and Protecting a Community Treasure - the Historic Rosenberg Library in Galveston, Texas
This document is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Best Practices Portfolio. "The FEMA Best Practices Portfolio consists of mitigation stories submitted by individuals and communities that describe measures they have taken to reduce the loss of life and property from disasters. These Best Practices are meant to provide ideas and concepts about reducing losses and to encourage others to evaluate their own risk and consider mitigation as a long-term solution to reducing that risk." This Best Practice Story is about flood mitigation efforts in Galveston, Texas. "The first floor of the historic Rosenberg Library located in Galveston, Texas, a barrier island 40 miles south of Houston, was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike storm surge. Thanks to flood mitigation funds from FEMA, flood insurance reimbursements, the state of Texas and private donations, it is now fully restored and protected from future storms. FEMA funding covered repairs to flooring, walls, and other interior components, as well as emergency protective measures taken by the Library before, during, and after the storm to protect the building and its contents from further damage. These efforts included relocating all of the buildings systems (electrical distribution system, telephone system, HVAC, Internet D-mark, etc.) that could be moved to the upper floors of the building."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Niangua Darter Endangered Species Act Success Story
"The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) routinely consults the services under Section 7(a)(2) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This requires Federal agencies to avoid jeopardizing continued existence of threatened or endangered species. However, many of us bypass Section 7(a)(1) ESA, which requires Federal agencies to use their program for conservation measures. Conservation of a species involves more than just avoiding jeopardy.
Starting with a disaster in 2002, FEMA-1412-DR-MO, the Service approached FEMA Region VII with a partnership opportunity to enhance fish passage in Niangua darter critical habitat. Low water crossings provide a barrier to Niangua darter and result in habitat segmentation. In 2008, the Service identified 32 priority low water crossings in Niangua darter habitat; these priority crossings provide the most formidable barriers for the Niangua darter and gauge the magnitude of the benefit that would be realized by improving fish passage based on both proximity and the linear stream miles that would be reopened to unobstructed passage. Over many years, in a very fragmented disaster recovery approach, FEMA has contributed to replacing several of these priority low water crossings."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
Sessa, Ken
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Elevated Home along Arkansas River Survives Christmas, 2015 Flood
This document is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Best Practices Portfolio. "The FEMA Best Practices Portfolio consists of mitigation stories submitted by individuals and communities that describe measures they have taken to reduce the loss of life and property from disasters. These Best Practices are meant to provide ideas and concepts about reducing losses and to encourage others to evaluate their own risk and consider mitigation as a long-term solution to reducing that risk." This Best Practice Story is about flood mitigation efforts in Jefferson County, Arkansas. "The Christmas weekend of 2015 is one that many residents in Arkansas will never forget. The holiday began with up to 10 inches of rain on December 24 and Christmas Day was drenched. The downpour finally came to an end on December 26, but not before causing widespread destruction. Jefferson County was among the hardest hit areas. Hundreds of homes were inundated, roads were washed out and farmlands submerged. [...] John and Kathy Erwin live along the Arkansas River, and were prepared. They had elevated their home above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) as local code required elevating the property at least a foot above the BFE. While other homes in the neighborhood flooded, their home remained dry."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Should Implement Consistent Joint Field Office Guidance
