Source: http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title6/chapter1/subchapter16&edition=prelim
Timestamp: 2017-05-30 11:14:10
Document Index: 83353171

Matched Legal Cases: ['§622', 'art 27', '§2102', '§2', '§623', '§2103', '§2', '§2104', '§2', '§2105', '§2', '§626', '§2106', '§2', '§627', '§2107', '§2', '§628', '§2108', '§2', '§629', '§2109', '§2']

[USC04] 6 USC CHAPTER 1, SUBCHAPTER XVI: CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS
TITLE 6 / CHAPTER 1 / SUBCHAPTER XVI
6 USC CHAPTER 1, SUBCHAPTER XVI: CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS
SUBCHAPTER XVI—CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM STANDARDS
For termination of subchapter by section 5 of Pub. L. 113–254, see Effective and Termination Dates note set out under section 621 of this title.
§622. Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program
There is in the Department a Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program.
In carrying out the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program, the Secretary shall—
(A) identify—
(i) chemical facilities of interest; and
(ii) covered chemical facilities;
(B) require each chemical facility of interest to submit a Top-Screen and any other information the Secretary determines necessary to enable the Department to assess the security risks associated with the facility;
(C) establish risk-based performance standards designed to address high levels of security risk at covered chemical facilities; and
(D) require each covered chemical facility to—
(i) submit a security vulnerability assessment; and
(ii) develop, submit, and implement a site security plan.
A facility, in developing a site security plan as required under subsection (a), shall include security measures that, in combination, appropriately address the security vulnerability assessment and the risk-based performance standards for security for the facility.
(2) Employee input
To the greatest extent practicable, a facility's security vulnerability assessment and site security plan shall include input from at least 1 facility employee and, where applicable, 1 employee representative from the bargaining agent at that facility, each of whom possesses, in the determination of the facility's security officer, relevant knowledge, experience, training, or education as pertains to matters of site security.
(c) Approval or disapproval of site security plans
Except as provided in paragraph (4), the Secretary shall review and approve or disapprove each site security plan submitted pursuant to subsection (a).
(B) Bases for disapproval
(i) may not disapprove a site security plan based on the presence or absence of a particular security measure; and
(ii) shall disapprove a site security plan if the plan fails to satisfy the risk-based performance standards established pursuant to subsection (a)(2)(C).
(2) Alternative security programs
(A) Authority to approve
The Secretary may approve an alternative security program established by a private sector entity or a Federal, State, or local authority or under other applicable laws, if the Secretary determines that the requirements of the program meet the requirements under this section.
(ii) Additional security measures
If the requirements of an alternative security program do not meet the requirements under this section, the Secretary may recommend additional security measures to the program that will enable the Secretary to approve the program.
(B) Satisfaction of site security plan requirement
A covered chemical facility may satisfy the site security plan requirement under subsection (a) by adopting an alternative security program that the Secretary has—
(i) reviewed and approved under subparagraph (A); and
(ii) determined to be appropriate for the operations and security concerns of the covered chemical facility.
(3) Site security plan assessments
(A) Risk assessment policies and procedures
In approving or disapproving a site security plan under this subsection, the Secretary shall employ the risk assessment policies and procedures developed under this subchapter.
(B) Previously approved plans
In the case of a covered chemical facility for which the Secretary approved a site security plan before December 18, 2014, the Secretary may not require the facility to resubmit the site security plan solely by reason of the enactment of this subchapter.
(i) a site security plan and the certification described in subparagraph (C); or
Not later than 180 days after December 18, 2014, the Secretary shall issue guidance for expedited approval facilities that identifies specific security measures that are sufficient to meet the risk-based performance standards.
(ii) Material deviation from guidance
If a security measure in the site security plan of an expedited approval facility materially deviates from a security measure in the guidance for expedited approval facilities, the site security plan shall include an explanation of how such security measure meets the risk-based performance standards.
