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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 221 (Monday, November 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68457-68458]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27124]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2013-0074]

Request for Comments and Answers to Specific Questions To Inform 
Development of the National Critical Infrastructure Security and 
Resilience (NCISR) Research and Development (R&D) Plan

AGENCY: Science and Technology Directorate, DHS.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comments and Answers to Specific 
Questions.

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SUMMARY: This Notice requests general comments and answers to specific 
questions to inform development of the National Critical Infrastructure 
Security and Resilience Research and Development Plan (NCISR R&D Plan) 
called for in Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) 21, Critical 
Infrastructure Security and Resilience. As part of a comprehensive 
national review process, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is 
soliciting public comments to support the DHS Science and Technology 
Directorate (S&T) in writing the NCISR R&D Plan. Critical 
infrastructure includes cyber and physical assets, systems, and 
networks comprising the 16 critical infrastructure sectors identified 
in PPD-21.

DATES: Written comments are encouraged and will be accepted until 
December 17, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number DHS-
2013-0074, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: R&DWG@hq.dhs.gov. Include the docket number DHS-
2013-0074 in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Kristin Wyckoff, DHS/S&T/RSD, 445 Murray Lane SW., 
Mail Stop 0208, Washington, DC 20528-0208.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. For more 
information on submitting written comments, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kristin Wyckoff, DHS/S&T/RSD, 445 
Murray Lane SW., Mail Stop 0208, Washington, DC 20528-0208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    DHS invites interested persons to provide input and answers to 
specific questions to inform the identification of national R&D 
priorities for the NCISR R&D Plan. Input is welcome from stakeholder 
groups, private and public entities, and individuals on content to be 
included to best fulfill the intended purpose of the plan. Comments 
that will provide the most assistance to DHS will include a rationale 
for the stated answer or recommendation, along with supplemental data, 
information, or authority that supports the response.

II. Additional Instructions for Written Submissions

    All written submissions must include the words ``Department of 
Homeland Security'' and the docket number for this action. All comments 
received (via any of the identified methods) will be posted without 
change to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided. Please submit your comments and material by only 
one means to avoid the posting of duplicate submissions.
    If you submit comments by mail, your submission should be an 
unbound document and no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches to enable copying 
and electronic document management. Please limit submissions to a 
maximum of ten pages of text if possible. If you want DHS to 
acknowledge receipt of comments by mail, include with your comments a 
self-addressed, stamped postcard that includes the docket number for 
this action. DHS will date your postcard and return it to you via 
regular mail.

III. Background

    On February 12, 2013, President Obama signed PPD-21,\1\ Critical 
Infrastructure Security and Resilience, which builds on the extensive 
work done to date to protect and enhance the resilience of the Nation's 
critical infrastructure. This directive aims to clarify roles and 
responsibilities across the Federal Government and establish a more 
effective partnership with owners

[[Page 68458]]

and operators and state, local, tribal, and territorial entities to 
enhance the security and resilience of critical infrastructure.
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    \1\ PPD-21 can be found at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/02/12/presidential-policy-directive-critical-infrastructure-security-and-resil.
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    President Obama also signed Executive Order (E.O.) 13636 \2\ on 
February 12, 2013, entitled Improving Critical Infrastructure 
Cybersecurity. By issuing the E.O. and PPD together, the Administration 
is taking an integrated approach to strengthening the security and 
resilience of critical infrastructure against all hazards, through an 
updated and overarching national framework that acknowledges the 
increased role of cybersecurity in securing physical assets.
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    \2\ E.O. 13636 can be found at: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-02-19/pdf/2013-03915.pdf.
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    PPD-21 sets forth several actions that the Secretary of Homeland 
Security shall take to implement the directive. One of these actions is 
to develop a National Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience 
R&D Plan. This is to be done within two years of the date of the 
directive, or by February 12, 2015, with the Secretary of Homeland 
Security working in coordination with the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy (OSTP), the Sector-Specific Agencies (SSAs), 
Department of Commerce (DOC), and other Federal departments and 
agencies. The plan is to take into account the evolving threat 
landscape, annual metrics, and other relevant information to identify 
priorities and guide R&D requirements and investments. The plan shall 
be issued every 4 years after its initial delivery with interim updates 
as needed. The plan will provide input to align Federal and Federally-
funded R&D activities seeking to strengthen the security and resilience 
of the Nation's critical infrastructure.
    The R&D Plan is being written through a collaborative process 
involving a full range of critical infrastructure partners and other 
stakeholders. This notice extends an invitation to the broader public 
to provide comments on the specific questions posed to inform the 
identification of national CISR R&D priorities. These comments and 
inputs will help to ensure the NCISR R&D Plan is relevant and useful, 
guiding R&D that will strengthen the security and resilience of the 
Nation's critical infrastructure.

IV. Specific Questions

    Answers to the following specific questions are desired:
    1. What do you view as the most significant cross-sector R&D 
themes? How might this view change looking forward to 2020 and beyond?
    2. PPD-21 states, ``Critical infrastructure must be secure and able 
to withstand and rapidly recover from all hazards.'' Given this desired 
outcome, what factors should be considered in prioritizing national R&D 
activities?
    3. What role can partnerships play in facilitating R&D within the 
themes identified in question #1? Is public sector engagement essential 
to advancing any of these themes?

    Dated: November 10, 2014.
Jalal Mapar,
Director, Resilient Systems Division, Science and Technology 
Directorate.
[FR Doc. 2014-27124 Filed 11-14-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9F-P
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