[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81546-81549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32818]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Federal Bureau of Investigation

Agency: Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
National Domestic Preparedness Office (NDPO), State and Local Advisory 
Group; Meeting

ACTION: Summary of meeting.

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    Authority:  Title 5, United States Code, Appendix 2.

DATES: The State and Local Advisory Group of the NDPO was convened for 
its first meeting at 9 a.m. on September 26-27, 2000, at the Radisson 
Hotel, Old Town, Alexandria, Virginia.
SUMMARY: In accordance with provisions of Public Law 92-463, the 
meeting was open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on both 
days.
    Thomas Kinnally, Administrator of the NDPO, introduced himself and 
welcomed members of the Advisory Group. The members then introduced 
themselves:

--Dr. Michael Ascher, Chief, Viral and Rickettsial Laboratory, Division 
of Communicable Disease Control, California Dept. of Health, Berkeley.
--Dr. Joseph Barbera, Co-Director of the Institute for Crisis, 
Disaster, and Risk Management, George Washington University Hospital, 
Washington DC.
--John Cline, CEM, State Director, Bureau of Disaster Services, Boise, 
ID.
--Steve Ennis, Volunteer Firefighter, Fredericksburg, VA.
--Dr. Michael Fagel, Ph.D., CEM, Director of Emergency Management, 
Cities of Aurora and North Aurora, IL.
--Woodbury Fogg, P.E., Director, New Hampshire Office of Emergency 
Management, Concord, NH.
--P. Michael Freeman, Chief, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los 
Angeles, CA.
--Timothy Gablehouse, Chair, Jefferson County Local Emergency Planning 
Committee, Denver, CO.
--Jeff Griffin, Mayor, City of Reno, NV.
--Bert Langley, Ph.D., Emergency Response and SARA Title III. 
Coordinator, Georgia Environmental Protection Division, Atlanta, GA.
--Dave Lesak, Chief, Lehigh HAZMAT Team, Allentown, PA.
--Stan McKinney, Director, Emergency Preparedness Division, West 
Columbia, SC.
--Robert McNielly, Chief, Pittsburgh Police Department, PA.
--JoAnne Moreau, CEM, Director, East Baton Rouge Parish Office of 
Emergency Preparedness, Baton Rouge, LA.
--Lieutenant Colonel Mark Oxley, Deputy Superintendent, Louisiana State 
Police, Baton Rouge, LA.
--Dr. Kathy Rinnert, MD, MPH, Instructor, University of Texas 
Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Division of 
Emergency Medicine, Dallas, TX.
--Michael Selves, CEM, Emergency Management Director, Johnson County, 
KS.
--Martin Singer, Director, State of New Hampshire Department of Safety, 
Division of Emergency Medical Services, Concord, NH.
--Richard Stilp, RN, MA, Director of Safety and Security, Orlando 
Regional Healthcare, Altamonte Springs, FL.
--Sergeant Charles Stumph, Orange County Sheriff's Department, Orange, 
CA.
--Sheriff Patrick Sullivan, Jr, Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office, 
Littleton, CO.
--John Teefy, Fire Captain, United Phoenix Firefighters Local, Phoenix, 
AZ.
--Cynthia Vlasich, RN, Nursing Spectrum, Hoffman Estates, IL.
--Richard Carmona, M.D., MPH, FACS, CEO, Pima Health Care System, 
Tucson, AZ.
--Rita Carty, D.N.Sc., RN, FAAN, Dean and Professor, College of Nursing 
and Health Sciences, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
--Bruce Morris, Deputy Secretary of Public Safety, Richmond, VA.
--Peter Beering, Esq., Terrorism Preparedness Coordinator, City of 
Indianapolis, IN.
--Joseph Waekerle, MD, Emergency Specialist, Leawood, KS.
--Michael Allswede, DO, Clinical Associate Professor, Allegheny General 
Hospital, Department of Emergency Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.

    Three Advisory Group members were not present:

--Dr. Michael Osterholm, Chairman and CEO, Infectious Control Advisory 
Network, Inc, Eden Prairie, MN.
--John Erversole, Deputy Chief, Chicago Fire Department. Chicago, IL.
--Chief Charles Ramsey, Metropolitan Police Department, Washington, DC.