(iii) Applicability of other laws to development and issuance of initial guidance
During the period before the Secretary has met the deadline under clause (i), in developing and issuing, or amending, the guidance for expedited approval facilities under this subparagraph and in collecting information from expedited approval facilities, the Secretary shall not be subject to—
The owner or operator of an expedited approval facility shall submit to the Secretary a certification, signed under penalty of perjury, that—
(i) the owner or operator is familiar with the requirements of this subchapter and part 27 of title 6, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto, and the site security plan being submitted;
(iii)(I) the security measures in the site security plan do not materially deviate from the guidance for expedited approval facilities except where indicated in the site security plan;
(III) the owner or operator has provided an explanation of how the site security plan meets the risk-based performance standards for any material deviation;
(vi) each individual responsible for implementing the site security plan has been made aware of the requirements relevant to the individual's responsibility contained in the site security plan and has demonstrated competency to carry out those requirements;
Not later than 120 days after the date described in clause (ii), the owner or operator of an expedited approval facility shall submit to the Secretary the site security plan and the certification described in subparagraph (C).
An owner or operator of an expedited approval facility shall notify the Secretary of the intent of the owner or operator to certify the site security plan for the expedited approval facility not later than 30 days before the date on which the owner or operator submits the site security plan and certification described in subparagraph (C).
For an expedited approval facility submitting a site security plan and certification in accordance with subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), and (D)—
(I) the expedited approval facility shall comply with all of the requirements of its site security plan; and
(aa) except as provided in subparagraph (G), may not disapprove the site security plan; and
(bb) may audit and inspect the expedited approval facility under subsection (d) to verify compliance with its site security plan.
If the Secretary determines an expedited approval facility is not in compliance with the requirements of the site security plan or is otherwise in violation of this subchapter, the Secretary may enforce compliance in accordance with section 624 of this title.
(F) Amendments to site security plan
If the owner or operator of an expedited approval facility amends a site security plan submitted under subparagraph (A), the owner or operator shall submit the amended site security plan and a certification relating to the amended site security plan that contains the information described in subparagraph (C).
For purposes of this clause, an amendment to a site security plan includes any technical amendment to the site security plan.
(ii) Amendment required
The owner or operator of an expedited approval facility shall amend the site security plan if—
(I) there is a change in the design, construction, operation, or maintenance of the expedited approval facility that affects the site security plan;
(II) the Secretary requires additional security measures or suspends a certification and recommends additional security measures under subparagraph (G); or
(III) the owner or operator receives notice from the Secretary of a change in tiering under subsection (e)(3).
An amended site security plan and certification shall be submitted under clause (i)—
(I) in the case of a change in design, construction, operation, or maintenance of the expedited approval facility that affects the security plan, not later than 120 days after the date on which the change in design, construction, operation, or maintenance occurred;
(II) in the case of the Secretary requiring additional security measures or suspending a certification and recommending additional security measures under subparagraph (G), not later than 120 days after the date on which the owner or operator receives notice of the requirement for additional security measures or suspension of the certification and recommendation of additional security measures; and
(III) in the case of a change in tiering, not later than 120 days after the date on which the owner or operator receives notice under subsection (e)(3).
(G) Facially deficient site security plans
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A) or (E), the Secretary may suspend the authority of a covered chemical facility to certify a site security plan if the Secretary—
(I) determines the certified site security plan or an amended site security plan is facially deficient; and
(II) not later than 100 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the site security plan and certification, provides the covered chemical facility with written notification that the site security plan is facially deficient, including a clear explanation of each deficiency in the site security plan.
If, during or after a compliance inspection of an expedited approval facility, the Secretary determines that planned or implemented security measures in the site security plan of the facility are insufficient to meet the risk-based performance standards based on misrepresentation, omission, or an inadequate description of the site, the Secretary may—
(aa) require additional security measures; or
(bb) suspend the certification of the facility.
