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13 May 2005
Dual-Benefit Solutions CLEER Software Helps Plan Evacuations ( London [Ontario] Free Press ) "'Right now, it takes 20 minutes to do a hazmat (hazardous material) analysis on a train derailment. We will do it within seconds,' said Keigan chief executive Paul Paolatto," according to the London Free Press . ". the CLEER program (catastrophic level event and emergency response)," which uses the super computer network SHARCNET, "can be used to plan evacuations and emergency response to such emergencies as tornadoes, train derailments, floods and terrorist attacks. The program . should be ready for launch by next spring and will be marketed, in collaboration with 3M Canada, to municipalities and private corporations such as chemical companies." [ View article ]
What's New Machine Readable Passport Required by 26 June to Enter US The Department of Homeland Security released a statement Thursday to remind travelers from 27 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries that as of June 26, 2005, they must have a machine-readable passport to enter the United States without a visa. "The machine-readable passport benefits foreign visitors as much as it does homeland security," said Randy Beardsworth, Acting Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security. "With one fast swipe, front line officers can pull up the information that they need to process legitimate travelers quickly. At the same time, this immediate information access enables our officers to focus even more on identifying and interdicting potential threats." [ View press release ] [ View machine readable passport sample ] Idaho Nuclear Lab Can't Explain Lost Items A nuclear reactor research lab in Idaho cannot account for more than 200 missing computers and disk drives that may have contained sensitive information, according to "Property Control and Accountability at the Idaho National Laboratory," an April report by the Energy Department's Inspector General. The computers were among 998 items costing $2.2 million that came up missing over the past three years at the lab in Idaho Falls. Lab officials told investigators that none of the 269 missing computers and disk drives had been authorized to process classified information. However, they acknowledged that the devices might have contained "export controlled" information--data about nuclear technologies applicable to both civilian and military use that federal laws prohibit being released to foreign nationals. [ View report ] USDA Issues Biotechnology Reports On Monday, the Department of Agriculture issued two reports on agricultural biotechnology that cover the evolving requirements for the traceability and labeling of agricultural biotechnology products and the complexity of predicting the use of these products in the future. The reports, "Global Traceability and Labeling Requirements for Agricultural Biotechnology-Derived Products: Impacts and Implications for the United States" and "Preparing for the Future," were developed by USDA's Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture. [ View press release ] [ View 'Global Traceability' ] [ View 'Preparing for the Future' ] Homeland Secure Data Network Is Flawed The Homeland Security Department's $337 million network for sharing top-secret data does not meet the needs of its users, according to an April report by the department's Acting Inspector General, Richard L. Skinner. Department officials developing the Homeland Secure Data Network hurried to finish the job in nine months because they believed they would be cut off from the Pentagon's secure data network by a 31 December 2004 deadline. "The methods for collecting and documenting the functional and security needs of users during the requirements definition phase for the new network did not provide adequate assurance that user needs at the 600 sites will be met." The 600 sites are DHS intelligence-gathering units and federal, state, and local agencies involved in homeland security. The inspector general recommends that all system users be involved in defining its requirements in the future and that completion of all testing be verified before deployment. [ View report ] Customs Fact Sheet Outlines Technologies to Secure U.S. Borders U.S. Customs and Border Protection on 5 May published a fact sheet outlining the strategies and technologies it uses to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States while still maintaining legitimate trade and travel. The sheet mentions analytical computer databases, gamma-ray and X-ray imaging systems, radiation isotope identifiers, explosive detectors, and sensors and cameras located along isolated stretches of border. [ View fact sheet ] Treasury Dept. Designates Elehssan Society a Front for Palestinian Islamic Jihad The Treasury Department on 4 May designated the Elehssan Society and all its branches a front for the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a deadly terrorist group. The Jihad has been named a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist by the US Government and is on the European Union's list of terrorist entities. "Elehssan masquerades as a charity, while actually helping to finance Palestinian Islamic Jihad's acts of terror against the Israeli people and other innocents," said Stuart Levey, the Treasury's Under Secretary for the Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "We will not