U.S. Response:  U.S. Company to Begin Producing New Radiation Detector

The U.S. company ORTEC is set to begin production of a handheld radiation detector developed by the U.S. Energy Department’s Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Energy Daily reported today (see GSN, March 3).

Laboratory officials yesterday signed an agreement with ORTEC representatives on commercializing the RadScout radiation detector, which laboratory officials have said is both portable and easy to use.  In addition to detecting radiation, the detector uses software to identify what materials are likely producing the radiation, according to the laboratory’s Michael Dunning.

The RadScout is primarily designed to detect gamma rays and X-rays, but it also is equipped with a small neutron detector, Dunning said.  “This will address the vast majority of radioactive materials,” he said (Energy Daily, June 20).

Back to top

U.S. Response:  U.S., Industry Representatives Meet to Discuss Chemical Plant Security

More than 400 U.S. and industry chemical and transportation security experts met yesterday in Philadelphia for the start of a three-day “summit” on improving security at U.S. chemical plants, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (see GSN, May 13).

“Let me be very, very clear.  If we do not talk about the actions we are taking, and publicly illustrate our commitment, then we will allow our detractors to attack this industry and erode the effectiveness of our efforts,” Greg Lebedev, chief of the American Chemistry Council, said during his keynote address.

Representatives from the U.S. Homeland Security Department urged chemical companies to make plant security improvements a higher priority.

“You and your employees must understand what’s at stake,” said Sally Canfield, a Homeland Security policy director.  “That’s half the battle.  Too many companies believe security is a low priority, if it’s a priority to them at all,” Canfield said.

During the first day of the summit, many chemical industry executives agreed that many of the largest — and potentially most dangerous — chemical plants lacked intensive security measures, such as armed guards, the Tribune-Review reported.  Industry executives said, however, that they have made some improvements in protecting both plant workers and area residents.

“The chemical industry recognizes it has a responsibility,” said Joseph Acker, president of the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturers Association.  “We know we have to act quickly and we’ve come a long way,” Acker said (Carl Prine, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, June 18).

Back to top

U.S. Response I:  Customs Official Defends Cargo Screening Policy

CongressDaily

WASHINGTON — President Bush’s top customs official yesterday defended the administration’s strategy to safeguard against terrorist attacks through cargo entering the United States, in the face of criticism from Democratic members of a House panel who charged the plan left serious breaches in the nation’s security (see GSN, June 12).

Robert Bonner, commissioner of the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection in the new Homeland Security Department, touted agreements with the host nations of 19 of the 20 largest-shipping ports to U.S. shores that allow U.S. Customs agents stationed overseas to prescreen containers identified as high-risk, in a hearing of the House Homeland Security Infrastructure and Border Security Subcommittee.

Senior subcommittee Democrat Jim Turner (Texas), however, charged that Customs was not vigilant enough in questioning entrants to the United States across its Mexican and Canadian borders, citing findings from GAO in which investigators were able to enter this country with forged identification.

Representative Edward Markey (D-Mass.) assailed Bonner because Customs does not screen U.S.-bound cargo traveling on passenger jets before it enters the United States.  Bonner replied that this was the jurisdiction of the Transportation Safety Administration, not Customs.

Of the 20 largest ports, the exception that has not signed an agreement under Custom’s Container Security Initiative is Kaohsiung, China, according to the Customs bureau.  In addition, Customs has no agreements with Latin American countries, but these might be targeted in a second phase of the program announced by Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge last week, Bonner said.

Back to top

U.S. Response II:  National Emergency Alert System Needs Improvements, Experts Say

Experts have said the United States needs to develop a better national emergency alert system to inform Americans about dangerous situations, such as a terrorist attack, USA Today reported today.

“If you get warned, it’s as much luck as anything else,” said Kenneth Allen, executive director of the Partnership for Public Warning, an organization of government emergency managers and industry executives.

The well-known Emergency Alert System, which broadcasts alerts via radio and television, is outdated and only functional in a small number of states, according to experts.  While the president has the ability to access thousands of television and radio stations to issue national warnings, the emergency alert system is less effective for state and local emergencies, according to USA Today.  Even if the president were to activate the system on a national level, which has never been done, it would only reach those people tuned in to a television or radio network that was broadcasting the alert.

