McCaul Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Fortify Chemical Plant Security

McCaul Cosponsors Bipartisan Bill to Fortify Chemical Plant Security

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) cosponsored the “Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014. The bill authorizes the CFATS program and improves security standards for high-risk chemical facilities, with the ultimate goal of ensuring terrorists cannot access large quantities of chemicals that could be used as weapons of mass destruction. Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies Subcommittee Chairman Patrick Meehan (R-PA) authored the legislation.

During the two year authorization period, H.R. 4007 requires vital chemical security goals including:

• Improves the certification process by allowing automatic re-approval of Alternative Site Security Plans and permitting third-party audits and inspections with the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

• Seeks to ensure identification and proper security inspection of all off-the-grid "outlier" facilities by requiring DHS to coordinate federal agencies that oversee safety of facilities, as well as with state and local entities, in addition to industry associations. The Secretary of DHS must confirm progress has been made in these areas within 18 months.

• Seeks to eliminate the backlog of security inspections by allowing automatic re-approval of Alternative Site Security Plans and permitting third-party audits and inspections

• Ensures greater security oversight by requiring the Secretary of DHS to report back to Congress to certify improvements and requiring the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a two-year assessment with reports to Congress every six months

Chairman McCaul: “The importance of our nation’s chemical infrastructure security cannot be overstated – it is a national, state and local concern. Last year, the tragic explosion at the West, Texas fertilizer plant highlighted the problem of the thousands of chemical facilities that are off the grid and unknown to security inspectors. Chemical facilities that are not run with the utmost care are an easy target for those who want to exploit lax security and CFATS has the vital mission to ensure these facilities are secure. This bill will authorize CFATS in the near term in order to provide the sense of stability industry needs, while requiring program improvements including coordinating with state and local entities in addition to industry groups to identify off-the-grid chemical facilities.”

Full text of H.R. 4007 is available HERE.

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