Agroterrorism: Threats and Preparedness

Agroterrorism: Threats and Preparedness
Updated March 12, 2007
Jim Monke
Analyst in Agricultural Policy
Resources, Science, and Industry Division



Agroterrorism: Threats and Preparedness
Summary
The potential for terrorist attacks against agricultural targets (agroterrorism) is
increasingly recognized as a national security threat, especially after the events of
September 11, 2001. Agroterrorism is a subset of bioterrorism, and is defined as the
deliberate introduction of an animal or plant disease with the goal of generating fear,
causing economic losses, and/or undermining social stability.
The goal of agroterrorism is not to kill cows or plants. These are the means to
the end of causing economic damage, social unrest, and loss of confidence in
government. Human health could be at risk if contaminated food reaches the table
or if an animal pathogen is transmissible to humans (zoonotic). While agriculture
may not be a terrorist’s first choice because it lacks the “shock factor” of more
traditional terrorist targets, many analysts consider it a viable secondary target.
Agriculture has several characteristics that pose unique vulnerabilities. Farms
are geographically disbursed in unsecured environments. Livestock are frequently
concentrated in confined locations, and transported or commingled with other herds.
Many agricultural diseases can be obtained, handled, and distributed easily.
International trade in food products often is tied to disease-free status, which could
be jeopardized by an attack. Many veterinarians lack experience with foreign animal
diseases that are eradicated domestically but remain endemic in foreign countries.
In the past five years, “food defense” has received increasing attention in the
counterterrorism and bioterrorism communities. Laboratory and response capacity
are being upgraded to address the reality of agroterrorism, and national response
plans now incorporate agroterrorism.
Congress has held hearings on agroterrorism and enacted laws and
appropriations with agroterrorism-related provisions. The executive branch has
responded by implementing the new laws, issuing several presidential directives, and
creating liaison and coordination offices. The Government Accountability Office
(GAO) has studied several issues related to agroterrorism.
Appropriations and user fees for agriculture-related homeland security activities
in USDA and DHS have more than tripled from a $225 million “pre-September 11”
baseline in FY2002 to $818 million in FY2007. Agriculture now receives about

2.1% of the total non-defense budget authority for homeland security.


Increasing the level of agroterrorism preparedness remains a concern, as do
interagency coordination and adequate border inspections. The 110th Congress may
consider bills or oversight hearings to address funding and the level of preparedness
or coordination to respond to an agroterrorist attack.
This report will be updated as events warrant.



Contents
Agriculture as a Target of Terrorism...................................1
Overview of Agroterrorism......................................1
Federal Recognition of Agroterrorism..............................3
Importance of Agriculture in the United States.......................5
Potential Economic Consequences................................8
A Brief History of Agricultural Bioweapons........................11
Congressional Responses...........................................12
Hearings on Agroterrorism.....................................12
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act (P.L. 107-188)......................13
Expanded FDA Authority over Food..........................14
Tighter Security for Biological Agents and Toxins...............15
Homeland Security Act (P.L. 107-296)............................16
Transferring Agricultural Border Inspections...................16
Plum Island Animal Disease Center..........................18
Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (P.L. 109-374)....................19
GAO Studies................................................19
Executive Branch Responses........................................21
HSPD-7 (Protecting Critical Infrastructure)........................21
HSPD-9 (Defending Agriculture and Food)........................22
National Response Plan (NRP)..................................23
Public-Private Partnerships.....................................24
National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP)..................24
Strategic Partnership Program Agroterrorism (SPAA)............25
Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC)................26
Laboratories and Research Centers...............................26
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF)................26
USDA Laboratories.......................................28
Laboratory Networks......................................29
DHS Centers of Excellence.................................30
Federal Funding to Respond to Agroterrorism..........................31
By Year and Source...........................................32
By Agency..................................................34
By Function for Homeland Security..............................36
Chronology of Appropriations...................................38
FY2008 Budget Request.......................................41
FY2008 USDA “Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative”........41
FY2008 DHS Budget Initiative..............................41
Possible Pathogens in an Agroterrorist Attack..........................43
Animal Pathogens............................................43
OIE List................................................44
Select Agents List........................................44
Plant Pathogens..............................................46
Countering the Threat.............................................47



Detection and Response........................................49
Federal Authorities........................................52
National Veterinary Stockpiles (NVS)........................53
Recovery and Management.....................................53
National Plant Disease Recovery System (NPDRS)..............54
Issues for Congress...............................................54
Appropriations ...............................................54
Legislation ..................................................55
Context from the 109th Congress.............................55
USDA Programs to Bolster Preparedness......................56
Responsibilities of DHS....................................57
Inter-agency Coordination..................................57
Judicial Issues...........................................59
List of Figures
Figure 1. Geographic Distribution of Agricultural Production...............5
Figure 2. Concentration of Cattle Production............................7
Figure 3. Concentration of Hog Production.............................7
Figure 4. Concentration of Chicken Production..........................7
Figure 5. Concentration of Corn Production.............................7
Figure 6. Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture, by Source...........34
Figure 7. Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture, by Agency...........36
Figure 8. Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture, by Function..........37
List of Tables
Table 1. Percent of Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture............33
Table 2. Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture, by Agency...........35
Table 3. Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture, by Function..........38
Table 4. USDA Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative..................42
Table 5. Livestock Diseases in the Select Agent List.....................45
Table 6. Plant Diseases in the Select Agent List.........................47th
Table 7. Bills in the 109 Congress Addressing Agroterrorism.............56



Agroterrorism: Threats and Preparedness
Agriculture as a Target of Terrorism
Overview of Agroterrorism
The potential for terrorist attacks against agricultural targets (agroterrorism) is
increasingly recognized as a national security threat, especially after the events of
September 11, 2001. In this context, agroterrorism is defined as the deliberate
introduction of an animal or plant disease with the goal of generating fear over the
safety of food, causing economic losses, and/or undermining social stability. The1
response to the threat of agroterrorism has come to be called “food defense.”
An agroterrorist event would usually involve bioterrorism, since likely vectors
include pathogens such as a viruses, bacteria, or fungi. People more generally
associate bioterrorism with outbreaks of human illness (e.g., anthrax or smallpox),
rather than diseases affecting animals or plants.
The goal of agroterrorism is not killing cows or plants. These are the means to
the end of causing economic crises in the agricultural and food industries, social
unrest, and loss of confidence in government. Human health could be at risk through
contaminated food or if an animal pathogen is transmissible to humans (zoonotic).
While agriculture may not be a terrorist’s first choice because it lacks the “shock
factor” of more traditional terrorist targets, an increasing number of terrorism2
analysts consider it a viable secondary target. Agroterrorism could be a low-cost but
highly effective means toward an al-Qaeda goal of destroying the United States’
economy. Evidence that agriculture and food are potential al Qaeda targets came in

2002 when terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan were found containing agricultural3


documents and manuals describing ways to make animal and plant poisons.
Agriculture has several characteristics that pose unique problems:


1 The terms “food defense,” “food safety,” and “food security” refer to different issues.
Food defense refers to protecting the food supply from intentional contamination, that is
agroterrorism. Food safety refers to avoiding accidental contamination by promoting safe
food handling practices at processors or at home. Food security refers to having access to
enough food to maintain proper nutrition and an active lifestyle (avoiding starvation).
2 Peter Chalk, “The U.S. Agricultural System: A Target for al-Qaeda?” Terrorism Monitor,
March 11, 2005 [http://jamestown.org/terrorism/news/article.php?articleid=2369398].
3 Susan Collins, “Opening Statement” in Agroterrorism: The Threat to America’s
Breadbasket, Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, S.Hrg. 108-491, Nov. 19, 2003,
[ h t t p : / / frwebga te.access.gpo.gov/cgi -bin/getdoc.cgi ?dbname =108_sena t e _ h e a r i n gs &d o c i
d=f:91045.wais.pdf].

!Farms are geographically disbursed in unsecured environments (e.g.,
open fields and pastures throughout the countryside). While some
livestock are housed in facilities that can be secured, agriculture
generally requires large expanses of land that are difficult to secure.
!Livestock frequently are concentrated in confined locations (e.g.,
feedlots with thousands of cattle in open-air pens, farms with tens of
thousands of pigs, or barns with hundreds of thousands of poultry)
allowing diseases to infect more animals quickly. Concentration in
slaughter, processing also makes large scale contamination possible.
!The number of lethal and contagious biological agents is greater for
plants and animals than for humans. Most of these diseases are
environmentally resilient, endemic in foreign countries, and not
harmful to humans — making it easier for terrorists to acquire,
handle, and deploy the pathogens.
!Live animals, grain, and processed food products are routinely
transported and commingled in the production and processing
system. These factors circumvent natural barriers that could slow
pathogenic dissemination.
!International trade in livestock, grains, and food products is often
tied to disease-free status. The presence (or rumor4) of certain pests
or diseases in a country can quickly stop exports of a commodity,
cause domestic consumption to drop, disrupt commodities markets,
and can take months or years to recover.
!The past success of keeping many diseases out of the U.S. means
that many veterinarians and scientists lack direct experience with
foreign diseases. This may delay recognition of symptoms in case
of an outbreak, and the ability to respond to an outbreak.
Thus, the general susceptibility of the agriculture and food industry to
bioterrorism is difficult to address in a systematic way due to the geographically
dispersed, yet industrially concentrated nature of the industry, and the inherent
biology of growing plants and raising animals.
In an attack, the agricultural sector would suffer economically from plant and
animal health losses, and the supply of food and fiber may be reduced. The demand
for foods targeted in an attack may decline (e.g., dairy, beef, pork, poultry, grains,
fruit, or vegetables), while demand for substitute foods may rise.
Economic losses would accrue to individuals, businesses, and governments
through costs to contain and eradicate the disease, and to dispose of contaminated


4 A May 2005 incident in New Zealand over the supposed release of Foot and Mouth
Disease (FMD) was declared a hoax after two weeks of extensive testing and quarantine of
Waiheke island [http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/press/operation-waiheke/index.htm]. A
letter demanded money and changes to tax policies. The response efforts may have cost the
New Zealand government about $716,000 per day (USD).

products. More losses would accumulate as the supply chain is disrupted from farm-
to-fork. Domestic markets for food may drop, and trade restrictions could be
imposed on U.S. exports. The economic impact would range from farmers to input
suppliers, food processors, transportation, retailers, and food service providers.
Significant threats to the currently-held notion of food security could affect our
social order. Fear of food shortages moved further from American psyche as the
United States from an agrarian society to the industrial and information age.
Nevertheless, food remains an important element of everyone’s daily routine and is
necessary for survival.
Scope of This Report. This report addresses the use of biological weapons
against agriculture, rather than terrorists using agricultural inputs or equipment in
attacks against non-agricultural targets. For example, the Department of
Transportation issued regulations for developing security plans to protect dangerous
agricultural materials such as fuels, chemicals, and fertilizers against theft.5th
Legislation proposed in 2005-2006 (H.R. 3197, H.R. 1389, and S. 1141, 109
Congress) would have restricted the handling of ammonium nitrate, an agricultural
fertilizer that can be converted into an explosive. Another example is the concern
over misuse of small aircraft, particularly crop-dusters, to spread biological6
weapons.
This report focuses primarily on biological weapons (rather than chemical
weapons) because biological weapons generally are considered the more potent
agroterrorism threat. This report also focuses more on agricultural production than
food processing and distribution, although the later is discussed.
For more on chemical and biological weapons, see CRS Report RL32391,
Small-Scale Terrorist Attacks Using Chemical and Biological Agents: An Assessment
Framework and Preliminary Comparisons, by Dana Shea and Frank Gottron; and
CRS Report RL31669, Terrorism: Background on Chemical, Biological, and Toxin
Weapons and Options for Lessening Their Impact, by Dana Shea.
Federal Recognition of Agroterrorism
Even before September 11, 2001, and the focus on terrorist threats that ensued,
references to agroterrorism and/or agricultural bioweapons can be found in the
government, academia, and the press. For example, the Gilmore Commission (on
terrorism), in its first report to Congress in 1999, noted that
“... a biological attack against an agricultural target offers terrorists a virtually
risk-free form of assault, which has a high probability of success and which also
has the prospect of obtaining political objectives, such as undermining


5 Agricultural inputs as defined in 49 CFR 171.8 are included in the security plans required
in 49 CFR 172.800.
6 Security issues and guidelines for agricultural aviation are discussed at
[ ht t p: / / www.agavi a t i on.or g/ secur i t ypage .ht m] .

confidence in the ability of government or giving the terrorists an improved7
bargaining position.”
Senator Roberts from Kansas also raised the awareness of agroterrorism with
a hearing of the Senate Committee on Armed Services in 1999.8
However, as the 20th century ended, agriculture and food production received
less attention, or sometimes was overlooked, in federal counterterrorism and
homeland security activities. A Presidential directive in 1998 on protecting critical
infrastructure did not include agriculture and food. Agriculture was added to this list
only in December 2003. Thus, after what many observers claim to be a slow start
after September 11, 2001, agriculture now is garnering more attention in the
expanding field of terrorism studies and policies.
Agroterrorism received heightened national attention in December 2004 when
then-Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy Thompson said in his
resignation speech, “For the life of me, I cannot understand why the terrorists have9
not attacked our food supply because it is so easy to do.”
Congress has held hearings on agroterrorism and, while addressing terrorism
more broadly, has implemented laws and appropriations with provisions important
to agriculture. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has studied aspects of
food safety, border inspections, interagency coordination, and physical security with
respect to agroterrorism. The executive branch has responded by implementing the
new laws, issuing several presidential directives, creating terrorism and agroterrorism
task forces, and publishing protection and response plans. The law enforcement
community has recognized agroterrorism as a threat, highlighted by FBI and JTTF10
(Joint Terrorism Task Force) sponsorship of an annual conference on agroterrorism.
The 9/11 Commission (National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the
United States) does not make any direct references to agroterrorism or terrorism on11
the food supply in its 2004 report. However, agriculture obviously would be
affected, along with other sectors of the economy, by some of the commission’s
recommendations regarding coordination of intelligence, information sharing, and
first responders. An evaluation of those separate issues, however, is outside the
scope of this report.


7 Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving
Weapons of Mass Destruction (also known as the Gilmore Commission), First Annual
Report to the President and Congress: Assessing the Threat, Dec. 15, 1999, pp. 12-15, at
[ h t t p : / / www.r a nd.or g/ nsr d / t e r r p anel ] .
8 Senate Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, “The
Agricultural Biological Weapons Threat to the United States,” Oct. 27, 1999 [http://
armed-services.senate.gov/ hearings /1999/e991027.htm] .
9 New York Times, “U.S. Health Chief, Stepping Down, Issues Warning,” Dec. 4, 2004.
10 International Symposium on Agroterrorism, [http://www.fbi-isa.org].
11 National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, The 9/11 Commission
Report, July 2004, at [http://www.9-11commission.gov/report/911Report.pdf].

Importance of Agriculture in the United States
Agriculture and the food industry are very important to the social, economic,
and arguably, the political stability of the United States. Although farming employs
less than 2% of the of the country’s workforce, 16% of the workforce is involved in
the food and fiber sector, ranging from farmers and input suppliers, to processors,
shippers, grocers, and restauranteurs. In 2002, the food and fiber sector contributed
$1.2 trillion, or 11% to the gross domestic product (GDP), even though the farm
sector itself contributed less than 1%.12 Gross farm sales exceeded $200 billion, and
are relatively concentrated throughout the Midwest, parts of the East Coast, and
California (Figure 1). Production is split nearly evenly between crops and livestock.
In 2002, livestock inventories included 95 million cattle, and 60 million hogs. Farm
sales of broilers and other meat-type chickens exceeded 8.5 billion birds.13
Figure 1. Geographic Distribution of Agricultural Production
Agriculture in the U.S. is technologically advanced and efficient. This
productivity allows Americans to spend only about 10% of their disposable income
on food (both at home and away from home). Productivity increases over time have
allowed the share of disposable income spent on food in the U.S. to fall from 23%
in 1929 to 10% in 2003. The United States has the lowest spending on food prepared
at home (6.5%) compared to the rest of the world, which ranges from 10%-15% for14


most developed countries and 30% or higher for some developing countries.
12 USDA Economic Research Service, Agricultural Outlook tables, Table 1 (Key Statistical
Indicators), April 2005, at [http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/Agoutlook/AOTables].
13 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2002 Census of Agriculture.
14 USDA Economic Research Service, Food Expenditure Tables, Tables 7 and 97, at
(continued...)