"Since 2012, we have observed and reported on systemic challenges in FEMA's JFO [Joint Field Office] selection process. These challenges occurred, in part, because FEMA has not sufficiently implemented our prior audit recommendation to collaborate with the General Services Administration in selecting potential JFO sites prior to a forecasted disaster. In 2015, we identified regional implementation differences in the JFO selection process. During our 2015 Texas flood disaster Emergency Management Oversight Team (EMOT) deployment, we determined that FEMA Region VI did not implement a disaster pre-planning protocol that resulted in a more than $380,000 increase in JFO administrative costs and delayed the JFO opening by 17 days. The delayed JFO opening negatively impacted FEMA's ability to rapidly equip and deploy disaster response personnel. In contrast, during our 2015 South Carolina EMOT deployment, we determined that FEMA Region IV JFO selection was efficient and effective."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2016-09-27
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: The Curtain Goes Up...and the Building Stays Up: Seismic Retrofit Protects Historic Theater
This document is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Best Practices Portfolio. "The FEMA Best Practices Portfolio consists of mitigation stories submitted by individuals and communities that describe measures they have taken to reduce the loss of life and property from disasters. These Best Practices are meant to provide ideas and concepts about reducing losses and to encourage others to evaluate their own risk and consider mitigation as a long-term solution to reducing that risk." This Best Practice Story is about earthquake mitigation efforts in Charleston, South Carolina. "Nestled in the middle of downtown Charleston, South Carolina, sits a little piece of history. The Dock Street Theatre originally opened in 1736, and was the first building constructed in the 13 colonies with the express purpose of serving as a venue for the performing arts. After numerous reconstructions and different uses over the years, the current theater facility underwent a major retrofit in 2010 that offers significant protection from both seismic and high wind damages."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention: Implications of Advances in Science and Technology: Summary of Findings
"In preparation for the 8th Review Conference a meeting was convened in Warsaw in September 2015 to identify and discuss Trends in Science and Technology Relevant to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. The conference noted many issues of relevance to the Review Conference and reached several overarching conclusions."
Note: This document has been added to the Homeland Security Digital Library in agreement with the Project on Advanced Systems and Concepts for Countering WMD (PASCC) as part of the PASCC collection. Permission to download and/or retrieve this resource has been obtained through PASCC.
IAP -- The Global Network of Science Academies
2015-09-15
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Higher Standards Mean Lower Flood Insurance Rates for Myrtle Beach Property Owners
This document is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Best Practices Portfolio. "The FEMA Best Practices Portfolio consists of mitigation stories submitted by individuals and communities that describe measures they have taken to reduce the loss of life and property from disasters. These Best Practices are meant to provide ideas and concepts about reducing losses and to encourage others to evaluate their own risk and consider mitigation as a long-term solution to reducing that risk." This Best Practice Story is about flood mitigation efforts in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. "The Myrtle Beach boardwalk is a sight to see. A meandering 1.2 miles of solid oak walkway guides visitors along a scenic path that's reminiscent of a 1940s classic film. Situated along that boardwalk are boutiques, restaurants, and a pre-war replica of a 187-foot-high Ferris wheel, which harkens back to a time when World War II soldiers took their dates on evening rides, soaring through the night air beneath a well-lit sky. […] Boardwalk merchants and other property owners in this southern coastal community understand that an oceanfront lifestyle has its risks. To manage those risks, the city of Myrtle Beach joined the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) in 1971, agreeing to adopt and enforce a flood damage prevention ordinance designed to protect property that is at high risk for flooding. In exchange, residents are allowed to purchase federally-backed flood insurance."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Richland County's Onsite Mobile Permitting Initiative: It's Never Too Late to Mitigate!