hesitate to act against those who enable murderers, regardless of how they disguise themselves." [ View press release ] Immigration Enforcement Agencies Face Challenges, Says GAO Management challenges experienced by the Immigration and Naturalization Service have continued in the new Homeland Security Department organizations now responsible for immigration enforcement functions, said Richard Stana, Director of Homeland Security and Justice Issues for the Government Accountability Office, in testimony on 5 May before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims (Judiciary Committee). Stana questioned whether Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement "have good management frameworks in place" and whether they "have developed systems and processes to support the management frameworks they may have in place." [ View report ] FBI Director Speaks at
International Symposium on Agroterrorism Last Thursday, FBI
Director Robert Mueller spoke to a diverse group of industry and law enforcement
experts at the first international conference on agroterrorism. "We have
been fortunate so far-we have not faced any direct attacks to our food
supply. But the absence of any direct attack on our food supply does not
minimize the threat," Director Mueller warned. "We know that members of
Al Qaeda have studied our agricultural industry. And some animal rights
activists and environmental extremists have touted agroterrorism as a
potential means to an end of animal testing, animal consumption, and genetic
engineering." National Explosives Detection Canine Team Graduates New Class The Transportation Security Administration's National Explosives Detection Canine Team Program is slated to graduate a new class late this month. The program prepares dogs and handlers to serve on the front lines of America's war on terror. The mobile teams can quickly locate and identify dangerous materials that may present a threat to transportation systems and can quickly rule out the presence of dangerous materials in unattended packages, structures, or vehicles. After graduation, the new teams will patrol airports from across the country and provide another layer of security to our nation's transportation systems. [ View press release ] National News Senate Backs Measure to Tighten ID Requirements ( Washington Post ) "The Real ID Act, which the Senate approved [Tuesday], would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to obtain identification that the federal government will recognize when they try to board an airplane, fill out tax forms or open a bank account. But the measure would affect US citizens as well," according to the Washington Post . "Americans would need an authentic copy of their birth certificate to apply for a new driver's license or renew an old one. The certificates must be verified at the counter by a Department of Motor Vehicles agent, along with other identification, such as Social Security numbers and utility bills. Governors, legislatures and officials in motor vehicle departments oppose the act, saying it would lead to agonizingly long lines at DMV offices." [ View article ] Airports in No Rush to Hire Private Screeners ( USA Today ) "Despite all the grumbling about those federal security screeners, airports are not rushing to replace them with private workers," reports the Associated Press. "Only two airports--in Sioux Falls, S.D., and Elko, Nev.--have applied to the government to switch back to privately employed screeners. And the management at Elko is having second thoughts.. Elaine Sanchez, spokeswoman for Las Vegas McCarran International Airport, explained why most airports are sticking with the federal screeners: 'In a word, liability,' she said.. People might sue an airport where private screeners failed to prevent terrorists from launching an attack." [ View article ] DHS Considers Alternatives to Color-Coded Warnings ( Washington Post ) "Responding to widespread criticism, Department of Homeland Security officials are considering changes to the color-coded terrorism warning system and other methods of providing more useful information to the public without causing panic or disclosing closely held intelligence," according to the Washington Post . "Among the possibilities forwarded to Secretary Michael Chertoff are issuing lower-key alerts on the department's Web site--as the State Department does now with travel advisories--rather than by holding news conferences, and changing the color categories to numbers or letters." [ View article ] Congress Urged Not to Undermine FOIA ( San Francisco Chronicle ) "Nearly 40 years after it opened up government records to public scrutiny, the Freedom of Information Act needs reworking to ensure the flow of information is not blocked by reluctant bureaucrats or an overly secretive government, a House panel was told Wednesday," according to the Associated Press. " Media witnesses joined lawmakers in saying that there was a growing tendency for FOIA requests to go unanswered for months or years, be rejected, or come back redacted with large areas blacked out." [ View article ] Much Screening Equipment Is Ineffective, Unreliable ( Eugene, OR, Register- Guard ) "After spending more than $4.5 billion on screening devices to monitor the nation's ports, borders, airports, mail and air, the federal government is moving to replace or alter much of the anti-terrorism equipment, concluding that it is ineffective, unreliable or