The Homeland Security Advisory Council meets January 9

The meeting notice has been published in the Federal Register. Looks like the council has a full plate for a one day meeting.

Summary of the Agenda

    Sensitive Threat Briefings against the Homeland.
    Briefing on Strategic Implementation Plan to Counter Violent 
Extremism Domestically.
    Update on Border Security and Evolving Threats.
    US Coast Guard, Update on Counterterrorism Efforts Around the 
World.
    TSA Frequent Travelers Program Operational Update.
    Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Threat--Lessons Learned and Areas of 
Vulnerability, and
    Evolving Threats in Cyber Security.
    Basis for Closure: In accordance with Section 10(d) of the Federal 
Advisory Committee Act, it has been determined that the meeting 
requires closure as the premature disclosure of the information would 
not be in the public interest.
    The HSAC will receive briefings on domestic and international 
threats to the homeland from DHS Intelligence and Analysis and other 
senior leadership, and a briefing on threats at the Southwest Border 
and joint operations with Mexican law enforcement from U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection. That material, and a discussion of it, entails 
information the premature disclosure of which would not be in the 
public interest. Specifically, there will be material presented 
regarding the latest viable threats against the United States, and how 
DHS and other Federal agencies plan to address those threats. Under 5 
U.S.C. 552b(c)(7)(E)&(F), disclosure of that information could reveal 
investigative techniques and procedures not generally available to the 
public, allowing those with interests against the United States to 
circumvent the law, thereby endangering the life or physical safety of 
law enforcement personnel. Additionally, under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B), 
disclosure of these techniques and procedures could frustrate the 
successful implementation of protective measures designed to keep our 
country safe.
    The DHS Office of Counterterrorism will present a briefing on the 
Department's implementation plan to counter domestic violent extremism. 
Providing this information to the public would provide terrorists with 
a road map regarding the Department's plan to counter their actions, 
and thus, allow them to take different actions to avoid 
counterterrorism efforts. Under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(7)(E)&(F), disclosure 
of that information could endanger the life or physical safety of law 
enforcement personnel. Additionally, under 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B), 
disclosure of this plan could frustrate the successful implementation 
of measures designed to counter terrorist acts.
    The members of the HSAC will receive a briefing on the 
Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) frequent travelers 
program that will include lessons learned, the enhanced security the 
new program provides, and screening techniques associated with this 
program. The briefing will include Sensitive Security Information 
within the meaning of 49 U.S.C. Sec.  114 and 49 C.F.R. part 1520, 
which requires nondisclosure of security activities if disclosure would 
be detrimental to the security of transportation. DHS has determined 
that public disclosure of this information would significantly 
compromise the operational security of the nation's transportation 
system if disclosed, by exposing the existing vulnerabilities and the 
physical limitations of the program. As a result, this briefing must be 
closed under the authority of 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(3)(A).

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    The members will also receive a briefing on recent Cyber attacks 
and the potential threat of an electromagnetic pulse attack. Both will 
include lessons learned and potential vulnerabilities of infrastructure 
assets, as well as potential methods to improve the Federal response to 
a cyber or electromagnetic pulse attack. Disclosure of this information 
would be a road map to those who wish to attack our infrastructure, and 
hence, would certainly frustrate the successful implementation of 
preventive and counter measures to protect our cyber and physical 
infrastructure. Therefore, this portion of the meeting is required to 
be closed under U.S.C. 552b(c)(9)(B). Accordingly, this meeting will be 
closed to the public.