The U.S. produces and exports a large share the world’s grain. In 2003, the
U.S. share of world production was 42% for corn, 35% for soybeans, and 12% for
wheat. Of global exports, the U.S. accounted for 65% for corn, 40% for soybeans,
and 32% for wheat. If export markets were to decline following an agroterrorism
event, U.S. markets could be severely disrupted since 21% of U.S. agricultural
production is exported (10.5% of livestock, and 22% of crops). The U.S. exported
nearly $60 billion of agricultural products (8% of all U.S. exports), and imported $47
billion of agricultural products (4% of all U.S. imports), making agriculture a
positive contributor to the country’s balance of trade.15
The price of land is directly correlated to the productivity and marketability of
agricultural products, and the level of federal farm income support payments. In
2003, farm assets exceeded $1.3 trillion, with $1.1 trillion in equity.16 Land and other
real estate accounts for 80% of those assets. Of the 938 million acres of farm land
in the U.S., 46% are in crop land, 42% are pasture and range land, and 8% are wood
land. 17
Agricultural production in the U.S. is concentrated geographically and on a
subset of large farms. Although the number of farms in the 2002 Census of
Agriculture totaled 2.1 million, 75% of the value of production occurs on just 6.7%,
or 143,500, of these farms. This subset of farms has average sales of $1 million
annually, and averages 2,000 acres in size.
Livestock and poultry production are concentrated in different regions of the
country, and in large numbers. Cattle are the least concentrated of the major types
of livestock, given the prevalence of small cow-calf herds throughout the country and
pockets of dairy on the West Coast, upper Midwest, and Northeast. However, beef
cattle feedlots are particularly concentrated in a swath from northern Texas through
Kansas, Nebraska, eastern Colorado, and western Iowa. The top five cattle-producing
states (Texas, California, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Nebraska) produce 35% of U.S.
cattle (Figure 2).18


14 (...continued)
[http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/CPIFoodAndExpenditures/Data], accessed Jan. 18, 2007.
15 U.S. Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2004-2005 — Agriculture,
at [http://www.census.gov/prod/2004pubs/04statab/agricult.pdf].
16 USDA Economic Research Service, Agricultural Outlook tables, Table 32 (Balance Sheet
of the U.S. Farming Sector), April 2005.
17 USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2002 Census of Agriculture, June 2004,
at [http://www.nass.usda.gov/census].
18 GAO, Much is Being Done to Protect Agriculture from a Terrorist Attack, but Important
Challenges Remain, GAO-05-214, Mar. 8, 2005, pp. 10-11, 70-71.

Figure 2. Concentration of Cattle Production
Cattle:Top 5 cattle-producing statesTotal percentageof theU.S. cattle-producing statesPercentage composition ofU.S. cattle-producing states
Top 5 cattle-producingTexas14
states35% C a lif o r n iaMissouri 65
65% OklahomaNebraska 55
Remaining 45 states65
010203040506070The remaining 45 states produce 65%
Note:Cattleproductionconsistsofmilkandbeefcattle.(each produces 4% or less).
Source:U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2002 Census of Agriculture.
Figure 3. Concentration of Hog Production
Hog:Top 3 hog-producing statesTotal percentage oftheU.S. hog-producingstatesPercentage composition ofU.S. hog-producing states
2616IowaNorth CarolinaTop 3 hog-producing
s t at es
11Minnesota53%47%Remaining 44 states47
0 10 20 30 40 5 0
Perc entag e
Note:Threestatesdidnotdisclosetheirinformation.The remaining 44 states produce 47%(each produces 7% or less).
Source:U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2002 Census of Agriculture.
Figure 4. Concentration of Chicken Production
Chicken:Top 3chicken-producing statesTotal percentageof theU.S.chicken-producing statesPercentage composition ofU.S.chicken-producing states
Top 3 chicken-producing
1514Geor giaA rkans ass t at es
1259Alabama41%59%Remaining 45 states
0 10 20 30 40 50 6 0
Perc entag e
Note:Chickenproductionconsistsofbroilersandlayers.Twostatesdidnotdisclosetheirinformation.The remaining 45 states produce 59%(each produces 9% or less).
Source:U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2002 Census of Agriculture.
Figure 5. Concentration of Corn Production


Corn:Top 4 corn (acres)-producing statesTotal percentageof theU.S. corn (acres)-producing statesPercentage composition ofU.S. corn (acres)-producing states
1716IowaIllinoisTop 4 corn-producing
Nebras kas t at es
54% 46% 1110M innes ot a
46Remaining 45 states
0 10 20 30 40 5 0Perc entag e
The remaining 45 states produce 46%(each produces 8% or less).
No t e: One st at e di d not p roduce corn.

Hog inventories are concentrated in the Midwest, especially Iowa and southern
Minnesota, and in North Carolina. The top three hog-producing states (Iowa, North
Carolina, and Minnesota) produce 53% of U.S. hogs (Figure 3). The production of
broilers for poultry meat is concentrated throughout the Southeast, ranging from the
Oklahoma-Arkansas border up to the Delmarva peninsula (Delaware-Maryland-
Virginia). The top three chicken-producing states (Georgia, Arkansas, and Alabama)
produce 41% of U.S. chickens (Figure 4).
Grain production is concentrated in the Midwest, although other states may
contribute significant shares for particular commodities. The top four corn-producing
states (Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, and Minnesota) produce 54% of the crop (Figure 5).
Potential Economic Consequences
Economic losses from an agroterrorist incident could be large and widespread.
!First, losses would include the value of lost production, the cost of
destroying diseased or potentially diseased products, and the cost of
containment (drugs, diagnostics, pesticides, and veterinary services).
!Second, export markets could be lost if importing countries place
restrictions on U.S. products to prevent possibilities of the disease
spreading. Sanitary and phytosanitary rules in international trade
agreements would be important for maintaining export markets.
!Third, multiplier effects could ripple through the economy due to
decreased sales by agriculturally dependent businesses (farm input
suppliers, food manufacturing, transportation, retail grocery, and
food service). Tourism can be affected of access to certain
destinations within the country is limited or perceptions of food or
personal safety falter.
!Fourth, federal and state governments could bear significant costs,
including eradication and containment costs, and compensation to
producers for destroyed animals.
Depending on the erosion of consumer confidence and export sales, market
prices of the affected commodities may drop. This would affect producers whose
herds or crops were not directly infected, making the event national in scale even if
the disease itself were contained to a small region.
For food types or product lines that are not contaminated, however, demand may
become stronger, and market prices could rise for those products. Such goods may
include substitutes for the food that was the target of the attack (e.g., chicken instead
of beef), or product that can be certified to originate from outside a contaminated area
(e.g., beef from another region of the country, or imported beef). For example, when
Canada announced the discovery of mad cow disease (BSE, or bovine spongiform
encephalopathy) in May 2003, farm-level prices of beef in Canada dropped by nearly
half, while beef prices in the United States remained very strong at record or near



record levels. When a cow with BSE was discovered in the United States in
December 2003, U.S. beef prices fell, but less dramatically than in Canada.19
Consumer confidence in government may also be tested depending on the scale
of the eradication effort and means of destroying animals or crops. The need to
slaughter perhaps hundreds of thousands of cattle (or tens of millions of poultry)
could generate public criticism if depopulation methods are considered inhumane or
the destruction of carcases is questioned environmentally. For example, during the
United Kingdom’s foot-and-mouth (FMD) outbreak in 2001, euthanizing thousands
of cattle and incinerating the carcasses in huge open air pyres provided poignant
television images and difficult public relations situations for the agriculture ministry.
Dealing with these concerns can add to the cost for both government and industry.
Depending on the disease and means of transmission, the potential for economic
damage depends on a number of factors such as the disease agent, location of the
attack, rate of transmission, geographical dispersion, how long it remains undetected,
availability of countermeasures or quarantines, and incident response plans. Potential
costs are difficult to estimate and can vary widely based on compounding
assumptions.
Drawing on the FMD outbreak in the United Kingdom in 2001, Price
Waterhouse Coopers estimated that the economic impact was $1,389 to $4,477 for
each of the 2.6 million head of livestock (cattle, sheep, and hogs) on which
indemnities were paid in the U.K. These impacts exceed the value of the animals
because of the number of industries affected by the outbreak, ranging from feed
suppliers to tourism. Applying the loss ratios from the U.K. incident to the larger
U.S. livestock industry, Price Waterhouse Coopers estimates that 7.5 million animals
(5.3 million cattle, 1.4 million hogs, and 800,000 sheep) might be destroyed in a
similar scale outbreak in the United States. The resulting economic impact could
range from $10.4 billion to $33.6 billion, using the range of impacts estimated from
the U.K.20
A 2002 National Defense University study estimates that a limited outbreak of
FMD on just 10 farms could have a $2 billion financial impact.21 A study by the
USDA Economic Research Service (ERS) outlines the wide-ranging implications of
a FMD outbreak in the U.S., assigning probabilities for animal losses but not


19 CRS Report RS21709, Mad Cow Disease and U.S. Beef Trade, by Charles Hanrahan and
Geoffrey Becker.
20 Beth Lautner and Steve Meyer, “U.S. Agriculture in Context: Sector’s Importance to the
American Economy and Its Role in Global Trade,” Conference Proceedings of the [White
House] Office of Science and Technology Policy Blue Ribbon Panel on the Threat of
Biological Terrorism Directed Against Livestock, Washington, DC, Dec. 8-9, 2003, at
[ ht t p: / / www.r a nd.or g/ sci t ech/ s t pi / Bi oagpanel ] .
21 Henry S. Parker, Agricultural Bioterrorism: A Federal Strategy to Meet the Threat,
McNair Paper 65, National Defense University, March 2002, at [http://www.ndu.edu/inss/
McNair/mcnair65/McN_65.pdf].

estimating a dollar loss.22 A 1994 study by the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA) on African swine fever suggested that if the disease were to
become entrenched in the U.S., the 10-year impact would be at least $5.4 billion.23
The impact in today’s dollars could be much higher.
However, not all assessments agree that the economic consequences of an
agroterrorist attack would be large and widespread. A December 2004 report by the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) concludes that the nation’s economic loss from
an agroterrorist attack
“would probably be small, primarily because the food and agriculture industry
is well adapted to the prospect of disruptions from weather, pests, and occasional24
health incidents.”
The CBO report also suggests that the food industry’s experience recalling
contaminated lots and the existence of commodity support programs “to sustain the
incomes of some agricultural producers” might keep economic losses “within the
realm of industry experience and current public plans for detection and response.”25
Such a conclusion likely overstates the capacity of traditional farm commodity
programs to respond to the scale devastation possible in agroterrorism. The purpose
of farm commodity programs is to support farm income when prices and production
vary within normal year-to-year cycles. They were never envisioned to compensate
for losses due to agroterrorism or even widespread pest and disease outbreaks.
The federal farm commodity support programs subsidize about 25 agricultural
commodities (such as corn, wheat, soybeans, rice, and cotton). These supported
commodities represent about one-third of gross farm sales. The list of commodities
that normally do not receive direct support includes meats, poultry, fruits, vegetables,
nuts, hay, and nursery products. These non-supported commodities account for about
two-thirds of gross farm sales26 and are possibly more likely to be the targets of an
agroterrorist attack.
Thus, the food products more vulnerable to attack (meats, fruits, and vegetables)
do not have existing federal farm income support programs. Food processors or


22 Kenneth H. Mathews and Janet Perry, “The Economic Consequences of Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy and Food and Mouth Disease Outbreaks in the United States,”
Appendix 6 in Animal Disease Risk Assessment, Prevention and Control Act of 2001 (P.L.

107-9): Final Report of the P.L. 107-9 Federal Inter-Agency Working Group, January 2003,


at [http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/pubs/PL107-9_1-03.pdf].
23 Renlemann and Spinelli, “An Economic Assessment of the Costs and Benefits of African
Swine Fever Prevention,” Animal Health Insight, Spring/Summer 1994.
24 Congressional Budget Office, Homeland Security and the Private Sector, December 2004,
p. 41, at [http://www.cbo.gov/showdoc.cfm?index=6042&sequence=0&from=7].
25 Ibid.
26 CRS Report RS21999, Farm Commodity Policy: Programs and Issues for Congress, by
Jim Monke.

retailers beyond the farm gate do not receive any commodity support payments. Any
federal assistance to producers or processors stemming from an agroterrorist attack
would likely come from the emergency transfer authority available to the Secretary
of Agriculture27 (for producers) and through supplemental emergency appropriations
enacted by Congress (for producers, and possibly processors). Making disaster
payments to individuals who do not normally receive commodity payments is
technically more difficult than supplementing regular program payments.
In the end, despite the CBO suggestion that the economic effects of
agroterrorism might fall within the realm of normal experience, numerous federal
agencies, state agencies, and private corporations continue to prepare for
agroterrorism based on the assumption that an attack could exceed the typical
experience with naturally or accidentally occurring outbreaks.
A Brief History of Agricultural Bioweapons
Attacks against agricultural production are not new, and have been conducted
both by nation-states and by substate organizations throughout history.28 At least
nine countries had documented agricultural bioweapons programs during some part
of the 20th century (Canada, France, Germany, Iraq, Japan, South Africa, United
Kingdom, United States, and the former USSR). Four other countries are believed
to have or have had agricultural bioweapons programs (Egypt, North Korea,
Rhodesia, and Syria).29
Despite extensive research on the issue, however, biological weapons have been
used rarely against crops or livestock, especially by state actors. Examples of state
actors using biological weapons against agriculture include Germany’s use of
glanders against Allied horses and mules in World War I, the alleged use of anthrax
and rinderpest by Japan in World War II, and the alleged use of glanders by Soviet


27 For pest and disease emergencies, the Secretary of Agriculture has long-standing authority
to transfer money from the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to the Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service, both for eradication and control and indemnities to producers (7
U.S.C. 7772, and 7 U.S.C. 8316). Between $168 million and $378 million per year has been
transferred for 10 or more natural or accidental pest and disease outbreaks in recent years.
See CRS Report RL32504, Funding Plant and Animal Health Emergencies: Transfers from
the Commodity Credit Corporation , by Jim Monke and Geoffrey S. Becker.
28 This report considers only “modern” instances of directing weapons against agriculture
and food. However, such attacks can be cited for centuries prior to 1900, usually on a much
smaller scale than generally conceived today.
29 Monterey Institute of International Studies, “Agro-terrorism,” at [http://cns.miis.edu/
research/cbw/agromain.htm]; University of Minnesota Center for Infectious Disease
Research and Policy (CIDRAP), “Overview of Agricultural Biosecurity,” at [http://www.
cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/biosecurity/ag-biosec/biofacts/agbiooview.html]; and Peter
Chalk, RAND National Defense Research Institute, “Hitting America’s Soft Underbelly:
The Potential Threat of Deliberate Biological Attacks Against U.S. Agricultural and Food
Industry,” 2004, at [http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2004/RAND_MG135.pdf].

forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s.30 Thus, in recent decades, using biological
weapons against agricultural targets has remained mostly a theoretical consideration.
With the ratification of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in 1972, many
countries, including the United States, stopped military development of biological
weapons and destroyed their stockpiles.
Although individuals or substate groups have used bioweapons against
agricultural or food targets, only a few can be considered terrorist in nature. In 1952,
the Mau Mau (an insurgent organization in Kenya) killed 33 head of cattle at a
mission station using African milk bush (a local plant toxin). In 1984, the
Rajneeshee cult spread salmonella in salad bars at Oregon restaurants to influence a
local election.31
Chemical weapons have been used somewhat more commonly against
agricultural targets. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. used agent orange to destroy
foliage, affecting some crops. Among possible terrorist events, chemical attacks
against agricultural targets include a 1997 attack by Israeli settlers who sprayed
pesticides on grapevines in two Palestinian villages, destroying up to 17,000 metric
tons of grapes. In 1978, the Arab Revolutionary Council poisoned Israeli oranges
with mercury, injuring at least 12 people and reducing orange exports by 40%.32
Congressional Responses
Hearings on Agroterrorism
From 1999 to 2006, Congress has held five hearings entirely devoted to
agroterrorism or agricultural biosecurity, four in the Senate and one in the House,
each by a different committee or subcommittee.
The first Congressional hearing on agroterrorism was in October 1999, called
by Senator Pat Roberts of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats in the Senate
Committee on Armed Services. The hearing was titled, “The Agricultural Biological
Weapons Threat to the United States,” and had both closed and open sessions with
different witnesses.33
Four years later, on November 19, 2003, the Senate Committee on
Governmental Affairs held an open hearing titled, “Agroterrorism: The Threat to
America’s Breadbasket,” including witnesses from the Administration, state


30 Monterey Institute of International Studies; and Center for Infectious Disease Research
and Policy.
31 Peter Chalk (2004), p. 29.
32 Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP).
33 Senate Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, “The
Agricultural Biological Weapons Treat to the United States,” Oct. 27, 1999 [http://
armed-services.senate.gov/ hearings /1999/e991027.htm] .

governments, and a private think tank.34 During the four years between these two
hearings when the specter of terrorism was raised after September 11, 2001, a few
individual panelists at more general hearings on food safety, homeland security, or
terrorism discussed agroterrorism.35
In May 2005, a subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee held
a hearing titled, “Evaluating the Threat of Agro-Terrorism.”36 Both an open session
and a closed session were held with the same two witnesses.
Two months later, in July 2005, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a
hearing titled, “Bio-security and Agro-Terrorism.”37 Eight panelists from
government, law enforcement, academia, and industry discussed vulnerabilities and
preparedness efforts.
In January 2006, the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on
Research, Nutrition, and General Legislation held a field hearing in Pennsylvania
titled “BioSecurity Coordination.”38 Ten panelists from government, academia, and
industry discussed preparedness and coordination issues.
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act (P.L. 107-188)
The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act
(P.L. 107-188, June 12, 2002) was enacted in response to vulnerabilities identified
following September 11, 2001. Among many provisions affecting public health and
general preparedness, the act contained several provisions important to agriculture.
These provisions accomplish the following:
!Expand Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over food
manufacturing and imports (particularly in sections 303-307).


