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  4. Critical Infrastructure Sectors
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Chemical facility

Chemical Sector

The Chemical Sector, an integral component of the U.S. economy, manufactures, stores, uses, and transports potentially dangerous chemicals on which other critical infrastructure sectors rely.

Critical Infrastructure Sectors

  • Chemical Sector
  • Commercial Facilities Sector
  • Communications Sector
  • Critical Manufacturing Sector
  • Dams Sector
  • Defense Industrial Base Sector
  • Emergency Services Sector
  • Energy Sector
  • Financial Services Sector
  • Food and Agriculture Sector
  • Government Facilities Sector
  • Healthcare and Public Health Sector
  • Information Technology Sector
  • Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sector
  • Transportation Systems Sector
  • Water and Wastewater Sector

Overview

The U.S. Chemical Sector converts raw materials into more than 70,000 diverse products essential to modern life and distributes those products to more than 750,000 end users throughout the Nation. Several hundred thousand U.S. chemical facilities—ranging from petrochemical manufacturers to chemical distributors—use, manufacture, store, transport, or deliver chemicals along a complex, global supply chain. End users include critical infrastructure sectors, making the uninterrupted production and transportation of chemicals essential for national and economic security.

The Chemical Sector—is made up of four distinct components, each of which has distinct characteristics, growth dynamics, markets, new developments, and issues:

  • Basic chemicals
  • Specialty chemicals
  • Agricultural chemicals
  • Consumer products

Whether the company is an upstream retailer or downstream provider engaging in the transport or manufacturing of these chemicals or products, the Chemical SRMA is a central point of contact for innovative tools and information. 

Chemical Sector Risk Management Agency Fact Sheet (PDF, 402.47 KB )

Chemical Sector-Specific Plan

The Chemical Sector-Specific Plan details how the National Infrastructure Protection Plan's risk management framework is implemented within the sector's unique characteristics and risk landscape. Each Sector Risk Management Agency develops a sector-specific plan through a coordinated effort involving its public and private sector partners. The Department of Homeland Security is designated as the SRMA for the Chemical Sector.

Chemical Sector-Specific Plan - 2015 (PDF, 6.52 MB )

National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) 

Our Nation's well-being relies upon secure and resilient critical infrastructure—the assets, systems, and networks that underpin American society. The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) 2013: Partnering for Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience outlines how government and private sector participants in the critical infrastructure community work together to manage risks and achieve security and resilience outcomes. 

National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) 2013: Partnering for Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (PDF, 3.55 MB )

Chemical Sector Council Charters and Membership

The Chemical Sector has a strong history of working in partnership with both the private and public sector to develop industry practices that build a culture of safety and security. In accordance with the partnership framework developed in the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) 2013, private owners and operators work directly with their peers through the Chemical Sector Coordinating Council and with the government counterparts at all levels through the Chemical Government Coordinating Council.

View Charters and Membership

Chemical Government Coordinating Council (GCC)

The Chemical GCC enables interagency and cross-jurisdictional coordination and communication on chemical security strategies, safety activities, and policies among Federal, State, local, tribal, and territorial governments.

Chemical Sector Coordinating Council (SCC)

The Chemical SCC is a self-organized, self-governed council of representatives from 15 trade associations. The Chair and Vice Chair represent individual owners and operators from the trade associations.

View Charters and Membership

Chemical Resources

More Chemical Sector Resources

Chemical Sector Risk Management Agency Fact Sheet

This printer-friendly fact sheet lists a sampling of sector collaboration mechanisms, resources, and training materials.

Chemical Sector Profile

This resource provides a graphical overview of the components and main segments of the Chemical Sector.

Chemical Sector Landscape

This document provides a sector-specific characterization of relevant factors and decision-making drivers influencing the current operating environment and security and resilience posture of the Chemical Sector.

Chemical Sector Cybersecurity Framework Implementation Guidance

The Chemical Sector Cybersecurity Framework Implementation Guidance was developed to help Chemical Sector owners and operators use the voluntary Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity released by The National Institute of Stand

Chemical Sector Security Awareness Guide

This document assists chemical owners and operators in their efforts to improve security at their respective chemical facilities. 

