CFATS Legislation Enacted in Late December

Amid the end-of-session flurry of activity for the 113th Congress, legislation to authorize multi-year funding and programs for chemical security was enacted.  On December 18th, the President signed the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act, PL 113-254.  The Act principally focuses on requirements for chemical manufacturing and other covered facilities to have appropriate risk-based performance standards, conduct vulnerability assessments, and implement site security plans.  Once again, facilities regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act and Federal Water Pollution Control Act are specifically excluded from any of the Act’s provisions.