By Angela Liu, USCM Intern
October 9, 2006

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced September 25 that grants are being distributed under the Port Security Grant Program, the Transit Security Grant Program, and the Intercity Bus Security Grant Program.

The three programs are part of the seven programs within the DHS Infrastructure Protection Program (IPP). The other four programs were allocated their funding in July of this year.

In total, $399 million is being awarded for the Fiscal Year 2006 IPP grants “…to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure from threats and hazards that could cause major loss of life, economic impact, and disruption of services,” said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.

The funding allocations from September are as follows:

• Port Security Grant Program: More than $168 million will be provided for the protection of critical port infrastructure from terrorism.

• Transit Security Grant Program: More than $136 million will be provided to the owners and operators of the nation’s critical transit infrastructure. In July, $123 million was allocated to Tier 1 (higher density) urban areas, and $13 million is released for the second Tier of the TSGP in September.

• Intercity Bus Security Grant Program (IBSGP): Approximately $9.5 million is being provided to eligible owners and operators to protect bus systems and the traveling public from terrorism.

The funding allocations from July are as follows:

• Buffer Zone Protection Program: Approximately $48 million was awarded to fund state and local authorities.

• Chemical Sector Buffer Zone Protection Grant Program: $25 million was awarded to enhance the protection of facilities that, if attacked, could cause Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)-like effects.

• Intercity Passenger Rail Security Grant Program: Amtrak was awarded more than $7.2 million to continue security enhancements for the intercity passenger rail operations.

• Trucking Security Program: The American Trucking Association received $4.8 million for the Highway Watch program to enhance the security and overall preparedness on our nation’s highways

Since its inception, Congress has provided over $1.5 billion for Infrastructure Protection Programs. For more information on the allocations, visit www.dhs.gov.