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Memorandum

U.S. Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration


Subject: ACTION: Changes to the National Security
Strategic Goal Initiative: Emergency Highway Traffic
Regulation Plans
Date: August 22, 2000
From:

Christine M. Johnson /s/ Christine M. Johnson
Program Manager, Operations
Director, ITS Joint Program Office
Arthur E. Hamilton /s/ Arthur E. Hamilton
Program Manager, Federal Lands Highway

Reply to
Attn. of:
HOTO-1
HFL-1
To: Division Administrators    

"Emergency Highway Traffic Regulation" was a system of traffic regulations developed by the Army for military movements in the European Theater during WWII. After the war, the Department of Defense (DOD) requested that similar regulations be implemented in the United State as a readiness measure in the event of an all-out nuclear attack on the United States. Through Presidential Executive Order (EO) 11490 (later superceded by EO 12656), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) responsibility in emergency operations was reaffirmed. Accordingly, the FHWA developed guidance and requested States to develop plans to implement these types of regulations and referred to them as "EHTR plans." Since the end of the Cold War, military requirements have changed considerably. In FY 1999, an initiative under the FHWA National Security Strategic Goal required that existing State EHTR plans be updated, and that this process be completed in all States by the end of FY 2000. The principal objective of this initiative is to ensure that adequate coordination procedures exist between the military and civilian authorities to support military deployments during national security emergencies. We have determined that this effort is not accomplishing the desired results in many States and, therefore we need to change the current EHTR requirements and guidance. The purpose of this memorandum is to explain these changes (developed jointly with the Military Traffic Management Command Transportation Engineering Agency (MTMCTEA) and describe new initiatives to replace the EHTR program.

We have worked closely with the MTMCTEA to discuss a more practical and effective approach in accomplishing the objective mentioned above. We believe that a dialogue between military and civilian authorities would help clarify or solve the many issues associated with military deployment coordination. Therefore, in lieu of the requirement of updating EHTR plans, we have concluded that our objectives would be better satisfied by conducting periodic coordination meetings with the appropriate military and State officials. The purpose of these meetings would be to: (1) provide military officials with an opportunity to describe their deployment requirements to State officials, and (2) allow State officials to make an assessment of their capabilities and written procedures in support of military deployments (while, at the same time, managing civilian traffic during a national security emergency). Those States that have already updated their EHTR plans may use those plans as a basis to ensure that adequate documented procedures exist in support of military deployment coordination.

As a result of the new approach, the EHTR initiative for FY 2000 has been changed from "complete updating EHTR plans in all States" to "develop strategies to ensure that adequate deployment coordination exists between military and civilian authorities." The FY 2000 initiative is now a Headquarters activity only.

The corresponding FY 2001 initiative will be a division office activity. The activity will be to "organize and conduct emergency preparedness meetings with military and State officials and prepare summary reports." Attachment A provides guidance for FHWA divisions to conduct these meetings and prepare the reports. Attachment B is an updated directory of Defense Movement Coordinators (the military point of contact in your State) to assist you in preparation for the meetings. Attachment C is a directory of Regional Emergency Transportation Coordinators and Representatives. You should invite the Regional Emergency Transportation Representative in your State. Divisions that have already conducted similar meetings (in the process of updating State EHTR plans) are not required to organize meetings in FY 2001; however, we ask that a summary report of those meetings be provided to HOTO in accordance with the guidance in Paragraph F of Attachment A. Paragraph F, in Attachment A, describes the measure of success in accomplishing the FY 2001 initiative.

The corresponding initiative for FY 2002 will be to "conduct follow-up reviews and prepare reports." This will be a division office activity. The meetings held during FY 2001 should have resulted in States re-assessing their current emergency operations procedures and, if necessary, revising their procedures in light of new information generated during these meetings. In FY 2002, the division offices are expected to conduct follow-up reviews and prepare a report describing the adequacy of State procedures. In FY 2001, guidelines will be developed (see next paragraph) to assist States in updating their own procedures. The existence of documented coordination procedures is critical because the Department of Defense (DOD) depends on expeditious force deployment from military installations to their respective ports of embarkation.

In addition to the initiatives described above, during FY 2001-2003, special emphasis will be placed on deployment coordination procedures for States that have any of the 17 strategic military installations referred to as Power Projection Platforms (PPPs). The PPPs are listed in Attachment D. We are in the process of hiring a consultant to assist us in this initiative. In FY 2001, the consultant will develop and conduct a pilot training exercise for Texas with two PPPs: Fort Hood and Fort Bliss. As a result of the Texas pilot, the consultant will develop detailed deployment coordination procedures and instructions for conducting training exercises. States may use this information to conduct exercises on a periodic basis and/or update their procedures. During FY 2002 and FY 2003, the FHWA consultant will conduct training exercises for the remaining PPPs. The consultant may ask division offices in PPP States for assistance in coordinating the exercises.

Please contact Mr. Al Benet 202-366-4628 for any questions you may have.

Attachment


Attachment A

Guidance for FHWA Divisions to Conduct Emergency Preparedness Meetings with Military and State Officials

  1. Purpose:

    To support the FHWA National Security Strategic Goal: Improve the Nation's national defense mobility.

  2. Program Need:

    To ensure that adequate coordination exists between military and civil authorities for military deployments during national security emergencies.

  3. Objectives:

    To bring together military and civil transportation authorities so that:

    • everyone would know who's who with transportation operations responsibilities,
    • allow the military to describe their deployment requirements and needs,
    • allow State authorities to assess their capabilities to support military deployments in addition to civil movement needs
    • allow States to evaluate their existing emergency operations plans and procedures in light of military deployment requirements
  4. Who to Invite:

    • State emergency planners
    • County/city emergency planners, if appropriate
    • State police authorities
    • Defense Movement Coordinator (DMC) for the State (see Attachment B)
    • Military installation transportation and security personnel (see note below)
    • U.S. DOT Regional Emergency Transportation Representative (see Attachment C)

    NOTE: The DMC should be able to identify various State military installation POCs who should also attend the meeting. If additional information is needed, please contact Bob Franz (FRANZR@TEA-EMH1.ARMY.MIL) or Raz Baust (BAUSTA@TEA-EMH1.ARMY.MIL) at the MTMCTEA (ph. 757-599-1117).

  5. Organizing and Conducting the Meeting:

    • Prior to meeting, have the military quantify their equipment movement requirements for a full-scale emergency deployment/mobilization (similar to Desert Shield/Desert Storm or based on current trends). The DMC may assist you in coordinating this effort.
    • Develop an agenda (see paragraph C above).
    • Establish a meeting date and time (probably a 2 to 3-hour meeting).
    • Invite key personnel (see paragraph D above).
    • Discuss additional traffic management techniques that may be required.
    • Be open to additional meetings, if necessary, or suggest annual update meetings to confirm coordination procedures.
  6. Outcome of the Meeting:

    The Division office meeting coordinator will ensure that a written summary report of the meeting is prepared (using the following points as an outline):

    • include names, phones, and addresses of all military and State POCs and meeting participants
    • outline and summarize topic areas discussed
    • describe steps to address unresolved issues or deficiencies
    • distribute the written summary report to military and State POCs, appropriate DOT RETREP, FHWA headquarters (HOTO-1), and MTMCTEA.


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