6 U.S.C. § 1112: Authorization of Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response teams

may use any asset of the Department, including Federal air marshals, surface transportation security inspectors, canine detection teams, and advanced screening technology; may determine when a VIPR team shall be deployed, as well as the duration of the deployment; shall, prior to and during the deployment, consult with local security and law enforcement officials in the jurisdiction where the VIPR team is or will be deployed, to develop and agree upon the appropriate operational protocols and provide relevant information about the mission of the VIPR team, as appropriate; shall, prior to and during the deployment, consult with all transportation entities directly affected by the deployment of a VIPR team as to specific locations and times within the facilities of such entities at which VIPR teams are to be deployed to maximize the effectiveness of such deployment, as appropriate, including railroad carriers, air carriers, airport owners, over-the-road bus operators and terminal owners and operators, motor carriers, public transportation agencies, owners or operators of highways, port operators and facility owners, vessel owners and operators and pipeline operators; and in the sterile area and any other areas to which only individuals issued security credentials have unescorted access; and in nonsterile areas. Not later than 1 year after October 5, 2018 , the Administrator shall develop and implement a system of qualitative performance measures and objectives by which to assess the roles, activities, and effectiveness of VIPR team operations on an ongoing basis, including a mechanism through which the transportation entities referred to in subsection (a)(4) may submit feedback on VIPR team operations involving their systems or facilities. Not later than 1 year after October 5, 2018 , the Administrator shall develop and implement a plan for ensuring the interoperability of communications among VIPR team participants and between VIPR teams and any transportation entities with systems or facilities that are involved in VIPR team operations. Such plan shall include an analysis of the costs and resources required to carry out such plan. the number of VIPR team operations that include explosive detection canine teams; and the distribution of VIPR team operations deployed across different modes of transportation. The notification under paragraph (1) may contain a classified annex. In this subsection, the term ‘VIPR’ means a Visible Intermodal Prevention and Response team authorized under section 1303 of the National Transit Systems Security Act of 2007 [probably means section 1303 of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007] ( 6 U.S.C. 1112 ).”