Chemical Sector Security Summit Highlights Progress on Voluntary Programs, Regulations
More than 500 partners from around the country gathered in Baltimore on July 6-7 to attend the 2011 Chemical Sector Security Summit.
The summit is an annual forum for information sharing that highlights the collaboration between public and private sectors and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), to ensure a safer and more resilient industrial homeland.
DHS Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute presented the keynote address, thanking the Chemical Sector Coordinating Council for co-sponsoring the Summit for the fifth year.
Lute commended the private sector for the high level of engagement on security issues. She added that these efforts, when coupled with the voluntary and regulatory programs, are a successful formula for strengthening the protection of the sector and its critical infrastructure.
Lute spoke of the progress made by DHS in the past 10 years and emphasized the mission of Homeland Security: "An effort to help build a safe, secure, resilient place where the American way of life can thrive."
Lute also stressed the need to continue to share information by saying, "Chemical Sector partners seek clarity, predictability, and a level playing field. You want to be engaged, you want to know more about threats -- so do we; you want to reduce your vulnerabilities -- so do we."
Lute also added that by working together we can better understand the risk landscape.
Assistant Secretary Todd Keil took the opportunity to reflect on the maturity of the Summit over the past five years.
Keil spoke of the steady growth of attendees and stated the Summit reflects a true partnership at work where public and private sector representatives share information and develop tools necessary for our industry partners to enhance their security posture.
He reiterated the department's commitment to implementing both voluntary programs and the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS). As a demonstration of this commitment, Assistant Secretary Keil announced the new leadership team for the Infrastructure Security Compliance Division -- Director Penny Anderson and Deputy Director David Wulf.
The 2011 Chemical Sector Security Summit held a vast array of session topics including highlights of DHS Voluntary Programs and Resources, a CFATS and Ammonium Nitrate Update, Theft and Diversion, Securing the Global Supply Chain, Control Systems Security, PS-Prep, Suspicious Activity Reporting, and Personnel Surety, to name a few. In addition to the two day Summit, this year's event included two additional days of resource demonstrations and workshops.