The emp commission was established pursuant to title xiv of the floyd d. An assessment of threats to the american power grid energy. The study would assess a variety of relevant factors and compare the results to nonboostphase missile defense systems. In its current state, the united states is not prepared to adequately mitigate or contain an emp attack or large gmd event. Report of the commission to assess the threat to the united states from an electromagnetic emp attack, critical national infrastructures, april 2008. Jan 17, 2017 the congressional emp commission warns that nucleararmed rogue states or terrorists could make a highaltitude electromagnetic pulse emp attack that could blackout the national electric grid and other lifesustaining critical infrastructures for over a year killing 9 of 10 americans by starvation and societal collapse. High altitude electromagnetic pulse hemp and high power microwave hpm devices. Threat to critical infrastructure see other formats authenticated, us. Pdf high altitude electromagnetic pulse hemp and high. Commission to assess the threat to the united states from electromagnetic pulse emp attack. The nrc study s results are documented in nuregcr3069, interaction of electromagnetic pulse with commercial nuclear power plant systems. While the probability of emp or gmd event is low, the ability for either. The increasingly pervasive use of electronics of all forms represents the greatest source of vulnerability to attack by emp. The congressional emp commission warns that nucleararmed rogue states or terrorists could make a highaltitude electromagnetic pulse emp attack that could blackout the national electric grid and other lifesustaining critical infrastructures for over a year killing 9 of 10 americans by starvation and societal collapse.
Defining the federal governments responsibility and authority to act 15. As in years 2001 2008, i again serve as a senior advisor to the congressionallymandated commission to assess the threat to the united states of electromagnetic pulse emp attack. In the late 1970s, concerns with empinduced large currents and voltages in electrical systems led the nrc to undertake research to study the effects of emp on nuclear power plant safeshutdown systems. These three reports are among 10 new emp commission reports. The resulting rapidly varying electric and magnetic fields may couple with electrical and electronic systems to. May 22, 2012 in 2008, the congressional research service published a report on high altitude electromagnetic pulse hemp and high power microwave hpm devices. Spence national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2001 as enacted into law by public law 106398.
A nuclear electromagnetic pulse commonly abbreviated as nuclear emp, or nemp is a burst of electromagnetic radiation created by a nuclear explosion. The former are due to electromagnetic shocking of electronics and stressing of electrical systems, and the latter arise from the damage that shockedupset. William graham, head of a congressional commission to assess the emp threat, testifies before the house armed services committee this morning. From from 2001 2008 and again in 20172018, i was privileged to lead a team of our countrys preeminent experts in the first public study of how emp would. Pry is the executive director of task force on national and homeland security, a congressional advisory board dedicated to achieving protection of the united states from electromagnetic pulse emp, cyberattack, mass destruction terrorism and other threats to civilian critical infrastructures on an accelerated basis. Graham, former chairman of the commission to assess the threat to the united states of electromagnetic pulse emp attack, also known as the congressional emp commission. Lack of information and communication postattack, as well as the concurrent impacts on other infrastructures further impede recovery18 18. Lowell wood of the lawrence livermore national laboratory described the effect of an emp attack. Congressional reports on the threat of emp attack mountain.
Congressional caucus on emp task force on national. We ask the current administration to revisit and implement selected findings of the emp commission. Edtf discredits false epri emp report secure the grid. Congressional caucus on emp task force on national and. Us electricity grid still vulnerable to electromagnetic pulses.
Congress and worked from 2001 to 2008 to conduct the most comprehensive study to date on emp protection for civilian infrastructure. Three new emp commission reports released grid security now. On july 22, 2004, after several years of study, the emp commission presented their multivolume report before the house armed services. Congressional research service, clay wilson, high altitude electromagnetic pulse hemp and high power microwave hpm devices. Thursday, july 10, 2008, threat posed by electromagnetic pulse emp at. Page 10 prev page top of doc clearly, china and russia have this capability, and. Assessments, congressional research service report for congress, march 26, 2008, at rl32544. An executive report produced by the emp commission and delivered to congress in 2004 provided an overview of the emp threat to the u. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the pdf. In april 2008, the commission to assess the threat to the united states from electromagnetic pulse attack emp commission 2. The electromagnetic pulse commission warns of an old threat. Report of the commission to assess the threat to the united. May 29, 2019 concern has been raised that the electrical grid of this nation is vulnerable to prolonged collapse.
