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Investigation Report: Confined Vapor Cloud Explosion, Danvers, Massachusetts, November 22, 2006
"The CSB identified the following incident causes: CAI management did not conduct a process hazards analysis or similar systematic review to ensure that the flammable liquids processes were safely designed and operated; and CAI management did not use written procedures or checklists to ensure that flammable liquids manufacturing processes were operated safely. The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) determined that the explosion was fueled by vapor released from a 2000-gallon tank of highly flammable liquid. An open steam valve on the tank heater most likely caused the flammable liquid to overheat and accumulate in the building production area to what is calculated to have been a near-ideal vapor-air concentration. An unknown ignition source ignited the flammable atmosphere, causing the explosion." Key issues include: safe handling of flammable liquids, fire code compliance and enforcement, and state and local government hazardous facility licensing.
United States. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
2006-11-22
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Baseline Capabilities for State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers: A Supplement to the Fusion Center Guidelines
"This document identifies the baseline capabilities for fusion centers and the operational standards necessary to achieve each of the capabilities. It is an addendum to the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative's (Global) Fusion Center Guidelines, which provide guidance to ensure that fusion centers are established and operated consistently across the country. Using the Fusion Center Guidelines, as well as identified best practices, federal, state, and local officials identified the capabilities and standards necessary for a fusion center to be considered capable of performing basic functions. By achieving this baseline level of capability, a fusion center will have the necessary structures, processes, and tools in place to support the gathering, processing, analysis, and dissemination of terrorism, homeland security, and law enforcement information. This baseline level of capability will support specific operational capabilities, such as Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR); Alerts, Warnings, and Notifications; Risk Assessments; and Situational Awareness Reporting. The development of baseline operational standards is called for in the National Strategy for Information Sharing (Strategy) and is a key step to reaching one of the Strategy's goals: 'Establishing a National Integrated Network of State and Major Urban Area Fusion Centers.' Defining these operational standards allows federal, state, local, and tribal officials to identify and plan for the resources needed-to include financial, technical assistance, and human support-to achieve the Strategy's goal."
United States. Department of Justice; United States. Department of Homeland Security
2008-09
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EPA Chemical Accident Investigation Report, Pennzoil Product Company Refinery, Rouseville, Pennsylvania
This document is a report from the Environmental Protection Agency on the investigation of a refinery accident. "An explosion and fire occurred at the Pennzoil refinery in Rouseville, Pennsylvania, on October 16, 1995, resulting in deaths, injuries, public evacuation, and significant plant damage. EPA and OSHA undertook an investigation of this incident because of the seriousness of the consequences and the opportunity for lessons learned to prevent a similar accident from occurring in the chemical and petrochemical industry. The scope of the investigation and this report are solely focused on the conditions and circumstances related to the storage tanks where the explosion and fire occurred." The report identifies the causes and contributing factors of the accident and provides recommendations.
United States. Environmental Protection Agency
1998-03
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Preventing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Terrorism in the Maritime Supply Chain: Remarks of Thomas Lehrman, September 20, 2006
From the remarks of Thomas Lehrman: "Five years after 9/11, who among us cannot remember where they were on that day? We harbor no illusions that those who attacked us five years ago cease to threaten us now. We have been assured by the same terrorists who planned the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that they will use nuclear and biological weapons against us, should they find a way to acquire them. We also know that the enemy we face adapts to our defenses; while aircraft may have served as the preferred weapon of choice five years ago, tomorrow they may seek to slip a weapon of mass destruction into a container ship headed for one of our ports and then onto the streets of our cities. Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) -- chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear -- in the hands of a terrorist pose the single gravest threat to international peace and security today. The United States government is determined to work with its foreign partners, both in government and in the private sector, to strengthen our national and collective defenses against this preeminent threat."
