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Bill Owens GOVERNOR

C. Suzanne Mencer XECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Coorado State

Patrol

Colorado Bureau of Investigation

Division of Criminal Justice

Division of Fire Safety

COLORADO
DEPARTMENT

OF PUBLIC SAFETY

Office of the Executive Deector

700 Kipling St

Suite 1000
Denver, CO 80215-5885

(303) 239-4398

FAX (303) 231-9708

When a truck bomb detonated on February 26, 1993, at 12:18 p.m. in sub-basement B-2
of the World Trade Center, we in the FBI knew that we had to work harder. We had to
work harder to develop sources, harder to develop intelligence, harder to gather
information. When another truck bomb detonated on April 19, 1995, in front of the
Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, we once again vowed to never let
it happen again. After both of those, although the resolution was firm in all our minds,
the structure of the federal government remained the same.

While we all knew that the ability to thwart another attack, whether foreign or domestic depended on excellent sources, methods and the ability to collect and share intelligence, the mechanism to do that was antiquated.

As an FBI Special Agent for 20 years, and a supervisor of Foreign Counter Intelligence and Counter Terrorism for 13 of those years, I know that the FBI did not consider state and local law enforcement to be equal partners in this effort. Not until the FBI formed the Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) did local enforcement have an equal seat at the table. Unfortunately, those local law enforcement agencies that are members of the JTTF are, by necessity, few. I'm pleased that the Colorado State Patrol has a Trooper on the Denver Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Now, as the Executive Director of the Department of Public Safety for the State of Colorado, I know that the rest of law enforcement in the state needs to have a mechanism for collecting, disseminating and receiving intelligence from and with the FBI and other federal agencies. The degree to which we shared information before September 11th, was not sufficient. President Bush has requested the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. A new department to combine existing agencies to focus their efforts and their expertise to detect, deter and prevent terrorist acts and respond when necessary. This new department will provide a new focus to collect, collate and disseminate intelligence. It will combine the existing federal resources that have responsibility for protecting our borders, for responding to a disaster, for collecting intelligence for a common goal - keeping us safe from those who would harm us. I applaud the President and Governor Ridge and his staff for their vision and efforts.

Our Governor, Bill Owens, by executive order on November 7th, created the Office of Preparedness, Security and Fire Safety. The Colorado legislature made it law. This new colorado office has two missions: to plan, prepare and respond as a state to a terrorist act; and to collect and share intelligence among state and local law enforcement agencies and first responders and with the FBI. We have divided the state into seven districts, each coordinated by a State Patrol Major, an OEM regional planner and Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent in Charge. They will coordinate in each district with chiefs, sheriffs, fire chiefs, health care professionals and emergency first responders. They will review response plans, assess resources and training needs and collect and disseminate

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intelligence to prevent and deter future attacks. We need their cooperative effort. Each law enforcement agency, first responder and health care professional needs to work together. We at the state and local level are hoping for even greater cooperation and intelligence sharing with the FBI.

All law enforcement learned on September 11, that our prior efforts were not enough. We've also learned that our first responders need to have access to more intelligence. They need to be equal partners. We are making great progress, but creating plans, assessing needs, providing training come with a cost. We, as a state, need additional resources to make our state more secure. As with other states, our revenues are down. We can't look to our own coffers to answer our needs. We are anxiously anticipating the federal money from the supplemental to enhance our capabilities. I participate in regular conference calls with Governor Ridge and his staff. They have been very helpful and responsive. We are all working together to ensure that we are safe. We cannot do it alone

C. Suzanne Mencer

Executive Director

Colorado Department of Public Safety

Mr. HORN. Thank you. That's very helpful. And in the question period I'm sure we'll have plenty to check. And we are now having Raul Carballido, who is the acting special agent-in-charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Is that in the Denver office?

Mr. CARBALLIDO. Yes, sir.

Mr. HORN. Well, we are delighted you and your other people, starting with Y2K years ago and our jurisdiction over Federal executive computers. And they have been greatly helpful with their hacking and all the rest of it, and on the lootists and the viral this or that and sickness here and there in computers; and they've really been a great help for private industry as well as for government. And so thank you for being here.

STATEMENT OF RAUL E. CARBALLIDO, ACTING SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION Mr. CARBALLIDO. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, Chairman, board members of the subcommittee, and distinguished members of the Colorado delegation. I value the opportunity to appear before you and discuss terrorism preparedness, including threats posed by attacks involving weapons of mass destruction, as well as measures being taken by the FBI and law enforcement partners to address these threats. The mission of the FBI's counterterrorism program is to detect, deter, prevent, and swiftly respond to terrorist actions that threaten U.S. interests at home or abroad, and to coordinate those efforts with local, State, Federal, and foreign entities as appropriate. The Denver field office of the FBI is responsible for the States of Colorado and Wyoming. The field office's headquarters is located in Denver with satellite offices throughout the States of Colorado and Wyoming.