too expensive to operate," according to the New York Times . "Many of the monitoring tools--intended to detect guns, explosives and nuclear and biological weapons--were bought during the blitz in security spending after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001." [ View article ] Universities Prepare New Defenders Against Bioterror ( Global Security Newswire ) "The threat that biological agents will again be used against the United States has led US universities to begin preparing this nation's next generation of biodefenders," reports Global Security Newswire. "While there have been no chemical, radiological or nuclear attacks on US soil, the anthrax and ricin mailings have made it clear that there are people willing and able to use biological agents here. If it is too late to hope for the best--no attacks--U.S. institutions are preparing for the worst. The US Health and Human Services Department awarded more than $50 million over fiscal years 2003 and 2004 to institutions for training and educating public health professionals against bioterrorism." [ View article ] Government Urged to Upgrade Airport Fingerprinting System ( Stanford Graduate School of Business ) "Last autumn Lawrence Wein detected a serious problem in the US government's US-VISIT program, designed to capture terrorists entering American airports by checking their fingerprints," according to the Stanford Graduate School of Business. ". Wein's work sounded alarm bells among politicians and government officials and prompted the government to revisit the design and implementation of the US-VISIT program." Wein said that by scanning eight or ten fingers instead of two and raising the detection threshold, the detection rate for people with poor fingerprints could be raised from 53% to 73%. [ View article ] House Committee Debates Renewing Portion of Patriot Act ( KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID ) "Members of a House Judiciary subcommittee crossed swords [on Tuesday] with the Justice Department's chief counter-terrorism official. At issue: parts of the Patriot Act that prohibit support for known terror groups," reports the Associated Press. "Massachusetts Congressman William Dellahunt says the Patriot Act actually slowed the delivery of aid to tsunami victims because aid groups were afraid of going afoul of the terror group support provisions." [ View article ] 1,300 Fake Law Badges Seized ( CNN ) "Federal agents arrested a man on Monday, charging him with possessing and selling more than 1,300 counterfeit badges representing 35 law enforcement agencies, the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agency said," according to CNN. ". The phony badges mimic real badges from agencies such as the FBI, US Marshals, Customs, Drug Enforcement [Administration], Treasury and New York Police Department, [Special Agent in Charge Martin] Ficke said. Some even had a signature from the company that makes the real badges." [ View article ] DHS Computer Readiness Team Adds Services ( Federal Computer Week ) "The Homeland Security Department's US Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) will offer federal agencies expanded cybersecurity alerts and threat management services as a result of an agreement that Symantec officials announced [last] week," reports Federal Computer Week . "The contract with Symantec will give federal employees who are designated as first responders in their agencies greater access to advanced warnings about cyberattacks." [ View article ] DHS Bars Minutemen Organizer From Press Conference ( World Peace Herald ) "Newspaper publisher Chris Simcox, who helped organize last month's Minuteman vigils and promised more in the future, was denied access to a Department of Homeland Security press conference in Arizona last week," reports the Washington Times . "Mr. Simcox, who writes for, edits and owns the Tombstone, Ariz., Tumbleweed, wants the American Civil Liberties Union to determine whether his First Amendment free-press rights were violated. He said the Border Patrol refused to let him attend the Thursday press conference featuring Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who spoke in Douglas, Ariz., on the need for additional agents and increased technology to gain control of the Arizona border." [ View article ] International News Battle to Keep Iran Nuclear Talks Alive ( Financial Times ) "Iran came under intense pressure on Thursday to back away from its threat to resume sensitive nuclear experiments amid frantic diplomatic efforts to avert a collapse of negotiations between Tehran and European governments," according to the Financial Times . "Tony Blair, UK prime minister, warned Tehran that his government would support the referral of the Iran dispute to the United Nations Security Council where diplomats say it could face punitive sanctions if it 'breaches its obligations and undertakings.'" [ View article ] North's Latest Nuclear Move is a Negotiating Tactic, South Korea Says ( Voice of America ) "South Korea says Pyongyang's recent declaration it has harvested more material for producing nuclear weapons is a negotiating tactic," reports Voice of America News. "The North Korean government said Wednesday it had extracted 8,000 spent fuel rods from a nuclear reactor." [ View article ] Foot-and-Mouth Threat Shows Agroterrorism Danger ( New Zealand Stuff ) "The use of threats to release foot-and mouth disease in an attempt to extort money and policy changes from the [New Zealand] Government is terrorism, says Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton. 