BETHESDA, Md., May 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued
today by Manhole Barrier Security Systems, Inc.
The recent incident that knocked out communications in Silicon Valley,
California were highly disruptive locally, but the damage was miniscule
compared to what could easily be caused by more concerted attack on the
nation's life-lines that run underground throughout the nation and are
accessible through unprotected manholes.
Two years ago, I authored a paper calling attention to this serious
vulnerability, anticipating such attacks and recommending specific action. As
early as 1997, the U.S. President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure
Protection, on which I served as a commissioner, predicted the vulnerability
of the nation's telecommunications and information infrastructure and the
enormous costs that would be incurred by attacks that could be easily mounted
using readily available knowledge and tools.
Underground critical infrastructure, such as telephone lines, internet cables,
fiber-optics cables, and gas and electric pipes and lines, run beneath ground
in many cities and outlying communities. Access is generally through manholes.
Yet these manholes remain unsecured. I have urged a practical and phased
approach to securing these manholes, beginning with the most critical, before
we are compelled to respond reactively and expensively because of our failures
in planning.
Manholes, which are hidden-in-plain-sight targets, are susceptible to
spontaneous and surprise attack by terrorists, saboteurs, or vandals. An
attack could literally paralyze the operations of a city for a considerable
period. Power and telecommunications could be knocked out. As illustrated
last month in San Jose and San Carlos, a mere clipping of some eight
fiber-optic cables by vandals crippled telephone and cell services, ATMs, the
Internet and even the local 911 emergency service. Imagine the devastation
from a more extensive or coordinated attack on critical infrastructure. In
fact, such an attack on selected manholes in any major urban center could
easily paralyze a large geographic region with crippling economic
consequences.
We need to promptly and systematically address this weak link in our homeland
security. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) are easily made and deployed and
have become a ubiquitous weapon of destruction, killing and maiming in foreign
hostilities. There is growing fear that these weapons will become more widely
used throughout the world, even in our country. Manholes are an ideal target
for IEDs -- access is easy, can be surreptitious, and the devices can be
detonated without harm to the attacker. Moreover, for an imaginative
attacker, underground conduits accessible through manholes could be the
vehicle for propagating other modes of attack such as chemical or biological
agents.
It behooves the nation to address this problem, assess the risks, and
undertake a risk-based program to protect and secure our life-lines.
The benefits extend beyond protection against terrorist attack. Even under
peaceful conditions, a dislodged or missing manhole cover presents liability
and safety concerns. In Philadelphia, a dislodged manhole cover cost $18
million to settle a personal injury lawsuit. And, unsecured water and sewer
manholes in Virginia and California, which invited intruders to introduce
contamination, resulted in legally imposed protective mandates.
Manholes, while frequently privately owned, are placed in the public domain.
Attacks via such manholes, even beyond the losses of communications and
energy, can endanger the public health, welfare and safety. It is incumbent
upon government and is a civic responsibility of public companies to take all
reasonable measures to secure and protect our life-lines.
BY:
Irwin Pikus, JD, Ph.D.
Visiting Professor, University of Virginia
SOURCE Manhole Barrier Security Systems, Inc.
Irwin Pikus, JD, Ph.D., +1-301-493-0257
