A Publication by the ASCE Committee on Critical Infrastructure (CCI)
Eva Lerner-Lam, M.ASCE, Editor-In-Chief

CCI Blog: http://www.ascecriticalinfrastructure.org/

To view all archived issues of the CRIB Sheet, visit: http://ciasce.asce.org/CRIBSheetArchives.html

Message from the Editor

As we head into the holiday season, this month’s edition of the CRIB Sheet highlights the top critical infrastructure stories from 2007. Despite the significance of the I-35W bridge collapse and southern California wildfires, my personal pick is one that makes more headlines in financial journals and magazines than engineering ones: the red-hot market for selling public infrastructure assets to private equity firms. In January of 2007, there were deals being considered in more than 22 states, worth more than US $1.7 trillion. These intriguing financing schemes put cash in public coffers and leases for our public infrastructure in the hands of private equity fund managers who then repackage the deals into investment products similar to those used in the subprime mortgage debacle. By raising tolls and using various “revaluation” techniques to generate the appearance of profits, these funds will pay high dividends to investors. How hot is this market? Well, there are at least 48 firms interested in leasing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and many of them are foreign-owned. New York-based Goldman Sachs, the biggest U.S. securities firm by market value, raised $6.5 billion last year for a new fund to invest in toll roads and other infrastructure, and the Washington, DC-based Carlyle Group raised $1.15 billion to do the same. In 2007, critical infrastructure headlines were mainly about the public and its infrastructure, but my bet is that in 2008, Wall Street will play more than a cameo role.

-Eva Lerner-Lam, M.ASCE
elernerlam@palisadesgroup.com

National Update

Bush Proposes Dramatic Cuts In Homeland Security Funding

The Bush administration intends to slash counter terrorism funding for police, firefighters, and rescue departments nationwide by more than half next year, according to budget documents obtained by The Associated Press. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22053644/

Powerful Storms Strike the Pacific Northwest

As yet another indication of the vulnerability of our nation's critical infrastructure, a series of powerful storms drenched the Pacific Northwest between November 28-December 4, 2007.

http://naturalhazards.nasa.gov/shownh.php3?img_id=14646

Disasters Getting Worse–Report Urges U.S. Government Must Be Better Prepared
ScienceDaily reported recently that disasters are getting worse but the federal government's preparedness has been limited to helping after a disaster has occurred.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/11/071112073337.htm

DHS Funds First Responder Training Programs

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced the awarding of over $113 million in grant money under two programs that strengthen the coordinated training efforts of homeland security preparedness.

http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/odp/training.htm

The Year In Review

As 2007 comes to a close, here are some of the year's top critical infrastructure stories:

Nation's First Physical Security Standard Guidelines for Water/Wastewater Utilities Released

The nation's first standard guidelines for protecting the public from potential malevolent acts and other threats by enhancing the physical security of water and wastewater infrastructure systems were released in March 2007 for trial use by water and wastewater utilities.

http://www.asce.org/static/1/wise.cfm

DHS Releases Comprehensive Regulations for Securing High Risk Chemical Facilities

In April 2007, DHS released an interim final rule that imposes for the first time comprehensive federal security regulations for high-risk chemical facilities.

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1176131047481.shtm

DHS Completes Key Framework for Critical Infrastructure Protection

In May 2007, DHS announced the completion of 17 Sector-Specific Plans (SSPs) in support of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP).

http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1179773665704.shtm

Interstate Highway I-35W Mississippi River Crossing Bridge Collapses

The August 1, 2007collapse killed 13 people and injured at least 79.

http://www.dot.state.mn.us/i35wbridge/rebuild/index.html

http://ntsb.gov/pressrel/2007/071023c.htm

TOPOFF 4: Exercising National Preparedness

Top Officials 4 (TOPOFF 4), the nation’s premier terrorism preparedness exercise, was held in October 2007.

http://www.dhs.gov/xprepresp/training/gc_1179350946764.shtm

Wildfires in Southern California

President Bush granted a major disaster declaration for California for seven affected California counties (Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura).

http://www.fema.gov/hazard/wildfire/ca_2007.shtm

Congress Overrides Presidential Veto and Passes Water Resources Development Act

On November 7, 2007, Congress overrode a veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) by President Bush and authorized $23 billion in new water projects.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/08/congress.water/index.html?iref=newssearch

Alabama Suffers from Record Drought

2007 was a record drought year for the State of Alabama. http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/DM_southeast.htm

