[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66842-66843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-29646]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


Notice Designating University of Southern California as Center 
for Homeland Security

AGENCY: Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security has designated the 
University of Southern California as a Center for Homeland Security 
(HS-Center).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Petonito, Deputy Director, 
University Programs, Science and Technology Division, Department of 
Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528; telephone 202-401-1113, 
facsimile 202-772-9916; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Section 308 of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Pub. L. 107-296, 
(Homeland Security Act), as amended by the Omnibus Appropriation Act of 
2003, Pub. L. 108-7, directs the Department of Homeland Security 
(Department) to sponsor extramural research, development, 
demonstration, testing and evaluation programs relating to homeland 
security. As part of this program, the Department is to establish a 
university-based center or centers for homeland security.
    The purpose of these centers is to provide a locus to attract and 
retain academic scholars in pursuit of homeland security-related 
disciplines. The Centers are envisioned to be an integral and critical 
component of the Department's capability to anticipate, prevent, 
respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks. The Centers will 
leverage multidisciplinary capabilities of universities and fill gaps 
in current knowledge.
    Section 308(b)(2)(B) of the Homeland Security Act lists fourteen 
areas of substantive expertise that, if demonstrated, might qualify 
universities for designation as university-based centers. The listed 
areas of expertise include, among others, food safety, first 
responders, multi-modal transportation, and responding to incidents 
involving weapons of mass destruction. However, the list is not 
exclusive. Section 308(b)(2)(C) gives the Secretary discretion to 
consider additional criteria beyond those specified in section 
308(b)(2)(B) in selecting universities for this program, as long as the 
Department issues a Federal Register notice explaining the criteria 
used for the designation.

Criteria

    In 2002, the National Research Council (NRC) issued a report 
entitled ``Making the Nation Safer: The Role of Science and Technology 
in Countering Terrorism.'' In this report, the NRC recommended a number 
of substantive areas for research that could contribute to national 
security. Among other issues, the NRC report identified the need to 
perform risk analysis and modeling of vulnerabilities and economic 
analysis of security enhancements as areas for which research is 
needed.
    The Department agrees that research in these areas will contribute

[[Page 66843]]

significantly to the Department's ability to identify, and select 
among, options for enhancing national security. Risk-based modeling, 
and economic analysis, will help the Department understand the impact 
and consequences of potential acts of terrorism, thus providing 
decision makers with validated tools to evaluate vulnerabilities and 
identify countermeasures and response actions.

Solicitation of Interest and Designation

    In August 2003, the Department sought white papers from 
universities that wished to be designated as HS-Centers. The HS-Centers 
are envisioned to be an integral and critical component of the new 
``homeland security complex'' that will provide the nation with a 
robust, dedicated and enduring capability that will enhance our ability 
to anticipate, prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks. 
The notice, made available on the DHS Internet site (http://www.dhs.gov) and (http://www.orau.gov/dhsuce), identified risk-based 
economic modeling as one of the areas of expertise (criteria) that 
might merit designation.
    The Department received a number of proposals and evaluated them 
through a process that included the participation of federal government 
and outside experts. After the panels of experts selected final 
potential designees, the Department conducted site visits to interview 
the individuals who would be performing the research. Based on this 
evaluation, the Department has selected the University of Southern 
California (USC) as the first HS-Center for this program.
    USC will conduct research on risk-based modeling, with a particular 
emphasis on the economic aspects. U.S.C. will develop an integrated set 
of models and modeling capabilities that cut across several threats and 
targets--impacts on buildings and structures, airborne biological and 
chemical agents, and cyber-terrorism. Other research areas besides 
modeling and analysis of risks, will be in emergency response, 
consequences, economics, advanced computation and infrastructure. 
U.S.C. is committed to ensuring that students will have opportunities 
to develop and contribute to these important areas through hands-on 
training and internships, as examples. Workshops for the scientific 
community, collaboration with federal laboratories, and support for 
sabbatical visitors are additional activities planned for this HS-
Center.

    Dated: November 21, 2003.
Melvin Bernstein,
Director, University Programs, Science and Technology Division, 
Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 03-29646 Filed 11-24-03; 11:36 am]
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