WRITTEN TESTIMONY OF VICE ADMIRAL…

                        WRITTEN TESTIMONY OF
            VICE ADMIRAL CONRAD LAUTENBACHER, JR. (RET.)
     UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE
        NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
                   U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
                         ON NOAA'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO
                   THE NATIONAL HOMELAND SECURITY MISSION
                        HEARING BEFORE THE
         COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE AND TRANSPORTATION
         SUBCOMMITTEE ON DISASTER PREVENTION AND PREDICTION
                        UNITED STATES SENATE
                             JUNE 8, 2005

Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I am Conrad Lautenbacher, Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the Department of Commerce.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today to discuss NOAA's contributions to
the national homeland security mission. I am proud to lead a team of men and women whose
daily activities advance our homeland security and strongly believe NOAA's contribution is of
tremendous benefit to the United States.

Although NOAA is best known as a premier science and service agency whose mission is to
describe and predict changes in the Earth's environment, NOAA's expertise and services can be
applied to many other areas, including national security. NOAA's responsibilities for the
environment, safety, and commerce of this nation span the oceans, coasts, and atmosphere. The
capabilities that are part of NOAA's standard daily operations often are vital during times of
emergency.

NOAA has established a Homeland Security Program Office to serve as the principle point of
contact for NOAA regarding homeland security programs across the entire agency. This office
coordinates homeland security programs, ensures continuity of operations, and prepares for
continued delivery of services during emergencies.

NOAA HOMELAND SECURITY PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
After reviewing the full range of its capabilities, NOAA has identified more than 50 capabilities
that could immediately advance the Nation's homeland security efforts. NOAA leverages these
already existing programs, technologies, and expertise in new and innovative ways to assist the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and has actively partnered with many other
agencies (state, local and federal) to address homeland security issues. I will review a few of our
contributions.

Alerts and Public Warnings
The National Weather Service broadcasts warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard
information regarding tornados, flash floods, and other potential life-threatening situations 24



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hours a day, 7 days a week, via a nationwide network of radio stations. NOAA coordinates these
warnings and advisories with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Working with the
Federal Communications Commission's Emergency Alert System, the NOAA Weather Radio
was expanded to serve as an "all hazards" radio network. In June 2004, this system's capabilities
were further expanded to allow DHS to send critical all-hazards alerts and warnings directly
through the NOAA All-Hazards Network. The NOAA All-Hazards Network consists of over
950 radio transmitters located throughout the United States and U.S. possessions and territories,
allowing the transmission of weather watches, warnings, and advisories as well as non-
meteorological civil emergency messages to over 97% of the population. NOAA Weather
Radio/All-Hazards now provides alerts for both natural (severe storms, hurricanes, tornadoes,
earthquakes, and volcanic activity) and environmental (chemical spills and bio-hazardous
releases) events. The all-hazards capability is being implemented through agreements with local,
state, and federal emergency managers and first responders. NOAA is presently developing a
capability to reduce the time it takes for an emergency manager to input a hazard warning into
NOAA Weather Radio/All-Hazards. This will reduce the input time from seven minutes to less
than two minutes. This capability will allow emergency managers direct access to the
Emergency Alert System via NOAA Weather Radio/All-Hazards, and is expected to be fully
operational in Fiscal Year 2006.

To complement this new homeland security messaging capability, we will work with DHS and
the U.S. Department of Education to provide NOAA Weather/All-Hazard Radios to public
schools in select top urban areas and two rural states during National Preparedness Month in
September 2005.

In addition to the traditional weather radio that many are familiar with, NOAA Weather
Radio/All-Hazards receivers can be integrated into devices to turn on alarms, lights, bed shakers,
and other equipment especially useful for the hearing impaired community and those with
special needs. RCA/Thomson has developed a new line of televisions, called AlertGuard, which
integrate a NOAA Weather Radio/All-Hazards receiver into television sets.

