CFATS is the nation’s first regulatory program focused specifically on security at high-risk chemical facilities. Managed by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the CFATS program identifies and regulates high-risk facilities to ensure they have security measures in place to reduce the risk that certain hazardous chemicals are weaponized by terrorists.
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CFATS Announcements
- July 22, 2020: The President signed into law Pub. L. No. 116-150 to extend the expiration date of the Protecting and Security Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-254, to July 27, 2023.
- July 9, 2019: CISA published a Federal Register notice announcing implementation of the CFATS Personnel Surety Program (PSP) at all high-risk chemical facilities—including Tier 3 and 4 facilities—closing the final gap to vet individuals with access to critical assets/restricted areas for terrorist ties. For more details, the PSP Toolkit, and a demo video, visit the PSP page.
CFATS Overview
Under CFATS, a chemical facility is any establishment or individual that possesses or plans to possess any of the more than 300 chemicals of interest (COI) in Appendix A at or above the listed screening threshold quantity (STQ). These facilities must report their chemicals to CISA via an online survey, known as a Top-Screen. CISA uses the Top-Screen information a facility submits to determine if the facility is considered high-risk and must develop a security plan.
The CFATS regulation applies to facilities across many industries—chemical manufacturing, storage, and distribution, energy and utilities, agriculture and food, explosives, mining, electronics, plastics, universities and laboratories, paint and coatings, and healthcare and pharmaceuticals, among others.
Chemical security is not a temporary issue. As threats evolve, the Agency is committed to working with stakeholders to protect the nation’s highest-risk chemical infrastructure.
Read or download a printer-friendly CFATS Overview Fact Sheet.
CFATS Act of 2014
Initially authorized by Congress in 2007 (6 CFR Part 27), the program uses a dynamic multi-tiered risk assessment process to identify high-risk chemical facilities. After being assigned a tier, facilities are required to meet and maintain performance-based security standards appropriate to their unique security challenges and tier level.
On December 18, 2014, the Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014 (“CFATS Act of 2014”) was signed into law. The Act recodified and reauthorized the CFATS program for four years.
On January 18, 2019, President Trump signed into law the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Extension Act to extend the CFATS program for 15 months.
On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which included a provision to extend the CFATS program to July 23, 2020.
On July 22, 2020, President Trump signed into law Pub. L. No. 116-150 to extend the expiration date of the Protecting and Security Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014, Pub. L. No. 113-254, to July 27, 2023.
Executive Order 13650
On August 1, 2013, the Executive Order on Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security (EO 13650) directed the federal government to improve the safety and security of chemical facilities and reduce the risks of hazardous chemicals to workers and communities. The EO established the Chemical Facility Safety and Security Working Group (Working Group)—tri-chaired by CISA, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Secretary of Labor—to oversee this effort.
In response, CISA created the Infrastructure Protection (IP) Gateway—a repository of critical infrastructure tools and information—to improve coordination between federal, state and local governments, and community stakeholders and to strengthen the CFATS program.
Visit CFATS and the Executive Order 13650 to learn more about the EO actions CISA has implemented.
CFATS Monthly Statistics
CISA has received Top-Screen submissions from more than 42,000 unique facilities. A unique facility is a facility that has submitted multiple Top-Screens, but is counted only once in this metric. Facilities may submit additional Top-Screens to reflect the changes in their chemical holdings and/or security posture. Review the Monthly Statistics for updated data and other metrics on CFATS-covered facilities.
CFATS Knowledge Center
The CFATS Knowledge Center is an online repository of FAQs, articles, and the latest CFATS program news.
Contact Information
For more information about the CFATS program, please email CFATS@hq.dhs.gov.
For technical assistance, call the Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT) Help Desk at 1-866-323-2957 from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (ET).