28 December 2011

DHS Secret Meet on Domestic Threats

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 28, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81516-81517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33196]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2011-0111]


Homeland Security Advisory Council

AGENCY: The Office of Policy, DHS.

ACTION: Closed Federal Advisory Committee Meeting.

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SUMMARY: The Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) will meet on 
January 9, 2012, in Arlington, Virginia. The meeting will be closed to 
the public. A notice of the meeting of the Homeland Security Advisory 
Council is being published in the Federal Register on December 27, 
2011, 14 days prior to the meeting due to holiday scheduling conflicts. 
Although the meeting notice will be published in the Federal Register 
late, we've extended public comment until one day prior to the meeting.

DATES: The HSAC will meet on Monday, January 9, 2012, from 8:50 a.m. to 
3:30 p.m. EST.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held in Town Hall (1) at the 
Transportation Security Administration, 601 South 12th Street, (East 
Building), Arlington, VA 22202. Written comments must be submitted and 
received by January 8, 2012. Comments must be identified by Docket No. 
DHS 2011-0111 and may be submitted by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: HSAC@dhs.gov. Include docket number in the subject 
line of the message.
     Fax: (202) 282-9207
     Mail: Homeland Security Advisory Council, Department of 
Homeland Security, Mailstop 0450, 245 Murray Lane SW., Washington, DC 
20528.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security'' and DHS-2011-0111, the docket 
number for this action. Comments received will be posted without 
alteration at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received by the DHS Homeland Security Advisory Council, go to 
http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: HSAC Staff at hsac@dhs.gov or (202) 
447-3135.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Notice of this meeting is given under the 
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. The HSAC provides 
independent, objective advice and recommendations for the consideration 
of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security on matters 
related to homeland security. The Council is comprised of leaders of 
local law enforcement, first responders, state and local government, 
the private sector, and academia.
    The HSAC will meet for the purpose of receiving sensitive 
operational information from senior DHS leadership. The meeting will 
address threats to our homeland security, border security, examine U.S. 
Coast Guard counterterrorism efforts; provide an operational update of 
the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Frequent Traveler 
Program; examine evolving threats in cyber security; and provide 
information on the threat of an electromagnetic pulse attack and its 
associated vulnerabilities.

Summary of the Agenda

    Sensitive Threat Briefings against the Homeland.
    Briefing on Strategic Implementation Plan to Counter Violent 
Extremism Domestically.
    Update on Border Security and Evolving Threats.
    US Coast Guard, Update on Counterterrorism Efforts Around the 
World.
    TSA Frequent Travelers Program Operational Update.
    Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Threat--Lessons Learned and Areas of 
Vulnerability, and
    Evolving Threats in Cyber Security.
    Basis for Closure: In accordance with Section 10(d) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, it has been determined that the meeting 
requires closure as the premature disclosure of the information would 
not be in the public interest.
    The HSAC will receive briefings on domestic and international 
threats to the homeland from DHS Intelligence and Analysis and other 
senior leadership, and a briefing on threats at the Southwest Border 
and joint operations with Mexican law enforcement from U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection. That material, and a discussion of it, entails 
information the premature disclosure of which would not be in the 
public interest. Specifically, there will be material presented 
regarding the latest viable threats against the United States, and how 
DHS and other Federal agencies plan to address those threats. Under 5 
U.S.C. 552b(c)(7)(E)&(F), disclosure of that information could reveal 
investigative techniques and procedures not generally available to the 
public, allowing those with interests against the United States to 
circumvent the law, thereby endangering the life or physical safety of 
law enforcement personnel. Additionally, under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B), 
disclosure of these techniques and procedures could frustrate the 
successful implementation of protective measures designed to keep our 
country safe.
    The DHS Office of Counterterrorism will present a briefing on the 
Department's implementation plan to counter domestic violent extremism. 
Providing this information to the public would provide terrorists with 
a road map regarding the Department's plan to counter their actions, 
and thus, allow them to take different actions to avoid 
counterterrorism efforts. Under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(7)(E)&(F), disclosure 
of that information could endanger the life or physical safety of law 
enforcement personnel. Additionally, under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B), 
disclosure of this plan could frustrate the successful implementation 
of measures designed to counter terrorist acts.
    The members of the HSAC will receive a briefing on the 
Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) frequent travelers 
program that will include lessons learned, the enhanced security the 
new program provides, and screening techniques associated with this 
program. The briefing will include Sensitive Security Information 
within the meaning of 49 U.S.C. Sec.  114 and 49 C.F.R. part 1520, 
which requires nondisclosure of security activities if disclosure would 
be detrimental to the security of transportation. DHS has determined 
that public disclosure of this information would significantly 
compromise the operational security of the nation's transportation 
system if disclosed, by exposing the existing vulnerabilities and the 
physical limitations of the program. As a result, this briefing must be 
closed under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(3)(A).

[[Page 81517]]

    The members will also receive a briefing on recent Cyber attacks 
and the potential threat of an electromagnetic pulse attack. Both will 
include lessons learned and potential vulnerabilities of infrastructure 
assets, as well as potential methods to improve the Federal response to 
a cyber or electromagnetic pulse attack. Disclosure of this information 
would be a road map to those who wish to attack our infrastructure, and 
hence, would certainly frustrate the successful implementation of 
preventive and counter measures to protect our cyber and physical 
infrastructure. Therefore, this portion of the meeting is required to 
be closed under U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B). Accordingly, this meeting will be 
closed to the public.

    Dated: December 21, 2011.
Becca Sharp,
Executive Director, Homeland Security Advisory Council, DHS.
[FR Doc. 2011-33196 Filed 12-27-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9-P