DHS is leading the effort to develop a government-wide plan for the Integrated Public Alert and
Warning System (IPAWS). Public warnings save lives by informing, reducing fear, and
assisting emergency managers. There are many warning systems in place across the country, and
while each of these systems can reach the public directly, no one system reaches everyone.
NOAA information dissemination systems, including NOAA Weather/All-Hazards Radio, as
well as information posted directly on the Internet and supplied to radio and television stations,
will be a part of a larger integrated national emergency warning system.

In response to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, NOAA is committed to expand the U.S. Tsunami
Warning Program to protect U.S. lives and property along all coasts (Pacific, Atlantic, Gulf of
Mexico, and Caribbean). In order to continue the Administration's commitment to strengthen
the Tsunami Warning Program and mitigate potential impacts from a similar tsunami event in the
U.S., NOAA will build on its existing foundation of sensors. NOAA will accomplish this by
deploying 39 additional Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoy
systems strategically sited in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Caribbean basins. Data from DART
buoys will aid U.S. tsunami forecasters in providing detailed tsunami forecasts. The enhanced



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program will also aid tsunami hazard mitigation actions including inundation flood mapping,
evacuation mapping, and community-based public education, awareness, and preparedness.
NOAA will operate and maintain the expanded DART system, new sea-level monitoring
stations, and the upgraded local seismic networks from the 24/7 West Coast/Alaska Tsunami
Warning and Pacific Tsunami Warning Centers.

Forecasts and Dispersion Modeling
NOAA forecasts include the creation of numerical models of the atmosphere used for flight
planning, ship routing, and energy distribution. These numerical forecasts are used to model the
dispersion of airborne hazardous materials such as volcanic ash, industrial chemical releases, and
radiological accidents.

NOAA's operational air dispersion models help emergency planners detect and track chemical,
biological, and radiological hazards in the atmosphere. When an event occurs, first responders
can use laptop applications for hazardous material (hazmat) modeling of industrial chemicals on
scene and NOAA regional models accessible through the local Weather Forecast Office.

One of NOAA's major contributions in emergency preparation and response is the software
program CAMEO (Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations). Jointly designed
with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CAMEO is widely used by firefighters and
serves as a primary tool in preparing for and responding to chemical incidents. An updated
version of CAMEO was released in March 2004. It contains a chemical database of over 6,000
hazardous chemicals with chemical-specific information on fire and explosive hazards, health
hazards, firefighting techniques, cleanup procedures, and protective clothing. NOAA and EPA
are expanding the CAMEO chemical database to include information on weapons of mass
destruction. The ALOHA (Areal Locations of Hazardous Atmospheres) atmospheric dispersion
model is a computer program used in conjunction with the CAMEO to predict how a hazardous
gas cloud might disperse in the atmosphere after a chemical release based on the physical
characteristics of the released chemical and atmospheric conditions. The program can display the
location of facilities storing hazardous materials as well as buildings of high concern, such as
hospitals and schools. ALOHA is being expanded to predict the impact of fires and explosions.

NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory and Hazmat program are in the early stages of developing a
Chemical Threat Analysis Planner to improve our ability to evaluate potential threats from
hazardous material releases using the HYSPLIT dispersion model in conjunction with the
CAMEO database. Additional future developments will fully integrate CAMEO/ALOHA with
national-level emergency information management systems including the Interagency Modeling
and Atmospheric Assessment Center (IMAAC).

Under the National Response Plan, the IMAAC is the single source of federal hazards prediction
information during the response and recovery phase of Incidents of National Significance for
atmospheric transport and dispersion of hazardous releases. NOAA is working with DHS to
develop procedures to organize and coordinate federal emergency response through this Center,
providing decision-makers with custom products and a single point of contact for all-hazards
dispersion modeling predictions and assessments. NOAA and DHS are working to integrate
CAMEO/ALOHA and HYSPLIT into the suite of IMAAC.