This document is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Best Practices Portfolio. "The FEMA Best Practices Portfolio consists of mitigation stories submitted by individuals and communities that describe measures they have taken to reduce the loss of life and property from disasters. These Best Practices are meant to provide ideas and concepts about reducing losses and to encourage others to evaluate their own risk and consider mitigation as a long-term solution to reducing that risk." This Best Practice Story is about flood mitigation efforts in Richland County, South Carolina. "On an ordinary day, Brittany Hutcherson can be found in the comfort of an air-conditioned office, sitting in front of her computer, providing guidance on safe building practices and obtaining building permits; but on this day the Richland County Permits Supervisor is seated in a metal folding chair, behind a makeshift counter, in the front yard of a storm-ravaged home. With her feet planted in soil still damp from the remnants of October 2015's historic flood, Hutcherson is focused on helping homeowners on the road to recovery. [...] Hutcherson was asked by Richland County Housing Official, Kecia Lara, to assist with the onsite mobile permitting operation. With prior training and experience in customer service, her priority was to tend to the needs of property owners in the process of rebuilding their homes and lives from the devastation. This initiative was particularly imperative because many of the area's homeowners are elderly and have transportation challenges, which prevented them from visiting the permitting office in person to get the help they needed."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: Mapping Risks and Vulnerabilities to Increase Resilience Planning
This document is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Best Practices Portfolio. "The FEMA Best Practices Portfolio consists of mitigation stories submitted by individuals and communities that describe measures they have taken to reduce the loss of life and property from disasters. These Best Practices are meant to provide ideas and concepts about reducing losses and to encourage others to evaluate their own risk and consider mitigation as a long-term solution to reducing that risk." This Best Practice Story is about disaster mitigation efforts in Columbia, South Carolina. "As we learn more about the dynamic arena of disaster preparedness, the realities of just how little we understand about the potential hazards we face reveal a need for increased focus on the educational front of this evolving field. The University of South Carolina's (USC) Hazards and Vulnerability Research Institute (HVRI) is working to advance theories and promote practical uses of geospatial mapping and analysis. They strive to develop and maintain powerful analytical tools with the purpose of planning for - and protecting against - potential disasters. [...] To qualify for certain forms of assistance in the wake of a presidentially declared disaster, communities must have an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) on file. Part of the requirements of such a plan involves identifying the hazard risks present within a community and formulating strategies to deal with such threats."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: New York Floodplain Management Team Advances Progress through Education and Collaboration
This document is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Best Practices Portfolio. "The FEMA Best Practices Portfolio consists of mitigation stories submitted by individuals and communities that describe measures they have taken to reduce the loss of life and property from disasters. These Best Practices are meant to provide ideas and concepts about reducing losses and to encourage others to evaluate their own risk and consider mitigation as a long-term solution to reducing that risk." This Best Practice Story is about storm mitigation efforts in New York. "While education is an essential element of community floodplain management activities, so is relationship building. The unwavering commitment of the FEMA Region II's Sandy-focused Floodplain Management and Insurance (FMI) team gave a big boost to ten Long Island communities struggling to comply with National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) standards after Hurricane Sandy. To help build solid relationships and increase stakeholder knowledge and confidence, FMI team members Justin Barnes and Jacqueline Chapman took on the mission of providing targeted customer support to ten storm-damaged communities striving to meet NFIP standards. […] They supplied local officials with information, tools and mentoring to help align their floodplain management programs with NFIP standards. The team provided technical assistance through community visits and biweekly follow-ups, increasing collaboration between FEMA staff and community stakeholders."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Cross-Border Tunnels and Border Tunnel Prevention: Fiscal Year 2015 Report to Congress
"Illicit cross-border tunnels are a persistent threat that pose a serious national security risk by providing a means for smuggler to move drugs, weapons, currency people, and contraband illegal across the border. As of September 30, 2015, 183 illicit cross-border tunnels have been discovered in the United States since Fiscal Year 1990. This report to Congress described the integrated, proactive approach taken by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to counter illicit tunneling activity and provides an update on U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) progress in coordinating federal efforts. Currently, DHS Components, including CBP, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis, and the Department of Defense, are collaborating on the detection, investigation, characterization, and remediation of illicit cross-border tunnels. CBP has awarded approximately $8.67 million to remediate illicit cross-border tunnels since Fiscal Year 2007."
