To: All Governors From: Federal Emergency Management Agency Date: October 23, 2006 Dear Governor (last name): The purpose of this letter is to provide you and your staff with information on the National Incident Management System (NIMS) Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 compliance requirements. The NIMS is our nation’s incident management system, and implementation of NIMS among all jurisdictions and all levels of government must be achieved as quickly as possible to ensure the security of our homeland. As you are aware, Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 “Management of Domestic Incidents” (HSPD-5) required the adoption of NIMS by all Federal departments and agencies. This directive also required that Federal preparedness assistance funding for states, territories, tribes and local jurisdictions be dependent on NIMS compliance. NIMS implementation is also linked to the National Response Plan (NRP), the Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8, National Preparedness (HSPD-8), and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan. In FY 2005 and 2006, states self-certified that they were making a “good faith” effort to implement the NIMS. The self-certification compliance process is being changed to specific performance-based metrics in FY 2007, which will be monitored for compliance by DHS. Additionally, the FEMA Regional Offices have a dedicated NIMS Compliance Point of Contact who can provide technical assistance in implementing the NIMS and the NRP. This letter and the enclosed CD-ROM containing the FY 2007 NIMS implementation documents outline the important steps that states, territories, tribes, and local jurisdictions must take during FY 2007 (October 1, 2006 - September 30, 2007) to gain compliance. For your convenience, the CD-ROM also contains a list of NIMS Compliance Points of Contact in FEMA Regional Offices. The first document, “NIMS Implementation Matrix for States and Territories,” identifies the state and territorial level NIMS compliance requirements. The second document, “NIMS Implementation Matrix for Tribal and Local Jurisdictions,” identifies the tribal and local level NIMS compliance requirements. In addition to the matrices, this compliance package includes metrics for state and territorial governments, tribal and local governments, and terms of reference. These performance-based metrics were derived, in part, from the compliance requirement activities specified in FY 2006 and with input from state, territorial, tribal, and local stakeholders. The NIMS Integration Center (NIC) is also upgrading the online NIMS Capability Assessment and Support Tool (NIMCAST) to reflect the FY 2007 requirements and to offer specific instructions on NIMS compliance. The upgrade to this free compliance tool is expected to be available in early calendar year 2007. In the interim, specific guidance will be provided in frequent NIMS Alerts and on the NIC website. It is important to note that not all compliance activities identified in the matrices will have to be implemented in FY 2007. The matrices clearly outline which activities must be implemented in FY 2007 (“tier 1”) , and those which governments should begin to work on as they will become required in FY 2008 (any not identified as “tier 1”). Future refinement to the NIMS compliance metrics will evolve as policy and technical issues are identified and clarified at the national level. Successful implementation of the NIMS depends on the participation and integration of all state, territorial, tribal, local jurisdictions and community-based organizations, including public, non-governmental, and private organizations that may have a role in disaster preparedness and response. Equally important to this effort is to establish a seamless relationship between the NRP and the NIMS. Therefore, governmental entities that must comply with NIMS should identify and include appropriate organizations in their NIMS implementation efforts, including private sector emergency medical and hospital providers, transportation systems, utilities, and special facilities such as industrial plants, nuclear power plants, factories, military facilities, stadiums, and arenas. Additional information about NIMS implementation and resources for achieving compliance are available through the NIC. The NIC web page is updated regularly with information about the NIMS and additional guidance for implementation. The NIC may also be contacted at the following locations: Al Fluman, Acting Director NIMS Integration Center Federal Emergency Management Agency 500 C Street, SW Washington, DC 20472 (202) 646-3850 NIMS-Integration-Center@dhs.gov Web page: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/index.shtm Thank you for your support in implementing the NIMS. I look forward to continuing our collective efforts to better secure the homeland and protect our citizens. Sincerely, R. David Paulison Director Enclosure cc: State Administrative Agency State Emergency Management Director State Homeland Security Advisor Tribal Association Chairs DHS Directorates and Offices Homeland Security Advisory Council ###