(II) Recommendation of additional security measures
If the Secretary suspends the certification of an expedited approval facility under subclause (I), the Secretary shall—
(aa) recommend specific additional security measures that, if made part of the site security plan by the facility, would enable the Secretary to approve the site security plan; and
(bb) provide the facility an opportunity to submit a new or modified site security plan and certification under subparagraph (A).
(III) Submission; review
If an expedited approval facility determines to submit a new or modified site security plan and certification as authorized under subclause (II)(bb)—
(aa) not later than 90 days after the date on which the facility receives recommendations under subclause (II)(aa), the facility shall submit the new or modified plan and certification; and
(bb) not later than 45 days after the date on which the Secretary receives the new or modified plan under item (aa), the Secretary shall review the plan and determine whether the plan is facially deficient.
(IV) Determination not to include additional security measures
(aa) Revocation of certification
If an expedited approval facility does not agree to include in its site security plan specific additional security measures recommended by the Secretary under subclause (II)(aa), or does not submit a new or modified site security plan in accordance with subclause (III), the Secretary may revoke the certification of the facility by issuing an order under section 624(a)(1)(B) of this title.
(bb) Effect of revocation
If the Secretary revokes the certification of an expedited approval facility under item (aa) by issuing an order under section 624(a)(1)(B) of this title—
(AA) the order shall require the owner or operator of the facility to submit a site security plan or alternative security program for review by the Secretary review 1 under subsection (c)(1); and
(BB) the facility shall no longer be eligible to certify a site security plan under this paragraph.
(V) Facial deficiency
If the Secretary determines that a new or modified site security plan submitted by an expedited approval facility under subclause (III) is facially deficient—
(aa) not later than 120 days after the date of the determination, the owner or operator of the facility shall submit a site security plan or alternative security program for review by the Secretary under subsection (c)(1); and
(H) Templates
The Secretary may develop prescriptive site security plan templates with specific security measures to meet the risk-based performance standards under subsection (a)(2)(C) for adoption and certification by a covered chemical facility assigned to tier 3 or 4 in lieu of developing and certifying its own plan.
(ii) Applicability of other laws to development and issuance of initial site security plan templates and related guidance
During the period before the Secretary has met the deadline under subparagraph (B)(i), in developing and issuing, or amending, the site security plan templates under this subparagraph, in issuing guidance for implementation of the templates, and in collecting information from expedited approval facilities, the Secretary shall not be subject to—
Nothing in this subparagraph shall be construed to prevent a covered chemical facility from developing and certifying its own security plan in accordance with subparagraph (A).
Not later than 18 months after December 18, 2014, the Secretary shall take any appropriate action necessary for a full evaluation of the expedited approval program authorized under this paragraph, including conducting an appropriate number of inspections, as authorized under subsection (d), of expedited approval facilities.
Not later than 18 months after December 18, 2014, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that contains—
(bb) the number of facilities that are eligible for the expedited approval program but are using the standard process for developing and submitting a site security plan under subsection (a)(2)(D);
(II) any costs and efficiencies associated with the expedited approval program;
(1) Audits and inspections
(i) the term "nondepartmental"—
(I) with respect to personnel, means personnel that is not employed by the Department; and
(II) with respect to an entity, means an entity that is not a component or other authority of the Department; and
(ii) the term "nongovernmental"—
(I) with respect to personnel, means personnel that is not employed by the Federal Government; and
(II) with respect to an entity, means an entity that is not an agency, department, or other authority of the Federal Government.
(B) Authority to conduct audits and inspections
The Secretary shall conduct audits or inspections under this subchapter using—
(i) employees of the Department;
(ii) nondepartmental or nongovernmental personnel approved by the Secretary; or
(iii) a combination of individuals described in clauses (i) and (ii).
(C) Support personnel
The Secretary may use nongovernmental personnel to provide administrative and logistical services in support of audits and inspections under this subchapter.
