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DHS official checking whether CNMI chemical facilities are security risks
Lockett
An official from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Infrastructure Protection dealing with Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards visited the CNMI.
Rodney Lockett, Region 9 director for the Infrastructure Security Compliance Division, was in Saipan to conduct a meeting with stakeholders in the Commonwealth who are dealing with chemical facilities. Prior to the meeting at Pacific Islands Club Saipan yesterday, Lockett also met with Gov. Eloy S. Inos.
This is the first time that a representative dealing with CFATS visited the islands since it was issued in 2007.
“It has taken a while. As you saw in the presentation we had a large number of facilities to address,” Lockett said.
“Now I’ve had the opportunity to get over here, I’ve taken that opportunity,” he added.
Lockett said sharing the department’s information is key.
“The presentation of information to the CNMI is absolutely important because the CNMI is a key part of Region 9 and of the Department of Homeland Security. Sharing the information is key to the population and the community,” Lockett said.
According to Lockett, chemical facilities in the CNMI need to look into Appendix A of 6 CFR Part 27 and identify if they have any chemical of interest that are above the screening threshold quantity.
“If they do, then they need to submit a top-screen,” Lockett said.
The top-screen is part if the chemical security assessment tool of the department. It is a questionnaire that facility owners complete to provide DHS with a basic understanding of the facility’s potential level of consequence.
After reviewing a facility’s top screen, DHS will preliminarily determine whether the facility presents a high level of security risk.
Lockett said his main job in the island is to make sure that CNMI’s stakeholders “know about the regulation, they comply with the regulation.”
“If they have any questions, they can come to me and I can assign other inspectors to follow up and assist them with complying with the regulation,” Lockett said.
Lockett also visited Guam and will be on Hawaii next to meet with other officials there.
