For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 9, 2001
Friday's Homeland Security Briefing
Press Briefing by Director of Homeland Security Governor Tom Ridge and EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman
The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room
Listen to the Briefing
1:05 P.M. EST
GOVERNOR RIDGE: Good afternoon, ladies and
gentlemen. Last night, I had the privilege to join the
President of the United States in Atlanta, Georgia, for that
extraordinary speech and that call to service to the American
people. I recalled the evening when the President introduced
the Office of Homeland Security, on September 20th, and introduced the
then-Governor of Pennsylvania as assuming the responsibilities of that
office.
The next day, I proceeded to complete the final two weeks of my
tenure as governor. And from the very first time I appeared
in public, people came up to me and
said: Congratulations. What can I do to
help? And the phones started ringing that Friday morning in
the governor's office, and it's been ringing ever
since. This morning, the phones started ringing in the White
House Office: What can we do to help? And I think
last night, the President very appropriately tapped in to the
extraordinary desire on the part of America to commit some part of
themselves, in some small way, to enhance homeland security.
As we have been doing every day since I took over this position,
we're looking for ways to engage both the public and the private sector
to help build this extraordinary support, and build toward a national
strategy to provide homeland security.
My own experience as governor -- and I think Governor Whitman would
probably share the same experience -- we have several thousand
volunteer fire departments. We learn now that we view our
firefighters as a part of a homeland security team. It's
pretty clear that one of our outreach efforts might very well be in
that public safety arena -- volunteer fire departments, law enforcement
support and the like, public health, added on to public safety, and
domestic preparedness in some fashion.
I have had the good fortune, over the years, of working with the
incoming chairman of the National Ad Council. He and I,
David Bell and I, have talked about the need to work with the National
Ad Council to inform and inspire people to respond to this call and to
participate in this national homeland security effort. So we
-- I think over the past several years, if you ask governors and you
ask volunteer organizations, the desire, the willingness of America to
participate had slowly eroded. People weren't volunteering, weren't as
involved, as engaged in their community as they have been engaged
before.
But I think as of September 11th, there is a renewed spirit of
service, a renewed spirit of public service, a renewed willingness to
become engaged in supporting and providing security for your community
and your country. So I look forward to the tasking of that
challenge.
There is an inventory of things we believe we can give America to
choose from to help us in this battle against terrorism, and I'm
confident that by the time we merge both public and private intellect
and resources, we'll come up with an inventory of challenges as well as
opportunities for America to answer their President's call.
Since September 11th, in responding to our war on terrorism, every
single member of the Cabinet, every single member of the administration
has been looking for ways in their individual capacities that they
could enhance their ability to prevent an attack or detect an attack,
or respond, potentially, if an attack occurred. And Governor
Whitman has been at the forefront of those kinds of efforts, during her
leadership of the EPA, and she certainly intensified them and has
intensified them from September 11th on.
So I'd like to turn the podium over to my friend and neighbor,
former colleague, Governor Whitman.
ADMINISTRATOR WHITMAN: Thank you, Governor.
GOVERNOR RIDGE: You're welcome. Thank you,
Governor.
ADMINISTRATOR WHITMAN: I appreciate it. As
many of you know, since September 11th the Environmental Protection
Agency has been very active in promoting the security of America's
drinking water and waste water systems, and of chemical facilities
across the country.
In many ways, that's just a continuation of what our mission
is: To protect America's health and
environment. And so, this has just been an extension of what
we do as normal course of business. But this effort has
included a very real and aggressive outreach to the water companies, to
the sewage treatment companies, to the chemical manufacturers, to give
them the best possible advice and information on what they can do to
secure their various facilities.
We've issued, since September 11th, a number of security and safety
advisories for the operators of these facilities, giving them the
best-possible information that we have so that they can apply it to
their particular sets of circumstances. And in addition, in
cooperation with the FBI, we've advised every single law enforcement
agency in the country on what they need to look for and steps that they
can take to help prevent an attack on any water system or waste water
system.
We've also greatly accelerated work that was already in process in
the pipeline, as they say, but in process to enhance the security at
water utilities, to give them the tools they need to be able to do
vulnerability assessments, and that was due to be available to them
next year; in fact, we have speeded that up, working with Sandia Labs.