34 Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs, Agroterrorism: The Threat to America’s
Breadbasket, S.Hrg. 108-491, Nov. 19, 2003, [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/
cgi-bin/ge tdoc.cgi ?dbname =108_senat e_hearings &docid=f:91045.wais.pdf].
35 For example, testimony by Peter Chalk, RAND, “Terrorism, Infrastructure Protection,
and the U.S. Food and Agriculture Sector” at the Senate Governmental Affairs
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring, and the District of
Columbia hearing on “Federal Food Safety and Security,” Oct. 10, 2001
[ h t t p : / / www.r a nd.or g/ publ i cat i ons/ CT / CT 184/ CT 184.pdf ] .
36 House Homeland Security Committee, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information
Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment, “Evaluating the Threat of Agro-Terrorism,” Serial

109-16, May 25, 2005 [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/useftp.cgi?IPaddress=


162.140.64.128&filename =23605.pdf&directory=/dis kb/wais/data/109_house_hearings ].


37 Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, To Review Biosecurity
Preparedness and Efforts to Address Agroterrorism Threats, S.Hrg. 109-457, July 20, 2005,
[ ht t p: / / www.access.gpo.gov/ c ongr e ss/ senat e / pdf / 109hr g/ 22648.pdf ] .
38 Senate Committe on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Subcommittee on Research,
Nutrition, and General Legislation, Bio-Security Coordination, S. Hrg. 109-619, Jan. 9, 2006
[htt p://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname =109_senate_hearings &
docid=f:30234.pdf

!Tighten control of biological agents and toxins (“select agents” in
sections 211-213, the “Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of
2002”) under rules by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service (APHIS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
!Authorize expanded agricultural security activities and security
upgrades at USDA facilities (sections 331-335).
!Address criminal penalties for terrorism against animal enterprises
(section 336) and violation of the select agent rules (section 231).
Expanded FDA Authority over Food. The Bioterrorism Preparedness Act
responded to long-standing concerns about whether the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) had
the authority to assure food safety. FDA was instructed to implement new rules for
(1) registration of food processors, (2) prior notice of food imports, (3) administrative39
detention of imports, and (4) record-keeping. Proposed rules began being issued
in early 2003; the final set of rules was published in December 2004.40
Registration of Food Processors. The act required FDA to establish a
one-time registration system for any domestic or foreign facility that manufactures,
processes, packs, and handles food. All food facilities supplying food for the United
States were required to register with the FDA by December 12, 2003 (21 CFR 1.225
to 1.243). Registering involved providing information about the food products
(brand names and general food categories), facility addresses, and contact
information. Restaurants, certain retail stores, farms, non-profit food and feeding
establishments, fishing vessels, and trucks and other motor carriers were exempt
from registration requirements. However, many farms had a difficult time
determining whether they needed to register based on the amount of handling or
processing they performed.
Registration documents are protected from public disclosure under the Freedom
of Information Act (FOIA). The registry provides, for the first time, a complete list
of companies subject to FDA authority, and will enhance the agency’s capability to
trace contaminated food. Critics argued that registration created a record keeping
burden without proof that facilities will be able to respond in an emergency.
Prior Notice of Imports. As of December 12, 2003, importers are required
to give advance notice to FDA prior to importing food (21 CFR 1.276 to 1.285).
Electronic notice must be provided by the importer within a specified period prior to
arrival at the border (within two hours by road, four hours by air or rail, and eight
hours by water). With prior notice, FDA can assess whether a shipment meets
criteria that can trigger an inspection. If notice is not given, the food will be refused
entry and held at the port or in secure storage. Some critics are concerned that the


39 For greater detail about these rules, please see CRS Report RL31853, Food Safety Issues
in the 109th Congress, by Donna Vogt.
40 FDA, “FDA Actions on New Bioterrorism Legislation,” at [http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/
~ d ms / f s b t a c t . h t ml ] .

administrative cost of compliance may raise the price of food. Others have argued
that perishable imports are subject to increased spoilage if delays arise, or that certain
perishables (especially from Mexico) are not harvested or loaded onto trucks before
the two-hour notification period. However, implementation of the new system
generally has not caused delays and most shippers have been accommodated.
To facilitate compliance, FDA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) integrated their information systems
to allow food importers to provide the required information using CBP’s existing
system for imports. In December 2003, the two agencies agreed to allow CBP
officers to inspect imported foods on FDA’s behalf, particularly at ports where FDA
has no inspectors.
Administrative Detention. Upon enactment of the act, FDA obtained the
authority to detain food imports under certain conditions. FDA procedures for
making detention were issued on June 4, 2004 (21 CFR 1.377 to 1.406). To use the
authority, the agency must show credible evidence that a shipment presents a serious
health threat. Food may be detained for 20 days and up to 30 days, if necessary. The
owners must pay the expense of moving any detained food to secure storage.
Perishable foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, and seafood) are to receive expedited
review.
Maintenance of Records. FDA published a proposed rule for record-
keeping on May 9, 2003, and issued a corrected final rule on February 23, 2005 (21
CFR 1.363 to 1.368). People or companies that manufacture, process, pack,
transport, distribute, receive, hold, or import food (with the exception of farms,
restaurants and certain others) must establish and maintain records for up to two
years. In the event of a suspected food safety problem, the regulation provides FDA
access to records including the facility’s immediate supplier, and the immediate
customer. Companies can keep the information in any form and use existing records.
The rule limits access to records that may contain trade secrets and prevent
disclosure of such confidential information if records are reviewed. FDA is allowed
to reduce the record-keeping requirements for small businesses and to exempt farms,
restaurants, and fishing vessels not engaged in processing.
Tighter Security for Biological Agents and Toxins. In December 2002,
the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) issued regulations
to reduce the threat that certain biological agents and toxins could be used in
domestic or international terrorism. APHIS determined that the “select agents” on the
list have the potential to pose a severe threat to agricultural production or food
products.
The select agent regulations (9 CFR 121 for animals, 7 CFR 331 for plants)
establish the requirements for possession, use, and transfer of the listed pathogens.
The rules affect many research institutions including federal, state, university, and
private laboratories, as well as firms that transport such materials. The laboratories
have had to assess security vulnerabilities and upgrade physical security, often
without additional financial resources. Some have been concerned that certain



research programs may be discontinued or avoided because of regulatory difficulties
in handling the select agents.
Extensive registration and background checks of both facilities and personnel
were to be conducted in 2003. However, due to delays at the FBI in processing
security clearance paperwork, provisional registrations were issued to laboratories
that had submitted paperwork by established deadlines.
Homeland Security Act (P.L. 107-296)
The main purpose of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296,
November 25, 2002) was to create the Department of Homeland Security (DHS),
primarily by transferring parts or all of many agencies throughout the federal
government into the new cabinet-level department. In doing so, the law made two
major changes to the facilities and functions of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The Homeland Security Act transferred:
!personnel and responsibility for agricultural border inspections from
USDA to DHS (specifically, from the USDA Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to DHS Customs and Border
Protection (CBP)), and
!possession of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York
from USDA to DHS.
Transferring Agricultural Border Inspections. Section 421 of the
Homeland Security Act authorized the transfer of up to 3,200 APHIS border
inspection personnel to DHS. As of March 1, 2003, approximately 2,680 APHIS
inspectors became employees of DHS in the Bureau of Customs and Border
Inspection (CBP). Because of its scientific expertise, USDA retains a significant
presence in border inspection, as described below.
Historically, the APHIS Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) program was
considered the most significant and prominent of agricultural and food inspections
at the border. Because of this prominence, AQI was one of the many programs
selected for inclusion when DHS was created. Some drafts of the bill creating the
new department would have transferred all of APHIS (including, for example, animal
welfare and disease eradication) to DHS. Concerns from many farm interest groups
about the impact this might have on diagnosis and treatment of naturally occurring
plant and animal diseases prompted a legislative compromise that transferred only
the border inspection function and left other activities under USDA.
DHS-CBP personnel now inspect international conveyances and the baggage of
passengers for plant, animal, and related products that could harbor pests or disease
organisms. They also inspect ship and air cargo, rail and truck freight, and package
mail from foreign countries.
Although the border inspection functions were transferred to DHS, the USDA
retains a significant presence in border activities. APHIS employees who were not
transferred continue to pre-clear certain commodities, inspect all plant propagative



materials, and check animals in quarantine. APHIS personnel continue to set
agricultural inspection policies to be carried out by DHS border inspectors, and
negotiate memoranda of understanding to assure that necessary inspections are
conducted. APHIS manages the data collected during the inspections process, and
monitors smuggling and trade compliance. USDA is also statutorily charged in
section 421(e)(2)(A) of P.L. 107-296 to “supervise” the training of CBP inspectors
in consultation with DHS.
This separation of duties is designed to allow for consolidated border
inspections for intelligence and security goals, but preserve USDA’s expertise and
historical mission to set agricultural import policies.
Adding Agriculture Specialists. Under the CBP cross-training initiative
in 2003 (also known as “One Face at the Border”), CBP inspectors from the former
customs, immigration, and agriculture agencies were to be trained to perform
inspections in all three areas equally, without specialization, — customs,
immigration, and agriculture. However, due to criticism from USDA, inspection
unions, and the agricultural industry, DHS created another class of inspectors called
“agriculture specialists.” Agriculture specialists work mainly in secondary inspection
stations in passenger terminals and are deployed at cargo terminals. The cadre of
agriculture specialists include former APHIS inspectors who decided not to convert
to CBP generalist inspectors plus new graduates from the agricultural specialist
training program.
Before DHS was created, APHIS trained its inspectors in a nine-week course
that had science prerequisites. The initial DHS cross-training program announced
in 2003 had only 12-16 hours for agriculture in a 71-day course covering customs,
immigration, and agriculture. This difference in training was one of the reasons DHS
was forced to add the agricultural specialist position.
DHS now has an eight-week (43-day) training program for agriculture
specialists. The course is taught by CBP and APHIS instructors at a USDA training
facility in Frederick, Maryland. Agriculture specialists also receive two weeks of law
enforcement training, and can exercise law enforcement authority similar to regular
CBP officers. However, CBP does not necessarily allow agriculture specialists to use
the full extent of their law enforcement powers.41 The first class of agriculture
specialists graduated in July 2004.
Regular CBP officers receive about 12-16 hours of agricultural training during
their multi-week program at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)
in Georgia. The agriculture module was developed by APHIS and provided to DHS.
Although DHS is training new agriculture specialists, the future size of the
agricultural specialist corps is not certain, given the eventual attrition of former
APHIS inspectors. Also, details are not available as to how these inspectors will be
deployed and how many ports of entry will be staffed with agriculture specialists


41 Agriculture specialists do not carry firearms like regular CBP officers. CBP is still
deciding whether agriculture specialists will carry mace, batons, or firearms.

(compared with the APHIS deployment prior to DHS). Without agriculture
specialists, primary agricultural inspections — the first line of defense for agricultural
security — may be conducted by cross-trained inspectors with limited agricultural
training.
Congressional agriculture committees have been concerned about whether
enough attention will be devoted to agricultural inspections by DHS, and whether the
United States will be as safe from the introduction of foreign pests as it was under the
previous inspection system. Inspection statistics from the fall of 2003 indicate that
32% fewer insect infestations were found (under DHS) than in the previous year
(under APHIS). APHIS officials cite unfilled agricultural inspector positions and
difficulty in adequately cross-training former customs and immigration officers to
conduct agricultural inspections.42
The FY2007 DHS appropriations act supports the cross-training initiative under
One Face at the Border (H.Rept. 109-699):
The conferees recognize the benefits of cross-training legacy customs,
immigration, and agricultural inspection officers as part of CBP’s ‘One Face at
the Border Initiative’ and direct CBP to ensure that all personnel assigned to
primary and secondary inspection duties at ports of entry have received adequate
training in all relevant inspection functions.
A report by the Government Accountability Office in May 2006 found that only
21% of agricultural specialists always receive urgent alerts for agricultural inspection
priorities in a timely manner. Moreover the number of canine units (inspection dogs,
“beagle brigade”) has declined from 140 to 80 since the transfer to DHS, and 60%
of 43 canine teams that were tested failed a proficiency test. In a follow-up
memorandum, the GAO analyzed a survey of morale among agricultural specialists
and found many more negative responses than positive comments. (See “GAO
Studies,” below.)
For more information about inspection statistics and the new border inspection
arrangement that combines the previously separate customs, immigration, and
agriculture inspections, please see CRS Report RL32399, Border Security:
Inspections Practices, Policies, and Issues.
Plum Island Animal Disease Center. Section 310 of the Homeland
Security Act transferred the Plum Island Animal Disease Center to DHS. Prior to
June 1, 2003, Plum Island was a USDA facility jointly operated by APHIS and ARS
(Agricultural Research Service). This transfer includes only the property and
facilities of Plum Island; both APHIS and ARS personnel continue to perform
research and diagnostic work at the facility, but DHS also may conduct other research
at the facility as well.
Plum Island and DHS’s plans for a new National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility
are discussed later in this report under “Laboratories and Research Centers.”


42 Chicago Sun Times, “Short-Staffed Port Inspectors Missing Insect-Infested Food,” Aug.

6, 2004.



Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (P.L. 109-374)
The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (P.L. 109-374, Nov. 27, 2006) was
enacted to expand criminal consequences for damaging or interfering with the
operations of an animal enterprise. The Bioterrorism Preparedness Act (P.L. 107-

188, Sec. 336) contained less extensive penalties for animal enterprise terrorism.


P.L. 109-374 prescribes penalties and restitution in Title 18 of the U.S. Code for
varying levels of economic damage and personal injury involving threats, acts of
vandalism, property damage, criminal trespass, harassment, or intimidation. The act
covers enterprises that use, sell, or raise animals (or animal products) for profit or
educational purposes. With this broad definition, the law applies to both bioterrorism
(from foreign sources) and eco-terrorism (from domestic animal rights activist
groups).
GAO Studies
Since 2002, six reports from GAO have found gaps in federal controls for
protecting agriculture and food. Findings from the first four reports are summarized43
in testimony for the Senate hearing on agroterrorism on November 19, 2003.
In the first report, following the European outbreak of foot and mouth disease
in 2001, a 2002 GAO study found insufficient guidance for border inspectors and an44
overwhelming volume of passengers and cargo for inspectors to process.
Regarding prevention of BSE (“mad cow disease”), a 2002 GAO report found
shortcomings in documentation for imports and enforcement of federal feed45
ingredient bans.
A 2003 GAO study on security improvements at food processing companies
found that federal agencies, particularly the Food and Drug Administration (FDA),46
did not have authority to impose requirements or assess security flaws.
Regarding livestock disease research at USDA’s Plum Island lab in New York,
a 2003 GAO report47 found that people without adequate background checks had
access to secure areas, and that security personnel on the island had limited authority.
In response to GAO’s security concerns about Plum Island, DHS announced that


43 GAO, Bioterrorism: A Threat to Agriculture and the Food Supply, GAO-04-259T, Nov.

19, 2003.


44 GAO, Foot and Mouth Disease: To Protect Livestock, USDA Must Remain Vigilant and
Resolve Outstanding Issues, GAO-02-808, July 26, 2002.
45 GAO, Mad Cow Disease: Improvements in the Animal Feed Ban and Other Regulatory
Areas Would Strengthen U.S. Prevention Efforts, GAO-02-183, Jan. 25, 2002.
46 GAO, Food-Processing Security: Voluntary Efforts Are Under Way, But Federal Agencies
Cannot Fully Assess Their Implementation, GAO-03-342, Feb. 14, 2003.
47 GAO, Combating Bioterrorism: Actions Needed to Improve Security at Plum Island
Animal Disease Center, GAO-03-847, Sept. 19, 2003.

armed Federal Protective Service personnel would supplement security on the island
beginning in June 2004.
A 2005 GAO report summarized the issues of agroterrorism and what federal
agencies are doing to prepare.48 It found numerous vulnerability assessments and
working groups had been prepared to prioritize and oversee activities. Efforts at
interagency coordination were also underway, but some were seen to be in the early
stages with more coordination necessary. The report also cited a lack of veterinarians
trained in foreign animal diseases and response capacity, lack of rapid diagnostic
tools, and lack of rapid vaccine deployment and protocols.
In the conference agreement for the FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act
(P.L. 108-447, H.Rept. 108-792), conferees expressed concern over agricultural
border inspections and research at Plum Island following the transfer of these
activities in 2003 from USDA to DHS. They requested a GAO report on interagency
coordination between USDA and DHS regarding agriculture inspections.
The conferees are aware of ongoing concerns within the agriculture sector that
the transfer of these responsibilities [border inspection and research] may shift
the focus away from agriculture to other priority areas of DHS. In order to
ensure that the interests of U.S. agriculture are protected ... the conferees request
the Government Accountability Office to provide a report ... on the coordination
between USDA and DHS (H.Rept. 108-792).
Accomplishments in interagency coordination that GAO cited in the 200649
report include training of both agricultural specialists and cross-training of regular
border protection officers. Agriculture specialists now have access to classified data
systems, allowing better targeting of agriculture inspections. DHS also created
“agriculture liaisons” in district field offices to assure agriculture issues are heard,
and improve operations at ports of entry.
However, problems in coordination or inspection performance were cited in
several areas. DHS had not developed performance measures for agriculture
inspections, but was still using USDA-APHIS measures which did not reflect all
DHS activities. Staffing and related staffing performance measures were also
lacking. Agriculture specialists are not always notified of urgent inspection alerts
issued by APHIS; a survey suggests only 21% of agriculture specialists always
receive alerts in a timely manner. The number of canine units (inspection dogs,
“beagle brigade”) has declined from 140 to 80 since the transfer to DHS, and 60%
of 43 canine teams that were tested failed an APHIS proficiency test. Several
financial management issues also were problematic. While user fees were less than
program costs, DHS was unable to provide APHIS with information of actual costs
by type of activity, and USDA was sometimes slow to transfer user fees to DHS.


