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 Following
the Spanish train bombings the DHS has highlighted the measures
it is taking to prevent a similar occurrence in the US. The information
was released in the form of a fact sheet which is published here
verbatim:
Fact Sheet: Rail and Transit Security
Initiatives
The responsibility of securing our nation's
rail and mass transit systems is a shared one. The Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Transportation (DOT)
and other federal agencies have taken significant steps to enhance
rail and transit security in the last two years in partnership with
the public and private entities that own and operate the nation's
transit and rail systems. Efforts the past two years have focused
on greater information sharing between the industry and all levels
of government, assessing vulnerabilities in the rail and transit
sector to develop new security measures and plans, increasing training
and public awareness campaigns and providing greater assistance
and funding for rail transit activities.
Today, the Department announced additional
security initiatives that aim to further reduce vulnerabilities
to transit and rail systems and make commuters and transit riders
more secure. Currently, the Federal government provides leadership
and technical assistance to transit and rail system owners and operators.
New initiatives to be undertaken will target three specific areas:
threat response support capability, public awareness and participation,
and future technological innovations.
Leadership
The Department will build on many of the security measures recommended
during the past two years for implementation to mass transit and
passenger rail authorities by DHS, the Federal Transit Administration
(FTA) and the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The Department
will engage the industry and state and local authorities to establish
base-line security measures based on current industry best practices.
This includes all existing security measures currently being implemented
consistently in the mass transit system and the commuter rail environment.
These base-line measures could be adjusted in consultation with
transit and rail system owners and operators in response to higher
threat levels or specific threats in the future. Additional measures
could be achieved through the use of technical assistance or security
directives, which would specifically target mitigation of only those
identified vulnerabilities. DHS will ensure compliance with safety
and security standards for commuter and rail lines and better help
identify gaps in the security system in coordination with DOT.
Additional DHS technical assistance and training
will be provided by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
Threat Response Capability
Mass Transit K-9 Program
The Department will develop a rapid deployment Mass Transit K-9
program by utilizing existing Homeland Security explosive K-9 resources.
These mobile DHS response teams will be prepared to assist local
law enforcement teams. Building upon TSA's work in the aviation
context, DHS will partner with local authorities to provide additional
training and assistance for local K-9 teams. Federal Protective
Services K-9 teams would also be cross-trained for utilization in
the rail and transit environment. The mobile program would predominantly
be used in special threat environments and provide additional federal
resources to augment state and local transit and rail authorities
security measures.
Transit Inspection Pilot
The Department will implement a pilot program to test the feasibility
of screening luggage and carry-on bags for explosives at rail stations
and aboard trains. The initial program will be implemented at one
station with commuter rail service in conjunction with Amtrak and
the Federal Railroad Administration. The pilot program would not
resemble an aviation-type solution to transit and rail, but rather
provide the Department with a venue to test new technologies and
screening concepts. The lessons learned from the pilot could allow
transit operators to deploy targeted screening in high threat areas
or in response to specific intelligence.
Education and Awareness
The industry and FTA have developed and implemented employee and
public awareness campaigns. DHS will work with state and local rail
and transit authorities and DOT to integrate existing passenger
and rail education and awareness programs. Where necessary, the
Department will create new programs to increase passenger, rail
employee, and local law enforcement awareness through public awareness
campaigns and security personnel training. A number of training
templates and rider education materials are currently in development
by TSA and FTA allowing the Department to leverage existing efforts
to generate additional public awareness. The Department's Federal
Law Enforcement Training Center will also accelerate current security
training programs for transit law enforcement personnel.
Future Technological Innovations
The Department's Science and Technology division is focusing on
the development of a number of homeland security technologies. Many
of these could or are being used in the mass transit environment
including chemical and biological countermeasures.
Biological, Chemical and High Explosives
Countermeasures
The President's FY 2005 budget request includes $407 million for
DHS for continued develop biological countermeasures (including
an integrated threat agent warning and characterization system)
and $63 million in DHS for chemical and high explosives countermeasures.
These investments will enhance our ability to detect and counter
threats, including threats to transit systems.
The Department's Homeland Security Advanced Research Project Agency
is developing a Broad Agency Announcement on bomb interdiction for
truck and suicide threats with approximately $5 million in funding
that will be released in the coming months. This program will focus
on research and development of next generation technology for High
Explosives Countermeasures. In the future, these countermeasures
could address the threat that terrorists might use explosives in
attacks on buildings, critical infrastructure, and the civilian
population of the United States.
The goal of the program will be to develop
and test field equipment, technologies and procedures to interdict
suicide bombers and car and truck bombs before they can reach their
intended targets while minimizing the impact on the American way
of life.