See Say Chemical Security Brochure

Download and print the “If You See Something, Say Something®” Chemical Security brochure for your facility or store.

Chemical Sector Playbook

The Playbook for an Effective All-Hazards Chemical Sector Response provides a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to assist the Chemical Sector in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from an all-hazards emergency. 

HSIN-CI Chemical Portal

HSIN-CI is an information-sharing network that provides situational awareness and allows sector partners to effectively access and disseminate sensitive but unclassified information among federal, state, and local agencies and the private sector.

More Chemical Sector Resources

Chemical Sector Publications

See all Chemical Sector publications

Chemical Sector Risk Management Agency Fact Sheet

MAR 23, 2022 | PUBLICATION
This printer-friendly fact sheet lists a sampling of sector collaboration mechanisms, resources, and training materials.
Download File (PDF, 402.47 KB)

Chemical Sector Profile

DEC 17, 2020 | PUBLICATION
This resource provides a graphical overview of the components and main segments of the Chemical Sector.
Download File (PDF, 2.14 MB)

Chemical Sector Landscape

DEC 17, 2020 | PUBLICATION
A sector-specific characterization of relevant factors and decision-making drivers influencing the current operating environment and security and resilience posture of the Chemical Sector.
Download File (PDF, 2.41 MB)

Chemical Sector Cybersecurity Framework Implementation Guidance

MAY 25, 2020 | PUBLICATION
Guidance developed to help Chemical Sector owners and operators use the voluntary Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity.
Download File (PDF, 1.55 MB)
See all Chemical Sector publications

Chemical Sector Training

The Chemical Sector collaborates with government and sector partners to identify and develop free or low-cost security awareness training and resources that provide chemical sector stakeholders with the knowledge and tools to enhance their security and resilience.

Chemical Sector Security Awareness Training

The Chemical Sector Security Awareness Training as a foundational voluntary training course that provides an overview of security awareness at chemical facilities for private sector stakeholders.

Security Seminars and Exercises for Chemical Industry Stakeholders

The Chemical Sector Risk Management Agency supports requests from chemical industry councils, associations, and emergency management agencies for presentations, training, exhibits, and exercises.

Counter-Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Training and Awareness

The Office of Bombing Prevention (OBP) develops tools to improve national preparedness for bombing threats at all levels of government, the public, and within the private sector. 

Critical Infrastructure Learning Series

The Critical Infrastructure Learning Series allows the Department to provide web-based seminars on current and emerging critical infrastructure topics, tools, trends, issues, and best practices.

Additional Training Opportunities

The Department of Homeland Security offers a variety of training opportunities for DHS personnel, partners, and citizens, including home and business owners.

Chemlock Training

CISA offers live, on-demand training to assist owners, operators, facility personnel, and retailers with understanding the threats that chemicals pose and what security measures can be put into place.

Chemical Security Summit

This Summit is the signature industry event for chemical representatives across the chemical and interconnected sectors to learn, share perspectives, and engage in dialogue.

Chemical Sector Regulatory Authorities and Executive Orders

As the majority of Chemical Sector assets are privately owned and operated, effective security and resilience planning requires a shared commitment between the public and private sectors to implement the most effective risk management strategies throughout the sector. However, the highest-risk assets are regulated for security through several different regulatory programs.

The information on this page is for informational purposes and may not be exhaustive. Visit the webpages below to learn more specifics on each of the regulatory authorities.

Executive Order 13650, Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security

Directs the federal government to improve operational coordination with state and local partners; improve federal agency coordination and information sharing; modernize policies, regulations, and standards; and to identify best practices.

Executive Order, Strengthening the Cybersecurity of Federal Networks and Critical Infrastructure

Directs the federal government to improve the cybersecurity of federal networks, support critical infrastructure owners and operators, enhance cyber deterrence measures, and forge international coalitions.

Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

The CFATS program identifies and regulates high-risk chemical facilities to ensure they have security measures in place to reduce the risks associated with these chemicals. 

Ammonium Nitrate Security Program

Proposed regulation developed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in response to direction from Congress to regulate the sale and transfer of ammonium nitrate by an ammonium nitrate facility.

Contact Us

For additional information, please contact the Chemical Sector Management Team at ChemicalSector@cisa.dhs.gov.

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