48 GAO, Much is Being Done to Protect Agriculture from a Terrorist Attack, but Important
Challenges Remain, GAO-05-214, Mar. 8, 2005.
49 GAO, Management and Coordination Problems Increase the Vulnerability of U.S.
Agriculture to Foreign Pests and Disease, GAO-06-644, May 19, 2006.

In a follow-up memorandum, GAO analyzed a the open-ended questions in
survey of morale among agricultural specialists.50 GAO found many more negative
responses than positive comments. About 60% of agricultural specialists surveyed
thought they were doing fewer inspections than before the transfer to DHS, and 29%
were concerned that the agricultural mission is declining. An estimated 64% thought
their DHS managers did not respect their work, and 29% expressed concern about
working relationships with non-agriculture inspectors.
Executive Branch Responses
Shortly after September 11, 2001, USDA created a Homeland Security Staff in
the Office of the Secretary to develop a department-wide plan to coordinate
agroterrorism preparedness plans among all USDA agencies and offices. Efforts
have been focused on three areas: food supply and agricultural production, USDA51
facilities, and USDA staff and emergency preparedness. The Homeland Security
Staff also has become the department’s liaison with Congress, the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS), and other governmental agencies on terrorism issues.
The White House’s National Security Council weapons of mass destruction
(WMD) preparedness group, formed by Presidential Decision Directive 62 (PDD-62)
in 1998, included agriculture, especially in terms of combating terrorism. Many
observers note that, as a latecomer to the national security table, USDA has been
invariably overshadowed by other agencies.
In addition to the following Presidential directives and actions, many
departments and agencies in the executive branch have undertaken efforts to improve
preparedness for agroterrorism. Many of these actions are discussed later in this
report under “Countering the Threat.”
HSPD-7 (Protecting Critical Infrastructure)
In terms of protecting critical infrastructure, agriculture was added to the list in
December 2003 by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD-7), “Critical
Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection.”52 This directive replaces
the 1998 Presidential Decision Directive 63 (PDD-63) that omitted agriculture and
food. Both of these critical infrastructure directives designate the physical systems
that are vulnerable to terrorist attack and are essential for the minimal operation of
the economy and the government.


50 GAO, Homeland Security: Agriculture Specialists’ Views of Their Work Experiences After
Transfer to DHS, GAO-07-209R, Nov. 14, 2006.
51 USDA Homeland Security Staff, “Homeland Security Efforts,” May 2004, at [http://
www.usda.gov/homelandsecurity/factsheet0504.pdf]; and National Research Council,
Countering Agricultural Bioterrorism, 2003, p. 150.
52 HSPD-7: [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/12/20031217-5.html].

These directives instruct agencies to develop plans to prepare for and counter
the terrorist threat. HSPD-7 mentions the following industries: agriculture and food;
banking and finance; transportation (air, sea, and land, including mass transit, rail,
and pipelines); energy (electricity, oil, and gas); telecommunications; public health;
emergency services; drinking water; and water treatment.
HSPD-9 (Defending Agriculture and Food)
More significant recognition came on January 30, 2004, when the White House
released Homeland Security Presidential Directive 9 (HSPD-9), “Defense of United
States Agriculture and Food.”53 This directive establishes a national policy to
protect against terrorist attacks on agriculture and food systems.
HSPD-9 generally instructs the Secretaries of Homeland Security (DHS),
Agriculture (USDA), and Health and Human Services (HHS), the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Attorney General, and the Director
of Central Intelligence to coordinate their efforts to prepare for, protect against,
respond to, and recover from an agroterrorist attack. In some cases, one department
is assigned primary responsibility, particularly when the intelligence community is
involved. In other cases, only USDA, HHS, and/or EPA are involved regarding
industry or scientific expertise.
The directive instructs agencies to develop awareness and warning systems to
monitor plant and animal diseases, food quality, and public health through an
integrated diagnostic system. Animal and commodity tracking systems are included,
as is gathering and analyzing international intelligence. Vulnerability assessments
throughout the sector help prioritize mitigation strategies at critical stages of
production or processing, including inspection of imported agricultural products.
Response and recovery plans are to be coordinated across the federal, state, and
local levels. A National Veterinary Stockpiles (NVS) of vaccine, antiviral, and
therapeutic products is to be developed for deployment within 24 hours of an attack.
A National Plant Disease Recovery System (NPDRS) is to develop disease and pest
resistant varieties within one growing season of an attack in order to resume
production of certain crops. The Secretary of Agriculture is to make
recommendations for risk management tools to encourage self-protection for
agriculture and food enterprises vulnerable to losses from terrorism.
HSPD-9 encourages USDA and HHS to promote higher education programs
that specifically address the protection of animal, plant, and public health. It suggests
capacity-building grants for universities, and internships, fellowships and post-
graduate opportunities. HSPD-9 also formally incorporates USDA and agriculture
into the ongoing DHS research program of university-based “centers of excellence.”
As a presidential directive, HSPD-9 addresses the internal management of the
executive branch and does not create enforceable laws. Moreover, it is subject to
change without Congressional consent. While Congress has oversight authority of


53 HSPD-9: [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/02/20040203-2.html].

federal agencies and may ask questions about implementation of the directive, a
public law outlining an agroterrorism preparedness plan would establish the statutory
parameters for such a plan, and, as a practical matter, might result in enhanced
oversight by specifically identifying executive branch entities responsible for carrying
out particular components of such a plan.54
In implementing HSPD-9, the USDA Homeland Security Staff and other
agencies are drawing upon HSPD-5 (regarding the national response plan) and
HSPD-8 (regarding preparedness). Implementing many of the HSPD-9 directives
depends on the executive branch having sufficient appropriations for those activities.
National Response Plan (NRP)
Homeland Security Presidential Directive 5 (HSPD-5) called for a National
Response Plan (NRP) to coordinate federal bureaucracies, capabilities, and resources
into a unified, all-discipline, and all-hazards approach to manage domestic incidents,
both for terrorism and natural disasters. The National Response Plan, developed by
DHS, was unveiled in December 2004.55
The NRP addresses agriculture and food in two annexes at the end of the plan.
The first is in terms of emergency support. The Emergency Support Function (ESF)
annexes to the NRP seek to coordinate federal interagency support by describing the
roles and responsibilities of departments and agencies. USDA is the coordinator and
primary responding agency for ESF #11, the “Agriculture and Natural Resources
Annex,” which addresses:
!Provision of nutrition assistance by determining nutrition assistance
needs in disaster areas, obtaining appropriate food supplies,
arranging for delivery of the supplies, and authorizing disaster food
stamps,
!Control and eradication of animal and plant pests and diseases,
!Assurance of food safety and food security, including food safety
inspection at processing plants, distribution, retail sites, and ports of
entry; laboratory analysis of food samples; food borne disease
surveillance; and field investigations, and
!Protection of natural and cultural resources and historic properties.
The NRP also contains “incident annexes” that more specifically address hazard
situations requiring special attention. The incident annexes describe the overarching
policies, situations, general operating procedures, and responsibilities most relevant
when responding to a particular type of incident.


54 For a related discussion on the role of Congress with respect to executive actions, see
CRS Report RS20846, Executive Orders: Issuance and Revocation.
55 Department of Homeland Security, National Response Plan, December 2004, updated

2006 [http://www.dhs.gov/nrp].



The 10-page “Food and Agriculture Incident Annex”56 was first published in
July 2006, about 18 months after the NRP was first released. The annex identifies
roles for federal involvement, particularly when first responders at the state and local
levels are overwhelmed by multiple incidents, for example. It establishes USDA and
HHS as the primary agencies for coordination and notification when incidents and
outbreaks affect food and agriculture, but law enforcement agencies are to be notified
immediately through the FBI if the incident appears to be intentional.
HHS is the coordinating agency for food inspected by the FDA beyond the farm
gate (all domestic and imported food except meat, poultry and egg products), animal
feed, and animal drugs. USDA is the coordinating agency for food inspected by the
Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) such as processed meat, poultry and egg
products, and for coordinating the response to animal and plant diseases and pests.
EPA is identified in the annex to provide expedited assistance for approving
particular types of pesticide applications, and to provide technical assistance for
decontamination and disposal efforts. DHS appears to be involved to the extent that
other parts of the NRP are activated by the agriculture and food incident, especially
when law enforcement, investigative, or border inspection activities are involved.
The annex mentions the importance of laboratory networks for detection,
diagnosis, confirmation, and investigation of an incident, particularly through the
DHS Integrated Consortium of Laboratory Networks (ICLN). The “capacity of the
ICLN derives from ... established laboratory networks such as Food Emergency
Response Network (FERN), the Laboratory Response Network (LRN), the National
Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), and the National Plant Diagnostic
Network (NPDN).” Each of these networks, discussed later in this section, feeds its
industry- and sector-specific information into the general homeland security network
for analysis and data sharing.
Specific response plans below the level of the NRP annex rest with USDA,
HHS, and state and local governments.
Public-Private Partnerships
National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP). The National
Infrastructure Protection Plan was developed to unify and enhance the protection of
critical infrastructure through public-private partnerships. It provides a coordinated
approach to establish national priorities and goals. The sector partnership model
encourages formation of Sector Coordinating Councils (SCCs) and Government
Coordinating Councils (GCCs). DHS provides guidance, tools, and support so that
these groups can work together to develop and coordinate a wide range of57


infrastructure protection activities.
56 Department of Homeland Security, “Food and Agriculture Incident Annex” to the
National Response Plan, July 17, 2006 [http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/
nrp_foodagi ncidentannex.pdf]
57 Department of Homeland Security, National Infrastructure Protection Plan, Draft 2.0,
January 2006, [http://www.ni2ciel.org/NIPC/Revised-Draft-NIPP-v2.0.pdf].

Sector Coordinating Councils are self-organized, self-run, and self-governed
organizations of key stakeholders within a sector, serving as the government’s
principal point of entry into each sector. A Government Coordinating Council is the
government counterpart to a SCC, comprised of federal, state and local
representatives, enabling coordinating across government agencies and jurisdictions.
The Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council (FASCC) has seven sub-
councils with representatives from private corporations and associations, including:58
!Agricultural production inputs and services
!Animal producers
!Plant producers
!Processors and manufacturers
!Restaurants and food service
! Retail
!Warehousing and logistics
The agriculture SCC has been successful among the early SCC’s, and is used
by DHS as a model for developing other sector councils. The FASCC’s recent
accomplishments include reviewing and commenting on drafts of the National
Infrastructure Protection Plan, developing a Food and Agriculture Sector Specific
Plan (SSP), sharing best practices, identifying gaps in security or preparedness, and
striving to improve communications and information sharing capabilities among
companies and government.
Strategic Partnership Program Agroterrorism (SPAA). The Strategic
Partnership Program Agroterrorism initiative is another public-private partnership to
assess vulnerabilities in the agriculture and food industry. Four government agencies
including DHS, USDA, FDA, and FBI collaborate with private industry and states
to conduct site surveys of specific private industries within the agriculture industry.59
The intent is to:
!Determine critical points in the food and agriculture system that may
be the target of a terrorist attack,
!Identify early indicators and warnings that would signify planning
and/or preparation for an attack,
!Develop a focus for intelligence collection strategies around these
indicators and warnings, and
!Develop mitigation strategies for early detection, deterrence,
disruption, interdiction, and prevention.
In 2005, the SPPA began working with the Food and Agriculture Sector
Coordinating Council and the Government Coordinating Council to identify about

50 sites to visit in 2006-2007. The sites are to span the entire food production cycle.


58 Food and Agriculture Sector Coordinating Council, [http://cipp.gmu.edu/psprograms/
FoodAgSCC.php].
59 Food and Drug Administration, “Strategic Partnership Program Agroterrorism (SPPA)
Initiative,” August 2005, [http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/agroterr.html].

Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). An Information
Sharing and Analysis Center is an industry contact point to federal law enforcement
and intelligence community (including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Central
Intelligence Agency, and National Security Agency). The objective to detect
potential threats, assess, prevent attacks, and investigate and respond to attacks
against critical infrastructure.
The Food and Agriculture ISAC was created in February 2002. Members
generate information on many of food safety and bio-security related topics such as
security threats, food system vulnerabilities, product contamination, microbial
isolates, and reports of consumer illness from food. The information is shared
confidentially with the law enforcement and intelligence community, with the60
expectation that relevant intelligence will returned to the industry.
The ISAC network is similar to an FBI program for public-private information
sharing called Infragard. In 2005, a new FBI program called AgGard was created to
encourage members of the agricultural community to use a secure internet connection
to share information and alert each other, state and local law enforcement, and the
FBI of suspicious activity.
Laboratories and Research Centers
Since September 11, 2001, and the ensuing recognition of agroterrorism as a
threat to critical infrastructure, the United States has expanded its agricultural
laboratory and diagnostic infrastructure. New federal laboratories have been
completed, existing facilities have been upgraded, and networks of federal, state and
university laboratories have been created to share information and process samples.
National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF). The Department of
Homeland Security is proceeding with plans to replace the aging Plum Island Animal
Disease Center with a new “National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility” for research on
high consequence foreign animal diseases. Congress has appropriated funds for
planning and site selection. DHS is beginning the conceptual design process, and has
reviewed submissions from universities and other locations interested in hosting the
new facility.61 In August 2006, it selected a long list of 18 sites in 11 states for
further consideration.
Currently, the premier U.S. facility for research on foreign animal diseases is the
Plum Island Animal Disease Center, located on an island off the northeastern tip of
Long Island, NY. The property of Plum Island was transferred from USDA to DHS
in the Homeland Security Act (P.L. 107-296), although personnel from both USDA
and DHS still conduct research there. Built in the 1950s, many experts agree that the
50-year old Plum Island facility is nearing the end of its useful life and unable to
provide the necessary capacity for current biosecurity research. Plum Island is the
only facility in the United States that is currently approved to study high-consequence


60 Food and Agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis Center, [http://www.fmi.org/isac].
61 DHS, “National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility,” [http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/
editorial/editorial_0762.xml].

foreign livestock diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), because its
laboratory has been equipped with a specially designed BSL-3 bio-containment area
for large animals that meets specific safety measures.
Live FMD virus may be used only at coastal islands such as Plum Island, unless
the Secretary of Agriculture specifically authorizes the use of the virus on the U.S.
mainland (21U.S.C. 113a). Because of this geographical restriction in statute, some
observers question whether the proposed NBAF should be built on the mainland or
on an island similar to Plum Island. Locating the facility in regions where cattle or
other livestock are raised may pose too great a risk if security features are breached
by terrorism, critics say.
Biosafety levels (BSLs) are combinations of laboratory facilities, safety
equipment, and laboratory practices. The four levels are designated in ascending
order, by degree of protection provided to personnel, the environment, and the
community.62 BSL-1 laboratories handle pathogens of minimal hazard. The highest
level laboratories, BSL-4, handle high-risk, life-threatening diseases with a high risk
of aerosol transmission. Only a handful of BSL-4 labs exist in the U.S., including
a CDC lab in Athens, Georgia, and an Army lab in Ft. Dietrick, Maryland.
Agricultural BSL labs can house large animals for experiments, and thus are less
common than regular BSL laboratories. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center and
the USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) in Ames, IA, are the
only BSL-3 agriculture facilities in the United States.
As the number and importance of zoonotic diseases increase (such as with the
recent discovery of Nipah and Hendra viruses, and the ongoing concern over foot and
mouth disease), scientists increasingly need BSL-4 laboratories to study zoonotic
pathogens and BSL-4 agriculture facilities to work with those pathogens in host
animals. The U.S. currently has no BSL-4 agricultural facility; instead, scientists
must conduct experiments at facilities in Winnipeg, Canada, or Australia.63
The concept for the NBAF was first outlined in the FY2006 budget request for
DHS. At that time, the estimated design and construction cost was $451 million.
The current time line calls for construction to be completed in FY2013.64 DHS began
the process in FY2005 by using $3 million for a planning and feasibility study. In
FY2006, Congress appropriated $23 million specifically for the NBAF in the DHS
appropriations act (P.L. 109-90). The FY2007 DHS appropriation (P.L. 109-295)
furthers that commitment with a second installment of $23 million for pre-
construction activities.


62 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Health
(NIH), Biosafety in Microbiological and Biomedical Laboratories, 4th edition, 1999,
[ h t t p : / / www.c d c . go v/ od/ ohs / b i o s f t y/ b mb l 4 / b mb l 4 t o c .ht m] .
63 James Roth, DVM. “Agroterrorism: Hazards to Livestock and Public Health,”
presentation to International Symposium on Agroterrorism, May 2005
[http://www.fbi-isa.org/library/roth_files/frame.htm] .
64 DHS, “NBAF Timeline” [http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NBAF_Timeline.pdf].

