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Mohamed Conteh

Tina Bynum

HLS400-1802A-01

Colorado Technical University

Individual Work

April 18, 2018

To: Undergraduate Students at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy

From: Assistant Professor with the Department of Homeland Security

Date: 6th April 2018

Re: The relationship that the various agencies at all levels have with homeland security policies, laws, strategies, and the U.S. Constitution.

The basic justification and the elaborate context for the activities of the homeland security are available in the preface; Article I, Section 8; and Article IV Section 4 of the United States’ Constitution. The preface includes the fundamental “Provide for the common defenses” and “insure domestic tranquility” justifications. Article I, Section 8 contains details regarding the situation in which the military is likely to get employed domestically. While Article IV, Section 4, broadens on this authority. This means that, Justifications and activities of the department of the Homeland security are included and provided by the U.S. Constitution. These provisions are meant to establish justices, insure domestic Harmony, promote general welfare, offer common defense, secure liberty blessings and form an improved perfect union among our posterity and ourselves. The strategic framework for Homeland Security is elaborated in the National Defense Panel report (NDP).

Homeland security activities are more evident in the Warrant offered by the Department of Defense, that is responsible for maintaining and employing the armed forces to

· Support, as well as, defend the constitution against all enemies, whether foreign or domestic.

· Protects, through effective and timely military response, the country’s security, its territories, and areas deemed important to it.

· Support and advance the national interests and policies of the United States.

· Safeguarding the country’s internal security (RAND Corporation, n.d).

Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs) are given by the president on issues touching on Homeland Security. Three of these directives directly impact the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s role. Firstly, the Management of Domestic Incidents is required to establish a single and inclusive national incident management system (NIMS), as well as, the National Response Framework (NRF). EPA is required to support, as well as, support the both. The directive also impact Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection policy where federal agencies are required to coordinate the security of crucial infrastructure and major resources. Thirdly, the directive impacts National Preparedness where departments of the federal government agencies are directed to get prepared to act on national terrorist attacks case anywhere in the country. EPA is considered one of the agencies that offer help.

Other directives include are those affecting

· The Defense of United States Agriculture and Food – this directive is responsible for establishing national policies that defend the food and agriculture system against major disasters, terrorists, and other insecurities related to food and agriculture. The EPA is expected to come up and enhance analysis and operations capabilities that focus on agriculture, water, and food sectors. The EPA is also required to monitor systems and coordinate surveillance for the quality of water, and new alternatives for detecting agents present in water supply. EPA, as well as, other agencies are expected to come up with national laboratory system for food, plant health, veterinary, and quality of water that integrate the current State and Federal resources.

· Biodefense for the 21st Century – this directive tasks EPA, together with other agencies of the federal government, with formulating of certain standards, capabilities and protocols that address contamination risks that occur in case of a biological weapons hit. This also includes the development of strategies, plans, and guidelines for facilities, persons, and equipment decontamination.

· Policy for a Common Identification Standards for Federal Employees and Contractors – this directive assigns responsibility for setting identification standards that people entering federal buildings need to show. These standards have also been adopted by EPA.

· Domestic Nuclear Detection – this directive established the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) that is responsible for coordinating efforts aimed at protecting the country’s domestic security; that is, dangers resulting from radiological and nuclear materials.

· National Continuity Policy – this directive is responsible for establishing an inclusive national policy on the Federal Government’s operations and structures continuity following a catastrophic emergency. The EPA is required to implement its operation’s continuity plan in the occurrence of a State emergence. The EPA plans, as well as, conducts regular internal testing, exercises, and training.

· Cyber Security Initiative – this directive require all federal agencies to supervise and monitor cyber activities run using computer systems of the federal agencies, and where needed, offer action in order to get rid of hostile action sources. The EPA has a strong security program that monitors both cyber security and personnel as the directive mandates (United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 2018).

References

RAND Corporation. (n.d). Chapter Two: Understanding Homeland Security [PDF Document]. Retrieved from https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1251/MR1251.Chap2.pdf

United State Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2018). Homeland Security Presidential Directives. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/emergency-response/homeland-security-presidential-directives