Chemical Facility Safety (E.O. 13650)

Summary

Creates a government group to find better ways to keep chemical plants safe and secure to prevent accidents and protect people.

What problem does this solve?

Accidents at places that make or store chemicals show that handling these materials can be dangerous, and current government rules are not enough to prevent them. This order creates a team of different government agencies to work together and with companies to improve rules, share information, and make these facilities safer.

What does this order do?

Establishes a new working group

Creates the Chemical Facility Safety and Security Working Group, led by the Department of Homeland Security, EPA, and Department of Labor, to oversee improvements.

Improves coordination with local partners

Requires the working group to develop a plan to help federal, state, and local groups work together better to improve chemical facility safety and emergency response.

Modernizes safety and security rules

Directs agencies to review current rules, like the Risk Management Program and Process Safety Management Standard, and consider adding more chemicals or hazards.

Enhances information sharing

Tasks the working group with creating a better way for government agencies to share data about chemical facilities to spot risks and ensure companies are following the rules.

Reviews safety for ammonium nitrate

Requires several departments to propose new rules and laws to improve the safe storage, handling, and sale of ammonium nitrate.

Creates a unified federal approach

Orders the creation of standard procedures for federal agencies to use for inspections, accident investigations, and enforcement at chemical plants.

Who does this affect?

Chemical facility owners and operators
Workers at chemical facilities
Emergency first responders

What is the real world impact?

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Improves coordination between government agencies

Forces different government groups like the EPA, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Labor to work together. This helps them share information and avoid doing the same work twice, making government more efficient at overseeing chemical plant safety.

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Strengthens safety rules to prevent disasters

Responds to recent tragedies at chemical plants by pushing for stronger rules and better practices. Aims to prevent future accidents by making companies, and the government agencies that watch them, take safety and security more seriously.

When does this start?

This order sets several deadlines for different government actions over the next nine months.

Pilot program deployment

Within 45 days, a pilot program must be launched in at least one region to test new ways for federal agencies to work together on chemical facility safety.

Initial safety reviews and proposals

Within 90 days, agencies must complete several tasks, including proposing new rules for ammonium nitrate, reviewing current safety standards, and identifying new chemicals for regulation.

Data sharing feasibility assessments

Within 90 days, the Department of Homeland Security and the ATF must assess if it's possible to share security and explosives data with state and local emergency planners.

Plan for local coordination

Within 135 days, the working group must develop a plan to improve teamwork between federal agencies, state and local responders, and facility owners.

Data sharing process proposal

Within 180 days, the working group must propose a coordinated process for sharing data on regulated chemical facilities among government agencies.

Final report and procedures

Within 270 days, the working group must provide a status report to the President and create standard operating procedures for a unified federal approach to chemical facility safety.