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Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Tiering Methodology

The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program is a risk-based, regulatory program that sets the standards for security at the Nation’s high-risk chemical facilities. To determine if a chemical facility is high-risk and thereby a covered chemical facility under CFATS, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses a dynamic risk assessment process.

DHS is committed to strengthening the CFATS program and is implementing an improved tiering methodology that incorporates the relevant elements of risk, taking into account threat, vulnerability, and consequence in a facility’s high-risk determination.

UPDATE: DHS is hosting webinars and in-person presentations to demonstrate the improved Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) 2.0. See below for more details.

Reinstatement of the Top-Screen Requirements

Earlier this year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) temporarily suspended the requirement to submit Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Top-Screens and Security Vulnerability Assessments (SVA) in order to allow for a phased rollout of the new Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) 2.0 surveys and enhanced risk tiering methodology. On October 1, 2016, the requirement to submit Top-Screens was reinstated. Chemical facilities of interest that have not previously submitted a Top-Screen, but which have come into possession of reportable amounts of COI, must submit a Top-Screen within 60 days.

Additionally, in the coming months, DHS will be reaching out directly to CFATS chemical facilities that have previously submitted Top-Screens to DHS and require that they submit a new Top-Screen using CSAT 2.0. However, facilities may choose to proactively resubmit a Top-Screen prior to receiving the individual notification.

CSAT 2.0

CSAT 2.0 consists of a revised and streamlined CSAT Top-Screen, SVA, and a Site Security Plan (SSP) that will collect the data necessary to process facilities through the improved tiering methodology and improve the integration between the SVA application and the SSP application. The Information Collection Request for the revised applications was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Chemical facilities of interest will be notified by DHS to resubmit their Top-Screen using CSAT 2.0 beginning in September 2016.

The new CSAT Top-Screen Instructions and CSAT SVA/SSP Instructions have recently been released. Updated documents can also be found in the CSAT portal. To learn more on the CSAT 2.0 updates to the SVA and SSP, please visit the CSAT SSP Revisions webpage.

In preparation, facilities may want to:

  • Check your CSAT account. Log in to your CSAT account and select the “Update My Information” link to confirm that all information is correct and up-to-date. If you are unable to access your account, please contact the CFATS Help Desk at (866) 323-2957.
  • Participate in a training demonstration. Webinar sessions that walk the user through the revised CSAT portal user interface, enhanced Top-Screen, and streamlined SVA and SSP are available on the CFATS Knowledge Center. See below for a listing of in-person demonstrations taking place in several cities across the country.
  • Review the updated CSAT 2.0 user manuals. Become more familiar with CSAT 2.0 with the CSAT 2.0 Portal User Manual and the CSAT 2.0 Survey Application User Manual.
  • Contact the CFATS Help Desk. Call (866) 323-2957 or find a CFATS Compliance Case Manager or your local Chemical Security Inspector by emailing CFATS@hq.dhs.gov.
  • Learn more. Read the implementation notice published in the Federal Register for more information. Find out more about the CFATS program by visiting the Chemical Security webpage.
  • View the printer-friendly CFATS Tiering Methodology Fact Sheet.

Implementation

To minimize undue effort and unnecessary complexity that could inadvertently cause confusion, DHS is taking a multi-step approach to this implementation.

  1. In June, the Department temporarily suspended the Top-Screen and SVA submission requirement as outlined in the Federal Register notice.
  2. DHS replaced the current CSAT surveys with the revised surveys on September 30, 2016.
  3. DHS reinstated the Top-Screen and SVA submission requirement on October 1, 2016, and will individually notify facilities in a phased manner of the requirement to resubmit a Top-Screen using the new tool. However, facilities may choose to proactively resubmit a Top-Screen once the new tool is available and prior to the individual notification.

Additionally, chemical facilities of interest that have not submitted a Top-Screen, but come into reportable amounts of chemicals of interest (COI) after reinstatement of the requirement to submit a Top-Screen and SVA must submit a Top-Screen within 60 days of coming into possession of the COI.

CSAT 2.0 Roadshow Demonstration Presentations and Webinar Sessions

DHS cordially invites you to participate in a series of webinars and in-person presentations for the new CSAT 2.0. These webinars and in-person demonstrations will walk users through the revised CSAT portal user interface and streamlined Top-Screen, SVA, and SSP surveys.

Webinars will be recorded and made available online. Each webinar and in-person session will include an opportunity for attendees to ask questions.

In-Person Demonstrations

In-person demonstrations will be given for the CSAT Portal User Interface, Top-Screen, Security Vulnerability Assessment, and Site Security Plan at several locations throughout the country:

Please email CFATS@hq.dhs.gov with any questions or to request additional information on any of these CSAT 2.0 demonstrations.

Frequently Asked Questions

DHS is committed to sharing information and providing assistance throughout the process and will do our best to ensure facilities have the necessary information for a smooth transition. A series of Frequently Asked Questions are being published on the CFATS Knowledge Center. If you have additional questions, please call the CFATS Help Desk at 866-323-2957.

Last Published Date: October 19, 2016

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