“We live in a much more complex, diverse, mobile society, and we face threats that our grandparents never faced,” Allen said.  “They didn’t have chemical-truck spills or nuclear accidents or terrorists,” he said.

The Partnership for Public Warning and a U.S. Federal Communications Commission advisory committee have urged the development of a more advanced national alert system, USA Today reported.  For example, alert information could be delivered via cell phones, pagers and computers, along with television and radio.  In addition, computer chips could be installed in televisions and radios to make them automatically switch on when an alert is broadcast. 

The FCC advisory committee is expected to vote this week on recommendations for a more advanced system (Mimi Hall, USA Today, June 17).

Back to top

U.S. Response I:  Ten States to Get Additional Funds for First Responders

By Katherine McIntire Peters

Government Executive

WASHINGTON — The Homeland Security Department on Friday awarded nearly $400 million in grants to 10 states to help improve the emergency response capabilities of firefighters, police, emergency medical personnel and state and local governments.  The department has been under increasing pressure from Congress to more quickly move appropriated funds to state and local jurisdictions where the money is needed to shore up gaps in security.

Since March 1, the department has released more than $4.4 billion in grants to state and local governments and private sector organizations to enhance terrorism preparedness.  Grants have been made to fund equipment, training, planning and preparedness exercises for first responders; to enhance the physical security of critical infrastructure and urban mass-transit systems; to offset the costs of security during heightened threat periods; and to help states and cities develop regional responses to potential terrorist attacks.

The most recent grants were awarded to Texas ($78 million), Florida ($63 million), Illinois ($50 million), Washington ($30 million), Wisconsin ($28 million), Minnesota ($27 million), Louisiana ($25 million), Arkansas ($20 million), New Mexico ($17 million) and Maine ($15 million).

Back to top

U.S. Response II:  Homeland Spending Bill Approved in Closed Session

By Molly Peterson

CongressDaily

WASHINGTON — The House Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Thursday approved a $29.4 billion fiscal 2004 appropriations bill during a closed session, despite Democrats’ pleas to keep the meeting open to the public.

After a 9-7 party-line vote to close the meeting, the panel approved the spending bill by voice vote, according to a committee spokesman who declined to provide any other information about what occurred during the closed session.

The spokesman said the decision to close the meeting to the public was based on a “longstanding practice” of excluding the public from subcommittee sessions that deal with “sensitive” information, mainly in the areas of defense, energy and water.

But Democrats argued that the homeland security spending provisions did not include any classified or sensitive information.

“The only thing we do when we close a meeting is deny the public [information] that I think they have a right to,” said David Obey (D-Wis.), the Appropriations Committee’s senior Democrat.

Democrats also charged that the Homeland Security Department has not been forthcoming with information about its activities.  Representative Martin Olav Sabo (D-Minn.) said he was “very concerned” about the department's “lack of structure” in providing Congress with “even the most basic information.”

Obey said he detected “some kind of arrogance” among Homeland Security officials with regard to sharing information with Congress.  “I think they have an obligation to respect the fact that Congress has the power of the purse,” Obey said.

The $29.4 billion package approved Thursday would be an increase of more than $1 billion over President George W. Bush’s 2004 budget request and $535 million over 2003 levels, according to Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Harold Rogers (R-Ky.).

Programs for first responders would be funded at $4.4 billion under the bill, which is $888 million more than Bush requested.  The legislation also provides nearly $5.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, which is a $360 million increase over Bush’s request.  Another provision would fund border security programs at $9 billion, which is a $400 million increase over 2003 levels.

But Obey said the Coast Guard and many other agencies need more money to protect the nation from terrorist threats.  Obey said Democrats had originally planned to offer an amendment adding $500 million to the spending package, including $100 million for Coast Guard activities.

Obey said “substantial incompetence” among Homeland Security Department personnel had prompted him to think twice about offering the amendment.  “There is such a legitimate concern about the ability of the agency to use its money effectively ... that I’m hesitant to appropriate one dime,” Obey said.

He also complained during the open portion of the meeting that Democrats have been “systematically shut down” in their attempts to offer alternatives to GOP-favored legislation to include more low-income families in the child tax credit.  “We’ve seen this time and time again,” Obey said.

Back to top

About Newswire  |  Contact National Journal  |  Re-Use Guidelines

HOME  |  CONTACT US  |  GET INVOLVED  |  SITE MAP