Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2020

Protecting and Securing Chemical Facilities from Terrorist Attacks Act of 2020

This bill reauthorizes the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) Program of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for another five years. The CFATS program regulates high-risk chemical facilities to reduce the risk of terrorist attacks.

Among other requirements, DHS must

• issue a strategy to improve the cybersecurity of chemical facilities and the sharing of information with local emergency responders;
• prescribe regulations to establish the CFATS Recognition Program to enhance security of chemical facilities and provide incentives for greater regulatory relief;
• conduct a review every two years of audits and inspections and develop an official standard to evaluate the consistency of such audits and inspections;
• implement a Personnel Surety Program with respect to Tier 3 and Tier 4 facilities (currently, limited to Tier 1 [highest risk] and Tier 2);
• make information available to state, local, and regional fusion centers and state and local government officials, in a secure and expeditious manner; and
• implement a system under which an owner or operator of a chemical facility may request an informal consultation relating to a preliminary deficiency determination.