Another CFATS Conference

Yesterday I received a very kind invitation from Jim Lupacchino of Day & Zimmermann Security Services to attend a CFATS seminar that that company is holding in Cherry Hill, NJ on June 15th. Because of the lack of a travel budget, I was forced to decline. And it is a shame because it looks like it will include a look at some of the lessons that have been learned to date about the Site Security Plan assessment process. The main speaker will be Steve Roberts, a Houston, TX lawyer specializing in Homeland Security issues. Steve has been involved in a number of similar seminars over the last couple of years and I have heard good things about his presentations. According to a flyer that Jim sent me the topics will include:

“A discussion of the Site Security Plan and Risk-Based Performance Standards “The Site Security Plan Approval Process – What we know now and What we don’t. “CFATS and recent congressional activity “A review of Chemical-Terrorism Vulnerability Information (CVI)”

The RSVP date listed in the flyer has actually passed, but you can contact Jim (ph - 804.520.6195, or email - Jim.Lupacchino@dayzim.com) if you might be interested in attending. If room is available, I’m sure that Day & Zimmerman would be happy to have you attend.

Ameristar CFATS Seminar

A reader pointed me at the CFATS webpage for Ameristar Fence Company because a brief blurb for a CFATS seminar that Ameristar is conducting later this month at their Tulsa, OK facility shows on that page. Following a link on their takes you to the following announcement:

“Ameristar will host a CFATS seminar in Tulsa on February 24, 2010. The seminar will include a brief CFATS overview and update, a presentation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, and a panel discussing CFATS from an industry compliance perspective. The seminar will also include a special presentation on blast effects -- an issue that is especially important considering the assault team, standoff weapon, and vehicle-borne improvised explosive device attack scenarios applicable for Release Chemicals of Interest, as required by the CFATS Security Vulnerability Assessment. The day will conclude with a physical security display. Please call 866-467-2773 for more details.”

I contacted Chris L. Herold, the Market Manager for Ameristar Fence Products’ Security and Specified Products, and he was kind enough to provide me with some additional information. Steve Roberts of the Roberts Law Group in Houston, TX (I have previously mentioned his blog on Homeland Security Law) will be the featured speaker. Steve will be providing an overview of the CFATS program and an update on the current status of its implementation. He is going to specifically address current trends and compliance issues for the Site Security Plan. There will be two Special Agents, Brig Barker and Jimmy Looney, from the FBI’s Tulsa Field Office talking about the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. They will be discussing the JTTF’s role in responding to terrorist event and what resources they have for investigation of potential future attacks. They will also describe the FBI’s partnership with InfraGurd. Protective Technologies Group will be providing the presentation on blast effects. Their team will include John Crawford (President of Karagozian & Case), Dr. Gil Heemeir (UCSD) and Allan Mangold. They will be discussing explosives, blast effects, and mitigation of blast effects. This should be an interesting presentation for facilities trying to protect release COI from IED’s and VBIED’s. The day long seminar (9:30 am – 3:30 pm CST) will also include a panel discussion that will look at the CFATS program from the perspective of corporate security departments. The panel will include Rich Ryan from ADM; Jim Cummins from Air Liquide, and Peter Lofgren from Halliburton. According to Chris Herold the intended target audience is Industry (Security Directors, Plant Managers, HSE Managers, Security Coordinators, Compliance Officers), Security Integrators, Security Manufactures, Security Contractors. From the information provided this looks like it will be an interesting seminar. Apparently they do these 2 or 3 times a year, so if you can’t make the program this month there should be future opportunities to attend.