[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 246 (Monday, December 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78378-78379]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30332]


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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.

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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: [email protected]. 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]
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