    Federal representatives of the NDPO attending, in addition to Mr. 
Kinnally, were:

--Tom Antush, Senior Terrorism Policy Specialist, Office of the 
Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
--Christiana Briggs, National Security Council (NSC).
--Kathryn A. Condon, Special Assistant for Military Support, Office of 
the Secretary of the Army.
--Commander Daniel Danielczyk, U.S. Coast Guard.
--Ellen Embrey, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Assistance, 
Reserve Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense.
--Thomas Falvey, Director for National Security, U.S. Department of 
Transportation.
--Bill Finan, Program Officer, Chemical Emergency Preparedness and 
Prevention Office, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
--James Jarboe, Section Chief, Domestic Terrorism/Counterterrorism 
Planning Section, Counterterrorism Division, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation (FBI).
--Leslie Kalan, Presidential Aide, Office of the Secretary of Defense.
--James Kish, Lieutenant Colonel, National Guard Bureau (NGB).
--Robert Knouss, M.D., Director, Office of Emergency Preparedness, 
National Disaster Medical System, Department of Health and Human 
Services (DHHS).
--John Magaw, Senior Advisor to the Director for Terrorism 
Preparedness, FEMA.
--Vic Mantrillo, Program Specialist, FEMA.
--James Mackris, Director, Chemical Emergency Preparedness and 
Prevention Office, EPA.
--Barbara Martinez, Unit Chief, WMD Operations Unit, Domestic 
Terrorism/ Counterterrorism Planning Section, Counterterrorism 
Division, FBI.
--Andy Mitchell, Deputy Director, Office of State and Local Domestic 
Preparedness Support (OSLDPS), Office of Justice Programs (OJP), 
Department of Justice (DOJ).
--Darci Morgan, National Institutes of Justice Department of Justice.

[[Page 81547]]

--Michelle O'Shaughnessy, Department of Energy (DOE).
--Raymond F. Rees, Major General, Vice Chief, NGB.
--Cynthia Schaeffer, Centers for Disease Control.
--Ken Stroech, Deputy Emergency Coordinator, Chemical Emergency 
Preparedness and Prevention Office, EPA.
--Butch Straub, Director, OSLDPS, OJP, DOJ.
--Dale Watson, Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, FBI.
--Brenda Wise, FBI Liaison to the Department of Defense.

