U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation D. C. 20535-0001 October 12, 1999 Honorable Tillie K. Fowler Chairwoman, Subcommittee on Oversight, Dear Madam Chairwoman: I am writing in response to your letter to Barbara Martinez dated June 21, 1999, concerning the Subcommittee's questions on certain Department of Justice preparedness activities against terrorist attacks. We apologize for the delay in providing you with responses to these questions; however, as you are aware, the decision to formally authorize the establishment of the National Domeatic Preparedness Office (NDPO) is currently pending before Congress. As such, we believe it would be premature to provide information beyond that which was provided to the Subcommittee in June. With this in mind, your questions numbered 2 and 3, which relate to future plans and staffing schedules of the NDPO, cannot be accurately addressed at this time. If approved, the NDPO will be an interagency effort to enhance coordination among federal programs offering terrorism preparedness assistance to states and local communities. Separately, initiatives are underway among the federal departments and agencies with regard to preparedness at the federal level. The answers to your questions numbered 1 and 4 fall into this category and are provided in the enclosed document. We appreciate the Subcommittee's interest in the proposed National Domestic Preparedness Office and look forward to working with you in the future. 1. What is the status and schedule of any of the following activities that the Department of Justice may be performing: a) An inventory and assessment of existing response capabilities and assets at the federal level: Pursuant to an NSC directive, FEMA is taking the lead to develop a Timed Phase Force Deployment Database which would inventory and identify existing response capabilities and assetsat the federal level. DOJ, through the FBI is participating as an interagency partner. The development of a comprehensive database along with FEMA is being discussed. A completion date is targeted for early FY 2000. Another ongoing initiative coordinated by the NSC WMD Preparedness SubCommittee requests the interagency to address the following issues: -Identify the specialized federal teams that could respond to WMD incidents and determine -How do we determine when a metropolitan area is trained and therefore ready to respond? These issues are currently being addressed by the interagency with DOJ as an integral participant. b) An inventory and assessment of existing response capabilities and assets at the federal level: The FBI and OJP are coordinating efforts to develop a comprehensive threat/risk/needs assessment methodology to be utilized at the state level. This will be a self assessment tool which will direct states to inventory and assess their own capabilities and assets in order to determine noods. This model will be developed and tested by September 20, 1999. An actual delivery date has not yet been established. The identification of response needs at the state and local level is being addressed in the initiative detailed in question 1 b). e) A written threat and risk assessment of cities or regions of the United States regarding a terrorist attack. A written threat and risk assessment of cities or regions of the United States regarding a terrorist attack is being developed as part of the initiative detailed in question 1b. 2. What is the schedule for the NDPO to be fully staffed and in its permanent offices? The decision to formally authorize the NDPO is currently pending before Congress. As such, we believe it would be premature to provide information beyond that which has been provided to the Subcommittee in June. With this in mind, the staffing schedule cannot be accurately addressed at this time. 3. What products (e.g. compilation of training programs) does the NDPO plan to produce in the next 18 months and when during this time period do you expect they will be completed? The decision to formally authorize the NDPO is currently pending before Congress. As such, we believe it would be premature to provide information beyond that which has been provided to the Subcommittee in June. With this in mind, the planning schedule osunot be accurately addressed at this time. 4. What annual goals and measures developed by Department of Justice pursuant to the Government Performance and Results Act relate to preparedness against terrorist attack? Annual goals and measures which relate to preparedness against terrorist attack are specified in the FBI's National Security Division, Domestic Terrorism Section Program Plan for 1998 - 2003. This classified document may be obtained through appropriate channels if necessary. Congressman James L. Oberstar Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations and Emergency Management Hearing on Preparedness Against Terrorist Attacks I would like to commend Chairwoman Fowler for calling this hearing on the state of domestic preparedness against terrorist attacks involving nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons. Additionally, the witnesses will address federal programs that train and support State and local officials. With the recent increase of terrorist acts in the world, and the availability of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) the U.S. must increase its commitment to ensuring that its citizens are protected from a terrorist attack. |