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NOAA is conducting a pilot program to integrate real-time weather models and hazardous plume
predictions to provide DHS with the ability to identify specific areas to issue targeted homeland
security alerts and warnings using reverse 911 technologies. In this pilot program, called Geo-
Targeted Alerting System (GTAS), forecasters at the NOAA Weather Forecast Office located in
Sterling, Virginia will provide DHS with toxic plume dispersion information. Given the
dispersion forecast of a toxic cloud, DHS officials will be able to select several "targeted"
warning areas to provide specific public safety information for each area using applications
developed by NOAA's Forecast Systems Laboratory.

Monitoring stations have been installed in Washington, D.C., to support one of the first
dispersion forecasting systems specifically designed for urban areas. These stations, known as
DCNet, collect and analyze standard meteorological data (as well as wind speed, direction, and
turbulence data) at frequent intervals to help define downwind areas of potential high risk. In
doing so, DCNet allows users to gain a better understanding of how hazardous trace gases and
particles are dispersed in urban areas. During the 2005 Presidential Inauguration, NOAA and
DHS closely monitored this information, which was then immediately available for dispersion
model runs in the event of an incident.

NOAA has provided much of the Nation's atmospheric tracer expertise since the 1950s. The
center of excellence resides within the Air Resources Laboratory (ARL) at Idaho Falls, Idaho
where the ARL Field Research Division is located. In recent years, the ARL team has conducted
field studies in Salt Lake City and Oklahoma City, to support the major atmospheric dispersion
field studies conducted under the sponsorship of a number of agencies, led by DOE, DHS, and
DOD. In the last two years, studies have been conducted in New York City and in Washington,
D.C. Building upon them, the ARL team is about to engage in a new round of fieldwork, again
focusing on New York City and Washington, D.C. The D.C. work will be concentrating on the
Pentagon and its surroundings (sponsored by DOD), the New York project will focus on
midtown Manhattan (sponsored by DHS).

The New York City study also involves two other ARL groups, located at Oak Ridge, Tennessee,
and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. The Oak Ridge group is leading the design of a
surface meteorological network to help guide the development of local dispersion forecasting (an
extension of the DCNet experience in Washington D.C.), sponsored by DHS. The Research
Triangle Park group is conducting Comprehensive Fluid Modeling studies and wind tunnel
physical modeling investigations, both sponsored by EPA.

Remote Sensing
NOAA continues to use Light Detection and Ranging or Lidar, a technique similar to Radar,
using laser for mapping terrain elevation features and high quality aerial photography to collect
data in support of homeland security surveys. Specifically, these technologies can be used to
protect critical infrastructure, aid in disaster response and recovery efforts, verify dispersion
modeling and provide support for special security events.

Currently NOAA is evaluating a remotely operated aircraft (ROA) for future science and
operational requirements within the agency related to oceanic and atmospheric research, climate


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research, marine sanctuary mapping and enforcement, nautical charting, and fisheries assessment
and enforcement. The platform NOAA is using is a variant of the General Atomics Aeronautical
System's Predator B, a high-altitude, long-endurance ROA that has successfully supported
Operation Iraqi Freedom. NOAA worked with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to ensure the
common operating areas and requirements both agencies shared were incorporated into the
ongoing planning and operational flights. This interaction has resulted in both agencies
leveraging their expertise and resources to carefully evaluate the potential benefits ROAs may
provide for both agencies' operational requirements.

NOAA demonstrated the support ROAs could provide through streaming video from a ROA
operating off the coast of California and provided to the Homeland Security Operations Center
(HSOC) in Washington, D.C. While only an initial demonstration, NOAA fed live video
imagery over a satellite Internet connection to NOAA's Boulder, Colorado facility and then
directly to the HSOC, showing the potential these platforms can provide for both incident and
situational management.

Integrated Ocean Observing System and Maritime Domain Awareness
NOAA has assisted the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy in implementing the Maritime
Domain Awareness (MDA) Program, to develop a national strategy to ensure interagency
coordination of homeland security policy and requirements in marine areas. MDA includes
anything associated with the global and coastal maritime environment that could adversely
impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of the United States. This knowledge is
used both operationally in the planning and execution of homeland security missions, and by
researchers supporting the development of new homeland security capabilities.

