[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 174 (Friday, September 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55218-55219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22065]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2012-0055]


Homeland Security Advisory Council

AGENCY: The Office of Policy, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of partially closed Federal Advisory Committee meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) will meet in 
person and members of the public may participate by conference call on 
September 25, 2012. The two-day meeting will be partially closed to the 
public.

DATES: The HSAC will meet on Monday, September 24, 2012, from 1 p.m. to 
4:45 p.m. EDT. This portion of the meeting will be closed. On Tuesday, 
September 25, 2012, the HSAC will meet from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in 
closed session. The meeting will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 
11:15 a.m. and then meet in closed session from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 
p.m.

ADDRESSES: Written comments must be submitted and received by September 
21, 2012. Comments must be identified by Docket No. DHS-2012-0055 and 
may be submitted by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include docket number in the subject 
line of the message.
     Fax: (202) 282-9207.
     Mail: Homeland Security Advisory Council, Department of 
Homeland Security, Mailstop 0450, 245 Murray Lane SW., Washington, DC 
20528.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and DHS-2012-0055, the docket 
number for this action. Comments received will be posted without 
alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received by the DHS Homeland Security Advisory Council, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Becca Sharp, Executive Director, at 
[email protected] or 202-447-3135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App.

[[Page 55219]]

    The HSAC provides organizationally independent, strategic, timely, 
specific and actionable advice and recommendations for the 
consideration of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security 
on matters related to homeland security. The Council is comprised of 
leaders of local law enforcement, first responders, state and local 
government, the private sector, and academia.
    The HSAC will meet in open session on Tuesday, September 25, 2012, 
from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. to receive a briefing from the Chief of 
Staff of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service on its deferred 
action for the childhood arrivals program. The HSAC will also receive a 
report from the Sustainability and Efficiency Task Force, review and 
discuss the task forces' report, and formulate recommendations for the 
Department.
    The HSAC will meet in closed session on Monday, September 24 from 1 
p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Tuesday, September 25 from 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m., 
and from 11:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. In the closed sessions, the HSAC will 
receive sensitive operational briefings and updates from senior DHS 
leadership on the following issues: The strategic implementation plan 
to counter violent extremism domestically; the current threat 
environment; evolving threats in cyber security; Transportation 
Security Administration operations; DHS transition planning; and U.S. 
Coast Guard counterterrorism efforts around the world.
    Basis for Partial-Closure: In accordance with Section 10(d) of the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, it has been determined that the meeting 
requires closure as the disclosure of the information would not be in 
the public interest.
    The HSAC will receive briefings on domestic and international 
threats to the homeland from DHS Intelligence and Analysis and other 
senior leadership, and a briefing on the Transportation Security 
Administration's (TSA) airport security program that will include 
lessons learned, and screening techniques associated with airport 
security. Specifically, there will be material presented regarding the 
latest viable threats against the United States, and how DHS and other 
Federal agencies plan to address those threats. Under 5 U.S.C. 
552b(c)(7)(E), disclosure of that information could reveal 
investigative techniques and procedures not generally available to the 
public, allowing those with interests against the United States to 
circumvent the law. Additionally, under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B), 
disclosure of these techniques and procedures could frustrate the 
successful implementation of protective measures designed to keep our 
country safe.
    Members will also be provided a briefing from the U.S. Coast Guard 
on counterterrorism efforts being made around the world, operational 
overview of the Department's transition planning efforts focused on 
national security, and the current strategic implementation plan of the 
Counter Violent Extremism Domestically. Providing this information to 
the public would provide terrorists with a road map regarding the 
Department's plan to counter their actions, and thus, allow them to 
take different actions to avoid counterterrorism efforts. Under 5 
U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B), disclosure of this plan could frustrate the 
successful implementation of measures designed to counter terrorist 
acts and likely to significantly frustrate implementation of a proposed 
agency action. Lastly, members will receive a briefing on evolving 
threats in cyber security. This will include lessons learned and 
potential vulnerabilities of infrastructure assets, as well as 
potential methods to improve the Federal response to a cyber attack. 
Disclosure of this information would be a road map to those who wish to 
attack our infrastructure, and hence, would certainly frustrate the 
successful implementation of preventive and counter measures to protect 
our cyber and physical infrastructure. Therefore, this portion of the 
meeting is required to be closed under U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B).
    Public Participation: Members of the public will be in listen-only 
mode. The public may register to listen in on this HSAC meeting via 
conference call using the afore-mentioned procedures. Each individual 
must provide his or her full legal name, email address and phone number 
no later than 5 p.m. EDT on September 20, 2012, to a staff member of 
the HSAC via email at [email protected] or via phone at (202) 447-3135. HSAC 
conference call details and the Sustainability and Efficiency Task 
Force report will be provided to interested members of the public at 
the time they register and at their request.
    Identification of Services for Individuals with Disabilities: For 
information on facilities or services for individuals with 
disabilities, or to request special assistance at the meeting, contact 
the HSAC as soon as possible.

    Dated: September 4, 2012.
Becca Sharp,
Executive Director, Homeland Security Advisory Council, DHS.
[FR Doc. 2012-22065 Filed 9-6-12; 8:45 am]
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