DHS Updates CFATS Website

Today the folks at DHS ISCD updated some of the web sites associated with the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program. The updated pages include:

● Critical Infrastructure: Chemical Security;

● Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS); and

● Identifying Facilities Covered by the Chemical Security Regulation

The changes were made to reflect the passage of HR 4007 during the last session. The only substantive change to date (beyond the mention of the new CFATS authorization language) is a link to a copy of 6 USC §621 et seq. This is where the new CFATS authorization language is found. Interestingly the Department had to use a congressional web site for this link since the GPO web site for the US Code is not due for the 2014 update for a couple of months yet.

There is a brief mention of the new expedited approval process for Tier 3 and Tier 4 facilities that I have previously described in some detail. No details are provided beyond mentioning that DHS “expects the guidance to be issued in the summer of 2015”. As I mentioned in an earlier post, Congress set the deadline for publishing that guidance at 180 days after passage of HR 4007 which would be July 16^th.

I am surprised that DHS does not mention the grandfathering of existing site security plans (SSPs) in these updated web pages. There has still not been any official pronouncement about the status of SSPs approved after December 18^th. Those approved before that date will not have to be renewed for the new CFATS authorization language by congressional mandate. Plans approved after that date do not have that official protection.