SOCMA: Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates

July 21 - 23, 2008
Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
Bethesda, MD

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2008 Recap

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SOCMA once again led the largest and most successful chemical security conference in partnership with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Following last year’s inaugural industry-wide event, there were doubts as to whether the 2008 Chemical Sector Security Summit could best the 2007 conference. By all accounts, we were successful, thanks to the contributions of many individuals and participation by SOCMA members.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and industry security experts came together to share insights at the summit, which was held July 21-23 in Bethesda, Maryland. A capacity event with 350 attendees gave participants the chance to get the latest updates on implementing the Department’s chemical security rules and ask questions of officials and experts in the field. Notable speakers included Assistant Secretary Robert Stephan, Deputy Under Secretary Scott Charbo, and Acting Director Sue Armstrong of the Infrastructure Security Compliance Division of DHS. Over 35 representatives from SOCMA member companies were among industry participants, an increase over the 2007 event.

Monday’s events were emceed by Jeff Gunnulfsen, SOCMA’s Senior Manager of Government Relations, who is the association’s lead on safety and security advocacy. The day’s general session featured remarks by Joe Acker, SOCMA president, as well as presentations by Steve Poorman of Fujifilm Imaging Colourants, Sue Armstrong and Dennis Deziel of the DHS Infrastructure Security Compliance Division, and others. These experts shared with attendees a “30,000 foot view” of the current situation of Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) regulations, including information about the Security Vulnerability Assessment phase of CFATS implementation and the Risk-Based Performance Standards used to analyze security threats and create site plans. Much discussion was made about SOCMA’s Security Vulnerability Assessment  (SVA) methodology as an approved SVA for Tier 4 facilities. After the session closed for the day, attendees enjoyed the opportunity to network in the expo hall at a reception sponsored by G4S.

Tuesday’s sessions kicked off with a panel discussion of chemical and hazardous materials security, featuring officials from DHS’s Infrastructure Security Compliance Division, Transportation Security Administration, and Coast Guard; and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration andFederal Railroad Administration. Attendees spent the remainder of the morning learning about programs to protect sensitive chemical security information and the terrorism threat facing the chemical sector. Following the wrap-up of these general sessions, participants enjoyed a networking lunch sponsored by ITT.

During the afternoon, attendees split off into breakout sessions on more specific security topics. These included cyber security, which is expected to be a continuing program of emphasis for DHS in coming years, freight rail security, localized chemical security programs, and a packed session on tactics to address the theft and diversion threat. Afterwards, attendees relaxed and shared ideas in the expo hall during a reception sponsored by AcuTech.

The last day of the summit gave attendees a look into the future, with perspectives from congressional staff on pending chemical security legislation and an enjoyable and enlightening walk-through of the inspections process by Rick Kane of Rhodia and Wade Townsend and J. Travis Walker of DHS’s Infrastructure Security Compliance Division. Before they left for home, attendees had the opportunity to hear from Assistant Secretary Robert Stephan, who shared some of the things he has learned about security while developing a new federal agency.

We at SOCMA hope you were able to attend, and are looking forward to seeing you at the next Chemical Sector Security Summit.

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•  Risk-Based Performance Standards - Dennis Deziel

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