PTI Local Government Energy Assurance Guidelines - Metropolitan ...

C.3 National Infrastructure Protection Plan—Energy Sector-Specific Plan
The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) 51 and supporting Sector-Specific Plans (SSPs) 52 provide a
coordinated approach to critical infrastructure and key resources (CI/KR) protection roles and responsibilities
for Federal, State, local, tribal, and private sector security partners. The NIPP sets national priorities, goals, and
requirements for effective distribution of funding and resources that will help ensure that our government, economy,
and public services continue in the event of a terrorist attack or other disaster.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) describes the NIPP as providing a unifying structure for the
integration of existing and future critical infrastructure and key resources into a single national program that result
in a more resilient America. The NIPP promotes building security partnerships, and local governments are key
partners in implementing the objectives of the NIPP. Specifically, DHS expects local governments to build regional
partnerships across jurisdictions while also developing formal, tailored CI/KR plans as part of their own homeland
security efforts. DHS recommends that jurisdictions incorporate the NIPP into their existing security initiatives
where possible.
C.4 National Incident Management System (NIMS)
The Secretary of Homeland Security released the National Incident Management System (NIMS) in March 2004.
In a September 8, 2004, letter to the Nation’s governors, DHS outlined a phased approach to local government
implementation of the NIMS, with full compliance required by September 30, 2006. Notably, local jurisdictions are
required to meet NIMS implementation requirements put forward in the Federal fiscal year 2006 as a condition of
receiving Federal preparedness funding assistance in FY 2007 and beyond. Therefore, it makes sense to learn about
NIMS and to move forward on NIMS implementation at the local government level.
Some States have taken actions to ensure that the NIMS is integrated into theiremergency management system.
California did this through an executive order. The executive order required the State’s Office of Emergency Services
to report on the status of NIMS implementation by a certain date. Pennsylvania mandated that NIMS be utilized for
all incident management issues within its borders through a proclamation.
The NIMS is a comprehensive system that improves local response operations through the use of the Incident
Command System (ICS) and the application of (new) standardized procedures and preparedness measures. The
NIMS promotes cross-jurisdictional, statewide and interstate regional mechanisms for coordinating responses and
obtaining help during complex incidents.
Oversight of NIMS Implementation
The NIMS Integration Center
The NIMS Integration Center oversees all aspects of the NIMS, including the development of NIMS-related
standards and guidelines and the provision of guidance and support to incident management and responder
organizations as they implement the system. The Center also will validate compliance with the NIMS and National
Response Plan responsibilities, standards and requirements. The NIMS Integration Center is a multi-jurisdictional,
multidisciplinary entity made up of Federal stakeholders and over time State, local and tribal incident management
and first responder organizations. It is situated at the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). 53
51
http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/NIPP_Plan.pdf.
52
53
Including the Energy Sector-Specific Plan; see: http://www.oe.energy.gov/DocumentsandMedia/Energy_SSP_2010.pdf.
For a Federal fiscal year 2006 NIMS Implementation Matrix for Tribal and Local Jurisdictions please see: http://www.fema.gov/txt/
emergency/nims/nims_tribal_local_compliance_activities.txt.
Local Government Energy Assurance Guidelines – Version 2.0 | 87