297 
tection, response, recovery, and mitigation for natural disasters, acts of ter-
rorism, and other man-made disasters. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The National Advisory Council shall advise the 
Administrator on all aspects of emergency management. The National 
Advisory Council shall incorporate State, local, and tribal government 
and private-sector input in the development and revision of the national 
preparedness goal, the national preparedness system, the National Inci-
dent Management System, the National Response Plan, and other re-
lated plans and strategies. 
(2) CONSULTATION ON GRANTS.—To ensure input from and coordi-
nation with State, local, and tribal governments and emergency re-
sponse providers, the Administrator shall regularly consult and work 
with the National Advisory Council on the administration and assess-
ment of grant programs administered by the Department, including 
with respect to the development of program guidance and the develop-
ment and evaluation of risk-assessment methodologies, as appropriate. 
(c) MEMBERSHIP.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The members of the National Advisory Council 
shall be appointed by the Administrator, and shall, to the extent prac-
ticable, represent a geographic (including urban and rural) and sub-
stantive cross section of officials, emergency managers, and emergency 
response providers from State, local, and tribal governments, the pri-
vate sector, and nongovernmental organizations, including as appro-
priate— 
(A) members selected from the emergency management field 
and emergency response providers, including fire service, law en-
forcement, hazardous materials response, emergency medical serv-
ices, and emergency management personnel, or organizations rep-
resenting these individuals; 
(B) health scientists, emergency and inpatient medical pro-
viders, and public health professionals; 
(C) experts from Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, 
and the private sector, representing standards-setting and accred-
iting organizations, including representatives from the voluntary 
consensus codes and standards development community, particu-
larly those with expertise in the emergency preparedness and re-
sponse field; 
(D) State, local, and tribal government officials with expertise 
in preparedness, protection, response, recovery, and mitigation, in-
cluding Adjutants General; 
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(E) elected State, local, and tribal government executives; 
(F) experts in public- and private-sector infrastructure protec-
tion, cybersecurity, and communications; 
(G) representatives of individuals with disabilities and other 
populations with special needs; and 
(H) other individuals the Administrator determines to be appro-
priate. 
(2) COORDINATION WITH DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
SERVICES AND TRANSPORTATION.—In the selection of members of the 
National Advisory Council who are health or emergency medical serv-
ices professionals, the Administrator shall work with the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Transportation. 
(3) EX OFFICIO MEMBERS.—The Administrator shall designate one 
or more officers of the Federal Government to serve as ex officio mem-
bers of the National Advisory Council. 
(4) TERM OF OFFICE.—The term of office of each member of the 
National Advisory Council shall be 3 years. 
(d) RESPONSE SUBCOMMITTEE.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall establish the Rail-
road Emergency Services Preparedness, Operational Needs, and Safety 
Evaluation Subcommittee (in this subsection referred to as the ‘‘RE-
SPONSE Subcommittee’’). 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—Notwithstanding subsection (c), the RE-
SPONSE Subcommittee is composed of the following: 
(A) the Deputy Administrator, Protection and National Pre-
paredness of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, or des-
ignee. 
(B) The Chief Safety Officer of the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration, or designee. 
(C) The Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safe-
ty of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, 
or designee. 
(D) The Director of the Office of Emergency Communications 
of the Department, or designee. 
(E) The Director of the Office of Railroad, Pipeline and Haz-
ardous Materials Investigations of the National Transportation 
Safety Board, or designee. 
(F) The Chief Safety Officer and Associate Administrator for 
Railroad Safety of the Federal Railroad Administration, or des-
ignee. 
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(G) The Assistant Administrator for Security Policy and Indus-
try Engagement of the Transportation Security Administration, or 
designee. 
(H) The Assistant Commandant for Response Policy of the 
Coast Guard, or designee. 
(I) The Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste 
and Emergency Response of the Environmental Protection Agen-
cy, or designee. 
(J) Such other qualified individuals as the co-chairpersons shall 
jointly appoint as soon as practicable from among the following: 
(i) Members of the National Advisory Council who have the 
requisite technical knowledge and expertise to address rail 
emergency response issues, including members for the fol-
lowing disciplines: 
(I) Emergency management and emergency response 
providers, including fire service, law enforcement, haz-
ardous materials response, and emergency medical serv-
ices. 
(II) State, local, and tribal government officials. 