'This is a case of terrorism,' he told [the New Zealand Press Association] after a letter written to Prime Minister Helen Clark demanded a huge sum of money and changes in taxation policy, with the threat of releasing foot-and-mouth virus in a mainland farming area. The letter, received [on Tuesday], said the virus had already been released on Waiheke Island within the previous 24 hours, apparently to prove the extortionist's capability." [ View article ] 2008 Olympics Top Terror Target List ( Times of India ) "China has labelled the 2008 Olympics in Beijing a top terror target and vowed to upgrade intelligence gathering with other countries, state media said on Tuesday," according to Reuters. "The capital has already outlined security plans for the Games, making the most of foreign expertise, setting up an anti-terror force and even enlisting the help of subway, taxi and bus drivers." [ View article ] Canadian Vets Given More Power to Identify Potential Bioterror ( Canadian Broadcasting Corp. ) "In an effort to quickly identify foreign animal diseases that could be spread by terrorists, veterinary labs across the country are getting some new powers," reports CBC News. "The federal government announced its new counter-terrorism science and technology projects [last] week. Ottawa plans to buy specialized equipment for labs across the country so they can perform the tests that are now done only at the federal virology lab in Winnipeg." [ View article ] Russia Vows Retaliation on Threats to Georgia Bases ( China View ) "Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday Russia will take measures to protect its military bases in Georgia if their security is threatened, the Interfax news agency reported. 'If any steps are taken that threaten the bases-I mean personnel, security guarantees, not to mention the possibility of weapons getting into foreign hands-I assure you we won't remain idle,' Lavrov said in the State Duma, responding to a Georgia announcement earlier that threatened a forced closure of Russian military bases there," according to Xinhuanet. [ View article ] Japanese Health Ministry Proposes Health Centers ( Tokyo Daily Yomiuri ) "The health ministry will change the way public heath centers are organized so they can better respond if the country is struck by an epidemic of unknown cause or a bioterrorism attack," reports the Daily Yomiuri . ". Prefectural governments will be able to use public health centers to respond to unidentified health hazards, order residents to undergo medical checkups at the centers and inspect related facilities." [ View article ] Terrorism Declaration Overshadows First South American-Arab Summit ( Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Khaleej Times ) "The first South American-Arab summit opened on Tuesday under tight security, but a final document addressing terrorism threatened to overshadow its aim to strengthen South-South hemispheric cooperation," according to Deutsche Presse-Agentur (the German Press Agency). ". The topic of terrorism, however, outweighed the talk of cooperation. A draft of the summit's final document to be signed Wednesday included support for the right of nations and peoples to fight occupations by foreign troops. The draft, which was leaked to the press, also called for a U.N. conference to define what constitutes a 'terrorist crime.'" [ View article ] Australia Helps Cambodia Draft Counterterror Law ( Melbourne, Australia, Age ) "Cambodian officials have met with Australian legal experts to draft a counter-terrorism law for the Southeast Asian nation, which the United Nations has warned could become a base for regional terror groups," reports the Australian Associated Press. "A team from Australia's Attorney-General's Department wrote most of the draft law after talks in March, and have returned to Phnom Penh to work on terrorism financing and international cooperation such as extradition." [ View article ] Nepal, US Agree on Fighting Terrorism ( Beijing People's Daily ) "Nepal and the United States have developed further understanding on fighting terrorism, a senior Nepali government official said in Kathmandu after meeting with a" visiting US official, according to Xinhua News Agency. "'We explained the present situation of the country and heard her views. The meeting went well,' Vice-chairman of Council of Ministers Kirti Nidhi Bista told reporters Monday night after meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Affairs Christina Rocca." [ View article ] Singapore and Pakistan to Combat Terrorism, Transnational Crimes ( ChannelNewsAsia ) "Singapore and Pakistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on combating terrorism and other transnational crimes," according to ChannelNewsAsia. "The MOU was signed after talks between delegates of the two countries led by their Prime Ministers. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz [was] in Singapore on a three-day official visit. Singapore's Ministry of Home Affairs said the MOU covered capacity building, and exchanging information in the areas of terrorism and transnational crimes." [ View article ] State and Local News Matrix Is Wounded, Not Dead ( Federal Computer Week ) "Federal funding for the controversial Multistate Anti-Terrorism Information Exchange (Matrix) ended last month, and privacy advocates applauded the demise of a program they had criticized as Big Brother government," according to Federal Computer Week . ". But officials at the Florida Law Enforcement Department have not given up and are planning a successor to the Matrix program. Florida officials have issued a request for information and have asked vendors to respond by May 16 with ideas about systems that can comb through and correlate information from various data sources." [ View article ] D.C. Scare Pilot's Earlier Woes ( CBS News ) "It turns out that flying into restricted airspace over Washington, DC wasn't the first problem encountered by the pilot of a small plane," reports CBS News. "An examiner for the Federal Aviation Administration says he was at the airport in Pennsylvania where the plane took off yesterday. And he says the pilot needed help operating the fuel pump as he prepared for the flight. He says it's a sign that the pilot hadn't been flying regularly. The security scare served as a mostly successful terror alert test after authorities diverted the small plane that led to the frantic evacuation of thousands of people." [ View article ] Emergency Trailers Added to Honolulu's Fleet ( Honolulu Advertiser ) "Officials from the city and the Pearlridge Center [on 6 May] unveiled two shiny new pieces of emergency equipment that everyone hopes won't have to be used, but which are available in case of a bioterrorism attack or a 'mass casualty' disaster," according to the Honolulu Advertiser . "The two new trailers, purchased with nearly $136,000 in donated money from the Pearlridge Center, were put on display during a 9:45 a.m. blessing ceremony at City Hall, along with a new city ambulance, bought with a state grant, that will be used by the city's Makiki Emergency Medical Services unit." [ View article ] Missouri Homeland Security Spending Detailed ( Jefferson City [MO] News Tribune ) Missouri "has received about $135 million in federal homeland security money since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and about $49 million of it has been spent," reports the Associated Press. ". State emergency management officials said" on 5 May "that the money is in a reimbursement program and can only be doled out once state or local governments have paid for their costs. One issue was a delay by local governments in receiving equipment from suppliers." [ View article ] Nevada Officials Discuss Plans to Handle Water-Supply Threats ( Reno [NV] Gazette-Journal ) Fires, floods, earthquakes, terrorism and other risks "could endanger the water system serving more than 81,000 homes and businesses across the greater Reno-Sparks area," according to the Reno Gazette-Journal . "The Truckee Meadows Water Authority is preparing a plan to address potential disasters and [was] scheduled to discuss its strategy with the public" on Monday. [ View article ] Nevada Guide Duplicates Information ( Las Vegas Review- Journal ) "At a time when Nevada officials are clamoring for more homeland security money, the Metropolitan Police Department plans to spend $1.1 million to print a disaster guide for the public even though the same information is available for free," reports the Las Vegas Review-Journal . The same information "was circulated inside Las Vegas phone books in 2002 after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and is available in English and Spanish on the Police Department's Web site. Similar--and in some cases identical--information is available on several Internet sites for federal agencies and nonprofit organizations, such as the US Department of Justice, the National Crime Prevention Council and the American Red Cross." [ View article ] Facing New York City, Potential Targets Rely on a Patchwork of Security ( New York Times ) "A swath of industrial northern New Jersey" is what "terrorism experts call the most dangerous two miles in America," reports the New York Times . There are "dozens of vulnerable sites between Newark Liberty International Airport and Port Elizabeth . Federal, state and local officials have spent hundreds of millions of dollars to install gates, roadblocks and security cameras and to provide additional patrols, surveillance and intelligence operations. But even those in charge of the effort say the job is incomplete, bogged down by obstacles that are a microcosm of the nation's struggle against potential terrorist threats." [ View article ] New York City Fire Chief Criticizes Terror Response Plan ( Reuters ) "New York's fire chief, citing the Sept. 11 Commission's recommendation of a joint command to deal with chemical or biological incidents, said on Monday Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to put police in charge of the initial response was 'dangerous,'" reports Reuters. "Peter Hayden, who commanded rescue operations at the north tower of the World Trade Center after the Sept. 11, 2001, attack, told a city council meeting his opposition to Bloomberg's plan had nothing to do with any fire/police rivalry." [ View article ] Texas Border Sheriffs Seek Federal Funding for Increased Security ( Midland [TX] Reporter- Telegram ) "Members of the Texas Border Sheriffs' Coalition formed [on 4 May] said rural counties need more resources to fight national problems," according to the Associated Press. ". Rural border counties are on the front line against illegal immigration and drug trafficking, but aren't getting as much federal funding as large