United States. Department of Homeland Security; U.S. Customs and Border Protection
2016
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FEMA Mitigation Best Practices: City of Leon Valley Proactively Protects Citizens
This document is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Best Practices Portfolio. "The FEMA Best Practices Portfolio consists of mitigation stories submitted by individuals and communities that describe measures they have taken to reduce the loss of life and property from disasters. These Best Practices are meant to provide ideas and concepts about reducing losses and to encourage others to evaluate their own risk and consider mitigation as a long-term solution to reducing that risk." This Best Practice Story is about flood mitigation efforts in Leon Valley, Texas. "Leon Valley, Texas, has had its share of flooding events. Located in Central Texas within Northwest San Antonio, it is a community that has taken a proactive approach to keeping its citizens safe. Under the guidance of Fire Chief Luis Valdez, the City of Leon Valley has become the first High Water Mark (HWM) Initiative Community in Region 6 and is recognized as part of the national program. Chief Valdez has seen firsthand the damage caused by flood to homes and the lives of the citizens of his fair city. [...] As part of FEMA's HWM Initiative, the City of Leon Valley placed a permanent High Water Mark sign on the Raymond Rimkus Park Walking Path. It serves as a daily reminder of the day the City of Leon Valley faced over 6-feet of water in the park. The HWM Initiative encourages local residents and businesses to learn about their flood risks. The sign itself reminds residents to make emergency plans and build disaster supply kits. The initiative was based on tools and strategies developed by FEMA and eight other Federal agencies."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
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Officer Safety Alert: Carfentanil, A Dangerous New Factor in the U.S. Opioid Crisis
"Carfentanil is a synthetic opioid approximately 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times more potent than fentanyl. The presence of carfentanil in illicit U.S. drug markets is cause for concern, as the relative strength of this drug could lead to an increase in overdoses and overdose-related deaths, even among opioid-tolerant users. The presence of carfentanil poses a significant threat to first responders and law enforcement personnel who may come in contact with this substance. In any situation where any fentanyl-related substance, such as carfentanil, might be present, law enforcement should carefully follow safety protocols to avoid accidental exposure."
United States. Drug Enforcement Administration
2016
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Border Tunnels: Working to Stop the Construction of Tunnels Used to Transport Drugs Across the U.S. - Mexico Border
"In recent years, a crackdown on drug smugglers in Mexico and tighter U.S. border security above ground has led to dramatic increases in the use and sophistication of tunnels under the border. A tunnel found in San Diego in November 2011 had a hydraulically controlled steel door, elevator and electric rail tracks. This tunnel is the most sophisticated cross-border tunnel discovered to date and the second longest. It ranks as both the largest drug seizure associated with a border tunnel and one of the largest drug seizures in U.S. history, with approximately 32 tons of marijuana found. It is thought to have been built by the Sinaloa drug-trafficking organization, which operates in Mexico along the border area where the bulk of subterranean passages are discovered. This is no longer a pick-and-shovel operation. Some tunnels look to have been made with equipment such as hydraulic lifts, elevators, generators and water pumps."
United States. Congress. Senate. Office of Senator Dianne Feinstein
2012-02
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Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention: Implications of Advances in Science and Technology: Technical Report
"The Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BWC) will hold its Eighth Review Conference late in 2016 which will consider 'new scientific and technological developments relevant to the Convention'. This review will draw upon work undertaken in a standing agenda item in the BWC's 2012 -- 2015 work programme. Each year, States Parties have reviewed developments in science and technology relevant to the BWC, focusing on advances that could have benefits for, or which could possibly be used in contravention to this international instrument. During the course of their work, States Parties supported by international organizations, scientific bodies, companies and individual experts, have reviewed developments in: enabling technologies; for dealing with disease; in the understanding of pathogenicity, virulence, toxicology, immunology and related issues; as well as production, dispersal and delivery technologies. In September 2015, a Trends Symposium to review relevant developments in the science and technology was organised by the Royal Society, the US National Academies of Sciences and the IAP: Global Network of Science Academies, represented by the current Chair of the IAP Biosecurity Working Group, the Polish Academy of Sciences. The Symposium was attended by 72 participants from 30 countries."
Note: This document has been added to the Homeland Security Digital Library in agreement with the Project on Advanced Systems and Concepts for Countering WMD (PASCC) as part of the PASCC collection. Permission to download and/or retrieve this resource has been obtained through PASCC.
IAP -- The Global Network of Science Academies
2015-09-15
