Assessing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards after 5 Years: Achievements, Challenges, and Risks Ahead
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Abdul-Akeem Sadiq
Dr. Abdul-Akeem Sadiq is an Assistant Professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in emergency management, public safety management, and terrorism.
and
Robert McCreight
Dr. Robert McCreight is an Adjunct Professor in the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. He has published several articles on homeland security and National defense.
Abstract
Congress mandated the Department of Homeland Security to regulate chemical facilities with the goal of increasing security at these facilities to prevent future terrorist attacks. In 2007, DHS issued an interim rule known as the chemical facility anti-terrorism standards (CFATS). This paper takes a look at CFATS 5 years after implementation and discusses the achievements and the challenges confronting this important piece of legislation. In addition, this paper poses several questions and discusses some CFATS issues and concerns that have far-reaching implications for CFATS stakeholders, homeland security, and emergency management.
About the authors
Dr. Abdul-Akeem Sadiq is an Assistant Professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in emergency management, public safety management, and terrorism.
Dr. Robert McCreight is an Adjunct Professor in the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. He has published several articles on homeland security and National defense.
- 1
George D. Haddow, Jane A. Bullock, and Damon P. Coppola, Introduction to Emergency Management (Burlington, MA: Elsevier, 2011).
- 2
Dana A. Shea, Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress, CRS Report (Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, December 21, 2012), 1, www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41642.pdf.
- 3
William E. Allmond, “Testimony,” The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program: Addressing Its Challenges and Finding a Way Forward (testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies, 112th Cong., 2nd sess., March 6, 2012), 3, www.hsdl.org/?view&did=703955.
- 4
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 1.
- 5
Rand Beers, “Statement for the Record,” Evaluating Internal Operation and Implementation of the chemical facility anti-terrorism standards program (CFATS) by the Department of Homeland Security (testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, 112th Cong., 2nd session, February 3, 2012), p. 2, energycommerce.house.gov/sites/republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/files/Hearings/EE/20120203/HHRG-112-IF18-WState-RBeers-20120203.pdf; Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 4.
- 6
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 1.
- 7
Ibid.
- 8
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 2.
- 9
Ibid.; Beers, “Statement for the Record, ” p. 3; Government Accountability Office, Critical Infrastructure Protection: DHS Is Taking Action to Better Manage Its Chemical Security Program, but It Is Too Early to Assess Results,GAO-12-515T, Testimony before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland Security (statement of Stephen L. Caldwell, director, Homeland Security and Justice, July 26, 2012), www.gao.gov/assets/600/593020.pdf.
- 10
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 2.
- 11
Suzanne Spaulding, “Statement for the Record,” Department Of Homeland Security – chemical facility anti-terrorism standards (CFATS) Program (testimony before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, 112th Congress, 2nd Session, July 26, 2012), p. 3, www.hsdl.org/?view&did=719047.
- 12
Beers, “Statement for the Record,” 3.
- 13
Ibid.
- 14
Ibid.
- 15
Allmond, “Testimony”; Beers, “Statement for the Record”; and Shea, Chemical Facility Security.
- 16
Allmond, “Testimony.”
- 17
Beers, “Statement for the Record,” p. 9.
- 18
Ibid.
- 19
Matthew J. Leary, “Testimony,” The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program – A Progress Report (testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, 112th Cong., 2nd sess., September 11, 2012), p. 5, www.hsdl.org/?view&did=722420.
- 20
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, pp. 16–17.
- 21
Ibid.
- 22
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 18.
- 23
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, pp. 18–19.
- 24
Leary, “Testimony.”
- 25
Allmond, Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program, p. 8.
- 26
Department of Homeland Security [DHS] Appropriations Bill, 2013, H.R. 112-492, 112th Congress, 2nd session (2012), 103, www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-112hrpt492/pdf/CRPT-112hrpt492.pdf.
- 27
Leary, “Testimony.”
- 28
Allmond, “Testimony,” p. 7.
- 29
DHS Appropriations Bill, 2013.
- 30
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 13.
- 31
Ibid., pp. 13–14.
- 32
Spaulding, “Statement for the Record.”
- 33
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 10.
- 34
Allmond, “Testimony,” p. 9.
- 35
Beers, “Statement for the Record,” p. 5.
- 36
Allmond, “Testimony”; Shea, Chemical Facility Security.
- 37
Beers, “Statement for the Record,” p. 9.