United States. Department of State
2006-09-20
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Countering WMD and Terrorism Through Security Cooperation: Remarks of Stephen G. Rademaker, April 6, 2006
From the remarks of Stephen G. Rademaker: "It is a pleasure to be here today to discuss how we are seeking to use security cooperation to reinforce our efforts to combat the risk of terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). WMD in the hands of terrorists would pose a grave security threat to the United States and our allies. We assess that it will be very difficult to deter terrorists from using WMD if they can lay their hands on such weapons. Therefore, if terrorists acquire weapons of mass destruction, we have to assume they will employ them, with potentially catastrophic effects. To help counter with this growing threat, President Bush released the 'National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction' in December 2002. This strategy rests on three pillars: Counterproliferation to Combat WMD Use; Strengthened Nonproliferation to Combat WMD Proliferation; and Consequence Management to Respond to WMD Use. The national strategy recognizes that prevention will not always succeed, and therefore it places great emphasis on protection and counterproliferation, to deter, detect, defend against, and defeat WMD in the hands of our enemies. The strategy also focuses on consequence management, to reduce as much as possible the potentially horrific consequences of WMD attacks at home or abroad."
United States. Department of State
2006-04-06
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49 CFR Parts 1540, 1544, and 1560: Secure Flight Program, Final Rule
"This final rule allows TSA to begin implementation of the Secure Flight program, under which TSA will receive passenger and certain non-traveler information, conduct watch list matching against the No Fly and Selectee portions of the Federal government's consolidated terrorist watch list, and transmit a boarding pass printing result back to aircraft operators. TSA will do so in a consistent and accurate manner while minimizing false matches and protecting personally identifiable information. [...] The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act 2004 (IRTPA) requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assume from aircraft operators the function of conducting pre-flight comparisons of airline passenger information to Federal government watch lists for domestic flights and international flights to, from, and overflying the United States. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is issuing this final rule to implement that congressional mandate."
United States. Transportation Security Administration
2008
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S. Rept. 110-281: Veterans Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007, Report to Accompany S. 2162, April 8, 2008
"The Committee on Veterans' Affairs (hereinafter, 'the Committee'), to which was referred the bill (S. 2162), to improve the treatment and services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance use disorders, and for other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an amendment, and recommends that the bill (as amended) do pass."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Veterans' Affairs
2008-04-08
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Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty: Provided to the Second Session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2005 NPT Review Conference
This fact sheet from the Bureau of Nonproliferation in the U.S. State Department "addresses both ongoing actions and offers clarification on certain issues" relating to the U.S. commitment to Article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Specific efforts addressed include the Moscow Treaty, dismantlement of nuclear weapons, fissile material measures, and the Cooperative Threat Reduction program. The fact sheet also offers views on concerns raised by others, including the 13 Steps to disarmament from the Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference, the diminished role of nuclear weapons, and non-strategic nuclear weapons.
United States. Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
2003-05-01
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Statement to the Fiftieth Session of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)
This is the statement of Amb. Eric M. Javits to the Fiftieth Session of the Executive Council of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). From the text: "We have a very full agenda this week. But before I turn to the work at hand, there are some recent and upcoming events I would like to mention: First, I wish to commend Albania, the first possessor State Party to complete destruction of its chemical weapons stockpile, for a job well done. We still have a long way to go to reach a world without chemical weapons, but we are one step closer. I would also like to thank the Dutch authorities for hosting an extensive challenge inspection exercise earlier this month. This was valuable not only for the Technical Secretariat, but also for members of the Council. Challenge inspection is a sensitive topic for some in our organization, and I recognize that. I do not think anyone in this chamber takes it lightly. But we must all recognize that one day this organization may be called upon to conduct a challenge inspection or an investigation of alleged use of chemical weapons. If that happens, we must be ready. The ability to conduct such a mission effectively and without delay will speak volumes about the credibility of this organization, and is critical to ensuring the confidence of States Parties. This is why exercises such as the one hosted by our Dutch colleagues are so valuable."
United States. Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
Javits, Eric M.
