Safeguarding Australia

A security awareness package has been launched to help the trucking industry stand watch against terrorism.

"There are thousands of professional truck drivers on Australian roads every day. They are well placed to see suspicious activity, and they often carry dangerous goods," Mr. Vaile said.

The security awareness package was developed by the Australian Trucking Association, the Office of Transport Security and the Australian Logistics Council.

It provides guidance about how the industry can improve its security and keep an eye out on the road. It includes a guide for trucking operators, a glove-box booklet, a cab sticker and a poster

It also asks operators to consider security measures such as:
Technological solutions, including satellite tracking and engine immobilisers
Checking doors and access panels after each stop
Controlling access to company depots, with ID cards, locks and a proper key register
Screening new drivers and obtaining references
Checking the legitimacy of new customers through their industry associations
Reporting suspicious activity to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400.

In addition, all truck drivers who need unescorted access to ports after 1 January 2007 will need to hold a Maritime Security Identification Card.

The full package can be accessed at www.atatruck.net.au/security

2 Mass Transport Security Conference Audio and Presentations

Selected audio files and powerpoint presentations of presenters from the 2006 Mass Transport Security Conference are now available.
http://www.masstransportsecurity.org.au/2006conference.htm

The conference was supported by

Key presenters were:

Audio and presentation files are available here.

Work is currently underway on developing the 2007 conference. This will be called the Mass Transport, Mass Gathering and Precinct Security 2007 Conference.
This year's conference will put the spot light on on the need to secure the transport system, the areas around it and the people who use it, with a focus on securing those large scale events for which mass transport are essential.
Details
7 - 8 November 2007
Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
www.masstransportsecurity.org.au

3 New air security regulations for carry on baggage

The Australian Government will introduce enhanced security measures to limit the amount of liquids, aerosols and gels that can be taken through the screening point at airports for international flights.

These measures only apply to flights to and from Australia and will come into effect from 31 March 2007.

The measures will harmonise Australian practice with international action that has recently been taken by the United States, Canada, and the European Union and the recommendations by the International Civil Aviation Organization.

4 National Archives release details of terrorist plot to assassinate former PM Bob Hawke

Bob Hawke, former Australian Prime Minister was named recently as an assassination target by a Palestinian terrorist who slipped into Australia in the 1970’s under a false name. Mr. Hawke was named among several other high profile figures, including the Israeli Ambassador and Jewish figures Isi Liebler and Sam Lipski. Mr. Hawke was president of the Australian Labor Party and ACTU at the time.

The revelations emerged in an ASIO report issued by the National Archives along with other thirty year old cabinet papers. The Palestinian Liberation Organisation militant was Abu-al-Rish. Following the release of the papers, the former Palestinian ambassador to Australia said that the ASIO was tricked by Israel into believing Bob Hawke was the target of a Palestinian assassination plat.
Details of the 1975 cabinet documents are here.
http://www.naa.gov.au/the_collection/cabinet/1975_cabinet/1975_cabinet.html

5 Passport checking begins switch to automated

From February 2007, passengers at Brisbane airport will be the first to trial the new SmartGate passport checking facilities ahead of a national roll-out set to emerge in Melbourne and Sydney towards the end of the year. Despite fears over technological accuracy and usability, the introduction follows a four year trial which has demonstrated benefits for passengers in efficiency and speed in clearing immigration.

6 New appointments

7 Upgrade of NSW police operations centre

Security preparations for next year’s Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum remain on track with the opening of the upgraded New South Wales Police Operations Centre (POC).
Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the NSW POC would play an integral role in keeping delegates safe during the APEC meetings and the Commonwealth had brought forward funding of almost $1 million with this in mind.

The Attorney-General said the planning process for APEC had identified that work had to be done on command, control and communications infrastructure systems in NSW.

A series of exercises next year would also ensure Australian Government agencies and State and Territory security agencies have their command, control and communications mechanisms in place and well tested for the events.