With the FY2006 appropriation, DHS issued a request for “Expressions of
Interest” (EOI) in January 2006.65 Parties interested in hosting the facility (such as
federal agencies, State and local governments, private industry, and universities)
were invited to reply by March 31, 2006. Evaluation criteria for site selection include
capacity for research, workforce availability, construction and operation, and
community acceptance. DHS received 29 expressions of interest from 20 states and
the District of Columbia. In August 2006, DHS released a subset of 18 sites in 11
states that will be considered further.66 By the end of 2006, DHS expects to narrow
the list further and initiate an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analysis. A
final location will be chosen early in 2008.
Conceptual design began in April 2006 by soliciting architect and engineering
firms. DHS plans to award this contract later in 2006, with conceptual design to
begin shortly thereafter. This level of design is not site specific and can proceed
concurrently with site selection and environmental impact statements. The
conceptual design process may update the current projected total cost of $451
million. Construction is scheduled to begin in FY2010 and be completed in FY2013.
USDA Laboratories. Within USDA, several agencies have upgraded their
facilities to respond better to the threat of agroterrorism by expanding laboratory
capacity and adding physical security. These programs include the ARS research on
foreign animal diseases at the Plum Island Animal Disease Center in New York (the
physical facility is now managed and operated by DHS) and the ARS Southeast
Poultry Research Lab in Athens, Georgia.
Three major USDA laboratories are consolidating operations in a new BSL-3
agriculture facility in Ames, Iowa, called the National Centers for Animal Health.
These include the ARS National Animal Disease Center (NADC), the APHIS
National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL), and the APHIS Center for
Veterinary Biologics (CVB). The complex will be USDA’s largest animal health
center for research, diagnosis and product evaluation. The NVSL is especially visible
because it makes the final, official determination for the presence of most animal
diseases when samples are submitted for testing.
USDA also cooperates with other federal agencies on counterterrorism research
and preparedness, including the ARS and APHIS partnership with the U.S. Army
Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases at Ft. Dietrick, Maryland. The Ft.
Dietrick site offers USDA access to additional high-level biosecurity laboratories,


65 DHS, “National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF): Notice of Request for
Expression of Interest for Potential Sites,” Federal Register, Vol. 71, p. 3107
[http://www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/NBAF_EOI.pdf].
66 The August 2006 subset of potential sites after the first cut include 18 locations in the
following 11 states: California, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky/Tennessee, Maryland, Missouri,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. Other locations expressing
interest but removed from consideration include Alabama, Arkansas/Louisiana, Arizona,
Colorado, Florida, Iowa, North Dakota, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, District of Columbia-
based organizations with sites in New Jersey, Florida, Texas, and California, and the Plum
Island Animal Disease Center.

including a BSL-4 laboratory. In the recent past, USDA has conducted research on
soybean rust at Ft. Dietrick.
Laboratory Networks. Several laboratory networks have been created for
animal, plant, food, and general bioterrorism issues. The primary goals of these
networks are to improve the diagnosis and detection of a deliberate or accidental
disease outbreak. Primary examples are the CDC-led Laboratory Response Network
(LRN), the USDA-funded National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) and its sister
group the National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN), and the joint
FDA/FSIS Food Emergency Response Network (FERN).
!Laboratory Response Network (LRN).67 The Laboratory Response
Network, created by CDC, is a national and international network of
about 140 laboratories equipped to respond quickly to acts of
chemical or biological terrorism, emerging infectious diseases, and
other public health threats and emergencies. The network includes
federal labs (CDC, USDA, FDA), state and local public health labs,
military labs, food labs, environmental labs, veterinary labs, and
international labs in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
!National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN).68 The National Plant
Diagnostic Network is a collective of land grant university plant
disease and pest diagnostic facilities organized by USDA. The
national network is led by five regional labs (Cornell, Florida,
Michigan State, Kansas State, and California at Davis) and one
support lab (Texas Tech). The NPDN facilitates the initial
detection, positive identification, national notification, and
coordinated response to pests and pathogens by intentional,
accidental, or natural means. By using common communications
and laboratory testing protocols, the network allows efficient, timely,
and secure exchange of plant disease information.
!National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN). This
network, created by USDA and the American Association of
Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, augments federal resources
with extensive state and university laboratories to allow better
detection and response to animal health emergencies. These labs
provide timely and consistent methods, and meet epidemiological
reporting standards. The USDA National Veterinary Services
Laboratory (NVSL) serves as the central reference laboratory. State
and university labs perform non-emergency surveillance testing,
provide surge capacity during outbreaks, assist with epidemiologic
investigations, and conducting followup surveillance.


67 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Facts About the Laboratory
Response Network” [http://www.bt.cdc.gov/lrn/factsheet.asp].
68 National Plant Diagnostic Network [http://www.npdn.org].

!Food Emergency Response Network (FERN). The Food
Emergency Response Network was established jointly by the Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Food Safety and Inspection
Service (FSIS), and integrates at least 72 state and federal
laboratories that analyze food samples implicated in threats, terrorist
events, or contamination. It links local, state, and federal
information to allow officials to prevent or respond to incidents of
contaminated food.
Another important network, albeit not a laboratory network, is the Extension
Disaster Education Network (EDEN).69 EDEN is sponsored by USDA, and links
extension educators from various states and disciplines to share resources. EDEN
helps extension agents build relationships with local and state emergency
management networks, provide educational programs on disaster preparation and
mitigation to citizens and local leaders, train extension personnel for appropriate
roles during disasters, and collaborates during recovery.
DHS Centers of Excellence. In April 2004, the DHS Science and
Technology Directorate announced the department’s first university research grants
for agriculture as part of its “centers for excellence” program.70 The University of
Minnesota and Texas A&M will share $33 million over three years. Texas A&M’s
new Center for Foreign Animal and Zoonotic Disease Research will study high
consequence animal diseases. The University of Minnesota’s new Center for Post-
Harvest Food Protection and Defense will establish best practices for the
management of and response to food contamination events. Texas A&M is
partnering with four universities and will receive $18 million; Minnesota is
partnering with ten universities and will receive $15 million.
The House Appropriations Committee addressed agroterrorism research in
report language for the FY2004 homeland security appropriations bill. The “centers
for excellence” program appears to fit the type of research the committee suggested.
Agro-terrorism research. The Committee is familiar with potential
agro/bioterrorism vulnerabilities, from animal and plant diseases to food chain
introductions. While some agro-terrorism research is already being done by the
Department of Agriculture, the Committee is aware of the need for more such
research, particularly in the areas of threats to field crops, farm animals, and food
in the processing and distribution chain. The Homeland Security Act of 2002
provides for coordination of research between the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) and other relevant federal agencies in various areas of research.
Because the Department of Agriculture (USDA) already possesses mechanisms,
authorities, and personnel to carry out needed agro/bioterrorism research, the
Committee expects to see effective coordination between the USDA and the
DHS to move such research forward in an effective and expeditious fashion. The
Committee expects USDA to coordinate with DHS to identify research gaps and
develop a plan, to include research priorities, for proceeding to fill such gaps.


69 Extension Disaster Education Network [http://www.eden.lsu.edu].
70 DHS press release, Apr. 27, 2004, at [http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?content=

3515].



Further, the Committee expects that non-government entities selected to carry out
research will be ones with proven expertise in agriculture research, and strong
familiarity with USDA animal and plant diagnostic laboratories and practices
(H.Rept. 108-193).
Federal Funding to Respond to Agroterrorism
This report treats federal funding for agroterrorism preparedness broadly,
including appropriations and user fees, both within USDA and DHS. However
some general activities that support agroterrorism preparedness, such as certain
intelligence and warning functions performed by the FBI and CIA, often cannot be
identified exclusively as agriculture spending, and thus cannot be included in this
report. However, items that can be identified specifically to agroterrorism
preparedness within the budgets of USDA and DHS are included.
The President’s annual budget request to Congress includes a government-wide
cross-cutting budget analysis of homeland security issues, as mandated by the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 (P.L.107-296, section 889).71 The budget request
includes details on the most recently passed appropriations law and the previous
fiscal year. Comprehensive details on agroterrorism funding are difficult, if not
impossible, to compute while appropriations bills are being debated in the House and
Senate. Legislative language rarely mentions specific amounts for agroterrorism, and
report language usually mentions only a few agroterrorism related items that the
appropriations committees wish to highlight. For a comprehensive accounting,
analysts must wait until the President’s budget is released.
In USDA, five agencies and three offices receive homeland security funding:
!Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
!Animal and Plant Health Inspection (APHIS)
!Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service
(CSREES)
!Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
!Economic Research Service (ERS)
!Departmental Administration and Executive Operations (including
Office of the Secretary, Homeland Security Staff (HSS), and Office
of Chief Information Officer (OCIO)).
In the DHS, two directorates receive funding related to agroterrorism:


71 Office of Management and Budget, FY2008 Budget of the United States Government:
Analytical Perspectives, “3. Homeland Security Funding Analysis,”
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2008/pdf/apers/crosscutting.pdf], and
“Appendix: Homeland Security Mission Funding by Agency and Budget Account,” at
[ h t t p : / / www.whi t e house.go v/ omb/ budget / f y2008/ pdf / a p_cd_r om/ homel and.pdf ] .

!Customs and Border Protection
!Science and Technology
Classifying spending on agroterrorism and homeland security requires
judgements about which programs are relevant, especially when some have dual
purposes.72 This subjectivity introduces discrepancies when agencies refine criteria
or definitions, or change the way activities are characterized in their homeland
security mission. In such cases, the most recently available data are used to update
prior year data.
Examples of dual-use programs for agricultural homeland security are animal
and plant health programs. These programs, such as border inspection and disease
surveillance existed before September 11, 2001, and would be needed at some level
due to natural and accidental disease outbreaks. However, the scale and scope of
these programs have been expanded primarily due to agroterrorism.
For budget and accounting purposes, all or part of dual-use activities may be
counted as homeland security spending, depending on each agency’s criteria. For
example, GAO reports that the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)
attributes 100% of an activity’s budget authority to homeland security if any of the
following questions apply:73
!Is this a new activity or program focus as a result of 9/11?
!Has the bulk of the program activity changed as a result of 9/11?
!Does the activity address international pest or disease outbreaks or
other acts of agro-bioterrorism?
!Was the activity initiated with homeland security supplemental
funds?
!Did APHIS receive enhanced homeland security funds for the
activity?
!Is the activity needed in order to comply with one or more Homeland
Security Presidential Directives or the Bioterrorism Act of 2002?
By Year and Source
Prior to September 11, 2001, USDA spent between $45-60 million in regular
annual appropriations to combat terrorism, primarily through border inspections and
research. User fees for border inspection added about $180 million in FY2002,
bringing the total funding (regular appropriations plus user fees) to about $225-240
million in FY2002. This range can be considered the starting baseline for homeland
security funding for agriculture (the regular FY2002 agriculture appropriations bill
was outlined prior to September 11, 2001, even though it was enacted about two
months later.)


72 Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Federal Funding for Homeland Security, July 20,

2005, at [http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/65xx/doc6566/7-20-HomelandSecurity.pdf].


73 GAO, Combating Terrorism: Determining and Reporting Federal Funding Data, GAO-

06-161, Jan. 17, 2006, p. 15-16 [http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06161.pdf].



Appropriations. Appropriations and user fees for agriculture-related
homeland security activities in USDA and DHS have more than tripled from the
$225 million “pre-September 11” baseline to $818 million in FY2007.
Counting the supplemental appropriations in FY2002-FY2003, and regular
annual appropriations and user fees for both USDA and DHS, homeland security
funding for agriculture has grown by 48% over five years, from $552 million in
FY2002 to $818 million in FY2007. As a percentage of non-defense budget
authority for homeland security, agriculture receives about 2.1% of the total. In
FY2002, the ratio was 2%, which fell to 1.4% in 2003, and has since risen to between

2.1% and 2.3% currently (Table 1).


Table 1. Percent of Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture
(budget authority in millions of dollars)
Fiscal year
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
actual actual actual actual actual est. request
Non-defense Homeland
Security Budget Authority27,72434,00533,81037,19538,16039,86543,644
Homeland Security Funding
for Agriculture (Table 2)5524856398078618181,018
Percent 2.0% 1.4% 1.9% 2.2% 2.3% 2.1% 2.3%
Source: CRS. Amounts for agriculture compiled by CRS; Non-defense total from Budget of the United States
Government: Analytical Perspectives, “3. Homeland Security Funding Analysis,” FY2005-FY2008,
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2008/pdf/apers/crosscutting.pdf], and GAO, Combating Terrorism:
Determining and Reporting Federal Funding Data, GAO-06-161, January 17, 2006, pp. 56-62, [http://www.gao.gov/
new.items/d06161.pdf].
The regular appropriation devoted to preparing for agroterrorism has grown
significantly since FY2002, and supplanted the need for further supplemental funding
(Figure 6). Regular annual appropriations for homeland security in USDA increased
more than three-fold from FY2002 to FY2003, and by 60% in each of FY2004 and
FY2005. In FY2006, the regular appropriation to USDA for homeland security
dropped by about 9%, and the estimate for FY2007 is another 19% decrease. The
Administration’s request for FY2008 calls for a 54% increase to make up for these
losses and to increase preparedness efforts even more.
Regular annual appropriations for agriculture in DHS are irregular and tied to
particular initiatives, such as university research grants or facility construction.
Supplemental Appropriations. Supplemental appropriations acts in 2002
and 2003, (P.L. 107-117 and P.L. 108-11) augmented the regular appropriations
acts, providing significant additional funds to rapidly increase the response to
agroterrorism vulnerabilities ($328 million and $100 million, respectively).
User fees. User fees to support agricultural border inspection have grown
with passenger and cargo volume, particularly in the immediate years following
September 11, 2001, when passenger volume dropped due to public concerns. In



FY2002, user fees for agricultural border inspections totaled $181 million. By
FY2005, that amount grew by 87% to $339 million, and another 24% into FY2006.
User fees fund about half of the total amount available in FY2007 for homeland
security in agriculture.
Figure 6. Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture,
by Source


1,200
1,000
s
800llar
600n do
io
400ill
m
200
0
2 002 200 3 2004 20 05 200 6 2 007 200 8
request
fiscal year
User fees (for border inspection)
DHS appropriations
USDA supplemental appropriation
USDA regular appropriation
Source: CRS.
By Agency
Figure 7 presents homeland security funding for agriculture by agencies in
USDA and DHS. APHIS (USDA) and CBP (DHS) conduct most of the activities
related to homeland security in agriculture. In FY2007, APHIS is expected to
account for 51% of homeland security spending on agriculture, and CBP about 33%.
Research agencies in USDA (ARS and CSREES) account for nearly 10%.
Much of the APHIS activity (about 43%) and all of the CBP activity in the
agriculture homeland security area have been for border inspections, predominantly
funded through user fees rather than appropriations. APHIS retains about 39% of the
total user fees collected each year, and transfers the rest to DHS for its Customs and
Border Patrol agency (Table 2).

Table 2. Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture, by Agency
(budget authority in millions of dollars)
Fiscal year
Depart m e nt 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Agency actual actual actual actual actual est. request
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
APHIS:
User fees for inspection181.2194.0313.5338.7417.9454.6494.1
- less transfers to DHS-69.0-194.0-208.0-240.5-272.6-299.6
= AQI user fees retained181.2125.0119.5130.7177.4182.0194.5
Appropriation 88.8 77.5 183.6 232.5 243.7 233.5 309.2
Subtotal APHIS270.0202.5303.1363.2421.1415.5503.7
ARS 175.0 154.6 31.3 151.2 93.8 33.5 106.8
CSREES 31.6 39.2 39.7 40.6 40.8 52.2
FSIS 15.0 8.7 13.1 19.5 17.4 17.4 39.1
Dept. Administration92.018.523.821.023.714.516.0
ERS 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0 1.0
Subtotal USDA
Regular appropriation42.8180.9292.0464.9420.2340.7524.3
Supplementals 328.0 110.0
User fees181.2125.0119.5130.7177.4182.0194.5
Subtotal USDA552.0415.9411.5595.6597.6522.7718.8
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) - selected activities in agriculture
CBP: AQI user fees received69.0194.0208.0240.5272.6299.6
S&T: Research centers33.0
S&T: New facilities3.023.023.0
Subtotal DHS (selected items)69.0227.0211.0263.5295.6299.6
Total of above
User fees (AQI)181.2194.0313.5338.7417.9454.6494.1
Appropriations 370.8 290.9 325.0 467.9 443.2 363.7 524.3
Total of above552.0484.9638.5806.6861.1818.31,018.4
Source: CRS. USDA figures for FY2003-FY2008 are from Budget of the United States Government: Analytical
Perspectives, Appendix: Homeland Security Mission Funding by Agency and Budget Account,” FY2005-FY2008
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2008/pdf/ap_cd_rom/homeland.pdf]; figures for FY2002 are from GAO,
Combating Terrorism: Determining and Reporting Federal Funding Data, GAO-06-161, Jan. 2006, p. 44-45
[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06161.pdf]. AQI user fees from USDAExplanatory Notes for Committee on
Appropriations,” various years. DHS figures were identified by CRS from DHSCongressional Budget
Justification,” FY2006-FY2008.



