DHS Issues National Infrastructure Protection Plan
The Department of Homeland Security has completed and issued the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), which it describes as a comprehensive risk management framework that defines critical infrastructure protection roles and responsibilities for all levels of government, private industry, nongovernmental agencies and tribal partners.
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DHS explains that the NIPP builds on the principles of the President's National Strategy for Homeland Security and its companion strategies for the physical protection of critical infrastructure and key assets and the securing of cyberspace. It also fulfills requirements in Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 7 and the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
NIPP Seeks to Enhance Protection of Critical Infrastructure, Key Resources
According to DHS, the overarching goal of the NIPP is to build a safer, more secure, and more resilient America by enhancing protection of the nation's critical infrastructure and key resources to prevent, deter, neutralize, or mitigate the effects of deliberate efforts by terrorists to destroy, incapacitate, or exploit them; and to strengthen national preparedness, timely response, and rapid recovery in the event of an attack, natural disaster, or other emergency.
Sector-Specific Plans to Complement NIPP to be Released Within 180 Days
DHS states that HSPD 7 identified seventeen critical infrastructure and key resource sectors that require protective actions for a terrorist attack or other hazards. Those sectors include: agriculture and food; energy; public health and healthcare; banking and finance; drinking waters and water treatment systems; information technology; telecommunications; postal and shipping; transportation systems including mass transit, aviation, maritime, ground or surface, and rail and pipeline systems; chemical; commercial facilities; government facilities; emergency services; dams; nuclear reactors, materials and waste; the defense industrial base; and national monuments and icons.
DHS notes that sector-specific plans that complement the NIPP and detail the risk management framework will be released within 180 days. These plans will address unique characteristics and risk landscapes, and they will be developed in collaboration with sector specific security partners.
TSA, Coast Guard are Responsible for Protection of Transportation Systems, Etc.
According to a table in the NIPP's executive summary, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Coast Guard have been designated as the sector-specific agencies for transportation systems. In addition, the TSA is also designated as the sector-specific agency with regard to the postal and shipping sectors. See NIPP for additional agency-sector assignments.
DHS Press Release (dated 06/30/06) available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0940.xml
DHS NIPP Web Page available at http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=31&content=5476
NIPP available athttp://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interweb/assetlibrary/NIPP_Plan.pdf