Municipal Water Security Mandates

When we last discussed municipal water districts and security mandates, a bill had just passed in the House of Representatives (HR 2686) that would fold water treatment plants into the Chemical Facilities Anti-terrorist Standards or as they are known --CFATS. That would require water facilities to go through the same DHS screening process as chemical and petrochemical plants. The authors of the House bill feel that the chemicals used in the treatment of water could be targeted by terrorists.

The House bill was passed in November and it still needs to make its way through the Senate. Earlier this month U.S. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) leading a bi-partisan group of Senators, introduced the Continuing Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorist Standards bill. This piece of legislation would continue the existing CFATS legislation as is for another five years. The current legislation does not include drinking water or waste water treatment facilities. Collins and her colleagues believe this extension legislation would give DHS time to finish the work it began with chemical facilities in 2006 when CFATS was first implemented.

Sen. Collins has been quoted as saying that the House bill (HR. 2868) would bring that work to a “screeching halt.”

Including water treatment plants in CFATS could be costly and time consuming. Many of these plants are owned by municipalities that are already strapped for funds. The house bill did take this into consideration and authorized $315 million in grant money.

The chemical industry also does not like the House bill because it includes an IST (Inherently Safer Technology) mandate that would require some manufacturing, chemical and petrochemical plants to use different processes that could be more costly. SOCMA (Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates) and ACC (American Chemical Council) have come out in favor of the Collins bill.

It looks like in addition to the Senate version of the bill passed by the house and Sen. Collin’s bill there will be other legislation introduced on this subject. We will have to wait to see which bill gains the most support over the coming months. In October the Senate extended the current legislation for one year, so legislators have until the fall to make a decision.

-- PSW staff

About the Author

PublicSafetyWatch blog

The PublicSafetyWatch blog is sponsored by ADT Security Services, Inc. ('ADT') and SecurityInfoWatch.com with contributions from SecurityInfoWatch.com staff editors, ADT, public safety and security industry experts and professionals. The purpose of the blog is to discuss security related topics such as school security, municipal surveillance, public transportation security, public safety security concerns, and security innovations. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the PublicSafetyWatch blog are solely those of the authors and do not reflect the opinions of SecurityInfoWatch.com, Cygnus Business media, Inc., or ADT Security Services, Inc. or any of their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, stockholders, directors, officers, employees or agents (the 'Sponsors'). The Sponsors do not endorse nor are they responsible for any opinions, advice, content, omissions, hyperlinks, images, articles, information or statements made or displayed within this blog by third parties. The Sponsors reserve the right to delete, withhold from publication, or edit any comment for any reason whatsoever. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. The Sponsors make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis with no warranties. Terms and Conditions of Use: By reading, viewing, accessing, contributing or otherwise using this blog, you acknowledge the foregoing Disclaimer and agree to these Terms of Use. All information published shall become the property of the Sponsors. You are granted a nonexclusive, nontransferable, limited right to access, use and display the blog and the materials provided hereon, provided that you comply fully with these Terms and Conditions of Use. Under no circumstances shall the Sponsors, contributors or suppliers, or their agents, be liable for any loss or damage caused by your reliance on any information contained within this blog. The Sponsors will attempt to respond to specific issues, questions, complaints, or concerns that are brought to their attention; however, the Sponsors have no obligation to monitor any content displayed/posted on this blog.