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Homeland Security Presidential Directives
Laws, Regulations & Mandates
EPA's homeland security priorities are based largely on responsibilities outlined in the following Homeland Security Presidential Directives (HSPDs). The highlighted columns with an astric (*) indicate specific EPA tasking:
| HSPD-1: | Organization & Operation of the Homeland Security Council |
| HSPD-2: | Combating Terrorism Through Immigration Policies |
| HSPD-3: | Homeland Security Advisory System |
| HSPD-4: | National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction |
| HSPD-5*: | Management of Domestic Incidents |
| HSPD-6: | Integration & Use of Screening Information |
| HSPD-7*: | Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection |
| HSPD-8*: | National Preparedness |
| HSPD-9*: | Defense of U.S. Agriculture and Food |
| HSPD-10*: | Biodefense for the 21 Century |
| HSPD-11: | Comprehensive Terrorist-Related Screening Procedures |
| HSPD-12*: | Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors |
| HSPD-13: | Maritime Security Policy |
| HSPD-14: | Domestic Nuclear Detection |
| HSPD-15: | Global War on Terror |
| HSPD-16: | National Strategy for Aviation Security |
| HSPD-17: | Nuclear Materials Information |
| HSPD-18: | Medical Countermeasures Against Weapons of Mass Destruction |
| HSPD-19: | Combating Terrorists Use of Explosives in the US |
| HSPD-20*: | National Continuity Policy |
| HSPD-21: | Public Health and Medical Preparedness |
| HSPD-22: | Domestic Chemical Defense |
| HSPD-23: | National Cyber Security Initiative |
| HSPD-24: | Biometrics for Identification and Screening to Enhance National Security |
HSPD-1: Organization & Operation of the Homeland Security Council
This directive outlines the Homeland Security Council's (HSC) role in ensuring coordination of all homeland security-related activities among Federal agencies and promoting effective policy development and implementation.
- Establishes the HSC Principals Committee, which serves as the senior interagency forum under the HSC for homeland security issues. EPA's Administrator is invited to participate in Principals Committee meetings when issues pertaining to the Agency's responsibilities or expertise are discussed.
- Establishes the HSC Deputies Committee, which serves as the senior sub-Cabinet interagency forum for consideration of homeland security policy issues. EPA's Deputy Administrator is invited to participate in Deputies Committee meetings as the topics warrant.
- Establishes the original eleven HSC Policy Coordinating Committees (PCCs), which serve as the main day-to-day forums for interagency coordination of homeland security policy. EPA actively participates in a number of these PCCs.
Read more about the HSPD-1.
HSPD-2: Combating Terrorism through Immigration Policies
This directive establishes an aggressive policy for preventing aliens who engage in or support terrorism from entering the U.S., and for detaining, prosecuting, or deporting such aliens who are within the U.S.
- EPA is not specifically tasked in this HSPD.
Read more about the HSPD-2.
HSPD-3: Homeland Security Advisory System
This directive requires all Federal agencies to conform to this terrorist threat advisory system through the development and implementation of agency-specific protective measures for each of the five threat conditions [low = green; guarded = blue; elevated = yellow; high = orange; and severe = red].
- EPA is not specifically tasked in this HSPD.
Read more about the HSPD-3.
HSPD-4: National Strategy to Combat Weapons of Mass Destruction
This directive establishes a comprehensive strategy to counter the threat of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons of mass destruction (WMD). Unclassified version not yet available.
- EPA is not explicitly tasked by this HSPD, but the Agency does support its "enabling functions" of intelligence collection and analysis, as well as research and development aimed at improving the nation's ability to respond to WMD consequences.
Read more about the HSPD-4.
HSPD-5: Management of Domestic Incidents
This directive requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop and administer a single, comprehensive National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the National Response Plan, now known as the National Response Framework (NRF).
- EPA and other Federal agencies must adopt and use the NIMS in their emergency prevention, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities, as well as support the development, revision, and implementation of the NRF.
Read more about the HSPD-5.
HSPD-6: Integration & Use of Screening Information
This directive consolidates the Federal government's approach to screening information related to known or suspected terrorists or their supporters.
- Requires all Federal agencies to provide, on an on-going basis, all appropriate terrorist information in their possession, custody, or control to the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (now the National Counter Terrorism Center).
Read more about the HSPD-6.
HSPD-7: Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection
This directive establishes a national policy for Federal departments and agencies to identify and prioritize United States critical infrastructure and key resources and to protect them from terrorist attacks. EPA is the "Sector-Specific Agency" for drinking water and water treatment systems.
- EPA is tasked to collaborate with all relevant federal agencies, state and local governments, and the private sector; conduct or facilitate vulnerability assessments of the water sector; and encourage risk management strategies to protect against and mitigate the effects of attacks against the water and waste water infrastructures.
Read more about the HSPD-7.
HSPD-8: National Preparedness
This directive, which is a companion to HSPD-5, describes the way Federal departments and agencies will prepare for a response, including prevention activities during the early stages of a terrorism incident. It directs all Federal agencies to assist DHS in the development of a national, all-hazards preparedness goal with measurable readiness priorities and metrics.
- EPA must support the national preparedness goal through the adoption of the goal's performance measurements in the areas of training, planning, equipment, and exercises. It requires all Federal agencies to ensure that any assistance provided for first responder preparedness (e.g., planning support, training, exercises, equipment acquisition or loans, etc.) is consistent with the national preparedness goal.
