The 9/11 attacks have drawn attention to the security of many institutions, facilities, and systems in the U.S., incl. the nation¿s water supply and water quality infrastructure. These systems have long been recognized as being potentially vulnerable to terrorist attacks of various types, including physical disruption, bioterrorism/chem. contamination, and cyber attack. Damage or destruction by terrorist attack could disrupt the delivery of vital human services in this country, threatening public health and the environment, or possibly causing loss of life. This report presents an overview of this large and diverse sector, describes security-related actions by the government and private sector since 9/11, and discusses additional policy issues and responses. Illus.
Damage to or destruction of the nation's water supply and water quality infrastructure by a terrorist attack could disrupt the delivery of vital human services in this country, threaten public health, and even cause loss of life. Across the country, water infrastructure systems extend over vast areas, and ownership and operational responsibility are both public and private but are overwhelmingly nonfederal. Since the 9/11 attacks, federal dam operators and water and wastewater utilities have been under heightened security. However, there still are no federal standards or agreed-upon industry best practices within the water infrastructure sector to govern readiness, response, and recovery. This report presents an overview of this large and diverse sector, describes security-related actions taken by the government and the private sector since September 11th, and discusses additional policy issues and responses, including congressional concerns. Policy makers are considering a number of initiatives, including enhanced physical security, better communication and coordination, and research. A key issue is how additional protections and resources directed at public and private sector priorities will be funded. In response, since FY2002 Congress has provided $740 million in appropriations for security at water infrastructure facilities and passed a bill requiring drinking water utilities to conduct security vulnerability assessments (P.L. 107-188). When Congress created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in 2002 (P.L. 107-297), it gave DHS responsibilities to coordinate information to secure the nation's critical infrastructure, including the water sector. Under Homeland Security Presidential Directive-7, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the lead federal agency for protecting drinking water and wastewater utility systems.
Damage to or destruction of the nation's water supply and water quality infrastructure by terrorist attack could disrupt the delivery of vital human services in this country, threatening public health and the environment, or possibly causing loss of life. Interest in such problems has increased since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Across the country, water infrastructure systems extend over vast areas, and ownership and operation responsibility are both public and private but are overwhelmingly nonfederal. Since the attacks, federal dam operators and water and wastewater utilities have been under heightened security conditions and are evaluating security plans and measures. Policymakers are considering a number of options, including enhanced physical security, better communication and coordination, and research. A key issue is how additional protections and resources directed at public and private sector priorities will be funded. In response, Congress has approved $410 million in funds for security at water infrastructure facilities (P.L. 107-117, P.L. 108-7, and P.L. 108-11) and passed a bill requiring drinking water utilities to conduct security vulnerability assessments (P.L. 107-188). Congress also created a Department of Homeland Security with responsibilities to coordinate information to secure the nation s critical infrastructure, including the water sector (P.L. 107-297). Continuing attention to these issues in the 108th Congress is anticipated. Current interest is focusing on bills concerning security of wastewater utilities (H.R. 866, S. 1039). This report will be updated as warranted.
Terrorism, sadly, seems here to stay and to stay with a vengeance. It turns out that the United States was not prepared for it and now must play catch-up. In doing so, even agreement on how to define terrorism is in doubt and what to do about it seems beyond comprehension at the moment. This volume presents a broad cross section of analyses of weaknesses and actions in the ongoing battle including cyberterrorism, international terrorism, and societal implications of terrorism.
This report examines the possibility of damage to or destruction of the nation's water supply and water quality infrastructure by terrorist attack or natural disaster, which could disrupt the delivery of vital human services in this country, threatening public health and the environment, or possibly causing loss of life. Interest in such problems increased after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States.
The electric power delivery system that carries electricity from large central generators to customers could be severely damaged by a small number of well-informed attackers. The system is inherently vulnerable because transmission lines may span hundreds of miles, and many key facilities are unguarded. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the fact that the power grid, most of which was originally designed to meet the needs of individual vertically integrated utilities, is being used to move power between regions to support the needs of competitive markets for power generation. Primarily because of ambiguities introduced as a result of recent restricting the of the industry and cost pressures from consumers and regulators, investment to strengthen and upgrade the grid has lagged, with the result that many parts of the bulk high-voltage system are heavily stressed. Electric systems are not designed to withstand or quickly recover from damage inflicted simultaneously on multiple components. Such an attack could be carried out by knowledgeable attackers with little risk of detection or interdiction. Further well-planned and coordinated attacks by terrorists could leave the electric power system in a large region of the country at least partially disabled for a very long time. Although there are many examples of terrorist and military attacks on power systems elsewhere in the world, at the time of this study international terrorists have shown limited interest in attacking the U.S. power grid. However, that should not be a basis for complacency. Because all parts of the economy, as well as human health and welfare, depend on electricity, the results could be devastating. Terrorism and the Electric Power Delivery System focuses on measures that could make the power delivery system less vulnerable to attacks, restore power faster after an attack, and make critical services less vulnerable while the delivery of conventional electric power has been disrupted.
In the modern age of urbanization, the mass population is becoming progressively reliant on technical infrastructures. These industrial buildings provide integral services to the general public including the delivery of energy, information and communication technologies, and maintenance of transport networks. The safety and security of these structures is crucial as new threats are continually emerging. Safety and Security Issues in Technical Infrastructures is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on the modernization of occupational security and safety practices within information technology-driven buildings. While highlighting topics such as explosion process safety, nanotechnology, and infrastructural risk analysis, this publication explores current risks and uncertainties and the raising of comprehensive awareness for experts in this field. This book is ideally designed for security managers, safety personnel, civil engineers, architects, researchers, construction professionals, strategists, educators, material scientists, property owners, and students.
In their Second Edition of Cases in Intelligence Analysis: Structured Analytic Techniques in Action, accomplished instructors and intelligence practitioners Sarah Miller Beebe and Randolph H. Pherson offer robust, class-tested cases studies of events in foreign intelligence, counterintelligence, terrorism, homeland security, law enforcement, and decision-making support. Designed to give analysts-in-training an opportunity to apply structured analytic techniques and tackle real-life problems, each turnkey case delivers a captivating narrative, discussion questions, recommended readings, and a series of engaging analytic exercises.
This book presents articles, analyses and Congressional testimony which has been carefully edited, excerpted and indexed with regard to actual and potential terrorist attacks. Excerpts are also presented from reports issued well before 11 September 2001 which predicted the country's vulnerability and which were promptly buried in the graveyard of unread and unacted-upon reports. Questions are raised whether the dozens of federal agencies charged with aspects of homeland security can ever be co-ordinated by anyone without seriously reshuffling various government agencies which may turn out to be more difficult than eliminating terrorism.
Water and wastewater utility managers will find expert guidance on all issues regarding security and emergency preparedness and response in this book. The terrorist attacks on the US of Sept. 11, 2001, as well as destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, brought heightened concern over the security and emergency preparedness of America's water supply infrastructure--concerns which remain high to this day.
