DHS Announces $91.3 Million in Buffer Zone Protection Program Grants

March 16, 2005
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced $91.3 million in grant funding to protect and secure areas surrounding critical infrastructure and key resource sites such as chemical facilities, dams and nuclear power plants across the country.

The Buffer Zone Protection Program (BZPP) provides targeted funding through states to local jurisdictions to purchase equipment that will extend the zone of protection beyond the gates of these critical facilities.

"This grant program reflects our commitment to continue to protect and defend the security of the United States against the threat posed by terrorism," said Matt A. Mayer, acting executive director of the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness, the office responsible for the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP). "Through this program, we will continue to work with the nation's prevention, preparedness and response community and the private sector in our national effort to combat terrorism and secure our homeland."

Under the new grant program, states will be expected to submit Buffer Zone Plans (BZPs) and equipment purchasing plans to the department by the end of April, allowing the ODP to perform a financial and programmatic review while the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection (IAIP) directorate performs a technical review and final approval of the plan. Following approval of the plans, local jurisdictions may use their approved funding to purchase any equipment found on ODP's Approved Equipment List and identified in their purchasing plan.

"The department uses an integrated approach that provides federal, state and local officials and first responders with the necessary tools and resources to protect their community assets," said Gen. Patrick Hughes, acting under secretary for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection. "IAIP provides expert advice and guidance to their state and local partners as they prioritize specific vulnerability reduction efforts."

FY05 Buffer Zone Protection Program Allocations

  • Alabama -- $1,400,000
  • Alaska -- $550,000
  • Arizona -- $1,600,000
  • Arkansas -- $700,000
  • California -- $12,950,000
  • Colorado -- $1,450,000
  • Connecticut -- $850,000
  • Delaware -- $400,000
  • District of Columbia -- $1,200,000
  • Florida -- $4,850,000
  • Georgia -- $2,322,633
  • Hawaii -- $250,000
  • Idaho -- $300,000
  • Illinois -- $4,348,120
  • Indiana -- $1,450,000
  • Iowa -- $520,612
  • Kansas -- $1,000,000
  • Kentucky -- $1,830,109
  • Louisiana -- $2,510,779
  • Maine -- $204,111
  • Maryland -- $3,200,000
  • Massachusetts -- $1,050,000
  • Michigan -- $1,744,636
  • Minnesota -- $1,399,085
  • Mississippi -- $600,000
  • Missouri -- $2,447,211
  • Montana -- $300,000
  • Nebraska -- $600,000
  • Nevada -- $950,000
  • New Hampshire -- $500,000
  • New Jersey -- $2,731,219
  • New Mexico -- $400,000
  • New York -- $5,780,755
  • North Carolina -- $2,150,000
  • North Dakota -- $300,000
  • Northern Marianas -- $50,000
  • Puerto Rico -- $250,000
  • Ohio -- $3,251,609
  • Oklahoma -- $1,100,000
  • Oregon -- $651,981
  • Pennsylvania -- $2,900,000
  • Rhode Island -- $450,000
  • South Carolina -- $1,100,000
  • South Dakota -- $150,000
  • Tennessee -- $2,700,000
  • Texas -- $6,550,000
  • Utah -- $1,031,659
  • Vermont -- $350,000
  • Virgin Islands -- $200,000
  • Virginia -- $2,088,648
  • Washington -- $2,350,000
  • West Virginia -- $200,000
  • Wisconsin -- $1,052,606
  • Wyoming -- $50,000
About the Author

Sandy Smith

Sandy Smith is the former content director of EHS Today, and is currently the EHSQ content & community lead at Intelex Technologies Inc. She has written about occupational safety and health and environmental issues since 1990.

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