
[Federal Register: December 22, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 246)]
[Notices]
[Page 78378-78379]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22de08-101]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Federal Emergency Management Agency

[Docket ID FEMA-2008-0016]


National Incident Management System Intelligence/Investigations
Function Guidance Document

AGENCY: Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability; request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is accepting
comments on the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Intelligence/Investigations Function Guidance Document (NIMS I&I). This
document provides guidance on utilizing and integrating the
Intelligence/Investigations Function while adhering to the concepts and
principles of the NIMS. NIMS I&I presents information intended for the
ICS practitioner that will assist in the decision-making process
regarding the placement of the Function within the command structure,
and provides tools that may be used while implementing the Function.
The Function has aspects that cross disciplines, including traditional
law enforcement, epidemiological investigations, regulatory
investigations, and medical examiner/coroner investigations, as well as
those conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board or other
investigatory agencies. This Function can be utilized for planned
events, as well as incidents.

DATES: Comments must be received by January 21, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The NIMS I&I is available online at http://
www.regulations.gov. You may also view a hard copy of the NIMS I&I at
the Office of Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room
835, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472. You may submit comments
on the NIMS I&I, identified by Docket ID FEMA-2008-0016, using one of
the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments, to the proper Docket ID.
    E-mail: FEMA-POLICY@dhs.gov. Include Docket ID in the subject line
of the message.
    Fax: 866-466-5370.
    Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Regulation & Policy Team, Office of
Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Room 835, 500 C
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472.
    Instructions: All Submissions received must include the agency name
and Docket ID. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or
material, all submissions will be posted, without change, to the
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will
include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting
this information makes it public. You may wish to read the Privacy Act
notice that is available on the Privacy and Use Notice link on the
Administration Navigation Bar of http://www.regulations.gov.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://
www.regulations.gov. Submitted comments may also be inspected at FEMA,
Office of Chief Counsel, Room 835, 500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC
20472.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Schweitzer, Executive Director,
National Preparedness Directorate, Federal Emergency Management Agency,
500 C Street, SW., Washington, DC 20472, 202-646-3234.

[[Page 78379]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On February 28, 2003, the President issued
Homeland Security Presidential Directive-5 (HSPD-5), Management of
Domestic Incidents, which directed the Secretary of Homeland Security
to develop and administer a National Incident Management System (NIMS).
This system provides a consistent nationwide template to enable
Federal, State, tribal, and local governments, the private sector, and
nongovernmental organizations to work together to prevent, protect
against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of
incidents, regardless of cause, size, location, or complexity. This
consistency provides the foundation for utilization of NIMS for all
incidents, ranging from daily occurrences to incidents requiring a
coordinated Federal response. NIMS represents a core set of doctrines,
concepts, principles, terminology, and organizational processes that
enables effective, efficient, and collaborative incident management.
One of the elements of NIMS is the Intelligence/Investigations Function
within the Incident Command System (ICS).
    This document provides guidance on utilizing and integrating the
Intelligence/Investigations Function while adhering to the concepts and
principles of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). The
Intelligence/Investigations Function within the Incident Command System
(ICS) provides a flexible and scalable framework that will allow for
the integration of intelligence and investigations activities and
information. This guidance and the accompanying Intelligence/
Investigations Field Operations Guide (IIFOG) are applicable in all
situations involving intelligence/investigations information, ranging
from everyday operations that utilize conventional unclassified
information, to terrorist incidents where the information is classified
at the highest levels and requires the incorporation of national
intelligence capabilities provided by U.S. Intelligence Community
assets. The document presents information intended for the ICS
practitioner (including the Incident Commander/Unified Command) that
will assist in the decision-making process regarding the placement of
the Function within the command structure, and provides tools that may
be used while implementing the Function.
    The activities and information that are at the core of this
Function are often viewed as primary responsibilities of
``traditional'' law enforcement. In many cases, intelligence/
investigations duties are fulfilled by law enforcement department/
agencies, but this Function has aspects that cross disciplines.
``Nontraditional,'' non-law enforcement forms of investigation might
include epidemiological investigations, regulatory investigations, and
medical examiner/coroner (ME/C) investigations, as well as those
conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board or other
investigatory agencies. Moreover, this Function can be utilized for
planned events, as well as incidents.
    FEMA solicits comments on the draft NIMS I&I, which is available in
Docket ID FEMA-2008-0016 at http://www.regulations.gov.

    Authority: Homeland Security Act of 2002, as amended, 6 U.S.C.
101 et seq.; Homeland Security Presidential Directive--5, Management
of Domestic Incidents; and Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11
Commission Act of 2007, Public Law 110-53, Section 408 and 409.

    Dated: December 12, 2008.
R. David Paulison,
Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
 [FR Doc. E8-30332 Filed 12-19-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 9110-21-P
