Topics in this issue include Paris terror attacks, anti-radicalization strategies, chemical surface detectors, tracing aerosolized threats, TRIA extension.
In This Article
U.S. Bolsters Security, Airport Screenings in Wake of Paris Attacks
The U.S. is increasing protection at government buildings and stepping up random screenings at airports in response to last week’s terrorist attacks in France, the Department of Homeland Security says. Secretary Jeh Johnson says he has ordered an enhanced presence at federal buildings around the country without providing specifics about which facilities were involved. Emergency Management >>
Businesses Welcome TRIA Extension, But Small Insurers Worry About Reimbursements
The original TRIA bill was initiated shortly after the 9/11 attacks to provide a federal backstop to protect insurers in the event an act of terrorism results in losses above $100 million. In that bill, if insurers’ losses remained under $27.5 billion, the federal government would recover its contribution via surcharges on all property and casualty policies, while losses totaling more than $100 billion would be covered by the affected policyholders. TRIA has already been extended twice and the most recent version of the bill will raise the federal coverage backstop from $100 million to $200 million by 2020. HSNW >>
Bartender Accused Of Plotting to Poison John Boehner
An Ohio man has been indicted for allegedly threatening to kill House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), WCPO and the Associated Press report. The man, Michael Robert Hoyt, served Boehner drinks at the Wetherington Golf & Country Club in West Chester, Ohio for more than five years, but was fired in October. Huffington Post >>
Technology Traces Both Aerosolized Threats and Contaminated Food
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) researchers, in collaboration with the startup DNATrek, have developed a new method to accurately trace contaminated food back to its source. LLNL designed the technology, known as DNATrax, which are particles comprised of sugar and non-living and non-viable DNA that can serve as an invisible barcode. It’s an odorless and tasteless substance that’s been approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a food additive, safe for consumption. Global Biodefense >>
Tests Used to Ensure Ships Don’t Carry Deadly Cargo Draw Sharp Criticism
In the early 1990s, an epidemic of cholera killed thousands of people in Latin America. The new strain came from Asia, and experts suspected cargo ships of accidentally transporting the pathogen in the water that fills their ballast tanks. In order to prevent such outbreaks, and the spread of invasive species, many nations have agreed to require ships to treat their ballast water starting next year. Science Insider >>
Spent Nuclear Fuel Could Once Again Be Headed to Idaho National Laboratory
An effort is underway to again allow spent nuclear fuel to be shipped to Idaho National Laboratory for research projects, after more than two years without any such shipments. Such shipments have been banned by the state since Jan. 1, 2013, as a consequence for DOE missing a nuclear waste cleanup deadline in the 1995 Settlement Agreement. Idaho Statesman >>
20th CBRNE Supports Chemical Cleanup Effort in Capital
The CBRNE Analytical and Remediation Activity (CARA) and the 48th Chemical Brigade are supporting a chemical remediation effort at the Spring Valley Formerly Used Defense Site near American University. CARA is the only U.S. Defense Department activity authorized to conduct chemical weapons material surety missions. U.S. Army >>
House Passes DHS Funding Bill with Immigration Amendments that Could Kill It
In a 242 to 180 vote, the House Wednesday passed the Fiscal Year 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act (H.R. 240) with controversial amendments that could sabotage the funding bill in the Senate. The bill will likely stall in the Senate, where it faces stiff opposition and isn’t likely to get the 60 votes needed. And even if it were somehow passed by the Senate, President Obama has indicated he’d veto it. HS Today >>
U.K. Anti-Radicalization Strategy is Not Working: Critics
In 2007 the Labor government established Prevent, a counterterrorism strategy, along with other policy elements — Pursue, Protect, and Prepare. Prevent was intended to deter individuals from becoming radicalized, but some counterterrorism experts believes that the government needs a broader approach to carry out the program. HSNW >>
Army Extends RFI Deadline for Chemical Surface Detector
The U.S. Army has extended the submission window for a Request for Information on technologies to support the Chemical Surface Detector (CSD) effort. The program is managed by the Joint Project Manager Nuclear Biological Chemical Contamination Avoidance (JPMNBCCA), part of the Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense. Global Biodefense >>