cities away from the border." [ View article ] Private-Sector News Suspect Detection System Looks for Terrorist Intent Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has approved an automated filtering tool for identifying potential terrorists that might not be on suspect lists and do not carry weapons or explosives when they approach a checkpoint. SDS-VR-1000, built to replace human selectors or random checks of visitors, measures psycho-physiological parameters to spot terrorists' fear. With one hand on a sensor and with the passport in a scanner, passengers will be asked questions by the automatic lie detector. An experimental version is to be tested this year in an American airport. [ View press release ] HHS Awards BioShield Contract for Anthrax Vaccine ( PharmaLive ) The Department of Health and Human Services on 6 May awarded a $122.7 million contract to BioPort Corporation of Lansing, MI, to manufacture and deliver 5 million doses of Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed. This supply of vaccine, being purchased under the Project BioShield program, will be placed in the Strategic National Stockpile, where it will be available in the event of a bioterror anthrax incident. [ View press release ] Carnegie Mellon Univ. Develops Hazmat Simulator for Firefighters ( PhillyBurbs ) At Carnegie Mellon University, "for the past three years, professor Jesse Schell and teams of graduate students have been working on 'Hazmat Hotzone,' a networked, multiplayer simulator that's a virtual disaster drill for dealing with hazardous materials," reports the Associated Press. "It's a cross between a first-person shooter like 'Doom,' 'Half-Life' or 'Halo' and a role-playing game. It is designed to fill the gap between classroom or firehouse lectures and mock disasters, like one involving as many as 14,000 people" that was scheduled for 7 May in Pittsburgh. [ View article ] [ View Hazmat Hotzone ] Vaccine Makers Seek Funds to Stay Ready ( Boston Globe ) "Drug manufacturer Acambis Inc. has delivered 182.5 million doses of smallpox vaccine to a federal stockpile, enough for every American who might need one," according to the Boston Globe . "But Acambis has requested $30 million from the federal government to keep its Canton [MA] factory ready to produce additional doses, citing the uncertain shelf life of the vaccine and potential overseas demand for it in an emergency. 'Even if you have a stockpile of 200,000 bullets, if you go to war, suddenly you would need more bullets. This is the same idea,' said Gordon Cameron, chief executive of Acambis, a British company whose US headquarters are in Cambridge [MA]." [ View article ] BROOM Is for Cleaning Up After Biowarfare Agents ( Science Daily ) "Sandia National Laboratories researchers have developed a software-based tool called BROOM--short for Building Restoration Operations Optimization Model--to assist in the gathering of samples following a release of biological warfare agents in a public facility," reports Science Daily . "BROOM is intended to help officials of airports, transportation centers, and high-traffic public buildings during planning for a possible reoccupation and return to service and assist cleanup personnel in restoration operations." [ View article ] North Carolina Center Will Research Terrorism ( News 14, Raleigh, NC ) "Two universities and a North Carolina-based contract research organization have formed a new center to study terrorism and ways to prevent attacks," according to the Associated Press. "Researchers and scholars from Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Research Triangle Institute International" at the "Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security will focus on the study of military, diplomatic and domestic counterterrorism strategies and policies for protecting against attacks." [ View article ] Biosafety Lab May Conceal Its Research ( Houston Chronicle ) "The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston landed a whopping $110 million federal grant last year to construct the Galveston National Laboratory on its campus. Construction likely will begin this month, well ahead of schedule. Yet an accident at a similar biosafety lab in Boston last year has raised questions about whether Galveston's scientists will be as open about their infectious disease work as they have promised. Documents obtained by the Houston Chronicle show that UTMB does not have a policy to handle the public reporting of accidents such as the recent infection of three Boston researchers with a virus. At least one senior investigator believes UTMB should have done what Boston University did--stay mum." [ View article ] US Industry Discusses Agroterror Threat ( Food Production Daily ) "The US will host its first international symposium on the burgeoning threat of agroterrorism to discuss ways of reducing the US food supply chain's vulnerability to terrorist tampering, Tom Armitage reports ," according to Food Production Daily . ". The three-day conference, to be hosted in Kansas City, US, aims to discuss the development of ' a technical and tactical response capability sufficient to neutralise and eliminate a potential attack ' and will educate the agriculture community on ' the role of law enforcement in responding to threats directed at the nation's food supply .' Furthermore, it will be attended by representatives from US law enforcement agencies (including FBI Director Robert