(D) Reporting structure
(i) Nondepartmental and nongovernmental audits and inspections
Any audit or inspection conducted by an individual employed by a nondepartmental or nongovernmental entity shall be assigned in coordination with a regional supervisor with responsibility for supervising inspectors within the Infrastructure Security Compliance Division of the Department for the region in which the audit or inspection is to be conducted.
(ii) Requirement to report
While an individual employed by a nondepartmental or nongovernmental entity is in the field conducting an audit or inspection under this subsection, the individual shall report to the regional supervisor with responsibility for supervising inspectors within the Infrastructure Security Compliance Division of the Department for the region in which the individual is operating.
The authority to approve a site security plan under subsection (c) or determine if a covered chemical facility is in compliance with an approved site security plan shall be exercised solely by the Secretary or a designee of the Secretary within the Department.
(E) Standards for auditors and inspectors
The Secretary shall prescribe standards for the training and retraining of each individual used by the Department as an auditor or inspector, including each individual employed by the Department and all nondepartmental or nongovernmental personnel, including—
(i) minimum training requirements for new auditors and inspectors;
(ii) retraining requirements;
(iii) minimum education and experience levels;
(iv) the submission of information as required by the Secretary to enable determination of whether the auditor or inspector has a conflict of interest;
(v) the proper certification or certifications necessary to handle chemical-terrorism vulnerability information (as defined in section 27.105 of title 6, Code of Federal Regulations, or any successor thereto);
(vi) the reporting of any issue of non-compliance with this section to the Secretary within 24 hours; and
(vii) any additional qualifications for fitness of duty as the Secretary may require.
(F) Conditions for nongovernmental auditors and inspectors
If the Secretary arranges for an audit or inspection under subparagraph (B) to be carried out by a nongovernmental entity, the Secretary shall—
(i) prescribe standards for the qualification of the individuals who carry out such audits and inspections that are commensurate with the standards for similar Government auditors or inspectors; and
(ii) ensure that any duties carried out by a nongovernmental entity are not inherently governmental functions.
(2) Personnel surety
(A) Personnel surety program
For purposes of this subchapter, the Secretary shall establish and carry out a Personnel Surety Program that—
(i) does not require an owner or operator of a covered chemical facility that voluntarily participates in the program to submit information about an individual more than 1 time;
(ii) provides a participating owner or operator of a covered chemical facility with relevant information about an individual based on vetting the individual against the terrorist screening database, to the extent that such feedback is necessary for the facility to be in compliance with regulations promulgated under this subchapter; and
(iii) provides redress to an individual—
(I) whose information was vetted against the terrorist screening database under the program; and
(II) who believes that the personally identifiable information submitted to the Department for such vetting by a covered chemical facility, or its designated representative, was inaccurate.
(B) Personnel surety program implementation
To the extent that a risk-based performance standard established under subsection (a) requires identifying individuals with ties to terrorism—
(i) a covered chemical facility—
(I) may satisfy its obligation under the standard by using any Federal screening program that periodically vets individuals against the terrorist screening database, or any successor program, including the Personnel Surety Program established under subparagraph (A); and
(aa) accept a credential from a Federal screening program described in subclause (I) if an individual who is required to be screened presents such a credential; and
(bb) address in its site security plan or alternative security program the measures it will take to verify that a credential or documentation from a Federal screening program described in subclause (I) is current;
(ii) visual inspection shall be sufficient to meet the requirement under clause (i)(II)(bb), but the facility should consider other means of verification, consistent with the facility's assessment of the threat posed by acceptance of such credentials; and
(iii) the Secretary may not require a covered chemical facility to submit any information about an individual unless the individual—
(I) is to be vetted under the Personnel Surety Program; or
(II) has been identified as presenting a terrorism security risk.
(C) Rights unaffected
Nothing in this section shall supersede the ability—
(i) of a facility to maintain its own policies regarding the access of individuals to restricted areas or critical assets; or
(ii) of an employing facility and a bargaining agent, where applicable, to negotiate as to how the results of a background check may be used by the facility with respect to employment status.