To meet a wide range of societal needs, our country has embarked on a program to develop an
Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). IOOS is the integration of existing and planned
observing systems to meet common research and operational agency needs in the following
areas:
    · Detecting and forecasting oceanic components of climate variability
    · Facilitating safe and efficient marine operations
    · Ensuring national and homeland security
    · Managing resources for sustainable use
    · Preserving and restoring healthy marine ecosystems
    · Mitigating natural hazards
    · Ensuring public health

The backbone network of coastal observations can be of dual use in supporting both civil and
homeland security objectives. IOOS will enhance national and homeland security in our coastal
waters and ports through improving Maritime Domain Awareness and through improved
observations and predictions of the ocean environments in which homeland security operations
take place.

On September 24, 2004, Admiral James Loy, Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland
Security, and Paul McHale, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense, convened the


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first meeting of the MDA Senior Steering Group. Admiral Loy's opening comments addressed
the urgent nature of the job at hand, the need to draw on the resources of supporting agencies,
and the move beyond study to deployable capabilities. He made reference to the roll out of the
U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy Report and noted the reference to an IOOS. He remarked,
"If that's not Maritime Domain Awareness, I don't know what is." Admiral Loy recognizes
interagency capabilities can be leveraged for a proactive, forward deployed maritime defense.

As a part of this overall program, USCG and NOAA are developing marine two-way
communications systems on NOAA data buoys to relay Automated Identification Signals (AIS)
through satellite links to the USCG for vessel tracking. AIS is a shipboard system that
broadcasts vessel data such as name, course, speed, and call sign to other AIS vessels and
stations for collision avoidance at sea. AIS previously was only carried by VHF signal and
therefore had a limited range. The installation of satellite relays on NOAA data buoys will
expand the USCG capability to monitor and track vessels approaching U.S. territorial waters
well beyond the line of site limit for VHF.

NOAA officers, ships, and Navigation Response Teams surveyed the shipping channels of over
30 strategic commercial ports in 2002 to collect high-resolution imagery requested by the U.S.
Navy. These surveys provide the baseline data of pre-existing objects so mine countermeasure
assets can be utilized more effectively to determine if a mine has been placed on the sea floor.
Using hydrographic survey techniques, NOAA is working with the Navy and USCG to improve
our mine detection capabilities in ports. NOAA and the Defense Counter Terrorism Technology
Support Office are developing an Underwater Domain Awareness capability for ports, harbors
and inland waterways. This partnership will support USCG with rapid response capabilities to
better detect and classify underwater threats and enhance their ability to ensure safe and secure
waterways critical for the transit of military and commercial vessels. In the next phase of this
partnership, we will be focusing on Autonomous Underwater Vehicles and Autonomous Surface
Vehicles to improve the speed and flexibility of response and protect survey personnel by
providing greater stand-off during higher risk surveys. Remotely Operated Vehicles will be
used for underwater surveys to localize and identify detected anomalous objects.

NOAA has implemented a national Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) program that provides
infrastructure, economies of scale and coordination across National Marine Fisheries Service
(NOAA Fisheries) regions and offices. The expanded use of VMS provides one of the strongest
potential solutions to supplement traditional enforcement activities. This system provides near-
real time fishing vessel monitoring, control and surveillance throughout the U.S. Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ), Pacific Ocean, and Atlantic Ocean. It also provides critical, life saving,
information to the Coast Guard in support of their response in Search and Rescue (SAR)
missions. VMS uses the Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite communications, and a
secure network to monitor fishing vessel compliance. However, this evolving capability could
be used for marine enforcement and homeland security requirements since it can identify and
track vessels, as well as provide information for a maritime domain common operating picture.
An expanded VMS could encompass the entire nation and relay near real-time data to the USCG
for enforcement and homeland security purposes. VMS, if fully developed, could provide
extensive observational coverage of our Nation's EEZ.