Enhanced cooperation among law enforcement at all levels is a significant component of the prevention and investigation of terrorism. This cooperation is most evident in the development of the Joint Terrorism Task Forces, short JTTF, that now exists in all 56 FBI field offices. These task forces are successful for the integration of resources provided by local, State, and Federal agencies.

The Denver field office, JTTF, was formed in 1996. It is composed of numerous Federal, State, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. The Denver JTTF also coordinates with the recently created Colorado Office of Preparedness, Security and Fire Safety to share information on terrorism-related matters. This cooperation is demonstrated through the anticipated sharing of an analyst who will conduct terrorism-related research and analysis for the FBI and the Colorado Office of Preparedness, Security and Fire Safety.

Denver, as you know, Mr. Chairman, is also home to a number of significant military assets located in Colorado and Wyoming. The newly established Northern Command, NORTHCOM, is now located at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs. On October 1, NORTHCOM, Homeland Security Combatant Command, will become operational. In an effort to facilitate cooperation, coordination, and the sharing of information between the FBI and NORTHCOM, in issues relative to terrorism activities and other activities of joint interest, the FBI will assign a full-time, seniorlevel special agent to the command.

The Denver field office of the FBI has taken a proactive approach in its preparation for terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass destruction. In January 1999, Denver field office completed its own Weapons of Mass Destruction Incident Contingency Plan. This plan was designed to provide specific guidance for response within the Denver field office. The plan is updated annually and has been utilized numerous times to resolve weapons of mass destruction threats or incidents within Colorado and Wyoming.

In addition to the domestic preparedness training that we have received over the years, we have also provided weapons of mass destruction awareness and response training to numerous law enforcement, fire, emergency medical, emergency management, military and infrastructure agencies and organizations.

The Denver field office has also participated in numerous local, regional, and national weapons of mass destruction exercise scenarios. We consider our involvement in both training and exercises to be essential to maintaining and enhancing our relationships with our local, State, and Federal partners.

In 1996 the FBI established a Hazardous Materials Response Unit, which is based in Quantico, Virginia. Staffed with subject matter experts, the unit has provided national and international assistance in the response to weapons of mass destruction terrorism. In May 2000, the unit certified the Denver field office's hazardous materials response team. This is one of 17 teams throughout the country and a regional asset for the FBI. This team, which is comprised of FBI agents specially trained to operate in a contaminated environment, has the capability to respond to a crime scene where weapons of mass destruction may be present.

We have also participated in the development of local weapons of mass destruction response plans. An important example of this is the recent development of a Metropolitan Medical Response Plan for the Denver Metropolitan area and the ongoing development of a similar plan for Colorado Springs.

In December 1998, FBI Denver took a leadership role in the establishment of what is known as the Colorado Counterterrorism Advisory Council. This group, which has met monthly since its inception, includes representatives from a variety of State and Federal agencies who have primary responsibility for response to weapons of mass destruction issues within the State of Colorado. The group has also established interagency notification and response protocols which have greatly enhanced our ability to efficiently share information and provide response resources.

Since the deliberate distribution of anthrax in the U.S. mail during December and October 2001, FBI Denver has responded to more than 800 telephonic requests for assistance concerning potential weapons of mass destruction terrorism, primarily regarding anthrax. In addition, FBI Denver provided field responses to potential weapons of mass destruction incidents on more than 100 occasions and opened more than 30 criminal investigations. The ability to handle this many incidents is a direct result of the partnerships developed among the Federal, State, and local response community, which included the establishment of efficient operational protocols and agreements for laboratory testing of chemical, biological, and radiological agents.

In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, terrorism represents a continuing threat to the United States, and as the lead Federal agency for response to a weapons of mass destruction threat or incident, the FBI must remain prepared to tackle this formidable threat-formidable challenge, I should say. In order to effectively and efficiently respond to the threat, the Denver field office of the FBI continues to enhance its counterterrorism program.

Chairman Horn, this concludes my prepared remarks. I would like to express my appreciation to this subcommittee's examination of the issue of counterterrorism preparedness, and I look forward to responding to any questions. Thank you, sir.

[The prepared statement of Mr. Carballido follows:]

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