[Infowarrior] - DHS Seeks Public Input on Infrastructure Protection

[Richard Forno]

>

c/o Secrecy News

>
> DHS INVITES PUBLIC COMMENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION
>
> In a noteworthy contrast with the secrecy that prevails in much of
> government and often within its own ranks, the Department of Homeland
> Security (DHS) is soliciting public comment on revisions to the
> National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP), which is the framework
> for defending essential infrastructure, ranging from agriculture to
> transportation, against attack or natural disaster.
>
>     http://www.fas.org/sgp/news/2008/06/fr060608.html
>
> The request for comment places DHS in the rather unfamiliar posture --
> for a national security agency -- of actively seeking to engage public
> interest and to invite public feedback on a matter of broad public
> policy.
>
> "We're hoping to get inputs from across the country," said Larry L.  
> May
> of the DHS NIPP Program Management Office in an interview today, "and
> from everyone concerned with critical infrastructure protection."
>
> Some of the NIPP policies that are under review are trivial, such as
> changes in terminology.  But others are profound, such as the relative
> emphasis in the Plan on "protection rather than resiliency."  Where
> "protection" seeks to anticipate, deter and defend against particular
> threats that are intrinsically uncertain, "resilience" focuses on
> capabilities needed for rapid response and recovery from a broad range
> of hazards.  They imply vastly different strategies, including public
> information disclosure strategies.
>
> Are there significant numbers of Americans who care enough about such
> issues to express their views to DHS?  Apparently so.
>
> Mr. May said that the last time DHS conducted a review of the NIPP in
> 2006, some 10,000 comments were submitted.
>
> Why does DHS care what the public thinks?  Basically, Mr. May said,
> "all of us are in this together, if you will."
>
> Additional information on the NIPP, including the most recent 2006
> iteration, may be found here:
>
>     http://www.dhs.gov/nipp