The Secretary shall share with the owner or operator of a covered chemical facility any information that the owner or operator needs to comply with this section.
(e) Responsibilities of the Secretary
(1) Identification of chemical facilities of interest
In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall consult with the heads of other Federal agencies, States and political subdivisions thereof, relevant business associations, and public and private labor organizations to identify all chemical facilities of interest.
For purposes of this subchapter, the Secretary shall develop a security risk assessment approach and corresponding tiering methodology for covered chemical facilities that incorporates the relevant elements of risk, including threat, vulnerability, and consequence.
(B) Criteria for determining security risk
The criteria for determining the security risk of terrorism associated with a covered chemical facility shall take into account—
(i) relevant threat information;
(ii) potential severe economic consequences and the potential loss of human life in the event of the facility being subject to attack, compromise, infiltration, or exploitation by terrorists; and
(iii) vulnerability of the facility to attack, compromise, infiltration, or exploitation by terrorists.
(3) Changes in tiering
The Secretary shall document the basis for each instance in which—
(i) tiering for a covered chemical facility is changed; or
(ii) a covered chemical facility is determined to no longer be subject to the requirements under this subchapter.
The records maintained under subparagraph (A) shall include information on whether and how the Secretary confirmed the information that was the basis for the change or determination described in subparagraph (A).
(4) Semiannual performance reporting
Not later than 6 months after December 18, 2014, and not less frequently than once every 6 months thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report that includes, for the period covered by the report—
(A) the number of covered chemical facilities in the United States;
(B) information—
(i) describing—
(I) the number of instances in which the Secretary—
(aa) placed a covered chemical facility in a lower risk tier; or
(bb) determined that a facility that had previously met the criteria for a covered chemical facility under section 621(3) of this title no longer met the criteria; and
(II) the basis, in summary form, for each action or determination under subclause (I); and
(ii) that is provided in a sufficiently anonymized form to ensure that the information does not identify any specific facility or company as the source of the information when viewed alone or in combination with other public information;
(C) the average number of days spent reviewing site security or an alternative security program for a covered chemical facility prior to approval;
(D) the number of covered chemical facilities inspected;
(E) the average number of covered chemical facilities inspected per inspector; and
(F) any other information that the Secretary determines will be helpful to Congress in evaluating the performance of the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, §2102, as added Pub. L. 113–254, §2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2900.)
§623. Protection and sharing of information
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, information developed under this subchapter, including vulnerability assessments, site security plans, and other security related information, records, and documents shall be given protections from public disclosure consistent with the protection of similar information under section 70103(d) of title 46.
(b) Sharing of information with States and local governments
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the sharing of information developed under this subchapter, as the Secretary determines appropriate, with State and local government officials possessing a need to know and the necessary security clearances, including law enforcement officials and first responders, for the purpose of carrying out this subchapter, provided that such information may not be disclosed pursuant to any State or local law.
(c) Sharing of information with first responders
The Secretary shall provide to State, local, and regional fusion centers (as that term is defined in section 124h(j)(1) of this title) and State and local government officials, as the Secretary determines appropriate, such information as is necessary to help ensure that first responders are properly prepared and provided with the situational awareness needed to respond to security incidents at covered chemical facilities.
The Secretary shall disseminate information under paragraph (1) through a medium or system determined by the Secretary to be appropriate to ensure the secure and expeditious dissemination of such information to necessary selected individuals.
(d) Enforcement proceedings
In any proceeding to enforce this section, vulnerability assessments, site security plans, and other information submitted to or obtained by the Secretary under this subchapter, and related vulnerability or security information, shall be treated as if the information were classified information.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law (including section 552(b)(3) of title 5), section 552 of title 5 (commonly known as the "Freedom of Information Act") shall not apply to information protected from public disclosure pursuant to subsection (a) of this section.