8 Evacuation of Sydney Developments

The NSW State Emergency Management Committee will conduct a series of field exercises to test the activation of the Sydney Safety Sites in support of the Sydney CBD Emergency Sub Plan. Called Exercises Road Runner, it will be held on 27 March and 24 April.
The objectives of Ex Road Runner are to

The State Emergency Management Committee has also released Addendum 2 - North Sydney to the Sydney CBD Emergency Sub Plan. The addendum is also available on-line at www.emergency.nsw.gov.au

Information
Brendan Beckett
Planning Officer
State Emergency Management Committee
Level 12, 52 Phillip St
SYDNEY NSW 2000
Ph (02) 8247 5913
Fax (02) 9252 9168
Mob: 0428 117 816
brendan.beckett@oes.nsw.gov.au

9 Black Market Rocket Launchers

Following the release of information stolen 66mm light anti-armour weapon, a range of measures is being taken immediately to strengthen security and confirm stockholdings in Defence.

These are:
Further issue of the 66mm light anti-armour weapon is suspended until end-January, except for authorised operational needs.
Current holdings of this light anti-armour weapon are being checked to ensure all munitions are accounted for. Some of these are deployed on operations; I am advised that all current stocks held within Australia are accounted for.
Historical accounting records for the light anti-armour weapon are also being examined

In addition, the government has agreed to a comprehensive audit of the security policies and practices that apply to Defence weapons, munitions and explosives will be undertaken. The initial focus of the audit is the security arrangements that apply to the 66mm light anti-armour weapon. A report from that initial phase will be completed by the end of January 2007. The second phase will be completed in the first half of 2007 and will examine all security aspects of the policies and practices that apply to the management of weapons, munitions and explosives.

Shadow Minister for Homeland Security Arch Bevis has branded reports that Australian defence force weapons were unaccounted for and may have fallen into the hands of terrorists as extremely serious and alarming. Mr. Bevis has called for an urgent investigation by the Department of Defence, ASIO, the AFP and the NSW police.

On Friday, 5 January, the Australian Federal Police reported that after an extended joint operation conducted between New South Wales Police, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), a man has been arrested in relation to his alleged involvement with seven stolen rocket launchers.

Below is the media release.
NSW Police officers, AFP agents and ASIO members have been jointly investigating information suggesting people already in custody and charged with a terrorism-related offence had procured a number of Light Anti-Armour Weapons.

On 30 September 2006, police recovered one of the weapons which is believed to be the property of the Australian Defence Force, as part of the ongoing investigation.

The man arrested today, has been charged with 17 offences which include two counts of dishonestly receiving stolen property under section 132.1(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995, and seven counts each of unauthorised possession of a prohibited weapon under section 7(1) and the unauthorised supply of a prohibited weapon under section 23 (3) of the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998.

As a result of a search warrant conducted at the same residence in Lumeah on 15 December 2006, the man has also been charged with possession of ammunition under section 65 of the Ammunition and Firearms Act 1996.

Enquiries are continuing in relation to the original theft of the seven rocket launchers.

Below is a letter from the Australia Defence Association on the issue.
The launchers were in fact stolen from the manufacturer not the military.

The defence force now deserves an apology from NSW Police Minister John Watkins, various federal Opposition spokesmen, the Greens and the Australian Democrats.

In their sensationalist haste to score political points against the current federal government they all ignored the historical record and jumped the gun (excuse the pun) by wrongly blaming the apolitical defence force before all the facts were in.

Similarly, all the weapons confiscated in December by police from a soldier in Victoria were civilian ones and the expended (and subsequently useless) disposable rocket launcher tube recently discovered at a tip near Rockhampton was a Singaporean Army one improperly dumped by a civil disposal contractor after a Singaporean exercise at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area .

The record clearly shows that all previous criminal use of rocket launchers involved ones smuggled in from overseas and that the state police forces generally have far worse records than the military for firearms thefts , losses, accidents and incidents. John Watkins take note.

Could we please have accurate and historically informed media coverage of such issues and less sensationalist claims from political barrow pushers - especially where they all take cheap and wholly underserved shots at the ADF.

Neil James, Executive Director, Australia Defence Association

10 Queensland forms emergency strike team

The Queensland government has established an emergency strike team - a specialist unit that consists of the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) intensive care paramedics; Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) firefighters; and QFRS scientific officers.

The team will advise and lead the emergency service response to major incidents of a suspicious nature.

The team of highly-trained personnel provides expertise across a number of disciplines, including special operations response, mass casualty and major event planning, aero medical support, technical rescue and HAZMAT (hazardous material) incidents.