    Mr. Dale Watson, Assistant Director of the Counterterrorism 
Division, FBI, delivered opening remarks. Mr. Watson reported on the 
history and current status of the NDPO, and noted that Attorney General 
Janet Reno and FEMA Director James Lee Witt would address the Advisory 
Group on the following day, September 27, 2000.
    Mr. Kinnally charged the Advisory Group with providing advice to 
the NDPO on the progress of the federal government in areas of state 
and local domestic preparedness assistance, and outlined agenda items 
to be addressed: an overview of the Federal Advisory Committee Act; a 
presentation of legal/ethical issues and conflicts of interest as they 
relate to federal advisory committees; a review of the Advisory Group 
charter and bylaws; the election of a chair and vice-chair; a briefing 
on the NDPO Architectural Plan to Support State and Local WMD Terrorism 
Preparedness; a briefing on the Curriculum Review Panel; Breakout 
Sessions of three sub-groups: Law Enforcement/Fire HAZMAT; Emergency 
Management; and Public Health and Medical; administrative matters; 
remarks from the Attorney General and Director of FEMA; summaries of 
breakout sessions and sub-group recommendations; and public comments.
    Following the order of the agenda, Allison Dunham of the NDPO 
delivered a briefing on the Federal Advisory Committee Act and how the 
State and Local Advisory Group will operate as a federal advisory 
committee.
    Next, Mr. Robert Coyle of the FBI's Administrative Law Unit 
delivered a briefing on legal/ethical issues and conflicts of interest 
as they relate to members of federal advisory committees. He then 
answered related questions from the Advisory Group members.
    After a break, the Advisory Group re-convened to discuss the 
charter and draft bylaws. It was agreed that after a chair and vice-
chair were elected, the Advisory Group would then address amending the 
bylaws. The nominees for the Advisory Group chair were Stan McKinney, 
Joseph Waeckerle, and Timothy Gablehouse. The nominees for vice-chair 
were P. Michael Freeman and Patrick Sullivan. A vote was conducted by 
collecting paper ballots. As a result, Stan McKinney was voted chair, 
and P. Michael Freeman was elected vice-chair.
    Mr. McKinney, presiding as chair, opened the discussion of the 
bylaws. A motion was made to adopt the bylaws and then amend them. This 
motion was passed. After some discussion, there was a move to table the 
motion to amend the bylaws until later. The vote on tabling the 
amendment of bylaws was accepted.
    Major Thomas Leonard, NGB representative to the NDPO, asked each of 
the federal partner agency representatives to introduce themselves. 
Those presiding were: Major General Fred Rees, NGB; Ms. Ellen Embry, 
Office of the Secretary of Defense, DOD; Ms. Kathryn Condon, Office of 
the Secretary of the Army; Dr. Robert Knouss, DHHS; Mr. John Magaw, 
FEMA; Cindy Schaeffer, Centers for Disease Control; James Mackris, EPA; 
Mr. James Jarboe, FBI; Mr. Thomas Black, DOE; and Ms. Lisa Gordon-
Hagerty, NSC.
    Following the order of the agenda, Major Leonard then delivered a 
briefing on the Architectural Plan to Support State and Local WMD 
Terrorism Preparedness. The Architectural Plan's purpose is to develop 
a process by which all critical elements of an overall national 
domestic preparedness strategy can be identified. This would include a 
defined end-state, priorities, and soundly defined requirements based 
on valid assessments of the threat and risk of a terrorist attack; and 
a comprehensive inventory of existing capabilities and assets. 
Following discussion and questions relating to Major Leonard's 
presentation, the group adjourned for lunch.
    The group re-convened after lunch. Stan McKinney asked that 
Advisory Group members review the member list and provide any necessary 
update information. Advisory Group member Peter Beering was identified 
to take the lead on getting volunteers to revise the bylaws before 
presenting them back to the entire group.
    Next, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Robert Johnson of the NDPO 
delivered a briefing on the proposed Curriculum Review panel, whereby a 
pool of subject matter experts, nominated by the Advisory Group, shall 
review domestic preparedness training courses. The purpose of this 
panel is to verify that federally sponsored Weapons of Mass Destruction 
courses consistently meet the same performance objectives and standards 
accepted by the interagency. Currently, the NDPO lacks financial 
resources to implement this initiative.
    Discussion was then opened on addressing the role of the Advisory 
Group and the NDPO, including their capabilities and limitations. The 
discussion ended with the announcement of the rooms where each 
subcommittee break-out session would be conducted: the Public Health 
and Emergency Medicine subcommittee met in the Madison North Room; the 
Law Enforcement/Fire/HAZMAT subommittee met in the Madison South Room; 
and the Emergency Managment subcommittee met in the Washington 
Ballroom. The remainder of the day was devoted to discussion in the 
break-out groups.
    The first day of the Advisory Group meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m.
    On September 27, 2000, the Chairman Stan McKinney re-convened the 
Advisory Group at 9:00 a.m. It was determined that following the 
meeting, the NDPO would incorporate recommended changes to the revise 
the bylaws, which would then be sent to Mr. McKinney for review and 
approval.
    The Advisory Group then discussed re-organizing the remaining 
agenda in order to meet all of its objectives. Also discussed were 
possible dates for the next Advisory Group meeting.
    In order with the agenda, Attorney General Janet Reno and FEMA 
Director James Lee Witt arrived to deliver remarks and receive 
questions from the Advisory Group. Advisory Group Chair Stan McKinney 
updated them on the progress of the meeting, which he said would 
conclude that day with the identification of priorities and 
recommendations by the subcommittees, with the intent that constructive 
guidance would be provided to the federal partners, including Ms. Reno 
and Mr. Witt. Mr. McKinney articulated that this meeting sought to 
review the future of the NDPO, with the intent that it be a re-
invigoration effort for the NDPO.
    Attorney General Reno delivered her remarks, which included a brief 
history of the NDPO, and attributed the delay in its progress to the 
lack of federal funding. She said that she and Director Witt have met 
to address a course of action, including the requirement to move the 
NDPO out of FBI Headquarters. She said that she and Director Witt are 
committed to do everything they can now, but that her

[[Page 81548]]

