Critical Infrastructure Protection Bureau

New Jersey is rich in   Critical Infrastructure Key Resources (CIKR) situated in or near the most densely populated realestate in the U.S. Consequently, our CIP program is an ongoing,robust concern with an organizational structure and identified roles and responsibilities in two functional areas: Risk Management Branch and Protective Measure Implementation and Program Evaluation Branch. The mission of the Bureau is to ensure the protection, preparedness and resiliency of New Jersey's CIKR through implementation of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) and through promotion of a robust sector partnership model across all CIKR sectors.

Risk Management Branch (RMB)

The Risk Management Branch of the CIP Bureau works closely with its public and private sector constituents to identify and catalogue New Jersey's most critical assets based upon criteria set forth by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and subject matter experts from each critical infrastructure sector. A risk management team comprised of federal, state, county and/or municipal officials conducts on-site visits to identify gaps and recommend potential mitigation. Information from these on-site visits is incorporated into a risk database for analysis which serves, in part, as the basis for federal grant allocation. Additionally, the Risk Management Branch maintains an information sharing network comprised of public and private stakeholders. Structured sector working groups comprised of private and public constituents meet regularly and are the forum for sector specific concerns as well as related cross sector interdependencies.

Protective Measures Implementation and Program Evaluation Branch (PMIPE)

The Protective Measures Implementation/Program Evaluation Branch of the CIP Bureau maintains a close working relationship with the Sector Working Groups (SWG’s). PMIPE is responsible for developing and implementing the private sector exercise program designed to examine plans, policies and procedures. Sector partners participate in the exercise planning process so that the exercise objectives meet the need of the sector. Each exercise produces an After Action Report (AAR) and an Improvement Plan (IP) that will identify gaps and recommend potential mitigation.  PMIPE is responsible for several projects involving sector resiliency and interdependency. PMIPE has conducted several studies in the Food & Agriculture, Nuclear, Biological, and Water Sectors. A State Asset Criteria and Tiering Initiative focuses on identification of the characteristics of State Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR) across all sectors facilitates the reduction of variations in the state asset list resulting from annual changes to National Asset Criteria facilitating effective multi-year planning for CIKR protection. In addition, PMIPE produces a quarterly newsletter that is electronically generated to more than 4500 interested private and public constituents.