Northern Tools Houston

House is first heard the new Regulations on Chemical Safety Fund

On July 24, 2007, the Subcommittee on Security Transport and Infrastructure Protection held its first hearing on the Chemical Facility Security since the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published the Final Rules Interim Fund chemical terrorism Standards (CFATS, June 27 CFR part) in April. Robert B. Stephan, assistant secretary for the protection of Infrastructure, testified on the current status of efforts by the DHS is taking to protect chemical plants from terrorist attack.

Stephan update before the Subcommittee on voluntary efforts completed by some members of the chemical industry to improve their security after the attacks of 9/11/2001. These responsibilities include American Chemistry Council and the Security Service of Cyber Security Program Code, and efforts made by the National Association of Dealers Chemicals, American Petroleum Institute, chlorine, agro-industry working Safety Group and the National Paint and Coatings.

He also described a wide variety of efforts that DHS has made in coordination with other groups. Under the protection of national infrastructure (Nipp) chemical industry has established a partnership with DHS and other agencies Government to form a Coordinating Council of the chemical sector (SCLC). Under the industry plan specific chemical teams have conducted extensive reviews security problems in Detroit, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, in northern New Jersey and the lower areas of the Delaware River in August of this year. In addition, 394 chemical plants have been eligible for subsidies from the Agenda for Protection Area buffer. In June the first Security Summit chemical was held with 350 participants from industry reported on DHS and CSCC plans and actions to date.

DHS is also working on programs training for the chemical industry. The program of chemical safety awareness training, a training tool for employees online all chemical facilities, enter the line this fall. An original vehicle improvised explosive devices training program being developed for security officers to be responsible for controlling vehicle bombs.

Next Secretary Stephan Update Subcommittee on steps that DHS has taken to date under the new rule CFATS. 8 Assessment Tool Chemical Safety June (CSAT) has been launched for the first time on June 11th DHS sent out notification letters to 50 known high-risk facilities that were required to complete a Top starting screen presentation. These 50 institutions were supported by DHS inspectors so that a session of problems in life system was actually implemented.

In coordination with the PHC chemicals and oil and gas SSP, additional facilities have been identified for directed Top Screen Completion. To date (July 13, 2007) 6096 plants have been recorded CSAT and are in some stage of completion of the screen. These first two groups of installation logs serve an apprenticeship program Security Service and industry and provide an opportunity to correct the inevitable errors in the system. Vulnerability Security Assessments (SVA) and Site Security Plans (SSP) should be in place for most of these facilities at year end.

The next phase of records Setup begins when the final version of Annex A, DHS Chemicals of Interest, is published. Thus, any facility who has (or plans) have a chemical listed in Annex above the detection threshold quantity released (STQ) must complete a Top Screen in CSAT system.

Deputy Secretary Robert B. Stephan's testimony provides valuable information on the functioning of the CSAT system is operating. The way the system works at the premises under levelsw information will be protected under the Chemical Vulnerability Information (CVI) rules. This type of aggregated data is that the public will never see. Would be helpful if this subcommittee of the Senate and their counterparts were to hold periodic type of review hearings to allow the public to keep abreast of progress in this important area of community safety.

About the Author

Patrick J. Coyle has 15 years experience with the US Army, including a stint as a Physical Security NCO in Europe. He has also spent 12 years working as a Process Chemist is a specialty chemical manufacturing company.

Further information about the new regulations concerning protecting chemical plants from terrorist attack can be found at http://www.members.aol.com/ChemPlantSec/ChemPlantSecurity.htm

Subcommittee minutes: http://hsc.house.gov/hearings/index.asp?id=74

Climate Change Conference – Part 4

Comments are closed