Major strike team members include:
QFRS Special Operations firefighters will provide advice on chemical, biological, radiological, incendiary and explosive incidents. They will also gather information, plan for operational use, gather samples and provide decontamination.
QAS Special Operations and Mass Casualty Planning Unit paramedics can establish two Emergency Support Units that can support up to 50 patients at each, and a Command Unit equipped with state-of-the-art communication facilities.
QFRS Scientific Unit personnel provide advice to all agencies on managing hazardous materials to enhance the safety of responders and the community.

11 APEC economies briefed on Australia’s security arrangements

Security personnel from across the Asia Pacific region were in Australia during the week of 13 December 2006 to be briefed on security arrangements for next year’s Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock said the APEC Australia 2007 Security Conference had allowed delegates to meet with APEC 2007 Taskforce representatives and discuss the organisational, logistical and security arrangements for the APEC Australia 2007 year.

After two days of comprehensive briefings, delegates were shown some of Australia’s capabilities in action. A display by NSW Police was held at HMAS Penguin and Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police assets are at Holsworthy Barracks.

12 PM identifies national security as key challenge 2007 confronting Australia

In his New Year’s message, the Prime Minister John Howard stated that “we should bear in mind the overriding importance of the security of Australia”. Other important issues included economic reform, water and education.

Mr. Howard said that Australia “must continue the build-up of our defence forces that has been underway for some time - to deal not only with potential threats to Australia which fortunately in the near-term appear very unlikely except in the area of terrorism, but also to give us the capacity to act with our coalition partners and also to assist in trouble spots in our own immediate region”.

13 Australia takes steps to cut-off money laundering and terrorism funding

Australia’s financial sector will have greater protections against money laundering and terrorist financing following the passage of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Bill 2006.

The changes are based on a risk-based approach and have been developed through extensive consultation with industry.

The reforms introduce a new regulatory and reporting regime, which will expand the amount of information available to the nation’s financial intelligence unit, the Australian Transactions Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).

In addition to its enhanced role as a financial intelligence unit, AUSTRAC will now have a significantly expanded role as the national Anti-Money Laundering Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) regulator with supervisory, monitoring and enforcement functions over a diverse range of industry sectors. AUSTRAC will also have a major role in educating and awareness raising providing guidance on AML/CTF compliance for businesses.

The regulatory regime will be introduced progressively over the next two years to allow business sufficient time to implement the measures.

The legislation will enable Australia to meet the recommended standards issued by the Financial Action Task Force, the international body which develops and promotes policies to fight terrorism and money-laundering.

14 MSIC implementation on 1 January

The introduction of the new Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC) has taken effect as of 1 January 2007.

Under the Maritime Transport and Offshore Facilities Security Act (2005) anyone requiring unescorted or unmonitored access to a maritime security zone, such as certain areas within a port, is required to have an MSIC.

15 Navy - New Rules of Engagement

New rules of engagement have been approved by Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, giving the Navy wide ranging powers including permission to fire at illegal fishing boats in response to the increasing sophistication of foreign fishing vessels and an increase in dangerous behaviors threatening Australian personnel.

The new terms of engagement include
The use of capsicum spray
The use of tear gas, distraction explosives and firing
Long-range acoustic explosives
Under certain circumstances patrol boats will be allowed to fire directly to disable a vessel which is seeking to escape apprehension

Australia and Indonesia have also agreed to joint naval border patrols, to crack down on illegal fishing and people smuggling from Indonesia, as part of a new security treaty signed on November 13.

Shadow Minister for Homeland Security Mr. Arch Bevis has said the Opposition supports the expansion of the Navy’s rules of engagement to combat illegal fishing in Australia’s exclusive economic zone.

However, Mr. Bevis remains concerned that:
border protection arrangements remain fractured
Australian Navy is just one of a number of agencies involved in maritime border protection whilst the multiple agencies operate under a myriad of different laws. For example, customs patrol vessels have only recently been fitted with fixed weapons and operate under a different Minister with different rules of engagement to the Navy.
The Border Protection Command (BPC) does not have statutory existence.

16 Boosting indigenous communities’ resilience to natural disasters

The Queensland Government will work with indigenous communities in far North Queensland in an effort to improve their ability to cope with the impact of cyclones and other natural disasters.

Queensland Government officers will be visiting the remote communities to see if infrastructure can be improved or modified to ensure indigenous communities can function after a disaster. The announcement is part of the 2006 Cyclone Summit Living with cyclones prepared hosted by Mr. Beattie at James Cook University, Cairns.

