{ "id": "R41642", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R41642", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 415347, "date": "2012-12-21", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T23:45:04.874105", "title": "Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress", "summary": "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has statutory authority to regulate chemical facilities for security purposes. The 112th Congress has extended this authority through March 27, 2013. The Obama Administration has requested extension of this authority until October 4, 2013. Congressional policymakers have debated the scope and details of reauthorization and continue to consider legislation establishing an authority with longer duration. Some Members of Congress support extension, either short- or long-term, of the existing authority. Other Members call for revision and more extensive codification of chemical facility security regulatory provisions. Questions regarding the current law\u2019s effectiveness in reducing chemical facility risk and the sufficiency of federal funding for chemical facility security exacerbate the tension between continuing current policies and changing the statutory authority.\nCongressional policymakers have questioned DHS\u2019s effectiveness in implementing the authorized regulations, called chemical facility anti-terrorism standards (CFATS). The DHS finalized CFATS regulations in 2007. No chemical facilities have completed the CFATS process, which starts with information submission by chemical facilities and finishes with inspection and approval of facility security measures by DHS. Several factors, including the amount of detailed information provided to DHS, effectiveness of DHS program management, and the availability of CFATS inspectors, likely complicate the inspection process and lead to delays in inspection. Policymakers have questioned whether the compliance rate with CFATS is sufficient to address this homeland security issue.\nKey policy issues debated in previous Congresses contribute to the current reauthorization debate. These issues include the adequacy of DHS resources and efforts; the appropriateness and scope of federal preemption of state chemical facility security activities; the availability of information for public comment, potential litigation, and congressional oversight; the range of chemical facilities identified by DHS; and the ability of inherently safer technologies to achieve security goals.\nThe 112th Congress might take various approaches to this issue. Congress might allow the statutory authority to expire but continue providing appropriations to administer the regulations. Congress might permanently or temporarily extend the statutory authority to observe the impact of the current regulations and, if necessary, address any perceived weaknesses at a later date. Congress might codify the existing regulations in statute and reduce the discretion available to the Secretary of Homeland Security to change the current regulatory framework. Alternatively, Congress might substantively change the current regulation\u2019s implementation, scope, or impact by amending the existing statute or creating a new one. Finally, Congress might choose to terminate the program by allowing its authority to lapse and removing funding for the program. This would leave regulation of chemical facility security to state and local governments.\nBoth appropriation and authorization legislation in the 112th Congress address chemical facility security. P.L. 112-175 extended the existing authority until March 27, 2013. Both FY2013 homeland security appropriations bills (S. 3216 and H.R. 5855, as passed by the House) would extend the existing authority until October 4, 2013. Authorizing legislation includes H.R. 225; H.R. 901, reported as amended by the House Committee on Homeland Security and referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; H.R. 908, reported as amended by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce; H.R. 916; H.R. 2890; S. 473, reported as amended by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; S. 709; and S. 711.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R41642", "sha1": "9bd08e25f621d7da18a274957a403f468fa28b41", "filename": "files/20121221_R41642_9bd08e25f621d7da18a274957a403f468fa28b41.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R41642", "sha1": "455aa0fffbf91eafe5bc56a726d9b39fc71fd11a", "filename": "files/20121221_R41642_455aa0fffbf91eafe5bc56a726d9b39fc71fd11a.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc227709/", "id": "R41642_2012Nov30", "date": "2012-11-30", "retrieved": "2013-11-05T18:07:05", "title": "Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress", "summary": "Report that describes several policy issues regarding chemical facility security and identifies policy options for congressional consideration.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20121130_R41642_fe63346d2fcbb44a6e10cf04e0e9a23502fc5b9b.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20121130_R41642_fe63346d2fcbb44a6e10cf04e0e9a23502fc5b9b.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Hazardous substances", "name": "Hazardous substances" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemicals", "name": "Chemicals" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Toxic substances legislation", "name": "Toxic substances legislation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemical industries", "name": "Chemical industries" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc93860/", "id": "R41642_2012Jun11", "date": "2012-06-11", "retrieved": "2012-07-24T12:39:36", "title": "Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the existing statutory authority and the regulation implementing this authority. It describes several policy issues raised in previous debates regarding chemical facility security and identifies policy options for congressional consideration. Finally, legislation in the 112th Congress is discussed.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120611_R41642_c07a196219e4131d128c4636d05366fbb5030750.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120611_R41642_c07a196219e4131d128c4636d05366fbb5030750.