MANAGING TERRORIST INCIDENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84M00127R000100040088-8
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 24, 2009
• Sequence Number: 88
• Publication Date: April 10, 1982
• Content Type: REGULATION

NATIONAL SECURITY DECISION
D7REC77VE NUMBER 30
MANAGING TERRORIST INCIDENTS
The United States is com itted, as a matter of national policy,
to oppose terrorism domestically and internationally.
Efficient and effective management of terrorist incidents
Successful manage.-ment of
is crucial to this commitment.
terrorist incidents requires a rapid, effective response,
immediate access to institutional expertise, and extensive
prior planning. Because of these requirements, the
management of terrorist incidents of duration will be handled
in the following manner:
(1) Responsibilities. If the gravity of a terrorist incident
situation warrants, the Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs, at the direction of the Vice
President, will convene the Special Situation Group (SSG)
to advise the President with respect to decision options
on appropriate policies and actions.
(2) The Lead Agency. The coordination of federal response to
terrorist incidents will normally be the responsibility of
the Lead Agency. The Lead Agency will be that agency with
the most direct operational role in dealing with the
particular terrorist incident at hand. It will coordinate
all operational aspects of the incident, including press
and intelligence. The Lead Agency will normally be:
The State Department, for international terrorist
incidenEs that take place outside of US territory.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
April 10, 1982
The Department of Justice for terrorist incidents
which take place within US territory. Unless
otherwise specified by the Attorney General, the FBI
will be the Lead Agency within the Department of
Justice for operational response to such incidents.
The FAA for highjackings within the special jurisdiction
of the United States. {
The Federal Emergency Management Agency ca will be responsible for
planning for and managing the public
terrorist incident and recovery from the consequences of such
incidents.
NSC review completed.
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Review on 10 April 1988
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istant to the President fur National Security ~,f fa
irs
1 resolve any uncertainty on 'the designation of the Lead
Agency or on agency responsibilities.
The Terrorist Incident Working Group. To support the
Special Situation Group, a Terrorist Incident"Working Group
(TIWG) will be established. This group will consist of
representatives from State, the DCI, DOD, FBI, FEMA and the
NSC staff, with augmentation from other agencies, as
required. The TING will be activated by the Assistant to
the President for National Security Affairs. It will be
chaired by a senior representative from the NSC staff.
The purpose of the TIWG is to provide the SSG with direct
operational support, to ensure interagency coordination,
and to provide advice and recommendations during an incident.
The Lead Agency will continue to manage the incident under
the direction and coordination of the TING and the SSG.
(4) The Interdepartmental Group on Terrorism. The
Interdepartmental Group on Terrorism (IG/T), chaired by
the Department of State, will be responsible for the
-development of overall US policy on terrorism, including,
.LnteA atia, policy directives, organizational issues,
legislative initiatives, and interagency training programs.
(5) White House Operations Group. The White House Operations
Group, chaired by the Director of the White House Military
Off-ice, will have responsibility-for issues relating to
threats or acts of terrorism directed against the President
or the Vice President or senior US o,fficials and protectees
as directed by the President. The NSC staff will effect
liaison between this group and the IG/T and TING.
(6) The Interagency Intelligence Committee on Terrorism. 'The
Interagency Intelligence Committee on Terrorism, chaired by
the DCI, will provide intelligence support to the SSG and
the TIWG. It will focus and coordinate interagency
intelligence efforts to counter terrorist threats. In
anticipation of terrorist incidents, the Committee will
concentrate on threat alerts, trend assessments, and
required procedural improvements, such as more rapid
dissemination of critical information.
(3)
(7) Planning'and Exercises. In order. to ensure e-Efective
management of terrorism incidents, prior planning and
exercise activity are essential. The Interdepartmental
Group on Terrorism will be the primary mechanism within
the US Government for planning and policy recommendations.
To ensure the development of an effective, coordinated
interagency exercise program, the Chairman of the IG/T
SECRET
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'?' s will coordinate
~~' - "'-:ill appoint an Exercise Cor:.i tee which r _..1 _V! _r ----4 reps -nr finrP..TT, ~1rl
i
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review all multiple agency COuriLerLerror
This committee will assure that the' government's
counterterrorism capabilities are maintained in a high
state of readiness and that duplication of exercises is
avoided. No multiple agency exercise at the national
level may be held without the recomrnendation of the IG/T
and the approval of the Assistant to the President for
National Security Affairs.
This National Security Decision Directive supersedes all
previous inconsistent directives and instructions on managing
terrorism incidents.
SECRET
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