The first of the assessments being conducted as part of this initiative are currently taking place in Wujal Wujal while other communities will be assessed within six months.

Communities involved in the initiative include:
Cape York - Aurukun, Coen, Hopevale, Kowanyama, Lockhart River, Mapoon, Pormpuraaw and Wujal Wujal
Torres Strait - Badu Island, Boigu Island, Darnley Island, Dauan Island, Hammond Island, Kubin, Mabuiag Island, Murray Island, Poruma Island, Saibai Island, Stephen Island, St Pauls, Warraber Island, Yam Island and Yorke Island.

17 Disaster response training will ensure high state of readiness for community staff

The Queensland Government’s Department of Communities staff who help communities after cyclones hit are to receive specialised training to ensure they are ready for whatever emergency situation comes their way.

The Department of Communities responsibilities include providing service to the community and developing policy on community engagement, volunteering, crime prevention, family and domestic violence prevention, family support, individual support (including gambling support and management of public intoxication), homelessness, disaster recovery and support to non-government organisations.

The Department of Communities disaster recovery training strategy will ensure staff are well prepared to provide timely, coordinated and effective community recovery services.

The training will increase the knowledge and skills of staff across the department’s 10 regions so they can respond quickly and efficiently to different levels and types of events. While Cyclone Larry is the most recent example of disaster recovery assistance, staff have helped people in the aftermath of bushfires, floods and rail crashes.

Senior personnel would be trained at Emergency Management Australia College at Mt Macedon, Victoria. Training for other staff will be conducted jointly by the Department’s Disaster Recovery Management Unit, and Emergency Management Queensland in the Department of Emergency Services.

Another project will develop the support capability for different events and during progressive phases in disaster recovery.

18 Government submits bill to amend fish resources management to help prevent foreign incursions

The Commonwealth Government has submitted an amendment to the fish resource management bill.

Aside from the exploitation of fisheries resources, there are consequential threats and risks to Australia’s sovereign interests through illegal foreign fishing incursions including the following:
border security
economic viability of domestic fisheries
economic viability of remote communities
natural resource management interests in marine reserves and protected areas
protected and endangered species
ecosystem balance
biosecurity through the introduction of marine pests and disease outbreak (posing a significant risk to pearling, aquaculture and maritime industries)
plant, insect and animal disease introduction (posing a significant risk to agriculture, conservation and possibly, human health)
introduction of high risk infectious human diseases such as Dengue Fever, Malaria, Cholera, Hepatitis and Tuberculosis
theft of product and farm gear from pearl culture farms
physical threat to domestic fishers, charter operators, recreational fishers remote communities and government officers
increased marine safety, search and rescue and emergency evacuation incidents
potential threat posed by terrorism against assets such as oil and gas installations and
Criminal involvement of fishermen or others to smuggle illegal immigrants, drugs or weapons into remote parts of the country.

The Bill makes four key amendments to the Fish Resources Management Act 1994.

19 JOPC becomes Border Protection Command

The Joint Offshore Protection Command (JOPC) was renamed as the Border Protection Command in late 2006. BCP brings together the resources and expertise of Customs and Defence to create a single maritime surveillance, response and interdiction agency.

The BPC is not charged with the enforcement of any specific legislation - it relies on client legislation. Its purpose is to strengthen planning, as well as command and control arrangements for military offshore maritime protection functions as well as civil maritime surveillance and response.

BPC focuses on that area of ocean that stretches from a point at which vessels can be identified as destined for Australian waters, through to the high water mark on the Australian mainland or the port limits. The States and the Northern Territory, however, remain responsible for initial counter-terrorism incident response and security arrangements within ports, while the direct protection of each offshore platform through the provision of appropriate on-site security measures remains an industry responsibility.

The BPC’s mission is to safeguard Australia's national interests through the conduct of surveillance and coordination of maritime response in the Australian EEZ and adjacent areas and to prepare for, support and/or command directed offshore maritime, joint and specified operations to defend Australia and its interests.

20 Regional Tsunami warning system opened in Canberra

The Geoscience Australia ‘operations hub’ of the Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (ATWC) has been opened in Canberra. The Geoscience Australia Operations Hub of ATWC will detect earthquakes in the region and determine whether they are likely to cause a tsunami by examining the magnitude, location, depth and other seismic characteristics.