Figure 7. Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture, by Agency


FY2007, $818 million
S&T (DHS)

3%


CBP (DHS)

33%


APHIS (USDA)

51%


ERS (USDA)

0.1%


FSIS (USDA)

2%


CSREES Dept. Admin.
(USDA)(USDA)ARS (USDA)

5%2%4%


Source: CRS. Includes USDA and selected DHS projects.
By Function for Homeland Security
For the President’s annual budget request, agencies throughout the federal
government categorize their funding based on six mission areas (functions), as
defined in the National Strategy for Homeland Security:
!Intelligence and warning
!Border and transportation security
!Domestic counterterrorism
!Protecting critical infrastructure and key assets
!Defending against catastrophic threats
!Emergency preparedness and response
Figure 8 and Table 3 present the funding information by homeland security
function. As in every year since 2002, border inspections are the largest homeland
security activity for agriculture in FY2007, conducted jointly by USDA-APHIS and
DHS-CBP. Defending against catastrophic threats is the next largest activity,
particularly in APHIS, which includes monitoring, surveillance and laboratory
response capacity. Protecting critical infrastructure has been another large activity.

Emergency preparedness and intelligence have received relatively less funding.
Primary intelligence gathering is viewed more appropriately as the responsibility of
other federal agencies such as the FBI and CIA. These agencies track and act upon
bioterrorism information, sharing relevant information with USDA, DHS, and other
agencies.
Figure 8. Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture, by Function


FY2007, $818 million
Critical Intelligence
i nfras t ruc t ure1%

7%


Catastrophic
threats

28%


Border security

58%


Emergency
preparedness

6%


Source: CRS. Includes USDA and selected DHS projects.

Table 3. Homeland Security Funding for Agriculture, by Function
(budget authority in millions of dollars, including user fees)
Fiscal year
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Homeland Security Mission Areaactualactualactualactualest.request
Border and transportation security
USDA149.2148.4158.8 205.6210.2221.7
DHS 69.0 194.0 208.0 240.5 272.6 299.6
Subtotal 218.2 342.4 366.8 446.1 482.8 521.3
Protecting critical infrastructure
USDA 203.3 36.8 150.6 90.7 31.2 64.1
DHS3.023.023.0
Subtotal 203.3 36.8 153.6 113.7 54.2 64.1
Defending against catastrophic threats
USDA11.8 168.2222.7238.3226.0343.6
Emergency preparedness and response
USDA 50.8 57.3 57.2 57.8 50.1 67.1
DHS33.0
Subtotal 50.8 90.3 57.2 57.8 50.1 67.1
Intelligence and warning
USDA 0.8 0.8 6.3 5.2 5.2 22.3
Total 484.9 638.5 806.6 861.1 818.3 1018.4
Source: CRS. USDA figures from Budget of the United States Government: Analytical Perspectives, “Appendix:
Homeland Security Mission Funding by Agency and Budget Account,” FY2005-FY2008
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy2008/pdf/ap_cd_rom/homeland.pdf] and USDA Office of Budget and Policy
Analysis spreadsheets for FY2002. Border inspection user fees from USDAExplanatory Notes for Committee on
Appropriations,” various years. DHS figures identified by CRS from DHS “Congressional Budget Justification,
FY2006-FY2008, and categorized by CRS to be consistent with functions as in USDA.
Note: Does not include amounts which are not exclusive to agriculture, such as such as general intelligence and warning
functions in DHS or other agencies, or appropriations for border security in DHS (other than user fees) which are not
allocated by industry.
Chronology of Appropriations
The following list outlines appropriations acts that have provided funds for
homeland security related to agriculture and food since September 11, 2001.
!Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for FY2001 (P.L.

107-38; September 18, 2001). Within days of September 11,


Congress approved $40 billion in emergency supplemental
appropriations partitioned over three time periods. USDA received
no money for domestic homeland security programs in the first two
installments, but did receive an allocation in the final installment for
FY2002 (see FY2002 Emergency Supplemental Act below).



!FY2002 Agriculture Appropriations Act (P.L. 107-76; November
28, 2001). This regular annual appropriations act was outlined prior
to September 11, 2001, and provides the baseline amount for
homeland security functions in agriculture, without any particular
discussion of agroterrorism. The appropriation for homeland
security was not clearly defined, but was approximately $45-60
million. Together with user fees, the baseline for homeland security
for agriculture was about $225-240 million.
!FY2002 Emergency Supplemental Act (P.L. 107-117; January 10,
2002). Congress made the final $20 billion installment from the
FY2001 supplemental in Division B of the FY2002 Defense
Department Appropriation (“Transfers from the Emergency
Response Fund [ERF] Pursuant to P.L. 107-38”). USDA received
$328 million for homeland security programs. This supplemental
appropriation, however, preceded the creation of the Department of
Homeland Security, which resulted in some of the funds being
moved to DHS when border inspections and the Plum Island Animal
Disease Center were transferred DHS. USDA documents suggest
about $220 million were for functions transferred to DHS.
!FY2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Further Recovery
(P.L. 107-206; August 2, 2002). In this $28 billion supplemental
appropriation, Congress included about $123 million for USDA
programs related to homeland security. These amounts, however,
were designated among $5.1 billion of “contingent emergency
spending” that President Bush chose not to use, and thus the funds
were not available to USDA and other departments (see CRS Report
RL31406, Supplemental Appropriations for FY2002).
!FY2003 Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-7; February 20,
2003). This regular annual appropriations act provided $181 million
to USDA for homeland security activities.
!FY2003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act
(P.L. 108-11; April 16, 2003). Congress appropriated $110 million
to the Agricultural Research Service “for continued modernization
of facilities in Ames, Iowa, which will provide a laboratory building,
fixed equipment, and associated infrastructure” (H.Rept. 108-076).
!FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-199; January
23, 2004). This regular annual appropriations act provided $292
million for homeland security activities in USDA and $33 million in
university grants for agriculture biosecurity from DHS. Conferees
made the following statement about USDA’s homeland security
activities:
“[A]s of September 30, 2003, $80,000,000 remains available to the
Department from funds provided through the Emergency Response
Fund (ERF) [see discussion of P.L. 107-38 and P.L. 107-117 above],
of which nearly $9,000,000 is available to the Secretary. Since these



funds were provided, USDA has been one of the slowest Federal
agencies to obligate its ERF funds. The conferees are aware of
concerns about security, [and] urge the Secretary to act promptly to
address identified security needs and to advise the Committees on
Appropriations of needs for which additional funds may be
necessary” (H.Rept. 108-401).
!FY2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-447,
December 8, 2004). This regular annual appropriations act provided
$465 million for homeland security activities in USDA.
!FY2006 Homeland Security Appropriations Act (P.L. 109-90,
October 18, 2005). This regular annual appropriations act for DHS
(1) provides $23 million within Science and Technology directorate:
“to select a site for the National Bio and Agrodefense Facility
[NBAF] and perform other pre-construction activities...to protect
animal and public health from high consequence animal and
zoonotic diseases.” (2) Conferees also encourage the DHS: “to work
in conjunction with USDA and HHS and other organizations on
agroterrorism and animal-based bioterrorism, including the
development and stockpiling of veterinary vaccines ... [and with]
one or more states to develop a model integrated agricultural
response system, utilizing geographic information systems that
identify critical agricultural infrastructure.” (3) Conferees also
directed that DHS coordinate with USDA to submit a report “which
details the specific actions each agency will take, or has already
taken, to address the apparent 32% reduction in agriculture
inspections and the lack of coordination between [DHS and USDA]”
(H.Rept. 109-241).
!FY2006 Agriculture Appropriations Act (P.L. 109-97, November
10, 2005). This regular annual appropriations act provided $420
million for homeland security activities in USDA.
!FY2007 Homeland Security Appropriations Act (P.L. 109-295,
October 4, 2006). This regular annual appropriations act for DHS
(1) provided a second installment of $23 million for the National Bio
and Agro-defense Facility, (2) instructed DHS to prepare a report
describing improvements in the targeting of agricultural inspections
and coordination for inspections with the Department of Agriculture.
(H.Rept. 109-699).
!FY2007 Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution (P.L.
110-5, February 15, 2007). The year-long continuing resolution for
FY2007 generally funds USDA (and other federal departments with
the exception of DHS and the Department of Defense) at FY2006
levels with minor adjustments.



FY2008 Budget Request
FY2008 USDA “Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative”. In its annual
budget request, USDA highlights several programs in a “Food and Agriculture
Defense Initiative.” The initiative does not include all homeland security programs
for agriculture, but is rather a list of priority programs that USDA wishes to highlight
during the appropriations process. The initiative was first mentioned in the FY2005
budget request. For example, border security activities have not been included in the
initiative, even though they are included in the broader measure of homeland security
funding presented on previous pages. For FY2006, appropriations for the Food and
Agriculture Defense Initiative totaled $247 million, but total USDA homeland
security appropriations as reported by OMB were $420 million (excluding user fees).
USDA’s budget for FY2008 calls for significantly increased spending on several
agroterrorism preparedness programs. The Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative
requests an FY2008 appropriation of $340 million, nearly double the $177 estimated
for items in the initiative for FY2007 (Table 4). Using OMB’s more comprehensive
analysis of homeland security funding for agriculture cited on previous pages, the
requested FY2008 increase in homeland security funding for agriculture is 54%, up
from $340 million estimated for FY2007 to $524 million requested for FY2008
(Table 2).
The largest item in the initiative for FY2007 is enhanced surveillance by APHIS
of animal and plant health. The initiative includes a new $16 million request to begin
construction for a new poultry research laboratory in Athens, Georgia.
Many of the initiative’s programs would improve the Federal government’s
ability to more quickly identify and characterize an agroterrorist attack through
surveillance and monitoring. In its justification for the initiative, USDA says these
activities will promote data sharing and joint analysis among federal, state and local
levels. An example of such coordination is the Food Emergency Response Network
(FERN) of laboratories. These computer networks allow labs to improve information
sharing, rapid identification, and consistent diagnostic methods for contaminated
foods. Another preparedness effort in the initiative is the National Veterinary
Vaccine Bank and the National Plant Disease Recovery System (both of which are
mentioned in HSPD-9).
FY2008 DHS Budget Initiative. The FY2008 DHS budget request does not
include any individual line items for agriculture. Ongoing border inspection and
science and technology activities are mentioned, but no specific allocations or
requests are mentioned.



Table 4. USDA Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative
(million dollars)
F Y 2006 F Y 2007 F Y 2008
Age n c y actual est. request
Food Defense:
Food Emergency Response NetworkFSIS2219
Surveillance and monitoringFSIS333
FSIS enhanced inspectionsFSIS222
Lab upgrades, physical securityFSIS336
Education, training, otherFSIS224
Other FSIS activitiesFSIS555
ResearchARS9923
Subtotal food defense262662
Agriculture Defense:
Research ARS 25 23 58
National Plant Disease RecoveryARS226
Regional Diagnostic NetworkCSREES101014
Higher educ. agrosecurity programCSREES005
Enhanced surveillanceAPHIS8777119
Bi o-surveillance APHIS 2 2 3
Plant safeguarding activitiesAPHIS171723
Select agentsAPHIS337
National Veterinary Stockpile APHIS338
Other APHIS activitiesAPHIS141419
Subtotal agriculture defense163151262
Subtotal, ongoing programs189177324
Ames , Iowa, BSL-3 facilityARS58
Athens, Georgia, Poultry labARS16
Total, Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative247177340
Total USDA homeland security appropriation
(Table 2)420341524
Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative as % of
Total USDA homeland security appropriation59%52%65%
Source: USDA, Budget Summary and Annual Performance Plan: FY2008, p. 14-16
[ h t t p : / / www. obpa.usd a.go v/budsum/fy08budsum.pdf].



Possible Pathogens in an Agroterrorist Attack
Of the hundreds of animal and plant pathogens and pests available to an
agroterrorist, perhaps fewer than a couple of dozen represent significant economic
threats. Determinants of this level of threat are the agent’s contagiousness and
potential for rapid spread, and its international status as a “reportable” pest or disease
(i.e., subject to international quarantine) under rules of the World Organization for
Animal Health (also commonly known as the OIE, the Office International des
Epizooties).74
A widely accepted view among scientists is that livestock are more susceptible
to agroterrorism than cultivated plants. Much of this has to do with the success of
efforts to systematically eliminate animals diseases from U.S. herds, which leaves
current herds either unvaccinated or relatively unmonitored for such diseases by
farmers and some local veterinarians. Once infected, livestock can often act as the
vector for continuing to transmit the disease, facilitating an outbreak’s spread,
especially when live animals are transported. Certain animal diseases may be more75
attractive to terrorists because they can be zoonotic, or transmissible to humans.
In contrast, a number of plant pathogens continue to exist in small areas of the
U.S. and continue to infect limited areas of plants each year, making outbreaks and
control efforts more routine. Moreover, plant pathogens generally are more difficult
to manipulate from a technical perspective. Some plant pathogens require particular
environmental conditions of humidity, temperature, or wind to take hold or spread.
Other plant diseases may take a longer time than an animal disease to become
established or achieve a level of destruction that a terrorist may desire.
Animal Pathogens
The Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (Subtitle B of P.L. 107-

188, the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act)


created the current, official list of animal pathogens that are of greatest concern for
agroterrorism. The list is specified in the select agent rules implemented by USDA-
APHIS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS). The act requires that these lists (Table 5) be
reviewed at least every two years.


74 The OIE is an international organization created in 1924 with 166 member countries. It
is a well-respected information clearinghouse for animal diseases and health. Member
countries report diseases that occur on their territory, and the OIE disseminates the
information, allowing other countries to take preventive action. The OIE also analyses
scientific information on animal disease control, provides technical support, and develops
normative documents that are recognized by the World Trade Organization for international
trade and sanitary rules; see [http://www.oie.int].
75 Some of the biological pathogens of concern to agriculture are discussed in CRS Report
RL32391, Small-scale Terrorist Attacks Using Chemical and Biological Agents: An
Assessment Framework and Preliminary Comparisons, by Dana Shea and Frank Gottron.

The select agent list for animal pathogens draws heavily from the enduring and
highly respected OIE lists of high-concern pathogens. The select agent list is
comprised of an APHIS-only list (of concern to animals) and an overlap list of agents
selected both by APHIS and CDC (of concern to both animals and humans).76
OIE List. Prior to the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act, the commonly
accepted animal diseases of concern were all of the OIE’s “List A” diseases and some
of the “List B” diseases. In 2004, the OIE replaced its Lists A and B with a single77
list that is more compatible with the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement (SPS)
of the World Trade Organization (WTO). The new OIE list classifies diseases78
equally, giving each the same degree of importance in international trade. Many of
these OIE-listed diseases are included in the select agent list (Table 5).
The OIE’s List A diseases were transmissible animal diseases that had the
potential for very serious and rapid spread, irrespective of national borders. List A
diseases had serious socioeconomic or public health consequences and were of major
importance in international trade. List B diseases were transmissible diseases
considered to be of socioeconomic or public health importance within countries and
significant in international trade. In creating the new list, OIE reviewed its criteria
for including a disease, and the disease or epidemiological events that require
member countries to file reports. Nearly all of the former List A and List B diseases
are included in the new single OIE list.
Select Agents List. The regulations establishing the select agent list for
animals (9 CFR 121) set forth the requirements for possession, use and transfer of
these biological agents or toxins. They are intended to ensure safe handling and for
security to protect the agents from use in domestic or international terrorism. APHIS
and CDC determined that the biological agents and toxins on the list have the
potential to pose a severe threat to agricultural production or food products.
The 23 animal diseases listed exclusively by APHIS in 9 CFR 121.3 — the left
column of Table 5 — include 20 of the OIE-listed diseases and three other disease
agents (Akabane, Camel pox, and Menangle) considered to be emerging animal
health risks for terrorism. The much larger OIE list includes other diseases that are
not listed as “select agents.” However, the select agent list was created to account
for the additional risks perceived to be posed by terrorism.


76 For descriptions of the diseases listed in Table 5, see the United States Animal Health
Association’s “Gray Book,” at [http://www.vet.uga.edu/vpp/gray_book/FAD/index.htm],
and the OIE’s “Technical Disease Cards,” at [http://www.oie.int/eng/maladies/en_mal.htm].
Overlap diseases and agents are described by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) at [http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/agentlist-category.asp].
77 OIE, Terrestrial Animal Health Code, 13th edition, May 2004, at [http://www.oie.int/eng/
normes/mcode/en_sommaire.htm] .
78 Bernard Vallat, “The OIE paves the way for a new animal disease notification system,”
Editorials from the (OIE) Director General, April 2004, at [http://www.oie.int/eng/Edito/
en_edito_apr04.htm] .

