| Media Contact: Scott Jensen Phone: 703-741-5834 |
America’s chemistry sector is an essential part of the nation’s critical infrastructure, a national asset that needs to be protected from terrorism. The effort to safeguard the nation’s “high-risk” chemical facilities continues to move forward as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implements the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards. At the same time, ACC and its member companies are demonstrating our commitment to safeguarding America’s chemical facilities by continuing to voluntarily implement security enhancements.
Since September 11, 2001, ACC members have led the way, investing more than $8 billion on facility security enhancements under ACC’s Responsible Care® Security Code, which has become the gold standard for the industry and a model for regulatory programs.
Under ACC’s mandatory Responsible Care Security Code, ACC member facilities implement a comprehensive, multi-layered security program, developed by safety and security experts that addresses site, transportation, and cyber security. Under the Code, ACC members have completed vulnerability assessments, developed and implemented security plans, and verified implementation of physical enhancements through independent, third parties such as local law enforcement and emergency response officials.
ACC continues to be a strong advocate for federal chemical security regulations because our members do not represent the entire chemical sector. New security regulations approved by Congress raise the bar for security at chemical facilities across the country by authorizing DHS to enforce national risk-based security regulations utilizing nineteen categories of performance standards to ensure that “high-risk” chemical facilities assess vulnerabilities and implement detailed plans to address them. Equally important, DHS has clear authority to inspect these facilities and apply strong penalties, including facility shutdowns, for those that fail to act.
ACC member companies have already begun to comply with the new regulations, gathering data and completing the DHS screening process at their facilities. And ACC is actively reaching out to explain the new requirements to hundreds of companies in and outside of its membership.
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ACC Comments Regarding Senate Hearing on "Cybersecurity: Next Steps to Protect our Critical Infrastructure" [2/23/2010] |  |
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Resources:
- ACC Issue Brief on Chemical Security
- Senators Introduce Bipartisan Chemical Security Bill [2/4/2010]
- Landrieu Joins Three Other Senators to Introduce Bipartisan Security Bill [2/4/2010]
- ACC Letter to Chairman Waxman Commenting on Chemical Security Legislation—HR 2868 [10/20/2009]
- Responsible Care Security Code
- DHS: Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)
- ABC’s of Implementing Inherently Safer Technology (IST)
- ACC's Statement Before the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment Regarding the Chemical Facility Antiterrorism Act of 2009 [10/1/2009]
- ACC's Statement Before the Homeland Security Committee Regarding the Chemical Facility Antiterrorism Act of 2009 [6/16/2009]
- [Video] Cal Dooley's Interview Regarding Chemical Security [White House Chronicle, 2/13/2009]
Media Coverage:
- Chemical Plant Security Re-engaged [Politico, 4/22/2010]
- Letter: Chemical-Plant Security [The Houston Chronicle, 4/10/2010]
- Letter: Landrieu Bill: U.S. Security, Jobs [The Advocate, 4/3/2010]
- Collins Plan Would Protect Economy and Nation [Bangor Daily News, 3/29/2010]
- Cal Dooley's Letter to the Editor Regarding the Chemical Security Bill [The New York Times, 11/15/2009]
- House Passes More Chemical Site Security Rules [HS Today, 11/9/2009]
- Chemical Plants Bristling at House Terrorism Bill [Houma Today, 10/26/2009]
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