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Critical Infrastructure: The National Asset Database
Date: September 14, 2006 and updated July 16, 2007
Author: John Moteff
Institution: Congressional Research Service
Bibliographic Entry:
Moteff, John. 2006. Critical Infrastructure: The National Asset Database. CRS Report for Congress (RL33648). Congressional Research Service. The Library of Congress. Washington DC.
Electronic Link: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/RL33648.pdf
Key Words: Office of Infrastructure Protection (OIP), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), National Asset Database, critical assets
Summary of Key Points, Issues, Conclusions:
The Office of Infrastructure Protection (OIP), an office in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), has been developing and maintaining a National Asset Database. The database includes 77,000 individual assets spanning from dams, hazardous material sites and nuclear power plants to festivals, petting zoos and sporting goods stores. The controversy lies in what assets should be included in the database. One group believes the list should only include critical assets of national importance. The opposing group believes that the list should keep assets of local importance and expand the database in order for it to be a comprehensive database of all assets. Those in favor of reducing the list believe it should be more focused on what is most important to our nation while those in favor of expanding the list believe the unpredictable nature of terrorism creates the need for a more comprehensive list. There is additional concern regarding the accuracy of the information and the legal and regulatory implications. Data has been collected and reported in various ways; therefore, the information is also in need of restructuring.
This document has been updated as of July 2007 to reflect relevant critical assets and to recommend key issues on which Congress should focus. It also attempts to further clarify what the National Asset Database is and what it is not concerning the nation's critical infrastructure.
Name of Researcher: Courtney Weigand and Tara Stockberger
Institution: Integrative Center for Homeland Security, Texas A&M University
Date Posted: July 26, 2007