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Across America, from sea to shining sea, hundreds of millions of dollars in Port Security Grant funds that have already been awarded to prevent terrorist attacks at ports, port security agencies, cruise and cargo terminals are about to turn to dust. Grantees were ordered by FEMA in February 2012 to take immediate steps to expend, draw down or close out DHS/ FEMA Port Security Grants or quickly reprogram the lan- guishing funds. If this is not done very soon, “DHS/ FEMA will reclaim them to the extent permitted by law,” according to FEMA’s dire Bulletin 379. Deadlines and timelines for that edict are as follows: • All FY 2007 grant funding must be spent by June 30, 2012 • All FY 2008 and 2009 grant funding must be spent by September 30, 2012 • All FY 2010 funding must be spent by September 30, 2013 • All FY 2011 and FY 2012 funding must be spent by the end date cited on the award agreement, no more than 3 years. FEMA’s threat of repossession was caused because, ac- cording to FEMA’s early 2012 calculations, the most at-risk port communities in America have banked $303,980,061 of the $1,369,263,074 awarded to ports, terminals and security agencies from FY 2007 through 2010, “leaving a balance of $1,065,283,014.” All of the $1 billion remaining in the federal treasury has been dedicated to thousands of security projects and equip- ment purchases approved at the highest levels as essential to protect ports against terrorist attacks. The Obama administration has redefi ned the failed PSG program as a stimulus program. The execution of the new plan involves a carrot and stick. FEMA/DHS will grant extensions -- typically for no more than 6 months -- and will grant oc- casional, rare waivers of local matching funds; but only if the grantee Fiduciary Agents (FAs) who work for the subgrantee ports and security agencies will promptly fi le the proper paper work. Future grants mercurial Beginning with the 2012 grant cycle, individual ports and terminals will be required to apply directly to FEMA without the help of trained FAs and to compete with their neighbors and regional security agencies for a limited amount of grant funds that will be awarded based on an algorithm that matches estimated risk to theoretical mitigation. So, this is the last chance for many MTSA regulated facili- ties to secure and expend the millions in grant funds that they have already been awarded for 2007 – 2009. But even the most diligent port security offi cials are caught in a trap: 1. Little has been done to capture this potential windfall because tight city, county, state and port budgets constrain department heads from requesting a 25% match. Port Security PORT SECURITY Take the Money and Run US Ports Risk Millions in crush to g192 le FEMA paperwork P By Rick Eyerdam 18 | Maritime Professional | 2Q 2012 MP #2 18-33 NEW STYLES.indd 18 5/4/2012 5:00:14 PM
