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New GAO Reports – Critical Infrastructure Protection, EPA Regs and Electricity

  • CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION: DHS Action Needed to Enhance Integration and Coordination of Vulnerability Assessment Efforts, GAO-14-507: Published: Sep 15, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 15, 2014: “DHS is not positioned to manage an integrated and coordinated government-wide approach for assessments as called for in the NIPP because it does not have sufficient information about the assessment tools and methods conducted or offered by federal entities external to DHS with CI responsibilities, such as the Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees critical infrastructure activities related to water and wastewater systems. Consequently, opportunities exist for DHS to work with other federal entities to develop guidance as necessary to ensure consistency. Doing so would better position DHS and other federal entities with CI responsibilities to promote an integrated and coordinated approach for conducting vulnerability assessments of CI, as called for in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, presidential directives, and the NIPP.”
  • EPA REGULATIONS AND ELECTRICITY: Update on Agencies’ Monitoring Efforts and Coal-Fueled Generating Unit Retirements, GAO-14-672: Published: Aug 15, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 15, 2014: “”Coal is a key domestic fuel source, producing about 37 percent of the nation’s electricity supply in 2012. Burning coal for electricity production results in the emission of pollutants such as sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and mercury and other metals. Coal-fueled electricity generating units are among the largest emitters of these pollutants. Using coal to generate electricity has been associated with human health and environmental concerns by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the primary federal agency responsible for implementing many of the nation’s environmental laws. For example, according to EPA data, SO2 and NOx have been linked to respiratory illnesses and acid rain.”

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