Critical Infrastructure Information

Critical Infrastructure Information: News Background Analysis Correspondence Links

Subtopics

Critical Energy Infrastructure Information

Sensitive But Unclassified

USA PATRIOT Act

Chemical Security

Read OMB Watch's detailed analysis and recommendation on DHS's interim final CII rule.

The Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) policy provides secrecy, civil immunity, preemption of state and local disclosure laws, and protection from whistleblowers to corporations that voluntarily submit information on infrastructure vulnerabilities.

News

DHS Fails to Protect Critical Infrastructure 09/12/2006
On Sept. 1, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a final rule for procedures for handling information about critical infrastructure. The rule amends the interim rule issued in February 2004, for which OMB Watch submitted comments. Unfortunately, DHS ignored OMB Watch's suggested modifications, and the final rule opens the door to misuse by the private sector, allowing companies to restrict public access to information that is vital to protecting public health and safety. Read More

Infrastructure Protection Plan Fast-tracked Right Past the Public 11/15/2005
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a Nov. 2 draft of its National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and only provided a two-week window for requesting a copy of the plan and a 30-day public comment period. According to its authors, the report offers a "comprehensive, integrated national plan for the protection of critical infrastructures and key resources." Yet, the time constraints on viewing and commenting on it do not allow for substantive public review or response. The NIPP Program Management Office rejected a request by OMB Watch to extend the comment period by 60 days with no explanation for its decision. Read More

First Public Case of Critical Infrastructure Information 08/08/2005
A New Jersey resident, requesting access to a township's electronic map of land parcels, has brought to light the first public example of a law that hides information that meets standards for "critical infrastructure information" (CII). The local municipal utility denied the resident’s request for land parcel information, because the data had been protected by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under the CII program. Read More

Freedom of Information Legislation Moving Forward 03/21/2005
The week of March 14 was an important week for open government, with the introduction of two pieces of legislation to improve the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) — the Faster FOIA Act, and the Restore FOIA Act. Additionally, the Senate Judiciary Committee held the first oversight hearing on FOIA since 1992. Read More

DHS Finally Speaks on CII 02/22/2005
Almost a full year ago OMB Watch filed a request, under the Freedom of Information Act, to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for information on their Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) program. The request sought an accounting of how the program was used thus far including the number of submissions, rejections, and communications, as well as program procedures for handling information. Unfortunately, DHS was not very prompt with answers. In fact, it took a summons filed in the DC Circuit Court to get even a few pieces of basic information about the CII program. Read More

Security Measures Invoked to End Safety Measures 09/07/2004
A large sign in New York City, indicating the location of a natural gas pipeline to prevent accidents, was taken down after a website posted a photograph of the sign. John Young, the owner of www.cryptome.org, posts information on his site to draw attention to places needing increased security. Although federal regulations require that the location of natural gas lines be made as obvious as possible to the public for safety reasons, the company that owns the pipeline asserted that local laws allowed the sign's removal. Read More

Critical Infrastructure Information Rule Needs Additional Improvements 05/20/2004
OMB Watch filed additional comments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recommending additional improvements in the interim final rule for Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) program. The interim final CII rule still requires significant revisions to create an efficient program that ensures the protection of citizens and infrastructure, does not interfere with the operations of other agencies, and prevents misuse by corporations. Read More

One Week Remains for Comments on Critical Infrastructure Information Rule 05/17/2004
Only a single week remains to submit comments to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the highly controversial Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) rule. DHS published an interim final rule in the Federal Register Feb. 20 with a 90-day public comment period that ends May 20. Read More

DHS Receives Few CII Submissions 05/03/2004
Only two companies and two associations have submitted information to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that will be kept secret under the Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) program, according to an April 21 testimony. At the time of the testimony, DHS had been operating the program for two months. Read More

DOJ Explains CII's Impact on FOIA 03/08/2004
The Department of Justice (DOJ) released a memo explaining the impacts of a new Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) rule on the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) throughout the federal government. The rule DOJ refers to was an interim final rule published by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which restricts public disclosure and government action on voluntarily submitted information about infrastructure vulnerabilities and problems. Read More

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