| Home | Information Sharing & Analysis | Prevention & Protection | Preparedness & Response | Research | Commerce & Trade | Travel Security | Immigration |
The threat level in the airline sector is High or Orange. Read more.
Through the Comprehensive Review (CR) program, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP) works closely with federal, state, and local homeland security authorities, as well as private sector owners and operators, to identify security enhancements and protective measures of an identified CIKR facility.
The CR considers potential terrorist actions, the consequences of such an attack, and the integrated preparedness and response capabilities of the facility's owner and operator, local law enforcement, and emergency response organizations.
Results are used to enhance the facility's overall security posture, including how an event would impact surrounding communities and the geographic region. Enhancements include short-term improvements and long-term risk-based investments in training, processes, procedures, equipment, and resources for the community.
This information is used not only to enhance the capabilities of CIKR owners and operators and community first responders, but also to provide risk data to inform federal investment and research and development decisions.
The CR process is a series of steps for planning, execution, and analysis. An interagency team conducts extensive discussions with facility security personnel, local law enforcement, and emergency response representatives to identify existing security and response postures.
In addition, IP planning experts explore the facility and the surrounding perimeter — known as the buffer zone — from which an attack could be planned or launched. Considered scenarios include:
Owners and operators, local law enforcement, and emergency response organizations are briefed on the results of the on-site review.
After the on-site visit, the federal team reconvenes to conduct a joint analysis of gaps, or differences between existing security and emergency response capabilities and additional capabilities needed to prevent, defend, mitigate, and respond to terrorist threat, attack, and consequence scenarios. These experts further analyze potential enhancements, additional security or response capabilities needed to reduce vulnerability, and potential consequences of a terrorist attack or all-hazards event. These are compiled into a final protective measures analysis.
CIKR data are subsequently analyzed for in-sector and cross-sector trends. As the CR program matures, this information may be used to inform future federal investment decisions or point to areas where research is required to develop or improve additional protective measures.
The CR already offers numerous benefits in terms of identifying readily adaptable, low-cost protective measures to mitigate the risk posed by a potential attack or natural disaster at the site and within the buffer zone.
The CR differs from a traditional federal sequential inspection because it:
Although the CR process focuses primarily on the threat of terrorism, it is an opportunity for all security partners to identify and implement sound, effective practices for readiness and preparedness for any catastrophic event that may affect the facility.
The core federal team conducting a CR is led by IP's Protective Security Coordination Division and includes representatives from the federal agencies responsible for aspects of security and response. Team membership depends on the unique attributes of each CIKR sector. For example, core federal team members for the Nuclear and Chemical Sector's CRs included:
The federal team works cooperatively with the state Homeland Security Advisor; other state, county, and local emergency managers and planners; emergency response agencies; and private representatives and associations. State officials and industry-based Sector Coordinating Councils also participated in the Nuclear and Chemical CRs.
For additional information regarding CRs and other vulnerability identification and assessment programs at the Department, contact: ipassessments@dhs.gov.
This page was last reviewed/modified on December 11, 2008.
Share this page
Email Updates
Subscribe to Feeds