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DHS Awards $399 Million in Grants to Secure the Nation’s Critical Infrastructure

Release Date: September 25, 2006

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: (202) 282-8010
September 25, 2006

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced today that grants are being distributed to ports, transit and intercity bus systems to strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.  These awards are part of the Infrastructure Protection Program (IPP), which are comprised of seven programs that constitute major critical infrastructure sectors. Today’s announcement provides awards to three competitive grant programs: the Port Security Grant Program; the Transit Security Grant Program; and the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program.   

In July, funding was directly allocated to four programs within the IPP: the Buffer Zone Protection Program; the Chemical Buffer Zone Protection Program; the Intercity Rail Transit Program; and the Trucking Security Program. In total, $399 million is being awarded for the FY2006 IPP grants to protect critical infrastructure throughout the United States.

“The Infrastructure Protection Program helps to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure from threats and hazards that could cause major loss of life, economic impact, and disruption of services. These resources will further enhance risk-based initiatives to increase security around vital assets ranging from ports, to chemical facilities, to transportation systems,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “The IPP grants also represent a major step forward in how the department integrates expert input and risk-based formulas into the allocation of limited resources.”

The funding allocations for port, transit and intercity bus security programs are as follows:

• Port Security Grant Program: More than $168 million will be provided for port security grants to create sustainable, risk-based efforts for the protection of critical port infrastructure from terrorism. Fifty out of 100 eligible ports contained on the United States Coast Guard’s most critical seaport list, plus one additional port not contained on that list but was eligible in 2005, will receive funding for projects to enhance security measures at critical port facilities. The ports were grouped into four tiers, with Tier 1 representing the highest risk to Tier 4 representing the lowest risk. Funding was awarded for specific projects within each port area based on that port’s relative risk and the relationship of each project to identified port security priorities.  These 101 eligible seaports represent 95 percent of the foreign waterborne commerce of the United States.  This list was developed by the Coast Guard using commercial, demographic and geographic data from various sources. Since 2002, the department has provided more than $876 million to enhance security at the nation’s critical ports and maritime facilities.
• Transit Security Grant Program: The Infrastructure Protection Grant Program is providing more than $136 million to the owners and operators of the nation’s critical transit infrastructure through the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP).  TSGP-eligible rail, intracity bus and ferry systems were divided into two tiers based on risk formulas encompassing threat, vulnerability and consequences.  Last July, $123 million was allocated to Tier 1 urban areas, which are composed of high passenger density and rail systems with significant infrastructures such as underwater tunnels and underground stations and all ferry systems. Urban areas that received funds in previous years, but were not named in Tier 1, were able to apply and compete for the remaining TSGP funds. Today, the Department is releasing $13 million for the second Tier of the TSGP. The FY 2006 Tier 2 TSGP allocations place a strong emphasis on prevention and detection of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). In addition, eligible Tier 2 transit systems were permitted to focus on other priorities, including emergency drills, employee training and public awareness programs that support overall system preparedness.
• Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP): Approximately $9.5 million is being provided to eligible owners and operators of fixed route intercity and charter bus services to protect bus systems and the traveling public from terrorism. The FY 2006 IBSGP placed a strong emphasis on prevention and detection of IEDs. In addition, the  program focused on facility security enhancements in defined UASI jurisdictions; driver and vehicle security enhancements; emergency communications technology; coordination with local police and emergency responders; and training and exercises. To date, DHS has provided over $48 million through the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program. Applications for the TSGP and IBSGP were reviewed and rated by a National Review Panel chaired by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and composed of security subject matter experts from DHS and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

The following grant programs received direct allocation funding and were announced in July:

• Buffer Zone Protection Program Grants: The Buffer Zone Protection Program provides grant funding to build security and risk-management capabilities at the state and local level to secure critical infrastructure including chemical facilities, nuclear and electric power plants, dams, stadiums, arenas and other high-risk areas.  Specifically, the program helps to implement buffer zone programs by providing funds to support planning and equipment acquisition. In FY06, this program awarded approximately $48 million in grant funds to state and local authorities. In this program, local jurisdictions work with the states to create Buffer Zone Plans which outline protective measures to be undertaken around designated facilities. Those Buffer Zone Plans are submitted to DHS, evaluated and approved before the state can then drawdown allocated funds. From 2002-2006, DHS has distributed more than $139 million through the Buffer Zone Protection Program.
• Chemical Sector Buffer Zone Protection Grant Program: The Chemical Sector Buffer Zone Protection Grant Program is a targeted effort that provides funds to build security and risk-management capabilities at the state and local level for chemical sector critical infrastructure from acts of terror and other hazards. Chemical Sector Buffer Zone funding is specifically focused on enhancing the protection of facilities that, if attacked, could cause Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)-like effects.  The Chemical Buffer Zone Protection Program provided $25 million in FY06
• Intercity Passenger Rail Security Grant Program: Amtrak was awarded more than $7.2 million to continue security enhancements for intercity passenger rail operations in the Northeast Corridor (service between Washington, DC and Boston), Amtrak’s hub in Chicago and to expand these enhancements into the West Coast Service Area in key, high-risk urban areas. DHS is requiring Amtrak to conduct a risk assessment of its West Coast Service Area and demonstrate that its allocation of funds is fully coordinated with regional planning efforts in the Northeast Corridor.  
• Trucking Security Program: The American Trucking Association received $4.8 million for the Highway Watch program to continue as a sustainable national program to enhance security and overall preparedness on our nation’s highways. The Highway Watch program, managed by the American Trucking Association, recruits and trains highway professionals to identify and report security and safety situations on the nation’s roads. The grant priorities of the Trucking Security Program included participant identification and recruitment; ensuring that the Highway Watch Program addressed homeland security and safety issues in conjunction with the National Preparedness Goal; maintaining a full-time Highway Watch Call Center; and operating and maintaining the Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). To date, DHS has provided more than $50 million through the Trucking Security Program.

The infrastructure protection grants considered threat, vulnerability and consequences, and recognized the unique characteristics of our nation’s seaports, transit systems and other critical infrastructure assets.  Since its inception, the Infrastructure Protection Grant Program has awarded over $1.5 billion to critical infrastructure sectors for protective measures.

For information on allocations, please visit www.dhs.gov

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This page was last modified on September 25, 2006