Mueller), the agriculture and food processing industries, as well as a number of scientific, academic and health industry professionals." [ View article ] Upcoming Events OSHA 2005 Emergency Preparedness and Worker Safety Conference (17 May; Findlay, Ohio) The University of Findlay (OH) is the site of a one-day conference highlighting emergency preparedness planning and response activities. Joining the U.S. Department of Labor / OSHA at the OSHA 2005 Emergency Preparedness and Worker Safety Conference are the U.S. Department of Homeland Security / Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Homeland Security Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Network with your peers, vendors, and leaders from industry and government agencies in working together to ensure employee safety. Construction companies, hospitals and the public health community, as well all other workers involved in emergency preparedness planning and response activities, should benefit. Registration for the event is available online at http://seem.findlay.edu/OSHAReg/ , or by contacting Mark Alliman at (419) 434-4135 or by email at: malliman@findlay.edu . Process Control Systems Forum (17-18 May; Dallas) The forum's spring meeting will provide a venue for cross-industry, cross-functional discussions in the development of safer technology for process control systems that support our nation's critical infrastructure. Attendees will network with key representatives from the control system community. Working sessions will include sharing of current activities, promoting initiatives, discussion of future issues, and the problem-solving and decision-making processes critical to control systems and supervisory control and data acquisition security. [ View conference website ] Basic Chemical Agents for Riot Control and Tactical Situations (23-27 May; Holland, NY) The Peace Officer Training Academy will conduct a basic chemical agents for riot control and tactical situations course in the Spring of 2005. This course exceeds the training standards as set forth by the New York State Municipal Police Training Council. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will received an academy certificate of achievement, and a law enforcement certificate from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. If you or your department would like more information on this class, please contact Deputy Chief William Madden, Police Services Training Coordinator by telephone at (716) 537-9670 or by email at wmadden@peaceofficeracademy.com . For more information about course requirements and prerequisites visit the Peace Officer Training Academy Website . Second Annual Government Security Market: Opportunities and Challenges (23-24 May; Washington, DC) Does your company know the difference between business-to-business and business-to-government selling? Going after the government security market can be a lucrative business decision, if you enter the marketplace knowledgeable and prepared to invest the resources, time and money to make it work. The Government Security Market two-day seminar will provide practical and pragmatic information for marketing and selling products or services to the federal government. [ View conference website ] National OPSEC Conference and Exhibition (23-27 May; San Diego) This conference and exhibition provides training and networking opportunities for professionals in management, security, intelligence, infrastructure protection, counterintelligence, military operations, public safety, and related fields. Speakers are recognized experts in their topic areas and are recruited from government organizations and private industry. Every aspect of the OPSEC process is addressed, with special attention to new developments. [ View conference website ] 2005 Homeland Security Summit & Exhibition (24-25 May; Washington, DC) McGraw-Hill Companies will host the third annual Homeland Security Summit and Exhibition emphasizing the need for continued cooperation between the public and private sectors. This event will address how both groups have worked together to prepare for new threats of terrorism in the three years since heightened security measures were first implemented. Attendees will hear from and network with top security experts and local agencies regarding defense, transportation, aviation, and infrastructure to discuss, develop, debate and create security plans that work. The 2005 conference will analyze transportation and border security; system integration; command, control, communications, computers and intelligence; and critical infrastructure protection with a focus on policy, innovation, politics, and best practices in countering the threat worldwide. [ View conference website ] Contingency Planning and Management 2005 West (24-26 May; Las Vegas, NV) CPM 2005 West is dedicated to the continuity of operations, emergency management, and security. Participate in a disaster simulation exercise and hear world-recognized military leader and national security expert General Barry McCaffrey deliver the keynote address. Conference sessions include "Creating a Trusted Information Network for Homeland Security," "Planning for Chemical Releases in Populated Areas," "Challenge in the South: Islamic Insurgency in Southern Thailand," and many more. [ View conference website ] Government Security Expo & Conference (25-26 May; Washington, DC) The Government Security Expo & Conference (GOVSEC) is a