Web Extra: Wanted: Program officers to safeguard information
State governments will take on the costs of complying with a DHS rule about sharing critical infrastructure information.
The Protected Critical Infrastructure Information (PCII) program will be somewhat costly for organizations outside the federal government, particularly state, local and tribal governments.
In a final rule published earlier this month, the Homeland Security Department instructed state governments to appoint a part- or full-time PCII officer. That official’s job will be to safeguard the critical infrastructure information that states submit to DHS’ PCII office and then ensure the destruction of that information, as called for under the DHS rule.
If that position is full time, the costs should not exceed $150,000 a year, DHS said. State governments might spend in total as much as $7.5 million a year if all 50 states decide to create full-time PCII officer positions.
DHS will develop training materials for the state officers, who will also likely be responsible for overseeing local and tribal government participation in the program.
Other costs for storage, supplies, general overhead expenses and recordkeeping systems should be negligible, DHS said.
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