2007-11-13
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Proliferation Security Initiative: Statement of Interdiction Principles
This White House fact sheet briefly describes the background and goals of the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI). "PSI participants are committed to the following interdiction principles to establish a more coordinated and effective basis through which to impede and stop shipments of WMD, delivery systems, and related materials flowing to and from states and non-state actors of proliferation concern, consistent with national legal authorities and relevant international law and frameworks, including the UN Security Council." The fact sheet concludes with a list of principles states in the PSI commit to in support of international peace and security.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2003-09-04
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Broadening the Partnership to Stop the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction
This White House fact sheet welcomes the recent decision of Norway, Poland, Switzerland, Finland, and Sweden to join the Global Partnership against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (Global Partnership). The fact sheet also summarizes progress of the Global Partnership since the G-8 Summit in Kananaskis a year prior and the U.S. leadership role in the Global Partnership.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2003-06-02
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Aviation Security
This White House fact sheet announces the U.S. and G-8 endorsement of "a U.S.-driven plan to counter the threat to civil aviation posed by shoulder-launched missiles, or Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS)." The fact sheet gives a brief summary of the threat, then lists the key points of the Cooperative Action to Enhance Transport Security and Control of MANPADS.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2003-06-02
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Countering the 'Dirty Bomb' Threat
This White House fact sheet discusses Presidential action to combat the 'dirty bomb' threat. A brief review of the threat is provided, as well as a summary of a new G-8 initiative, and a list of recent U.S. actions.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
2003-06-02
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Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Nuclear Deterrence Skills
"The Defense Science Board Task Force on Nuclear Deterrence Skills was chartered to assess all aspects of nuclear deterrent skills--military, federal, and contractor--and to recommend methods and strategies to maintain a right-sized, properly trained, and experienced work force to ensure the viability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent through 2020. [...]. Today, deterrence of major power nuclear threats and the prospects of global war have receded in national priority while nuclear proliferation terrorism and defense have become urgent concerns. Today's nuclear security enterprise devotes the energy and attention to proliferation and terrorism issues that once were reserved for nuclear offensive forces. It is in that context that this task force reviewed nuclear deterrence expertise."
United States. Defense Science Board
2008-09
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Statement of Principles for the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism
This statement from the State Department's Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation outlines the principles "to develop partnership capacity to combat nuclear terrorism on a determined and systematic basis, consistent with national legal authorities and obligations they have under relevant international legal frameworks [...]."
United States. Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation
2006-11-20
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Privacy: Congress Should Consider Alternatives for Strengthening Protection of Personally Identifiable Information, Statement of Linda Koontz, Director, Information Management Issues, Testimony, Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, U.S. Senate, June 18, 2008
"Concerns have been raised about the privacy and security of personal information in light of advances in information technology and the increasingly sophisticated ways in which the government obtains and uses information. Federal agencies' use of personal information is governed by the Privacy Act of 1974 and the E-Government Act of 2002, while the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) provides implementation guidance and oversight. These laws and guidance are based on the Fair Information Practices , a set of widely accepted principles for protecting privacy. GAO was asked to testify on its report, being released today, concerning the sufficiency of privacy protections afforded by existing laws and guidance. To do this, GAO analyzed privacy laws and guidance, compared them with the Fair Information Practices, and obtained perspectives from federal agencies as well as an expert forum."
United States. Government Accountability Office
Koontz, Linda D.
