DHS Chemical Security Webpage Update 08-18-09

DHS has improved the usability of their web site by adding another link to the Chemical Security landing page. The new link takes one to the National Infrastructure Protection Plan page dealing with the Chemical Sector. There is no new information on that page, but this change does make the landing page a one-stop link to a larger variety of chemical security information. There is still one page that DHS should include a link to on this landing page; the chemical security section of the Laws and Regulations page. This would put all of the legal documents supporting the CFATS program just one click away from the rest of the chemical security information on the DHS web site.

DHS Chemical Security Web Site 05-18-09

Yesterday I reported on DHS posting a new version of the Top Screen User’s Manual. As part of that they changed a few of the pages in the DHS Chemical Security web site. Actually it was noticing these changes that led me to the new User’s Manual. The pages that were changed were the: Critical Infrastructure: Chemical Security Chemical Security Assessment Tool CSAT Top-Screen The only change to the Chemical Security page was the link for the CSAT page. The CSAT page also had a link change, the one to the Top Screen page. There were also two changes in the Key Documents box on the right side of the CSAT page. They updated the listing and link for the Top-Screen User’s Manual. They also added a date (May, 2009) to the listing for the RBPS Guidance document. This brings that listing in line with the other document listings in that box. Now readers can verify that they have the most up-to-date document at a glance. The only change to the Top-Screen page is the link to the User’s Manual. This was a new page as of last Friday. It might have been easier for DHS to update the Top-Screen User’s Manual at that time, but even I might have missed the change in the excitement of the release of the RBPS Guidance and opening of the SSP page. It might seem a little bit much to write about minor changes to a web site like this. I have done a little (very little) web site work and know how much work goes into even a relatively minor change. On a site like the DHS Chemical Security web site with its interlinked pages, making sure that all of the page links are working properly is something that is frequently overlooked. The team at DHS that maintains this page needs a little public recognition for their good work from time-to-time. I’m happy to oblige.

DHS Chemical Security Web Page Updated 05-15-09

When DHS rolled out the new SSP tool earlier today they made a number of other changes to their Chemical Security Web pages. The landing page is updated with a brief description of the roll-out of the SSP and an updated link to the new CSAT landing page. That page no longer has all of the CSAT tools on one page; each tool now has its own page. This should make it easier for the DHS web managers to keep the individual CSAT Tool pages updated. To make it easier to find/download copies of the various manuals, user guides and questions there is a “Key Documents” block on the right side of every CSAT Tool page that provides a listing of all of these documents. To make it easier to see if you have the most recent volume, DHS has included the date of the document in the description. The only exception to that is the RBPS Guidance document. Since there is only one version (excepting the draft released last year) it does not make much difference. Hopefully when DHS updates this manual listing in the “Key Documents”, they will include a date for the new document. The Site Security Plan web page has two additional document links on the page that are a little unusual. First there is the RBPS Response to Comment; a document that reviews the comments that were received on the Draft RBPS Guidance document and the DHS response to those comments. I have not yet had a chance to review that document, but it should provide some additional insight into the DHS thinking about the RBPS. The second unusual document is the CSAT SSP Screenshots. According to the first page:

“This document is a copy of certain portions of the Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) Site Security Plan (SSP) template and is intended merely to give the reader some idea of the questions that an actual SSP will need to address.”

This is a real lengthy document and I don’t see how much use it will actually be to getting ready to submit the SSP. The question document will be a better preparation aid. Still, some people will find it useful to be able to look actual pictures of what some of the SSP screens.

DHS Updates Chemical Security Web Page

Sometime last Friday afternoon (after I last looked at the page for the day) DHS updated their Chemical Security web page. Nothing major, they moved the CFATS Whistleblower Hot Line (okay, they call it the CFATS Tip Line) information from the ‘I Want To…” block near the top of the page to the more permanent and prominent block along the right side of the page. Not quite ‘black boxing it’ like I suggested last week, but this does make it easier to find.