And these tools and training are beginning later this month; in
fact, in the next week we will begin to provide the vulnerability
training and the training for the personnel that is
necessary. We have also been working closely with the CDC
and Department of Defense to ensure that we have the very best
available science on how to identify and, if necessary, treat the
contamination of the water supplies.
The good news here, if there is good news, is that it takes more
than a teaspoon or a cupful of a biological or chemical agent to
disrupt a water supply and to jeopardize or threaten the health of a
municipality or city; in fact, it would take a truckload to do
it. And so with the heightened security that we have with
the local police forces and with the companies themselves, we feel that
kind of thing is highly unlikely. We are doing everything we
can to put in place the maximum amount of security measures that will
ensure that people can be comfortable about their water systems.
The same is true with the chemical companies. We have
been working very closely with their organizations and groups to ensure
that we are in constant and instantaneous communications with
them. When necessary, if there's any kind of warning or any
kind of activity that we're seeing of which they need to be aware, or
they feel that we need to be aware, they will let us
know. And that has been very important.
On the water side, we have been working with the American Water
Works Association and the Association of Metropolitan Water
Agencies. And on the chemical side, it's been primarily with
the American Chemical Council, for the safety of all these facilities
nationwide. This close communication we have had really has
helped in our ability to respond quickly and to enable them to respond
quickly.
We have also been working with both of those organizations to
ensure that their major members are running their employee names
against the FBI watch list database, so they can be sure of who they
have in place who have access to the water or access to the chemicals.
And so really what we're doing is, as I said before, an extension
of what has been our role from the very beginning, but it is a very
meaningful extension that should give a level of comfort to the public,
that we are doing everything -- this government, this administration,
is doing everything possible to ensure that we have in place everything
necessary to prevent and, if necessary, respond to any kind of further
attack. And we are actually feeling very comfortable as far
as water supplies are concerned, that it would be very difficult to
carry out the kind of attack that could result in true health
implications to a general population.
Q Governor Ridge, on Monday another former
governor, Montana's Marc Racicot, delivered to homeland security an
assessment on energy security, the security of the energy
infrastructure. Do you share the report's concerns that a
significant part of the infrastructure is at unacceptable risk?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: This administration, including Secretary
of Energy Abraham, has been in discussions since September 11th with
energy companies. And we share their concern that there are
many points of vulnerability. And this is, again, one more
example where we need to work in a collaborative way with our friends
in the private sector to assess different risks and come up with a
long-term strategy to meet the enhanced security needs that this war on
terror will require for us.
We got that 42-page report. Secretary Abraham has been
working with them. And frankly, if I might, he will join me
sometime next week. I mean, one of the reasons that we are
going to ask members of the Cabinet to join with me from time to time
is to alert you to the kinds of steps that have been undertaken since
September 11th. And a lot of initiative, a lot of build-up,
a lot of enhancement, a lot of communication with the private sector as
well. I mean, every day, these departments and agencies are
looking for ways to improve security. So Secretary Abraham
will join me next week and maybe give you even more specific examples
of how they work together.
Q Since the last time you were here to brief
us, are we any closer to finding out who sent the anthrax letters,
whether it's from a domestic or international source?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: I'll refer to the answer I gave you the
last time. It's a wide range, from domestic to
international. We're still no closer to identifying
specifically the origin of the anthrax and/or the perpetrators of that
challenge that's confronted America.
Q Can I follow on that? Because
the FBI has been at that podium and not been bashful about asking the
American people to help with clues and with leads. You're
obviously stumped here about the source of these
mailings. Why not share with the public more specifically
what is known, what the leanings are, what the suspicions are, and
maybe the public can fill in some of those gaps?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: I think the FBI, and to the extent that
any other agency has been involved, they've been very
forthcoming. I mean, we've showed you copies of the letters
and asked people if you've seen similar correspondence with similar
writing. We've told you the nature of the characteristics of
the anthrax we have. Whenever we get a series of tests, we
share that information with you.
The challenge here is obviously enormous, but I think the law
enforcement community, thousands and thousands of men and women, both
at the federal level, the state level and the local level are not only
following leads that have some legitimacy to it, but the world is now
more complicated, because they're also following up on potential
terrorist attacks and threats, which more often than not, turn into
hoaxes. So they have a very aggressive, very intense
campaign, and as soon as we get additional information to share with
you, we will.
