[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 144 (Friday, July 26, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48903-48905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19006]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Office of the Secretary


Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency 
Preparedness; Statement of Organization, Function, and Delegation of 
Authority

    Part A, Office of the Secretary, Statement of Organization, 
Functions, and Delegations of Authority of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) is being amended at Chapter AA, Immediate Office 
of the Secretary, as last amended at 67 FR 1980, dated 1/15/2002; and 
at Chapter

[[Page 48904]]

AC, ``Office of Public Health and Science (OPHS),'' as last amended at 
62 FR 33081-82, dated 6/18/1997. This reorganization will establish a 
new Chapter (AN), ``Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Health 
Emergency Preparedness (OASPHEP)'' within the Office of the Secretary. 
OASPHEP will be headed by an Assistant Secretary for Public Health 
Emergency Preparedness (ASPHEP) as authorized under the Public Health 
Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002. This 
reorganization will transfer the Office of Emergency Preparedness 
(ACK), Office of Public Health and Science, to OASPHEP, and rename the 
Office of Emergency Preparedness as the Office of Emergency Response. 
Further, this reorganization will transfer the Office of Public Health 
Preparedness from the Immediate Office of the Secretary to OASPHEP and 
rename it as the Office of BioDefense, and will place the Secretary's 
Emergency Operations Center in OASPHEP.
    The changes, which will among other things, centralize related 
preparedness and response activities, are as follows:
    I. Under Part A, Chapter AC, ``Office of Public Health and 
Science,'' make the following changes:
    A. Under Section AC.10 Organization, delete the following: ``I. 
Office of Emergency Preparedness.''
    B. Under Section AC.20 Functions, delete paragraph, ``I. Office of 
Emergency Preparedness (ACK),'' in its entirety.
    II. Under Part A, Office of the Secretary, make the following 
changes:
    A. Under Chapter AA, delete Chapter AAB, the ``Office of Public 
Health Preparedness,'' in its entirety.
    B. Establish a new Chapter AN, ``Office of the Assistant Secretary 
for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (OASPHEP)'' to read as 
follows:

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency 
Preparedness (AN)

AN.00  Mission

AN.10  Organization

AN.20  Functions

    Section AN.00  Mission. On behalf of the Secretary, the Office of 
the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness 
(OASPHEP) directs and coordinates HHS-wide efforts with respect to 
preparedness for and response to bioterrorism and other public health 
emergencies. OASPHEP will direct the National Disaster Medical System 
(NDMS) and any other emergency response activities within the 
Department of Health and Human Services that are related to 
bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. OASPHEP is 
responsible for ensuring a ``One-Department'' approach to developing 
such preparedness and response capabilities and directs and coordinates 
relevant activities of the OPDIVs.
    Section AN.10  Organization: The Office of the Assistant Secretary 
for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (OASPHEP) is headed by an 
Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (ASPHEP), 
who reports directly to the Secretary, and includes the following 
components:
     Immediate Office of the ASPHEP (ANA)
     Office of BioDefense (ANB)
     Office of Emergency Response (ANC)
     Secretary's Emergency Operations Center (ANE)

