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INEEL receives funds to study security-$3 million aims to help prevent terrorist attacks

A $3 million boost in operational funds from the federal government will add to homeland security research at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory.

Julie Howard
The Idaho Statesman

The additional funding will be used for a variety of projects, ranging from developing a 911 system that works well on cell phones to finding vulnerabilities in key energy-distribution operations.

All projects focus on critical infrastructure systems in the United States, an INEEL spokeswoman said.

“The securing of this latest round of funding is significant because it´s an acknowledgement of the value of INEEL´s work in national security,” said Bill Shipp, INEEL president and laboratory director.

The funding was part of the 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill recently signed into law.

The $3 million portion allocated to INEEL is for programs designed to assess and safeguard important infrastructure systems in energy, communication and transportation.

INEEL´s laboratory began homeland security work after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, looking at infrastructure vulnerabilities.

“We´ve been working hard to get things going and produce results,” said Laurin Dodd, associate laboratory director of national security.

“We have established several testbeds already, and this funding enables us to integrate several ongoing activities.”

The INEEL is operated for the Department of Energy by Bechtel BWXT Idaho LLC.

To offer story ideas or comments, contact Julie Howard
[email protected] or 373-6618

http://www.idahostatesman.com/Business/story.asp?ID=34745

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