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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 9/11, ACC members have led the way, investing nearly $6 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 the 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 last year raise the bar for security at chemical facilities across the country by authorizing the Department of Homeland Security (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.

• Statement before the Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
• BASF testimony before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on 12/12/07 – “The implementation of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards and the Road Ahead”
• ACC on Pre-emption
• ACC Comments on DHS Advance Notice of Rulemaking
• ACC Testifies on Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity, HR 5695 The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006
• ACC Testifies on Chemical Facility Security, What is the Appropriate Federal Role?
• ACC Responsible Care Security Code
• ACC Glossary of Chemical Security Terms
• What Others are Saying About ACC's Responsible Care Security Code
• ACC Progress Report on Chemical Facility Security

Relevant Links:

• Chemical Plant Safety - Letter to the Editor in The New York Times [6/19/2006]
• Guarding America's Chemical Facilities - Article featured in american chemistry  
• Protecting Chemical Sites - Letter to the Editor in The New York Times [12/12/2005]
• Security Oversight is Critical - OP/ED in USA Today [7/12/2005]
• GAO Report on Homeland Security and Chemical Facilities
• Learn more about security.
• Learn more about how chemistry contributes to security.

» see ACC Letters to the Editor

ACC Commends Effort To Protect Chemical Facilities [6/25/2008]

ACC Affirms Commitment to Chemical Security Standards [6/12/2008]

House Bill Important First Step Toward Permanent Chemical Security Regulations [3/6/2008]

ACC Encouraged by Congressional Effort to Make Chemical Security Regulations Permanent [2/26/2008]

ACC Supports Permanent Chemical Security Regulations [1/23/2008]