Q Can I follow up one point,
though? Can I just follow on the point, you think at this
point, the anthrax --
GOVERNOR RIDGE: I didn't think I said you could, but go
ahead. (Laughter.) You win.
Q Sometimes you've just got to push a little
bit. You know about that. The point is that, at
this point, do you think at this point the anthrax crisis -- the
initial threat has been shut down? Is it over?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: I think it's difficult to make that
assessment. I think we're prayerful, we're
hopeful. We hope that this is the last we ever see and have
to deal with it in any way, other than talking about it. But we can't
-- I can't give you that 100 percent guarantee. The only
guarantee I can give you that's 100 percent is the FBI and law
enforcement is working very hard to track down the source and the
perpetrators.
Q Governor Ridge, you mentioned working with
the National Ad Council. We know that Karl Rove is going to
California to talk to the movie industry on Sunday. What is
the idea here? What is it that you want to
accomplish? And are you looking at ads and public service
announcements and so forth as primarily a domestic operation, or will
you do that internationally as well?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: I think it remains to be
seen. I think the primary focus, initial focus, will be
domestic. And I think just as the Ad Council had
volunteered, and we've had some preliminary discussions, I think the
people in Hollywood again are another group of Americans who want to
figure out a place for them so that they can be helpful in this war on
terror. I don't think Karl's going out there with any
prescriptive plans just to engage them in that conversation, like we're
going to engage the Ad Council and anybody else that wants to help.
Q Governor, I wanted to ask you two
questions. One, can you clarify, where do things stand
regarding that FBI alert issued more than a week ago? Is
that still --
GOVERNOR RIDGE: The time period has
elapsed. Remember, I think was a specific time period that
we talked about. One of the reasons we gave the national
alert -- but we want people to continue to be vigilant. The
fact that the time period has elapsed, we're still at
war. And I still want Americans to be alert and be
vigilant.
Q Governor Ridge?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: It worked before; you might want to try
it. (Laughter.)
Q Here's the question, sir. On
the airport security, the incident in Chicago had a major impact across
the country -- that security breach a few days in Chicago.
GOVERNOR RIDGE: Yes, sir.
Q The same company that handled the Chicago
security has just landed two new contracts, I think at
Baltimore-Washington International Airport. What is being
done --just signing them isn't going to solve the
problem. What is being done to make sure the companies that
hire and supervise these people are doing the right job?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: I think that alert, in addition to other
challenges that we've had with that particular company, has heightened
the attention of the Department of Transportation on how they perform
their duties. Clearly, the larger national answer will occur once the
Congress resolves these issues around airport security, when we know as
a matter of course, as a matter of legislation, there will be
heightened competency, heightened training, and just a much better
staffing -- professional staffing -- at all of our airports.
Q Can you give us some more details on plans
--
GOVERNOR RIDGE: Governor Whitman is here.
Q Well, I actually have -- two
questions. One, could you give us some more details on the
proposed use of additional National Guardsmen, and also --
GOVERNOR RIDGE: Well, the President will be making that
-- giving you the specific -- more specific information later on today,
and subsequent to his public discussion of that, I'll be communicating
with the governors. But I just, as a former governor, I just would
assure them and you that they'll be given some more flexibility with
additional resources.
Q And for Governor Whitman, could she just
give us her assessment of security within the chemical
industry? She mentioned that along with water.
Q And then I've got a follow-up, please, on
that.
ADMINISTRATOR WHITMAN: We've been working, obviously,
very closely with them and they have taken this very
seriously. From day one, I've had several meetings with the
leaders of the chemical industry and the councils, and I think it's
probably the first time in EPA history where we were all in the same
room together, we agreed -- it's probably not going to happen again,
but we did. Everybody is focused on the goal.
They're in heightened awareness. They're doing a good
job. Obviously, there are a number of different facilities of
different size that have chemicals. We are looking and
working very closely with the Department of Transportation on the
transport of chemicals, the storage of chemicals on site, and the
security there. I don't know that you could get any higher
awareness than we have today on the importance of directing resources
to those efforts of securing chemicals on site.
So they are doing as good a job as they can do right now, and
they're very aware of where their vulnerabilities might be.
