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Chemical Facility Security

Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards; Final Rule
Implementing Risk-based Performance Standards

On April 9, 2007, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its interim final rule (Title 6 CFR Part 27) that imposes comprehensive federal security regulations for high-risk chemical facilities.

Entitled the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), the rule establishes risk-based performance standards for the security of our nation’s chemical facilities. It requires many covered chemical facilities to:

• Prepare security vulnerability assessments (SVAs)
• Select security measures to satisfy risk-based performance standards
• Develop and implement site security plans

The April version of the CFATS regulation only had a preliminary list of the chemicals covered by the regulation (i.e. Appendix A to the regulation). The regulation was not to come into effect until the final Appendix A was published.

On November 20, 2007, DHS published the final version of Appendix A in the Federal Register. It contains a list of approximately 300 chemicals and associated "screening threshold quantities." For more information on Appendix A, view press release.

ABS Consulting has formatted the latest version of the CFATS regulation (including the final Appendix A) for use by its clients. It combines the April interim regulation and the changes published in November. It can be downloaded from the sidebar on this page.

From assessment and training to implementation, ABS Consulting can provide the support you need to comply with the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards.

Consulting Services

ABS Consulting is a recognized leader in developing and applying effective risk-based security solutions for the chemical sector. You can take advantage of our extensive operational security, chemical safety, and engineering experience. Managing chemical plant security risk requires integration of security principles and practices. We can team with your staff to define practical but effective security countermeasures and manage an effective chemical plant security program using our world-class security professionals, tools, methods, workshops and courses.

Some of the services we provide include:

• Security Vulnerability Assessments (SVAs)
  ABS Consulting applies established SVA methods, including the approach, the Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) SVA methodology, and other accepted assessment techniques. We will help you decide which technique is most appropriate for your company’s compliance-based needs, corporate, and site-specific circumstances. If necessary, we can tailor a unique approach that is most efficient for your needs and defensible to the regulatory authorities. We understand that a comprehensive assessment not only has to address physical security systems but also process control, information technology, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems.

• Site Security Plans
  Effectively developed and documented security plans are essential if your security program is going to work properly. We partner with your personnel to define a sustainable program that meets regulatory requirements and is consistent with the way you need to run your facilities. We also can develop site security plan templates to guide individual facilities in your corporation through the process of developing their own site security plans.

• Risk-based Performance Standards
  DHS is preparing risk-based performance standards for chemical plant security systems. Selecting effective and practical security measures that meet those standards requires careful study. There is the potential to commit to security measures that can have adverse effects on plant operations and business lines, while providing little or no real security benefit. We can help you select, design and implement security measures that meet regulatory requirements and are supportive of plant business objectives.

• Regulatory Agency Liaison and Technical Support
  We provide a broad range of regulatory assistance and consulting. Because of the experience of our staff and our ongoing work with elements of DHS and other government agencies, we know many of the security regulation developers and implementers in government service. If you need to understand the technical basis for specific requirements or just want answers to specific questions, we can access the right people for you – getting your information and saving you time.

Training Services

ABS Consulting has a well-deserved reputation for providing the finest chemical sector security training available. Our instructors are security industry experts who have developed the highest quality course materials to enhance your security management skills and guide you to practical security solutions that meet the new chemical security regulations. Some of the courses we offer include:

• Risk Analysis and Management for Critical Asset Protection (RAMCAP) -  Chemical Sector (licensed by ASME)
• Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS) Security Vulnerability Assessment
• Security for the Safety Professional
• Conducting Physical Security Inspections and Audits
• Security Officer Training for the Maritime Transportation Security Act

For more information regarding the new DHS regulation and how ABS Consulting can help you meet its requirements, e-mail info@absconsulting.com.