(ii) Individuals who have the requisite technical knowledge 
and expertise to serve on the RESPONSE Subcommittee, in-
cluding at least 1 representative from each of the following: 
(I) The rail industry. 
(II) Rail labor. 
(III) Persons that offer oil for transportation by rail. 
(IV) The communications industry. 
(V) Emergency response providers, including individ-
uals nominated by national organizations representing 
State and local governments and emergency responders. 
(VI) Emergency response training providers. 
(VII) Representatives from tribal organizations. 
(VIII) Technical experts. 
(IX) Vendors, developers, and manufacturers of sys-
tems, facilities, equipment, and capabilities for emer-
gency responder services. 
(iii) Representatives of such other stakeholders and inter-
ested and affected parties as the co-chairpersons consider ap-
propriate. 
(3) CO-CHAIRPERSONS.—The members described in subparagraphs 
(A) and (B) of paragraph (2) shall serve as the co-chairpersons of the 
RESPONSE Subcommittee. 
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(4) CONSULTATION WITH NONMEMBERS.—The RESPONSE Sub-
committee and the program offices for emergency responder training 
and resources shall consult with other relevant agencies and groups, in-
cluding entities engaged in federally funded research and academic in-
stitutions engaged in relevant work and research, that are not rep-
resented on the RESPONSE Subcommittee to consider new and devel-
oping technologies and methods that may be beneficial to preparedness 
and response to rail hazardous materials incidents. 
(5) RECOMMENDATIONS.—The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall de-
velop recommendations, as appropriate, for improving emergency re-
sponder training and resource allocation for hazardous materials inci-
dents involving railroads after evaluating the following topics: 
(A) The quality and application of training for State and local 
emergency responders relating to rail hazardous materials inci-
dents, including training for emergency responders serving small 
communities near railroads, including the following: 
(i) Ease of access to relevant training for State and local 
emergency responders, including an analysis of— 
(I) the number of individual being trained; 
(II) the number of individuals who are applying; 
(III) whether current demand is being met; 
(IV) current challenges; and 
(V) projected needs. 
(ii) Modernization of training course content relating to rail 
hazardous materials incidents, with a particular focus on fluc-
tuations in oil shipments by rail, including regular and ongo-
ing evaluation of course opportunities, adaptation to emerging 
trends, agency and private-sector outreach, effectiveness, and 
ease of access for State and local emergency responders. 
(iii) Identification of overlap in training content and identi-
fication of opportunities to develop complementary courses 
and materials among governmental and nongovernmental en-
tities. 
(iv) Online training platforms, train-the-trainer, and mobile 
training options. 
(B) The availability and effectiveness of Federal, State, local, 
and nongovernmental funding levels related to training emergency 
responders for rail hazardous materials incidents, including emer-
gency responders serving small communities near railroads, includ-
ing— 
(i) identifying overlap in resource allocation; 
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(ii) identifying cost-saving measures that can be imple-
mented to increase training opportunities; 
(iii) leveraging government funding with nongovernmental 
funding to enhance training opportunities and fill existing 
training gaps; 
(iv) adaptation of priority settings for agency funding allo-
cations in response to emerging trends; 
(v) historic levels of funding across Federal agencies for 
rail hazardous materials incident response and training, in-
cluding funding provided by the private sector to public enti-
ties or in conjunction with Federal programs; and 
(vi) current funding resources across agencies. 
(C) The strategy for integrating commodity flow studies, map-
ping, and rail and hazardous materials databases for State and 
local emergency responders and increasing the rate of access to 
the individual responder in existing or emerging communications 
technology. 
(6) REPORT.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than December 16, 2017, the RE-
SPONSE Committee shall submit a report to the National Advi-
sory Council that— 
(i) includes the recommendations developed under para-
graph (5); 
(ii) specifies the timeframes for implementing the rec-
ommendations that do not require congressional action; and 
(iii) identifies the recommendations that do require con-
gressional action. 
(B) REVIEW.—Not later than 30 days after receiving the report 
under subparagraph (A), the National Advisory Council shall 
begin a review of the report. The National Advisory Council may 
ask for additional clarification, changes, or other information from 
the RESPONSE Subcommittee to assist in the approval of the 
recommendations. 
(C) RECOMMENDATIONS.—Once the National Advisory Council 
approves the recommendations of the RESPONSE Subcommittee, 
the National Advisory Council shall submit the report to— 
(i) the co-chairpersons of the RESPONSE Subcommittee; 
(ii) the head of each other agency represented on the RE-
SPONSE Subcommittee; 
(iii) the Committee on Homeland Security and Govern-
mental Affairs of the Senate; 
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(iv) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate; 
(v) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of 
Representatives; and 
(vi) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of 
the House of Representatives. 