In 1859 a solar flare, now called the carrington event, created what was the largest known emp in human history. Lowell wood of the lawrence livermore national laboratory described the effect of. Electromagnetic pulse emp is an instantaneous, intense energy field that can overload or disrupt at a distance numerous electrical systems and high. In 2009, there was a discussion on a forum for pilots about a new scientist article that argued that a commercial aircraft could be brought down by diy. Commission to assess the threat to the united states from. The current mandate of the commission includes assessments of progress made by federal. The provision would require the independent study to be submitted to the congressional defense committees. Threat assessments background a commission to assess the threat from high altitude electromagnetic pulse emp commission was established by congress in fy2001 after several experts expressed concern that the u. The nations power grid is vulnerable to the effects of an electromagnetic pulse emp, a sudden burst of electromagnetic radiation resulting from a natural or manmade event. Threat assessment, congressional research service report for congress, july 21, 2008, p. Understanding societal and economic im pacts, a report of the national research council of the national academies 2008.
Pdf high altitude electromagnetic pulse hemp and high power. Would an emp attack really take out all of the grid. In 2008, the congressional research service published a report on high altitude electromagnetic pulse hemp and high power microwave hpm devices. The national academy of sciences subsequently independently reexamined the emp. Task force on national and homeland security saving lives. Aug 27, 2019 edtf recommends disregarding the epri emp report. Graham is one of the free worlds best scientists, its foremost expert on emp, and was on the scientific team that first discovered the emp phenomenon during the starfish prime nuclear experiment in 1962. May 17, 2016 in 2000, congress mandated the commission to assess the threat from high altitude electromagnetic pulse the emp commission to investigate the threat of emp to u. Part 2 congress examines emp threat iran believed to test missiles for attack on u. Clay wilson, high altitude electromagnetic pulse hemp and high power microwave hpm devices.
The electromagnetic pulse generated by a high altitude nuclear explosion is one of a small number of threats that can hold our society at risk of catastrophic consequences. Oct, 2017 would an emp attack really take out all of the grid. Thus, while manual control of some systems may be possible, the number. The electromagnetic defense task force edtf which consists of the foremost military and civilian experts on electromagnetic pulse emp, geomagnetic disturbance gmd and other threats to the electric grid just issued a report entitled electromagnetic pulse threats to americas electric grid. From from 2001 2008 and again in 20172018, i was privileged to lead a team of our countrys preeminent experts in the first public study. Department of energy electromagnetic pulse resilience. Congressional research service,library of congress,101 independence. This report is a product of the commission to assess the threat to. In other words, overall mobility is largely unchanged after adjustment. Assessing the threat from electromagnetic pulse emp executive report 4 observations, analysis, and recommendations the commission to assess the threat to the united states from electromagnetic pulse emp attack was previously convened by the congress from 20012005 and from 2007 2008, and currently from 20162017.
Department of energy electromagnetic pulse resilience action plan idaho national laboratory and other doe national labs, icf. Final three unclassified emp commission reports released. Critical national infrastructures report high resolution pdf, 53mb critical national infrastructures report pdf, 7mb usa frank. Jul 08, 2009 this july 2008 report by the congressional research service, congress investigative arm, offers a succinct overview of the emp threat and the response of national leaders thus far. All unclassified emp commission reports and documents. In 2000, congress mandated the commission to assess the threat from high altitude electromagnetic pulse the emp commission to investigate the threat of emp to u. A hemp event is caused by the detonation of a nuclear device at a highaltitude, about 40 to 400 kilometers, above the earths atmosphere. The emp commission was reestablished via the national defense authorization act for fiscal year 2006 to continue its efforts to monitor, investigate, make recommendations, and report to congress on the evolving threat to the united states from electromagnetic pulse attack resulting from the detonation of a nuclear weapon or weapons at high. As the report points out, to launch an emp attack, an adversary needs a ballistic missile, a nuclear warhead, the ability to mate the two and the ability to fire it to the right point in the atmosphere or space so the detonation produces an electromagnetic pulse. Emp events occur with little or no warning and can have catastrophic effects. Russian military writings claim to have a super emp weapon that can generate 200 kvm 9 source. The commissionthis is from the emp commission report. The role of missile defense introduction among the threats facing the united states are shortrange ballistic missiles launched from vessels such as freighters, tankers, or container ships off our shores to detonate a warhead that could have catastrophic electromagnetic pulse emp consequences for the united states. The resulting rapidly varying electric and magnetic fields may couple with electrical and electronic systems to produce damaging current and voltage surges.
The commission to assess the threat to the united states from electromagnetic pulse attack was authorized by the u. This report presents the unanimous views of the commissioners. The 2008 emp commission report discussed vulnerabilities and. High altitude electromagnetic pulse hemp and high power. The postulated mechanisms are geomagnetic storms, electromagnetic pulse attacks emp via a high altitude nuclear detonation, cyberattacks, and kinetic attacks. Jan 24, 2019 all unclassified emp commission reports and documents. In 2007, i directed the united states nuclear strategy foruman advisory body to the u. In 2007, i directed the united states nuclear strategy foruman advisory body. Jul 21, 2008 electromagnetic pulse emp is an instantaneous, intense energy field that can overload or disrupt at a distance numerous electrical systems and high technology microcircuits, which are especially.
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