OSTP NSIA Current Projects Page

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National Security and International Affairs Current Projects

Fissile Materials Disposition

Our objectives are to help orchestrate an international effort to achieve the disposition of Russian excess weapons-grade plutonium; provide overall technical and management oversight of bilateral U.S.-Russia scientific and technical cooperation in this area; facilitate reaching a domestic consensus on and implementation of a strategy for the disposition of U.S. excess weapons-grade plutonium; and monitor implementation of the HEU purchase agreement and the blend-down of U.S. HEU to assure continued success. To achieve these goals, NSIA co-chairs, with the NSC, the Interagency Working Group on Plutonium Disposition and co-chairs the Joint U.S.-Russian Steering Committee on Plutonium Disposition. We are also working with the independent Holdren-Velikhov Commission.

Critical Infrastructure Protection

Working with the National Science and Technology Council, we are striving to ensure that Federal research and development for critical infrastructure protection is fully coordinated and focused on identified technological needs. We are working with other agencies to ensure that policies considered to strengthen the operational continuity of U.S. critical infrastructures are fully consistent with S&T realities, in terms of threats and opportunities. Recognizing the essential roles that the private sector and academia will play in critical infrastructure protection R&D, we fully support and encourage the development of an R&D partnership among the government, private sector, and academia.

Nuclear Arms Reduction: START III and Beyond

Our long-term objective is to continue the nuclear reduction process by negotiating and implementing continuing reductions in nuclear materials, weapons, and delivery systems. This would fulfill the commitments the U.S. made in the Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) and the NPT Review and Extension Conference. We are working with other agencies to ensure that U.S. preparations for START III are aware of the scientific and technical implications of specific arms reduction proposals. One particular focus is the March 1997 U.S.-Russia pledge in Helsinki to seek agreements to dismantle actual warheads as well as delivery vehicles.

Counterterrorism R&D

Our long-term objective is to ensure that U.S. government scientific and technical activities to support counterterrorism are conducted efficiently (no unnecessary duplication) and effectively (no important gaps), that they address the most important terrorist threats, and that appropriate solutions (technical and otherwise) are deployed to prevent, detect, mitigate against, respond to, and/or recover from terrorist attack. We are paying particular attention to possible terrorist use of weapons of mass destruction, such as chemical and biological weapons.

Humanitarian Demining

Our long-term objective is to ensure that U.S. Government conducts a coordinated program of technology development for humanitarian demining in support of the President's anti-personnel landmine policy, which directs that improved technologies for detecting and clearing antipersonnel landmines be developed and shared internationally. We are also working to support the Global Humanitarian Demining 2010 Initiative, under which the threat posed by landmines in the ground to civil populations is to be eliminated by the year 2010. Improvements in demining technology and better international coordination among national demining R&D programs will be required to reach this ambitious goal.

Remarks by the President on Landmines
Humanitarian Demining Information Center (James Madison University)

JMU Humanitarian Demining Information Center Main Page

Demining Category Index

Joint Unexploded Ordnance Coordinating Office
United Nations Demining

Ballistic Missile Defense

Our long term objectives are to work with other agencies and provide the requisite scientific and technical input to ensure that the President's plans for national and theater missile defense are funded by Congress and implemented, and his efforts to clarify and preserve the ABM Treaty are successfully completed.

Ballistic Missile Defense Office

International Technology Transfer

The goal of this activity is to strengthen effectiveness and consistency of U.S. Government policies that deal with the international transfer of technologies developed with the assistance of public funds, particularly with respect to concerns over national and economic security

Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID)

In response to the increasing threats to the health of the U.S. and the global community from emerging infectious diseases, the Administration released a Presidential Decision Directive in June 1996, to developed a global surveillance and response network; enhance research; strengthen international collaboration; and raise public awareness. The PDD created a Task Force, co-chaired by OSTP and CDC, which is charged with implementing the President's policy and ensuring that EIDs continue to receive priority in the Federal agencies, and that non-Federal entities are widely brought into the process.

Improving International Partnerships in Science and Technology
A fundamental goal of NSIA is to strengthen international science cooperation in support of our science and technology and foreign policy goals. The Division is taking specific steps to improve science cooperation in both multilateral organizations and bilateral relationships in order to promote leading edge scientific research that serves common interests and goals. Multilateral arenas through which Administration goals are pursued include the OECD (particularly the Megascience Forum), the G8, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and the Summit of Americas. Priority bilateral areas of activity include work with Russia, China, Japan, the European Union, South Africa, Ukraine, and Egypt. In addition, priority is placed on reducing barriers to effective cooperation, including:

- reducing administrative barriers to cooperation (e.g. taxes, visas, immigration, customs, and other restrictions on the importation of science equipment);

- maintaining open access to international scientific research facilities (supporting the U.S. policy of providing open access to international facilities, based on merit); and

strengthening international coordination in planning large science projects and programs (e.g., OECD Megascience Forum technical working groups, emerging infectious diseases, endocrine disruptors, etc.)

OECD Megascience
APEC
Summit of Americas
U.S.-Japan Science and Technology Programs
Leland Initiative
Science & Technology Policy Institute

Office of Science and Technology Policy
National Security and International Affairs Division
1600 Pennsylvania Ave, N.W
Room 494
Washington, DC 20502
202.456.6056
202.456.6028 fax
Information@ostp.eop.gov

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