The Bureau of Meteorology will collect tide gauge data, and the two agencies would work together to determine whether a tsunami warning should be issued. The Geoscience Australia Operations Hub will run 24/7 operations, monitoring around 39 Australian seismic stations and around 70 overseas stations at any one time, with this information being shared with other countries in the region

The full capabilities of the ATWC will be launched in mid-2007, an involving additional support from Emergency Management Australia (EMA) and the Department of Foreign Affairs/AusAID.

21 $174million upgrade for Australian Marine Complex

A $174million infrastructure upgrade at the Australian Marine Complex (AMC) in Henderson is expected to create up to 3,000 jobs over the next 10 years. WA Premier Alan Carpenter said the State Government’s significant new investment would build on the AMC’s capabilities as the nation’s premier shipbuilding, repair and maintenance facility.

The project would include the construction of a floating dock, a new transfer system, dredging of a 17m-deep basin to accommodate the floating dock, an extension of the existing eastern wharf, site works and electricity upgrades.

22 Upcoming events

Security Professionals Congress, 9-10, May Melbourne. Security Professions Congress 2007 will be the nation’s most important forum for Australia security professionals. The Congress is aimed at security managers and advisors, and is designed to provide you with information on the latest trends relevant to your discipline, an opportunity to influence the future of the security profession, and a forum to build your network of security practitioners through small afternoon workshops. www.securityprofessionals.org.au
IP Surveillance Technical Conference. 8 dates around Australia in February and March. Join 6 industry experts in 3 fast-paced technical sessions which provide resellers and integrators with the latest in critical information and advice from the world’s leading IP connectivity and security system manufacturers. In each session we take a look at the hardware and software used; how to design, configure and install IP-based surveillance and monitoring systems. Information Simon Hall, Product Manager - IP Surveillance, LAN 1 Pty Ltd, tel 02 9318 4200, www.lan1.com.au, http://www.lan1.com.au/surveillance_IPS_TC_Home.asp
International Emergency Management Conference: Reaching Beyond Catastrophe – The Return Journey, Adelaide Convention Centre, 13-16 March 2007, Adelaide, South Australia, www.2007wpfg.com/conference.cfm
Global Security Asia 2007, 27-29 March 2007, Singapore Expo Hall 2, Singapore, www.austradeevents.com.au/gsa2007
Airline Security, 19-20 March 2007, Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne, www.informa.com.au/aviationsecurity
Risk Management Institute of Australia Security Special Interest Group and Annual Meeting, - will be holding its monthly meetings in conjunction with ASIS Victorian Chapter 081. The sessions are held on the last Thursday of the month and will recommence on the 22 February 2007. Details www.rmia.org.au

23 Newly released reports

Good Security–Good Business

Attorney-General’s Department.
A booklet has been released to raise awareness among small and medium-sized businesses of the importance of being prepared for any kind of incident, including a terrorist attack.

Copies of Good Security–Good Business can be downloaded from www.tisn.gov.au. Hard
copies can be ordered via the website or on 1300 656 863.

Protecting Australia Against Terrorism 2006

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The second edition of the Commonwealth’s Protecting Australia Against Terrorism booklet has been released. It updates the 2004 edition. The booklet outlines Australia’s strategies on intelligence, law enforcement, border and transport security, defence and emergency management.

Protecting Australia Against Terrorism 2006 can be obtained from the National Counter-
Terrorism Committee Secretariat on 02 6271 5770 (email: NCTCSecretariat@pmc.gov.au), or
downloaded from www.pmc.gov.au/publications/index.cfm.

Blast simulation of a large mine blast under a ship

Analytical Service Pty Ltd has produced a simulation technical note examining a large mine blast under a ship. The ship has a length of 120m and the total displacement of 4400 metric tonnes.
Information Dr Gregory Szuladzinski, FIEAust, www.simulate-events.com
The simulation is here.

Report on the future of Australia’s naval shipbuilding and repair industry

Report by Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence & Trade’s inquiry into Australia’s naval shipbuilding and repair industry
The inquiry was commissioned with the aim of investigating the current status of the Naval Ship Building and Repair Industry. The inquiry found that the Australian industrial base presently has the capacity to construct large naval vessels. However, the sustainability of this capability over the long term depends on the overall workload in the NSR sector comprising ship construction, component manufacture and through life support.

