Paper, Order, or Assignment Requirements

Clean water is a critical element for the health of all living things. It is imperative that our water infrastructure is protected. Could a terrorist duplicate the disaster caused by the BP/Deepwater Horizon or Enbridge oil spills? How do we protect the seafood and inland fishing industry? Are there other high risk operations within our physical water systems that are potential targets for a terrorist? U.S. water systems are owned and operated by a variety of local public or private sector entities, most of which are non-federal. Standards and best practices for dealing with security incidents are poorly defined. Their capabilities to deal with massive oil contamination are limited. This crisis is an example illustrating that our critical infrastructures are interrelated and interdependent. President Trump has specifically requested a study of the Federal government’s role to ensure the safety of our water supply (both fresh and sea water), since senior DHS officials are concerned that terrorists may attempt to replicate the BP/Deepwater Horizon or Enbridge disasters. Your team has been invited to participate on the Presidential Action Team, which has an opportunity to help shape the President’s agenda to improve the protection of this CI/KR sector. Your presentation should address the roles, responsibilities, capabilities and challenges or limitations of the Federal government in ensuring a safe water supply (both fresh and sea water). Is the SSP an adequate guide to prevent a future incident either from natural causes or from terrorist activity? Does the SSP need changes to account for lessons learned from the BP oil spill? Are linkages needed between the water SSP and the others to address the seafood contamination issue? If actions are necessary beyond those in the SSP, provide specific recommendations with supporting evidence or logical argument for the President. Is the government organized effectively to address the threats, risks and vulnerabilities in this sector?