Last week the DHS National Protection and Programs
Directorate (hmm, I thought that there had been a recent name change here to
include something about cybersecurity) published
a jobs opening
on USAJobs.gov for a Supervisory Chemical Security Inspector in three US cities
(Lakewood, CO; Hammond, IN; and Memphis, TN). The government is accepting applications
through June 11
th.
• Review and evaluate facility data
security plans, countermeasures against Risk Based
• Performance Standards (RBPS), and
data from the on-site chemical storage, manufacturing, processing, shipping and
receiving of ammonium nitrate, prior to inspections and prepare comprehensive
field reports of inspection findings and after-action reports. These reports
may serve as the basis for initiating administrative and/or regulatory
enforcement actions, as required.
• Provide technical and compliance
assistance to facility operators/owners with respect to compliance with
regulations.
• May serve as an action officer on
a variety of liaison activities with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces, ATF
Inspectors, State Homeland Security Advisors, State, regional, local intelligence
fusion centers, local emergency planning committees, other relevant task
forces, working groups, committees and private stakeholders.
The experience requirements for these positions include:
• Evaluating subordinate chemical
inspector preparation, performance, and reporting on chemical facility
inspections;
• Reporting on chemical facilities
by utilizing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS); and
• Supervising the work performance
of other chemical facility inspectors.
There are a couple of entries in the position description
that I don’t recall seeing before. First it notes that the position of
Supervisory Chemical Security Inspector may be designated as an ‘essential
personnel’ position. It goes on to explain that:
“Essential personnel must be able
to serve during continuity of operation events without regard to declarations
of liberal leave or government closures due to weather, protests, acts of
terrorism, or lack of funding [emphasis added].”
This ‘lack of funding’ caveat is a tad bit odd given the
fact that during the federal funding fiasco last year, the CFATS inspectors all
stayed home. Oh well, maybe the Department is just keeping their options open.
The other interesting requirement deals with hazmat response
activities. The notice includes the statement that:
“During responses to emergencies
there is the potential for exposure to toxic, biological, radiological or
physical hazards that require the use of specialized protective equipment.”
During the stand-up of what is now known as the
Infrastructure Security Compliance Division (ISCD) there had been some discussion
about inspectors responding to actual attacks on covered chemical facilities.
This lead to some expenditures on chemical safety equipment that were later
questioned by the GAO and Congress when that ‘emergency response’ type activity
was removed from the description of ISCD responsibility. I would be surprised
and severely disappointed if responding to chemical emergencies (actually in
the hot zone) were ever to be made part of the Chemical Security Inspector
duties.
Personnel wishing to submit applications for these positions
should log onto the USAJobs.gov website.
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