(7) INTERIM ACTIVITY.— 
(A) UPDATES AND OVERSIGHT.—After the submission of the re-
port by the National Advisory Council under paragraph (6), the 
Administrator shall— 
(i) provide annual updates to the congressional committees 
referred to in paragraph (6)(C) regarding the status of the 
implementation of the recommendations developed under 
paragraph (5); and 
(ii) coordinate the implementation of the recommendations 
described in paragraph (5)(A)(i), as appropriate. 
(B) SUNSET.—The requirements of subparagraph (A) shall ter-
minate on the date that is 2 years after the date of the submission 
of the report required under paragraph (6)(A). 
(8) TERMINATION.—The RESPONSE Subcommittee shall terminate 
not later than 90 days after the submission of the report required 
under paragraph (6))(C). 
(e) APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 10381(a) of this title 
and subject to paragraph (2), the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 
U.S.C. App.), including section 10(a), (b), and (d), and section 552b(c) 
of title 5, apply to the National Advisory Council. 
(2) TERMINATION.—Section 14(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Com-
mittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) does not apply to the National Advisory 
Council. 
§ 11109. National Integration Center 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is in the Agency the National Integration Cen-
ter. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator and the National Integration 
Center, and in consultation with other Federal departments and agen-
cies and the National Advisory Council, shall ensure ongoing manage-
ment and maintenance of the National Incident Management System, 
the National Response Plan, and a successor to the system or plan. 
(2) REVIEW AND REVISION OF SYSTEM AND PLAN.—The National 
Integration Center shall periodically review, and revise as appropriate, 
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the National Incident Management System and the National Response 
Plan, including— 
(A) establishing, in consultation with the Director of the Cor-
poration for National and Community Service, a process to better 
use volunteers and donations; 
(B) improving the use of Federal, State, local, and tribal re-
sources and ensuring the effective use of emergency response pro-
viders at emergency scenes; and 
(C) revising the Catastrophic Incident Annex, finalizing and re-
leasing the Catastrophic Incident Supplement to the National Re-
sponse Plan, and ensuring that both effectively address response 
requirements in the event of a catastrophic incident. 
(c) INCIDENT MANAGEMENT.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.— 
(A) NATIONAL RESPONSE PLAN.—The Administrator shall en-
sure that the National Response Plan provides for a clear chain 
of command to lead and coordinate the Federal response to a nat-
ural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster. 
(B) ADMINISTRATOR.—The chain of the command specified in 
the National Response Plan shall provide for a role for— 
(i) the Administrator consistent with the role of the Admin-
istrator as the principal emergency management advisor to 
the President, the Homeland Security Council, and the Sec-
retary under section 11102(b)(2) of this title and the respon-
sibility of the Administrator under the Post-Katrina Emer-
gency Management Reform Act of 2006 (Public Law 109– 
295, 120 Stat. 1394), and the amendments made by that 
Act, relating to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other 
man-made disasters; and 
(ii) the Federal Coordinating Officer consistent with the re-
sponsibilities under section 302(b) of the Robert T. Stafford 
Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 
5143(b)). 
(2) PRINCIPAL FEDERAL OFFICIAL OR DIRECTOR OF A JOINT TASK 
FORCE.—The Principal Federal Official (or the successor to the Offi-
cial) or a Director of a Joint Task Force established under section 
11508 of this title shall not— 
(A) direct or replace the incident command structure established 
at the incident; or 
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(B) have directive authority over the Senior Federal Law En-
forcement Official, Federal Coordinating Officer, or other Federal 
and State officials. 
§ 11110. Credentialing and typing 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall enter into a memorandum of 
understanding with the administrators of the Emergency Management As-
sistance Compact, State, local, and tribal governments, and organizations 
that represent emergency response providers, to collaborate on developing 
standards for deployment capabilities, including for credentialing and typing 
of incident management personnel, emergency response providers, and other 
personnel (including temporary personnel) and resources likely needed to re-
spond to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. 
