[george76]

the grave threat of an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) in America is not being talked about

[Jim Scott]

Glenn Beck has spotlighted this issue (EMP attack) many times. He is usually dismissed as a fear-monger or just overwrought. I think he may be on to something when he advises folks to prepare for this on a personal level. However, I would like to see our government address this potentially devastating problem, something government actually should be doing. With Obama as president, I have no illusions that will happen.

[Rio]

H.R. 5026 would authorize the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to address threats to the U.S. electric grid with emergency orders and direct FERC to issue new regulations to protect against future vulnerabilities to the power grid.

Emergency Procedures:  H.R. 5026 would permit FERC to issue emergency measures to protect critical electrical infrastructure from a threat, if the president notifies FERC of any imminent grid security threat.  The emergency measures issued by FERC would apply to the electric reliability organization, a regional electric entity, or any owner, user or operator of the bulk-power system within the U.S.  The bill would permit FERC to create a mechanism to allow owners, operators or users of the bulk-power system to recover any "substantial costs" that are incurred as a result of complying with the emergency procedures in the event of a grid security threat.

The emergency measures would be effective for one year, unless the president or FERC issues a determination that measures are no longer needed to address any grid security threat.

Grid Reliability Standards:  The bill would allow FERC to issue regulations to protect against any grid security vulnerability that the agency determines has not been adequately addressed.  Such vulnerabilities would include cyber attacks or an electromagnetic pulse that would pose a substantial risk of disruption to the bulk-power system.  The measure also requires FERC to issue regulations that address a vulnerability in which an attacker could hack into the control system infrastructure connected to the electric grid and cause severe physical damage to the equipment.

Critical Defense Facilities:  The bill would direct the president to designate up to 100 facilities in the U.S. that are critical to defense and vulnerable to interruption of the supply of electricity.  If FERC determines that such facilities have not addressed vulnerabilities with respect to power interruptions, the agency would have the authority to issue regulations requiring that such vulnerabilities be addressed.

Protected Information:  H.R. 5026 would permit FERC to designate certain "protected information" that would be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act or under state or local disclosure laws.

Judicial Review:  H.R. 5026 specifies that any party seeking judicial review of provisions included in the bill would have to file legal actions in the federal appeals court for the District of Columbia Circuit.

Technical Assistance:  The bill would direct the Department of Energy to provide technical assistance to owners, operators and users of electrical systems to help protect the grid against attacks using electronic communication or electromagnetic pulse.

 

The U.S. electric power grid consists of interconnected transmission lines, local distribution systems, generation facilities and related communications systems. The bulk-power system in the U.S. and Canada includes more than 200,000 miles of transmission lines and serves over 300 million people. According to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, concerns about the vulnerability of the electric grid have increased in recent years, particularly with respect to cyber-attacks.

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 required the development of mandatory reliability standards for the bulk-power system, including standards addressing the potential for cyber-attacks. Under current law, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) designates an electric reliability organization, which then develops reliability standards that are subject to FERC approval. FERC has designated the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) as the electric reliability organization. FERC is responsible for enforcing the NERC standards.

 

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that implementing the version of H.R. 5026 being considered on the floor would have a "negligible effect on net direct spending over the 2010-2020 period."

[org.whodat]

Here you go, http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

[palmer]

low-cost, short range, ship-launched missile armed with a nuclear warhead.

I think Costco has both of those on sale this week.

[DBrow]

ping to another of the periodic EMP articles.

[Buckeye McFrog]

is this possibly being used as a ruse to cram thru “smart grid” technology that will allow them to control your electric use from a central location?

[GingisK]

I keep "survival" books in print. Knowledge about a lot of things trumps a blank stare following "A Day After" event.

The "Foxfire" series is priceless. I have a lot of "back to basics" books.

[wintertime]

EMP is not our greatest national threat. Yes, it would be very damaging, but we would overcome it.

Our educational system, thoroughly dominated by Marxists from kindergarten through graduate school is our nation's **most** serious threat.

[mountainlion]

Not to self: Find that old distributor and alternator and fill propane tanks.

[Chode]

guess it's time to breakout the old CB radios

[ballplayer]

Well Our Nuke subs will then have to respond in Kind,then the whole world will not be able to do anything against anyone else except slingshots. We wont have to listen to the Morons in the Middle east,,Africa, europe. Just think No More Obama on TV! Geez this is starting to sound pretty good. Hell Obama will be out of Business no teleprompter. I dont think we have anything to worry about Now,Mooochelle will have to stay at Home

[BobL]

The only problem is that the Democrats are simply UNABLE to perceive ANY threat to this country or its people. That simple.

That rule applies to individuals (i.e., why they hate jailing criminals), to the Soviet Union, to Islam, to China now, to terrorism, and to EMPs.

We can prove them wrong EVERY TIME, but they simply are unable to deal with threats. It’s something that is wedged in their mind and it’s why they need to be DEFEATED, and then TOTALLY IGNORED. That really is our only hope.

[RaceBannon]

Frank Gaffney, @SecureFreedom , @frankgaffney , about threats to the electric grid.
https://soundcloud.com/jacki-daily/jacki-talks-with-frank-gaffney