The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a new rule called the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standard. The rule impacts all institutions that store or use chemicals, including universities.
The regulation requires all facilities to immediately inventory specific “Chemicals of Interest” that could attract terrorists. The DHS has given a very short time period in which to accomplish this inventory. All University departments must complete their inventories of these chemicals and submit this information to the Department of Environmental Health & Safety by Jan. 4, 2008.
The rule applies to all areas within Washington University that possess chemicals, including but not limited to laboratories, art studios, shops, theaters, clinics and athletics.
For more information about the rule, the list of the 325 “Chemicals of Interest,” requirements for University personnel and a tool for reporting inventories, visit ehs.wustl.edu/cfatsrule.htm.