Anti-terrorism measures back in play

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AWWA is keeping a close eye on new developments in the area of chemical security. Last week, the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee approved legislation to reauthorize the Department of Homeland Security’s Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards program, and to require a study on current exemptions to the program. The water community is currently exempt from CFATS, because it is already covered by other protective requirements and regulations such as the provisions of Clean Air Act section 112(r), the Emergency Response and Community Right to Know Act, and the Bioterrorism Act. However, the order to study the exemptions from the CFATS program – while it doesn’t name the water community specifically – is clearly aimed at water, and comes in response to increasing pressure from the Obama Administration and certain members of Congress to bring the water sector into the CFATS program. The full House has not yet acted on the measure, but CFATS is expected to be reauthorized. 

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