Current Defence demand for shipbuilding activities over the next decade is likely to jeopardise industry sustainability, affecting Australia’s ability to undertake many activities in an efficient and effective manner. Whether or not Australia’s NSR sector can be sustained at a level to ensure self-reliance in war fighting capability is a separate question, but of greater relevance for strategic planning purposes, and is a major theme of this submission.

This submission concluded that constructing major warships in Australia has many benefits including:
effecting a more efficient naval repair and maintenance capability
contributing to the achievement of the strategic defence objective of self-reliance; and
Significant flow-on benefits to the wider economy and the community.

These benefits support decisions to build major warships in Australia even where costs of acquisition may be lower overseas. A public value approach is recommended as a superior framework for making procurement decisions.

To maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of in-country construction, and to ensure that Australian industry is sustainable at a level consistent with self-reliance, the Commonwealth must take a strategic approach to development of the industry, particularly in the next decade where the construction workload is lower than in the recent past.
Strategic actions include better planning and management of demand and assisting local shipbuilders to tap into export markets.

Report identifies rise in European ‘Islamophobia’

Report by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia
A new report has been released by the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia which details the divides between the EU mainstream and the estimated 13 million Muslims living in Europe. It seeks to provide a grass roots view of the complexities blocking efforts to bridge the divide between the communities. Muslims across Europe are confronting a rise in Islamophobia, manifested in increased violence and situations where Muslims are often disproportionately represented in poor housing conditions, education levels and employment statistics. Some of these shortfalls were attributed to increased discrimination.

The report urges EU nations to develop clearer legal frameworks for Muslim cultural and religious institutions and ways to make more public funds available to Islamic community groups. The report reinforces the need for growing urgency in tackling religious tensions and suspicions across Europe.

Report available here

Report identifies U.S. oil reliance as threat to power

Report by the Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on foreign relations has released a report examining the consequences of dependence on imported energy for US foreign policy. Since the United States both consumes and imports more oil than any other country, the Task Force concentrated its deliberations on matters of petroleum. The report concludes that a lack of sustained attention to energy issues is undercutting U.S. foreign policy and national security.

Report available here

Transforming the US military implications for the Asia-Pacific

Report by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute
Under the stewardship of Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, transformation became the guiding principle of the US military. Ongoing developments and breakthroughs in such areas as intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, precision-strike, stealth technologies and command and control have made the US military the most formidable armed force in the world.

US defence transformation will affect a number of critical regional security concerns, such as alliance relationships and interoperability, regional competition and cooperation, and local force modernisation activities.

For Australia, there might be hard choices to make in how far we should adapt our military capabilities given US transformation strategies and their implications.

Report can be ordered here

US-VISIT Program Faces Strategic, Operational, and Technological Challenges at Land Ports of Entry

Report by the US Government Accountability Office
The US US Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a report on the VISIT Program. It reviewed the implementation at land ports of entry (POEs) facilities and in doing so GAO analyzed: (1) efforts to implement US-VISIT entry capability; (2) efforts to implement US-VISIT exit capability; and (3) DHS's efforts to define how US-VISIT fits with other emerging border security initiatives.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the U.S. Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology (US-VISIT) program to collect, maintain, and share data on selected foreign nationals entering and exiting the United States at air, sea and land ports of entry. These data, including biometric identifiers like digital fingerprints, are to be used to screen persons against watch lists, verify visitors' identities, and record arrival and departure.

Report available here

Manual for First Responders to a Radiological Emergency

Report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
This report, published as part of the IAEA Emergency Preparedness and Response Series, replaces and builds on IAEA-TECDOC-1162 in the area of early response and first responders' actions. It takes account of the lessons learned from using IAEA-TECDOC-1162, previous emergencies and research, while ensuring consistency with the IAEA Safety Standards Series No. GS-R-2.

It provides guidance in the form of action guides, instructions, and supporting data that can be easily applied by a State to build a basic capability to respond to a radiological emergency.

Report is available here

Review of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Progress in Adopting and Enforcing Equipment Standards for First Responders

Report by the DHS Office of the Inspector General
This report examines DHS’ progress in adopting standards for first responder equipment. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, statistical analyses, and a review of applicable documents.
Report available here

Best Practices for Reducing the Potential for Progressive Collapse in Buildings

Report by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) worked with experts in the design, construction, and operation of buildings to prepare Best Practices for Reducing the Potential for Progressive Collapse in Buildings. Progressive collapse is the spread of an initial local failure in a structure until it results in the collapse of the entire building or a disproportionately large part of it.

