“Congress and the Administration have an opportunity to build on the chemical industry’s initiatives to enhance security by improving implementation of the Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS).”
As a key congressional panel examined the implementation of the nation’s chemical security rules, the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) expressed its support for stronger federal oversight...
The security professional needs help from a process safety expert to understand and prioritize what needs to be protected on the site.
In October 2006, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2007 became law. Section 550 of the Act ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to...
Knowing the identity of workers and monitoring their access to various operations are key capabilities required to meet Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). Several of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)'s 18 Risk-Based Performance Standards (RBPS), which were formulated to ensure protection of chemical facilities, specifically mention the need for comprehensive monitoring of employee identity and control of access to critical areas.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security developed the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), a comprehensive set of security regulations governing chemical facilities, to ensure companies that manufacture, store and transport chemicals are properly secured. While various technologies can play a role to protect chemical facilities, CFATS does not specify which should be used or how. Instead, CFATS specifies 18 Risk-Based Performance Standards (RBPS) to guide chemical facilities in selecting and implementing appropriate protective measures to reduce vulnerability and manage risk.
Although the calendar says November, it’s beginning to feel like Groundhog Day for a lot of chemical manufacturers across the country that are again waiting on Washington to permanently reauthorize the nation’s chemical security rules.
You can imagine how difficult it would be to secure an oil and gas pipeline than runs 50 or 60 miles. Multiply that distance by 20, and the security costs alone would be enormous -- let alone adding to the environmental impact or related safety concerns.
Earlier this month, ChemicalProcessing.com presented an ADT-sponsored webinar focused on CFATS & MTSA Security: Tips & Regulatory Updates. The hour-long webinar addressed issues that chemical plants face in an effort to comply with the anti-terrorism standards.
In late June, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committe voted 8 to 2 to approve the Continuing Chemical Facilities Antiterrorism Security Act (S. 473), spearheaded by Ranking Member Susan Collins (R-ME). The legislation would extend the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) until October 2015.
With the current authority for the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) set to expire in days, the Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) today urged Congress to act now to ensure the program’s continued success by approving a multi-year extension.