forum for security professionals responsible for protecting government's physical, information and cyber security at the federal, state and local levels. GOVSEC addresses the full spectrum of security needs for federal, state and local governments - encompassing aspects of physical security, information security and cyber security and focusing on topics ranging from fencing and barricades to innovative applications and identification systems. READY! and US LAW ENFORCEMENT will be co-located shows. [ View conference website ] A Forum Exploring National Standards for Scent Dogs (5-8 June; Northfield, VT) The National Center for the Study of Counter-Terrorism and CyberCrime at Norwich University will host a conference to explore the need for national standards and national sponsorship of search dog certifications. Law enforcement activities and disaster responses, as well as the global war on terrorism, are heavily dependent on the use of canines for the detection of drugs, explosives, currency, and persons, and recovery of human remains. This work is done at our nation's borders, airports, on its highways, and virtually nationwide at every level of law enforcement. Some canine search programs have good standards; many do not. [ View conference website ] Techno Security Conference (12-15 June; Myrtle Beach, SC) This year, the 7th Annual Techno-Security Conference will run concurrently with the 4th Annual CEIC 2004 Conference presented by Guidance Software. Once again, these two popular conferences will bring together private industry, government and law enforcement decision makers and technical enthusiast in the fields of Information & Network Security, Incident Response, Forensics, Operational and Physical Security, Auditing and Cyber Crime. This conference format will provide eight simultaneous tracks with several interactive high intensity training sessions, hands-on labs as well as tremendous networking opportunities. This year, attendee's will be able to attend both conferences for one low Super Pass price. [ View conference website ] 124th American Water Works Assn. Annual Conference and Exposition (12-16 June; San Francisco, CA) Learn from industry experts in the field, hear about cutting-edge research and exceptional best practices, and have the opportunity to ask questions, seek advice, and interact with other water professionals regarding universal topics and items specifically focused to meet your needs. At this exposition, you'll have access to the latest products and services available to the water industry. With more than 500 exhibitors on hand to answer your questions and educate you about the latest technology and services available, you'll gather valuable insight and contacts with companies whose goal is to help you improve your results. [ View conference website ] Homeland Security Medical Executive Course (13-17 June; Austin, TX) This course is designed to train senior medical officers for command and senior staff positions in support of the National Response Plan. It is also designed to address the challenges and complexities of a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or high-explosive event or natural disaster in the United States and its territories. [ View course website ] SecurE-Biz CxO Summit (29-30 June; Washington, DC) The Secure-Biz Executive Summit is a two-day conference established by the Office of Secretary of Defense to provide an interactive, educational program where the world's leading practitioners share best practices and lessons learned through conducting secure e-Business. Some of the topics that will be discussed are technology readiness, information sharing, and cybersecurity. [ View conference website ] NACCHO-ASTHO 2005 Joint Conference (12-15 July, Boston) The 2005 joint conference of the National Association of County and City Health Officials and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials has a theme of "Reversing the Tide: Promoting Policies and Programs to Advance the Nation's Health." The conference will focus national attention on critical public health issues, examine ways to strengthen and expand public health initiatives, and equip attendees with proven tools enabling them to strengthen their programmatic initiatives and more effectively influence local, state, and national policy. Particular attention will focus on the prevention of obesity and related chronic diseases. [ View conference website ] AIAA's New integrated Forum Addressing Information-Enabled Aerospace Systems, Capabilities, Applications, and Technologies (26-29 September; Arlington, VA) Infotech@Aerospace premiers AIAA's first, full spectrum technical forum devoted to information-enabled aerospace systems, capabilities, applications and technologies. Intended to serve as the Institute's cornerstone event in addressing 21st century aerospace opportunities and issues, it provides an opportunity for interaction among experts from a wide range of disciplines including intelligent systems, unmanned and robotic platforms and systems of all types, enabling computing technologies. Experts from the research, design, development, manufacturing, test and operations communities will share their observations, thoughts and ideas on a broad array of topics germane to aeronautical, space and related robotic applications for military, civil, scientific or commercial purposes. [ View conference website ]
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