Read more:
- Federal Emergency Management Agency's Overview of HSPD 8
- Full Text of HSPD 8
- Full Text of HSPD- 8 Annex 1: National Planning
HSPD-9: Defense of U.S. Agriculture and Food
This directive establishes a national policy to defend the agriculture and food system against terrorist attacks, major disasters, and other emergencies.
EPA and other federal agencies must work together to:
- Build upon and expand current monitoring and surveillance programs for public health, food, plant, animal and wildlife disease, and water quality that provides early detection and awareness of disease, pest, or poisonous agents. EPA established the Water Security Initiative (WSI) to address the risk of intentional contamination of drinking water distribution systems in response to this directive.
- Create a new biological threat awareness capacity that will enhance detection and characterization of an attack.
- Ensure that Federal/state/local response capabilities are adequate to respond quickly and effectively to a terrorist attack, major disease outbreak, or other disaster affecting the national agriculture or food infrastructure.
- Develop a coordinated agriculture and food-specific standardized response plan to be integrated into the National Response Framework.
- Enhance recovery systems to rapidly remove and effectively dispose of contaminated agriculture and food products or infected plants and animals, and to decontaminate premises.
Read more about the HSPD-9.
HSPD-10: Biodefense for the 21 Century
This directive identifies actions to bolster our nation's bio-defense capabilities.
- Directs EPA, in coordination with other Federal agencies, to develop standards, protocols, and capabilities for addressing the risks of contamination following a biological weapons attack and to develop strategies, guidelines, and plans for decontamination of persons, equipment, and facilities.
- Tasks EPA with surveying the chemical, biological, and radiological/nuclear laboratory capacity and capabilities in the U.S.
Read more about the HSPD-10.
HSPD-11: Comprehensive Terrorist-Related Screening Procedures
This directive establishes additional requirements for terrorist-related screening by Federal agencies.
Read more about the HSPD-11.
HSPD-12: Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors
This directive establishes a Government-wide standard for forms of identification issued by the Federal Government to its employees and contractors (including contractor employees).
- Requires EPA to adopt the Federal standard for secure, reliable identification for employees and contractors in order to control access to EPA facilities and information systems.
Read more about the HSPD-12.
HSPD-13: Maritime Security Policy
This directive establishes a policy framework and identifies actions for protecting the U.S "maritime domain" from terrorists, criminal, and hostile foreign states.
- EPA is not specifically tasked in this HSPD.
Read more about the HSPD-13.
HSPD-14: Domestic Nuclear Detection
This directive establishes the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO) within DHS to develop and support deployment of a global nuclear detection "architecture", with an enhanced domestic system to detect attempts to import or transport unauthorized nuclear devices, fissile materials, or radiological materials.
- EPA is not explicitly tasked by the HSPD, but the Agency does support the detection, response, law enforcement, and information sharing aspects of the DNDO's mission.
Read more about HSPD-14.
HSPD-15: Global War on Terrorism (Classified)
Unclassified version not yet available.
HSPD-16: National Strategy for Aviation Security
This directive establishes Border and Transportation Security Planning Coordinating Committee for the development of a risk-based, cross-discipline, global approach to a national strategy for aviation security.
- EPA is not specifically tasked in this HSPD.
Read more about the HSPD-16.
HSPD-17: Nuclear Materials Information (Classified)
Unclassified version not yet available.
HSPD-18: Medical Countermeasures Against Weapons of Mass Destruction
This directive establishes policy guidelines to draw upon the considerable potential of the scientific community in the public and private sectors to address medical countermeasure requirements relating to CBRN threats.
- EPA is not explicitly tasked by this HSPD, but the Agency does support the HSPD 10, Biodefense for the 21st Century
Read more about HSPD 18.
HSPD-19: Combating Terrorists Use of Explosives in the US
This directive calls for the development of a national strategy and implementation plan on the prevention and detection of, protection against, and response to terrorist's use of explosives in the US (excludes nuclear and radiological devices).
Departments and Agencies are directed to provide assessments/inventories of resources, capabilities, research, development, testing, etc. and are also asked to make recommendations for improvements. HSPD 19 includes Sector-specific Agencies (as defined in HSPD-7) - EPA is the Sector-specific lead for water and waste water.
Read more about the HSPD-19.
HSPD-20: National Continuity Policy
This directive establishes and defines National Essential Functions (NEFs), prescribes continuity requirements, and provides guidance to ensure a comprehensive and integrated national continuity program is in place to enable a more rapid and effective response to and recovery from a national emergency.
- EPA is required to execute its Continuity of Operations plan in the event of a national emergency.
Read more about the HSPD-20.
HSPD-21: Public Health and Medical Preparedness
This directive establishes a national strategy for public health and medical preparedness which builds on the principles set forth in HSPD-4 and HSPD-10 and the National Strategy for Homeland Security.
- EPA is not explicitly tasked by this HSPD, but the Agency does support the HSPD-10, Biodefense for the 21st Century
- Establishes a Public Health and Medical Preparedness Task Force. Critical components include biosurveillance, counter measure distribution, mass casualty care, and community resilience.
Read more about the HSPD-21.
HSPD-22: Domestic Chemical Defense (Classified)
Unclassified version not yet available.
HSPD-23: National Cyber Security Initiative (Classified)
Unclassified version not yet available.
HSPD-24: Biometrics for Identification and Screening to Enhance National Security
This directive establishes a framework to ensure that Federal executive departments and agencies (agencies) use mutually compatible methods and procedures in the collection, storage, use, analysis, and sharing of biometric and associated biographic and contextual information of individuals in a lawful and appropriate manner, while respecting their information privacy and other legal rights under United States law.
- EPA is not specifically tasked in this HSPD.
Read more about the HSPD-24.