Combating Bioterrorism: Actions Needed to Improve Security at Plum Island Animal Disease Center
GAO-03-847
Published: Sep 19, 2003. Publicly Released: Oct 20, 2003.
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Highlights
Scientists at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center are responsible for protecting the nation against animal diseases that could be accidentally or deliberately introduced into the country. Questions about the security of Plum Island arose after the 2001 terrorist attacks and when employees of the contractor hired to operate and maintain the Plum Island facilities went on strike in August 2002. GAO reviewed (1) the adequacy of security at Plum Island and (2) how well the contractor performed during the strike. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assumed the administration of Plum Island from the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on June 1, 2003. While DHS is now responsible for Plum Island, USDA is continuing its research and diagnostic programs.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, correct physical security deficiencies by fully implementing the physical security measures. |
Measures have been taken to better secure Plum Island. In addition, DHS will make further improvements in fiscal year 2005.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, correct physical security deficiencies by addressing the specific security shortcomings identified by our Office of Special Investigations. |
According to DHS, actions have been taken on all recommendations.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, correct physical security deficiencies by better securing certain features of the physical infrastructure that supports the continued operation of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. |
According to the Director of Plum Island, DHS secured the physical infrastructure through a variety of security improvements.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, correct physical security deficiencies by better securing the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine bank. |
According to the Director of Plum Island, the facility in general is better secured through the use of pan-tilt zoom closed circuit televisions, alarming doors and windows, and increasing frequency and intensity of security patrols. In addition the foot and mouth disease bank is better secured.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, limit access to pathogens by further developing and enforcing specific procedures, including internal control checks, to ensure that all individuals involved in laboratory activities in the biocontainment area--including students and regardless of citizenship--have been approved, in accordance with the law. |
DHS told us in 2010 that it implemented a Visitor Authorization and Control Program for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center that is intended to provide the federal law, standards, guidelines and procedures for proper visitation.
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| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, limit access to pathogens by further developing and enforcing specific procedures, including internal control checks, to ensure that background checks of these individuals are updated regularly. |
According to the Director of Plum Island, DHS requires that background checks be updated regularly. If they are not updated but the paper work has been submitted, then they are escorted while in biocontainment.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, limit access to pathogens by further developing and enforcing specific procedures, including internal control checks, to ensure that cleaning, maintenance, and repair staff entering the biocontainment area are escorted at all times by individuals with completed background checks. |
According to the Director of Plum Island, DHS now utilizes continuous line of sight escorting.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, consult with other laboratories to identify ways to mitigate the inherent difficulty of securing pathogens. |
According to the Director of Plum Island, DHS is consulting with other laboratories to identify ways to better secure pathogens.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, enhance incident response capability by resolving the issue of the guards' authority to carry firearms and make arrests. |
Plum Island security personnel carry firearms in accordance with New York state law. Arrests, when necessary, can be made by Southold Police Department.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, enhance incident response capability by developing and implementing a policy on how guards should deal with intruders and use weapons. |
According to the Director of Plum Island, DHS has developed and implemented a policy for how guards should deal with intruders and use weapons.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, enhance incident response capability by increasing the size of the guard force. |
According to the Director of Plum Island, DHS has increased the guard force per shift on Plum Island.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, enhance incident response capability by completing an agreement with local law enforcement agencies to ensure backup assistance when needed. |
A Memorandum of Agreement with the Southold Police Department is in place to ensure backup when needed.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, enhance incident response capability by defining an adequate response time for law enforcement to respond to incidents. |
To provide for an adequate response, DHS has increased the size of the Plum Island guard force and has arranged for Southold police to provide additional law enforcement assistance when necessary.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, enhance incident response capability by developing an incident response plan that includes precise detail about what to do in the event an incident occurs that exceeds the capability of the security system, such as a terrorist attack. |
According to DHS, in 2009, it developed a plan addressing what to do in the event an incident occurs that exceeds the capability of the security system.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, enhance incident response capability by conducting exercises with local law enforcement to test the efficiency and effectiveness of Plum Island's response capability. |
According to DHS, since 2007, the agency conducted several exercises and responded to real life incidents that involved local law enforcement and others, testing the efficiency and effectiveness of Plum Island's response capability.
|
| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, reconsider the security risks at Plum Island, taking into account recent acts of disgruntled employees. |
According to the Director of Plum Island, DHS officials have reconsidered the security risks at Plum Island, taking into account recent acts by disgruntled employees.
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| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, consult with appropriate state and local law enforcement and intelligence agencies to revisit the threats specific to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. |
According to DHS, it has met with appropriate law enforcement and intelligence agencies during 2006 and 2007 and has obtained updated threat information specific to Plum Island.
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| Science and Technology Directorate | To complete and enhance Plum Island's security arrangements, the Secretary of Homeland Security should, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, revise, as necessary, security and incident response plans to reflect any redefined, risks, threats, and assets. |
According to DHS officials, the security plan has been revised twice since 2007 and the agency intends to do so on a regular basis.
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Animal diseasesBiocontainment laboratoriesBiological warfareBioterrorismContractorsCounterterrorismFacility securityHomeland securityInfectious diseasesPerformance measuresPhysical securityTerrorismZoonotic diseases