CFATS Knowledge Center Update 10-21-10

This morning DHS-ISCD updated their CFATS Knowledge Center web page with links to the CSAT SSP Edit Process User Guide that I reported on last night. It shows up both in the ‘Documentation’ section (page 3) on the bottom of the main page and again in the ‘Related Documentation’ section of the Site Security Plan sub-page. Still no mention in the ‘Latest News’ section and no related questions in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) list.

SSP Edit Tool Reappears

The folks at DHS-ISCD once again updated their CSAT web page by adding a link to the CSAT SSP Edit Process User Guide. Readers might remember that this link (same link apparently) appeared on this page earlier, only to disappear a short time later. In the earlier incarnation its arrival and departure were not announced. Once again, there is no announcement on the CFATS Knowledge Center about this document, nor is it listed on that page. No change was made to the SSP web page either.

At first glance the ‘new version’ of this manual is the same as the old version. The version number is the same, but the publication dates are different (September 2010 vs October 2010). I don’t see any obvious differences so my earlier blog probably holds true about this document.

New CSAT Manual for SSP Preparers

Today DHS-ISCD updated their Chemical Security Assessment Tool web page, adding a link to a new manual; the CSAT SSP Edit Process User Guide. According to the ‘Overview’ of the manual it’s purpose is described this way:

“This document provides instructions to facilities for editing and resubmitting their submitted Site Security Plan (SSP) through the Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT). The instructions explain how to edit an SSP, either through an administrative edit or a technical edit [emphasis added] NOTE: These instructions apply only to the CSAT SSP Edit process.”

New stuff of obvious importance to those that have submitted their SSP and then have to change it because of process/chemical changes on site, or because of something new learned in DHS audit/inspection. At the very least we have to new terms (‘administrative edit’ and ‘technical edit’) to understand.

Once I’ve had a chance to read and digest I’ll get back to you.