Washington,
Oct 26, 2005 -
Congressman Christopher Shays (CT-4), Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, today announced the panel will convene an oversight hearing entitled, “Homeland Security: Surveillance and Monitoring of Explosive Storage Facilities, Part II.” The hearing will be held on Monday, October 31, 2005, 9:00 a.m. in the Council Chambers of the City of San Mateo, 330 West 20th Avenue, San Mateo, California.
In August 2004, the Subcommittee held a hearing in California to investigate the July 2004 theft of several hundred pounds of explosives from a storage facility being used by local law enforcement agencies. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive’s (ATF) authority to oversee explosives storage facilities is limited to the private sector. As a result, ATF has no means to ensure that all state and local government facilities nationwide are in compliance with safeguards and security guidelines.
Out of concern that state and local government explosives storage facilities could be vulnerable to theft, the Subcommittee asked the General Accountability Office (GAO) to study the security and oversight of local and state magazines. During the hearing GAO will release a new report and discuss their findings and recommendations regarding guidelines for the storage, monitoring and protection of state and local explosive materials.
Officials from the Department of Justice, state law enforcement officials and local government leaders, along with explosives industry experts, will testify on the challenges federal, state and local authorities face in securing and protecting publicly owned explosive storage facilities.
Witness List
Ms. Laurie E. Ekstrand, Director
Homeland Security and Justice Team
U.S. Government Accountability Office
accompanied by
Mr. Philip Caramia, Senior Analyst
Homeland Security and Justice Issues
U.S. Government Accountability Office
Mr. Michael Gulledge, Director
Office of Evaluation and Inspections Division
Office of the Inspector General
U. S. Department of Justice
Mr. Lewis P. Raden, Assistant Director
Enforcement Programs and Services Division
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
U.S. Department of Justice
Mr. Fernando Gonzalez, Battalion Chief
Fort Worth Fire Department,
Division of Arson/Bomb Investigation
Dr. Tibor G. Rozgonyi
Professor and Head, Mining Engineering Department
Colorado School of Mines
Sgt. Stanley Mathiasen, Chairman
National Bomb Squad Commanders Advisory Board
Dr. Vilem Petr, Assistant Research Professor
Mining Engineering Department
Colorado School of Mines
Mr. James Christopher Ronay, President
The Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME)
The Honorable Don Horsley, County Sheriff
San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office
