planning, and exercises for state and local responders. • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): EPA's Environmental Response Team provides training to federal, state, and local hazardous materials technicians that addresses radiological, biological, and chemical hazards. EPA is adding training to its course that deals with CBRN weapons. • DOE: DOE sponsors training in how to respond to incidents involving the release of nuclear or radiological substances. The training is made available primarily to communities in which nuclear facilities are located. • HHS and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): The Defense Against Weapons of Mass Destruction Act authorized funds for DOD to assist the Secretary of HHS in establishing Metropolitan Medical Response Systems to help improve local jurisdictions' medical response capabilities for a CBRN incident. HHS' Office of Emergency Preparedness has been establishing Systems with trained and equipped local emergency teams in 27cities that also participate in the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici domestic preparedness training and equipment program. VA is involved in training through a contract from HHS. Specifically, HHS is contracting with VA to train 1,100 non-federal National Disaster Medical System hospital staffs to deal with CBRN situations, according to VA officials. RELATED GAO PRODUCTS Combating Terrorism: Use of National Guard Response Teams Is Unclear (GAO/NSIAD-99-110, May 21, 1999). Combating Terrorism: Issues to Be Resolved to Improve Counterterrorist Operations (GAO/NSIAD-99-135, May 13, 1999). Weapons of Mass Destruction: DOD Efforts to Reduce Russian Arsenals May Cost More and Accomplish Less Than Expected (GAO/NSIAD-99-76, Apr. 13, 1999). Combating Terrorism: Observations on Biological Terrorism and Public Health Initiatives (GAO/T-NSIAD-99-112, Mar. 16, 1999). Combating Terrorism: Observations on Federal Spending to Combat Terrorism (GAO/T-NSIAD/GGD-99-107, Mar. 11, 1999). Combating Terrorism: FBI's Use of Federal Funds for Counterterrorism-Related Activities (FYs 1995-98) (GAO/GGD-99-7, Nov. 20, 1998). Combating Terrorism: Opportunities to Improve Domestic Preparedness Program Focus and Efficiency (GAO/NSIAD-99-3, Nov. 12, 1998). Combating Terrorism: Observations on the Nunn-Lugar-Domenici Domestic Preparedness Program (GAO/T-NSIAD-99-16, Oct. 2, 1998). Combating Terrorism: Observations on Crosscutting Issues (GAO/T-NSIAD-98-164, Apr. 23, 1998). Combating Terrorism: Threat and Risk Assessments Can Help Prioritize and Target Program Investments (GAO/NSIAD-98-74, Apr. 9, 1998). Combating Terrorism: Spending on Govemmentwide Programs Requires Better Management and Combating Terrorism: Efforts to Protect U.S. Forces in Turkey and the Middle East (GAO/T-NSIAD-98-44, Oct. 28, 1997). Combating Terrorism: Federal Agencies' Efforts to Implement National Policy and Strategy (GAO/NSIAD-97-254, Sept. 26, 1997). Combating Terrorism: Status of DOD Efforts to Protect Its Forces Overseas (GAO/NSIAD-97-207, July 21, 1997). STATEMENT OF CATHERINE H. LIGHT DIRECTOR OFFICE OF NATIONAL SECURITY AFFAIRS FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITEE ON OVERSIGHT, INVESTIGATIONS, AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 9, 1999 2 Introduction I am Catherine H. Light, the Director of the Office of National Security Affairs in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). On behalf of FEMA Director James Lee Witt, I thank you for the opportunity to discuss FEMA's terrorism-related activities with the Subcommittee. I will provide an overview of FEMA's responsibilities in terrorism preparedness and response; briefly describe the FEMA role in consequence management; and discuss FEMA programs and activities to better prepare State and local officials for dealing with the effects of terrorist incidents. FEMA Responsibilities The basis for FEMA's domestic preparedness and response activities derives from two Presidential Decision Directives. Under PDD-39 and reinforced under PDD-62, FEMA is responsible for the consequence management of domestic terrorist incidents involving weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Under PDD-39, FEMA was given the responsibility to ensure that the Federal Response Plan (FRP) is adequate for consequence management activities in response to domestic terrorist attacks involving WMD. Also, FEMA was tasked to ensure that State response plans and capabilities are adequate and tested. Crisis Management and Consequence Management Crisis management focuses on causes and involves activities to address the threat or occurrence of a terrorist incident. It is predominantly a law enforcement function that includes measures to anticipate, prevent and/or resolve a threat or act of terrorism. The lead agency for crisis management is the FBI. Consequence management addresses the effects of an incident on lives and property. It includes measures to protect public health and safety, restore essential government services, and provide emergency relief to governments, businesses, and individuals affected by a terrorist incident. FEMA is the lead agency for consequence management. Federal Response Plan In an actual or potential terrorist incident, FEMA uses the structures and resources of the Federal Response Plan (FRP) to manage the Federal consequence management response. The FRP, first published in 1992 and recently updated, has been used in the past several years to respond to numerous disasters and emergencies declared by the President, including the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, as well as hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. The Plan brings together twenty-six Federal departments and agencies and the American Red Cross to organize Federal disaster response and recovery efforts and coordinate them with an affected State. Most importantly, it provides a known and flexible framework under which local, State and Federal officials can orchestrate their response to a disaster or emergency and make the most effective use of all available resources. FEMA has developed a special annex to the FRP to address the unique requirements involved in responding to a terrorist incident. 3 Domestic Preparedness Activities Although the general threat of a terrorist attack exists, FEMA is not in a position to identify the likelihood of a particular incident or the geographic location where an attack may take place. To ensure the broadest coverage in implementing domestic terrorism preparedness activities, we are emphasizing the following key considerations to ensure that: State and local first responders and emergency management personnel are the focus of Federal programs. Needs of the balance of the nation, particularly local jurisdictions beyond the largest cities and metro areas, are addressed with plans, training, exercises and equipment. • Initial training is reinforced and sustained with refresher information and updated instruction. • Existing plans, capabilities and systems are utilized as the foundation for addressing the unique requirements of WMD. National Domestic Preparedness Office FEMA Director Witt has been working closely with the Attorney General to better coordinate the interagency efforts for domestic preparedness, including support for the establishment of the National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO) to coordinate overall Federal activities with the States and their first responder and emergency management counterparts. In conjunction with the NDPO, FEMA will continue to support preparedness activities in the areas of planning, training, exercises and equipment to further assist the State and local response communities. We also will continue to maintain our traditional links to the States for implementing FEMA programs and activities as we work closely with the FBI to help ensure NDPO activities are fully coordinated with FEMA Regional Offices and the States. FY 1999 Terrorism Preparedness Budget In Fiscal Year 1999, FEMA is making some $12.2 million in grants available to State and local jurisdictions for terrorism-related preparedness activities. This includes $8.2 million for State emergency management agencies to support terrorism consequence management planning, training and exercise activities. It also includes $4.0 million for State fire training centers to support delivery of the FEMA National Fire Academy Emergency Response to Terrorism training curriculum. 60-220 00-4 |