DHS Releases Security Plan Guide

Dealerships determined to be “high-risk” by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have been e-mailed about the next step.

DHS has released their Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) Site Security Plan (SSP) and Risk-Based Performance Standards (RBPS) Guidance documents for “high-risk” chemical facilities that are subject to the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) rules.

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Only facilities that submitted a Security Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) and were subsequently notified in writing by DHS that they have been finally determined to be “high-risk” will have access via the CSAT to complete and submit the SSP. The Agricultural Retailers Association is an active member of the DHS Chemical Sector Coordinating Council, which helped in the development of these DHS programs.

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Facility SVA submitters will receive an email May 15 notifying them to retrieve their tiering letters from CSAT if the facility has a final Tier 1 rating. Included in the final tiering letter will be the chemicals of interest (COI’s) and security issue causing them to be a Tier 1 and any other facilities that were of concern to DHS. Those sites will have 120 days to submit a SSP. Of the original 178 sites preliminarily tiered at Tier 1, there are now only 140 sites remaining.

Preliminary Tier 2 facilities’ SVAs are in final review, and Tier 2 letters are expected some time in June. Unless otherwise notified by DHS, “high-risk” facilities have 120 days from the time of written notification to complete and submit a CSAT SSP or a department-approved Alternative Security Program.

Covered facilities may request an extension for the department’s consideration by sending a letter by regular mail to:

Department of Homeland Security
Chemical Security and Compliance Division
Mail Stop 8100
Washington, DC 20528-8100

For assistance with CFATS compliance, contact Richard Gupton, ARA vice president of legislative policy & counsel, at 202-457-0825 or [email protected].

(Source: Agricultural Retailers Association)

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