The essential heart
of this information is that if your facility has chemicals on this list
and over the threshold, you have until January 1, 2008 (60 calendar
days) to complete the Top-Screen process. Counting weekends and
holidays, that gives you approximately 36 working days to complete this
process. Good luck, and always, if you would like some help,
please email us at info@oursafetowns.com or call us at (951)
764-3626. You can also check out our book: Keeping
Our Chemical Facilities Safe for more information.
DHS Publishes Chemicals of
Interest List for Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
Release Date: November 2, 2007
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Fact
Sheet: Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards: Appendix A
The Department of Homeland Security
today released Appendix A of the
Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), a critical element
of its chemical security efforts.
The appendix contains a list of
chemicals that, if possessed by a
facility in a specified quantity, trigger a requirement to complete and
submit an easy-to-use, online consequence assessment tool called a
Top-Screen.
Using the information gathered through
the Top-Screen, the
department will be better able to make a preliminary determination as
to whether a facility presents a high level of security risk and
whether it will be required to comply with the substantive requirements
of CFATS.
“The publication of Appendix A is a
critical piece of the federal
effort to increase security at high-risk facilities, making it less
likely that terrorists can use dangerous chemicals in attacks,” said
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. “The chemical security
Interim Final Rule defined how the department will implement this
substantial new authority given by Congress. With the release of
Appendix A, we continue the process of minimizing a significant threat
to better ensure the security of American citizens.”
To determine the type and quantity of
chemicals that will be subject
to the preliminary screening process, DHS examined the following three
security issues:
- Release – quantities of toxic,
flammable, or explosive chemicals
that have the potential to create significant adverse consequences for
human life or health if intentionally released or detonated;
- Theft and diversion – chemicals
that have the potential, if stolen or diverted, to be used or converted
into weapons; and
- Sabotage and contamination –
chemicals that, if mixed with other
readily available materials, have the potential to create significant
adverse consequences for human life or health.
The department identified these
chemicals in the specific amounts
for preliminary screening based on their potential to create
significant human life or health consequences.
Appendix A lists approximately 300
chemicals of interest and
includes common industrial chemicals such as chlorine, propane and
anhydrous ammonia as well as specialty chemicals such as arsine and
phosphorus trichloride. Facilities that possess chemicals of interest
at or above the listed screening threshold quantities are required to
complete the Top-Screen within 60 calendar days of the publication of
Appendix A.
DHS has worked closely with the
chemical industry as well as state
and local authorities on strengthening security at chemical facilities
throughout the country. While many chemical facilities have already
initiated voluntary security programs and made significant investments
to improve security, gaps remain. The CFATS regulation imposes for the
first time comprehensive federal security regulations for high-risk
chemical facilities. The CFATS regulation, issued on April 9, 2007, is
already being implemented at certain high risk chemical facilities
across the nation.
For more information on chemical
security or to view the Appendix A final rule of CFATS, please visit www.dhs.gov/chemicalsecurity.
|