Q Can I follow up on that,
please? It's a serious question from somebody who has lived
for 20 years in New Jersey. There has always been a problem
with illegal dumping of chemicals, as you well know, that get into the
water system and the beaches and the sand dunes. Is the EPA
-- are you working with any criminal elements, frankly, to speak, as
they have an expertise in dumping these lethal
chemicals? (Laughter.) Are you asking for their
help in how to counteract this? It's a serious question.
ADMINISTRATOR WHITMAN: I wouldn't know any of the
criminal elements. (Laughter.) In New Jersey, we don't have
those things. Don't forget, The Sopranos is all make
believe. That's really not New
Jersey. (Laughter.)
Q Seriously, there's a problem with illegal
dumping.
ADMINISTRATOR WHITMAN: We're working very closely with
the FBI, and the FBI is working very closely with the chemical
companies, and through us. We are maintaining a continuous
communication so that -- I don't know who they work with, and I don't
want to know who they work with -- (laughter) -- but I can assure you
that everything that can be done is being done at this point by the
various agencies.
Q This week you met with the U.S. Conference
of Mayors. I understand that they have a major concern about
communication from the White House to the local level, and words were
that the local government and the local emergency response will be the
militia of sorts. Could you talk to me about that meeting
and tell me what really came of that to soothe their concerns about
emergency preparedness?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: I think we had a terrific meeting with
Mayor Morial of New Orleans, and several of his
colleagues. I had met with a larger group the previous week,
and again, they recognize, as I think all of America does now, that the
first line of defense, the first line of offense, potentially, is your
local police department, your fire department, and many of the
volunteers you have engaged there.
One of the challenges that they feel that they could -- it would be
easier for them to meet is if there was more communication about
threat, more communication about any potential challenge to their
communities. We talked about ways of addressing that.
When Justice reports, has something to share nationally, they send
it out to 18,000 local police chiefs. The Mayors said, even
though they're local police chiefs, they may be involved in the same
building, they wouldn't mind getting a simultaneous
notice. I mean, there are some very practical things I think
we can do to expand the coverage of information to local officials.
They've looked for assistance in more training, more professional
training for their police forces and their fire
departments. We are going to work on that issue through the
Federal Emergency Management Agency.
I thought it was a very positive meeting. Their offer to
work with the administration was as generous and gracious as any we've
received. And I think we're developing a pretty good
partnership there.
Q To follow up, the first response will be
local, not federal, then? Is that what they're saying?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: Well, I think we've seen, unfortunately,
with the events of September 11th and the anthrax crisis, the first
responders -- be it public health or public safety -- are the citizens
of that community. And it's pretty clear that when the President said
we need a national strategy, he meant federal, state and local.
And the Mayors very appropriately, and the county commissioners,
they don't want to be excluded from the discussions, because they know
they are on the first line.
Q Can you talk a little bit about -- should
the public be concerned about, in the search for suspects, that a lot
of civil liberties are being curtailed? We read that the
government now would breach the attorney-client privilege, which is one
of the hallmarks of the legal system in this country? Are
you concerned about that?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: I think the Attorney General has been
exceptionally careful, and FBI Director Mueller, very precise in the
directions they have given to the law enforcement community with regard
to constitutional protections, and I am very comfortable that during
this time of challenge in our war on terror, they will be very careful
of making sure that those constitutional guarantees are protected.
Q Governor, not to step on the President's
message, but what do you say to some advocacy groups who say that just
by putting National Guard troops at the airports, they are just a show
of force. They're not doing anything to actually screen
passengers. So until you actually do something to screen the
passengers, the nation's airlines are no more safer than they were?
GOVERNOR RIDGE: Well, I think the desire to enhance the
security at the airports is legitimate, and we continue to find not
just one answer, but there have to be multiple answers.
Clearly you want to increase the public security, you want to do a
better job of baggage handling. And that's exactly what
we're doing. We have increased the number of federal air
marshals on our airplanes. I think the airlines have taken
the dollars that Congress appropriated and they've strengthened the
cockpit doors. So there are a variety of things on a variety
of fronts that both the public and the private sector continue to move
on, to continue -- to continue to improve and enhance security at our
airports.
Thank you very much.
END 1:27 P.M. EST
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