2008-06-18
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FY 2003 Supplemental Budget Request Fact Sheet
"The President's FY '03 Supplemental Budget requests $3.5 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to confront threats to the United States and the American people. This request provides the flexibility the Secretary as well as state and local governments need to meet the ever changing nature of terrorism."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2003-03-24
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Apalachee Bay Region Hurricane Evacuation Study Technical Data Report For Gulf, Franklin, Wakulla and Jefferson Counties, Florida
"The purpose of this Hurricane Evacuation Study is to provide emergency management officials with realistic data by quantifying the major factors involved in hurricane evacuation decision-making. The technical data presented in this report is not intended to replace any detailed operations plans developed by any of the counties within the study area. Rather, this data is provided as a framework of information that each county can use to update and revise their hurricane evacuation plans and operational procedures to improve their response to future hurricane threats. […] Government officials and citizens alike must understand that the Apalachee Bay Region will be struck by a catastrophic hurricane some time in the future and that preparedness is of utmost importance. Obtaining information critical to good hurricane evacuation planning requires comprehensive and specialized analyses. The fiscal and staffing limitations of state and local emergency management agencies usually preclude the development of this data. In order to provide the needed technical information, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have joined the Florida State Emergency Management Office and local emergency management agencies in conducting the Apalachee Bay Region Hurricane Evacuation Study."
United States. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Army. Corps of Engineers
1997-03
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National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC): Meeting Agenda, January 8, 2008
The following are the Meeting notes for the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) on Tuesday, January 8, 2008. Items discussed include: chemical, biological, and radiological events and critical infrastructure; insider threat to critical infrastructures; working group final deliberations; and working group status updates.
National Infrastructure Advisory Council (U.S.)
2008-01-08
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National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC): Meeting Agenda, April 8, 2008
The following are the Meeting notes for the National Infrastructure Advisory Council (NIAC) on Tuesday, April 8, 2008. Items discussed include: insider threat to critical infrastructures, frameworks for dealing with disasters and related interdependencies working group, and the critical infrastructure partnership strategic assessment working group.
National Infrastructure Advisory Council (U.S.)
2008-04-08
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Critical Infrastructure Partnership Strategic Assessment Study, October 14, 2008
This document contains PowerPoint slides from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council's October 14, 2008 meeting on a critical infrastructure partnership strategic assessment study. "The Study focused On: The Sector Partnership Model, as described in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP July 2006); The Critical Infrastructure Partnership Advisory Council (CIPAC), the Sector Coordinating Councils (SCC) and Government Coordinating Councils (GCC); Limited to the 18 sectors identified as 'critical infrastructures and key resources (CIKR)' by the NIPP; and Included investigations of the design, governance structure, processes, operations, and implementation approaches used to accomplish partnership activities."
National Infrastructure Advisory Council (U.S.)
2008-10-14
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Fiscal Year 2004 Budget Fact Sheet
"The President has requested a budget which reflects his clear commitment to supporting the priorities and the mission of the Department of Homeland Security. The Fiscal Year 2004 budget supports the Department's effort to implement the objectives outlined in the President's National Strategy for Homeland Security including: 1.) Preventing terrorist attacks within the United States; 2.) Reducing America's vulnerability to terrorism; and 3.) Minimizing the damage and recovering from attacks that do occur. The Department will move forward with a sustained and cohesive strategy in key areas such as improving security at the nation's borders, implementing grant programs to ensure that first responders are properly trained and equipped, decreasing the vulnerabilities of the nation's critical infrastructure, protecting against bio-terrorism, advancing research in science and technology aimed at countering terrorist attacks, improving intelligence analysis and coordination and recapitalizing the Coast Guard. The budget seeks to maintain funding for critical operations of each of the Department agencies and organizations since their individual missions will enable the Department to achieve its overall vision for securing the homeland. The Fiscal Year 2004 budget request for the Department of Homeland Security is 36.2 billion. This represents a 7.4 percent increase in funding over FY2003, and a 64 percent increase ($14.1 billion) over FY2002, with over 60 thousand staff added to protect our country. The consolidation of these entities into the new Department is the largest federal reorganization in more than 50 years."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2003-02-03
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Information Sharing Environment - Suspicious Activity Reporting Functional Standard and Evaluation Environment: Initial Privacy and Civil Liberties Analysis
"This analysis has been prepared for the purpose of conducting an initial examination of the privacy and civil liberties ramifications of the Information Sharing Environment -- Suspicious Activity Reporting (ISE‐SAR) Functional Standard and included Information Exchange Package Documentation (IEPD) component1 and of the vision for deploying these in operating environments (ISE‐SAR Evaluation Environment initiative), making recommendations to address issues identified as a result of the examination, and identifying policies and safeguards that should be implemented at the preliminary stages of this process. The overarching purpose of this analysis--as with all activities conducted in protecting the Nation from terrorism--is to help ensure those carrying out the activities contemplated by these plans do so in a manner that fully protects the legal rights of all United States persons, including information privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution and laws of the United States."