(b) DISTRIBUTION.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall provide the standards de-
veloped under subsection (a), including detailed written guidance, to— 
(A) each Federal agency that has responsibilities under the Na-
tional Response Plan to aid that agency with credentialing and 
typing incident management personnel, emergency response pro-
viders, and other personnel (including temporary personnel) and 
resources likely needed to respond to a natural disaster, act of ter-
rorism, or other man-made disaster; and 
(B) State, local, and tribal governments, to aid the governments 
with credentialing and typing of State, local, and tribal incident 
management personnel, emergency response providers, and other 
personnel (including temporary personnel) and resources likely 
needed to respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other 
man-made disaster. 
(2) ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator shall provide expertise and 
technical assistance to aid Federal, State, local, and tribal government 
agencies with credentialing and typing incident management personnel, 
emergency response providers, and other personnel (including tem-
porary personnel) and resources likely needed to respond to a natural 
disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster. 
(c) CREDENTIALING AND TYPING OF PERSONNEL.—Each Federal agency 
with responsibilities under the National Response Plan shall ensure that in-
cident management personnel, emergency response providers, and other per-
sonnel (including temporary personnel) and resources likely needed to re-
spond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other manmade disaster are 
credentialed and typed under this section. 
(d) CONSULTATION
ON HEALTH CARE STANDARDS.—In developing 
standards for credentialing health care professionals under this section, the 
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Administrator shall consult with the Secretary of Health and Human Serv-
ices. 
§ 11111. National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis 
Center 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There is in the Department the National Infrastruc-
ture Simulation and Analysis Center established under the Critical Infra-
structure Protection Act of 2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(d)) which shall serve as 
a source of national expertise to address critical infrastructure protection 
and continuity through support for activities related to— 
(1) counterterrorism, threat assessment, and risk mitigation; and 
(2) a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster. 
(b) INFRASTRUCTURE MODELING.— 
(1) PARTICULAR SUPPORT.—The support provided under subsection 
(a) includes modeling, simulation, and analysis of the systems and as-
sets comprising critical infrastructure, to enhance preparedness, protec-
tion, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. 
(2) RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER AGENCIES.—Each Federal agency 
and department with critical infrastructure responsibilities under 
Homeland Security Presidential Directive–7, or a successor to the Di-
rective, shall establish a formal relationship, including an agreement re-
garding information sharing, between the elements of the agency or de-
partment and the National Infrastructure Simulation and Analysis 
Center, through the Department. 
(3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the relationship under paragraph (2) 
is to permit each Federal agency and department described in para-
graph (2) to take full advantage of the capabilities of the National In-
frastructure Simulation and Analysis Center (particularly vulnerability 
and consequence analysis), consistent with its work load capacity and 
priorities, for real-time response to reported and projected natural dis-
asters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters. 
(4) RECIPIENT OF CERTAIN SUPPORT.—Modeling, simulation, and 
analysis provided under this subsection shall be provided to relevant 
Federal agencies and departments, including Federal agencies and de-
partments with critical infrastructure responsibilities under Homeland 
Security Presidential Directive–7, or a successor to the Directive. 
§ 11112. Evacuation plans and exercises 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and sub-
ject to subsection (d), grants made to States or local or tribal governments 
by the Department through the State Homeland Security Grant Program 
or the Urban Area Security Initiative may be used to— 
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(1) establish programs for the development and maintenance of mass 
evacuation plans under subsection (b) in the event of a natural dis-
aster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster; 
(2) prepare for the execution of the plans, including the development 
of evacuation routes and the purchase and stockpiling of necessary sup-
plies and shelters; and 
(3) conduct exercises of the plans. 
(b) PLAN DEVELOPMENT.—In developing the mass evacuation plans au-
thorized under subsection (a), each State, local, or tribal government shall, 
to the maximum extent practicable— 
(1) establish incident command and decision-making processes; 
(2) ensure that State, local, and tribal government plans, including 
evacuation routes, are coordinated and integrated; 
(3) identify primary and alternative evacuation routes and methods 
to increase evacuation capabilities along the routes, such as conversion 
of two-way traffic to one-way evacuation routes; 
(4) identify evacuation transportation modes and capabilities, includ-
ing the use of mass and public transit capabilities, and coordinating 
and integrating evacuation plans for all populations including for those 
individuals located in hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutional 
living facilities; 
(5) develop procedures for informing the public of evacuation plans 
before and during an evacuation, including individuals— 
(A) with disabilities or other special needs, including the elderly; 
(B) with limited English proficiency; or 
(C) who might otherwise have difficulty in obtaining informa-
tion; and 
(6) identify shelter locations and capabilities. 