Section AN.20  Functions

    1. Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary for Public Health 
Emergency Preparedness (ANA). The Immediate Office of the ASPHEP 
provides executive direction to OASPHEP components. The ASPHEP is the 
principal advisor to the Secretary on matters relating to bioterriorism 
and other public health emergencies, and for coordinating interagency 
interfaces between HHS, other Departments, agencies, offices of the 
United States, State and local entities with responsibility for 
emergency preparedness, and directing activities relating to protecting 
the civilian population from acts of bioterrorism and other public 
health emergencies. The ASPHEP provides the necessary leadership and 
coordinates activities for emergency preparedness matters internal to 
the Office of the Secretary's components and represents the DHHS in 
working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other 
Federal departments and agencies. OASPHEP acts as the lead Federal 
agency for Emergency Support Function #8 within the Federal Response 
Plan.
    2. Office of BioDefense (ANB). The Office of BioDefense (OB) is 
headed by a Director, who reports to the ASPHEP and supports his/her 
roles as the Secretary's principal advisor on matters relating to 
bioterrorism and public health emergencies, the Department's principal 
liaison with the Office of Homeland Security; and the principal 
representative of the Department to other Federal agencies and the 
private sector in all matters related to bioterrorism, and other public 
health emergencies. On behalf of the ASPHEP, OB directs and coordinates 
HHS Operating and Staff Divisions implementation of a comprehensive HHS 
strategy to protect the civilian population from acts of bioterrorism 
and other public health emergencies. In carrying out these 
responsibilities, the OB directs and coordinates the OPDIVs and 
STAFFDIVs to ensure the adequacy of HHS strategy for preparing, 
preventing, responding to, and recovering from acts of bioterrorism and 
other public health emergencies. The OB develops national plans and 
programs and executes necessary actions to ensure that HHS components 
are prepared to perform essential functions during major disasters.
    3. Office of Emergency Response (ANC). The Office of Emergency 
Response (OER) is headed by a Director, who reports to the ASPHEP and 
serves as the principal advisor to the ASPHEP for emergency actions. 
OER provides staff support to the ASPHEP in the accomplishment of 
emergency preparedness responsibilities. In support of the ASPHEP, OER 
maintains the operational readiness required for timely and effective 
responses to Federal, State, and local government requests for social 
services, health and medical assistance following major disasters or 
terrorist incidents.
    a. The Division of Program Development (ANC1). The Division of 
Program Development (DPD) is responsible for developing planning and 
implementation of processes to improve local response capabilities and 
the integration of national and local response resources. A key 
function of DPD is the development of Metropolitan Medical Response 
Systems. DPD also supports the Director of OER and the ASPHEP in 
coordinating activities with the Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, and the 
Food and Drug Administration and other OPDIVs to develop technical 
support systems to deal with the consequences of Weapons of Mass 
Destruction (WMD) terrorist events.
    b. The Division of Emergency Readiness and Operations (ANC2). The 
Division of Emergency Readiness and Operations (DERO) is responsible 
for improving the range of emergency response capabilities and for 
assuring emergency response readiness. To accomplish these tasks, DERO 
supports the interdepartmental National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) 
Senior Policy Group, Directorate, and Directorate Staff; coordinates 
the NDMS Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs) and provides 
administrative support to DMAT personnel; manages the Rockville 
Emergency Operations Center

[[Page 48905]]

during emergencies; develops national WMD response capable DMATs; 
improves the communications infrastructure to support DMAT deployments; 
works with the Department of Veterans Affairs to assure appropriate 
pharmaceutical availability, especially for WMD incidents; and 
establishes Medical Support Units at the site of emergencies.
    c. The Division of Administration and Support (ANC3). The Division 
of Administration and Support (DAS) is responsible for OER budget 
execution and formulation, personnel and procurement actions, as well 
as other administrative activities. To accomplish these tasks, DAS 
works with the OASPHEP Operations Officer, the Office of the Secretary 
Executive Office (OSEO) and OER Division Directors to develop solutions 
to administrative related problems and to develop more effective and 
efficient administrative support for accomplishing OER activities. DAS 
also provides staff support for the OASPHEP Operations Officer in 
coordinating cross-cutting activities, such as, the management of 
Regional Emergency Coordinator Work Plans and Regional Advice of 
Allowance.
    4. Secretary's Emergency Operations Center (AND). The Secretary's 
Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) is the focal point of a secure 
command, control, and communications system to support the HHS 
Secretary and overall needs of the Department in the prevention, 
response and mitigation activities during major national security 
mobilizations such as a bioterrorism event. The SEOC ensures that all 
HHS emergency operations centers, emergency response teams, and other 
critical emergency personnel located throughout HHS are linked to the 
Secretary.
    III. Continuation of Policy: Except as inconsistent with this 
reorganization, all statements of policy and interpretations with 
respect to the Office of Public Health Preparedness (AAB) and the 
Office of Emergency Preparedness (ACK) Office of the Secretary, 
heretofore issued and in effect prior to the date of this 
reorganization are continued to full force and effect.
    IV. Delegations of Authority: All delegations and redelegations of 
authority made to officials and employees of affected organizational 
components will continue in them or their successors pending further 
redelegation, provided they are consistent with this reorganization.
    V. Funds, Personnel and Equipment: Transfer of organizations and 
functions affected by this reorganization shall be accompanied in each 
instance by direct and support funds, positions, personnel, records, 
equipment, supplies and other resources.

    Dated: July 22, 2002.
Tommy G. Thompson,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-19006 Filed 7-25-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-03-P