term of service will be ending in three and a half months. She said 
that she is receptive to Advisory Group recommendations. Attorney 
General Reno remarked that the Top Officials (TOPOFF) exercise was 
useful to the federal partners in a number of areas where they interact 
with state and local agencies, including training, equipment and 
national policy. She reiterated that she would do everything she could 
to get momentum going and get funding for the NDPO.
    Following the Attorney General, FEMA Director James Lee Witt 
delivered his remarks. He said that he and the Attorney General had met 
several times to discuss these issues with the intent of strengthening 
the NDPO and the national domestic preparedness program, although it 
has been difficult. He said that although it has been perceived as a 
fragmented federal effort it is not, but getting support has been 
complicated. Director Witt then said that getting a national strategy 
to support those at the local level is their goal. He remarked that 
what is important is that which can be accomplished in the next three 
and a half months and what is done by those who follow them. He noted 
that John Magaw, FEMA's Senior Advisor for Terrorism Preparedness, is 
in place to assist his agency on what needs to be done, and that the 
Attorney General is trying to get the Department of Justice and other 
agencies to work together. He concluded by saying that the NDPO is an 
issue-driven office, which has so far done a great job, and that FEMA 
would support a united effort to fund the NDPO.
    Following their remarks, Attorney General Reno and Director Witt 
received questions from the Advisory Group.
    Following a brief question and answer period, the subcommittee 
break-out groups from the previous day re-convened. After a lunch 
break, the entire group re-convened for the afternoon plenary session.
    NDPO Administrator Thomas Kinnally asked the staff of the NDPO to 
introduce themselves. Those present were:
    Chief William Terry, Prince Georges County Fire Department; Mr. 
Joseph Greenlee, FEMA; Mr. Hans Crump, EPA; Major Thomas Leonard, NGB; 
Mr. Scott Kelberg, DOJ/OJP/OSLDPS; Unit Chief Gary Rohen, FBI; Unit 
Chief Dan Estrem, FBI; Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) Robert Johnson, 
FBI; SSA Andrew Bringuel, FBI; SSA Jeanine Santa, FBI; SSA Joel 
Tsiumis, FBI; Intelligence Operations Specialist (IOS) Ron Willliams, 
FBI; IOS Caroline McCarthy, FBI; IOS Elaine Parks, FBI, IOS Richard 
Sanders, FBI; IOS Allison Dunham, FBI; Dr. Dickson Diamond, FBI; IOS 
Jerry Wheeler, FBI; IOS Sam Gonzales, FBI.
    Following the NDPO staff introductions, the subcommittee leaders 
from each break-out session presented their findings:
     Law Enforcement/Fire/HAZMAT Workgroup Summary:
     NDPO?s information-sharing role is very critical.
     A common communication link (CCL) should be provided to 
all first responders.
     Curriculum review is a priority; need to get the right 
people from the various disciplines to be the reviewers.
     Inter-operability (ability to communicate with each other) 
at the scene is important; this is an equipment issue.
     Identification of model training and exercise programs 
needed.
     Public health and emergency medicine components need to be 
brought in closer.
     Exercises should continue at the Region, State, and local 
levels; experiences should be shared. Federal agency representatives 
need to participate on a state and local basis.
     Exercises should be carried through to the recovery phase
     Training courses need to be catalogued; NDPO could also 
provide information on training sources.
     Common communication linkage is needed.
     Current technologies need to be identified, supported, and 
made available to first responders.
     ICS needs some clarification. From the LE, fire, and 
HAZMAT perspective, need one unified, common command system, regardless 
of discipline.
     Terminology needs to be clarified and made the same.
     NDPO needs to function as a one-stop shopping 
clearinghouse.
     NDPO needs to prepare a national strategy to speak to all 
disciplines that are represented.
     Need to identify and build on what is in place already. 
Lessons learned need to be communicated.
     Need to emphasize sharing of equipment, principles and 
concepts at the local, state, and federal level.
     NDPO should take a leadership role in developing a 
national strategy.
     In planning for the NDPO, should make SOPs known and 
available.
     Continue to look toward the adoption of model guidelines 
and SOPs.
     NDPO should set up a means of reporting on the IAB's 
efforts regarding equipment.
     Should provide a list of alternative equipment items, and 
information on shelf lives.
     NDPO should function as an information pass-through from 
DOJ to responders on their needs.
     NDPO could also pass information from responders to others 
about their needs; these can be matched with scientific ideas and 
research.
     NDPO could assist other federal agencies, i.e., National 
Institute of Justice.
     NDPO should be the information source on technical 
training in bomb detection and disposal.
     Health and Medical Workgroup Summary:
     NDPO concept is vital to adequate preparedness.
     NDPO's function is to be the coordinating body and 
information clearinghouse.
     NDPO lacks the budget, and the authority, to be anything 
else; would like it to be more.
     For NDPO to be seen as credible, it must demonstrate its 
value as an information management resource.
     NDPO needs to be more than an arm of the FBI and law 
enforcement programs; need to avoid stove-piping. High level jobs need 
to be performed by more than FBI and DOJ staff.
     All six agencies need to be integrated.
     As part of clearinghouse function, a detailed inventory of 
all federal programs, and what they address, needs to be prepared. This 
will show the current gaps and needs.
     Clearinghouse should also provide a detailed description 
of the WMD contracts and grants that are available, and funding 
mechanisms.
     Federal program products should be accessible to the 
public, through the clearinghouse. This will result in improved product 
quality.
     NDPO should promote peer review activities regarding 
products, etc.
     NDPO should promote operational and management integration 
of law enforcement, emergency management, and health components. The 
clearinghouse should be established to address all three components
     The clearinghouse should be a locus of information. The 
intent is to avoid duplication of efforts by the agencies, and to 
provide a single source of information to the public, and professionals 
in the field. This will enhance the credibility of the NDPO. 
Information is for federal agencies as well as state and local groups.
     The NDPO should provide programmatic direction and policy 
recommendations.
     Educate federal leadership about shortages, faults, etc.
     The NDPO should serve as a broad health and medical 
information