(c) ASSISTANCE.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Administrator may establish guidelines, 
standards, or requirements determined appropriate to administer this 
section and to ensure effective mass evacuation planning for State, 
local, and tribal areas. 
(2) REQUESTED ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator shall make assist-
ance available upon request of a State, local, or tribal government to 
assist hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions that house indi-
viduals with special needs to establish, maintain, and exercise mass 
evacuation plans that are coordinated and integrated into the plans de-
veloped by that State, local, or tribal government under this section. 
(d) MULTIPURPOSE FUNDS.—Nothing in this section may be construed 
to preclude a State, local, or tribal government from using grant funds in 
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a manner that enhances preparedness for a natural or man-made disaster 
unrelated to an act of terrorism, if the use assists the government in build-
ing capabilities for terrorism preparedness. 
§ 11113. Disability Coordinator 
(a) IN GENERAL.—After consultation with organizations representing in-
dividuals with disabilities, the National Council on Disability, and the Inter-
agency Coordinating Council on Emergency Preparedness and Individuals 
with Disabilities, established under Executive Order No. 13347 (July 22, 
2004, 69 Fed. Reg. 44573), the Administrator shall appoint a Disability 
Coordinator. The Disability Coordinator shall report directly to the Admin-
istrator, in order to ensure that the needs of individuals with disabilities are 
being properly addressed in emergency preparedness and disaster relief. 
(b) RESPONSIBILITIES.—The Disability Coordinator is responsible for— 
(1) providing guidance and coordination on matters related to indi-
viduals with disabilities in emergency planning requirements and relief 
efforts in the event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other 
man-made disaster; 
(2) interacting with the staff of the Agency, the National Council on 
Disability, the Interagency Coordinating Council on Emergency Pre-
paredness and Individuals with Disabilities established under Executive 
Order No. 13347 (July 22, 2004, 69 Fed. Reg. 44573), other agencies 
of the Federal Government, and State, local, and tribal government au-
thorities regarding the needs of individuals with disabilities in emer-
gency planning requirements and relief efforts in the event of a natural 
disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster; 
(3) consulting with organizations that represent the interests and 
rights of individuals with disabilities about the needs of individuals with 
disabilities in emergency planning requirements and relief efforts in the 
event of a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other man-made dis-
aster; 
(4) ensuring the coordination and dissemination of best practices and 
model evacuation plans for individuals with disabilities; 
(5) ensuring the development of training materials and a curriculum 
for training of emergency response providers, State, local, and tribal 
government officials, and others on the needs of individuals with dis-
abilities; 
(6) promoting the accessibility of telephone hotlines and websites re-
garding emergency preparedness, evacuations, and disaster relief; 
(7) working to ensure that video programming distributors, including 
broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite television services, make 
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emergency information accessible to individuals with hearing and vision 
disabilities; 
(8) ensuring the availability of accessible transportation options for 
individuals with disabilities in the event of an evacuation; 
(9) providing guidance and implementing policies to ensure that the 
rights and wishes of individuals with disabilities regarding post-evacu-
ation residency and relocation are respected; 
(10) ensuring that meeting the needs of individuals with disabilities 
is included in the components of the national preparedness system es-
tablished under section 644 of the Post-Katrina Emergency Manage-
ment Reform Act of 2006 (Public Law 109–295, 120 Stat. 1425); and 
(11) other duties assigned by the Administrator. 
§ 11114. National Operations Center 
(a) DEFINITION OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS.—In this section, the term 
‘‘situational awareness’’ means information gathered from a variety of 
sources that, when communicated to emergency managers, decision makers, 
and other appropriate officials, can form the basis for incident management 
decisionmaking and steady-state activity. 
(b) ESTABLISHMENT.—The National Operations Center is the principal 
operations center for the Department and shall— 
(1) provide situational awareness and a common operating picture 
for the entire Federal Government, and for State, local, tribal, and ter-
ritorial governments, the private sector, and international partners as 
appropriate, for events, threats, and incidents involving a natural dis-
aster, act of terrorism, or other man-made disaster; 
(2) ensure that critical terrorism and disaster-related information 
reaches government decision-makers; and 
(3) enter into agreements with other Federal operations centers and 
other homeland security partners, as appropriate, to facilitate the shar-
ing of information. 