- 38
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 7.
- 39
Spaulding, “Statement for the Record,” p. 1.
- 40
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 7.
- 41
Spaulding, “Statement for the Record.”
- 42
Ibid., p. 6.
- 43
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 4.
- 44
Ibid.
- 45
Ibid.
- 46
DHS Appropriations Bill, 2013, p. 101.
- 47
Beers, “Statement for the Record.”
- 48
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 10.
- 49
Ibid.
- 50
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 10.
- 51
Allmond, Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program, p. 6.
- 52
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 12.
- 53
Rand Beers and David Wulf, “Statement for the Record,” The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program – A Progress Report (testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, 112th Congress, 2nd session, September 11, 2012), 7, www.hsdl.org/?view&did=722420; Spaulding, “Statement for the Record,” p. 7.
- 54
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, pp. 10–11.
- 55
Beers, “Statement for the Record.”
- 56
Ibid.
- 57
Mike Levine, “EXCLUSIVE: Beset by Strife at Chemical Security Office, DHS Internal Report Claims Anti-Terrorism Program Now in Jeopardy,” Foxnews, December 21, 2011, www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/21/exclusive-beset-by-strife-at-dhs-office-future-anti-terrorism-program-now-in/ (accessed February 23, 2013).
- 58
Abdul-Akeem Sadiq and Christopher Weible, “Obstacles and Disaster Risk Reduction: Survey of Memphis Organizations,” Natural Hazards Review 11, no. 3 (2010), pp. 110–117.
- 59
Shea, Chemical Facility Security, p. 6.
- 60
Ibid.
References
Allmond, William E. “Testimony.” The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program: Addressing Its Challenges & Finding a Way Forward. Testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies, 112th Cong., 2nd sess., March 6, 2012.http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-112hhrg76601/html/CHRG-112hhrg76601.htm.Search in Google Scholar
Beers, Rand. “Statement for the Record.” Evaluating Internal Operation and Implementation of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program (CFATS) by the Department of Homeland Security. Testimony before the House Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, Committee on Energy and Commerce, 112th Cong., 2nd sess., February 3, 2012. energycommerce.house.gov/sites/republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/files/Hearings/EE/20120203/HHRG-112-IF18-WState-RBeers-20120203.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Beers, Rand and David Wulf. “Statement for the Record.” The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program—A Progress Report. Testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, 112th Congress, 2nd Session September 11, 2012.www.hsdl.org/?view&did=722420.Search in Google Scholar
Government Accountability Office. Critical Infrastructure Protection: DHS Is Taking Action to Better Manage Its Chemical Security Program, but It Is Too Early to Assess Results, GAO-12-515T. Testimony before the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives. Statement of Stephen L. Caldwell, director, Homeland Security and Justice, July 26, 2012.www.gao.gov/assets/600/593020.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Haddow, George D., Jane A. Bullock and Damon P. Coppola (2011) Introduction to Emergency Management. Burlington, MA: Elsevier.Search in Google Scholar
House of Representatives. Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill, 2013. H.R. 112-492. 112th Congress, 2nd Session, (2012), 101–105.http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CRPT-112hrpt492/pdf/CRPT-112hrpt492.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Leary, Matthew J. The Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program—A Progress Report. Testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy, 112th Congress, 2nd Session, September 11, 2012.http://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/republicans.energycommerce.house.gov/files/Hearings/EE/20120911/HHRG-112-IF18-WState-LearyM-20120912.pdf.Search in Google Scholar
Levine, Mike. “Beset by Strife at Chemical Security Office, DHS Internal Report Claims Anti-Terrorism Program Now in Jeopardy.” Foxnews, December 21, 2011. http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2011/12/21/exclusive-beset-by-strife-at-dhs-office-future-anti-terrorism-program-now-in/. Accessed February 23, 2013.Search in Google Scholar
Sadiq, Abdul-Akeem and Christopher Weible (2010) “Obstacles and Disaster Risk Reduction: Survey of Memphis Organizations,” Natural Hazards Review, 11(3):110–117.10.1061/(ASCE)NH.1527-6996.0000016Search in Google Scholar
Shea, Dana A. Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress. CRS Report. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, October 2, 2012.http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/homesec/R41642.pdf#search=Counterterrorism.Search in Google Scholar
