The American Chemistry Council (ACC) last week said that it and a federal multi-agency organization intend to operate an electronic network, allowing information about possible terrorist attacks or threats to be shared. The chemical industry group said that it will join with the National Infrastructure Protection Center (NIPC) to establish the “Chemical Sector Information Sharing and Analysis Center.” The industry-government center should be operational in May.
The NIPC is made up of representatives from the FBI and nine other federal agencies and its mission is to assess potential terrorist attacks against critical national infrastructure.
Through the ACC-NIPC center, businesses using chemicals would be able to quickly share security-related information with the FBI and the other federal agencies about vulnerabilities or possible terrorist attacks.
According to the ACC, the FBI, in turn, could analyze the data quickly and could get pertinent information back to facilities. In addition, the Government could transmit timely information about possible terrorist threats to industry through the electronic network about possible threats, allowing facilities to take preemptive measures.
The NIPC, formed in 1998 under a presidential directive and most closely associated with the FBI, detects, assesses, warns of, prevents, investigates, and responds to attacks against critical infrastructure. In addition to the electronic network being created with the chemical industry, NIPC already operates similar networks with other critical infrastructures, including the food and banking industries.
ACC members and nonmembers will be able to participate in the new electronic network. There is no charge to participate.