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Response
NOAA has a wide range of capabilities in its day-to-day operations that can be used to prepare
for catastrophic events. For example, surveying and charting are NOAA activities mandated by
Congress. After Hurricanes Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne in 2004, NOAA deployed Navigation
Response Teams (NRT) for emergency surveying to quickly reopen Gulf Coast ports,
demonstrating the economic, safety, and MDA benefits of rapidly resurveying ports and harbors.
The NRTs conduct hazardous obstruction surveys along our coasts to update NOAA nautical
charts. They also serve as research platforms testing equipment and developing new ways to
effectively and efficiently survey navigable waterways.

NOAA's hydrographic survey vessels are occasionally called upon by the USCG to acquire
detailed side scan and multi-beam survey images for search and recovery, as was the case
following TWA 800 and the EgyptAir crashes. In 2004, NOAA assisted a USCG investigation
by locating and obtaining high-resolution imagery of the Bow Mariner, an ethanol tanker that
exploded and sank off the Virginia Capes. This capability is another weapon in the defense
against maritime threats, as it allows ports to be re-opened quickly and helps the USCG to design
temporary lanes and detours based on depth data. We rapidly disseminate chart updates and
critical chart corrections to the mariner, and we can create and distribute temporary charts,
overlays and data sets as needed by primary responders like the Coast Guard.

NOAA's Hazmat Scientific Support Coordinators (SSC) work in USCG offices, planning for
emergencies and developing port-specific incident response plans. These plans highlight specific
problems, such as those faced by chemical facilities in port areas. NOAA also develops
computer programs used for both incident-specific planning and routine training. This
preparedness training is vital because, when an event occurs, first responders need to have a
range of tools they are familiar with and can apply. NOAA SSCs are then able to go on-site
during emergencies to bring all of NOAA's support resources to the table.

When discussing NOAA's response capabilities, it would be remiss of me not to mention the
NOAA Corps, one of the Nation's seven Uniformed Services. These officers primarily have
science and engineering backgrounds, stand ready to support the Coast Guard, Department of
Defense (DOD), and any other Federal agency that requires assistance in protecting the Nation's
security. At the request of the DOD, NOAA has provided a summary of its capabilities, ships
and aircraft that could be used in a national emergency. NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation
Operations (OMAO) operates a diverse fleet of research and hydrographic coastal and ocean-
going vessels ranging in length from 90 to 274 feet, as well as helicopters and airplanes.
OMAO abilities to assist port security efforts include assisting the USCG boarding or inspection
parties, supporting port/harbor security, providing sophisticated airborne chemical detection
support, conducting hydrographic surveying/sea floor mapping and Geographic Information
System (GIS) development, conducting state-of-the-art sonar operations, and providing
additional hurricane reconnaissance if U.S. Air Force assets are reassigned.

Space Based Assets
The National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service provides real and near-real
time satellite imagery through geostationary and polar-orbiting environmental satellites. NOAA


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acquires and manages the Nation's operational environmental satellites and provides data and
information services. Information and observations from NOAA's orbital assets are used in
weather forecasting, aviation and marine operations, agricultural applications, on-scene weather
support for incidents, sea surface temperature measurements for the fishing industry, and
volcanic ash detection and tracking. However, they can also be used for security purposes.

NOAA satellite imagery detected the smoke plume emanating from New York City following
the events of September 11, 2001. Using the NOAA Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite (GOES), we were able to detect the development and dispersion of that smoke plume.
Monitoring the extent and the direction of the plume helped to define areas of potential health
risk from hazardous particulates in the plume. NOAA provided emergency satellite frequencies
for the health community to relay measurements from air quality sensors at the World Trade
Center site.

