OMB Approves Chemical Defense Project ICR

The Office of Management and Budget announced yesterday that it had approved the information collection request (ICR) for the DHS Office of Health Affairs (OHA) Chemical Defense Program. This ICR would allow the OHA to collect application information for proposed demonstration project aimed at developing a comprehensive chemical defense framework.

The announcement notes that the approval was made ‘with change’. The only change actually noted was that OMB approved the ICR for eighteen months rather than the requested (and standard) months. No reason was given for the change.

While there is nothing on the OHA web site about this program I know that demonstration projects have already been undertaken. The classic example is the Boston subway chemical dispersion project of a couple of years ago. I have already discussed some of the projects that I would like to see addressed in this program in my post on the 60-day ICR submission.

Copies of the project submission form can be downloaded from the OMB site (since OHA does not make them available on line). State, Local, Tribal and Territorial (SLTT) agencies may submit the completed form to CAPT Joselito Ignacio (joselito.ignacio@hq.dhs.gov).

NOTE: Congress is considering extending this small ($0.8 million) program in the current DHS funding bill.