FY 2007 Infrastructure Protection Program: Transit Security Grant Program: Amtrak Security Supplemental

The summary for the FY 2007 Infrastructure Protection Program: Transit Security Grant Program: Amtrak Security Supplemental grant is detailed below. This summary states who is eligible for the grant, how much grant money will be awarded, current and past deadlines, Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers, and a sampling of similar government grants. Verify the accuracy of the data FederalGrants.com provides by visiting the webpage noted in the Link to Full Announcement section or by contacting the appropriate person listed as the Grant Announcement Contact. If any section is incomplete, please visit the website for the Preparedness OG T, which is the U.S. government agency offering this grant.

FY 2007 Infrastructure Protection Program: Transit Security Grant Program: Amtrak Security Supplemental: This year, Amtrak is eligible to participate in the Transit Security Grant Program (TSGP), rather than being eligible under a separate program. The Department identifies the following seven specific priorities as our highest priority selection criteria for the FY07 TSGP for Amtrak: 1. Protection of high risk/high consequence underwater and underground rail assets. Many of the nations largest transit systems have significant track miles and large concentrations of riders in rail systems that run underground and underwater. It is a high priority of the FY07 TSGP to support measures that will protect underground rail system assets, and particularly underwater assets, from terrorist attack by improvised explosive devices (IEDs) or other threats that can damage or significantly breach such assets. Active coordination and regular testing of emergency evacuation plan can greatly reduce loss of life in serious incidents. 2. Protection of other high risk/high consequence assets and systems that have been identified through system-wide risk assessments. It is imperative that transit agencies focus countermeasure resources on their highest risk, highest consequence areas or systems. The FY07 TSGP will particularly support development and enhancement of capabilities to prevent, detect and respond to terrorist attacks employing chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) weapons, particularly IEDs. For example, a system-wide assessment may highlight the need to segregate critical security infrastructure from public access. One solution could be an integrated intrusion detection system, controlling access to these critical facilities or equipment. Transit systems should consider security technologies to help reduce the burden on security manpower. Using smart CCTV systems in remote locations could help free up security patrols to focus on more high risk areas. 3. Use of visible, unpredictable deterrence. Visible and unpredictable security activities instill confidence and enhanced security awareness in the riding public, and deter attacks by disrupting the ability of terrorists to prepare for and execute attacks. Examples include the acquisition, training, certification and maintenance of explosives detection canine teams; training of law enforcement, security officials and front-line employees in behavioral pattern recognition; and procurement of mobile detection or screening equipment to identify the presence of explosives or their residue and other suspicious items on persons or in packages. 4. Targeted counter-terrorism training for key front-line staff. Effective employee training programs address individual employee responsibilities and provide basic security awareness to front line employees, including equipment familiarization, assessing and reporting incident severity, appropriate responses to protect self and passengers, use of protective devices, crew communication and coordination, and incident evacuation procedures. For example, well trained and rehearsed operators can help ensure that if an underground station has suffered a chemical agent attack, trains - and the riding public - are quickly removed from the scene, thus reducing their exposure and risk. 5. Emergency preparedness drills and exercises. In order to assess and enhance a systems capability to respond under the variety of serious incidents, transit agencies are encouraged to maintain an emergency drill and exercise program to test key operational protocols including coordination with first responders. The FY07 TSGP can support exercises related to terrorist attack scenarios (such as IED or CBRNE attacks), natural disasters and other emergencies. Such programs can take various forms, from table top exercises to more comprehensive multi-agency full-scale exercises. The FY07 TSGP funds also support rigorous after action assessments to identify further system improvements. 6. Public awareness and preparedness campaigns. A public awareness and preparedness program can employ announcements, postings in stations and transit vehicles or other media to ensure awareness of heightened alert or threat conditions. Effective awareness programs enlist the public in becoming an informal part of an agency security plan. They should explain specific actions the public can take to contribute to strengthening system security. 7. fforts in support of the national preparedness architecture. Transit agencies are encouraged to take steps to embrace the national preparedness architecture priorities, several of which have already been highlighted as Amtrak priorities. The following six national priorities are particularly relevant: expanding regional collaboration; implementing the National Incident Management System, the National Response Plan and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan; strengthening information sharing and collaboration capabilities; enhancing interoperable communications capabilities; strengthening CBRNE detection and response capabilities; and improving citizen preparedness capabilities.