DHS
Completes Key Framework for Critical Infrastructure
Protection
WASHINGTON – The U.S.
Department of Homeland Security announced today the
completion of 17 Sector-Specific Plans (SSPs) in
support of the National Infrastructure Protection
Plan (NIPP). The NIPP outlines a comprehensive risk
management framework that defines critical
infrastructure protection roles and responsibilities
for all levels of government and private industry.
Each SSP is tailored to the unique risk
characteristics of that sector to promote greater
consistency of protective programs and resources
within the sectors.
"The consequences of
an assault against America's vast network of
critical infrastructure sites could be dire, both in
loss of life and in economic impact," said Homeland
Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "At the same
time, we must avoid imposing onerous security
measures that would damage or make economically
impractical the very systems that we're trying to
protect. The security roadmap announced today
reflects unprecedented coordination among the public
and private sectors. These plans are already
significantly strengthening vital infrastructure and
reducing vulnerability to all hazards – terrorist
attack and natural disaster alike."
Homeland Security
Presidential Directive 7 identified 17 critical
infrastructure and key resource sectors that require
protective actions to prepare for, or mitigate
against, a terrorist attack or other hazards. The
sectors are: agriculture and food; banking and
finance; chemical; commercial facilities; commercial
nuclear reactors, including materials and waste;
dams; defense industrial base; drinking water and
water treatment systems; emergency services; energy;
government facilities; information technology;
national monuments and icons; postal and shipping;
public health and healthcare; telecommunications;
and transportation systems including mass transit,
aviation, maritime, ground or surface, rail and
pipeline systems.
The vast majority of
the nation's critical infrastructure is owned and
operated by private industry. SSPs define roles and
responsibilities, catalog existing security
authorities, institutionalize already existing
security partnerships, and establish the strategic
objectives required to achieve a level of risk
reduction appropriate to each individual sector.
Each SPP also establishes a sector-specific
risk-reduction consultative network to exchange best
practices and facilitate rapid threat-based
information sharing among the federal, state, local,
tribal and private sectors. Strategic objectives
include:
-
Protecting
critical sector assets, systems, networks and
functions prior to a terrorist attack or natural
disaster;
-
Rapidly
reconstituting critical assets, systems and
networks after an incident;
-
Planning for
emergencies and updating response plans;
-
Ensuring timely,
relevant and accurate threat information sharing
between the law enforcement and intelligence
communities and key decision makers in the
sector; and
-
Educating
stakeholders on infrastructure resiliency and
risk management practices.
The NIPP and SSPs were
developed through a collaborative process involving
the federal sector specific agencies, private sector
owners and operators, state, local, and tribal
entities, and other security partners. Non-sensitive
SSPs, SSP Executive Summaries, and the NIPP are
available at:
www.dhs.gov/nipp.
Fact Sheet:
National Infrastructure
Protection Program Sector-Specific Plans
Release Date: May 21,
2007 |
