DHS launches Protected Critical Infrastructure Information Program

The US Department of Homeland Security has launched the Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) Program. This enables the private sector to voluntarily submit infrastructure information to the Federal government to assist the US in reducing its vulnerability to terrorist attacks.

Critical infrastructure includes the assets and systems that, if disrupted, would threaten national security, public health and safety, economy, and way of life. Although these industries, services and systems may be found in both the public and private sectors, the Department of Homeland Security estimates that more than 85 percent falls within the private sector.

Under provisions of the Critical Infrastructure Information Act of 2002 (CII Act), information that is voluntarily submitted per those provisions will be protected from public disclosure until and unless a determination is made by the PCII Program Office that the information does not meet the requirements for PCII. If validated as PCII, the information will remain exempt from public disclosure. The rule establishing the procedures for PCII was published this week in the Federal Register. The PCII Program Office is part of Homeland Security's Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP) Directorate and is charged with receiving submissions, determining if the information qualifies for protection and, if validated, sharing it with authorised entities for use as specified in the CII Act.

Initially, the PCII Program Office will limit the sharing of PCII to IAIP analysts. PCII may be used for many purposes, focusing primarily on analyzing and securing critical infrastructure and protected systems, risk and vulnerabilities assessments, and assisting with recovery as appropriate. The IAIP Directorate plays a critical role in securing the US Homeland by identifying and assessing threats and mapping those threats against vulnerabilities such as critical infrastructure.

Effective immediately, members of the public who wish to submit information may do so through the PCII Program Office.

For more information about the PCII Program, or to access the PCII regulation, please visit the PCII Program Office website on www.DHS.gov/pcii

•Date: 20th February 2004 •Region: N.America •Type: Article •Topic: Terrorism
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