CUAS Focus Group Questions - CI Owners

Department of Homeland Security OMB Control Number: 1601-NEW

OMB Expiration Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Countering UAS Threats Interview Protocol

Critical Owners and Operators Focus Group Evaluation Questions

Paperwork Reduction Act

The public reporting burden to complete this information collection is estimated at 60 minutes per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and the completing and reviewing the collected information.  The collection of information is voluntary. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number and expiration date.  Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to the DHS, 1776 Main Street, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, ATTN: PRA [OMB Control No. 1601-NEW].

Note: All responses are voluntary, non-attributional, and anonymous. Please do not enter any personally identifiable information (PII) about yourself or any other individuals in the text boxes provided. DHS will use the information provided to inform and assist in responding to the Congressional report assessing the knowledge of, efficiency of, and effectiveness of the current CUAS authorities and procedures available to owners of critical infrastructure, domestic large hub airports, and Federal and State, local, or tribal law enforcement.

Introductory Questions

• Which of the following categories best describes your organization’s facility/entity/sector? [List to follow]

• What is your current position at this organization?

  • How long have you worked here? Held this position?

  • What specific role would you take in the event of a UAS incident at a facility or asset within your organization’s facility/entity/sector?

• Can you describe the facilities or assets under your organization’s authority in terms of:

  • type and number of assets or facilities

  • layout

  • number of employees

  • other pertinent details

UAS Threat Assessment

• To your knowledge has there ever been a UAS incident at the facilities or assets that fall under your organization’s authority? IF YES:

  • Can you elaborate about these incidents in terms of:

    1. describe the number and types of incidents

    2. extent of damage caused

    3. motivation of perpetrators identified

    4. characteristics and model of UASs encountered

    5. other pertinent details

• Do you think your organization’s facilities or assets may be vulnerable to UAS threats in the future? IF YES:

  • Types of potential UAS threats (e.g., kinetic UASs, surveillance, smuggling, et. al.)

  • Likelihood of future threats

Review of Authorities to Counter UAS Threats

• What does your organization currently do to counter threats from unmanned aircraft systems (UAS)?

  • What systems and procedure are in place to:

• detect, identify, monitor, and track UAS

• warn the UAS operator using passive or active, direct or indirect physical, electronic, radio, and electronic means

• disrupt control of a UAS

• seize, control, or confiscate a UAS

• use reasonable force to disable, damage, or destroy the UAS threat

• Can you describe your organization’s procedures, authorities, and resources to counter UAS threats?

  • Please describe some specific incidents in which you have used any existing procedures or resources to counter UAS.

• If your organization encounters a UAS threat, what are the specific steps that your organization would take to mitigate it?

  • Do you record the incident? If so, how?

  • Do you report the incident? If so, to whom?

  • Are you authorized to deploy UAS countermeasures?

    • If so, what kinds and when do you deploy them?

Assessment of Federal Procedures and Efforts to Support the Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Airports

• How effective are the procedures and resources your organization has to assist federal law enforcement partners to counter UAS respond to a specific incident?

  • Can you provide examples of some specific incidents?

• How effective are the procedures and resources that federal agencies have to assist in countering UAS for a specific incident?

  • Why do you feel this way?

  • Can you provide examples of some specific incidents?

• What additional actions, if any, should DHS implement under existing authorities to assist your organization’s entity/sector to counter UAS threats?

• What procedures and resources exist for the federal government to disseminate information to your organization’s entity/sector regarding UAS threats?

• What procedures and resources exist for your organization’s entity to request assistance from DHS to counter UAS threats?

  • Are these procedures efficient and effective?

  • How could they be improved?

• What resources and assistance, if any, are provided by federal, state, or local law enforcement agencies to counter UAS threats?

  • What types of assistance and support are available from these agencies?

  • How often is this assistance and support provided?

  • In your opinion, how could they be improved?

• How would you characterize the assistance provided by federal, state, and local law enforcement to counter UAS threats in terms of timeliness and effectiveness?

  • How timely is the assistance?

  • How effective is it in mitigating the threat to your organization’s facility or asset?

Assessment of Additional Authorities and Capabilities

• Do you have any concerns about the gaps (including technology) in what you can use/do to deter UAS or any gaps that law enforcement entities can use to do counter UAS? Please explain.

• Do you think federal agencies, including DHS, should have greater authority to assist in UAS mitigation?

  • If so, what additional actions should Congress authorize? Please explain.

• Describe any gaps or limitations with your organization’s capacity to counter UAS threats.

• Describe any gaps or limitations with the assistance and resources provided to mitigate threats by UASs.

Assessment of Additional Research and Development

• What would help you better monitor, track, or deter UAS?

• What additional research and development is needed for your organization’s facility/entity/sector’s CUAS requirements?

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