Security Enhancements Since September
11
These new initiatives further bolster homeland security activities
and priorities established by the Administration following the terrorist
attacks of September 11. This includes:
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
* The Department of Homeland Security's Information Analysis and
Infrastructure Protection division and TSA and DOT's Federal Railroad
Administration and Federal Transit Administration have conducted
comprehensive vulnerability assessments of rail and transit networks
that operate in high-density urban areas. The risk-based assessments
have provided information on where current and future security resources
must be directed to reduce vulnerabilities to terrorism. As a result
of these assessments, transit systems are producing robust security
and emergency preparedness plans.
* The Department of Homeland Security's grant program for improving
rail and transit security in urban areas that has awarded or allocated
over $115 million since May 2003.
* The Department of Homeland Security also coordinates information
and threat sharing through the Surface Transportation ISAC (Information
Sharing and Analysis Center) managed by the Association of American
Railroads (AAR) including deploying TSA personnel to the ISAC and
hosting ISAC representatives at TSA's Transportation Security Coordination
Center in Virginia.
* The Department of Homeland Security's TSA has held numerous security
exercises that bring together rail carriers, federal and local first
responders, and security experts. TSA has identified and is addressing
gaps in antiterrorism training among rail personnel. Rail personnel
have traveled to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center to
receive antiterrorism training.
* The Department of Homeland Security is screening high risk rail
cargo entering the U.S. through the National Targeting Center (NTC)
and through its border inspection workforce to help prevent rail
lines from being used as instruments of terrorism delivery against
transit.
* The Department of Homeland Security has assisted in the deployment
of biological and chemical detection equipment to some local transit
districts. In the DHS FY 2004 appropriations, $285 million was allocated
for efforts to develop biological countermeasures and $61.5 million
for chemical and high explosives countermeasures. DHS Science and
Technology has specifically dedicated some of these funds for rail
security.
U.S. Department of Transportation and Amtrak
* The Department of Transportation is coordinating rail security-related
projects including responding to bomb threats, monitoring incident
databases for acts of sabotage and vandalism, and serving as a liaison
to railroads regarding terrorist activity.
* The Department of Transportation will provide nearly $4 billion
in transit formula grants to States and localities under the President's
FY 2005 budget request. States and localities have the ability to
spend some of these resources on security-related projects. Formula
grant funding permits the local transit agencies to determine the
optimum security strategy and to target funding to areas with the
greatest need.
* In 2002, Amtrak received $100 million for life safety and security
improvements to the rail tunnels connecting Manhattan to New Jersey
and Long Island. Amtrak has spent $76 million to date, and the New
Jersey Transit and the Long Island Railroad are also contributing
to construction costs. The funding will support improvements for
fire and emergency service access and communications.
* Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, the Association of American Railroads,
which represents the freight rail industry, prepared a classified
security plan that identifies risks and security measures. FRA has
also contracted with the Rand Corporation to conduct a systematic
review and assessment of Amtrak's security posture and current programs,
focusing on the adequacy of preparedness for combating terrorist
threats. The Federal Railroad Administration has reviewed these
documents.
State & Local Transit and Rail Security
Examples
* Systems have participated in exercises, protocols, and training
for identifying the effects of a chemical/biological attack and
have developed system-wide Employee Awareness Campaigns as well
as deployed chemical and biological detection equipment.
* All major state and local mass transit and rail commuter operators
have completed vulnerability assessments since Sept. 11 with federal
technical assistance to best determine where current and future
security resources must be directed to reduce vulnerabilities to
terrorism. Sample protective measures taken in response to the assessments
by major metropolitan transit systems such as New York City, Washington,
DC and Chicago are:
- Perimeter barriers, high-tech fencing and lighting.
- Intrusion detection equipment.
- Alternative external communications capability for continuity
of operations.
- Increased number of uniformed and undercover patrols on light
rail and subway systems.
- Hazmat training for personnel.
- Increased number of inspections of trash receptacles and other
storage areas (this also included securing, closing off, or removing
some of these areas where things may be stored and removing some
trash receptacles.)
- Increased number and frequency of bomb detecting canine teams.
- Continued broadcast of public announcements to alert riders and
citizens to be aware of the bombing in Madrid, watch their surroundings,
and report any suspicious activities or abandoned property such
as back packs, garbage bags, etc.
- Increased video surveillance and review of such materials.
- Procurement of personal protective equipment for emergency responders.
•Date:
23rd March 2004 •Region: N.America •Type:
Article •Topic: Terrorism
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