Jim Kouri: OBAMA'S DHS IGNORES SECURITY BREACHES AT BIOCHEMICAL LABORATORIES
Quote:
Obama's DHS ignores security breaches at biochemical laboratories
While President Barack Obama and his minions continue their relentless push to control firearms owned by law-abiding American citizens in the name of protecting men, women and children from killers, this same president is allowing thousands of facilities that house ultra-toxic substances to go unprotected, according to experts......
OBAMA'S DHS IGNORES SECURITY BREACHES AT BIOCHEMICAL LABORATORIES
By NWV News Writer Jim Kouri
Posted 1:00 AM Eastern
April 17, 2013
© 2013 NewsWithViews.com
While President Barack Obama and his minions continue their relentless push to control firearms owned by law-abiding American citizens in the name of protecting men, women and children from killers, this same president is allowing thousands of facilities that house ultra-toxic substances to go unprotected, according to experts.
“A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) will kill far more innocent people than a firearm with a magazine containing a thousand rounds,” said former editor of Shotgun News, John Snyder. “Yet, Obama and the Beltway elite couldn’t care less.”
The U.S has been at risk of a WMD attack for years because the government bureaucrats responsible for the security and safety at thousands of laboratories that conduct research with deadly chemicals and bacteria fail to perform their duties, according to a
report released by non-partisan watchdog group that investigates and exposes government corruption and abuse.
"Apparently too busy targeting patriots, DHS ignores security lapses At biochemical labs, putting America at risk of a bioterrorism attack," said investigative journalist
Pat Dollard.
"Unbelievable, but true; while the government meddles in areas that it shouldn’t, it fails miserably to fulfill its duties," noted Judicial Watch officials.Critical safety and security risks identified at labs that deal with deadly germs have been largely ignored by President Barack Obama's leaders at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), leaving the nation dangerously vulnerable to a chemical or biological attack.
There are upwards of 3,500 locations within the continental United States that conduct research with potential bioterror germs and a DHS branch calledInfrastructure Security Compliance Division (ISCD) is responsible for assuring that they are secure under a special program known as Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). This has not happened, according to several federal audits that date back to 2007 during the Bush Administration.
It will take Homeland Security up nine years at its current rate to complete the approval process of the security plans submitted via the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program, the Government Accountability Office stated.
In the latest probe, released just weeks ago, investigators from theGovernment Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, revealed that the DHS has essentially been derelict in its duties.
"Despite previous reports exposing serious security problems at the facilities, DHS has done little to address the issue," according to the recently released (and redacted) GAO report.Facilities that produce, store, or use hazardous chemicals could be of interest to terrorists intent on using toxic chemicals to inflict mass casualties in the United States. As required by statute, DHS issued regulations that establish standards for the security of high-risk chemical facilities.
DHS established the CFATS program in 2007 to assess the risk posed by these facilities and inspect them to ensure compliance with DHS standards. ISCD, which manages the program, places high-risk facilities in risk-based tiers and is to conduct inspections after it approves facility security plans.
Based on GAO's ongoing work conducted for several congressional committees and subcommittees, the report provides preliminary observations regarding the extent to which DHS has assigned chemical facilities to tiers and assessed its approach for doing so.
GAO advised DHS to revamp its process of reviewing facility security plans, and to communicate and work with owners and operators to improve security. To conduct this ongoing work, GAO reviewed DHS reports and plans on risk assessments, security plan reviews, and facility outreach and interviewed DHS officials.
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