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Department of Homeland Security Announces $91.3 Million in Buffer Zone Protection Program Grants
Title: Department of Homeland Security Announces $91.3 Million in Buffer Zone Protection Program Grants
Institution: U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security
Electronic Link: http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/press_release_0630.shtm
Key Words: Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP), Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP), high-value targets, BZPP grant funds, critical infrastructure facility protection, expansion of critical infrastructure buffer zones
Summary of Key Issues, Points, Conclusions:
The Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP) was created by the Department of Homeland Security to reestablish buffer zones of critical infrastructure facilities due to the increasing expansion of urban areas. BZPP, along with Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP), have identified about 500 targets that are of “high-value” and if attacked, these areas could be the cause of thousands of deaths and substantial destruction.
DHS has allocated $91.3 million for program grants to be sent from the state governments to the local sectors for buffer zone expansion and the needed supplies for implementing necessary security measures for critical infrastructure protection. All fifty states and territories of the United States receive money from DHS to execute the programs. States have to complete two steps in order to receive funds from DHS. First, states have to submit Buffer Zone Plan’s and plans for purchasing equipment to the Office of Domestic Preparedness by the end of April in the current year. Then, the ODP will conduct a programmatic and fiscal review. The IAIP will then perform a technical review and submit the state’s plan for the last stage of approval.
Name of Researcher: Allison McFarland
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: June 29, 2005