I 
107TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5461
To enhance homeland security by encouraging the development of regional 
comprehensive emergency preparedness and coordination plans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2002
Mr. KINGSTON (for himself, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, Mr. TOM DAVIS of 
Virginia, and Mr. LEWIS of Kentucky) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastruc-
ture 
A BILL 
To enhance homeland security by encouraging the develop-
ment of regional comprehensive emergency preparedness 
and coordination plans.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Regional Comprehen-
sive Emergency Preparedness, Coordination, and Recovery 
Act of 2002’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS; PURPOSE. 
(a) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following:
(1) Responders to the terrorist attacks at the 
World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the tragedy 
in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, from nu-
merous jurisdictions assisted the fire and rescue 
workers responsible for responding within their ju-
risdictions. 
(2) Even in the largest municipality, first re-
sponders need the support of local elected officials 
and neighboring jurisdictions, as well as support 
from numerous regional, State, Federal, and private 
sector entities. 
(3) The sheer number of agencies taking part 
in any emergency response demands coordination, 
mutual support, and effective communication. Re-
gional planning and coordination of response efforts 
are essential to ensure the least loss of life and dam-
age to property. 
(4) Regional councils of governments, regional 
planning commissions, and development districts 
have the accountability and experience necessary to 
coordinate comprehensive regional plans that encom-
pass the needs of the Federal, State, and local gov-
ernments, the private sector, and all other parties 
with a stake in providing for the security of their 
communities. Regional councils of government can
ensure the development of a coordinated emergency 
preparedness and recovery plan involving Federal, 
State, and local governments and the private sector. 
(5) Coordinated, area-wide training, equipment 
acquisition, and recovery planning is essential for ef-
fective regional preparedness and mitigation. 
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this Act is to encour-
age and facilitate the development and implementation of 
regional emergency preparedness and coordination plans 
among Federal, State, and local governments and the pri-
vate sector within the region and to facilitate preparedness 
and mitigation efforts. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) The term ‘‘region’’ means a designated 
multijurisdictional planning area or a sub-State dis-
trict with boundaries established by State law or 
through mutual agreement of local governments. 
(2) The term ‘‘regional council’’ means a multi-
purpose association of governments in a planning re-
gion, including councils of governments, regional 
planning commissions, and area development dis-
tricts. 
(3) The term ‘‘local government’’ means any 
city, county, or township within the United States.
(4) The term ‘‘State’’ means any of the 50 
States, the District of Columbia, or any territory of 
the United States. 
(5) The term ‘‘stakeholder’’ means Federal, 
State, local, private, and nonprofit entities, includ-
ing, but not limited to—
(A) local elected officials; 
(B) local State emergency management 
agencies; 
(C) local fire and rescue personnel; 
(D) health professionals; 
(E) local school representatives; 
(F) college and university representatives; 
(G) the business community; 
(H) port and airport officials; 
(I) utilities; 
(J) State departments of transportation; 
and 
(K) other individuals and entities identified 
by the stakeholders. 
(6) The term ‘‘regional plan’’ means a regional 
emergency preparedness, response, mitigation, and 
recovery plan.
SEC. 4. REQUIREMENT TO COORDINATE THE DEVELOP-
MENT OF REGIONAL EMERGENCY PREPARED-
NESS, 
COORDINATION, 
AND 
RECOVERY 
PLANS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The regional councils as defined 
in section 3(2) shall—
(1) convene all local governments, Federal, 
State, and private sector interests within a region to 
coordinate the development of emergency prepared-
ness, response, mitigation, and recovery plans for 
the entire region; and 
(2) convene all stakeholders within the region. 
(b) ELEMENTS
OF
THE REGIONAL PLAN.—The 
emergency response plan required to be developed under 
subsection (a) shall include, at a minimum—
(1) an assessment of potential targets for de-
struction; 
(2) an assessment of available equipment and 
manpower to respond to a disaster; 
(3) an assessment of equipment needs; 
(4) establishment of a regional communication 
system among stakeholders; 
(5) establishment of a secure information repos-
itory that includes information needed, as necessary, 
to coordinate stakeholder responsibilities within the 
region; and
(6) information on the following: 
(A) RESPONSE RESOURCES.—
(i) Locations, contacts, capabilities, 
and capacities of emergency medical facili-
ties. 
(ii) Locations, contacts, and equip-
ment listings for fire, police, and emer-
gency medical technician services. 
(iii) Locations of, and 24-hour con-
tacts for, appropriate medical facilities and 
personnel and other potential first re-
sponders. 
(iv) Locations and contacts for area 
stakeholders involved in the operation and 
maintenance of essential services within 
the region. 
