Number: RL32189
Title: Terrorism and Security Issues Facing the Water Infrastructure Sector
Authors: Claudia Copeland, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: Recent congressional interest has focused on two legislative issues: (1) security of wastewater utilities, and (2) whether to include water utilities in chemical security regulations implemented by DHS. In the 109th Congress, a Senate committee approved legislation to encourage wastewater treatment works to conduct vulnerability assessments and develop site security plans (S. 2781). Similar legislation was introduced in the 110th Congress (S. 1968), but there was no further action on this legislation. Also in the 110th Congress, bills to extend DHS's Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards were considered but not enacted. One bill (H.R. 5533) would preserve an existing exemption for water utilities from chemical facility standards, while another (H.R. 5577) would include them in the scope of DHS security rules. Continuing attention to these issues is possible, along with interest in how the federal government coordinates its own activities and communicates policies and information to the water infrastructure sector.
Pages: 18
Date: November 17, 2008