Contact: Jeannine Guttman
(202) 224-4751
March 3, 2005

SENATOR COLLINS ANNOUNCES MORE THAN $200,000 FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE & ASSETS IN MAINE

Washington, DC – Senator Susan Collins today announced that Maine will receive a total $204,111 to help protect critical infrastructure and assets in Maine. The funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Buffer Zone Protection Program, in order to purchase equipment to extend the zone of protection beyond the gates of critical facilities. The funding for Maine is expected to be distributed among five different sites. Senator Collins is the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has jurisdiction over DHS.

“When you’re trying to protect critical infrastructure and public sites, such as defense facilities, utilities, commercial sites, and dams, you need to ensure a safe “buffer zone” around the perimeter, as well as strong security mechanisms to protect the facility itself,” said Senator Collins. “This funding will help to buy perimeter barriers, security cameras, and other such equipment to help protect our state’s critical infrastructure, resources, and public assets.”

The Buffer Zone Protection Program provides both funding and coordination in bringing together federal, state, and local governments, law enforcement, and the private sector to create plans to protect areas surrounding critical infrastructure and assets. The State of Maine will be expected to submit a buffer zone protection plan to DHS for the sites that it identifies for this program.