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GAO-09-105R 1 (2008-11-06)

handle is hein.gao/gaobaanku0001 and id is 1 raw text is: GAO Accountability I Integrity * Reliability United States Government Accountability Office Washington, DC 20548 November 6, 2008 Congressional Committees Subject: National Applications Office Certification Review Since the 1960s, classified satellite information collected by intelligence agencies' has been used, from time to time, by federal civilian agencies and other non-intelligence entities for civil, scientific, and environmental purposes (such as mapping, disaster relief, and environmental research). These uses have historically been coordinated by the Civil Applications Committee (CAC) led by the U.S. Geological Survey, a component of the Department of the Interior. Following the events of September 11, 2001, attention has turned to information sharing as a key element in developing comprehensive and practical approaches to defending against potential terrorist attacks. Having information on threats, vulnerabilities, and incidents can help an agency better understand the risks and determine what preventive measures should be implemented. The ability to share such terrorism-related information can also unify the efforts of federal, state, and local government agencies, as well as the private sector in preventing or minimizing terrorist attacks. Exchanging terrorism-related information continues to be a significant challenge for federal, state, and local governments-one that we recognize is not easily addressed. Accordingly, since January 2005, we have designated information sharing for homeland security a high-risk area.2 Citing a growing need to use classified satellite information for civil or domestic purposes, in 2005, an independent study group reviewed the future role of the CAC and concluded that although the civil domestic users were well supported through the CAC, homeland security and law enforcement users lacked a coherent, organized, and focused process to access classified satellite information.' 1 For purposes of this report, the term classified satellite information will be used to refer to all information derived from intelligence community sources that is expected to be made available through the National Applications Office (NAO). Based on discussions with NAO officials, a substantial part-but not all-of this information is derived from sensors mounted on classified government satellites. 2 For more information, see GAO, High-Risk Series: An Update, GAO-07-310 (Washington, D.C.: January 2007), p. 47; Information Sharing: The Federal Government Needs to Establish Policies and Processes for Sharing Terrorism-Related and Sensitive but Unclassified Information, GAO-06-385 (Washington, D.C.: Mar. 17, 2006). 3 Independent Study Group, Civil Applications Committee Blue Ribbon Study, (September 2005). GAO-09-105R - National Applications Office Page I

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