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Hazardous substances", "name": "Hazardous substances" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemicals", "name": "Chemicals" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Toxic substances legislation", "name": "Toxic substances legislation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemical industries", "name": "Chemical industries" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc83952/", "id": "R41642_2012Jan13", "date": "2012-01-13", "retrieved": "2012-04-27T15:49:45", "title": "Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the existing statutory authority and the regulation implementing this authority. It describes several policy issues raised in previous debates regarding chemical facility security and identifies policy options for congressional consideration. Finally, legislation in the 112th Congress is discussed.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120113_R41642_48cb817125b7dc015bcb53607301679e72f6e087.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120113_R41642_48cb817125b7dc015bcb53607301679e72f6e087.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Hazardous substances", "name": "Hazardous substances" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemicals", "name": "Chemicals" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Toxic substances legislation", "name": "Toxic substances legislation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemical industries", "name": "Chemical industries" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc93859/", "id": "R41642_2011Sep29", "date": "2011-09-29", "retrieved": "2012-07-24T12:39:36", "title": "Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress", "summary": "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has statutory authority to regulate chemical facilities for security purposes. This report provides a brief overview of the existing statutory authority and the regulation implementing this authority. It describes several policy issues raised in previous debates regarding chemical facility security and identifies policy options for congressional consideration. Finally, the report discusses legislation in the Congress regarding whether funding should be continued to fund these efforts.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110929_R41642_9a2b3535803c3f87e1b09e64751067fa891b3947.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110929_R41642_9a2b3535803c3f87e1b09e64751067fa891b3947.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Hazardous substances", "name": "Hazardous substances" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemicals", "name": "Chemicals" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Toxic substances legislation", "name": "Toxic substances legislation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemical industries", "name": "Chemical industries" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc97996/", "id": "R41642_2011Apr19", "date": "2011-04-19", "retrieved": "2012-08-21T08:46:06", "title": "Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the existing statutory authority that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has to regulate chemical facilities for security purposes, and the regulation implementing this authority. It describes several policy issues raised in previous debates regarding chemical facility security and identifies policy options for congressional consideration, as well as relevant legislation in the 112th Congress.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110419_R41642_19f35d489ef009308c8945b637fc0d512513676c.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110419_R41642_19f35d489ef009308c8945b637fc0d512513676c.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Hazardous substances", "name": "Hazardous substances" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemicals", "name": "Chemicals" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Toxic substances legislation", "name": "Toxic substances legislation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemical industries", "name": "Chemical industries" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc33019/", "id": "R41642_2011Mar08", "date": "2011-03-08", "retrieved": "2011-04-28T13:31:19", "title": "Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress", "summary": "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has statutory authority to regulate chemical facilities for security purposes. The 112th Congress extended this authority through March 18, 2011. Debate continues in Congress over whether to let this extension expire or continue funding the authority. This report provides a brief overview of the existing statutory authority and the regulation implementing this authority. It describes several policy issues raised in previous debates regarding chemical facility security and identifies policy options for congressional consideration. Finally, legislation in the 112th Congress is discussed.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110308_R41642_cd992e6b0524297bc8e3dc183f74412cd2d4f388.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110308_R41642_cd992e6b0524297bc8e3dc183f74412cd2d4f388.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Hazardous substances", "name": "Hazardous substances" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemicals", "name": "Chemicals" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Toxic substances legislation", "name": "Toxic substances legislation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemical industries", "name": "Chemical industries" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc103128/", "id": "R41642_2011Feb17", "date": "2011-02-17", "retrieved": "2012-09-19T20:16:14", "title": "Chemical Facility Security: Issues and Options for the 112th Congress", "summary": "This report provides a brief overview of the authority of the Department of Homeland Security to regulate chemical facilities for security purposes and the regulation implementing this authority. It describes several policy issues raised in previous debates regarding chemical facility security and identifies policy options for congressional consideration.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20110217_R41642_4c9fa86c4ea492abc131b3ba585f79957757f8ff.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20110217_R41642_4c9fa86c4ea492abc131b3ba585f79957757f8ff.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Defense policy", "name": "Defense policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Chemical warfare", "name": "Chemical warfare" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Counterterrorism", "name": "Counterterrorism" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Appropriations", "Intelligence and National Security" ] }