Items featured include:
An acceptable-risk approach to progressive collapse,
A review of design methods used to enhance a building’s resistance to progressive collapse
A look at progressive-collapse provisions in building standards around the world
Case studies of progressive-collapse events triggered by abnormal loading (where building integrity is compromised by unexpected hazards from explosions, aircraft or vehicle impacts, foundation failures construction errors, etc.)

Further information available here

Critical Infrastructure Protection: Progress Coordinating Government and Private Sector Efforts Varies by Sectors' Characteristics (GAO-07-39)

Report by the United States Government Accountability Office
As Hurricane Katrina so forcefully demonstrated, the nation’s critical infrastructures and key resources have been vulnerable to a wide variety of threats. Because 85% percent of the nation’s critical infrastructure is owned by the private sector, it is vital that the public and private sectors work together to protect these assets. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for coordinating a national protection strategy including formation of government and private sector councils as a collaborating tool. The councils, among other things, are to identify their most critical assets, assess the risks they face, and identify protective measures, in sector-specific plans that comply with DHS’s National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP).

The GAO report examined
The extent to which these councils have been established;
The key facilitating factors and challenges affecting the formation of the councils
The overall status of the plans and key facilitating factors and challenges encountered in developing them.

Report available here

CRS report: national asset database

Report by the United States Government Accountability Office
The Office of Infrastructure Protection (OIP) in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been developing and maintaining a National Asset Database. The Database contains information on over 77,000 individual assets, ranging from dams, hazardous materials sites, and nuclear power plants to local festivals, petting zoos, and sporting good stores. The presence of a large number of entries of the latter type (i.e. assets generally perceived as having more local importance than national importance) has attracted much criticism from the press and from Members of Congress. Many critics of the Database have assumed that it is (or should be) DHS’s list of the nation’s most critical assets and are concerned that, in its current form, it is being used inappropriately as the basis upon which federal resources, including infrastructure protection grants, are allocated.

According to DHS, both of those assumptions are wrong.
DHS characterizes the National Asset Database not as a list of critical assets, but rather as a national asset inventory providing the ‘universe’ from which various lists of critical assets are produced.
The Department maintains that it represents just the first step in DHS’s risk management process outlined in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan.
Accepting the DHS descriptions of the National Asset Database, questions and issues remain. Assuring the quality of the information in the Database is important and a never-ending task.
If DHS not only keeps the less than nationally significant assets in the Database but adds more of them to make the inventory complete, assuring the quality of the data on these assets may dominate the cost of maintaining the Database, while providing uncertain value.
Finally, the information currently contained in the Database carries with it no legal obligations on the owner/operators of the asset. If, however, the Database becomes the basis for regulatory action in the future, what appears in the Database takes on more immediate consequences for both DHS and the owner/operators.

Report available here

Assessment of the National Capital Region Strategic Plan

Report by the United States Government Accountability Office
The September 2006 National Capital Region homeland security strategic plan includes six characteristics considered to be desirable for a regional homeland security strategy. The plan includes regional priorities and presents the rationale for the goals and related objectives and initiatives and includes information on:

How the plan addresses national priorities and targeted capabilities from the National Preparedness Goal
An emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) assessment of local and regional preparedness and emergency management capabilities against recognized national standards
The DHS’s Nationwide Plan Review of emergency plans

The plan structure is more streamlined, containing an overview, core plan, and detailed appendix with information on factor such as risks, costs, and roles and responsibilities. However, the substance of the information within these six characteristics could be improved to guide decision makers. Additional information could be provided regarding the type, nature, scope, or timing of planned goals, objectives, and initiatives; performance expectations and measures; designation of priority initiatives to meet regional risk and needed capabilities; lead organizations for initiative implementation; resources and investments; and operational commitment. Two examples: (1) the plan does not reflect a comprehensive risk assessment for the region, which, when completed, may alter some of the priorities in the current plan; and (2) although the NCR plan defines objectives as being key, measurable milestones for reaching each goal, many objectives include language such as “strengthen,” “enhance,” “increase,” “improve,” and “expand.” Several of our observations regarding potential plan substance are the same as those we provided in our March 2006 testimony.