United States. Information Sharing Environment
2008-09
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Response to the Recommendation to Limit USCIS Adjudication of Asylum Applications to Those Submitted by Individuals in Valid Non-Immigrant Status
This document is a response by Dr. Emilio T. Gonzales, Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to the recommendations made by the USCIS Ombudsman, Prakash Khatri-"to reform the asylum adjudication process." More specifically, Director Gonzales breaks down the response to the recommendations as follows: "we first analyze the justification and assumed benefits upon which you base your recommendations to limit USCIS adjudication of asylum applications to those filed by applicants with valid immigration status and to charge asylum applicants filing fees. We also address in detail why we believe that virtual elimination of the affirmative asylum process would be detrimental to the nation's asylum system. We next address your recommendation that Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) assume responsibility for credible and reasonable fear screenings. Finally, we address in summary form the number of other recommendations embedded in the proposed regulation you put forward. As no explanation was included for those recommendations, we could not respond to their underlying rationales, but did carefully consider the merits of the proposed changes. We also provide an Executive Summary, given the length of this response."
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Gonzales, Emilio T.
2006-06-20
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Preparedness Planning for Home Health Care Providers
This is a disaster preparedness guide produced by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for "home health care providers to support their patients and their service animals effectively and professionally."
United States. Department of Homeland Security
2008-09-30
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President Bush Discusses Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 [October 3, 2008]
This document is a White House transcript of President Bush speech on October 3, 2008 where he discusses the emergency economic stabilization act.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-
2008-10-03
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NNSA Fact Sheet: U.S. Nuclear Weapons Stockpile
This National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) fact sheet discusses the current status of U.S. Nuclear Stockpiles. This document includes sections on Reducing the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile, Consolidating Nuclear Material, Consolidating the Nuclear Weapons Complex, and Maintaining the Nuclear Weapons Stockpile.
United States. National Nuclear Security Administration
2008-10
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Memorandum for the Director of National Intelligence: Designation of Officers of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to Act as Director of National Intelligence [October 3, 2008]
This document from the White House Press Secretary is a copy of a memorandum to the Director of National Intelligence on October 3, 2008.
United States. Office of the White House Press Secretary
Bush, George W. (George Walker), 1946-
2008-10-03
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Investigation Report: Petroleum Products Facility Incident, Brazoria County, Texas, May 1, 2002
"This investigation report examines a petroleum products facility incident that occurred on May 1, 2002, at the Third Coast Industries facility in Friendswood, Texas. A fire of relatively small magnitude destroyed the entire facility, which blended and packaged motor oils, hydraulic oils, and engine and other lubricants. This report identifies the root and contributing causes of the incident and makes recommendations on fire control, consensus standards, and fire codes." Key issues discussed include: fire control, consensus standards, and fire codes.
United States. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
2003-03
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Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland Security: Strategic Plan (Fiscal Years 2008-2013)
This report is a Strategic Plan published by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG), which highlights the OIG's plan for the next five years. More specifically, Inspector General Skinner states that "this plan reiterates our statutory missions, and communicates our performance goals and strategies for achieving those goals. [...] Our goals reflect our aims to aid the department in improving its performance and to improve our own internal operations and performance. [...] This plan establishes a broad vision for the next 5 years, while also providing a comprehensive focus on the major issues facing the department and our office."
United States. Department of Homeland Security. Office of Inspector General
2008-09