(v) Locations and contacts for area 
key military personnel and facilities. 
(B) SUPPORT FACILITIES.—
(i) Locations, capabilities, and capac-
ities of existing shelters. 
(ii) Locations of, and available facili-
ties at, schools, colleges, universities, 
churches, and other public buildings.
(iii) Locations of major water and 
food supplies. 
(C) INFRASTRUCTURE.—
(i) Locations of water treatment and 
storage facilities and distribution mains. 
(ii) Locations of utilities lines, pipe-
lines, and generating facilities. 
(iii) Locations of sewer mains and 
treatment plants. 
(iv) Locations of voice, data, video, 
microwave, and satellite uplink commu-
nication facilities. 
(v) Locations of radio and television 
studios and transmission sites. 
(vi) Locations and capacities of short-
wave radio facilities and volunteers. 
(vii) Locations of major bridges and 
dams. 
(viii) Locations of major educational 
facilities. 
(D) TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES.—
(i) Locations and capacities of major 
transportation facilities, lines, and termi-
nals, including ports and airports.
(ii) Locations and capacities of local 
and regional transportation routes. 
(E) AT-RISK POPULATIONS.—
(i) Locations of large population con-
centrations and the times of those con-
centrations. 
(ii) Schedules of major public events 
and capacities of venues. 
(iii) Population statistics, including 
block level population data. 
(iv) School enrollment numbers. 
(v) Locations of elderly, infirm, and 
disabled persons who need special assist-
ance. 
(F) POTENTIAL TARGETS.—
(i) Locations of major concentrations 
of hazardous and biohazard chemicals. 
(ii) Locations of fuel depots and dis-
pensing facilities which meet certain Envi-
ronmental Protection Agency thresholds. 
(iii) Locations of major concentrations 
of munitions and explosives. 
(iv) Locations of other potential tar-
gets, such as nuclear power plants, in the 
region.
(G) DEBRIS DISPOSAL.—
(i) Identification of locations for de-
bris disposal. 
(ii) Identification of potential health 
hazards to personnel involved in debris dis-
posal. 
(c) PLANNING ACTIVITIES.—Planning activities pur-
suant to this section shall include analyzing and docu-
menting the possibility of a disaster and the potential con-
sequences or impacts upon life, property, and the environ-
ment and planning for utilization of Geographic Informa-
tion Systems, to assess hazards and evaluate the con-
sequences of potential emergencies or disasters. 
(d) APPROVAL OF REGIONAL PLAN.—The plan shall 
be approved by the designated regional planning agency’s 
governing body and Governor or Governors not later than 
the date that is 12 months after the designated agency 
has received an initial planning grant under this Act. 
(e) UPDATE OF REGIONAL PLAN.—The regional plan 
shall be reviewed annually and updated as needed, based 
on revised threat assessments, trainings, and drills. 
(f) SECURITY OF MAPPING AND INFRASTRUCTURE 
INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN REGIONAL PLAN.—
(1) For security purposes, the information contained in 
the regional plan required under subsection (b)(5) shall
be available only to those public and private officials and 
agencies that have responsibility under such plan. 
(2) Computer and software technology shall be re-
quired for securing the key resources and critical infra-
structure that may be outlined within the regional plan. 
(3) It shall be necessary to seek the appropriate 
measures to protect the key resources and critical infra-
structure within each region in coordination with other 
agencies and representatives from within the region in-
cluding Federal, State, and local government personnel, 
agencies and authorities, the private sector, and other en-
tities. 
(4) It shall be necessary to continue to review and 
analyze and make recommendations for improvements in 
the policies and procedures governing the security of this 
information and sharing it with law enforcement, intel-
ligence, emergency management, and other entities related 
to homeland security within the Federal Government and 
between such representatives within the region, including 
Federal, State, and local government personnel agencies, 
authorities, and the private sector.
SEC. 5. FUNDING. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—From the amounts appropriated 
to Federal or State agencies for emergency preparedness 
and homeland security, an amount of not less than three
percent shall be allocated to the Department of Homeland 
Security, or other agency designated by Congress, for the 
preparation, review, and update of regional plans required 
by this Act. Such funds shall be allocated to designated 
regional councils for the purposes set forth in this Act. 
(b) FORMULA.—Allocations to regions shall be ac-
cording to a formula that takes into account the popu-
lation of a region, base amounts necessary to prepare a 
regional plan, vulnerability to catastrophic events, and the 
presence of facilities of State or national significance. 
(c) CONSISTENCY.—Funding from Federal agencies 
for local, regional, or State projects for emergency pre-
paredness, response, recovery, or mitigation shall require 
consistency with regional plans.
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