Table 5. Livestock Diseases in the Select Agent List
Animal diseases and agents/toxins listedOverlap diseases and agents/toxins listed
exclusively by APHISby both APHIS and CDC
9 CFR 121.39 CFR 121.4
OIE classOIE class
African horse sicknessEAnthrax (Bacillus anthracis)M
African swine feverSBotulinum neurotoxins
AkabaneBotulinum neurotoxin-producing species of
ClostridiumAvian influenza (highly pathogenic)A
Bluetongue (exotic)MBrucellosis of cattle (Brucella abortus)B
Bovine spongiform encephalopathyBBrucellosis of sheep (Brucella melitensis)C
Camel pox Brucellosis of swine (Brucella suis)S
Classical swine fever SGlanders (Burkholderia mallei)E
Contagious caprine pleuropneumoniaCMelioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei)
Contagious bovine pleuropneumoniaBClostridium perfringens epsilon toxin
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)M(Valley fever) Coccidioides immitis
Goat poxCQ fever (Coxiella burnetii)M
Heartwater (Cowdria ruminantium)MEastern equine encephalitisE
Japanese encephalitisETularemia (Francisella tularensis)L
Lumpy skin diseaseMHendra virus (of horses)
Malignant catarrhal feverBNipah virus (of pigs)
Menangle virusRift Valley feverM
Newcastle disease (exotic)AShigatoxin
Peste des petits ruminantsCStaphylococcal enterotoxins
RinderpestBT-2 toxin
Sheep pox CVenezuelan equine encephalitisE
Swine vesicular disease S
Vesicular stomatitis M
Source: 9 CFR 121.3(b) and (d), supplemented with common disease names as appropriate.
OIE classes include diseases affecting multiple species (M), cattle/bovine (B), sheep and goats/caprine
(C), horses/equine (E), pigs/swine (S), birds/avain (A), and rabbits/lagomorphs (L).
The 20 diseases and overlap agents/toxins included by both APHIS and CDC
in 9 CFR 121.4 — the right column of Table 5 — pose a risk to both human and
animal health.The overlap list includes ten OIE-listed diseases, including anthrax,
brucellosis of cattle, brucellosis of sheep, brucellosis of swine, glanders, Rift Valley
fever, Q fever, Eastern equine encephalitis, tularemia, and Venezuelan equine
encephalitis.
Analysis. The select agent list designates and regulates pathogens, not
diseases, by regulating access to and handling of high-consequence pathogens. The
overlap list is more comprehensive than a disease-only list, because certain pathogens



may not cause a disease, per se, but may cause symptoms such as food poisoning or
central nervous systems responses.
Some of select agent pathogens receive more attention than others. For example,
foot and mouth disease (FMD) is probably the most frequently mentioned disease
when agroterrorism is discussed, due to its ease of use, ability to spread rapidly, and
potential for great economic damage. In testimony before the Senate Governmental
Affairs Committee on November 19, 2003, Dr. Thomas McGinn of the North
Carolina Department of Agriculture described a simulation of an FMD attack by a
terrorist at a single location. Only after the 5th day of the attack would the disease be
detected, by which time it may have spread to 23 states. By the 8th day, 23 million
animals may need to be destroyed in 29 states.79
On the other hand, the causative agent of bovine spongiform encephalopathy
(BSE, or “mad cow disease”) is considered dangerous enough to be a select agent,
even though mad cow disease is less likely to be a terrorist’s choice than other
diseases. With BSE, infection is not certain, symptoms take years to manifest, and
the disease may not be detected — all making credit for an attack more doubtful.
Widespread animal diseases like brucellosis, influenza, or tuberculosis receive
relatively less attention than FMD, hog cholera, or Newcastle disease. However,
emerging diseases such as Nipah virus, Hendra virus, and the H5N1 strain of avian
influenza (zoonotic diseases that have infected people, mostly in Asia) can be lethal
since vaccines are elusive or have not been developed.
Plant Pathogens
The Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 (Subtitle B of P.L. 107-
188) also instructed APHIS and CDC to create the current official list of potential
plant pathogens. The Federal government lists biological agents and toxins for plants
in 7 CFR 331.3 (Table 6). The act requires that these lists be reviewed at least every80
two years, and revised as necessary.
Prior to the act, there was not a commonly recognized list of the most dangerous
plant pathogens, although several diseases were usually mentioned and are now
included in the APHIS select agent list.
The list of seven biological agents and toxins in 7 CFR 331.3 was compiled by
the Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) program in APHIS, in consultation with
USDA’s Agricultural Research Service; Forest Service; Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service; and the American Phytopathological Society. The
listed agents and toxins are viruses, bacteria, or fungi that can pose a severe threat to


79 S.Hrg. 108-491, Agroterrorism: The Threat to America’s Breadbasket, Senate Committee
on Governmental Affairs, Nov. 19, 2003, pp. 10 and 65 [http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/
cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=108_senate_hearings&docid =f:91045.wais.pdf].
80 The list originally included soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) and Plum pox (Plum
pox potyvirus), which were later removed. For example, when soybean rust became
endemic in the southern United States, access as a “select agent” became less important.

a number of important crops, including potatoes, rice, corn, and citrus. Because the
pathogens can cause widespread crop losses and economic damage, they could
potentially be used by terrorists.
Other plant pathogens not included in the select agent list possibly could be used
against certain crops or geographic regions. Examples include Karnal bunt, citrus
canker, and soybean rust, all of which currently exist in the U.S. in regions
quarantined or under surveillance by USDA. As with other agents, the effectiveness
of an attack to spread such a disease may be dependent on environmental conditions
and difficult to achieve.
Table 6. Plant Diseases in the Select Agent List
Plant diseases caused by...the select agents listed in 7 CFR 331.3
Citrus greeningLiberobacter africanus, L. asiaticus
Philippine downy mildew (of corn)Peronosclerospora philippinensis
Bacterial wilt, brown rot (of potato)Ralstonia solanacearum, race 3, biovar 2
Brown stripe downy mildew (of corn)Sclerophthora rayssiae var. zeae
Potato wart or potato cankerSynchytrium endobioticum
Bacterial leaf streak (of rice)Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola
Citrus variegated chlorosisXylella fastidiosa
Source: 7 CFR 331.3(a), supplemented with common disease names as appropriate.
Countering the Threat
The goal of the U.S. animal and plant health safeguarding system is to prevent
the introduction and establishment of exotic pests and diseases, to mitigate their
effects when present, and to eradicate them when feasible. In the past, introductions
of pests and pathogens were presumed to be unintentional and occurred through
natural migration across borders or accidental movement by international commerce
(passengers, conveyance, or cargo). However, a system designed for accidental or
natural outbreaks is not sufficient for defending against intentional attack.
Consequently, the U.S. system is being upgraded to address the reality of
agroterrorism.
Different analysts and agencies have various ways to outline a response for
agroterrorism. The National Research Council outlines a three-pronged strategy for
countering the threat of agroterrorism:81
!Deterrence and prevention
!Detection and response
!Recovery and management


81 National Research Council (2003), p. 41-59.

Even though no foreign terrorist attacks on crops or livestock have occurred in
the United States, government agencies and private businesses have not taken the
threat lightly. Biosecurity is an increasingly prominent among food manufacturers,
merchandisers, retailers, and commercial farmers. Many agribusinesses have
prepared response plans or added security measures to protect their product and brand
names, ranging from input sources to processing and retail distribution networks.
Deterrence and Prevention
Primary prevention and deterrence interventions for foreign pests and diseases
include international treaties and standards (such as the International Plant Protection
Convention, and those of the OIE/World Organization for Animal Health), bilateral
and multilateral cooperative efforts, off-shore activities in host countries, port-of-
entry inspections, quarantine, treatment, and post-import tracking of plants, animals
and their products.
Every link in the agricultural production chain is susceptible to attack with a
biological weapon. Traditionally the first defense against a foreign animal or plant
disease has been to try to keep it out of the country. Agricultural inspectors at foreign
pre-clearance inspections and at the U.S. borders are the first line of defense.82
Smuggling interdiction efforts can act as deterrents before biological agents reach
their target.
DHS and USDA already conduct such inspection and quarantine practices, but
continued oversight is necessary to determine which preparedness activities and
threats need more attention. Off-shore activities include pre-clearance inspection by
APHIS of U.S. imports before products leave their port of origin. APHIS has
personnel in at least 27 host countries. Although many of these inspections programs
were built to target unintentional threats, they are being augmented with personnel
and technology to look for intentional threats.
Various U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies collect information
about biological weapons that could be used against U.S. agriculture. Building and
maintaining a climate of information sharing between USDA, DHS, and the
intelligence community is necessary, especially so that agriculture is not overlooked
compared to other infrastructure and human targets.
Once inside the U.S., many parts of the food production chain may be
susceptible to attack with a biological weapon. For example, terrorists may have
unmonitored access to geographically remote crop fields and livestock feedlots.
Diseases may infect herds more rapidly in modern concentrated confinement
livestock operations than in open pastures. An undetected disease may spread rapidly
because livestock are transported more frequently and over greater distances between


82 For more discussion of current border inspections practices and data on past agricultural
and other inspections programs, see CRS Report RL32399, Border Security: Inspections
Practices, Policies, and Issues, by Ruth Wasem et al.

farms, and to processing plants. Processing plants and shipping containers need to
be secured and/or tracked to prevent tampering.
An important line of defense is biosecurity — the use of preventive security
measures against pathogens. On farms, biosecurity includes farm management
practices that both protect animals and crops from the introduction of infectious
agents and contain a disease to prevent its rapid spread within a herd or to other
farms. Biosecurity practices include structural enclosures to limit outside exposure
to people and wild animals, and the cleaning and disinfection of people, clothing,
vehicles, equipment, and supplies entering the farm. USDA promotes such practices
for poultry in a program called “Biosecurity for the Birds.”83
Most farm specialists agree that livestock farmers are increasingly aware of the
importance of biosecurity measures, particularly since the FMD outbreaks in
European cattle and the avian flu and exotic Newcastle infections in U.S. poultry.
More farm operators are restricting visitors or requiring them to wear boot covers or
other protective clothing to guard against bringing in disease. Regardless of the
reason for following biosecurity measures (terrorism or accidents), these precautions
help prepare farms against diseases.
Detection and Response
In the FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-199), the conference
committee made the following observation about agroterrorism preparedness:
“The conferees agree that emergency preparedness related to field crops, farm
animals and food processing and distribution is of critical importance, and that
the agriculture and food sectors are part of the critical infrastructure requiring
heightened attention and protection. Given the integral roles of state and local
governments and the private sector in detecting, deterring and responding to acts
of agro-terrorism, the conferees expect the Department of Agriculture and the
Department of Homeland Security to coordinate efforts in assisting states,
particularly by providing financial and technical support to initiatives oriented
toward interstate cooperation in joint preparedness initiatives. The conferees are
particularly interested in those states that have developed or are currently
developing coordinated interstate initiatives” (H.Rept. 108-401for P.L. 108-

199).


Because biological attacks on crops and livestock may not be immediately
apparent, existing frameworks for detecting, identifying, reporting, tracking, and
managing natural and accidental disease outbreaks need to be upgraded to combat
agroterrorism. Appropriate responses are being developed based on specific
pathogens, targets, and other circumstances that may surround an attack.
The exact methods for control and eradication operations are difficult to predict.
Past experience and simulations have shown that day-to-day decisions would be
made using “decision trees” that include factors such as the geographical spread,


83 USDA-APHIS, “Biosecurity for the Birds: Biosecurity Tips: 6 Ways To Prevent Poultry
Disease” [http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/birdbiosecurity/tips.html].

rates of infestation, available personnel, public sentiment, and industry cooperation.
Response procedures are outlined in the APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine
(PPQ) Emergency Programs Manual84 and the APHIS Veterinary Services (VS)
Federal Emergency Response Plan for an Outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease or
Other Highly Contagious Diseases.85 The National Response Plan (NRP) also
discusses USDA’s role in responding to terrorist attacks or other disasters.
In an outbreak, damage is proportional to the time it takes to first detect the
disease. If a foreign disease is introduced, responsibility for recognizing initial
symptoms rests with farmers, producers, veterinarians, plant pathologists and
entomologists. But farmers sometimes are reluctant to voluntarily test crops or
livestock for fear of economic loss or professional stature. Cooperative Extension
Service agents at state universities are receiving additional training on recognizing
the likely symptoms of an agroterrorism attack.
Effective detection depends on a heightened sense of awareness, and on the
ability to rapidly determine the level of threat (e.g., developing and deploying rapid
disease diagnostic tools). Lessons from disease outbreaks, including the 2001FMD
outbreaks in Europe and 2003-06 spread of H5N1 avian flu globally, show that the
speed of detection, diagnosis, and control spell the difference between an isolated
incident and an economic and public health disaster.
The capacity to respond, however, is not always as strong as desired. In recent
years, the number of veterinarians with experience to recognize many foreign animal
diseases has declined. Success in eradicating many animal diseases in the United
States has reduced the “opportunity” for new veterinarians to see such diseases.
Also, the number of large animal veterinarians in private practice and within APHIS
has declined. The American Veterinary Medical Association predicts that 7% of
USDA positions for large animal veterinarians may go unfilled, and 4-5% of such
positions nationwide.86 In light of this trend, APHIS has initiated efforts to increase
training for foreign animal diseases and create registries of veterinarians with
appropriate experience. The National Veterinary Medical Service Act, P.L. 108-161,
provides new veterinarians with loan repayment assistance in exchange for practicing
areas with veterinary shortages and for being tasked by the government in emergency
situations.87


84 USDA-APHIS Plant Protection and Quarantine (2002), Emergency Programs Manual,
at [http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppq/manuals/emergency/pdf_files/EPM.pdf].
85 A summary of the emergency response plan for animals is available from USDA-APHIS
at [http://www.aphis.usda.gov/lpa/pubs/fsheet_faq_notice/fs_ahfmdres.html].
86 Sterner, Keith E. “An invited perspective on the shortage of veterinarians in food supply
veterinary medicine,” Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, vol. 229,
July 1, 2006, pp. 30-32.
87 The National Veterinary Medical Services Act received a $500,000 appropriation in the
FY2006 agriculture appropriations act (P.L. 109-97, H.Rept. 109-255). USDA regulations
to implement the program are forthcoming.

DHS and USDA have worked to improve the coordination of their response
plans to secure the food supply, particularly following the announcement of HSPD-9.
The departments are cooperating on research funding, detection technology,
surveillance, partnerships with private industry, and state and local response
coordination.88 Examples of the public-private partnerships for detection include the
food and agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) and the food
and agriculture Sector Coordinating Council (SCC) — both discussed earlier in this
report.
Numerous simulation (“table top”) exercises have been conducted by both
federal, state and local authorities to test the response and coordination efforts of a
agroterrorism attack. Examples of such simulations include the Silent Prairie
exercise in Washington (February 11, 2003), the Silent Farmland exercise in North
Carolina (August 5, 2003), and Exercise High Stakes in Kansas (June 18, 2003).
The last line of defense, and the costliest, is the isolation, control, and
eradication of an epidemic. The more geographically widespread a disease outbreak,
the costlier and more drastic the control measures become. Officials gained valuable
experience from recent agricultural disease outbreaks such as avian influenza in the
U.S., Canada, and Asia;89 FMD in the UK; and citrus canker in Florida. Each one of
these epidemics has required the depopulation and destruction of livestock and crops
in quarantine areas, indemnity payments to farmers, and immediate suspension of
international trade.
Of all lines of defense, mass eradication is the most politically sensitive and
difficult. Actions taken in each of these outbreaks have met with varying degrees of
resistance from groups opposed to mass slaughter of animals, citizens concerned
about environmental impacts of destroying carcases, or from farmers who fear the
loss of their livelihood. During the 2001 outbreak of FMD in the United Kingdom,
the public was clearly opposed to the large pyres of burning carcasses. The disposal
of millions of chicken carcasses in British Columbia, Canada, during 2004 also
caused a significant public debate. Thus, scientific alternatives are needed for mass
slaughter and carcass disposal.90
Judicial roadblocks also can interfere with eradication and control efforts. For
example, science-based measures (tree removal within certain perimeters) to
eradicate citrus canker in Florida’s residential neighborhoods were challenged and
delayed in the courts. The disease continued to spread and, before it could be
eradicated, was spread very widely by hurricanes in 2005.


88 DHS Fact Sheet, “Strengthening the Security of Our Nation’s Food Supply,” July 6,

2004, at [http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0453.xml].


89 For more information on avian flu, see CRS Report RL33795, Avian Influenza in Poultry
and Wild Birds, by Jim Monke and M. Lynne Corn.
90 National Agricultural Biosecurity Center (Kansas State), Carcass Disposal: A
Comprehensive Review, August 2004 [http://fss.k-state.edu/research/books/
carcassdispfiles/Carcass%20Disposal.html ].