(c) STATE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY RESPONDER REPRESENTATION.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT OF EMERGENCY RESPONDER POSITION.—The 
Secretary shall establish a position, on a rotating basis, for a represent-
ative of State and local emergency responders at the National Oper-
ations Center established under subsection (b) to ensure the effective 
sharing of information between the Federal Government and State and 
local emergency response services. 
(2) MANAGEMENT.—The Secretary shall manage the position estab-
lished under paragraph (1) in accordance with the rules, regulations, 
and practices that govern other similar rotating positions at the Na-
tional Operations Center. 
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§ 11115. Responsibilities of Chief Medical Officer 
The Chief Medical Officer has the primary responsibility in the Depart-
ment for medical issues related to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and 
other man-made disasters, including— 
(1) serving as the principal advisor to the Secretary and the Admin-
istrator on medical and public health issues; 
(2) coordinating the biodefense activities of the Department; 
(3) ensuring internal and external coordination of all medical pre-
paredness and response activities of the Department, including train-
ing, exercises, and equipment support; 
(4) serving as the Department’s primary point of contact with the 
Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, the Depart-
ment of Health and Human Services, the Department of Transpor-
tation, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and other Federal depart-
ments or agencies, on medical and public health issues; 
(5) serving as the Department’s primary point of contact for State, 
local, and tribal governments, the medical community, and others with-
in and outside the Department, with respect to medical and public 
health matters; 
(6) discharging, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Science 
and Technology, the responsibilities of the Department related to 
Project Bioshield; and 
(7) performing any other duties relating to these responsibilities that 
the Secretary may require. 
§ 11116. Nuclear incident response 
(a) IN GENERAL.—At the direction of the Secretary (in connection with 
an actual or threatened terrorist attack, major disaster, or other emergency 
in the United States), the Nuclear Incident Response Team shall operate 
as an organizational unit of the Department. While so operating, the Nu-
clear Incident Response Team shall be subject to the direction, authority, 
and control of the Secretary. 
(b) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this chapter shall be con-
strued to limit the ordinary responsibility of the Secretary of Energy and 
the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for organizing, 
training, equipping, and utilizing their respective entities in the Nuclear In-
cident Response Team, or (subject to the provisions of this chapter) from 
exercising direction, authority, and control over them when they are not op-
erating as a unit of the Department. 
§ 11117. Conduct of certain public health-related activities 
(a) IN GENERAL.—With respect to all public health-related activities to 
improve State, local, and hospital preparedness and response to chemical, 
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biological, radiological, and nuclear and other emerging terrorist threats car-
ried out by the Department of Health and Human Services (including the 
Public Health Service), the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
set priorities and preparedness goals and further develop a coordinated 
strategy for these activities in collaboration with the Secretary. 
(b) EVALUATION OF PROGRESS.—In carrying out subsection (a), the Sec-
retary of Health and Human Services shall collaborate with the Secretary 
in developing specific benchmarks and outcome measurements for evaluating 
progress toward achieving the priorities and goals described in subsection 
(a). 
§ 11118. Use of national private-sector networks in emer-
gency response 
To the maximum extent practicable, the Secretary shall use national pri-
vate-sector networks and infrastructure for emergency response to chemical, 
biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive disasters, and other major dis-
asters. 
§ 11119. Model standards and guidelines for critical infra-
structure workers 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In coordination with appropriate national professional 
organizations, Federal, State, local, and tribal government agencies, and pri-
vate-sector and nongovernmental entities, the Administrator shall establish 
model standards and guidelines for credentialing critical infrastructure 
workers that may be used by a State to credential critical infrastructure 
workers that may respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, or other 
man-made disaster. 
(b) DISTRIBUTION AND ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator shall provide 
the standards developed under subsection (a), including detailed written 
guidance, to State, local, and tribal governments, and provide expertise and 
technical assistance to aid the governments with credentialing critical infra-
structure workers that may respond to a natural disaster, act of terrorism, 
or other man-made disaster. 
§ 11120. Guidance and recommendations 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Consistent with their responsibilities and authorities 
under law, as of August 2, 2007, the Administrator and the Assistant Sec-
retary for Infrastructure Protection, in consultation with the private sector, 
may develop guidance or recommendations and identify best practices to as-
sist or foster action by the private sector in— 
(1) identifying potential hazards and assessing risks and impacts; 
(2) mitigating the impact of a wide variety of hazards, including 
weapons of mass destruction; 
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