The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has announced the completion of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). This plan provides a comprehensive procedure of roles and responsibilities, which includes federal and local governments and private industry.
The plan identifies 17 sectors that are “critical” to the nation’s security. Included in these sectors are chemical, energy (electrical, nuclear, gas, oil and dams), nuclear reactors, pipeline systems and food and agriculture.
The Plan identifies the importance of cooperation between private sector owners and both federal and local governments to provide adequate security, as well as response, in a national emergency. The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Infrastructure Protection oversees the sectors of chemical, dams, commercial facilities and commercial nuclear reactors. The Department of Energy will oversee the energy sector.
According to the plan, “The National Strategy for Homeland Security established the national critical infrastructure and key resources vision with a charge to forge an unprecedented level of cooperation throughout all levels of government, with private industry and institutions, and with the American people to protect our critical infrastructures and key assets from terrorist attack.”
Sector-specific plans that compliment the NIPP will be released in the next few months. The entire NIPP can be access at: https://www.cisa.gov/topics/critical-infrastructure-security-and-resilience/national-infrastructure-protection-plan-and-resources.