Federal Authorities. When a foreign animal disease is discovered, whether
accidentally or intentionally introduced, the Secretary of Agriculture has broad91
authority to eradicate it or prevent it from entering the country. The use of these
authorities is fairly common, as shown recently by the import restrictions placed on
H5N1 avian flu-infected countries. Federal quarantines and restrictions on interstate
movement within the U.S. are also common for certain pest and disease outbreaks,
such as for sudden oak death in California and citrus canker in Florida.
In addition to federal authorities, most states have similar authorities, at least for
quarantine and import restrictions. In fact, the initial response to many outbreaks is
at the state or local level. If an outbreak spreads across state lines or if state and local
efforts are inadequate, federal involvement quickly follows. State and local officials
usually consult with federal authorities and often seek federal assistance.
If an animal disease outbreak is found in the United States, the Secretary of
Agriculture is authorized, among other things, to:
!Stop imports of animals and animal products into the U.S. from
suspected countries (7 U.S.C. 8303);
!Stop animal exports (7 U.S.C. 8304) and interstate transport of
diseased or suspected animals (7 U.S.C. 8305);
!Seize, quarantine, and dispose of infected livestock to prevent
dissemination of the disease (7 U.S.C. 8306);
!Compensate owners for the fair market value of animals destroyed
by the Secretary’s orders (7 U.S.C. 8306(d)); and
!Transfer the necessary funding from USDA’s Commodity Credit
Corporation (CCC) to cover costs of eradication, quarantine, and
compensation programs (7 U.S.C. 8316).92
Similar authorities cover plant pests and diseases (7 U.S.C. 7701-7772).
However, the capacity of local law enforcement may be stretched too thin in a
full-scale agroterrorist attack. A study by the U.S. Department of Justice says that
agroterrorism events are more likely to be handled as a crime scene investigation
with law enforcement having primary responsibility, rather than a public health


91 The Plant Protection Act (P.L. 106-224, Title IV, Sec. 402, June 20, 2000) and the
Animal Health Protection Act (P.L. 107-171, Title X, Sec. 10402, May 13, 2002) provide
broad regulatory and eradication authorities to the Secretary and to APHIS. These acts
replace a patchwork of similar laws dating back many decades by combining authorities into
a unified framework.
92 For more information on CCC transfers for plant and animal health programs, see CRS
Report RL32504, Funding Plant and Animal Health Emergencies: Transfers from the
Commodity Credit Corporation, by Jim Monke.

response.93 Quarantines of a 6-mile radius, combined with statewide roadblocks to
enforce stop-movement orders, would require many officers and much equipment to
be redeployed from other assignments and coordinated among many jurisdictions of
different levels.
National Veterinary Stockpiles (NVS). HSPD-9 calls for a National
Veterinary Stockpile (NVS) “containing sufficient amounts of animal vaccine,
antiviral, or therapeutic products to appropriately respond to the most damaging
animal diseases affecting human health and the economy and that will be capable of
deployment within 24 hours of an outbreak.”
At a Senate agriculture committee hearing in 2005, Dr. James Roth, veterinary
professor at Iowa State University, highlighted Rift Valley fever, Nipah virus, and
avian influenza as candidates for the stockpile because the agents are contagious and
can cause serious illness or death in humans. “Safe and effective vaccines for these
three diseases can be developed in a short time frame. This preventive measure
would effectively reduce the serious threat these diseases pose to both public health
and animal agriculture. Animal vaccines can be developed for a small fraction of the
cost of developing human vaccines. Vaccinating animals for zoonotic diseases
effectively protects the human population from infection, and reduces the need to94
vaccinate people.”
The NVS received $3 million in FY2005 and $3 million in FY2006. The
Administration requests $8 million for FY2007 as part of the Food and Agriculture
Defense Initiative.
Recovery and Management
Some activities, such as confinement and eradication, start in the response phase
but continue throughout the recovery and management phase. Long-term economic
recovery includes resuming the husbandry of animals and plants in the affected areas,
introducing new genetic traits that may be necessary in response to the pest or
disease, rebuilding public confidence in domestic markets, and regaining
international market share.
Confidence in food markets, by both domestic and international customers,
depends on continuing surveillance after the threat is controlled or eradicated.
Communication and education programs would need to inform growers directly
affected by the outbreak, and inform consumers abo the source and safety of their
food. The social sciences and public health institutions play a complementary role
to the agricultural sciences in responding to and recovering from agroterrorism.


93 U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Agroterrorism — Why We’re Not
Ready: A Look at the Role of Law Enforcement. NCJ 214752, December 2006
[http://www.oj p.usdoj .gov/nij /pubs-s um/214752.htm] .
94 James A. Roth, DVM. Testimony before the Senate Committee Agriculture Committee,
July 20, 2005 [http://agriculture.senate.gov/Hearings/hearings.cfm?hearingId=1572].

If eradication of the pest or disease is not possible, an endemic infestation would
result in a lower equilibrium level of production and/or product quality. Resources
would be devoted to acquiring plant varieties with resistance characteristics and
breeds of animals more suitable to the new environment. This is the goal of the
National Plant Disease Recovery System (NPDRS) mentioned in HSPD-9 and being
initiated by APHIS.
National Plant Disease Recovery System (NPDRS). HSPD-9 calls for
a National Plant Disease Recovery System (NPDRS) “capable of responding to a
high-consequence plant disease with pest control measures and the use of resistant
seed varieties within a single growing season to sustain a reasonable level of
production for economically important crops.”
The primary resources for this recovery system are the U.S. National Plant
Germplasm System in conjunction with federal, state, university, extension, and
industry scientists. Planning includes finding or developing seed varieties that
resistant to certain diseases, and pesticide control measures that prevent, slow, or stop
high-consequence plant diseases from spreading.
The NPDRS received $2 million in FY2005 and $2 million in FY2006. The
Administration requests $6 million for FY2007 as part of the Food and Agriculture
Defense Initiative.
Issues for Congress
Appropriations
The annual appropriations process provides an opportunity for legislators to
influence homeland security activities separate from writing authorizing legislation
or conducting oversight hearings. In addition to the primary purpose of
appropriations laws — providing or limiting funding — appropriators may also use
committee report language to request reports from federal agencies or make
statements and stipulations about future counterterrorism activities.
USDA’s budget request for FY2008 calls for significantly increased spending
on several agroterrorism preparedness programs. The Food and Agriculture Defense
Initiative requests an FY2008 appropriation of $340 million, nearly double the $177
estimated for items in the initiative for FY2007 (Table 4). Using OMB’s more
comprehensive analysis of homeland security funding for agriculture cited on
previous pages, the requested FY2008 increase in homeland security funding for
agriculture is 54%, up from $340 million estimated for FY2007 to $524 million
requested for FY2008 (Table 2).
The FY2008 DHS budget request does not include any individual line items for
agriculture. Ongoing border inspection and science and technology activities are
mentioned, but no specific allocations or requests are mentioned.



These budget issues and past appropriations for agroterrorism are discussed
earlier in this report under the heading “Federal Funding to Respond to
Agroterrorism.”
Legislation
Increasing the level of terrorism preparedness remains a concern, not only for
agroterrorism, but also for other forms of terrorism. Several bills were introduced
in the 109th Congress to authorize funding or otherwise improve the level of
preparedness or coordination of response to an agroterrorist attack. These bill are
listed in Table 7 and discussed in the context of several issues below. The 110th
Congress may consider similar bills regarding coordination and response activities.
Context from the 109th Congress. Two complementary bills addressing
agroterrorism preparedness were introduced by Senator Akaka: S. 572 (the Homelandth
Security Food and Agriculture Act, 109 Congress) and S. 573 (the Agricultural
Security Assistance Act, 109th Congress). Versions of both bills were introduced inth
the 108 Congress. Both bills addressed different aspects of agroterrorism
preparedness and coordination. S. 572 would have amended the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 by giving additional responsibilities to the Department of Homeland
Security for agroterrorism preparedness. S. 573 (which subsequently wasth
incorporated into Project Bioshield II, S. 975, 109 Congress) would have tasked the
Secretary of Agriculture with various studies and programs, and authorized funding
for state and local preparedness, public awareness programs, and biosecurity grants
for farmers. S. 573/S. 975 also would have established agriculture liaison position
in the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Health and Human
Services.
Another agroterrorism preparedness bill, S. 1532 (the Agroterrorism Preventionth
Act, 109 Congress) was introduced by Senator Specter. It would have authorized
funding for public awareness, on-farm biosecurity guidelines, and state and local
preparedness assistance, and bolstered laboratory and other response capacity. S.
1532 also would have addressed criminal penalties for agroterrorism, and
coordination for agricultural issues in the intelligence community.
S. 3898/H.R. 6086 (National Reportable Conditions Act, 109th Congress) would
have directed DHS, in coordination with USDA and several other agencies, to
develop a list of diseases, conditions, and events that represent a threat to humans,
animals, food production, and the water supply. A commission of public health
professionals, veterinarians, animal and food specialists, and environmental, and
utility, and laboratory workers would have advised the Secretary. The bill would
have created a coordinated notification system to a single government agency.
P.L. 109-374 (the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act) was enacted in 2006 to
enhance criminal penalties for terrorism against animal enterprises, not only for
agroterrorism as discussed in this report, but also for what is sometimes called “eco-
terrorism” against animal research facilities or types of livestock production. The
law prescribes penalties and restitution in Title 18 of the U.S. Code for varying levels
of economic damage and personal injury involving threats, acts of vandalism,
property damage, criminal trespass, harassment, or intimidation.



Table 7. Bills in the 109th Congress Addressing Agroterrorism
Bill in 109th CongressCommittee assignmentAction
S. 572 (Akaka)Homeland Security andReported on 12/15/2005
Homeland Security FoodGovernmental AffairsS.Rept. 109-209
and Agriculture Act
S. 573 (Akaka)AgricultureReferred. Incorporated
Agricultural Securityinto S. 975
Assistance Act
S. 975 (Lieberman)Health, Education, Labor,Hearing on 7/21/2005
Project BioShield II Actand PensionsS.Hrg. 109-210
Title 27 (Countermeasures
Against Agroterrorism)
S. 1532 (Specter)AgricultureReferred
Agroterrorism Prevention
Act
S. 3898 (Hagel)Senate Homeland SecurityReferred
H.R. 6086 (Terry)and Governmental Affairs;
National ReportableHouse Energy and
Conditions ActCommerce
S. 3880 (Inhofe)JudiciaryEnacted P.L. 109-374
S. 1926 (Inhofe)(Nov. 27, 2006)
H.R. 4239 (Petri)
Animal Enterprise
Terrorism Act
Source: CRS.
In terms of preparedness and coordination, the bills from the 109th Congress
sought to provide more concrete Congressional instructions and budget
authorizations for agroterrorism preparedness. However, similar results could occur
if the presidential directive HSPD-9 is implemented successfully. The presidential
directives facilitating agroterrorism preparedness, and subsequent administrativeth
actions, did not exist when Senator Akaka’s bills were introduced in the 108
Congress.
While Congress certainly has oversight authority of federal agencies and may
ask questions about implementation of HSPD-9, a public law outlining and directing
the implementation of an agroterrorism preparedness plan would establish the
statutory parameters for such a plan, and, as a practical matter, might result in
enhanced oversight by specifically identifying executive branch entities responsible
for carrying out particular components of such a plan.
USDA Programs to Bolster Preparedness. In the 109th Congress, S. 573
was referred to the Agriculture Committee, but the most of the text was incorporated
subsequently into Title 27 of S. 975 (Project Bioshield II, 109th Congress) which is
referred to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. The bills would
have authorized such sums as necessary, subject to annual appropriations, for state
and local vulnerability assessments, emergency response plans, geographic



information systems, and grants to State and local agriculture health officials. The
bills also would have created awareness programs and grants for farm-level
producers to improve biosecurity measures. These farm-level activities would have
included development and dissemination of on-farm biosecurity guidelines, and on-
farm biosecurity improvement grants (up to $10,000 per farm).
S. 1532 (the Agroterrorism Prevention Act, 109th Congress) would have
authorized funding for USDA and DHS-FEMA to assist states in developing
response plans. It also would have authorized funding for public awareness, the
dissemination of farm-level biosecurity guidelines, and mandated further
development of a National Veterinary Stockpile and a National Plant Disease
Recovery System, largely as mentioned in HSPD-9.
Responsibilities of DHS. The Homeland Security Food and Agriculture Actth
(S. 572, S.Rept. 109-209, 109 Congress) would have amended the Homeland
Security Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-296) by giving additional biosecurity responsibilities
to the Department of Homeland Security. The bill was reported favorably by the
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in September 2005. It
would have given a leadership role to DHS for agriculture security preparedness and
disaster response.
S. 572 (109th Congress) would have authorized an agriculture security program
in DHS that would advise and consult with federal, State, local, and other agriculture
officials regarding agroterrorism preparedness. It would have given the Secretary of
DHS authority to execute responsibilities mentioned in HSPD-7 and HSPD-9, and
tasked DHS with coordinating much of an agroterrorism response by communicating,
equipping, and otherwise facilitating emergency response providers. DHS also
would have become the lead responder by coordinating with the Department of
Transportation, the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Agriculture,
and Department of State. DHS would have coordinated task forces to identify and
recommend best practices for State response plans. The bill also would have created
a grant program to help State and local agricultural specialists prepare for
agroterrorism by funding conferences and agroterrorism response exercises.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that implementing S. 572 would
cost $8 million in 2006 and $53 million over a five-year period. Of this total, $48
million would fund additional staff and expenses in the current DHS Directorate for
Preparedness, and $5 million would be for grants to State and local agriculture
officials.
Inter-agency Coordination. Shortly following enactment of the Homeland
Security Act and the 2003 transfer from USDA to DHS of agricultural border
inspections and the Plum Island agricultural research facility, concerns over DHS
dedication to these agricultural functions began rising. Moreover, concern over
coordination between established agencies and DHS is not unique to agriculture.
Nonetheless, the issue of improved coordination between federal agencies with
various jurisdictions, which agency has primary responsibility, and encouraging
agencies to seeking adequate consultation from other stakeholders has been raised in
many venues and proposed legislation.



For example, the Agricultural Security Assistance Act (S. 573, 109th Congress)
would have established agriculture liaison position in the Department of Homeland
Security (specifically with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA), and
in the Department of Health and Human Services. The bill, among other things,
would have given leadership roles for preparedness and response, particularly with
first responders, to DHS.
S. 1532 (the Agroterrorism Prevention Act, 109th Congress) would have
instructed DHS, HHS, USDA, intelligence agencies, Interior, EPA, and other
agencies to coordinate response plans, conduct vulnerability assessments, and expand
monitoring and surveillance for agroterrorism. The bill also mentioned enhanced
intelligence systems and cooperation, tracking systems for agricultural products,
laboratory networks, and border inspection training. The bill would have directed
DHS, in coordination with other agencies, to assess the need for modernizing or
replacing BL-3 and BL-4 laboratories with agricultural capacity.
Project Bioshield II (S. 975, 109th Congress) would have established a working
group spanning USDA, DHS, HHS, and FDA to identify and recommend specific
actions, capacities, and limitations regarding agroterrorism preparedness.
Section 2708 of S. 975 (109th Congress) would have compelled DHS to
cooperate with USDA and other intelligence agencies to improve the targeting of
agricultural border inspections. While the agencies are working together already
toward this goal, such legislation would further compel the coordination of the
departments.
S. 3898/H.R. 6086 (National Reportable Conditions Act, 109th Congress) would
have created a coordinated notification system to a single government agency for a
specific list of diseases, conditions, and events deemed to be a threat to human or
animal health, or the safety of the food and water supply.
Border Inspections. Once agricultural border inspectors were transferred
from USDA to DHS, some Members and industry groups expressed concerns that
DHS would concentrate on more immediate or catastrophic homeland security issues
such as immigration or radiological threats, and neglect agricultural functions. Some
were also concerned that personnel and resources formerly devoted to agriculture
would be shifted to other DHS areas (for more background, see the earlier section on
the Homeland Security Act).
Coordination over agricultural border inspections was raised in the conference
report for the FY2007 DHS appropriations act (P.L. 109-295). Appropriators
directed DHS to report on activities to target agricultural inspections, adjust to new
agricultural threats, improve training, generally coordinate with USDA and state
governments regarding agricultural inspections.
The conferees are concerned with the steps the Department is taking to improve
the targeting of agricultural inspections and direct the Secretary to submit a
report consistent with section 541 of the Senate bill. (H.Rept. 109-699)



Sec. 541. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall submit a report to the
Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives,
not later than February 8, 2007, that — (1) identifies activities being carried out
by the Department of Homeland Security to improve — (A) the targeting of
agricultural inspections; (B) the ability of United States Customs and Border
Protection to adjust to new agricultural threats; and (C) the in-service training for
interception of prohibited plant and animal products and agricultural pests under
the agriculture quarantine inspection monitoring program of the Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service; and (2) describes the manner in which the
Secretary of Homeland Security will coordinate with the Secretary of Agriculture
and State and local governments in carrying out the activities described inth
paragraph (1). (H.R. 5441, 109 Congress)
The coordination issue was previously raised FY2005 Consolidated
Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-447, H.Rept. 108-792). Conferrees expressed their
concern over two agricultural functions transferred to DHS, and requested a GAO
study of coordination between DHS and USDA.
The conferees are aware of ongoing concerns within the agriculture sector that
the transfer of these responsibilities [border inspection and research] may shift
the focus away from agriculture to other priority areas of DHS. In order to
ensure that the interests of U.S. agriculture are protected and that the intent of the
Homeland Security Act of 2002 is being fully met, including the proper
allocation of AQI [Agricultural Quarantine Inspection] and other funds, the
conferees request the Government Accountability Office to provide a report, no
later than March 1, 2005, on the coordination between USDA and DHS in
protecting the U.S. agriculture sector, including a description of the long-term
objectives of joint activities at Plum Island and the effectiveness of AQI and
other inspection activities (H.Rept. 108-792).
This was the impetus for the 2006 GAO study, Management and Coordination
Problems Increase the Vulnerability of U.S. Agriculture to Foreign Pests and
Disease (GAO-06-644), discussed earlier in this report, which identified several
problems concerning inter-agency coordination and inspection performance.
Judicial Issues. Both S. 573 (109th Congress) and S. 975 (109th Congress)
would have instructed the Attorney General to review State and local laws relating
to agroterrorism to determine whether any such laws would facilitate (or impede) the
implementation of agroterrorism response plans and whether a State court could
delay the implementation of such federal response plans.
S. 1532 (109th Congress) would have criminalized acts of agroterrorism by
amending Title 18 of the U.S. Code to define agroterrorist acts and prescribing
penalties of fines, imprisonment, or death.
The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (P.L. 109-374) enhanced the authority of
the Department of Justice to prosecute and convict individuals committing terrorism
against animal enterprises. The act defines such acts and prescribes penalties. It
applies not only to international actors committing agroterrorism in the United States,
but also to acts commonly considered “eco-terrorism” that are conducted by parties
within the United States against locations such as animal research facilities or
confinement livestock operations.