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CFATS: The Role of First Responders

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CFATS Announcement

As of July 28, 2023, Congress has allowed the statutory authority for the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program (6 CFR Part 27) to expire.

Therefore, CISA cannot enforce compliance with the CFATS regulations at this time. This means that CISA will not require facilities to report their chemicals of interest or submit any information in CSAT, perform inspections, or provide CFATS compliance assistance, amongst other activities. CISA can no longer require facilities to implement their CFATS Site Security Plan or CFATS Alternative Security Program.

CISA encourages facilities to maintain security measures. CISA’s voluntary ChemLock resources are available on the ChemLock webpages.

If CFATS is reauthorized, CISA will follow up with facilities in the future. To reach us, please contact CFATS@hq.dhs.gov.

Under the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) program, the inclusion of first responders when developing an emergency plan and conducting exercises establishes relationships, improves the responders’ understanding of the facility’s layout, and enables both the facility and local law enforcement to take quick and decisive action in the case of an incident.

Download this printer-friendly fact sheet to understand the vital role of first responders in chemical security.