NOAA licenses and enforces compliance with Federal regulations for operating a commercial or
private earth observing satellite. Enforcement of the regulations applying to shutter control or
restriction of data distribution is essential to ensure national security. NOAA enforces stated
limitations of the Kyl-Bingaman Act prohibiting U.S. commercial satellite companies from
collecting and releasing imagery of specified areas.

NOAA's orbital assets also support international search and rescue efforts. The satellites carry
transponders for search and rescue beacon signals from downed air and marine craft, and from
personal locator beacons. NOAA's search and rescue function is part of an international
program for detection of distress signals from aircraft, vessels, and personal locator beacons.
This global program relies on, and supports, other nations in the collection and processing of
search and rescue signals.

Orbital imagery and data are also used for detecting and monitoring of wild fires. Tracking
smoke plumes is an important part of the response to a fire event as it may create health
problems and visibility issues. Wind and other weather data from the satellites, when paired
with the smoke plume detection help us understand the extent of the fire, and support other
agencies with firefighting responsibilities. Most frequently, when NOAA satellites detect a
plume it is the result of a volcanic eruption. The United States has a number of active volcanoes,
notably Mt. Spurr in Alaska, and Mt. St. Helens in Washington, which are in heavy aviation
corridors. Eruptive events create very real threats to the aviation industry.

COORDINATING HOMELAND SECURITY PROGRAMS

As I have outlined today, NOAA continues to form collaborative partnerships with state, local
and federal entities charged with addressing homeland security issues. Through the Homeland
Security Program Office, we provide support directly to DHS. NOAA staffs a desk at the
Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) to provide operational communications,
information and resource coordination supporting management of domestic Incidents of National
Significance and National Special Security Events. The Homeland Security Program Office
plays a vital coordination role as the NOAA point of entry into Homeland Security operations
and is responsible for keeping NOAA executive management appropriately informed and
engaged.


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The Interagency Incident Management Group (IIMG) is a DHS led structure facilitating a
comprehensive, integrated and coordinated approach to domestic incident management. The
IIMG is collocated and supported by the HSOC staff. IIMG members provide decision-making
support to the Secretary of Homeland Security and other national authorities during periods of
elevated alert and national-level domestic incidents. Specifically, NOAA provides subject-
matter experts supporting chemical, radiological, and nuclear weapons of mass destruction
events and natural disasters.

Citizen Corps was launched by DHS "as a community based initiative to engage all citizens in
homeland security and community safety and family preparedness through public education and
outreach, training opportunities, and volunteer programs." In July 2003 a Statement of
Affiliation between DHS and NOAA was signed by Undersecretary Michael Brown and me in
order to establish a collaborative partnership raising public awareness about weather and
environmental hazards as well as promoting actions for public safety.

NOAA Fisheries' Office for Law Enforcement is dedicated primarily to the enforcement of laws
that protect and regulate our Nation's living marine resources and their natural habitat. NOAA
Fisheries' special agents and enforcement officers enforce many federal statutes, as well as
numerous treaties related to the conservation and protection of marine resources through the
prosecution of both civil and criminal violations. Notwithstanding OLE's joint enforcement
partnerships with 27 coastal state agencies, the U.S. Coast Guard continues to be OLE's strongest
ally in enforcing marine resource laws and fishery management. The cooperative support from
the Coast Guard enables OLE agents and officers to actively respond to suspected violations that
might otherwise be unattainable.

With increased emphasis on Homeland Security and inter-agency collaboration, OLE's expertise
has also been applied to various task forces and maritime security initiatives nationwide
including MDA, border operations and checkpoints, and dock patrols.

CONCLUSION

In NOAA's unique role as an information provider, we will continue to work closely with our
partners to support the Nation with a wide range of services and products from hazardous
material spill response capabilities to atmospheric and waterborne dispersion forecasting and
support for communities and emergency responders. NOAA also is ready to provide NOAA's
ships, aircraft, global observing systems, and professional law enforcement officers to serve the
Nation when the need arises. Thank you for inviting me here today to talk about NOAA's
homeland security programs.




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