Enhancing Site Security

1
Enhancing Site Security

• H. Michael Harrington
• Executive Director
• WAAESD

2
Terrorist Theatre

• Extremist groups and terrorists seek both new
  targets and new ways of gaining attention and
  provoking widespread fear.
• Recent events have involved broader range of
  targets as well as the general public.

3
Is the agriculture and food production system
next?
4
Potential Targets

• Farms, ranches, producers
• Food companies, distribution systems including
  processors, packers, wholesalers, grocers
• Research laboratories, stations, test plots,
  animals
• Scientists and staff

5
What are the risks?

• Personnel
• Research
• General Public and Stakeholders
• Organization

6
Are there problems?
7
OIG Audits of ARS Facilities

• Lack of accurate inventory of high risk agents
• Failure to control access to high risk agents
• Physical security of laboratories and research
  sites
• Personnel security
• Inconsistent reporting of vandalism and
  unauthorized access
• (http//www.usda.gov/oig/webdocs/50099-13-At.pdf)
  

8
OIG Audits at Selected Universities

• Compliance with existing procedures
• Focus on developing a set of best practices
  recommendations

9
The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism
Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (Public
Law 107-188)

• Required inventory and reporting of select agents
  for humans, animals and plants
• DHHS/USDA Select Agents
• APHIS Interim Rule

10
Recommended Actions

• Work closely with Institutional Safety Office
• Understand requirements
• Maintain materials inventory
• Review site security
• Review current security practices
• Assess security approaches
• Educate employees

11
Materials Inventory

• General laboratory and field use chemicals
• Hazardous materials and fuels
• Radiochemicals
• All biological agents regardless of
  classification
• - Maintain materials records and limit access
  where appropriate.

12
Site Security Review

• Review and evaluate existing physical security
  practices
• Identify possible enhancements
• High priority, urgent need
• Medium priority, prudent to accomplish
• Low priority, accomplish when feasible

13
Site Evaluation

• Is your site of interest?
• Hazardous materials, fuels, etc. on site?
• Capable of being weaponized?
• Inventory control in place and in use?
• Are the site and materials accessible?
• Value as theatre?

14
Security Practices

• Are current procedures followed?
• Who has access?
• Is access control a problem?
• If high security is needed, can access be
  compartmented?
• Refer questionable cases or further evaluation

15
Security Approaches

• Physical hardening
• Limit or deny access
• Increase surveillance

16
Educate Employees

• Regulations and requirements
• Laboratory safety
• Chemical control programs
• Materials access
• Facilities access
• Report any strange or unusual activity

17
The challenge

• How do we balance the need for increased security
  with the open culture of the University?

18
Acknowledgements

• Site Security and Bio-terrorism
• by David MacKenzie
• (http//www.escop.msstate.edu/SiteSecurity2.pdf)
• David Edger, 3CI Consulting, LLC
• Health and Safety Offices of Western Region
  Universities
• Colleagues across the country