Standards Development

Arlene Selber and John Carrico, representing the NBC IG, attended the first plenary meeting of the American National Standards Institute Homeland Security Standards Panel (ANSI-HSSP), June 9-10, 2003. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Gaithersburg, MD hosted the two-day meeting. Nearly 200 professionals from the standards and conformity assessment community participated.

After overviews from relevant agencies on June 9, panel members divided into breakout groups on June 10 to tackle the four broad categories that were discussed the previous afternoon. Coordinating committees on critical infrastructure protection, countermeasures for security technology systems, countermeasures for public health, and certification and accreditation were each led by a facilitator to help generate and guide ideas, and a representative from DHS was on hand in each group to offer the government's perspective.

The groups produced a wealth of information, ideas and jumping-off points that will be compiled into a comprehensive homeland security standards database. Next, the top priority topics will be identified and workshops scheduled to address them in the shortest possible timeframe.

ANSI will continue to communicate with interested parties to enlist their support in addressing the priority standardization needs of DHS, to ascertain their willingness to assume the role of sector coordinator, and to advise them of future scheduled meetings.

OSTP Activities

GSA Policy Advisory: Guidelines for Federal Mail Centers in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area For Managing Possible Anthrax Contamination.
OSTP Memorandum for Federal Mail Managers and First Responders to Federal Mail Centers regarding Purchase of Anthrax Detection Technologies.

NBC Industry Group Response to OSTP Memo.

U. S. Army Chemical Corps Honors Program

The Chemical Corps Honors Program was established to maintain and enhance the legacy of the Chemical Corps and to promote cohesiveness and esprit de corps in the Chemical Corps Regiment by recognizing individuals who have served the Corps with distinction. There are currently 57 Hall of Fame and 41 Distinguished Members.