[[Page 81549]]

resource to field professionals, and to itself
     A new public policy approach is needed: Funding should be 
provided for a public safety initiative to prepare hospitals for 
catastrophic and hazardous events. Sustain-ability of equipment and 
services should also be addressed in the policy. Red Cross is an 
example.
     Public health and acute care medicine need to be 
integrated with each other, for terrorism and for general catastrophic 
disasters, and then integrated with law enforcement and emergency 
management.
     The need to keep current with regulatory issues was not 
discussed in the workgroup; need to show have addressed medical 
information that is out-of-date in documents. For example, still keep 
stating will use intra-muscular Valium for organophosphate seizure 
control although it is no longer used. This is an example of the type 
of information sharing that needs to be achieved.
     Comment: The Red Cross does not receive federal funding. 
It is funded strictly by voluntary contributions from individuals.
     Emergency Management/State and Local Agencies Workgroup 
Summary:
     NDPO has a coordination role for national preparedness. To 
perform this role, all federal agencies need to adopt and follow the 
National Contingency Plan (NCP). It is a tried and tested plan.
     All federal agencies should adopt, educate about, and 
practice the ICS system
     All participants must pursue planning efforts at the local 
level, such as LEPCs
     NDPO needs to have its own internal strategic plan, and 
align itself to accomplish the plan.
     DOJ and FEMA need to demonstrate a commitment to the NDPO. 
High visibility should be given to it throughout the transition period.
     Core interagency operation and leadership staff should be 
funded, and encouragement given to other agencies to also fund. It is 
critical for this to be done now.
     Pressure is needed from the top down to get the NDPO 
funded.
    Following the presentations, NDPO Administrator Thomas Kinnally 
asked the Advisory Group whether they wanted to prioritize the points 
they had made, or pass them all forward to the Attorney General. A 
comment was made to identify the overlapping issues and concepts, and 
then compress the list. The list would be organized as to what the 
plenary group expects the NDPO to do, and what the group expects itself 
to do. In the next few weeks the NDPO staff would prepare an executive 
summary and include all critical issues identified by the Advisory 
Group, which would then be forwarded to the Attorney General and the 
NDPO federal partners. It was acknowledged that little could be 
accomplished in the absence of NDPO funding. In the interim, Chairman 
Stan McKinney would meet with the Attorney General on September 28 to 
brief her on the Advisory Group's recommendations.
    The Group then took a break. Following the break, Chairman Stan 
McKinney made closing remarks and the floor was opened to comments from 
the public. A presentation was made by Christian Sommade of the Centech 
Group, Arlington, VA, on European versus the U.S. Approach on Domestic 
Preparedness.''
    Following some discussion on scheduling the next Advisory Group 
meeting, Chairman Stan McKinney thanked all of the participants and 
adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m.
    I hereby certify that, to the best of my knowledge, the foregoing 
minutes are accurate and complete.

    Dated: December 4, 2000.
Allison Dunham,
Administrative Officer, NDPO.

    Dated: December 4, 2000.
Stan M. McKinney,
Chairman, State and Local Advisory Group for the NDPO.
    These minutes will be formally considered by the Advisory Group at 
its next meeting, and any corrections or notations will be incorporated 
in the minutes of that meeting.
    Responsible Federal Official: Thomas G. Kinnally, Administrator, 
NDPO.

ADDRESSES: The National Domestic Preparedness Office, JEH FBI Building, 
Room 5214, 935 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20535.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Allison Dunham, NDPO, (202) 324-9037.

[FR Doc. 00-32818 Filed 12-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-02-P