GAO Testimony available here

EMAC Hurricane Katrina after Action Report

Report by the National Emergency Management Association
The National Emergency Management Association (NEMA) has released its 2005 Hurricane Season Response After-Action Report for the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). The report focuses heavily on the response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which accounted for 97.3 percent of the missions and 99.6 percent of the personnel assigned during 2005.

Report available here

CDC Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has critiqued its response to Hurricane Katrina and is taking actions to ensure that the agency is better prepared in the future. Atlanta based CDC is talking generally about the problems it identified, saying they are being addressed with better plans, communication, and training. The CDC dispatched 700 staffers to help prevent disease and care for those who were displaced, and has received praise from local officials for playing a critical role in vaccinating residents and monitoring for disease outbreaks. Behind the scenes, the CDC ran into problems commanding and controlling its response, the agency acknowledged in a document posted on its website. While the CDC was in charge of only a small portion of the federal response to Katrina, its performance is, in the agency's words, a "gauge" of its ability to coordinate logistics in a major public health crisis. CDC officials said they are taking a wide range of actions as a result of lessons learned from Katrina to better prepare the agency for a crisis, such as a flu pandemic.

Information about the CDC available here

FEMA Policy Changes after Hurricane Katrina: Summary of Statutory Provisions

Report by the Congressional Research Service
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently published a new report on Federal Emergency Management Policy Changes after Hurricane Katrina:

The report summarizes the recent legislation and the impact on FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. Reports issued by committees of the 109th Congress, the White House, federal offices of Inspector General, and the Government Accountability Office (GAO), among others, concluded that the losses caused by Hurricane Katrina and other disasters were due, in part, to deficiencies such as questionable leadership decisions and capabilities, organizational failures, overwhelmed preparation and communication systems, and inadequate statutory authorities.

From these conclusions, the 109th Congress revised federal emergency management policies vested in the President; reorganized the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); and enhanced and clarified the mission, functions, and authorities of the agency, as well as those of its parent, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Six statutes enacted by the 109th Congress are notable in that they contain changes that apply to future federal emergency management actions. Most of these statutes contain relatively few changes to federal authorities related to emergencies and disasters. The Post-Katrina Act, however, contains many changes that will have long-term consequences for FEMA and other federal entities. That statute reorganizes FEMA, expands its statutory authority, and imposes new conditions and requirements on the operations of the agency.

Report available here

Project Management Methodology for Post Disaster Reconstruction

The Project Management Institute (PMI) recently published a CD on Project Management Methodology for Post Disaster Reconstruction, which is being offered free of charge to the Crisis Management Community.

More information about PMI can be found here

Survey Reveals Gaps in Disaster Preparedness

The National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC), a division of The Texas A&M University System’s Texas Engineering Extension Service in College Station, TX, commissioned a survey to discover trends in disaster-preparation efforts at large companies in six industries: commercial real estate, healthcare, energy, chemical, entertainment, and transportation. According to the survey, the commercial real estate industry is the least prepared in terms of response planning, training, and conducting exercises. Key findings of the survey include:

Within the past year, 77 percent of respondents across all six industries have updated disaster-response and recovery plans.
Although most commercial real estate professionals feel prepared for disaster, 40 percent have never conducted exercises to test their disaster plans.
More than one-quarter (28 percent) of those who responded from the commercial real estate industry do not train employees on disaster-preparedness plans.
In the entertainment industry, 37 percent reported they have never conducted disaster exercises.
The energy industry appears most prepared, according to the survey. Only 19 percent of respondents said that their companies have not conducted disaster exercises in the past year.
Large companies (those with 10,000-plus employees) were most satisfied with their plans (44 percent).

Results available here

Agroterrorism: Threats and Preparedness

Report by the Congressional Research Service
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) recently released a report, Agroterrorism: Threats and Preparedness that includes an overview of agroterrorism, including the federal recognition of agroterrorism and a brief history of agricultural bio weapons; a section on Congressional and Executive Branch responses to agroterrorism including discussion of the Bioterrorism Preparedness Act; and sections on federal funding to respond to agroterrorism, possible pathogens in an agroterrorist attack, deterrence and prevention, detection and response, recovery and management, and finally issues for congress to address.