Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
Encyclopedia
The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), also known as 6 CFR, Part 27, are a set of US government security regulations for high-risk chemical facilities such as chemical plant
s, electrical generating facilities, refineries, and universities
. The US Department of Homeland Security
promulgated the Final Rule on April 9, 2007. The regulations came into effect on June 8, 2007, apart from material covered in Appendix A, which took effect upon its publication in the Federal Register
on November 20, 2007.
The new rules apply to any "Chemical Facility," which the regulation defines as follows:
Confusion over this set of laws often lead local police agencies to claim that it is illegal for persons to photograph facilities covered under CFATS.
The response from the US chemical community to the initial legislation was rather critical, but the revisions introduced in November appear to have addressed many of the concerns of both industry and academia. For example, certain routine chemicals of low toxicity, such as acetone
or urea
, have been removed from the list, since record-keeping for such common compounds was considered an excessive burden. However, some environmental groups believe the exemption quantities of certain substances, especially chlorine
(set at 2500 pounds (1,134 kg)), have been set too high.
Chemical plant
A chemical plant is an industrial process plant that manufactures chemicals, usually on a large scale. The general objective of a chemical plant is to create new material wealth via the chemical or biological transformation and or separation of materials. Chemical plants use special equipment,...
s, electrical generating facilities, refineries, and universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
. The US Department of Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
promulgated the Final Rule on April 9, 2007. The regulations came into effect on June 8, 2007, apart from material covered in Appendix A, which took effect upon its publication in the Federal Register
Federal Register
The Federal Register , abbreviated FR, or sometimes Fed. Reg.) is the official journal of the federal government of the United States that contains most routine publications and public notices of government agencies...
on November 20, 2007.
The new rules apply to any "Chemical Facility," which the regulation defines as follows:
Chemical Facility or facility shall mean any establishment that possesses or plans to possess, at any relevant point in time, a quantity of a chemical substance determined by the Secretary to be potentially dangerous or that meets other risk-related criteria identified by the Department. As used herein, the term chemical facility or facility shall also refer to the owner or operator of the chemical facility. Where multiple owners and/or operators function within a common infrastructure or within a single fenced area, the Assistant Secretary may determine that such owners and/or operators constitute a single chemical facility or multiple chemical facilities depending on the circumstances.
Confusion over this set of laws often lead local police agencies to claim that it is illegal for persons to photograph facilities covered under CFATS.
The response from the US chemical community to the initial legislation was rather critical, but the revisions introduced in November appear to have addressed many of the concerns of both industry and academia. For example, certain routine chemicals of low toxicity, such as acetone
Acetone
Acetone is the organic compound with the formula 2CO, a colorless, mobile, flammable liquid, the simplest example of the ketones.Acetone is miscible with water and serves as an important solvent in its own right, typically as the solvent of choice for cleaning purposes in the laboratory...
or urea
Urea
Urea or carbamide is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO2. The molecule has two —NH2 groups joined by a carbonyl functional group....
, have been removed from the list, since record-keeping for such common compounds was considered an excessive burden. However, some environmental groups believe the exemption quantities of certain substances, especially chlorine
Chlorine
Chlorine is the chemical element with atomic number 17 and symbol Cl. It is the second lightest halogen, found in the periodic table in group 17. The element forms diatomic molecules under standard conditions, called dichlorine...
(set at 2500 pounds (1,134 kg)), have been set too high.
See also
- Toxic Substances Control ActToxic Substances Control ActThe Toxic Substances Control Act is a United States law, passed by the United States Congress in 1976, that regulates the introduction of new or already existing chemicals. It grandfathered most existing chemicals, in contrast to the Registration, Evaluation and Authorization of Chemicals ...
(TSCA) - Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) - EU legislation)
- Dangerous Substances Directive (67/548/EEC) - EU legislation