November 20, 2007

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has released rules that imposes comprehensive federal security regulations for high-risk chemical facilities.

The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards requires any facility that manufactures, uses, stores, or distributes certain chemicals above a specified quantity to:

• prepare Security Vulnerability Assessments, which identify facility security vulnerabilities, and to 

• develop and implement Site Security Plans, which include measures that satisfy the identified risk-based performance standards.

   

Colleges and universities that possess certain chemicals of interest—those that pose a security risk for release, theft, or sabotage—in amounts exceeding thresholds recently released by the DHS will need to provide detailed information by mid-January. 

Further information about this new regulation can be found at the Department of Homeland Security: Chemical Security Web Page:

http://www.dhs.gov/xprevprot/programs/gc_1169501486179.shtm 

You can also contact the HSC Chief Safety Officer with questions (Victor Pantusa 713-677-7953)