High Priority Airport Capacity Improvements Sought

Lack of infrastructure investment in airports was highlighted by the Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) in its 2007 Report on Airport Capital Development costs, 2007-2011.

http://www.aci-na.org/docs/Capital%20Needs%20Survey%20Report%202007%20FINAL.pdf

RSS Feeds from DHS:
Department of Homeland Security News
Department of Homeland Security Press Releases
Department of Homeland Security Speeches
Department of Homeland Security Testimony

RSS Feeds from FirstGov.gov:
All Cyber Alert System Documents
Cyber Security Tips from US-CERT
Non-Technical Cyber Alert System Documents
Security Incidents Currently Being Reported to the US-CERT
Technical Cyber Alert System Documents

Committee News

Post Disaster Safety Evaluations Training Workshop

In cooperation with the California Office of Emergency Services (OES) and Applied Technology Council (ATC), CCI will be sponsoring a series of training workshops on Post-Disaster Safety Evaluations. The workshops will focus on ATC materials, including ATC-20: Procedures for Postearthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings and ATC-45: Safety Evaluation of Buildings After Wind Storms and Floods.

http://ciasce.asce.org/CalendarofEvents.html

Webinar Series on Long Term Recovery Issues
CCI and ASCE Continuing Education have developed a three-part webinar series focusing on long term recovery issues and lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina, scheduled for January 18, February 1, and March 7, 2008.

http://ciasce.asce.org/WebinarSeriesonLongTermDisasterRecoveryIssues.html

Preparedness Tip of the Month

Talk to Co-Workers with Disabilities: If you have employees with disabilities ask them what assistance, if any, they require. People with disabilities typically know what they will need in an emergency. Ask about communication difficulties, physical limitations, equipment instructions, and medication procedures. Identify people willing to help co-workers with disabilities and be sure they are able to handle the job. This is particularly important if someone needs to be lifted or carried. Plan how you will alert people who cannot hear an alarm or instructions. Be sure to engage people with disabilities in emergency planning. For more information, visit: http://www.ready.gov/business/index.html

Calendar of Events

December 13, 2007—The Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP) December 2007 Breakfast Speaker Series: Stephen E. Flynn, Author and Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Senior Fellow for National Security Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, DC

December 13-14, 2007—Third Annual Regional Critical Infrastructure Interdependencies Summit, sponsored by Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER), Redmond, WA

January 14-18, 2008—Infrastructure Risk and Renewal: The Clash of Blue and Green, webinar sponsored by the Public Entity Risk Institute (PERI)

January 15-16, 2008—Connecting Communities Workshop, Henrico Training Center, Richmond, VA

January 18, 2008—Long Term Disaster Recovery Issues: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina, Part I, What Went Wrong and Why, presented by: Robert B. Gilbert, P.E., Ph.D., M.ASCE, webinar sponsored by CCI and ASCE Continuing Education

January 24, 2008—TISP January 2008 Breakfast Speaker Series: Major General Don T. Riley, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Director of Public Works, Washington, DC
January 28-29, 2008—2008 Railway Security Forum and Expo, sponsored by Railway Age, Arlington, VA

February 1, 2008—Long Term Disaster Recovery Issues: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina, Part II, Setting the Stage for Effective Long-Term Recovery, presented by Deborah D. Keller, P.E., webinar sponsored by CCI and ASCE Continuing Education

February 21, 2008—TISP February 2008 Breakfast Speaker Series: Dennis R. Schrader, P.E., Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Deputy Administrator for National Preparedness, Washington, DC

March 7, 2008—Long Term Disaster Recovery Issues: Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina, Part III, Public Water Supply Lessons Learned in Katrina’s Aftermath, presented by William Moody, P.E., B.C.E.E., webinar sponsored by CCI and ASCE Continuing Education

April 24-26 2008—First International Symposium on Transportation and Development Best Practices, sponsored by the Transportation and Development Institute of ASCE and the China Academy of Transportation Sciences, Beijing, China

June 2-5, 2008—World Safety Conference & Expo, sponsored by NFPA, Las Vegas, NV

July 27-30, 2008—6th National Seismic Conference on Bridges and Highways, sponsored by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research (MCEER), and ASCE CCI, Charleston, SC

October 12-17, 2008—14th World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, sponsored by the China Earthquake Administration, Beijing, China.

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Chair: Paul F. Mlakar, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE
Staff: Marla Dalton, P.E., CAE, M.ASCE and Catherine Tehan