(f) Sharing of information with Members of Congress
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the Secretary from disclosing information developed under this subchapter to a Member of Congress in response to a request by a Member of Congress.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, §2103, as added Pub. L. 113–254, §2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2911.)
The Secretary may not delegate the authority under paragraph (1) to any official other than the Under Secretary responsible for overseeing critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity, and other related programs of the Department appointed under section 113(a)(1)(H) of this title.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, §2104, as added Pub. L. 113–254, §2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2912.)
If, upon the review described in paragraph (4), the Secretary determines that a violation of a provision of this subchapter, or a regulation prescribed under this subchapter, has occurred, the Secretary may—
The action of the Secretary under paragraph (4) shall be in a written form that—
An employee shall not be entitled to the protections under this section if the employee—
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to limit the right of an individual to make any disclosure—
(Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, §2105, as added Pub. L. 113–254, §2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2914.)
§626. Relationship to other laws
(a) Other Federal laws
Nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to supersede, amend, alter, or affect any Federal law that—
(1) regulates (including by requiring information to be submitted or made available) the manufacture, distribution in commerce, use, handling, sale, other treatment, or disposal of chemical substances or mixtures; or
(2) authorizes or requires the disclosure of any record or information obtained from a chemical facility under any law other than this subchapter.
(b) States and political subdivisions
This subchapter shall not preclude or deny any right of any State or political subdivision thereof to adopt or enforce any regulation, requirement, or standard of performance with respect to chemical facility security that is more stringent than a regulation, requirement, or standard of performance issued under this section, or otherwise impair any right or jurisdiction of any State with respect to chemical facilities within that State, unless there is an actual conflict between this section and the law of that State.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, §2106, as added Pub. L. 113–254, §2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2915.)
§627. CFATS regulations
The Secretary may, in accordance with chapter 5 of title 5, promulgate regulations or amend existing CFATS regulations to implement the provisions under this subchapter.
(b) Existing CFATS regulations
Notwithstanding section 4(b) of the Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014, each existing CFATS regulation shall remain in effect unless the Secretary amends, consolidates, or repeals the regulation.
Not later than 30 days after December 18, 2014, the Secretary shall repeal any existing CFATS regulation that the Secretary determines is duplicative of, or conflicts with, this subchapter.
The Secretary shall exclusively rely upon authority provided under this subchapter in—
(1) determining compliance with this subchapter;
(2) identifying chemicals of interest; and
(3) determining security risk associated with a chemical facility.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, §2107, as added Pub. L. 113–254, §2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2916.)
Section 4(b) of the Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2014, referred to in subsec. (b)(1), is section 4(b) of Pub. L. 113–254, Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2919, which repealed section 550 of Pub. L. 109–295, formerly set out as a Regulations note under section 121 of this title, effective as of the date that is 30 days after Dec. 18, 2014.
§628. Small covered chemical facilities
In this section, the term "small covered chemical facility" means a covered chemical facility that—
(1) has fewer than 100 employees employed at the covered chemical facility; and
(2) is owned and operated by a small business concern (as defined in section 632 of title 15).
(b) Assistance to facilities
The Secretary may provide guidance and, as appropriate, tools, methodologies, or computer software, to assist small covered chemical facilities in developing the physical security, cybersecurity, recordkeeping, and reporting procedures required under this subchapter.
The Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report on best practices that may assist small covered chemical facilities in development of physical security best practices.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, §2108, as added Pub. L. 113–254, §2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2916.)
§629. Outreach to chemical facilities of interest
Not later than 90 days after December 18, 2014, the Secretary shall establish an outreach implementation plan, in coordination with the heads of other appropriate Federal and State agencies, relevant business associations, and public and private labor organizations, to—
(1) identify chemical facilities of interest; and
(2) make available compliance assistance materials and information on education and training.
(Pub. L. 107–296, title XXI, §2109, as added Pub. L. 113–254, §2(a), Dec. 18, 2014, 128 Stat. 2916.)