Homeland Security Policies
After September 11, the federal government passed the Homeland Security Act of 2002. In addition to creating the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the law contains two provisions that could exempt information from public access. Both the Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) and Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU) provisions undermine corporate and government accountability and threaten community right-to-know by hiding information from the public about infrastructure vulnerabilities or any other "sensitive" information.Click on the specific policy for information and resources.
Chemical Security
Chemical facilities can endanger their workers and communities if not properly safeguarded. While some believe hiding important information is the key to solving security problems, the real solution is to identify these hazards and adequately address the problems.
Critical Infrastructure Information (CII)
The Critical Infrastructure Information (CII) policy provides secrecy, civil immunity, preemption of state and local disclosure laws, and protection from whistleblowers to corporations that voluntarily submit information on infrastructure vulnerabilities.
Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII)
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued a Critical Energy Infrastructure Information (CEII) rule in March 2003, establishing new procedures outside of FOIA for requesting information.
Sensitive But Unclassified (SBU)
Title VIII, Subtitle I in the Homeland Security Act outlined procedures for sharing "homeland security" information among federal, state and local authorities. These provisions have not been finalized.
USA PATRIOT Act
In response to the 9-11 terrorist attacks, Congress passed the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act or Patriot Act), which significantly increased the surveillance, and investigative powers of law enforcement agencies.
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