Spaulding, Suzanne. “Statement for the Record.” Department of Homeland Security—Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Program. Testimony before the House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, 112th Congress, 2nd Session, July 26, 2012. www.hsdl.org/?view&did=719047.Search in Google Scholar
©2013 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- Masthead
- Research Articles
- Integrating Federal Approaches to Post-Cyber Incident Mitigation
- Cybersecurity and US Legislative Efforts to address Cybercrime
- The Military’s Response to Domestic CBRNE Incidents
- Building Public Health Preparedness and Food and Agriculture Defense Capabilities Using Whole Community and One Health Concepts
- Situated Response and Learning of Distributed Bushfire Coordinating Teams
- A Critical Examination of the Assumptions Regarding Centralized Coordination in Large-Scale Emergency Situations
- “Of Gods and Men”: Selected Print Media Coverage of Natural Disasters and Industrial Failures in Three Westminster Countries
- Spontaneous Planning after the San Bruno Gas Pipeline Explosion: A Case Study of Anticipation and Improvisation during Response and Recovery Operations
- Understanding Incident Response to Unplanned Releases at Chemical Facilities
- A Study on the Responsiveness of Local Health Departments that Use Facebook
- Texas takes on the TSA: The Constitutional Fight over Airport Security
- The Gulf Oil Spill and Economic Impacts: Extending the National Interstate Economic Model (NIEMO) to Account for Induced Impacts
- The Economic Value of Water: Providing Confidence and Context to FEMA’s Methodology
- Diffusion of Emergency Information during a Crisis within a University
- Resilience Building Policies and their Influence in Crisis Prevention, Absorption and Recovery
- Communication and News
- A Practitioner-Researcher Partnership to Develop and Deliver Operational Value of Threat, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Training to meet the Requirements of Emergency Responders
- Regional Public-Private Interoperable Communications for Catastrophic Events Using a Cloud Computing Based Portal
- It’s Never Too Late: Restructuring the Department of Homeland Security’s Regional Framework
- Finding the New High Ground in Cyber War: Malware as an Instrument of War
- Opinions
- Cybersecurity and Emergency Management: Encryption and the Inability to Communicate
- Assessing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards after 5 Years: Achievements, Challenges, and Risks Ahead
- Book Review
- Emergency Management: The American Experience 1900–2010 (2nd Edition)
Articles in the same Issue
- Masthead
- Masthead
- Research Articles
- Integrating Federal Approaches to Post-Cyber Incident Mitigation
- Cybersecurity and US Legislative Efforts to address Cybercrime
- The Military’s Response to Domestic CBRNE Incidents
- Building Public Health Preparedness and Food and Agriculture Defense Capabilities Using Whole Community and One Health Concepts
- Situated Response and Learning of Distributed Bushfire Coordinating Teams
- A Critical Examination of the Assumptions Regarding Centralized Coordination in Large-Scale Emergency Situations
- “Of Gods and Men”: Selected Print Media Coverage of Natural Disasters and Industrial Failures in Three Westminster Countries
- Spontaneous Planning after the San Bruno Gas Pipeline Explosion: A Case Study of Anticipation and Improvisation during Response and Recovery Operations
- Understanding Incident Response to Unplanned Releases at Chemical Facilities
- A Study on the Responsiveness of Local Health Departments that Use Facebook
- Texas takes on the TSA: The Constitutional Fight over Airport Security
- The Gulf Oil Spill and Economic Impacts: Extending the National Interstate Economic Model (NIEMO) to Account for Induced Impacts
- The Economic Value of Water: Providing Confidence and Context to FEMA’s Methodology
- Diffusion of Emergency Information during a Crisis within a University
- Resilience Building Policies and their Influence in Crisis Prevention, Absorption and Recovery
- Communication and News
- A Practitioner-Researcher Partnership to Develop and Deliver Operational Value of Threat, Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Training to meet the Requirements of Emergency Responders
- Regional Public-Private Interoperable Communications for Catastrophic Events Using a Cloud Computing Based Portal
- It’s Never Too Late: Restructuring the Department of Homeland Security’s Regional Framework
- Finding the New High Ground in Cyber War: Malware as an Instrument of War
- Opinions
- Cybersecurity and Emergency Management: Encryption and the Inability to Communicate
- Assessing the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards after 5 Years: Achievements, Challenges, and Risks Ahead
- Book Review
- Emergency Management: The American Experience 1900–2010 (2nd Edition)
